Departures

This was a touching film that changed my attitude toward the job of putting dead body into coffin. Daigo used to be a famous cello player but lost his job as he did not have enough money to pay for the debt. He saw the classified ad entitled “departure,” and there were no limitation for capabilities. As he went to the interview, what shocked him was the job went beyond his expectation but later on reluctantly accepted it. Daigo’s first task was to move the dead body which made him vomit. The employer’s peaceful attitude toward the death calmed Daigo down. As time passed, he gradually took pride in this job and felt respect for his employer. However, his wife, Mika, asked him to quit it or she would go back to her hometown. What made Daigo astonished was Mika’s response to his job. A word “Disgusting.” beat Daigo’s heart violently and he made up his mind to stick to the job. Hard as Daigo felt, his friend even blamed him for working at this kind of job. Things changed as the woman who run the public bath died. Daigo’s wife and his friend turned their bias into respect for him. Finally, Daigo knew that his father still cared about him and as he died, he still treasured the little stone.


Mika always supported Daigo when he bought an expensive cello and went in debt without informing her. The scene still deeply rooted in my mind. As Mika found out about Daigo’s work, she could not bear any more but burst out a word “Disgusting.” that hurt his husband’s heart. If I were Mika, would I respond the same way just because he was my husband? His hands had touched the dead body and it must be dirty. I would not be willing to live with him unless he quit the job. Later on, Mika was pregnant and asked Daigo how he would be proud of his job and would not let his children feel ashamed of his father’s profession. Of course, children often had fathers around to act as role models. If I were the child whose father’s job was to beautify the dead people, I would not really appreciate him. But after seeing Departures, I realized it was because of the bias existed among us that shaped our perception toward things. I would like to looked on the bright side and consider Daigo’s job was an honor for the death.


The big and small stone not only linked Daigo and his father but also Daigo and his child. Daigo only had the vague image of his father and mad at his father for abandoning his family. However, his wife held the opposite opinion about Daigo’s mother’s feeling about his father. Daigo’s mother must love his father so much or she would not arrange the Disc orderly. My father was a serious person and never did he give me award as I made progress in academic work. One time, as I went back home, a new bicycle stood right in the balcony. I just could not help cry and ran to my father. He must feel proud of my diligence and I was moved by his unusual way of showing his love for me. Parents’ love would be forever unless I did not want to catch it. At the significant moment, Daigo passed down the stone to his unborn baby to show his love as his father had done.


I will recommend this touching movie to two groups. One is people who as I, at beginning, feel afraid of the job and do not have courage to appreciate it. But “Departure” do change my prejudice and now, I believe each kind of job have its dignity. Everyone should always put their foot in other’s shoes and do not judge things by its appearance. The second is younger generation who change their job frequently. There are no perfect jobs unless you contribute yourself in it and have confident of what you have done.