Cherry Blossoms Theme

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Director Doris Dörrie’s 2008 film “Cherry Blossoms” is a beautiful story of despair caused by the death of a loved one and how, with a different perspective, one can find solace from the guilt it can cause. This film takes a realistic approach in its depiction of family life and the inevitability of death is never considered on a day to day basis until it becomes a reality. These elements form the main themes of “Cherry Blossoms”, that life is imperfect and temporary and that one may be alive, but may not truly be living. The film’s cinematography explicitly depicts these themes with shots encapsulating the characters’ personality.
A personal film by the director as “[her]…own very personal experiences with loss and grief, death and dying,
…show more content…
The protagonist, Rudi, is a man who does not like change and never fully embraces his life which creates a distance between him and his loved ones is often associated with cutaway shots depicting solitary animals. For example, in the beginning, as Trudi is describing Rudi’s aversion for change and life—much like Isak Bork in “Wild Strawberries” --an establishing shot shows a feral cat slowly walking down an empty street in their town which is immediately mirrored by Rudi taking the same solitary path to work. While on the train to work, rather than showing the train itself the camera is steadily on the neighboring track, which is empty and passing by at a rapid pace; an homage to Rudi’s life. Trudi is often associated with cutaway shots of trees with dying leaves with a jet in the sky slowly making its way off screen signifying Rudi’s imminent departure. Considering Trudi’s penchant for life and connection, she is often shown with engaging with others, mostly her children while Rudi can often be seen in the background alone. Often, when the couple is together alone, handheld cameras are using eye-level shots as if death itself is watching

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