Now Playing: Departures (2008)

[Hoyu]

Attention All Filmgoers,
Break out your tickets and take a seat because or next film is about to begin.....

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Available to rent:
Netflix
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Departures ... kid=222336


Or for purchase:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Departures-Masahi ... pd_sim_m_1

Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Okuribito-Depar ... 2eb768d7df

Barns&Noble
http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/Dep ... departures

Discussion will begin December 1st
Gassho,
John(Treeleaf Usher)

[Kaishin]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

I think the Amazon link should be http://www.amazon.com/Departures-Masahi ... pd_sim_m_1

[BrianW]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

This always shows up on my "suggested" list on Netflix....I will have to give it a watch. Thanks!

Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW

[Hoyu]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

I think the Amazon link should be http://www.amazon.com/Departures-Masahi ... pd_sim_m_1

Your right!! Thanks Matt, edit made

Gassho,
John

[Jundo]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Hi,

Wonderful film!

We actually have one member who was working for several years as a funeral director in Japan (Oh, the amazing places life and death take one!). I certainly hope that Shokai will share some of his experiences here.

I wrote this about the film, and my own experience joining in family funerals here in Japan ...

I experienced this twice in Japan, and both times it was truly lovely ... heart breaking lovely ... Very different from my experience with the distance kept from deceased family members back in the U.S. ...

First, the deceased in Japan may be brought home (not everyone does this though), and placed on a "futon" (with dry ice) as if just asleep in the room, while the family ... kids and all ... have a kind of "Irish Wake" around him for 2 or 3 days ... chatting with him, sharing meals and sake together, telling stories about him (or her). The children are encouraged to go "talk to grandpa", express their feelings, have a good cry (even though Japanese tend to hide their feelings behind a "Japanese smile", the tears are there) and wish him well on his trip. Then, a kind of bath and dressing is performed, with the whole family taking part. This last part was the subject of the lovely movie "Departures", which won the Oscar (see below).

The Buddhist priests come at various times to chant this or that.

Oh, and there is a Chanting service where family, friends, co-workers all gather, usually in a temple or rented hall.

Then, the whole family goes to the crematorium, which has a special room where everyone eats and drinks beer while grandpa is burned up.

Then, the whole family ... mothers and dads holding the hands of the smallest kids ... go in a room and, with big chopsticks, move granpa's bones (many still quite recognizable) into the urn one by one. A funeral director may even pull out some of the bones for all to see, explaining what was part of the skull or pelvis etc., together with a short lesson on impermanence. Parents help the littlest kids move grandpa (or grandma's) bones into the urn.

It is sad, but a beautiful experience ... and (in my opinion) rather nicer that the "throw makeup on the body and keep it at a distance" attitude in much of the modern west. The Japanese way is a true GOODBYE, FAREWELL. The preciousness of life is impressed on everyone.

Me, I told my wife to call the public sanitation and haul me away with the old kitchen appliances. Since that is illegal (and after harvesting any organs, although that is just catching on here in Japan), get the cheapest cremation she can find and dump the ashes somewhere on Tsukuba mountain (carefully, cause that is possibly illegal too), maybe a bit under our persimmon tree in the back field. "Think of me once in awhile when you look at the mountain and the tree". 8) **

Gassho, J

** However, if anyone really really feels the need to turn me into a mummy ... you have my permission! :roll: (Read a little more about Buddhist mummies and such here) ...

viewtopic.php?p=12767#p12767



For a more critical, but hilarious look at the funeral business in Japan ... including the monk who comes in his rolls royce ...

THE FUNERAL (older film)
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/23/movie ... itami.html

Gassho, J

[Kyonin]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Really looking forward to watch this film. I have heard and read good things about it, but I never got to actually get it.

Thanks for the links John!

[Hoyu]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Choco wrote:
Thanks for the links John!

_/_

[Kyonin]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

I watched the film over the weekend and you have no idea how deep it touched me in so many ways.

Much to learn and enjoy from this piece of art. Lots of tears too ops:

While we open the discussion up, please listen to the main title song by Joe Hisaishi, one of the best composers in history.

http://grooveshark.com/s/Memory/43JHRP?src=5

Beautiful, beautiful and sublime film.

[Nenka]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Ooh this was a good one!

I was kind of moved by--among other aspects of the film--the way the main character realized he was not a good enough cellist to keep pursuing it professionally, and so he moved onto this completely different path. I admit I've been in this boat recently, and haven't been able to transition as gracefully as he has . . . although there was something really moving about watching him play his old child-size cello, fitting it right in that old groove in the floor where he must have practiced and practiced for hours and years. And now he's doing something else that's an art in its own way, and is very giving to others. It's really humbling.

[Hoyu]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

I agree that there were many deeply moving moments to this film! With just enough humor sprinkled in to keep it from being overwhelming.
To add to it I watched this film with my Japanese wife. It was a great opportunity for her to open up about her experience with the passing of her father. Most of what was done in the film is a practice true to life in Japanese funeral rituals. So I could see things visually along side with my wife's description.

Gassho,
John

[Shokai]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Sorry to be late in registering my views on this one. I haven't watched this film for a few years but thoroughly enjoyed it back then. I've forgotten a lot of the detail but remember it had a good balance of humor and poignancy. Jundo has it right, I witnessed a good bit of the Japanese death ritual and was a party to some of the comforting.

The Japanese way is a true GOODBYE, FAREWELL.

Although this may appear to be the case, my personal opinion is that there are equal amounts of unresolved grief in both Eastern and Western cultures. It just manifests itself in different ways. In my student days I did a lot of vacuuming in the funeral home and noticed that the carpet didn't need as much attention close to the casket after an Anglican visitation. Whereas, the Catholic service can be very comforting if the priest does his homework and I do prefer Irish whiskey to sake; there is something to be said for the sincerity of the "Irish Smile" as well.
What it really comes down to is who wants in on the pool as to whether it's me or Jundo sitting by that tree enjoying the mountain view :roll: :lol:

[Dosho]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Hi all,

My wife and I watched this one a couple weeks back and we both found it to be extremely moving. For me, it was probably one of the better movies I have ever seen in my life. The changes that the lead character goes through in the movie are emotionally wrenching and the actor played each scene with an intensity and sensitivity that was in perfect balance. I was especially touched by the scene where the husband was very upset and gave them a hard time for being late, only to apologize afterwards for his rudeness. People who do this kind of work have to absorb a lot of emotion and often have no way to process it until after the job is done for the day.

I'm sure I could say more, but I have never had a movie leave me with so much of an emotional imprint that was beyond words with the simple beauty of the human condition. Death is such a sad part of life that many seek to escape, but without it I don't believe we could care for each other as we do. If we were immortal, what would be the point of cherishing a simple moment? We would always have another instead of the reality that any one moment could be our last. Facing that fact can create fear and panic in some cases or a sense of calm and "oneness" in others. And I think for most of us here it is a little of both as we seek our way through the ups and downs of life.

A beautiful film that I look forward to watching again soon.

Gassho,
Dosho

[Rimon]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

I agree completely with Dosho. I saw that movie in the cinema some years ago, and since then I had revised it twice in video, and have recommended it to anyone at hearing distance when talking about movies
If I have to choose something, I guess I'd go for how humour and sadness as so well connected in the movie. You might laughing at the joke in one minute and dropping a tear or two five minutes later. Even some of the developments you are already expecting, like how the stone-letters, end up showing some emotional nuances you didn't expect.

Besides, I didn't know much about how funerals are arranged in Japan, so the movie is also educational.

Grrrrrreeeeeat movie!

Gassho

Rimon

[Kyonin]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Hey guys! Sorry for jumping in so late to the thread.

Well I saw this movie a few weeks ago and I was simply perplexed on the simplicity, the humor and the humanity of it all.

The story is perhaps the most touching I have ever seen. It was very interesting to see how Japanese culture takes death and how it can affect people working on that industry.

I also enjoyed and appreciated the meaning of ritual and death.

Like I said in a previous post, the music is simply one of the most beautiful soundtracks I have ever listened to. Joe Hisaishi is a true master.

I definitely want to watch it again!

[Kaishin]

Re: Now Playing: Departures (2008)

Just wanted to say, this appears to be available on YouTube, although cut into 10-minute chunks and not great quality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCJRjETrZpA&noredirect=1[/video]]