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The Funeral
お葬式
1984 125 min Japan
★7.7
Comedy, Drama
Director: Jûzô Itami
Trailers
Description
When Wabisuke's father-in-law unexpectedly dies, the family goes through a series of random events and occurrences as the funeral unfolds over three days in their home.
Starring
Tsutomu Yamazaki
Actor
Nobuko Miyamoto
Actor
Kin Sugai
Actor
Awards
19 wins & 5 nominations
Key opinion
Juzo Itami’s directorial debut is a unique, genre-defying exploration of death that eschews solemnity in favor of documenting the mundane absurdities and social fatigue inherent in funeral rites. Through a detailed, almost observational lens, the film highlights how life persists with humor and imperfection even in the face of inevitable loss.
| Theme | The film succeeds in balancing the gravity of death with the mundane absurdities and social contradictions of funeral rituals. | |
| Direction | The director employs a methodical, observational style to document the specific logistical steps and chores of a traditional funeral. | |
| Originality | The film’s refusal to adopt a mournful or lofty tone serves to underscore the persistence of life rather than presenting a traditional tragedy. | |
| Pacing | The film's deliberate, step-by-step depiction of funeral rites is perceived by some as an insightful, meditative study, while others find the experience monotonous or tedious. | |
| Humor | The film occupies an indeterminate space between satire and drama, leading to disagreement over whether it functions successfully as a comedy or merely a series of weakly comic observations. |