Despite it's Oscar win, I had not heard of this film and stumbled across it on a cloudy day when I wanted desperately to see a movie that had substance and beauty, as there seem to be so few left.
I couldn't have found anything better - exquisitely beautiful and moving me to tears on more than one occasion, which is a rare thing for me in an era of false sentiment and schmaltz. This movie is neither of those, telling a deceptively complex and yet humanly simple story of a young man who takes on a job that others despise and makes it a work of art and compassionate career choice.
It would take too long to describe all the aspects here that touched, moved and resonated with me. Suffice to say that only in 'foreign' films can one find this depth and serenity in a film, a work of art, a gem, a masterpiece.
If you veer away from the nonsense that is mainstream, trashy movie-making, I would urge you to watch this for its sheer humanity and resounding beauty.
Review of Departures
