Departures (2008) ( Okuribito )

Departures (2008) (Blu-Ray) (*)

Out of Stock

Original Title: Okuribito
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Oscar Academy Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
Japanese ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Japanese ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
Japanese ( DTS-HD Master Audio )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( Blu-Ray/Region B )

Running Time:
130 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Documentary
Interactive Menu
Making Of
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2008 and produced in:
Japan ( India, Eastern Asia )

Directed By:
Yôjirô Takita

Written By:
Kundo Koyama

Actors:
Masahiro Motoki ..... Daigo Kobayashi
Tsutomu Yamazaki ..... Ikuei Sasaki
Ryoko Hirosue ..... Mika Kobayashi
Kazuko Yoshiyuki ..... Tsuyako Yamashita
Kimiko Yo ..... Yuriko Kamimura
Takashi Sasano ..... Shokichi Hirata
Tetta Sugimoto ..... Yamashita
Tôru Minegishi ..... Yoshiki Kobayashi
Tatsuo Yamada ..... Togashi
Yukari Tachibana ..... Sonezaki
Tarô Ishida ..... Naomi Togashi
Sanae Miyata ..... Tomeo's father
Ryôsuke Ôtani ..... Kazuko Kobayashi
Mitsuyo Hoshino
Tatsuhito Okuda

Synopsis:

Director Yojiro Takita and writer Kundo Koyama examine the rituals surrounding death in Japan with this tale of an out-of-work cellist who accepts a job as a 'Nokanashi' or 'encoffineer' (the Japanese equivalent of an undertaker) in order to provide for himself and his young wife. Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is a talented musician, but when his orchestra is abruptly disbanded, he suddenly finds himself without a source of steady income. Making the decision to move back to his small hometown, Daigo answers a classified ad for a company called 'Departures', mistakenly assuming that he will be working for a travel agency. Upon discovering that he will actually be preparing the bodies of the recently deceased for their trip to the afterlife, Daigo accepts the position as gatekeeper between life and death and gradually gains a greater appreciation for life. But while Daigo's wife and friends universally despise his new line of work, he takes a great amount of pride in the fact that he is helping to ensure that the dead receive a proper send-off from this state of being. This thought-provoking look at life and death was Japan's submission for the Oscars in 2008.

A delightful and sensitive journey into the heartland of Japan and an astonishingly beautiful look at a sacred part of Japan's cultural heritage. Departures tells the story of Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Matoki), a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved who 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 ad 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. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living.

A newly unemployed cellist takes a job preparing the dead for funerals.

This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 19 May, 2010.