I finally watch the Oscar-winning (Best Foreign Language Film) Departures or おくりびと despite the fact that i should trying to save on every single cents until my get on pay on 18th 17th (it's Saturday on 18th so the pay day is being bring forward). And i think the money is well-spent.

I guess there must be tonnes of people writing about the synopsis/ review. or one can search wikipedia. so i guess i will spare the details here.

It's not the first time the profession of 'undertaker' (or in おくりびと, the Nokan or encoffineer)being filmed. in Perfect Cut (Singapore Channel U drama), this profession was being described, though not to great detail (the show is about cosmetic surgery anyway).

I like it when Daigo Kobayashi (the main lead) accepts the challenge to prepare the bodies of the deceased for their afterlife, although his first 'business' did disgust him to the max. Gradually, he gains greater appreciation between life and death. He holds on to his belief even though his wife, Mika, and childhood friend think it is a dirty job. (Of course it ended in such a way that both his wife and friend come to realise and accept his profession).

I also like the story of Stone Letter =). The story was told to Diago from his father when he is still young and before his father abandon the family. According to the father, stone letter is a way to express your feeling way before human being starts to write. Say if you send a smooth stone, the receiver will be able to feel that the sender was in a happy mood, vice versa. Diago could not forgive his father for abandonment until his father passed away and he prepared his own father's body, and realize his father is still choosing stone for him the second he wallow his last breath. That was a promise made when Diago was still young. The care and concern of parents towards children is absolute, even with mistakes done and feel ashamed towards the kids.

Despite the fact that the topic deals with deceases and death, some of the plots are hilarious-- we chuckled and giggled our way-- well, it's hard not to! For example when Diago's boss's comments on meat (food) = bodies, repeated baths/ scrubs Diago had after his first experience dealing with body, and the scene with xmas celebration, to name a few. (The last do make me feel like eating KFC in the middle of the show).. Not forgetting the scenery when Diago plays his cello - ice-capped mountain and the sakura. It's fabulous.

It's a genuinely sincere show. Deserves the award indeed.