DEPARTURES

Director: Yojiro Takita
Stars: Masahiro Motoki, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ryoko Hirosue, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Kimiko Yo
Year: 2008
Rating: PG-13
(in Japanese w/English subtitles)

In over forty years of loving film, I am not sure I have ever seen a movie as touching, as lyrical, as wonderfully done, or as nearly perfect as Departures. Winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this is nothing short of a masterpiece that should have also - at the very least - seen Oscar nominations for its star, Masahiro Motoki, and director Yojiro Takita. I cannot remember the last time a filmed moved me as much as this one did, nor gave me such a positive and uplifting affirmation of life. Consider what a feat this is, especially, for a film whose subject matter is death.

Motoki stars as professional cellist Daigo Kobayashi, who has just gotten his first job with a major orchestra ... only to have the orchestra dissolved from under him, for financial reasons. Frustrated and suddenly unsure of his own talent, Daigo suggests to his wife Mika (the wonderful Ryoko Hirosue) that he give up the cello altogether, and cut their losses by leaving the expensive Tokyo and relocating to the small country home he'd been left by his mother, after her death, instead. Mika, a good woman who loves and supports her husband, agrees wholeheartedly - and once back in the small town in which he was raised alone by his mother (after Daigo's father abandoned them while Daigo was still a little boy), the ex-cellist knows he has to still get a job, so applies at what he believes to be a travel agency.

The ad called for someone to help with "departures" all right - but after he is immediately hired by the business owner, who takes a strong liking to him, Daigo learns that he is now the assistant to a man who prepares the dead for burial. Not an embalmer or funeral director (this is Japan, after all) - but an "encoffiner" ... one who, as the family watches, discreetly washes and redresses the body, ritualistically preparing the body to be placed into the coffin for burial, even as he also sets the soul on its enlightened path to peace.

Daigo freaks out when he learns what his job is, but his boss (Tsutomu Yamazaki) won't take no for an answer and in fact gives Daigo an advance and offers him an excellent salary. Daigo ends up being pressured into taking the job, but keeps what he does a complete secret from his wife, friends, and anyone who knows him - all of whom would surely be embarrassed or even humiliated about what he is doing for work.

And slowly, as Daigo tries to resolve some unwanted memories of his own runaway father - whom he hasn't seen since childhood, and can't even remember the face of - Daigo comes to both learn and respect his important role of giving both the dead and their surviving loved ones peace. A job becomes a career, then soon what feels his calling ... though along the way, there is also a lot of humor to be found in Daigo's training, and his initial squeamishness about handling corpses, as well as his trying to hide everything from Mika.

I know I am not doing this film justice with this review; every damn thing about it - from the performances to the incredible music (which, alone, will bring tears to your eyes) to the look and feel and pure emotional impact of the film, is flawless. The sheer beauty and dignity the film has toward its subject matter is breathtaking - its confirmation of life, and the value of life to those left behind by death, will touch you down to your very soul.

I have never seen a film like Departures, and probably never will again. Astonishing and gently and absolutely beautiful, my only regret is that I can only give it five stars when it deserves at least eight or ten. Of all the films you will find reviewed by me here, you will not (and probably will never) find one more recommended. ***** - Reel Must-See