Hanami

Spoken: Cape Verdean Creole, French, English, Japanese / Subtitled: English

Hanami is the Japanese term for the falling of the cherry blossoms, but that seems a rather distant reality in arid Cape Verde. This intimate coming-of-age film follows main character Nana through three key stages of her young life: first as an abandoned toddler on the volcanic island of Fogo, then as a feverish child during a magical-realist adventure and finally as a teenager struggling with her past. Hanami portrays Nana's personal journey, where dreams and reality merge.

This debut film by Swiss-Cape Verdean director Denise Fernandes is a sensitive portrait that focuses on beauty and impermanence. Set against a savage volcanic setting, it employs a minimalist style that is as thoughtful as poetic.