Visas and Virtue

Visas and Virtue
One-sheet photography: Dennis Mukai
Directed by	Chris Tashima
Produced by	Chris Donahue Tim Toyama
Written by	Chris Tashima Tom Donaldson Tim Toyama (play)
Starring	Chris Tashima Susan Fukuda Diana Georger Lawrence Craig
Narrated by	Shizuko Hoshi
Music by	Scott Nagatani
Cinematography	Hiro Narita, A.S.C.
Edited by	Irvin Paik
Release date	1997
Running time	26 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Visas and Virtue is a 1997 narrative short film inspired by the true story of Holocaust rescuer Chiune "Sempo" Sugihara, who is known as "The Japanese Schindler". Sugihara issued over 2,000 transit visas to Polish and Lithuanian Jews from his consulate in Kaunas, Lithuania, in August 1940, in defiance of his own government (Japan), thereby allowing an estimated 6,000 individuals to escape the impending Holocaust.

This film is a dramatization (docu-drama) and contains fictional characters and events. It is not a documentary. It is based on an original one-act play by Tim Toyama, which was performed at The Road Theatre Company in Los Angeles in 1995. The play was then adapted by actor/director Chris Tashima in 1996, and completed as a 26-minute film in 1997. The film was produced by Cedar Grove Productions with Visual Communications serving as non-profit sponsor.

Visas and Virtue won the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film in March, 1998 (70th Academy Awards). The Oscar statuettes went to actor and director Tashima and producer Chris Donahue.

Haunted by the sight of hundreds of Jewish refugees outside the consulate gates, a Japanese diplomat and his wife, stationed in Kaunas, Lithuania, at the beginning of World War II, must decide how much they are willing to risk. Inspired by a true story, Visas and Virtue explores the moral and professional dilemmas that Consul General Chiune “Sempo” Sugihara faces in making a life or death decision: defy his own government’s direct orders and risk his career, by issuing life-saving transit visas, or obey orders and turn his back on humanity.