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Revision as of 06:41, 22 May 2014 editCrisco 1492 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators138,227 edits →Plot: c.e. (tighten; trim direct quotes )← Previous edit Revision as of 06:47, 22 May 2014 edit undoCrisco 1492 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Administrators138,227 edits remove cast section and work important characters into the plotNext edit →
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==Plot== ==Plot==
Daigo Kobayashi, a ] in ], loses his job when his orchestra is disbanded. He decides to move back to his hometown, ], with his wife Mika. The live in his childhood home, which was once a small coffee shop owned by Daigo's father; the man ran away with a waitress when Daigo was very young, and since then Daigo has had no contact with his father. Daigo feels guilty about not having taken better care of his mother, who died two years previously, and hatred towards his father for abandoning him. However, he still keeps a "letter-stone" – stones which are said to convey meaning through their texture – which his father had given him many years before. Daigo Kobayashi (]), a ] in ], loses his job when his orchestra is disbanded. He decides to move back to his hometown, ], with his wife Mika (]). The live in his childhood home, which was once a small coffee shop owned by Daigo's father; the man ran away with a waitress when Daigo was very young, and since then Daigo has had no contact with his father. Daigo feels guilty about not having taken better care of his mother, who died two years previously, and hatred towards his father for abandoning him. However, he still keeps a "letter-stone" – stones which are said to convey meaning through their texture – which his father had given him many years before.


While job hunting, Daigo finds an offer for "assisting departures". Uncertain of the job's nature, he goes to the interview and learns that he will be preparing dead bodies for cremation (encoffinment). Though Daigo is reluctant, he is hired on the spot, and receives a cash advance from his new boss Sasaki. Daigo and Mika celebrate, but he is furtive about the true nature of his duties. While job hunting, Daigo finds an offer for "assisting departures". Uncertain of the job's nature, he goes to the interview and learns that he will be preparing dead bodies for cremation (encoffinment). Though Daigo is reluctant, he is hired on the spot, and receives a cash advance from his new boss Sasaki (]). Daigo and Mika celebrate, but he is furtive about the true nature of his duties.


Daigo's first assignment is to assist with the encoffinment of woman who died at home and remained undiscovered for two weeks. Daigo is beset with nausea, and later humiliated when strangers on the bus detect an unsavory scent. To clean himself, he visits a ] which he had frequented as a child. The owner, Tsuyako Yamashita, is the mother of Daigo's old classmate. Daigo's first assignment is to assist with the encoffinment of woman who died at home and remained undiscovered for two weeks. Daigo is beset with nausea, and later humiliated when strangers on the bus detect an unsavory scent. To clean himself, he visits a ] which he had frequented as a child. The owner, Tsuyako Yamashita (]), is the mother of Daigo's old classmate.


Over time, Daigo completes a number of assignments and experiences the gratitude of those left behind. He becomes comfortable with his line of work. Mika, however, learns what he is doing after discovering a training DVD in which Daigo had played a corpse. When Daigo refuses to quit the "disgusting profession", Mika leaves for Tokyo. Elsewhere, Daigo's old classmate Yamashita insists that Daigo avoid his family until he can find another line of work. Over time, Daigo completes a number of assignments and experiences the gratitude of those left behind. He becomes comfortable with his line of work. Mika, however, learns what he is doing after discovering a training DVD in which Daigo had played a corpse. When Daigo refuses to quit the "disgusting profession", Mika leaves for Tokyo. Elsewhere, Daigo's old classmate Yamashita insists that Daigo avoid his family until he can find another line of work.
Line 38: Line 38:


The couple learn of the death of Daigo's father, and Daigo – though initially reluctant – goes with Mika to another village to see the body of his father. Daigo is at unable to recognize him, but when the local funeral workers are careless with the body he takes offense and begins the dressing of the elder Kobayashi's body. While doing so, Daigo finds a stone-letter, which he had given to his father when he was little, held tight in the dead man's hands; Daigo is at last able to recognize his father from his childhood memory. As he finishes the ceremony, Daigo gently presses the stone-letter to Mika's pregnant belly. The couple learn of the death of Daigo's father, and Daigo – though initially reluctant – goes with Mika to another village to see the body of his father. Daigo is at unable to recognize him, but when the local funeral workers are careless with the body he takes offense and begins the dressing of the elder Kobayashi's body. While doing so, Daigo finds a stone-letter, which he had given to his father when he was little, held tight in the dead man's hands; Daigo is at last able to recognize his father from his childhood memory. As he finishes the ceremony, Daigo gently presses the stone-letter to Mika's pregnant belly.

==Cast==
* ] as Daigo Kobayashi
* ] as Mika Kobayashi
* ] as Shōei Sasaki, president of NK Agency
* ] as Yuriko Uemura, an employee of NK Agency
* ] as Tsuyako Yamashita, a woman running a ]
* ] as Shōkichi Hirata, a regular customer of Tsuyako's sentō
* Tetta Sugimoto as Yamashita, a son of Tsuyako, Daigo's old classmate
* Toru Minegishi as Toshiki Kobayashi, Daigo's father
* ] as Mr. Sonezaki, the owner of Daigo's orchestra


==Soundtrack== ==Soundtrack==

Revision as of 06:47, 22 May 2014

For films titled Departure, see Departure (disambiguation).

2008 Japanese film
Departures
Japan release poster
Directed byYōjirō Takita
Written byKundô Koyama
Produced byYasuhiro Mase
StarringMasahiro Motoki
Ryōko Hirosue
Tsutomu Yamazaki
CinematographyTakeshi Hamada
Edited byAkimasa Kawashima
Music byJoe Hisaishi
Distributed byShochiku
Release date
  • 13 September 2008 (2008-09-13)
Running time130 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office$69,932,387

Departures (おくりびと, Okuribito) is a 2008 Japanese drama film by Yōjirō Takita. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 81st Oscars in 2009 and the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year at the 32nd Japan Academy Prize.

The films concerns the historic Japanese "encoffining" ceremony (called a nōkan) in which professional morticians (納棺師, nōkanshi) ritually dress and prepare bodies before they are placed in coffins. Although the film follows contemporary themes, the practice is now rarely performed; limited mainly to rural areas where older traditions are maintained.

Plot

Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a cellist in Tokyo, loses his job when his orchestra is disbanded. He decides to move back to his hometown, Sakata, Yamagata, with his wife Mika (Ryōko Hirosue). The live in his childhood home, which was once a small coffee shop owned by Daigo's father; the man ran away with a waitress when Daigo was very young, and since then Daigo has had no contact with his father. Daigo feels guilty about not having taken better care of his mother, who died two years previously, and hatred towards his father for abandoning him. However, he still keeps a "letter-stone" – stones which are said to convey meaning through their texture – which his father had given him many years before.

While job hunting, Daigo finds an offer for "assisting departures". Uncertain of the job's nature, he goes to the interview and learns that he will be preparing dead bodies for cremation (encoffinment). Though Daigo is reluctant, he is hired on the spot, and receives a cash advance from his new boss Sasaki (Tsutomu Yamazaki). Daigo and Mika celebrate, but he is furtive about the true nature of his duties.

Daigo's first assignment is to assist with the encoffinment of woman who died at home and remained undiscovered for two weeks. Daigo is beset with nausea, and later humiliated when strangers on the bus detect an unsavory scent. To clean himself, he visits a public bath which he had frequented as a child. The owner, Tsuyako Yamashita (Kazuko Yoshiyuki), is the mother of Daigo's old classmate.

Over time, Daigo completes a number of assignments and experiences the gratitude of those left behind. He becomes comfortable with his line of work. Mika, however, learns what he is doing after discovering a training DVD in which Daigo had played a corpse. When Daigo refuses to quit the "disgusting profession", Mika leaves for Tokyo. Elsewhere, Daigo's old classmate Yamashita insists that Daigo avoid his family until he can find another line of work.

After a few months, Mika returns and announces that she is pregnant. She expresses hope that Daigo will find a job of which their child can be proud. While they argue, Daigo's telephone rings, and Daigo receives an assignment to prepare the recently decease bathhouse owner Tsuyako Yamashita. Daigo prepares her body in front of the Yamashita family and Mika, who had befriended Tsuyako. The ritual earns him the respect of all present, and Mika stops telling Daigo to change jobs.

The couple learn of the death of Daigo's father, and Daigo – though initially reluctant – goes with Mika to another village to see the body of his father. Daigo is at unable to recognize him, but when the local funeral workers are careless with the body he takes offense and begins the dressing of the elder Kobayashi's body. While doing so, Daigo finds a stone-letter, which he had given to his father when he was little, held tight in the dead man's hands; Daigo is at last able to recognize his father from his childhood memory. As he finishes the ceremony, Daigo gently presses the stone-letter to Mika's pregnant belly.

Soundtrack

Untitled

All compositions by Joe Hisaishi.

  1. "Shine of Snow I" 1:12
  2. "Nohkan" 3:10
  3. "Kaisan" 0:53
  4. "Good-Bye Cello" 2:16
  5. "New Road" 1:15
  6. "Model" 0:47
  7. "First Contact" 1:51
  8. "Washing" 0:34
  9. "Kizuna I" 1:57
  10. "Beautiful Dead I" 3:12
  11. "Okuribito (On Record)" 1:51
  12. "Gui-Dance" 2:26
  13. "Shine of Snow II" 2:25
  14. "Ave Maria (Okuribito)" 5:29
  15. "Kizuna II" 2:04
  16. "Beautiful Dead II" 2:36
  17. "Father" 1:40
  18. "Okuribito (Memory)" 4:10
  19. "Okuribito (Ending)" 4:59

Production

Loosely based on Aoki Shinmon's autobiographical book Coffinman: The Journal of a Buddhist Mortician (納棺夫日記, Nōkanfu Nikki), the film was ten years in the making. Motoki studied the art of 'encoffinment' at first hand from a mortician, and how to play a cello for the earlier parts of the film. The director attended funeral ceremonies in order to understand the feelings of bereaved families. While death is the subject of great ceremony, as portrayed in the film, it is also a strongly taboo subject in Japan, so the director was worried about the film's reception and did not anticipate commercial success.

Response

Departures received positive reviews from critics. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said he had enjoyed watching the film, which had been recommended to him by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Based on 102 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an 81% approval rating from critics, with an average score of 7.0/10 and a 68/100 on Metacritic. The film has grossed nearly $70 million worldwide.

In 2011, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times added the film to his "Great Movies" collection.

Awards

References

  1. "DEPARTURES (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  2. ^ Departures at Box Office Mojo
  3. Gray, Jason. (2009-02-27) Departures tops Japanese box office following Oscar win | News | Screen. Screendaily.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-12.
  4. ^ Bob Tourtellotte and Isabel Reynolds (23 February 2009). "UPDATE 3-Mortician tale "Departures" surprises with Oscar". Reuters. Retrieved 23 February 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. Japan, China launch 'cartoon' diplomacy
  6. "Okuribito (Departures) – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  7. Departures Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2014-05-12.
  8. Ebert, Roger (5 December 2011). "Departures (2009)". rogerebert.suntimes.com. Retrieved 5 December 2011.

External links

Awards
Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
1947–1955
(Honorary)
1956–1975
1976–2000
2001–present
Hochi Film Award for Best Film
Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Film
Mainichi Film Award for Best Film
Yokohama Film Festival Award for Best Film
Grand Prix des Amériques
1978–2000
2001–present
Films directed by Yōjirō Takita
Categories: