The Japanese film, "Okuribito" was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film category. The film also won the grand prize at the Montreal World Film Festival. "Okuribito" literally means, "the person that sees (somebody) off." "Okuri" is from the verb "okuru," and "bito (hito)" means "person." All the characters of the movie title are written in hiragana. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to see it, but I am very curious about the film. If you have a chance to see it, I recommend watching it with subtitles and trying to catch some Japanese. Don't get frustrated by not understanding whole conversations. If you can get even a few words, I think it would be very rewarding. The important thing is to enjoy the sound of Japanese (and the movie of course).
Japanese translation
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Comments
Namiko-san, I had a chance to see it and it is a wonderful movie…
You can’t miss it…
mata ne
安倍さん、
私はオーストラリアの日本の映画フェスタバルでおくりびとを見ました。とても悲しいですね。。
My wife and I are here in Tokyo for our 10-year anniversary (we met in Japan, so it was a good opportunity to return). We saw Okulibito this weekend and both loved it. It reminds me how important tradition and professionalism is in Japan. Dignity can be found in every career. Respect your job and good things will come.
こんにちは なみこさん
Hello Namiko-San,
I found excerpts of the movie in YouTube (at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBqMNSOqAQc). It sounds very interesting.
One question remains to me: why is the main actor disliked by his relatives after he changed his work?
Does the work of undertakers have a bad reputation in japanese society?
Regards from germany,
Thomas
あっりがとう ございました
トーマス
I watched the movie here in Yokohama just after it got academy award. I liked it despite the fact that it got academy award.
Usually in Japan this kind of “difficult topic” movies never become hit. I guess academy award helped it, but I think the movie was genuinely beautiful and attractive. They really had great actors, especially Yamazaki Tsutomu. I loved him in Tampopo.