The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Directed by Lucy Walker
Produced by Kira Carstensen
Music by Moby
Release dates
  • September 12, 2011 (2011-09-12) (Toronto)
Running time
 39 minutes
Language Japanese

The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom is a 2011 documentary film directed by Lucy Walker. The film was nominated for the 2012 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).[1]

Synopsis

The film follows survivors of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami as they prepare for the beginning of cherry blossom season.[2]

Production

Walker's original intention was to film a documentary about the cherry blossom and that after the 2011 tsunami she initially reconsidered her decision to create a film of any nature. In an interview with Realscreen Walker stated "My first thought was, ‘Gosh, I can’t do this now.’ But then my second thought was that actually, now is a more important time than ever to show our solidarity with the Japanese people." She did not plan on using the cherry blossom as a metaphor, but that "the film’s subjects picked up on it as an obvious metaphor anyway".[3] Walker had concerns that she would find it difficult to conduct interviews as an outsider to the country, but "found people really wanted to tell their story. They would come across the post-apocalyptic looking landscape especially to find us."[4]

Awards

Award Category Recipient Result
84th Academy Awards Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) Nominated
2012 Sundance Film Festival Jury prize for short film, non-fiction Won[5]

Reception

Critical reception for The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom has been positive, with Bruce Barcott calling the movie's Oscar nomination "a well-deserved nod" and stating that the movie "captures the Japanese experience of the March 11, 2011, tsunami with a quiet beauty, power, and dignity".[6] Film Journal International also reviewed the film, praising Walker's directing and the use of musical and artistic touches.[7] Roger Ebert gave the short 3 stars, stating that some of the footage was "overwhelming".[8]

On November 28, 2011, REACT to FILM screened The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom at the SoHo House in West Hollywood, CA and moderated a Q&A with director Lucy Walker, Aki Mizutani and Kira Carstensen.[9]

References

  1. ↑ ‘Tsunami and Cherry Blossom’ Gets Oscar Nomination RAFU
  2. ↑ A world of heartbreak — and hope — in Oscar short docs Washington Examiner
  3. ↑ TIFF 2011: Lucy Walker premieres ‘visual haiku’ for Japan Realscreen
  4. ↑ The Tsunami And The Cherry Blossom Cinema Without Borders
  5. ↑ Sundance 2012: “Cherry Blossom” grabs non-fiction short prize RealScreen
  6. ↑ Sundance Diary: Powerful "Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom" Gets Oscar Nod One Earth
  7. ↑ Film Review: The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2012: Documentary Film Journal International
  8. ↑ OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT DOCS (UNRATED) Roger Ebert
  9. ↑ "React to Film". Ninunina. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
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