Preview: Cherry Blossoms: Hanami (2009)

Synopsis:

A woman suggests she and her dangerously ill husband pay a visit to their children only to find out they aren't wanted head off to the Baltic where the wife dies suddenly. The husband discovers his wife had wanted to lead an entirely different life in Japan and travels there to live that life for her.

• Poster: B

Review:

The poster doesn't really give an idea about the film's subject. It's somewhat pretty, but rather innocuous.

• Trailer: A-

Review:

It's very difficult to find a preview that an make you tear up. This was one of the few. The sadness and desperation is apparent, but the joy of completion makes for a very interesting story. What ruins a lot of that is a rather inexplicable closing shot of the lead and his geisha in sleeping bags on the ground. It will likely fit within the context of the movie, but for a trailer, it's slightly distracting.

Oscar Prospects:

This seems like a perfect Oscar baiting film and, should it be submitted to the Foreign Language Film committee, I could see it going a long way.

Release Date:

• January 16, 2009

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (February 1, 2009) Original