Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Compare Text to Film: Farewell to

Manzanar Note-Catcher

Name: Date:
Directions: As you view each segment of the film Farewell to Manzanar, complete the tables to
analyze the way that the film conveys the text. You will focus on particular moments in the film,
which are listed in the left-hand columns of the tables below. For each moment, focus your
attention on the filmmakers’ choices regarding certain film elements (music/sound, sequence
of events, body language/facial expressions, lighting, camera work, dialogue, etc.). As you
watch, note details about these choices in the left-hand column.
After watching the film segment, spend several minutes analyzing how the film stays faithful to
or departs from the text. You can consult your text of Farewell to Manzanar and your
Connections and Distinctions note-catcher. Add these notes to the right-hand column.
Throughout Units 1 and 2, as you deepen your understanding of significant ideas from the text,
there will be opportunities for you to return to the right-hand column to note how the
moments in the film convey these significant ideas.

Film Segment 1 [00:00:00–00:27:30]: Contains content from Chapters 1, 2, and 22

Describe the moments surrounding the anniversary
party, noting the choices made by the filmmakers.
Family hosts a big meal.
Happy, upbeat music plays in background.
Granny shows Papa’s friend how to eat Japanese
food.
Sisters sing songs and dance; family laughs joyfully.
Describe Papa burning the Japanese flag, noting the
choices made by the filmmakers.
Papa and mama were angry and sad.
Very sad small times. Memories were being lost.
How do these moments stay faithful to the text?
N/A
How do these moments depart from the text?
Party not depicted in the text.
How do these moments help convey a significant idea in the text?
(completed in Lesson 11)
This moment helps convey the significant idea that Manzanar
pulled the Wakatsuki family apart because it shows how close
the family was before internment. This moment shows the
happiness before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text? (6)
Papa burns flag.
Jeanne can’t believe he’s doing that.
Authors explain the same connection between Papa’s job as a
fisherman and US government’s suspicions.

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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment
Frustration, Distress, prayers, etc.
Describe the moment when Mama reads the article in
the newspaper about Papa’s arrest, noting the choices
made by the filmmakers.
Mama is very sad, tears, angry. Also, she doesn’t know
what to do and is very worried.
Describe the moment when a man tries to buy
Mama’s heirloom china and she destroys it, noting the
choices made by the filmmakers.
Very angry, mad, annoyed.
Scary, Sad music, Silence.
She was trying to defend herself and her dignity.
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Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4
How does this moment depart from the text?
No significant departure from the text.
How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
(completed in Lesson 11)’
This conveys the idea that fear was a big thing in the 1920’s-
1945’s. Many sad things happened to the families because of
their race and other misconceptions. It shows sadness and a
change in the plot.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text (8)?
Mama is sad, also the dad is gone in the text. It is heartbreaking
for the family and a struggle.
How does this moment depart from the text?
The author shows dad leaving the home when two people come
to their home. Also, mama questions it and the family is confused
and frightened that Papa has to leave so suddenly.
How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
(completed in Lesson 11)
It shows the fear of Americans towards Japanese Americans and
that anyone could be a threat to the USA. Also, it makes more
fear and sadness for the Japanese Americans.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text (12–13)?
It shows her feelings and the actual scene from the text. It has
more sad and angry feelings.
How does this moment depart from the text?
It starts when mama leaves to sell her china because she has to
move to the internment camps. It starts mostly the same way.
How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
(completed in Lesson 11)
It shows the angriness of Japanese Americans due to the unfair
treatment that they are receiving. Also, it shows Mama losing
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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

some of her dignity because she is a Japanese American. This is

Describe the moment when Jeanne talks to a friend on
the bus, noting the choices made by the filmmakers.
She thinks it was really fun. She doesn’t know the real
camp that she is going to. Her friend is sad and Jeane
barely knows what is going on.
an unfair treatment for them at the time.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text (16–17)?
She is on the bus and has no idea where she is going. She has no
idea of the danger and is very confused. This is similar to what is
in the text.
How does this moment depart from the text?
Scene not in the text.

Describe the moment when the family arrives at
Manzanar, noting the choices made by the filmmakers. They are surprised about their rooms. They are crammed in and
Sad, Strict, surprised, devastated. Small room, Awful
food, not happy.
How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
(completed in Lesson 11)
It conveys the idea that many people don’t know the actual truth
of what is going on at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It
shows the assumptions and fear of the Americans.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text (17–18)?
unhappy. Later in the book, they clean the house and try to make
it better.
How does this moment depart from the text?
It departs because it is at night and very sad. Also, it begins with
them realizing what they are actually living in and how bad it
really is.

How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
(completed in Lesson 11)
It conveys some ideas of racism and slavery because the Japanese
Americans are not being treated fairly and properly due to the
problems at war.

Film Segment 2 [00:27:31–00:52:46]: Contains content from Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9

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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment
Describe the moments before and during the
improvements to living conditions in Manzanar,
noting the choices made by the filmmakers.
it was hard, cold, bitter, no privacy.
Everyone was hardworking to make life at
Manzanar.
Everyone got sick due to the lack of sanitation.
Describe the moment when Papa is imprisoned and
interviewed, noting the choices made by the
filmmakers.
Very dark and deep moment.
it starts calm and then gets deep, angry, and sad.
The interogator smokes.
Describe the moment of Mama talking to Alice,
noting the choices made by the filmmakers.
Very sad and angry voice.
Mom is sad.
Alice does not want to be with the family because of It departs because Mama is then quiet, Alice leaves, and then in the
how bad the situation has become. Throws the pot
in anger. Sad and warm setting.
Everyone was becoming bitter
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Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4
How do these moments stay faithful to the text (21–30)?
It true to the text because we see the hardships at the camp.
How do these moments depart from the text?
It moves to the next scene with Papa in prison. It shows the people
working hard.
How do these moments help convey a significant idea in the text?
It conveys the idea that Japanese Americans are not being treated
fairly. They are not given the proper things to be able to live.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text (54–58)?
It is the same speech and words from the text.
How does this moment depart from the text?
It departs withs sad expressions. Also the American Flag is raised.
How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
The significant idea this scene conveys is that people dont really
know what is going on in the war. People are assuming things and
are being told lies.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text (31–35)?
I don’t remember this part in the book, but it may be in the book.
How does this moment depart from the text?
film they are at grandmas grave and funeral.
How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
This conveys the idea that many families are falling apart due to the
internemtn camp life.
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Describe the moments of the meeting, noting the
choices made by the filmmakers.
All the people are in union and against the Speaker.
Yelling and hatred. Shows people’s faces. Angry
people who want to overthrow this camp and the
government.
A man cries and shows his real emotions
Describe the moment of the family’s argument,
noting the choices made by the filmmakers.
Angry people, yelling, getting up to show how angry
they each are. The family is against each other.
Loud and clear, frustration is seen.
Film Segment 3 [00:52:47–01:15:20]: Contains content from Chapters 5, 8, 9, and 11
© 2019 EL Education Inc.
Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4
How do these moments stay faithful to the text (66–67)?
This was not in the text. I think this was added in the film because
the film makes wanted to show us the emotion of the people at the
camp and their frustration and hatred towards the government.
How do these moments depart from the text?
Jeanne’s family leaves after the arguing of the people, and the
manager shows up wondering what happened.
How does this scene help convey a significant idea in the text?
It shows that people are not being treatd properly and are being
disrespected because they are not being paid and many other
problems.
How does this moment stay faithful to the text (60–61)?
It is the same with the text but has added emotions and other
things that are seen on their faces.
How does this moment depart from the text?
Teddy leaves the small home and Mama is seen sad and Jeanne is
confused.
How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?
It shows the fustration the camp has brought to the family. It is
divding them and make them not a family.
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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moments before, during, and after the How do these moments stay faithful to the text (68–69)?
riot, noting the choices made by the filmmakers.

How do these moments depart from the text?

How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?

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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moment of Papa’s arrival, noting the How does this moment stay faithful to the text (40–41)?
choices made by the filmmakers.

How does this moment depart from the text?

How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?

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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moments after Papa’s arrival, during How do these moments stay faithful to the text (59–60, 74)?
Christmas, and after Christmas, noting the choices
made by the filmmakers.

How do these moments depart from the text?

How does this moment help convey a significant idea in the text?

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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moments surrounding the loyalty oath, How do these moments stay faithful to the text (73–82)?
noting the choices made by the filmmakers.

How do these moments depart from the text?

How do these moments help convey a significant idea in the text?

Film Segment 4 [01:15:21–01:46:00]: Contains content from

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Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Chapters 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 22

Describe the moment when Mama and How do these moments stay faithful to the
Jeanne overhear gossip and what happens text (60–61)?
with Papa after, noting the choices made by
the filmmakers.

How do these moments depart from the

text?

How do these moments help convey a

significant idea in the text?

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Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moments surrounding the How do these moments stay faithful to the
loyalty oath meeting, noting the choices text (78–80)?
made by the filmmakers.

How do these moments depart from the

text?

How do these moments help convey a

significant idea in the text?

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Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moment when Mama and Papa How does this moment stay faithful to the
sing the national anthem, noting the choices text (80–81)?
made by the filmmakers.

How does this moment depart from the text?

How does this moment help convey a

significant idea in the text?

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Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moment surrounding Richie and How do these moments stay faithful to the
Teddy leaving to fight in the war, noting the text (109–112)?
filmmakers’ choices.

How do these moments depart from the

text?

How does this moment help convey a

significant idea in the text?

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Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moments showing recreational How do these moments stay faithful to the
activities at Manzanar, noting the choices text (93–101)?
made by the filmmakers.

How do these moments depart from the

text?

How do these moments help convey a

significant idea in the text?

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Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the moments surrounding Richie’s How do these moments stay faithful to the
death, noting the choices made by the text?
filmmakers.

How do these moments depart from the

text?

How do these moments help convey a

significant idea in the text?

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 Lessons from Japanese American Internment Grade 8: Module 4: Unit 1: Lesson 4

Describe the final moments of the film, How do these moments stay faithful to the
noting the choices made by the filmmakers. text (120–121)?

How do these moments depart from the

text?

How do these moments help convey a

significant idea in the text?

Sources:
Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki and Houston, James D. Farewell to Manzanar. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1973.
Korty, John, director. Farewell to Manzanar. NBC TV/Japanese American National Museum, 1976.

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