Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and now finds himself 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.

After like 2 attempted tries to watch the movie but always full house, we managed to catch the show last night.

I was crying like mad during the entire movie….it was quite a predictable plot, knowing exactly where the story will end but the rituals for the encoffinment are so delicate and detailed, and the different way different people react to the departed….some sad, some full of regret, some bidding their goodbyes in smiles…..it really makes you think about the life and death….but not a heavy story though.

The ANG was as usual luffing at me when i teared but i wasnt the worse loh……i could hear ppl sniffing and crying loudly in the cinema. We are just sentimental emo creatures. ha ha

Those not watch it yet, please do go catch the movie in GV.