The Extraordinary Journey of the Dragon
Revisit a family album to find connections that are personal, subjective, national, and international. For all these reasons, this film offers a glimpse into the contribution of our documentary filmmakers, who consistently represent the national industry with their excellent work.
- Sergio Monsalve, Independent Film Critic
The film exudes a beautiful warmth that captivates with its intimate yet expansive tone. Very well crafted. A new documentary that speaks volumes about Venezuelan cinema.
—Alfonso Molina, Critic, Ideas de Babel
It's a story about migration, about the Japanese in America and Venezuela, but also about the filmmaker's own story. It's also a wonderful exercise in making use of heritage—in this case, family photographs—and highlighting the importance of preserving and conserving the visual memory of the world, of a country, a town, or a family.
—Vladimir Sosa Sarabia, President, National Cinemateque Foundation of Venezuela
Director: Kaori Flores Yonekura
SYNOPSIS: A filmmaker discovers a treasure: her great-uncle Yoshitomi documented his life from 1933 to 1945, from his time as a young soldier in Japan to his migration to Peru and his time as a prisoner of war in Venezuela during World War II. Through these images, the figure of the Dragon emerges, a chimera who, like all migrants, adapts and transforms according to the territories he conquers, merging memory, myth, and reality.
Producers: Nuevo Objetivo Film, CNAC, Eva Equipments. With the support of CNAC.
Running Time: 84 min
Country of Production: Venezuela
Shooting Locations: Japan, Peru, Venezuela
Production Date: March 1, 2025
Type: Documentary
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Historical, Human Rights, Road Movie
Recommended Age: PG-13
Language: Spanish / Subtitles: English
Themes: Emigration/Immigration, Identity, Human Rights, Photography, Ancient Mythology, Ancestry
Kaori Flores Yonekura: A Voice of Diasporas
From the UN Collection to the Goya Award
The new film by Venezuelan-Japanese filmmaker Kaori Flores Yonekura, "The Extraordinary Journey of the Dragon," is not just a movie; it is the culmination of a decade-long artistic vision built on solidity and prestige, and is competing for the 2026 Goya Award as Venezuela's submission for Best Ibero-American Film.
"The Extraordinary Journey of the Dragon" is firmly backed by the success of her previous work, the feature film "Nikkei." This film has been screened at more than 30 international film festivals, is part of the permanent collections of leading universities worldwide, and has been used by the United Nations through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in migration research projects.
We invite you to experience the quality and humanistic value of Kaori's voice: 'Nikkei' is available right now, for free, here on our website. Enjoy the film that set the standard and join our campaign by sharing our story.
You can follow us on INSTAGRAM: @el_dragon_film @nuevobfilm @miss__nikkei
Nuevo Objetivo Film exists because we firmly believe in the power of cinema to transform and enrich society. Since 2004, our passion has been to create, produce, and distribute films that not only entertain but also contribute significant cultural and social values. We are deeply motivated by a love for the seventh art and the conviction that we have the talent and vision to produce high-quality film content that resonates with audiences and generates a positive impact. Our purpose is to be a source of relevant, well-told stories that contribute to a better society.
