just watched the show "departures" with bee earlier. we were both so moved by so many scenes. in this one show, the director managed to layer it with so many different aspects of the japanese society and show us the different ways a person can die; what it means to die in a most dignified manner; the emotions that different family would exhibit when someone close dies; and the deceased range from lonely old woman dead for two weeks, small boy, old man, transvestite, old lady, father, grandfather, mothers, daughter/son, and so on; and at the same time, the life story of the male lead and how he eventually find closure in his one single most traumatic chapter of his life - losing his dad... it was amazing! at times, we didn't know whether to laugh or to cry and at times, we laugh and cry at the same time! and of cos, i enjoyed the little details such as how the japanese would stick two chopsticks vertically - very similar to the chinese taoist practises!
thoroughly enjoyed the show. excellent end to the week!
:-)
2 comments:
you have a tag on death! :P
From the net: The film was ten years in the making, starting from an idea on the part of the lead actor, Motoki. The latter studied the art of 'encoffinment' at first hand from a mortician, and how to play a cello for the earlier parts of the movie. The director attended funeral ceremonies in order to understand the feelings of bereaved families. While death is the subject of great ceremony, as portrayed in this movie, it is also associated with great taboo in Japan, so the director was worried about the films reception and did not anticipate commercial success.
weetz
wow! thanks for the added info weetz! very englightening! that made so much sense as to why he seemed to be air-playing the cello in the orchestra when they played the very fast and vigorous piece but played it so well when it came to the slowers pieces :)
yup, death is still a taboo topic in many asian countries. and i suspect the fact it was precisely becos of this that made it so successful! and i particularly liked the little details in the customary practises, the rituals, the costumes, etc.
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