Yojiro Takita’s masterpiece, Departures (2008), presents an unimaginable and unique theme which has made an internationally huge hit by bringing Oscar home in 2009 beating Waltz With Bashir (2008) and The Class (2008). The theme; encoffiner, is not as popular as other themes, but it turns out mesmerizing. Joe Hisaishi’s touch in its music makes the film even more impressive. Everything begins with the idea of switching job from a musician into an encoffiner.
A young cellist, Daigo Kobayashi, who determines to be a member of an orchestra, decides to buy an expensive cello to support his career. Soon after he secures that post, the orchestra for some reasons falls apart and has to be disbanded. This shocking truth makes him think that music is not suitable for making life. He knows that the competition in getting a job nowadays is very challenging, above all, his skill is only music so that the job opportunity is not as large as other profession. He ends up being an encoffiner (Nokashi), known as embalmer in the US, but in Japanese context it is someone who prepares the body of a deceased person and places it in a coffin, especially in a ceremonial or ritualistic manner (wiktionary). His wife, Mika Kobayashi, a modern young woman who is a web designer, always accepts every bitter and unwise decision his husband has made, but his patience is running out when his husband makes his call to be an encoffiner. She has to part from his husband for a moment because of this, but in the end she returns with a fetus in her belly thinking that this circumstance will change her husband mind about his job. It does not change at all. Daigo is still an encoffiner. Then, her perspective about encoffiner completely changes after witnessing her husband doing his job to an old woman Tsuyako Yamashita, a Japanese traditional public bath owner, who has known Daigo since child. Tsuyako asks Mika to look after Daigo who has been facing unpleasant truth all his life. She begins to understand about his husband’s job and finally accept him as an encoffiner. The film is closed by a touching scene where Daigo is forcefully asked to encoffin his father. At first, he is so reluctant to do it because his father had abandoned him and his mother when he is still a child. He strongly refuses to see his father. However, he feels that it is not right to let it be. Eventually, he changes his mind and he sees his father to encoffin him. It is his first time seeing his father after 30 years.
There exist a number of distinguished individuals in this film. Yojiro Takita undoubtedly has a good reputation in Japan. He creates When The Last Sword is Drawn in 2002. This film has successfully won a number of appreciations in Japanese Academy Awards for the Best Film, Director, Cinematography, Actor, Supporting Actor and Actress. Another great figure is Joe Hisaishi. He is proven an expert composer and a music director. His works in most of Hayao Miyazaki’s films are truly remarkable. He has collected seven Japanese Academy awards for Best Music. Moreover, his quality music also has led him to achieve a Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from Japanese Government in 2009. This film is also filled with good actors whose traits are perfect for this kind of film. Takita, in one of his press conferences in Japan, said that the main actor Masahiro Motoki is a quiet person. He likes reading and travelling. These characters match with the needs of this film. Other than that, Tsutomu Yamazaki appearance in this film is also essential. His play is calm but his calmness creates a stunning impression in the film.
A good film teaches the audiences many things. So does Departures. One of the interesting values presented in this film is stone letter which signifies somebody’s feeling. In other words, people exchange stone as a way of communicating their feeling. If the stone is rough it means that he or she is sad or something like that. But, if it is soft it signifies a good feeling. This practice may happen long ago in human history before they know writing. I think it would be nice if this practice is done today, in this era where people deal with technology all the time. Instead of directly saying that he or she is happy or sad to someone they love, stone letter could be a good way to try occasionally.
Music also plays a considerable role in this film. The cello parts presented in many scenes are just enjoyable and very pleasing. It perfectly supports every scene. When it comes to emotive aspect of the film, music always has an important influence. Someone says that music can depict something that language doesn’t. When the story of a film cannot fully describe something, music is there to complete it. Joe Hisaishi speaks his mind with music in this film. One summer’s day, the soundtrack of the film, is smooth, you will not get tired of listening to this song.
This film is worth your attention. Your precious time would not be wasted by watching this film. Feel its greatness and you will re-watch and re-watch Departures again.
