2008 was a banner year for great films. Exceptional, original films like Slumdog Millionaire and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button highlighted a year of great film. Lost in the shuffle (for me) was an outstanding Japanese film called Departures which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009. If you are looking for an exceptional foreign language film, I would recommend Departures.
Departures takes on the delicate issue of death and presents it in a freshly pressed package with razor sharp creases. A balance of humor that sometimes veers toward the dark side and powerful emotional appeals are delivered through the focused lens of Director Yojiro Takita. Takita manages to pull together some remarkable performances, sharp cinematography and a touching, compelling story written by Kundo Kayama. The resulting work is nothing short of brilliant.
Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) began playing cello in Kindergarden. His limited talent lands him in a symphony that remains solvent just long enough for him to sink 18 million yen into a new instrument. Kobayashi is ashamed to explain to his wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue) that the symphony has dissolved. He also forgot to mention to Miko how much he paid for the cello that he quickly parts with. To make ends meet, the couple returns to the home Daigo's mother left him when she died two years before.
Daigo begins searching for work and finds an interesting advertisement in the newspaper for what he believes is a travel agency. The term departures was mistakenly printed in place of "the departed." When the terms of the job are explained by the "boss," Mr. Sasaki (Tsutomu Yamazaki), Daigo initially balks. The money is good, so Daigo relents. In the process of learning the art of preparing bodies for departure, a parallel is drawn. Daigo recognizes his own limited talent with the cello, but somehow finds the fulfillment he lacks in the artistry of the departure ceremony. The subtle rewards hook Daigo on a new career.
Daigo's choices have consequences. The line of work he has chosen lead people close to him to consider him "unclean." There is a public shame in the work Daigo does...but a private honor. The families of the departed recognize the gifts that Daigo delivers in undertaking a task that others find repulsive. It creates an interesting dichotomy that allows for some humor, but even greater enrichment. The ceremonies are heart-wrenching, delicate and respectful. The work also provides an opportunity for Daigo to exorcise his own demons with a rich reward he would have otherwise missed.
Departures is filled with deep imagery and symbolism. It touches on issues like the circle of life, afterlife, reconciliation and karma. The elegant symbolism is exquisitely captured through stylish cinematography. Although subtle at times, the cinematography allows plenty of opportunity for reflection on the resonant themes. The cello provides one of the symbolic ties between elements of the story and creates a canorous background for the emotionally nourishing story.
Departures exposes the audience to a variety of ceremonies, bringing home the common elements of death and grieving across religious lines and with a variety of familial situations. Although tense at times, the writing does not rely on situational drama. There are scenes where the drama is created through the interaction of family members, but other times the drama is subtle and incredibly moving...simply presented through the mechanically artistic movements of the ceremony. The dialogue and interactions of the characters maintain continuity and avoid cliche. The characters are multi-faceted with dialogue and characteristics that appear credible.
Because Departures deals with death, the MPAA gave it a PG-13 rating. The film contains many tense scenes of grieving that may be troubling for young viewers. These aspects of the film are contextual and necessary. The rich drama created by examining issues surrounding death are what makes this film special. It is an incredible homage to the writing and direction. Aside from death, there is very little in this film that I would consider inappropriate for younger viewers. I would allow my eleven-year-old to see this film and probably would go a bit younger based on the quality of the film and the delicate manner in which the questionable material is addressed. Run time is two hours, ten minutes.
Departures takes an interesting look at death and issues on the periphery. The introspective writing provides the audience with plenty of fodder for conversation. The rich themes and deep symbolism that permeates the film is thought-provoking, stimulating and touching. Anyone who does not feel this film tug at their heart-strings should engage in their own introspection. The film offers a bit of dark humor to offset the deeper dramatic issues examined. It is a well rounded film that unquestionably deserves the accolades it has received. 9/10.
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