Synopsis:
When Japan lost World War II, a new war started in Brazil: A war between the Japanese immigrants who accepted defeat and those who did not. Dirty Hearts tells the true story of one of these warriors.

Programmer's note
You can't wash murder off. Taking place after WWII, pride, honour, and legacy transform non-military family and working men into patriotic soldiers of an almost suicidal infantry. These Japanese immigrants are driven to rebel and to fight against the notion that Japan has surrendered to the United States and defeat is just a product of American propaganda. Set in Brazil where the largest Japanese community outside of Japan is located, these makeshift soldiers confront those who oppose them even targeting their own countrymen. In the larger context, they must also defend themselves against the larger Brazilian community as they are treated as second-class citizens fueling their alienation and enabling Japanese versus Japanese. Is it manipulative self-destruction or cultural preservation in the name of justice? In Dirty Hearts, a beautifully shot Japanese Western, wives re-evaluate their husbands because they are never to be the same again.

Q&A with York U Modern And Contemporary Japanese Literature Professor Ted Goossen and U of T Japanese Studies Librarian Fabiano Rocha

Programmer: Allison Wilson-Forbes

Director's Bio

Born 1966, in Austria. The Middle of the World, his first feature, was shown at Rotterdam, Toronto, San Sebastian and New Directors/New Films. His second was the film Good, starring Viggo Mortensen. The Hollywood Reporter included it in its 'Ten Best Films Of 2008' list. His new feature, Dirty Hearts, is a thriller set in the Japanese colony in Brazil after the Second World War. Amorim's next projects include an adaptation of Roberto Bolaño novel "Distant Star".

Production Company
Mixer
Av. Chedid Jafet, 222
São Paulo , São Paulo
04551-065   Brazil
Tel.: +55 11 3046 8044
Fax:
Email: international@mixer.com.br
Website: http://www.coracoessujos.com.br/

Distribution Company
Mixer
Av. Chedid Jafet, 222
São Paulo, São Paulo
04551-065   Brazil
Tel.: +55 11 3046 8044
Fax:
Email: Luisa.espindola@mixer.com.br
Website: http://www.coracoessujos.com.br/

Technical Information

Type	:	colour
Dialogue	:	Portuguese/Japanese
Subtitles	:	English
Running Time	:	107 min.
Exhibition Format	:	dvd
Screen Ratio	:	16:9
Sound	:	stereo