Departures (2008) 10/10
Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and now finds him 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 “encoffiner”, 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.
At first, Daigo’s wife and others refuse to accept Daigo’s disgusting profession. After they need an encoffinment service, they finally give their respect and understanding to Daigo. The job is so meaningful but not everybody have the will to do it. I do respect Daigo’s career as an encoffiner.
The movie is very touching, seriously, I can’t stop crying.
| Rating: | 10/10 |
July 13th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Yet to watch it. Thanks for the nice review.