Tag Archives: japanese films
Departures (Okuribito)
Departures (2008) possess the qualities of a usual-award winning film- a theme that involves a unique ritual/tradition performed by a certain race/group, different people’s stories all wrapped into one and that one person that will struggle to find the meaning of things around him that eventually leads to finding the meaning of life in general.
Okay, I’ve only invented that criteria, but really, movies that follow this pattern are almost always good.
The first few lines spoken by Daigo brought the feel of Norwegian Wood which I just watched last weekend and I know the film’s gonna be monotonous and I know, too, that it runs for over 2 hours, so I fought the urge to close the movie viewer and find a more fun movie. Good thing the film started with a catchy and interesting scene.
Departures is about people dying but there is hardly an extreme emotion displayed (at least based on my judgement). Just the right amount of emotions that made every scene more natural.
Feel the Wind (Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru)
So last night, we went to see some cute Japanese boys, lulzzzz. Finally, we’re able to watch a film at Eiga Sai- Feel the Wind. You can read here the gist of the movie.
The movie was very much appropriate for Diana as she’s into running. It’s good but I’m pretty sure others would find it boring as the plot is too simple. Marvi even slept in the middle of the film. As I said, good thing there were good looking boys or else I might also got bored. In the first half, the audience were even clapping everytime there is a ‘high’ moment, and I was like, “Feel na feel ah!” But at the end part, I almost stood up from my chair as if I can reach out and help Haiji. :p
I like the film because of the various characters in it, different people with different stories but aimed to reach a single goal. It has plenty of life’s lessons in it. 
Eiga Sai: The Japanese Film Festival 2011
In celebration of Philipines-Japan Friendship month, Japan Foundation are showing Japanese films for free at EDSA Shangri-La from July 2-10. The film festival opened July 1 with a special screening of Departures for invited guests only. The public viewing started July 2.
Departures (Okuribito)
When the orchestra in which he plays cello disbands, Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) abandons a career in music and moves with his wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue) to Yamagata Prefecture. He finds a ‘help wanted’ advertisement that seems to offer good terms for work with what he assumes is a travel agency and goes for an interview. The company owner hires him and told him the work involves the ceremonial ‘encoffinating’ of corpses before cremation. He reluctantly accepted the job and told his wife that the work involves ‘ceremonies.’ But Mika finds out exactly what sort of ‘ceremony’ the work involves and demanded that he quit. When he refuses, she leaves for her family in Tokyo. As time passes, he begins to feel confident in himself and his new career. But series of significant events take place. As an encofineer, as husband, as son and as human being: how will Daigo deal with life and death among the people who are dearest to him? A final departure to a happy farewell.
