Departures Film Analysis

"Departures" is a Japanese film that won the academy award for "Best Foreign Language Film" at the last Academy Awards. This film focuses on the life of a young man named Daigo who loses his job as a musician when the orchestra he plays for is disbanded. He and his wife Mika must search for employment in the town that he grew up in. Eventually, he finds work as an "NK Agent", someone who prepares the body of the deceased for travel to the afterlife. This film does a great job with characterization, music, and plot.
The characterization within this film is phenomenal. The characters are introduced with many predicaments that are at times humorous or disturbing, and their characters seem to pop off of the screen by their reactions. This helps drive the plot even further by the interactions of the great characters within the movie. The way that Daigo handles the trials set forth before him makes him a lovable character for the audience; this makes the sad events for him sad for the people viewing the movie.
The music within the movie fits the themes well. The cello is heavily used within the background music; this plays off of Daigo's passion because he loves playing the cello. Also, the cello music within the film is either very sad or very uplifting depending on the events onscreen. This makes the mourning scenes within the film bring tears to the eyes of the audience. The music helps the plot feel eerily realistic.
The plot of "Departures" is amazing. The storyline brings the characters through highs and lows like a rollercoaster. This plot feels too much like our own lives at times. Because the plot creates a rollercoaster effect for the characters, the film seems like it is really happening at times. This makes the characters seem more human and thus makes the audience share their pain during the lows of their lives.
The plot, music, and characters all play off of one another to create a realistic effect in the film "Departures". Daigo goes through a rollercoaster ride in life and the audience travels with him during his highs and lows. The music makes us feel the pain and suffering of the characters while the plot makes us see similarities with our own lives.