Departures

Dir: Yōjirō Takita

2008

*****

Yōjirō Takita's outstanding 2008 film Departures is one of the most tender and beautiful films I've seen for a very long time. I knew nothing of the subject before watching and was enthralled throughout. I'm surprised that it is the first Japanese film to ever win the Academy Award for best Foreign Language, although I'm pleased that it has the honour of being the first (not that the Oscars really mean anything to me, but it's great that it was so well received at what is the biggest film award ceremony on the planet). It is based on the memoir of the poet and author Shinmon Aoki and follows a young man called Daigo who fails to make a career out of being a Cellist. Returning to his home town and his childhood home left to him in his mother’s will, he meets Sasaki and is offered a job with him through a misunderstanding. He accepts the job that was advertised in dealing with 'Departures', thinking it was travel agent work but he is soon shocked to learn that he has accidentally agreed to be trained in the ancient art of Nōkanshi - the preparation of dead bodies before funeral. This preparation includes washing the body all over, blocking each orifice with gauze, dressing the body in white and applying make-up to make the body look as they would have wanted to look when they were alive. The ritual is applied with grace and precision, with a gentle elegance about it. All rituals take place in front of the family and loved ones of the deceased and is generally received with comfort and peace from those in attendance. After shadowing Sasaki during a particularly nasty first ceremony, where the two are called to prepare a body undiscovered for many weeks, Daigo decides to leave the practice, only to be convinced by Sasaki to watch him perform one further encoffining ritual, to which he agrees. After the ceremony Daigo sees the beauty of the tradition and soon wants to become the best at it that he can. The ritual is rather uncommon these days and mainly happens in rural areas of Japan. Even though the ritual is important to the people who ask for them, the ones performing the task are seen as dirty and are historically shunned by the community. Death is still a taboo subject in Japan, less so now but old traditions and culture die hard and Daigo suddenly finds himself rejected and avoided by friends and even his own wife who eventually leaves him. For need of a job and because he sees this as an important and noble profession, Daigo continues his work and slowly wins the community over, as well as learn more about his own former life and his families secrets. It's a stunningly beautiful look at a fascinating cultural ritual that is far from morbid. The ritual scenes are so peaceful, beautifully executed and utterly hypnotic. It educates those living outside of Japan and breaks down taboos for those living inside, a brilliant film from a director who had dubious beginnings working in 'Pink film'.