The Cherry Orchard (1990)

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).