Top 1 in Top 10 Most Popular Japanese Classic Movies.
2008 Departures Official Trailer 1
This is a great movie about life and death, about love and forgiveness. The film tells the story of Daigo Kobayashi, a violinist who is unemployed when his orchestra disbands. He and his wife moved back to his hometown in Yamagata, where he found a new job: serving as a ceremonial for the dead. At first, he was shy and fearful of dealing with corpses, and was also despised by his family and friends because of his odd profession. But gradually, he realizes that his job is not only to beautify the dead, but also to help the living find meaning and comfort in grief. He also learns many things from his boss, Sasaki, who is experienced and dedicated to the profession. Through different funerals, Daigo feels appreciation and respect for life and death, and also better understands the relationship between parents and children. The movie Departures (Okuribito) is a touching and poignant film, giving viewers different emotions about life and death. The film won the Oscar for best foreign film in 2009, and was also highly appreciated by critics and audiences around the world.