Maddox Chen is a filmmaker, animator and actor, originally from New York, currently living in Los Angeles, where is now a high school senior. “Grandpa Cherry Blossom” is his directorial debut and has already garnered numerous awards from film festivals and competitions.
“Grandpa Cherry” is screening at New Filmmakers Los Angeles
The documentary focuses on the life of Francis Uyematsu, who came in the US in the beginning of the 20st century, through the words of his granddaughter, Mary Uyematsu Kao and Chuck Currier, a local historian and former teacher. Through their narration, the remarkable story of a man who came to the US started a flower import shop and later on a wholesale flower operation that made him a millionaire, even during the Great Depression. As the two highlight, Francis also donated as many trees and flowers as possible throughout his life, in order to foster friendship between Japanese and American people, thus getting acceptance himself in the country. Unfortunately, the WWII resulted in him, as almost every Japanese in the country, behind barb wires in concentration camps, losing his whole state and also watching two of his children dying, in yet another tragic story during the time.
Apart from the very interesting story, Maddox Chen's artform is also elaborate, even more so when considering that this is a student film. The way color creeps in gradually to a majority of scenes is definitely a highlight, while the editing, and particularly the way the footage of the past, including photos and videos is combined with the two interviews and the images of the area now, is also excellent. Lastly, the capturing of the flora of the area and a final scene that looks a lot like Mount Fuji add a very appealing sense of color and beauty to the documentary.
“Grandpa Cherry Blosson” fulfills a number of the central goals of the medium, highlighting a little known part of history and elevating it to a more general comment regarding Japanese immigration in the US, while retaining its cinematic quality throughout its 8 minutes of duration. Considering this is a film school, I am keen on seeing what Chen comes up with in the future.
