HANAMI

A lyrical coming-of-age debut with touches of magical realism, directed by Swiss filmmaker Denise Fernandes, whose delicate visual narrative draws inspiration from her own roots in Cape Verde. On a remote volcanic island, filmed beautifully by Fernandes, a place most yearn to leave, young Nana discovers the power of staying. When Nana becomes gravely ill, she is sent to the foot of the island’s volcano for treatment, in a world suspended between dreams and reality. Years later, as a teen, she must face her mother’s sudden return and reconcile with the emotional distance that has shaped her. The film’s title is an allusion to the Japanese tradition of hanami, the fleeting, yet radiant cherry blossom, serving as a metaphor for Nana’s journey through absence, love, and rebirth. Internationally acclaimed, the film won the Prize for Best Emerging Director and a Special Mention in the Cineasti del Presente competition at the Locarno Film Festival in 2024.