Wayward Muse:

Departures is one of those rare films that just about everyone who views it will love. It is nearly perfect. The worst I've heard anyone say is they felt a little emotionally manipulated, but still loved it! Which begs the question: what is manipulative in film? I would argue that while I find many Japanese dramas very emotionally manipulative even if I like them?filled with overly-sentimental music?dragging out emotional scenes way beyond the limits of good taste?I would not put Departures in this category by a very long shot! Yes, it will move anyone who is not encrusted in stone?but it does this not through classic manipulative film-making, but through slow quiet scenes of watching people's reactions to seeing their recently departed loved ones treated with absolute reverence and grace. To me it speaks to a hunger inside of us all to give and receive such gentle, tender, and respectful treatment. It also reveals what is necessary to grieve well. But another strength of the film is that it is downright hilarious at times, capturing the gallows humor and absurdity of death. And it is a very personal, even spiritual story of Daigo's discovery of an avocation in life. He begins the story as a cellist who loses his job when his orchestra goes under. Realizing the limits of his talents, he returns with his wife to his childhood home, where he stumbles into an accidental apprenticeship as a nakanshi?not an undertaker or a mortician, nakanshi is a rather recent vocation in Japan, and many funerary services do not include this traditional piece at all. Performing a task, which up until recently would have been done by a family member, the nakanshi ceremonially bathes and dresses the dead?with the family looking on. This job is considered ?unclean? and carries a heavy stigma, and this fact is central to some of the drama?probably the most ?predictable? part, but so moving as to be easily forgiven. If ever a film deserved it's Oscar, this is it! 07-06-09

Southern Belle 1:

At this point in my life, DEPARTURES, an art-house winner, hit a cord. This is the gentle story about the Japanese ceremony of preparing one's deceased for burial and the afterlife. Although that theme may sound bizarre and maybe even maudlin, it is handled with such great care and dignity that the viewer quickly becomes enveloped in the tradition being demonstrated. Supported by beautiful orchestral melodies and landscapes, and with a bit of comedic pauses appropriately thrown in, a likable young man who has not altogether come to grips with his past grows up before our very eyes. Delicate societal taboos are slowly replaced with wisdom, understanding and respect for one's life - and death. DEPARTURES, a powerful story that may leave some feeling emotionally manipulated (although I did not), is most deserving of its 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. I was afraid that cultural differences may leave me disconnected from the subject matter, but strangely enough, that was not the case. Attending to a loved one's "bodily shell with tenderness and artistry" is surely to be hallowed in all cultures. This is a beautifully refined Japanese drama that adeptly addresses an uncomfortable time in every person's life at one time or another. Highly recommended. Subtitles required. 02-26-10

1d56bcdd85:

Departures deserves all the awards and recognitions it received. It is truly one of those very rare films that will forever stay in my memory. It is a touching drama that has many poignant moments, but also laced with humors, almost dark humors I must say. Masahiro Motoki is absolutely fabulous as Daigo Kobayashi, an out-of-work cellist who found a new job as an encoffineer. This seemingly morbid occupation soon proved to be somewhat of an art of respect. Far from what Daigo expected, it paid very well and also it gave him a chance to make peace with his own past. Departures is a rare and outstanding film which I feel deserves more than 5 stars.

AfroPixFlix:

This film is rescued from near campiness by a gravitas theme. It regards an unemployed cellist who mistakenly answers a job ad and gets hired as an encasketer. This is a person who prepares a deceased person for burial. The process requires the manual dexterity of a magician and the ritualistic solemnity of a Japanese tea server. Yet it is a maligned career in a Japanese society that places incredible emphasis on saving face. His resulting pariah status causes him to hide his new job from his overly giggly wife. But the dignity of the job transforms him and those around him. The soundtrack is superb and lends majesty to this cinematic adage of following your dreams, forgiving, and living for the benefit of others. Great to see DEPARTURES earn the foreign language Oscar, but so many other cinematic treasures get overlooked because they are crammed into this generalized category.

Kat Daddy:

This is a multi-layered movie that works well on every level. Extremely well acted, it is both poignant and beautiful. It is no wonder that it has earned the five star ratings. Giving new meaning to potter and the clay, it draws forth admiration for the significant art inherent to the subject matter. It could have been done over here, but it would have suffered. The Western mindset forefends the basic working of this material. There were sublime moments in this movie. I think that I have never beheld a film such as this. You will never forget this film. Every moment is meaningful. It is truly a masterwork. Was it good? It is so good that I hate myself.

lastliberal:

I have been waiting on the chance to see this Oscar winner by Yôjirô Takita. Having seen the magnificent films it beat, I knew it had to be good. Not doing well as a cellist, Daigo (Masahiro Motoki) applies for a job at what he thinks is a travel agency. He is going to be preparing the departed for cremating, not preparing travelers for departures. He even hides his job from his wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue). Its no wonder, as a friend advises him to get a proper job. Then, his wife finds out what he does, and she leaves him. But thing turn around when the lady who runs the baths dies. His wife and friend see what he does, and if you dont fight back the tears, you are one cold dude. Sometimes funny, but always respectful, the film really grabs you. The music is fantastic, and the scenery when he is away from work playing his cello is breathtaking. Combined with Wandafuru raifu (After Life) and Ikiru, we gain a great appreciation of the Japanese attitude towards death. This was fantastic!

Juzie:

4.4. Absolutely beautiful. Although predictable at some parts, it never fails to pull through without startling grace. Stunning music. Interesting characters. Tears welled, and it never came off as cheesy. 3/19/10

DFWFOREIGN:

Japanese film about a cellist turned funeral home worker won the Oscar for foreign-language film. Daigo Kobayashi is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved & now he finds himself without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work &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 & entry into the next life. While his wife & others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work & begins to perfect the art of Nokanshi acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life & death, between the departed & the family of the departed. This film won Best Foreign Film Oscar 2009 81st Oscars. I was uncertain about the word encoffiner. I could not find it in any dictionaries I wrote several & Miriam Webster replied the word has been in use since Shakespeare?s time. The equivalent of a casketer in our context would be the embalmer?s assistants. (Bodies are not embalmed in Japan) Masahiro Motoki (The Longest Night in Shanghai) stars as the lead protagonist Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist in an orchestra & his wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue). This is an excellent movie which covers ground not usually talked about in movies the after death process. Japans rituals are much more unique &interesting than ours. It is a very well crafted drama with some very comedic moments. It does not get trapped into melodrama as some movies might have. Death reveals many things. Some maybe be harsh, some kind. This movie gives us an interesting look at all of them. The music is beautifully captivating in almost every scene of grief. The film could be criticized for its long length & sentimentality these were not negatives for me. The film is earnest appeal for renewed respect toward the old & the dead. 5 stars see my lists 4 foreign films

N of Maud:

You know the few films that rise above average crowd but never reach greatness, the ones which you will enthusiastically reccommend to any friend but you most likely won't remember a few months later like you do a scene from Pulp Fiction or Boogie Nights? Departures fits neatly into this category. Its a rather humorous film look at traditions we keep alive for times of need. Mr.Motoki is an unstated comedian, using his wide eyed expressions and movements rather than vulgar jokes to win laughs. His character goes through the well worn story arc of the inexperienced,conflicted, lost fired employee who stumbles upon a wise teacher who helps him resolve his issues and get in touch with a part of Japanese culture more valid to himself and closer to the "source" than Western consumerism. If you're looking for a comedy that has jokes coming every other line,look elsewhere. If you liked Lost in Translation or Still Walking give this flick a try... Also, the region of Japan this is shot in is very beautiful and looks more like New England with high density Japanese mixed use buildings that have materialized rather than Tokyo.

jahner johnson:

Like most others, I'll give this a very good review. If asked to criticize the movie, I'd point to what I felt were missteps: First, I didn't understand why the director chose to show the departure scene at the beginning of the movie, before introducing the characters or developing the plot. It took away the element of mystery and surprise during the movie. Second, I felt the lead character was very good in the dramatic scenes, but seemed uncomfortable during the humorous segments. Other than those two comments, I'd say this is a great movie--easy to buy into and full of heart. The bottom line message the movie contains is wonderful and wonderfully presented.

Cato the Younger:

This is a story of a man whose life takes an unexpected and unconventional turn, and in so doing finds both inner peace and a kind of mastery he was unable to achieve playing the cello. The theme of this film is not death; it is all about reconciliation. All the characters in this movie including the supporting actors reconcile themselves to their circumstances and accept their fate with grace and dignity. They each accept how they were born, the talents they possess (or don't), the career and matrimonial decisions they have made, mistakes they made along the way, chance events, and ultimately how they decide to live to the end of their lives. This film reminds me a lot of the Japanese classic "Tokyo Story"; in a famous bit of dialogue near the end of that film one character asks another discontentedly, "isn't life disappointing?" and the other, who has had more than her share of grief and disappointment, beams with an expression of unforgettable happiness and simply replies, "yes". This film is much in that same tradition, accepting of life's mysteries and vicissitudes, and the common fate that we all share. It conveys all this with a light comic touch and hopeful themes that make it easier to bear. 4 1/2 stars.

DFWFOREIGN:

Japanese film about a cellist turned funeral home worker won the Oscar for foreign-language film. Daigo Kobayashi is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved & now he finds himself without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work &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 & entry into the next life. While his wife & others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work & begins to perfect the art of Nokanshi acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life & death, between the departed & the family of the departed. This film won Best Foreign Film Oscar 2009 81st Oscars. I was uncertain about the word encoffiner. I could not find it in any dictionaries I wrote several & Miriam Webster replied the word has been in use since Shakespeare¿s time. The equivalent of a casketer in our context would be the embalmer¿s assistants. (Bodies are not embalmed in Japan) Masahiro Motoki (The Longest Night in Shanghai) stars as the lead protagonist Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist in an orchestra & his wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue). This is an excellent movie which covers ground not usually talked about in movies the after death process. Japans rituals are much more unique &interesting than ours. It is a very well crafted drama with some very comedic moments. It does not get trapped into melodrama as some movies might have. Death reveals many things. Some maybe be harsh, some kind. This movie gives us an interesting look at all of them. The music is beautifully captivating in almost every scene of grief. The film could be criticized for its long length & sentimentality these were not negatives for me. The film is earnest appeal for renewed respect toward the old & the dead. 5 stars see my lists 4 foreign films