Departures

[뉴욕]

Today I went to watch a movie in a real cinema. I chose to watch an Oscar winning Japanese film- best foreign language film entitled Departures after reading the New York Times: It is opening today in the USA( May 29, 09). I have no idea Korea runs this movie. If you have a chance, please see it. 

It’s a story about a cellist (Daigo) who loses his job and must move back to his hometown. Once back there he reconnects with his past, and comes to terms with his life, love and dreams. Desperate to find a job, he answers an ad listed under departures, which turns out to be misspelled.

It was supposed to say ‘the departed’, the job pertains to dressing, washing, and putting makeup on the deceased before the funeral. It is a job that most people look down upon because you earn money when someone dies. At first, Daigo does not like his job but little by little he comes to a new understanding of it. The process of prepping the corpse is shown in detail within the context of the story, and little by little we too as an audience get sucked in. It is an incredible ceremony to witness.

Throughout the show, any emotional souls could not resist shedding tears while I see people mourning for their loved ones who ‘departed’ much earlier than them in the story. The professional mannerism performed by Daigo during the sacred ‘dressing up ceremony’ touched many of our hearts as he prepares the dead for the journey afterlife. It is not a time for weeping and the gnashing of teeth. It is an observation that a life has been left for the contemplation of the survivors.

This movie really lives up to its award. It’s really authentic and the plot unfolds itself at a right pace in 2 hours.