One of the things about the Oscars for the best foreign film is that you hear about movies which you might not have otherwise. The winner for 2008 was Okuribito, or Departures, by Yojiro Takita, is probably the best I have seen this year. An out of work musician responds to an Ad for a job, and discovers "working with departures" refers not to a travel agency, but to a "niche market" firm hired by morticians to perform "encoffinments" - not necessarily in the list of dream professions of most people. We follow his profound, and sometimes comical, journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living.Japan's rural landscape is beautifully depicted in Okuribito. Apparently, the main location of outdoor scenes was the city of Sakata and surroundings in the Shonai Region of Yamagata Prefecture in northern Japan.
Oh yes, Joe Hisaishi's tune "Memory" is absolutely brilliant. Take a listen here.
The movie essentially deals with starting over once what one thinks is a "dream career" ends, and also, in a way, the power death holds over how we live our life.
I gave it a 9/10. Watch it and let me know what you thought about it.
