Cherry Blossoms and Demons

For downtrodden and alcohol-dependent Karl (Golo Euler), everything in his life seems to be going wrong - he loses his job, separates from his wife and child, and is still unable to grieve his parents’ deaths. He doesn’t know where to turn until a mysterious dancer from his late father’s past named Yu (Aya Irizuki) magically arrives on his doorstep. Unexpectedly, Yu begins to help Karl confront his demons (both literal and figurative) and start to heal in this surreal, whimsical dramedy. Celebrated German filmmaker Doris Dörrie continues to explore the process of reckoning with our spirits across different cultures. In this sweet-spirited sequel to her award-winning 2008 film Cherry Blossoms, Dörrie continues the moving stories of her lively characters. (Mill Valley Film Festival)