23 February, 2009
Japan’s “Departures” won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in one of the few surprises at Sunday’s Academy Awards. Either Israel’s “Waltz With Bashir” or France’s “The Class” had been widely expected to take the trophy. Also nommed were Germany’s “The Baader Meinhof Complex” and Austria’s “Revanche.” “Departures” (or “Okuribito”), directed by Yojiro Takita, follows a suddenly jobless cellist who moves back his old hometown and becomes a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies. The pic opened in September in Japan and has grossed $34 million in that market. On Friday, “Departures” won 10 Japan Academy Awards, including top picture, director, actor (Masahiro Motoki), supporting actor (Tsutomu Yamazaki), actress (Kimiko Yo) and screenplay (Kundo Koyama). It will be released domestically in May by Regent Releasing.
