Filmmaker Lucy Walker (Waste Land) had set out to visit Japan during cherry blossom season in order to capture the Japanese people’s fascination with the beautiful yet ephemeral flower. When the country was ravaged on March 11, 2011 by an earthquake and tsunami, Walker contemplated abandoning the project. Thankfully, for all of us, she didn’t. The 40-minute short, nominated for an Oscar this year and the winner of Sundance’s jury prize for non-fiction short film, juxtaposes the alluring yet fleeting nature of the flower with the resilience of the survivors who share their heart-wrenching tales.

Partners: Directed by Lucy Walker; distributed by Goldcrest Films International (London)

Premiered: Toronto International Film Festival, 2011

Length: 1 x 40 minutes, 1 x 52 minutes

Rights available: Worldwide