Departures

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Departures

PG-13

Released May 29, 2009

2h 10m

Drama

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80%

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108 Reviews

92%

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50,000+ Ratings

Soon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) learns that his orchestra is disbanding. Daigo and his wife move back to his hometown in northern Japan, where he answers an ad for what he thinks is a travel agency but is, in actuality, a mortuary. As he learns and carries out the rituals used in preparing the dead for their final rest, Daigo finds his true calling in life.

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Critics Consensus

If slow and predictable, Departures is a quiet, life affirming story.

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Tony Rayns

Film Comment Magazine

The scripting of Departures (by Kundo Koyama, the one-man TV-drama writing factory who nurtured such delights as Iron Chef) is embarrassingly clunky and obvious: the movie's essential hollowness reveals itself with unusual starkness.

Nov 17, 2013

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Philip De Semlyen

Empire Magazine

Heart-warming, funny, wise and profound. Not to be missed.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 4, 2009

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

The movie gestures towards deep emotions, but an abiding soft-grained superficiality effectively insulates us from the piercing realities of grief.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 4, 2009

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

Departures is not just a well-made film, but also a cinematic vehicle to help break down the social prejudice that many morticians still face in Japan.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 9, 2024

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

A charming, winning piece of filmmaking that, while in no way deserving of the title of Best Foreign Language film of this or any year, is a heartwarming and bittersweet tale that hits all the right notes.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 5, 2019

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Antonio Sison

National Catholic Reporter

In "Departures, life and death are two expressive movements of one musical" piece. Neither is taken as a polar opposite of the other; they dance rhythmically, like the ebb and flow of the ocean tide.

May 1, 2019

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Q A

Proof that the greatest films are those that capture the incredibly nuanced emotions that thread the mundane. No loud explosions, special effects, or ridiculous plots. Just purposeful and compelling storytelling.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/25

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Areli A

Absolutamente bella, una de mis peliculas favoritas

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

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Dean O

My favorite foreign film. The touching scenes and dealing with the sensitive subject of death. How a man mistakenly applies for job that he thought was something else. A man scorned for working that kind of job, but how he overcame their scorn and became respected as a professional who treated the deceased with the upmost respect and care.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/17/24

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dave s

A cellist living in Tokyo, Daigo (Masahiro Motoki) is forced to return to his hometown when funding is pulled from his orchestra. Unbeknownst to his wife, he accepts a position that involves preparing the deceased for their final departure, leading him to reevaluate his life and, perhaps more importantly, his relationships with those around him. Departures is a languid, meditative film, meticulously directed and beautifully shot – every shot is perfectly framed and expertly blocked. The characters all resonate in some way, regardless of their views on Daigo's profession or their own responses to death. It is a moving and impactful film that, despite the subject matter, is never overly sentimental or maudlin.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

One of my favorite movies, beautiful and real.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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william d

Departures loses its sense of humor about halfway through and turns a little sappy. However, I liked the movie very much and recommend it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Yojiro Takita

Director

Masahiro Motoki

Daigo Kobayashi

Tsutomu Yamazaki

Ikuei Sasaki

Ryôko Hirosue

Mika Kobayashi

Kazuko Yoshiyuki

Tsuyako Yamashita

Kimiko Yo

Yuriko Uemura

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Synopsis

Soon after buying an expensive cello, Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) learns that his orchestra is disbanding. Daigo and his wife move back to his hometown in northern Japan, where he answers an ad for what he thinks is a travel agency but is, in actuality, a mortuary. As he learns and carries out the rituals used in preparing the dead for their final rest, Daigo finds his true calling in life.

Director: Yojiro Takita
Screenwriter: Kundo Koyama
Distributor: Regent Releasing
Production Co: Shochiku
Rating: PG-13 (Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): May 29, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.5M
Runtime: 2h 10m

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