Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature – as an undertaker’s assistant.
Daigo, a cellist, is laid off from his orchestra and moves with his wife back to his small hometown where the living is cheaper. Thinking he’s applying for a job at a travel agency he finds he’s being interviewed for work with departures of a more permanent nature – as an undertaker’s assistant.
The film receives a neutral rating because its central focus is on universal human experiences of life, death, grief, and the dignity of work, rather than promoting a specific political ideology. While it subtly critiques societal prejudice, it champions individual empathy and the value of tradition as solutions, balancing elements that could appeal to various viewpoints without a dominant political agenda.
The film 'Departures' features a culturally authentic Japanese cast and narrative, focusing on themes of life, death, and the dignity of labor within a traditional Japanese setting. It does not engage in explicit DEI-driven casting or narrative critiques of traditional identities.
The film portrays the Nōkan (encoffinment) ceremony, a practice deeply rooted in Japanese Buddhist traditions, with profound respect and dignity. It highlights how the ritual provides spiritual comfort to the bereaved and honors the deceased, affirming the value of these spiritual practices.
Departures does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative centers on a former cellist's new career as an encoffiner and his personal journey, with no elements related to queer identity or experiences.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Departures is an original film with an original screenplay and characters. It is not an adaptation, biopic, or reboot of any prior work, thus there are no pre-established characters whose gender could have been altered.
Departures (2008) is an original Japanese film with no prior source material, historical figures, or established characters. All characters were created for this specific production, meaning there are no pre-existing racial portrayals to be altered.
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources