Watch Days of Waiting: The Life & Art of Estelle Ishigo

Days of Waiting: The Life & Art of Estelle Ishigo is a 1991 documentary film that tells the inspiring story of Estelle Peck Ishigo, an American citizen of European and Japanese descent, who voluntarily lived in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Directed by Steven Okazaki, the film showcases Ishigo's artwork and journal entries, as well as archival footage, to document the inhumane treatment of Japanese-Americans and the lifelong commitment of Ishigo and her husband to social justice.

The movie follows Ishigo's journey as an artist, from her early life in California, where she struggled to find her identity as a biracial woman, to her experiences in the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming, where she and her husband were forcibly relocated to during the war. Days of Waiting shows how Ishigo used her art as a way to document the daily life of the internees, including the hardships, the injustices, and the moments of hope amidst the despair.

Throughout the film, Ishigo's artwork is showcased in various forms, including her sketches, watercolors, and oil paintings. Her pieces demonstrate a keen attention to detail and a raw emotional intensity that captures the essence of life in the internment camps. Her work depicts the mundane tasks of daily living, such as washing laundry and cooking meals with limited resources, as well as the more traumatic events, such as the riots, the suicides, and the emotional toll of being forced to live in cramped, unsanitary conditions.

Ishigo's journal entries also provide a personal perspective on her experiences in the camps. Her writing illustrates the fear and confusion many Japanese-Americans felt during this time of national hysteria, and how the forced internment impacted their sense of identity and belonging. She wrote about the discrimination she and her husband faced, as well as their hope for a better future, both for themselves and for their fellow internees.

The documentary also explores Ishigo's life after the war, during which she and her husband continued their activism for civil rights and social justice. The film shows how their years in the internment camps shaped their worldview, and their unwavering commitment to promoting equality for all people. Ishigo's artwork continued to be a vital part of her advocacy work, as she used her pieces to educate others about the injustices of the internment camps and the need for social change.

Overall, Days of Waiting: The Life & Art of Estelle Ishigo is a deeply moving and inspiring documentary that portrays the strength and resilience of a woman who lived through one of the darkest periods of American history. It offers a unique perspective on Japanese-American internment and shows how the legacy of this period continues to impact our society today. The film serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for justice and equality, even in the toughest of circumstances, and how the power of art can be used to provoke change.

Days of Waiting: The Life & Art of Estelle Ishigo is a 1990 documentary with a runtime of 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.