HiLdA KoRoNeL: CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Thursday, September 11, 2025

CHERRY BLOSSOMS

CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Cherry Blossoms (1972) — dossier

Quick facts

· Title: Cherry Blossoms (1972). IMDb

· Director: Lino Brocka. Letterboxd

· Writer: Alfred Yuson (screenplay / story). IMDb

· Production company: Lea Productions. Video 48

· Release date (PH): 3 August 1972. Video 48

· Filming location: filmed on location in Japan (noted in period publicity). Video 48

Cast (top billed)

· Dante Rivero. IMDb

· Pilar Pilapil. IMDb

· Hilda Koronel (early-career role). IMDb

· Nicholas Hammond (foreign lead / guest). IMDb

· Patricia Mijares, Mary Walter, Ruben Rustia (supporting). IMDb

Crew / Key credits

· Cinematography: Steve Perez. Video 48

· Music / Composer: José Mari Chan (credited). Video 48

· Runtime: commonly listed as ~90 minutes in several film databases. Trakt+1

Synopsis / plot notes

No full scene-by-scene synopsis survives in major databases, but period listings and festival/program notes describe Cherry Blossoms as a romantic/drama picture by Lino Brocka starring Dante Rivero and Pilar Pilapil with Hilda Koronel in a supporting early role. Sources repeatedly list the film as a Lea Productions presentation shot partly in Japan, suggesting the story involves cross-cultural or overseas sequences typical of some 1970s Filipino romances. If you want, I can try to reconstruct a fuller plot by watching any surviving film copy or by locating contemporary newspaper reviews/ads. Letterboxd Video 48

Posters & promotional material

· MoviePosterDB / MoviePosters lists an official theatrical poster for Cherry Blossoms (1972). That’s the best high-quality commercial poster source available online. Movie Poster Database Movie Poster Shop

· Video48’s archival blog also reproduces publicity items and press blurbs from the film’s 1972 run (a great contact if you want scans). Video 48

· Reproductions and retail poster prints appear occasionally on shops (eBay, Walmart listings), but these are modern reprints rather than original studio one-sheets. eBay Walmart.com

Music / Theme / Soundtrack

· Composer credited: José Mari Chan (a well-known Filipino composer/performer). Video 48

· I could not find evidence of a commercial soundtrack release (LP/45) tied to the film. As with many period Filipino films, original music often survives only in film prints or private collector transfers. If you’d like, I can search record-collector forums and old record catalogs for any single or theme song release. Video 48 MUBI

Availability / where to watch

· The film is listed in major film databases (IMDb, MUBI, Letterboxd, Trakt) but no widely advertised streaming or DVD/bluray edition appears in public catalogs. That usually means copies live in private collections or film archives. IMDb MUBI+1

· Next steps to obtain a viewing copy: contact Philippine film archives (FDCP, ABS-CBN Film Archives, Mowelfund), or reach out to collector sites like Video48 to ask about prints/scans. I can help draft those emails if you want.

Trivia & context

· Cherry Blossoms is one of several Brocka films from the early 1970s that paired mainstream stars with more artful direction; it sits alongside titles you already have in your collection like Santiago! and Stardoom. Video 48 IMDb

· The presence of Nicholas Hammond (an American actor) and on-location Japan shooting makes the film stand out among Lea Productions’ local romances of the period. Video 48 IMDb

Sources / selected references

Key sources I used for this dossier: IMDb; Video48 archival blog (1970s publicity scans); Letterboxd / MUBI / Trakt film pages; MoviePosterDB (poster listing). IMDb Video 48 Letterboxd Movie Poster Database

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Hilda

In a world where cinema often chases the fleeting and the new, Hilda Koronel stands as a testament to the enduring power of true artistry. Her return in Sisa is not merely a comeback — it is a reminder that certain voices, certain faces, and certain stories are timeless. They live on, not because they resist change, but because they evolve with it, carrying wisdom, grace, and truth into every frame. As the lights dim and the first scene unfolds, we are not just watching the return of a beloved actress — we are witnessing history, wrapped in the radiance of a woman who will forever be the gold standard of Philippine cinema. There are actors who play roles, and there are artists who inhabit them so completely that they transcend the screen. Hilda Koronel belongs firmly to the latter. For decades, she has been the luminous thread woven through the tapestry of Philippine cinema — a performer of rare beauty, grace, and truth. From the quiet resilience of Insiang to the magnetic authority of Working Girls, her portrayals have not merely entertained, but stirred the soul and reflected the struggles, dreams, and dignity of a nation. Some stars fade with time, their brilliance dimmed by the passing years. But Hilda Koronel is not one of them. Her light has only deepened — glowing warmer, brighter, and richer with every role. She has walked through the rain-soaked streets of Maynila, stood defiant in the narrow alleys of Insiang, and gazed at love’s fleeting beauty in Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising. Now, as she steps into the haunting world of Sisa, we witness not just the return of an actress, but the revival of a living legend — one whose presence still commands the gaze of the lens, and the heart of a nation. After more than a decade away from the big screen, Hilda Koronel — one of Philippine cinema’s most celebrated and multi-awarded actresses — is making her highly anticipated return. Known for her iconic performances in films by Lino Brocka and Mike de Leon, Koronel has long been considered the gold standard of Filipino acting, influencing generations of artists and earning the admiration of audiences worldwide. Her comeback in Jun Robles Lana’s Sisa marks not just a new chapter in her career, but a cultural moment for Philippine cinema — a chance to see a screen legend once again in a role crafted especially for her. ~ Cielomar

HiLdA KoRoNeL

Thursday, September 11, 2025

CHERRY BLOSSOMS

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