The Maui News

The Nisei Veterans Memorial Center will premiere Stacey Hayashi’s movie “Go For Broke: An Origins Story” at 6:30 p.m. May 3 at the Iao Theater.

Tickets cost $20 and $25 with an option for dinner, catered by Da Kitchen, and a pre-movie cabaret show for an additional $30.

For tickets, call the theater at 242-6969.

The event is sponsored by the Maui Sons and Daughters of the Nisei Veterans, Arisumi Brothers Inc. and Da Kitchen.

The movie features a Japanese-American cast, mostly from Hawaii, and a local crew telling the tale of the start of the famed 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team of World War II, the most decorated unit in the history of the United States military for its size and time in combat.

According to an announcement, Hayashi’s film was 16 years in the making and shot entirely in Hawaii at authentic locations. The movie chronicles the unit’s formation and deployment before heading to basic training at Camp Shelby, Miss.

The movie stars Chris Tashima, who won an Academy Award in 1998 for Live Action Short Film for “Visas and Virtue.” Others in the movie include Peter Shinkoda, known for his performances in “I, Robot” and the “Daredevil” TV series; Cole Horibe of “Dragonfly”; and Ban Daisuke of “Kikaida.” The film features a soundtrack by ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, who makes his acting debut.

The film is rich with details of interest to Maui audiences. For example, in a scene featuring future Olympic coach Soichi Sakamoto, who founded the Three-Year Swim Club, Sakamoto is portrayed by his last protege, Reid Yamamoto. Another detail is that Luka Masuda, who portrays 442nd veteran Eddie Yamasaki, wears Yamasaki’s garrison cap.