Do not depart from Departures

Rating: 8/10 (31 January 2010)

I recollect at the Academy Awards last year when Japanese Director Yojiro Takita departed from his seat to accept the Best Foreign Language Picture Oscar. Many, yours truly included, were shocked that the frontrunner "Waltz With Bashir" was upset by this small independent Japanese flick. I guess that was the last waltz for Bashir, and the Academy was turning Japanese, I think they were turning Japanese, I really think so. After experiencing "Departures", I am glad the Academy veered that way. "Departures" is a moving, endearing, and even semi-comical film about a young Japanese cellist named Daigo Kobayashi who gets unemployed from his orchestra gig. Therefore, he moves to his Japanese hometown with his wife where he takes a job in a funeral home preparing the dead for their departures. At first, he thinks that the job is travel oriented. But upon arrival to his departures job interview, he realizes that he has to be "prettying up the dead" on a daily basis. However, "Departures" does not depart from the humanistic narrative themes on Daigo still dealing with the hurt on being deserted by his father as a child, and his resiliency to support his newlywed wife Ikue. Director Takita and Screenwriter Kundo Kayama resurrect what could have a lifeless Japanese story with poignant affirming themes on: life appreciation, spirituality of a departure, and misconceptions of the field of funeral services. Takita does incorporate profound symbolist themes on the film's narrative with the cello, food, and stones. Japanese movie star Masahiro Motoki was mas de un hero with his engaging performance as Daigo. Motoki carried the film quite brilliantly. But I cannot depart from this film review by also stating that I do take a bow on the supporting acting ensemble of "Departures", most notably: Tsutomu Yamakazi's performance as Daigo's funeral boss Ikuei Sasaki was of commanding variety, and Ryoko Hirosue work as Daigo's wife Ikue was more than Okaey. Takeshi Hamada's phenomenal scenic cinematography was also an asset to the film which I did not want my eyes to depart from. So arrive to a "Departures" viewing as soon as you can. **** Good