The Cherry Orchard (1990) | Japanese movie [English subs]

The Japanese movie "The Cherry Orchard" ("Sakura no sono") (1990).
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A student drama group are preparing for their school's annual performance of the Russian play The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. The whole story takes place during the final two hours of preparation leading up to the performance. However, the play is in danger of being cancelled due to the inappropriate actions of one of the students while outside the school grounds. The play is an important rite-of-passage for the students and a tradition that connects the past with the present, through the spirit of the cherry blossom.

Sakura no sono is director NAKAHARA Shun's masterpiece, and a celebrated classic of Japanese cinema. The film won multiple awards in 1990 (in six separate Academy Awards ceremonies and festivals) for best film, best director, best screenplay, best editing, best supporting actress (TSUMIKI Miho as Sugiyama Noriko), and best newcomer (NAKAJIMA Hiroko as Shimizu Yuko).

The film is an adaptation of the original manga 'Sakura no sono' by YOSHIDA Akimi.

🌸 The spirit of the cherry blossom

Sakura no sono is a story about youth and the spirit of the cherry blossom. In Japanese culture the sakura (cherry blossoms) are richly symbolic ~ an enduring metaphor for the beauty and ephemeral nature of life, emphasizing the passing of time. They serve to encourage appreciation of the present (fleeting moments that will never return) and are a reminder of cherished memories. Cherry blossom season is a time to reaffirm the joy of being alive.

In the Japanese Arts (particularly in manga and anime), the sudden-blossoming, vibrant and short-lived sakura are closely associated with the period of youth. The girls in The Cherry Orchard could even be thought of as the real cherry blossoms of the story.

🌸 Footnotes

The story also illustrates how people can overcome personal obstacles and achieve great things by working together. A common theme in Japanese cinema.

The seniors have blue sakura emblems on their neckerchiefs, juniors have red. (The colours are the other way round in the 2008 remake). The juniors address seniors as "senpai." The term "bucho" means club leader/ president of the club.

The story takes place on April 14th, the day of the annual play and Shimizu's 18th birthday.

[46:23] A fun observation: Right of the screen, two actresses break out of character. At the end of shooting the long scene (under hot studio lights) the ice creams have melted in their hands.

RK🦋

Title: Sakura no sono (1990) (lit. Cherry Blossom Garden)
Title (English): The Cherry Orchard

Cast:
NAKAJIMA Hiroko – Shimizu Yuko
TSUMIKI Miho – Sugiyama Noriko
SHIRASHIMA Yasuyo – Kurata Chiyoko
MIYAZAWA Miho – Jomaru Kaori
KAJIWARA Aki – Kubota Maki
OKAMOTO Maiko (as Okamoto Mai) – Miss Satomi

Production credits:
Writer: YOSHIDA Akimi (manga), JINNO Hiroaki
Producer: OKADA Yutaka, SASAOKA Kosaburo
Director: NAKAHARA Shun
Cinematography: FUJISAWA Junichi
Music: Federico Mompou, KUMAMOTO Mari (piano)