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Washington Man Directs New Japan Disaster Documentary

An Everett, Washington, man is excited for this weekend’s premiere of his documentary about last year’s devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan. The first-hand account is showing in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., almost precisely one year after the disaster.

Thirty-one-year-old Chris Noland’s film is called “Surviving Japan.” In some places, the movie is almost a video diary of Noland’s experiences during and after the earthquake.

A documentary about last year’s devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan is showing in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C..
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A documentary about last year’s devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan is showing in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C..

At the time he was working as an English instructor in Tokyo. Noland brought his video camera along as he volunteered for weeks at a time to help clean up tsunami-ravaged communities.

Noland said making the film has greatly increased his own empathy for humanity and “It taught me that if everything broke down in society that people would actually come together and help each other.”

The screenings in Seattle and Vancouver coincide with twin conferences focusing on Japan’s nuclear disaster. The 90-minute film is also under consideration for the Seattle International Film Festival this coming May.

Editors note: The Seattle screening of this film has since been cancelled.

On the Web:

"Surviving Japan" trailer:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/324769158/surviving-japan-a-documentary

See the Film in Vancouver, B.C.:

http://pgs.ca/?page_id=89

Copyright 2012 Northwest Public Radio

Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network

Anna King calls Richland, Washington home and loves unearthing great stories about people in the Northwest. She reports for the Northwest News Network from a studio at Washington State University, Tri-Cities. She covers the Mid-Columbia region, from nuclear reactors to Mexican rodeos.