In conjunction with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, “Lives Interrupted: The Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura Story” will be broadcast on PBS SoCal Plus on Sunday, May 18, at 6 p.m. and PBS SoCal HD on Thursday, May 22, at 12:30 a.m.
Bruce Schwartz’s poignant documentary examines the life and death of two film students from Japan who were attending Marymount College back in 1994 and lost their lives in a carjacking in San Pedro. The shooter, Raymond Butler, was caught, tried and has been on Death Row in San Quentin Prison since 1995.
Schwartz, who chairs an annual film series in honor of the two boys, traveled to Japan in 2012 to interview their families to set their shortened lives into perspective. Also featured are interviews with the president of the college at the time, friends, and colleagues. The surge of violence in America is explored and compared to the relative absence of violence in Japanese society.
This film was named best documentary at the Independent Filmmakers Showcase in Beverly Hills last year and was honored by Congress with a certificate of commendation. For more information, visit www.takandgo.com.