Departures

Brian in Mesa

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Departures

Release Date: May 29, 2009 (NY, LA, CHI, SF)
Studio: Regent Releasing
Director: Yojiro Takita
Screenwriter: Kundo Koyama
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for thematic material)
Website: Departures-themovie.com

Starring: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Kimiko Yo

Plot Summary: Academy Award® winner for Best Foreign Language Film, "Departures" is a delightful journey into the heartland of Japan as well an astonishingly beautiful look at a sacred part of Japan's cultural heritage.

"Departures" follows Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and who is suddenly left without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled "Departures" thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a "Nokanshi" or "encoffineer," a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of "Nokanshi," acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living.

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Griffin

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I watched this a few nights ago and I liked it quite a lot. The plot is predictable, but the key moments almost seem inevitable, so even though you see it coming, you know that's the only way it could possibly unfold. The movie has a lot to say about death and our (Japanese or in general) attitudes towards it, none of which being particularly new, but the way that it's told is quite unique, imo.
 

ozzfloyd

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Really enjoyed this flick. Some powerful moments, funny moments and emotion evoking moments. I'd recommend it.
 
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