The title of the documentary movie produced for the Film Foundation by
Holland Harbour provokes questions. In the just-conquered Dutch East
Indies, a decree of 29 April 1942, Emperor Hirohito's birthday, laid
down that from then on Japan must be referred to as Nippon, and also
introduced the Japanese time and year. From that moment onwards until 15
August 2605 / 1945, the population of the Netherlands East Indies was
living in the year 2602 (1942). Dutch experience with in Japanese
concentration camps during World War II in what was then the Netherlands
East Indies. We want to document the efforts of Dutch women to both
stay alive and maintain their dignity and culture, and to provide a
normal existence to their children.
The evening includes a special appearance by author Clara Kelly, author of The Flamboya Tree. Clara spent four years in a Japanese concentration camp and documented her experience, and that of her family, in her book.
2012 Chuckanut Writers Conference
