Set in the autumn of 1941 in Salty Creek , a willowy fishing village in South Carolina , the film tells the compelling story of two interracial lovers , Sophie , an artist who also fishes and sells crabs to the townsfolk , the other an Asian gentleman , swept up in the tides of history . As World War II rages in Europe , Mr. Ohta , appears in the town badly beaten and under mysterious circumstances . Sophie , a native of Salty Creek , quickly becomes transfixed by Mr. Ohta and a friendship born of their mutual love of art blossoms into a delicate and forbidden courtship . As their secret relationship evolves the war escalates tragically . And when Pearl Harbor is bombed , a surge of misguided patriotism , bigotry and violence sweeps through the town , threatening Mr. Ohta ’s life . A trio of women , each with her own secrets – Sophie , along with the town matriarch and her housekeeper – rejects law and propriety , risking their lives with their actions . The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 22 , 2016 . The film was released on January 25 , 2017
2016 Sundance Film Festival
2016 Sundance Film Festival
Sophie and the Rising Sun (film)