要為《其後》於歷史上定位,大概可以在費穆的《小城之春》和杜魯福的《祖與占》(Jules et Jim)旁邊找到適宜的空間,而且誰也沒有抬舉誰。六男三女兵分三路的夾纏,法國的一段佔了人強馬壯的優勢,在國際上最膾炙人口。但其實嫂夫人情意結在兩洲三地的發酵,醇美如酒溫甜似蜜,各自都是不怕紅爐火的經典。《小城之春》散發的文藝味透著傳統的中國書生氣質,原本隨時有變酸的危機,幸好滲出女性感性的旁白打救了它。《祖與占》的第三人稱敘事式源自原著,自覺地文學性,巧的是旁白也擔任了重要的角色,替人物和觀眾間設下有分寸的距離,就算看得陶醉也保持著清醒。唯有《其後》令人專心一意地沉溺,鬱悒是第一手的,傷逝是直接的,再含蓄你也沒有辦法不為它流下眼淚。
Original title: Kirschblüten - Hanami
Director: Doris Dörrie
Producer: Molly von Fürstenberg, Harald Kügler
Cast: Elmar Wepper, Hannelore Elsner, Nadja Uhl, Aya Irizuki
Awards: The film received Bavarian Film Award 2007 (Producers' Prize & Best Actor Elmar Wepper), German Film Award 2008 (Best Film in Silver, Best Actor Elmar Wepper, Best Costumes) and Best Film Golden Space Needle Award Seattle 2008.
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...