Departures (2008)

Winner of the Oscar for best foreign language film, this Japanese story of a Cellist discovering that his true calling is working as a NK agent, or a person who conducts the ceremony of preparing a dead body for burial, is remarkable.  Somehow it's sentimental without feeling forced.  The characters are simple yet believable.   I could have done without the montage of the main character playing his cello in the countryside, but this is a mild criticism.   Overall this is an emotional journey.  Tears dribbled down my cheeks even as I predicted what would happen.   My favorite elements to the film were the use of food as metaphor and the main love story.  Here death is a beautiful event, worthy of great emotion and that is why it should be celebrated and honored.   Grade: A.