IFFI-2008 - International Film Festival of India

IFFI-2008
CINEMA OF THE WORLD
Cherry Blossoms - Hanami
/ Kirschblüten - Hanami
2007, 35 mm, Colour, 95 mins, English
Germany
Trudi is the only one who knows that her husband is terminally ill with cancer. When his
doctor suggests that the couple undertake one last trip together, Trudi persuades her
husband to accompany her to visit her children and grandchildren in Berlin. However,
the members of their family are far too wrapped up in their own lives to be able to take
care of the couple. After a theatre trip to see a Butoh dance performance, Trudi and Rudi
decide to go and stay at a hotel on the Baltic coast. And then, out of the blue, Trudi dies.
Rudi is completely at a loss. He has no idea what to do with his life, until he decides to go
to Japan to visit their youngest son, Karl.
Director
Doris Dörrie
Screenplay
Doris Dörrie
Cinematography
Hanno Lentz
Editor
Inez Regnier, Frank Müller
Music
Claus Bantzer
Cast
Elmar Wepper, Hannelore Elsner, Nadja Uhl, Maximilian
Brückner, Birgit Minichmayr, Aya Irizuki
Art
Bele Schneider
Costumes
Sabine Greuning
Production
Olga Film, BR, ARD, Arte
World Sales
Bavaria Film International
Bavariafilmplatz, 8
Geiselgasteig
82031 Munich
T: +49 89 64 99 26 86
F: +49 89 64 99 37 20
Email: cannes05@bfint.de
Festivals
Berlin, Hawaii
Doris Dörrie, best known in Germany for her 1985 hit comedy Men, is herself a
practicing Zen Buddhist. She turned to the Japanese philosophy 16 years ago when her
husband Helge Weindler, who was the cameraman on Men, was diagnosed with terminal
cancer. The multi-talented Dörrie has also published several novels, short story
collections and children's books, and has even staged and directed a number of operas.
Her 2000 comedy Enlightenment Guaranteed tells the story of two brothers who go to
stay in a Japanese Zen monastery, while last year's How to Cook Your Life is a
documentary about a Californian Zen priest and cook.
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