Departures is one of the most revered films ever shown at the Ancaster Film Fest. Departures was the first Japanese film to win Best Foreign Language film in 50 years. It also won ten of the major awards at Japan's version of the Oscars.Combining amazing cinematography with exceptional performances and haunting music, the film explores how life and death are inevitably connected.
Lead actor Masahiro Motoki came up with the idea while on a trip to India where he saw that life and death co-existed in an harmonious way. Daigo, a cellist in an orchestra finds himself out of work when the orchestra is disbanded. In search for new work he goes to an interview after reading a job advertisment entitled 'Departures'. Thinking it may be involved with a travel agency he applies to find it is something quite different and something that neither he nor his wife would be proud of.
The somewhat forgotten ritual of 'encoffinment' which plays an important part in the film shows tremendous respect for human life even in death and is definitely lost in today's modern society on a treadmill. The cello was selected as Daigo's instrument because of its resemblance to the human body, it ability to produce sounds that mimic the human voice range and because the manner in which a cellist plays resembles the encoffinment process.
This extremely moving film has many scenes of significant grace and the climax scene is especially poignant.
Julian D.
Life is full of surprises! Always bemoaned the fact that no one could match Johnny Depp for emotional sensitivity as well as being, unquestionably, the most beautiful man in the universe. HA! and here we have at AFF (where else) Masahiro Motoki, the Japanese Johnny Depp. AAAAH! Didn't see it until Masahiro just twitched the corner of his lip and evoked deep emotion. Marvelous. Seriously, the sacredness of the film about life and death increased my appreciation of the Japanese culture and was a gift to my own awareness of the sacredness of birthing and dying. Thank you once again.
ReplyDeleteI loved Departures, I thought it was so tastefully and caringly portrayed. It made me feel the dignity and respect displayed when someone dies and the impact it has on the family. Here the family was gathered to witness the preparation of the body and final send-off. Wow.
ReplyDelete