An award-winning documentary about Megumi Yokota's abduction by North Korea made its Los Angeles debut Friday.
Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim, who wrote and directed "Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story," were featured guests at the ArcLight Cinema in the Hollywood area. The husband-and-wife filmmaking team received warm applause and answered questions from the audience following the show.
"It was a very interesting film. I had never heard of the abduction issue before and I was really surprised. It is amazing what Megumi's parents have accomplished so far," said Katherine Moeller, a tutor from Los Angeles.
Brent Pantell, a 26-year-old graphic design student from Los Angeles, said he heard about Yokota's story from his brother-in-law, who helped edit music for the film.
"I hope many Americans see this film," Pantell said.
The 2005 film details Yokota's highly publicized abduction from Niigata in 1977.
It also examines the tireless efforts of Yokota's parents and other families of abductees to raise political and social awareness of the issue.
The screening was part of the International Documentary Association's DocuWeek.