Film: Departures/おくりびと

I just watched this Academy Best Foreign Film Award Winner "Departures" last night. I didn't know too much about this film but some friends of mine recommended me so my date (hehe) and I went to see it. It was amazing, magnificent film.

Just in case if you don't know what the film is about (from IMDB):

"Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and now finds himself without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled "Departures" thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a "Nokanshi" or "encoffineer," a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of "Nokanshi," acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living."

This film had funny parts here and there although it made me cry so much as well. Because of the death, because of the family bond, because of the love, because of the comprehension... I can't really describe in one word about this film...

As I discussed about this film with my date, since he was an American, he saw this film in different direction a bit. He didn't understand why Daigo's wife and his friend treated Daigo's job as unclean and improper and wanted him to quit his job.

Here is the part people needs to know a little bit of Japanese culture/history a bit. In our culture, we used to have the social lowest class who deal with dead body. I don't feel proper to say the particular word here since it sounds very discriminated however, the mind "to deal with dead body" = "unclean" still exists. But the time has been gone and our mind has been changed more liberal. I think this film shows this particular occupation from different point of view, and make us realize they are the one to help to relieve their death to another world in their best condition.

People thinks and treats the death different which depends on how they were related to the person who died. However, I think no matter who they were or how they were related, death is death. They deserve to have a love.

Over all, the actors in the film did a great job. I think every one of them got the perfect roll. I am satisfied with this film. (did you know the main guy, Masahiro Motoki used to be an idol? hehe)

アカデミー外国映画賞受賞の「おくりびと」を昨日観に行ってきました。友達に勧められて、デートと一緒に観に行ってきたわけですがこれは泣けた、泣けた。面白くて笑ってしまう部分もたくさんあったのですが、家族愛、別れ、偏見から理解に変わる瞬間、色々と心に来るものがたくさんあって、号泣でした。

あ、まだ映画を観てない方に。。。：ウィキペディア「おくりびと」あらすじはこちら>>

しかし、この映画について彼と意見を交わしていたところ、彼にとって分からないところが一つ。なぜ「納棺師」が汚い仕事なのか。なぜ偏見を持たないといけないのか。ここが分からなかったそうです。彼はアメリカ人でこっちでは死体を扱う仕事は別に汚い仕事としては考えていないそうで、日本の文化、歴史が分からないと主人公、大悟の妻が発する「汚らわしい」や友人が「もっとましな仕事つけや」などの台詞はその発した人物を悪者扱いさせると
言っていました。なるほど、、、考えなかった。観客のほとんどはアメリカ人でしたがその部分、皆同じこと思ったのかな、、、。彼の場合、結構日本の文化を知っている人なので、私が昔、差別的階級が存在していてそこから「汚らわしい」という考えが来てると思うと説明したら（まーそれだけじゃないけどね。臭いとかもあるし、、、）「あ、その階級知ってる」とびっくり発言。そこまでなかなか外人知らんぞ、、、。とま〜、面白い会話が出来た訳ですが、この映画、色々と考えさせられる映画で超気に入りました。もっくん含め、皆自分の役が超ハマっていたと思う。観て良かった〜。まだ観てない人はぜひ。



















FYI.. Masahiro Motoki was in a group it's called "Shibugaki-Tai" in 80's. He is in the red suits. hehe. (if you don't want to see this whole thing, watch around 1:24)