Cherry Blossoms

“I always wanted to go to Japan with him,” confesses Trudi (Hannelore Elsner), the adoring wife of happily cautious and unadventurous civil servant Rudi (Elmar Wepper). Trudi adores oriental culture, especially the Butoh, a Japanese dance with avant-garde elements, while Rudi prefers the comfort and familiarity of home, along with sausages and cabbage rolls. When Trudi learns that Rudi is dying of a terminal illness, she convinces him to take a journey with her, only it is Trudi who suddenly dies en route, and the heartbroken Rudi who continues the odyssey in tribute. Shot in Bavaria, Berlin, and Japan (including Rudi's tender journey to see Mt. Fuji with a homeless Japanese girl), Doris Dorrie's touching tale covers a lot of familiar territory—aging, death, regret, acceptance, the rejuvenation of travel, the power of art, and the consolation of friendship—with compassion, at times evoking the films of Yasujiro Ozu. Although it tells a sad story, Cherry Blossoms is also a life-affirming and inspiring film, touching on the exploration of new cultures, the impermanence of life, and the transcendence of love and commitment even after loss. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)