Departures

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Departures

PG-13

2009

2h 10m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

80%

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109 Reviews

92%

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50,000+ Ratings

Soon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) learns that his orchestra is disbanding. Daigo and his wife move back to his hometown in northern Japan, where he answers an ad for what he thinks is a travel agency but is, in actuality, a mortuary. As he learns and carries out the rituals used in preparing the dead for their final rest, Daigo finds his true calling in life.

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Critics Consensus

If slow and predictable, Departures is a quiet, life affirming story.

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Tony Rayns

Film Comment Magazine

11/17/2013

The scripting of Departures (by Kundo Koyama, the one-man TV-drama writing factory who nurtured such delights as Iron Chef) is embarrassingly clunky and obvious: the movie's essential hollowness reveals itself with unusual starkness.

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Philip De Semlyen

Empire Magazine

12/04/2009

5/5

Heart-warming, funny, wise and profound. Not to be missed.

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

12/04/2009

2/5

The movie gestures towards deep emotions, but an abiding soft-grained superficiality effectively insulates us from the piercing realities of grief.

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Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

Feb 2

8/10

Like its protagonist, the film doesn't give us a precise explanation of what's so special about the ritual. It's magic and emotion at the same time, and that's precisely what the film manages to convey. [Full review in Spanish]

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

08/09/2024

4.5/5

Departures is not just a well-made film, but also a cinematic vehicle to help break down the social prejudice that many morticians still face in Japan.

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

08/05/2019

3/4

A charming, winning piece of filmmaking that, while in no way deserving of the title of Best Foreign Language film of this or any year, is a heartwarming and bittersweet tale that hits all the right notes.

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John L

@RT48549045 Sep 8

This is a beautifully crafted motion picture about the sacredness of death rituals. These rituals include the preparation of the body of the deceased and a profound focus on the family connections to the deceased. Its is meditative and, I think, will give the viewer a different (and much more fulfilling) understanding of death.

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Daniel C. M

@RT91944882 Aug 25

A very beautiful movie, both in appearance and in it's contents. Great sound design and direction makes for very atmospheric and meaningful shots, coupled with the amazing story with great and eternal themes, this is one of the best Japanese movies ever made.

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Q A

@RT45954912 May 8

Proof that the greatest films are those that capture the incredibly nuanced emotions that thread the mundane. No loud explosions, special effects, or ridiculous plots. Just purposeful and compelling storytelling.

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Areli A

@RT79238701 Apr 30

Absolutamente bella, una de mis peliculas favoritas

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Dean O

@RT37042645 06/17/2024

My favorite foreign film. The touching scenes and dealing with the sensitive subject of death. How a man mistakenly applies for job that he thought was something else. A man scorned for working that kind of job, but how he overcame their scorn and became respected as a professional who treated the deceased with the upmost respect and care.

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dave s

@RT68722908 09/25/2022

A cellist living in Tokyo, Daigo (Masahiro Motoki) is forced to return to his hometown when funding is pulled from his orchestra. Unbeknownst to his wife, he accepts a position that involves preparing the deceased for their final departure, leading him to reevaluate his life and, perhaps more importantly, his relationships with those around him. Departures is a languid, meditative film, meticulously directed and beautifully shot – every shot is perfectly framed and expertly blocked. The characters all resonate in some way, regardless of their views on Daigo's profession or their own responses to death. It is a moving and impactful film that, despite the subject matter, is never overly sentimental or maudlin.

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Yojiro Takita

Director

Masahiro Motoki

Daigo Kobayashi

Tsutomu Yamazaki

Ikuei Sasaki

Ryôko Hirosue

Mika Kobayashi

Kazuko Yoshiyuki

Tsuyako Yamashita

Kimiko Yo

Yuriko Uemura

Critics Consensus: Up And Drag Me to Hell Are Certified Fresh

Academy Names Nine Foreign Film Finalists

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Synopsis

Soon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) learns that his orchestra is disbanding. Daigo and his wife move back to his hometown in northern Japan, where he answers an ad for what he thinks is a travel agency but is, in actuality, a mortuary. As he learns and carries out the rituals used in preparing the dead for their final rest, Daigo finds his true calling in life.

Director: Yojiro Takita
Screenwriter: Kundo Koyama
Distributor: Regent Releasing
Production Co: Shochiku
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): May 29, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.5M
Runtime: 2h 10m

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