Okuribito (2008)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Yôjirô Takita

Writer:

Kundo Koyama (writer)

Release Date:

13 September 2008 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

The gift of last memories

Plot:

A newly unemployed cellist takes a job preparing the dead for funerals.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Funeral | Orchestra | Cellist | One Word Title

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 31 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Masahiro Motoki	...	Daigo Kobayashi
Tsutomu Yamazaki	...	Ikuei Sasaki
Ryoko Hirosue	...	Mika Kobayashi
Kazuko Yoshiyuki	...	Tsuyako Yamashita
Kimiko Yo	...	Yuriko Kamimura
Takashi Sasano	...	Shokichi Hirata
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mitsuyo Hoshino
Tarô Ishida
Hiroyuki Kishi
Yukimi Koyanagi
Tôru Minegishi
Sanae Miyata
Ryôsuke Ohtani
Tatsuhito Okuda
Genjitsu Shu
Tetta Sugimoto
Tarô Suwa
Yukiko Tachibana
Takao Toji
Tatsuo Yamada

Also Known As:

Departures (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material.

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #45351) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (British Columbia) | Taiwan:PG-12 | UK:12A | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Sakata, Yamagata, Japan

Company:

Amuse Soft Entertainment

Trivia:

The Japanese title "Okuribito" means "the sending [away/off] people" (as in: people who send) - but this word is not normally used in Japanese.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#26.35)" (2009)

Marvellous!!! One of the best movies I've ever seen!!!

Probably the best movie I've ever seen. I have seen it at the 32nd Montreal World Film Festival and I hope it'll be well awarded! Even though the plot line is the "death", it's done with such kindness, softness and emotion (every little thing in the Japanese culture is made like a piece of art) and being able to make us feel so much emotions concerning the subject was really enjoyable. It's really a must see, the music is so captivating in every moment of grief. I had to hold my tears 5 times at least. I was also glad to see Tsutomu Yamazaki, I hadn't saw him since Tampopo... that was years ago (there are not a lot of Japanese movies to see in french theaters.)