Departures (2008)

Both tackle the the role death plays in the lives of the living and how knowledge of death can impact the way one lives.

Apart from the fact that both won awards, both portray the stories of people who went through a situation and came out of it with changed mind sets. Both of these experiences taught humility, discipline, a reality check, a new perspective on the 'less appealing' sides to things (like for Departures, the MC learns to respect a job he once thought was degrading and in The Way Home, the MC learns to accept his grandmother and the poor conditions she lives in), teach us the importance of family values and to keep an open mind.

Leaving the unhappy depress city to a small town. Trying to start a job in small town, different vine, tradition, slow, but warm people and full of love

Both have the beautiful annotation of death, deep listening, experimental moral, and living life fully no matter what.

Cleaning corpse. Beautiful mind, art, love, caring, passionate. Lay back, low key, not normal profession, great movie, great acting

Both won many international film awards. Both have many layers of meaning. Beautifully make. Leave viewers sink into deep process of thinking thoughts. Forever remember the film

Both has to do with making corpse looks complete and family have closure. Empathy, compassion and care

Funeral makeup artist.
Funeral makeup artist
It is an art, dignity, comfort for the living.
Not just a job or career,

Main characters slowly learns about the meaning behind and weight of taking care of the deceased after taking on this type of work after their respective unexpected circumstances.

The both deal with preparing departures of people at funeral houses. This one is more about trying to help police find out the truth for the sake of the surviving family.

Both movie clean the body after death, except “Departure” make the corpses looked good and pleasant for the living family, to have a good closure and in peace. Both movie make the cleaning as a career. One with passion and art, the other one not.
Highly recommend watching “Departure” Japanese movie. Beautifully film.

(1) Story:
About a company in charge of preparing and cleaning the deceased bodies for funerals so that their family can send them off in peace.


(2) Theme:
Death, Life, Funeral


(3) Relevant quotes after watching the movie and drama:

"Funerals are for the living"

“Regardless of your philosophical beliefs, the fact remains that you were born and you are going to die. During the time in between, you get to choose whether or not you want to enjoy the experience.” — Michael Singer

“You should live your life so that you are not afraid of death, and at the same time do not wish to die.” — Leo Tolstoy

“If life is good, then death which is the necessary part of life, is good as well.” — Leo Tolstoy

“Your life may be cut short at any time; therefore, your life should have a deep purpose, a significance that will not depend on whether it is short or long.” — Leo Tolstoy

“Never postpone a good deed which you can do now, because death does not choose whether you have or haven’t done the things you should have done. Death waits for nobody and nothing. It has neither enemies, nor friends.” — Indian Wisdom

Both films tell a quiet, sensible and honest story about a man "pushed" into a career considered odd by society and how said career shapes him throughout the years.

Both movies same in term of the son went home, little did he known to pick up his father’s profession or career. Not totally similar genre but village vibe, human kindness, beautifully filmed

Both movies were about father teaches son a tradition value. The job they learned were not not a common easy work but required heart and soul, caring and loving personality. Both were filmed beautifully in the village setting.