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Departures (DVD) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

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Departures (DVD) (Japan Version)
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Customer Rating: Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9.3 out of 10 (3)
All Editions Rating: Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9.5 out of 10 (4)

YesAsia Editorial Description

Winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the 81st Academy Awards, Departures takes a sensitive look at life through the rituals of death. Directed by Takita Yojiro (When the Last Sword is Drawn), Departures (a.k.a. Okuribito) follows the experiences of a young undertaker as he grows into his work. Backdropped by an elegant score from master composer Hisaishi Joe, Departures presents a simple, yet poignant study of how one man comes to terms with his unconventional profession, and how the customs of death affect and reflect the course of life. At times humorous and at times heartbreaking, the film approaches its topic with respect and realism, revealing a fascinating aspect of Japanese culture rarely seen on screen. Leading man Motoki Masahiro (Gemini) anchors the film with a magnificent, understated performance. Co-starring popular actress Hirosue Ryoko (Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust) and veteran Yamazaki Tsutomu, Departures swept 10 awards at the 32nd Japan Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress.

Out of work with nowhere to go, cellist Kobayashi Daigo (Motoki Masahiro) and his wife (Hirosue Ryoko) leave Tokyo and move back to his sleepy hometown. Daigo answers a help-wanted ad for what he thinks is a travel agency, but turns out to be an encoffinment agency. Taking the job anyway, he begins a new life as an encoffinment specialist under grisly owner Sasaki (Yamazaki Tsutomu). Despite his initial fears and misgivings about cleansing and clothing corpses, Daigo soon discovers the job and the town suit him just fine. Carefully preparing the departed for their final journey with a musician's precision, he finds a greater appreciation and understanding for life. The stigma of the profession, however, is not lost on his wife, and his choice of work gradually takes toll on their marriage.

This edition comes with making of, meet and greet, Montreal Film Festival footage, unreleased footage, and other special features.

© 2009-2012 YesAsia.com Ltd. All rights reserved. This original content has been created by or licensed to YesAsia.com, and cannot be copied or republished in any medium without the express written permission of YesAsia.com.

Technical Information

Product Title: Departures (DVD) (Japan Version) 禮儀師之奏鳴曲 (DVD) (日本版) 礼仪师之奏鸣曲 (DVD) (日本版) おくりびと Departures (DVD) (Japan Version)
Also known as: Good & Bye / Okuribito Good & Bye / Okuribito Good & Bye / Okuribito Good & Bye / Okuribito Good & Bye / Okuribito
Artist Name(s): Hirosue Ryoko | Motoki Masahiro | Yoshiyuki Kazuko | Yamazaki Tsutomu | Yo Kimiko | Sasano Takashi | Hisaishi Joe 廣末涼子 | 本木雅弘 | 吉行和子 | 山崎努 | 余貴美子 | 笹野高史 | 久石讓 广末凉子 | 本木雅弘 | 吉行和子 | 山崎努 | 余贵美子 | 笹野高史 | 久石让 広末涼子 | 本木雅弘 | 吉行和子 | 山崎努 | 余貴美子 | 笹野高史 | 久石譲 Hirosue Ryoko | Motoki Masahiro | Yoshiyuki Kazuko | Yamazaki Tsutomu | Yo Kimiko | Sasano Takashi | Hisaishi Joe
Director: Takita Yojiro 瀧田洋二郎 泷田洋二郎 滝田洋二郎 Takita Yojiro
Release Date: 2009-03-18
Publisher Product Code: ASBY-4336
Language: Japanese
Country of Origin: Japan
Disc Format(s): DVD
Region Code: 2 - Japan, Europe, South Africa, Greenland and the Middle East (including Egypt) What is it?
Publisher: Shogaku Kan
Other Information: DVD
Shipment Unit: 1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1014062240

Product Information

タイトル:おくりびと
出演:本木雅弘／広末涼子／余貴美子／吉行和子／笹野高史／山崎努
監督:滝田洋二郎(監督)／小山薫堂(脚本)／久石譲(音楽)

年齢問わず、高給保証！実質労働時間わずか。旅のお手伝い。ＮＫエージェント！！／「あぁ、この広告、誤植だな。“旅のお手伝い”ではなくて、安らかな“旅立ちのお手伝い”。」——求人広告を手にＮＫエージェントを訪れた主人公・大悟は、社長の佐々木から思いもよらない業務内容を告げられる。それは【納棺（のうかん）】、遺体を棺に納める仕事だった。戸惑いながらも、妻の美香には冠婚葬祭関係＝結婚式場の仕事と偽り、納棺師の見習いとして働き出す大悟。美人だと思ったらニューハーフだった青年、幼い娘を残して亡くなった母親、たくさんのキスマークで送り出される大往生のおじいちゃん…そこには、さまざまな境遇のお別れが待っていた。

メイキング「おくりびとの、おくりびと。」／未公開映像「納棺の儀」／予告編集

テクニカル・インフォメーション
色:カラー
画面:Vista-16:9LB
言語／音声:日本語:ｄｔｓ５．１ｃｈサラウンド

その他の情報
製作年:2008
備考:1枚組
初回特典：豪華特製アウターケース／映像特典収録
日本小売価格:￥3800
Additional Information may be provided by the manufacturer, supplier, or a third party, and may be in its original language

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Awards

This film has won 13 award(s) and received 3 award nomination(s). All Award-Winning Asian Films

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Customer Review of "Departures (DVD) (Japan Version)"

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Average Customer Rating for this Edition: Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9.3 out of 10 (3)
Average Customer Rating for All Editions of this Product: Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9.5 out of 10 (4)

Kevin Kennedy
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July 31, 2009

This customer review refers to Departures (DVD) (English Subtitled) (2-Disc Edition) (Hong Kong Version)
Definitely deserves its Academy Award Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
I feared that "Departures" might be a grim, starchy arthouse film; I found it to be a movingly warm, human, even sentimental movie. Kobayashi Daigo (Motoki Masahiro) is a failed cellist, deep in debt. With his wife Mika (Hirosue Ryoko) in tow and no real plans, he returns to his remote hometown, where he can live rent-free in his late mother's home. There Daigo answers a newspaper ad for a job at an agency which "prepares departures". Daigo suspects that the job pertains to the travel industry, but the ad had a typographical error; the agency actually gets "the departed" ready to be placed in coffins.

Once Daigo overcomes his shock, he finds fulfillment in the job, which involves a ritualized performance in which the preparer shows respect and affection for the dead. When the job is done well, it comforts the family of the deceased. Daigo has found his true calling, but he is too ashamed of his job to tell anyone of it. When the truth leaks out, his wife and friends are horrified. Mika is repulsed by his intimacy with dead bodies and blurts that he has become "unclean". When Daigo balks at leaving his job, she leaves him. Mika, however, returns when she learns that she is pregnant. She again demands that Daigo leave the job, arguing (reasonably enough) that their future child will be humiliated by classmates when they learn of Daigo's job.

Will Daigo leave his job or will he lose his wife? The issue is especially poignant as, at age six, Daigo had been abandoned by his father. The resolution of this dilemma is beautifully conceived and emotionally true. Motoki Masahiro is perfect for the conflicted role of Daigo. Yamazaki Tsutomu (familiar to American audiences as the cowboy hat-wearing truck driver in "Tampopo") gives a brilliantly quirky performance as Daigo's boss. Yoshiyuki Kazuko (so good in "Gabai Granny") is equally charming as the owner of the public bath, the community's glue in both life and death. Yo Kimiko works subtle wonders as the agency's receptionist. Takita Yojiro's direction is nearly flawless and the cinematography of mountainous Yamagata Prefecture is spectacular. I found "Departures" to be a richly enjoyable, thought-provoking, and warm-hearted treat.
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Best Review
Mossholder
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June 17, 2009
1 people found the following helpful

 Outstanding Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
I saw this movie in Yokohama last November and absolutely loved it. The acting is superb. The characters are human, raw, honest and sensitive. The cinematography captures the beauty of the region and highlights the most sensitive nature of being an "undertaker" in Japan and the stigma surrounding it. And yet, for those whose loved ones have died, this is almost like a ministry to the families. Very touching and moving. I can't wait to get the DVD.
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nimitta
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March 24, 2009
1 people found the following helpful

 the Departures Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10
Congrat ! this movie has won Best Actor Award at the Asian Film Awards.

I would like to see its dvd with English subtitle to be released soon.

great movie and its OST is oso great !
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Cheng Suang Heng
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February 23, 2009
2 people found the following helpful

 congrats - oscar best foreign film 2009 Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
I am very very very delighted that Okuribito (Departures) from Japan has won!
;)
I am thinking of getting the DVD, but it is a pity that the DVD (as reflected now) does not have English subtitles.
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