Okuribito

I haven't heard of this movie but after watching it on the plane, it instantly became one of my favorites. The movie, Okuribito (Departures)

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.

I liked how the way the movie unfolded, its simple, straightforward and the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful. The oriental landscape and mood were captured perfectly on this movie. Or maybe I am just biased to films that have death as subject. Come to think of it, sometimes, we don't know what's really in store for us. We kept on searching on about our purpose in life, aiming for satisfaction and contentment but later on, we realized that 'it's' already our purpose and we are serving it already. Just like Daigo, at first, he was not comfortable with his new job but eventually he realized that the job was really for him. He continued his work despite his family and friends' opposition.

I may have loads of disappointments and frustrations but I don't think I regretted these failures. Or the reasons that caused these heartbreaks. In one way or another, it taught me to become a stronger person. Clichéd as it may sound but its true. As they say, there's no room for regrets.

Okuribito is an eye-opener. It gives you a closer look towards death. How to deal with it and how to 'work' with it. We may never know when we are going to die, and who will 'fix' us when the time come. The movie can give you an idea or too.

Our life will eventually end. That's a fact. Slowly, or in an unmeasured and unnoticed pace, we are about to halt. We should be ready to face death when its knocking. Well, to be honest, I am not yet ready as I think I still have lots of things to do for my family yet. Slowly, we will be saying goodbye. That's definite.

The Price of Tears

For five twilights
the paper lantern shivers
awaiting the first note
the crying ladies will deliver.

Veiled and clothed in white,
they take up the front pew.
Doors slide open for public viewing.
Incense fills the room.

Sans musical accompaniment
showcase of tonsils begins ---
white handkerchiefs act
as microphones. Wails and moans
collide on air, push the soul
of their patron nearer to heaven.

Until the funeral
of their client --- a fellow mourner,
every tear squeezed out from their eyes

still
costs a cent.

/totomai

PS

inspired by the movie Crying Ladies

Death equates to a permanent goodbye, slowly and unhurriedly. Don't worry about how many people will mourn or cry during your wake and funeral. You can't witness nor hear it anyway. Just have a good sleep, a deep slumber. And don't forget to leave a smile on your face for them to remember.

After all, our life is like a dream within a dream.

/totomai
01/31/09

PS

Hoping Okuribito will bag the Oscar's for Best Foreign Film.