SYNOPSIS

Directed by University of the Pacific alumnus Doris Dörrie.

Only Trudi knows that her husband Rudi is suffering from a terminal illness. It is up to her to tell him or not. The doctor suggests that they do something together, perhaps something they were long planning to do… Trudi decides not to tell her husband about the gravity of his illness and to follow the doctor´s advice. She convinces Rudi to visit their children and grandchildren in Berlin. But once they arrive, they realize that their children are so busy with their own lives that they have no time for them. Then, suddenly, Trudi dies. Rudi is devastated and has no idea what to do next. From his daughter´s girlfriend he learns that Trudi´s love for him had led her to forego the life that she had wanted to live. He begins to see her with new eyes and vows to make up for her lost life. And so he embarks on his last journey - to Tokyo, in the midst of the cherry blossom festival, a celebration of beauty, impermanence and new beginnings…
One of Germany´s foremost filmmakers, multiple award-winning director Doris Dörrie reconfirms her exceptional talent with this tender, emotionally intense and profoundly moving story of marital love.

2009 Winner of Best Narrative Feature Film at SJIFF!

SELECT FESTIVALS AND AWARDS

• Nominated, Golden Bear, 2008 Berlin International Film Festival
• Winner, Golden Space Needle Award, 2008 Seattle International Film Festival
• Multi-Winning, 2008 German Film Awards
• Official Selection, 2008 Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival
• Official Selection, 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival
• Opening Night, 2009 Berlin and Beyond Film Festival

DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY

Doris Dörrie completed her secondary education (her "Abitur") at a humanist Gymnasium. In 1973 she began a two-year attendance in Film Studies, in the Drama department of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. She then studied at the New School of Social Research in New York.

She worked odd jobs in cafés and even had her student film presented in New York's Goethe House. In 1975, back in Germany, she began to study at the Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film (School for Television and Film) in Munich, and wrote film reviews for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, where she was also assistant editor. Subsequently Dörrie worked as a volunteer for various television stations, and filmed short documentaries.

In Germany, Doris, is one of the highest regarded and most prolific women directors. In addition to her movie work, she has also authored several books.

Filmography: Naked (2002), Enlightenment Guaranteed (1999), Am I Beautiful? (1998), Nobody Loves Me (1994), Paradise (1986)

^ back to top
‹ back to film list
‹ back to programme

SHOWTIMES

THUR. 5/21 at 8:00PM
Stockton Empire Theatre

CO-PRESENTER

CAST AND CREW

Screenwriter: Doris Dörrie
Producer: Molly von Fürstenberg, Harald Kügler
Cinematographer: Hanno Lentz
Editor: Inez Regnier, Frank Müller
Music:Claus Bantzer
Principal Cast: Elmar Wepper, Hannelore Elsner, Aya Irizuki, Nadja Uhl, Maximilian Brückner

SOURCES

World Sales: Bavaria Film International
www.bavaria-film-international.de

Print Source: Strand Releasing
www.strandreleasing.com