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Departures
おくりびと
2008 130 min Japan PG-13 18+
★8.4
Drama
Director: Yôjirô Takita
Trailers
Description
Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature – as an undertaker’s assistant.
US Gross:
$1.5M
Worldwide:
$69.93M
Starring
Masahiro Motoki
Actor
Ryôko Hirosue
Actor
Tsutomu Yamazaki
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2009
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 2009
— Best International Feature Film
Key opinion
Departures is widely celebrated as a poignant and visually refined exploration of life and death, praised for its respectful depiction of traditional Japanese funerary rites. While the vast majority of viewers are moved by its blend of emotional depth and subtle humor, a minority finds the film's reliance on symbolism over-calculated and emotionally artificial.
| Score | The film features a beautiful, evocative score that perfectly complements its contemplative atmosphere. | |
| Direction | The direction captures Japanese funeral rituals with a rare, elegant, and reverent precision. | |
| Acting | The protagonist's transformation is depicted with nuanced, culturally authentic acting that anchors the narrative. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography effectively uses visual motifs and season changes to underscore the film's philosophical themes. | |
| Humor | The film skillfully balances heavy, existential subject matter with light, ironic humor. | |
| Emotion | Critics are split on the emotional delivery, with some praising its profound humanity while others criticize it as overly symbolic and lacking genuine, spontaneous sentiment. |