Departures reviews

The story line was simple but frightfully well carried out. Makes you think that it's such a respectable and beautiful occupation.

One of the best foreign films I have ever seen, totally deserving of all its awards. Amazingly touching, humorous, and a fascinating glimpse into the intricacies of Japanese culture. A film that not only deals with its subject matter in a way that will surprise you but also leaves you realising that behind every job in the world there is a real human being…a totally new way of looking at death, grief and ultimately dignity and sensitivity in the way we treat each other.

This is the most sensitive, respectful Film. Lovely story and very touching.

Highly recommend great acting and very beautiful cello music a very different subject matter.

I really thought this movie was very good. To see how another culture preparingtheir for depart loved ones for departure from thid world. Very interesting.
from this world.

This film is a must see for anyone wanting to see what life rural Japan is like & wants an insight into the culture. It's also a good tear-jerker & funny too. Look out for Motoki Masahiro – we will see more of him I'm sure

This was a lovely movie about a young man coming of age really; having to come to terms with a change in his life, and that of his wife, dealing with the past re his father abandoning him and his mother and in the whole showing us the moving way the Japanese deal with death.

A failed cello player returns to his home town where the only employment he can find is ‘encoffinment’. In a culture known for its formality and emotional reserve, the ritual of encoffinment (washing, dressing and making up the deceased) shows a tenderness and respect that the person may not have experienced when alive. It has all the structure and beauty of a tea ceremony. Each encoffinment tells a story and is an opportunity for emotional healing. The main character rejects the stigma around death and resists the pressure to confirm and get a real job. At high personal cost he remains true to his ‘knowing’ that what he does is important and good. Funny at times, poignant at others, have a couple of tissues handy and enjoy learning more about the Japanese.