Come See the Paradise

Year: 1990

Runtime: 133 mins

Language: English

Director: Alan Parker

DramaHistoryRomance

Set in 1942, when more than 100,000 Japanese‑Americans are forced into internment camps, fugitive Jack McGurn escapes to Los Angeles and becomes a projectionist for a Japanese‑American theater owner. He falls for the owner’s daughter Lily; their secret romance drives them to elope to Seattle, marry, and raise a daughter. As World War II erupts, Jack watches helplessly as his family is seized for internment.

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Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:06

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Romances Tested by Injustice like in Come See the Paradise

Intimate love stories tested by systemic oppression and societal conflict.If you were moved by the love story in 'Come See the Paradise' set against the tragedy of internment camps, explore more movies like it. This collection features powerful romantic dramas where love must survive against overwhelming social and political forces, blending personal connection with historical struggle.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows two individuals from different worlds who fall deeply in love, only to have their relationship threatened or torn apart by external societal pressures like war, racism, or political turmoil. Their personal fight to stay together becomes a metaphor for a larger human rights struggle.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core structure of intertwining a tender, character-driven romance with a heavy historical or political context. The emotional power comes from the contrast between intimate hope and systemic despair, creating a consistently bittersweet and heavy tone.

Dramas of Family Separation like in Come See the Paradise

Gripping stories of families fractured by political forces and historical trauma.For viewers seeking movies similar to 'Come See the Paradise' and its heartbreaking depiction of a family divided by internment camps. These films are heavy historical dramas that focus on the emotional toll of family separation caused by war, injustice, or political conflict, often with a somber and reflective mood.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a family living in relative normalcy until a major historical event—such as war or systemic prejudice—intrudes, leading to their forced separation. The story then unfolds through the parallel struggles of each family member, highlighting their resilience, suffering, and the long, difficult path toward finding each other again.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on the family unit as a casualty of history. They evoke a specific blend of melancholy, anxiety, and nostalgia, using a steady, deliberate pace to fully explore the emotional weight of loss and the fragile hope of reconciliation.

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Come See the Paradise Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Come See the Paradise

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More About Come See the Paradise

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