Departures (Okuribito)
DFI Japanese Cinema Showcase at the MIA
/ Feature Narrative / Japan / 2008 / Colour
In Japanese / Arabic, English subtitles
MENA Premiere
Rated: Parental guidance is advised. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.
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Synopsis
'Departures' follows Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and who is suddenly left without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled “Departures” thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a "Nokanshi" or "encoffineer," a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of “Nokanshi,” acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living.
The Doha Film Institute (DFI) is launching its year-round screening series with a showcase of acclaimed works from Japan’s rich and diverse cinematic traditions in celebration of Qatar Japan 2012 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries. Launching with Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language Film, Okuribito (Departures), the series will feature classic and modern films, celebrating some of the masters, stars, genres and studios that have made Japan a leader in world cinema.