Departures film review

Rating: 9/10 (30 September 2017)

The film Departures by Yojiro Takita introduced me a job I have never noticed: mortuary. As the characters in the film mentioned, having a work to do with dead people's body is a shame. However, I would think this kind of job is unusual, but not a shame, because every job should be respected. The main character, Daigo was first working in a band to play cello. When the band was dismissed, Daigo and his wife Mika moved back to his mother's old house, because it is too hard for them to afford the living expense in Tokyo. In the old town, Daigo found this job, and starting to work as a mortuary. All of his neighbors and Mika did not agree with him doing the job, but after seeing him doing the job, they realized this job should also be respected. I really enjoyed watching this movie because this is not just showing a plain story, but having many social and family issues like transgender and no parenting children. The burial custom in Japan shows that it is not an American film because there is no such custom that cleaning the body in front of its' family and friend.