The Wash (1985 film)
Encyclopedia
The Wash is a 1985 Japanese film by Philip Kan Gotanda
, who also wrote the play
it is based on. It tells the story of a newly-separated nisei
couple, husband Nobu and wife Masi, and their individual and collective struggles with their past, which along with their marriage centered around Japanese tradition
, despite their residing in the United States
.
After what is implied to be many stressful years of mistreatment, Masi leaves Nobu early in the story due to his intolerably sexist
nature, and is able to move on and begins dating the widower Sadao. Nobu does not similarly move on, and begins to panic at the loss of Masi. As a result of this "abandonment", as Nobu tends to classify it, Nobu is forced to confront both his traumatic memories of the Japanese internment camps
, which the story establishes as the root of his inflexible nature, and the reality of the consequences this inflexibility has finally produced for him. The story does not end with any reunion between Masi and Nobu; Masi not only stays with Sadao, but also, symbolically, in the final scene, refuses to any longer do Nobu's clothes wash
for him, as she had during all the years of their marriage. It is, of course, this aspect of the plot from which the story's name is obtained.
The Wash was first performed as a play in 1985; Gotanda then wrote the screenplay for the 1988 independent film version.
Philip Kan Gotanda
Philip Kan Gotanda is an American playwright and filmmaker. Much of his work deals with Asian American issues and experiences.- Biography :...
, who also wrote the play
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
it is based on. It tells the story of a newly-separated nisei
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
couple, husband Nobu and wife Masi, and their individual and collective struggles with their past, which along with their marriage centered around Japanese tradition
History of Japan
The history of Japan encompasses the history of the islands of Japan and the Japanese people, spanning the ancient history of the region to the modern history of Japan as a nation state. Following the last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Japanese Archipelago fostered human...
, despite their residing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
After what is implied to be many stressful years of mistreatment, Masi leaves Nobu early in the story due to his intolerably sexist
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
nature, and is able to move on and begins dating the widower Sadao. Nobu does not similarly move on, and begins to panic at the loss of Masi. As a result of this "abandonment", as Nobu tends to classify it, Nobu is forced to confront both his traumatic memories of the Japanese internment camps
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
, which the story establishes as the root of his inflexible nature, and the reality of the consequences this inflexibility has finally produced for him. The story does not end with any reunion between Masi and Nobu; Masi not only stays with Sadao, but also, symbolically, in the final scene, refuses to any longer do Nobu's clothes wash
Laundry
Laundry is a noun that refers to the act of washing clothing and linens, the place where that washing is done, and/or that which needs to be, is being, or has been laundered...
for him, as she had during all the years of their marriage. It is, of course, this aspect of the plot from which the story's name is obtained.
The Wash was first performed as a play in 1985; Gotanda then wrote the screenplay for the 1988 independent film version.