GAIJIN
You're Invited to a Special Screening of GAIJIN at the Art Share L.A.. Join us for a cinematic journey with the award-winning feature film GAIJIN, a cross-cultural story of grief, brotherhood, and redemption.
Seats are limited to 120 guests.
Please note that this film would likely be rated PG-13 for mature themes (suicide, grief, etc.). Screening followed by Q & A of twin filmmakers Mark and Mike Chamberlain about the filmmaking process and topics introduced in the film. Discussion facilitated by Chris Fukunaga, pastor of City Bible Church.
Seats are limited to 120 guests.
Please note that this film would likely be rated PG-13 for mature themes (suicide, grief, etc.). Screening followed by Q & A of twin filmmakers Mark and Mike Chamberlain about the filmmaking process and topics introduced in the film. Discussion facilitated by Chris Fukunaga, pastor of City Bible Church.
Director:
Mark Chamberlain
Writer:
Michael Chamberlain, Mark Chamberlain
Producer:
Michael Chamberlain, Mark Chamberlain
Year Released:
2025
Country:
Japan, United States, Zimbabwe
Length:
01:29:02
Mark Chamberlain
Writer:
Michael Chamberlain, Mark Chamberlain
Producer:
Michael Chamberlain, Mark Chamberlain
Year Released:
2025
Country:
Japan, United States, Zimbabwe
Length:
01:29:02
If you would like to donate to City Bible Church to support this screening and other upcoming community events, please click the link below and select "GAIJIN Screening Event".
Traveling to a legendary temple in Japan to kill himself, an American grad student has his suicide attempt interrupted by the spirit of his dead twin who issues the challenge: hang on till cherry blossom season.
The film features a diverse ensemble cast, including Japanese, Zimbabwean, Mexican-American, British, and Taiwanese actors, and was shot on location across Japan, New England, and Zimbabwe, with a vibrant score crafted in Mexico.
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain is a filmmaker and award-winning creative director. He lives on the North Shore of Boston with his wife and four kids. GAIJIN is his first feature.
Director Statement
The concept for GAIJIN started with a “what-if.” I called my identical twin brother and collaborator, Mike, and pitched him:
“What if we do a story about one twin mourning the death of the other?”
“Mark, that’s a terrible idea! Why would you ever want to do that?!!!”
Mike didn’t so much react as erupt, and it didn’t take twin ESP to know this brainstorm was over.
But the idea lingered, whispering a universal human truth:
We will all lose someone close to us.
But how can a fractured relationship truly heal when the other person is dead?
Over time, Mike was willing to revisit this topic and confront it head-on. Ultimately, he used his resistance to this painful territory to fuel his powerful acting performance.
Our courage was fed by others. Our story grapples with the topic of suicide. We had contributors to the film who had lost family members to suicide. They chose to help us as a means of honoring their loved ones. In turn, we did our best to honor them.
A Japanese collaborator provided more motivation by citing the suicide epidemic in Japan and issuing a simple order, “You need to make this movie. Keep going.”
Pulling this off took the courage, faith, and cunning of many. A nimble, international team who planned strategically while embracing spontaneity. During production, we sidestepped the Yakuza and escaped a Zimbabwean mob. We stood on the edges of cliffs and hung out of helicopters. It was a true, cross-cultural adventure, and that energy makes it into the picture.
I approached this film like a palette knife painting, with bold, energetic strokes. Imperfect, unapologetic, truthful. Capture raw, honest performances on the streets of Japan.
What do I hope audiences take away from the film?
No matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve run to escape the pain in your life, there’s nowhere you can go where hope cannot follow.
Mark Chamberlain is a filmmaker and award-winning creative director. He lives on the North Shore of Boston with his wife and four kids. GAIJIN is his first feature.
Director Statement
The concept for GAIJIN started with a “what-if.” I called my identical twin brother and collaborator, Mike, and pitched him:
“What if we do a story about one twin mourning the death of the other?”
“Mark, that’s a terrible idea! Why would you ever want to do that?!!!”
Mike didn’t so much react as erupt, and it didn’t take twin ESP to know this brainstorm was over.
But the idea lingered, whispering a universal human truth:
We will all lose someone close to us.
But how can a fractured relationship truly heal when the other person is dead?
Over time, Mike was willing to revisit this topic and confront it head-on. Ultimately, he used his resistance to this painful territory to fuel his powerful acting performance.
Our courage was fed by others. Our story grapples with the topic of suicide. We had contributors to the film who had lost family members to suicide. They chose to help us as a means of honoring their loved ones. In turn, we did our best to honor them.
A Japanese collaborator provided more motivation by citing the suicide epidemic in Japan and issuing a simple order, “You need to make this movie. Keep going.”
Pulling this off took the courage, faith, and cunning of many. A nimble, international team who planned strategically while embracing spontaneity. During production, we sidestepped the Yakuza and escaped a Zimbabwean mob. We stood on the edges of cliffs and hung out of helicopters. It was a true, cross-cultural adventure, and that energy makes it into the picture.
I approached this film like a palette knife painting, with bold, energetic strokes. Imperfect, unapologetic, truthful. Capture raw, honest performances on the streets of Japan.
What do I hope audiences take away from the film?
No matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve run to escape the pain in your life, there’s nowhere you can go where hope cannot follow.