Departures

Daigo is a classical cellist who loses his job and returns with his wife to a quiet hometown, where life costs less. He goes to interview for an ordinary travel agency job, only to discover the interview is for a very different kind of work. Instead of travel brochures, he is asked to join an undertaker's office, assisting with final departures and the rituals that accompany death. At first he keeps his new line of work a secret from friends and family, unsure how it will be received. Over time he discovers a strange harmony in a job that asks him to listen to the departed and to the living in equal measure. It also tests his sense of purpose.

Directed by Yojiro Takita, Departures was written for the screen by Kundo Koyama. Released in 2008 as a Japanese drama, the film marks Takita's sensitive approach to a quiet, human-centered story. It earned strong festival attention.

The film grossed about $69,932,387 worldwide, a solid performance for a Japanese drama of its scale. It reflects strong international appeal. Its reception helped widen distribution and bring attention to subtitled cinema outside Japan.

Departures earned international critical acclaim, most notably winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2009 ceremony. The film also drew praise for its restrained, humane portrayal of grief and memory, helping elevate Japanese cinema on the world stage.

People often point to the film's quiet ethos and its unusual focus on death rituals as a bridge between humor and sorrow. Its intimate performances and understated humor sparked discussions about how communities cherish memory and broadened audiences' view of mortuary work.