review for Come See the Paradise on AllMovie

Come See the Paradise is a truly underrated film from director Alan Parker that deserved far better from awards committees and theatergoers than the indifferent reception it received. An unflinching examination of a long-ignored, shameful side of World War II, this powerful drama is cleverly shot in the gauzy, golden-hued tones of a nostalgic period piece, but it has a lot more on its mind than simply rehashing the glory of the war years. Mixed-race marriage, the U.S. government's attempts to quell organized labor, and its reprehensible policy toward its own Japanese-American citizens are just a few of the issues delineated in a superb film that remembers all too keenly that the good old days weren't so good for some. Along with his previous film Mississippi Burning (1988), director Parker creates a significant pair of thoughtful, absorbing historical fictions replete with excellent performances and sharp, critical observations of disgraceful chapters in American history. Another real standout element here is the intense, atmospheric score by composer Randy Edelman, which became ubiquitous in the trailers of other films for many years afterward.