From language barriers to discrimination, a new film called “Familia” is casting a spotlight on the tough circumstances Japanese-Brazilians find themselves in while living in Japan.

While the title means “family” in Portuguese, “Familia” is a story that asks whether people from different countries with different mother tongues can comprise a family.

Cast with the Japanese actors are Japanese-Brazilians with no prior acting experience whose experiences inform and elevate the storytelling.

The story follows the interactions of the protagonist, a potter played by Koji Yakusho, with Marcos, a young Japanese-Brazilian man who loses his father to suicide after his family comes to Japan.

As the plot develops, the harsh conditions faced by Brazilians begin to surface on screen.

Marcos cries out in one scene, “Who are we exactly, when we can be neither Japanese nor Brazilian?”

Lucas Sagae, 18, who resides in Gifu Prefecture, said he can identify with what his character feels.

Sagae was born in Japan but has Brazilian nationality.

Even though he has never been to the South American country, he was bullied at school for being different.

When Sagae was in elementary school, he was ignored by his classmates. He cried and asked his parents why he had to suffer like this.

Other cast members shared similar experiences.

Fadile Waked, 24, who plays Marcos’ girlfriend, came to Japan from Brazil when she was 9 and lives in Tokyo. She said she was teased by her classmates, who said she had “thick eyebrows.”

Lima Alan Shimada, 24, who lives in Shizuoka Prefecture and portrays Marcos’ childhood friend, recalls how he had always been discriminated against, being branded as a “gaijin” (foreigner).

AIMS FOR REALISTIC PORTRAYAL

Producer Tomoo Ito said it was director Izuru Narushima's intention to cast amateur actors who are Japanese-Brazilian to bring the film closer to reality.

The number of Japanese-Brazilians coming to Japan and settling in the country increased following changes to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law in 1990, which allowed foreigners of Japanese descent to work in the country.

But schools were not prepared to receive the children, failing to provide Japanese language education programs.

Many children ended up skipping school or turning to delinquency.

And after Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in 2008 and a worldwide economic downturn ensued, many Japanese-Brazilians lost their jobs and were forced into poverty.

While some returned home, about 210,000 people remain in Japan, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

The production team held auditions at nine locations where many Japanese-Brazilians live, such as Hamamatsu, Toyohashi in Aichi Prefecture and Oizumi in Gunma Prefecture.

Filming was done at the Homi public housing estate in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, where many Brazilians reside. Production members interviewed them about their experiences and many appeared as extras.

“Because they know the actual conditions of Brazilians living in Japan, I think their feelings seep through the screen,” the director said.

TACKLES TOUGH TOPICS

Although “Familia” shows its subjects struggling with poverty, discrimination and delinquency, the cast members said they are happy that the film sheds light on what their lives are actually like.

“I felt like I joined the production on behalf of Brazilians,” said Sagae.

“The movie shows how we really live and suffer,” Waked added.

Given the falling birthrate and aging population, there is an increasing need for foreign workers in Japan, meaning more support is needed to ensure mistakes from the past do not repeat themselves.

“(What is shown in the movie) could happen anywhere in Japan in the future,” said Kiyoe Ito, head director of Torcida, a nonprofit organization that has been supporting Brazilians at the Homi housing estate from about 30 years ago. “We have to be able to accept each other. It would be a big step forward (toward an inclusive society) if people who are not interested see the film.”

“Familia” is currently showing nationwide and there are plans to show the film in Brazil as well, according to the production team.