X
- 2009
- PG-13
- Regent Releasing
- 2 h 10 m
- 2009
- PG-13
- Regent Releasing
- 2 h 10 m
Summary Departures follows Daigo Kobayashi, a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and who is suddenly left 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 ...
Directed By: Yôjirô Takita
Written By: Kundô Koyama
- 2009
- PG-13
- Regent Releasing
- 2 h 10 m
- 2009
- PG-13
- Regent Releasing
- 2 h 10 m
Departures
68
8.0
Where to Watch
Summary Departures follows Daigo Kobayashi, a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and who is suddenly left 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 ...
Directed By: Yôjirô Takita
Written By: Kundô Koyama
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
68
74% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
26% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
68
74% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
26% Mixed
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Beautiful moments abound. In Departures, the contemplation of death prepares the way for an appreciation of life.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 46 User Ratings
8.0
91% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
4% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
4% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 46 User Ratings
8.0
91% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
4% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
4% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Okuribito draws the viewer in almost immediately. The subtle, hidden messages are as prevalent as the obvious messages. It teaches the significance of life, death, love, and the importance of family. The phenomenal audio makes the touching scenes even more personal. A film worthy of our eyes and of the Oscar it received.
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Yojiro Takita, who directed enduring commercial hits like "The Ying Yang Master" and "The Yen Family," has made a popular gem -- thematically respectable, technically hard to fault, artfully scripted to entertain and touch.
Yojiro Takita's movie simultaneously tickles tears of mourning as it wrings laughs about the meaning of life.
TV scribe Kundo Koyama's first bigscreen script peppers the proceedings with rich character detail and near-screwball interludes that shouldn't fit but somehow do.
Takita could easily trim 30 minutes of flab and oceans of tears from Departures. It still wouldn't merit an Oscar, but it would be a lot more watchable.
Here's a great way to start savoring life: Don't waste it on pat manipulations like this.
Beautifully shot with some great exteriors; the landscape take quite a big part in this film. There were some lovely comic moments as well as some quite distressing scenes as the families go through all kinds of emotions as the say goodbye to their loved ones. I’ll admit to having found it quite touching at times and even shed a tear or two for my dear departed mum. Of course music plays quite a big part in the film and there are some really touching scenes as Daigo plays his cello out in the fields. I did find, however, that the final act didn’t quite have the emotional punch I had expected. Yes, the emotions were there, but it didn’t quite hit home the way I anticipated. Even so, it’s a film I really enjoyed and one I would happily watch again someday.
SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED
My score: 8.2/10
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Great music scores are what the japanese does best.
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A well written movie, which touches many themes most importantly dealing with death and watching others grief upon it. One side of it is very soft and touches our heart but on the other hand it is not as astonishing as we expect it to be. Story and even scenes are very predictable. Ending also could be seen from minutes away from it. Director has worked hard on the interior of Coffining but failed to bring deeper sentiments onto screen. Tsutomu Yamazaki's portrayal of a Boss who teaches the protagonist is the most fabulous quality of the movie. Actor actually work the role around and inside. Masahiro Motoki and Ryōko Hirosue are very convincing although camera sometime focused on Ryōko more then it needed. Her character as a devoted wife is well however it is not explored much. Ritual of coffining are filmed very good. The sub plot of protagonist's relation with his father was good but there could have been more about it. Over all a light hearted sentimental film.
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Production Company
Amuse Soft,
Asahi Shimbun,
Dentsu,
Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS),
Sedic,
Shochiku,
Shogakukan,
TBS Radio & Communications,
Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)
Release Date May 29, 2009
Duration 2 h 10 m
Rating PG-13
Genres
Tagline The gift of last memories
Website
http://www.okuribito.jp/
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Awards of the Japanese Academy
• 10 Wins & 13 Nominations
Asian Film Critics Association Awards
• 3 Wins & 6 Nominations
