A great respect to traditions and rituals, makes possible that in Japan there is a “do” (way) for almost everything. Therefore, a few years ago scriptwriter Kundo Koyama of Oscar-winning “Departures” fame, came out with the idea that a “yu-do” (the way of the hot water/bath) would be not only possible but also very believable. From this reflection, the original script of “Yudo: The Way of the Bath” stemmed and developed to the 2023 film directed by Masayuki Suzuki.
Yudo: The Way of the Bath is screening at Five Flavours
After shining briefly as a rising star of the Tokyo scene, architect Shiro Miura (Toma Ikuta) struggles to find his way as a solo professional, and – after his father's passing – decides to go back to his provincial hometown and take hold of the dying family business, the Marukin Hot Springs, a small-town bathhouse (sento) that his father had run until the end of his days.
Yudo: The Way of the Bath is screening at Five Flavours
After shining briefly as a rising star of the Tokyo scene, architect Shiro Miura (Toma Ikuta) struggles to find his way as a solo professional, and – after his father's passing – decides to go back to his provincial hometown and take hold of the dying family business, the Marukin Hot Springs, a small-town bathhouse (sento) that his father had run until the end of his days.
- 11/17/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
A great respect to traditions and rituals, makes possible that in Japan there is a “do” (way) for almost everything. Therefore, a few years ago scriptwriter Kundo Koyama of Oscar-winning “Departures” fame, came out with the idea that a “yu-do” (the way of the hot water/bath) would be not only possible but also very believable. From this reflection, the original script of “Yudo: The Way of the Bath” stemmed and developed to the 2023 film directed by Masayuki Suzuki.
“Yudo: The Way of the Bath” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
After shining briefly as a rising star of the Tokyo scene, architect Shiro Miura (Toma Ikuta) struggles to find his way as a solo professional, and – after his father's passing – decides to go back to his provincial hometown and take hold of the dying family business, the Marukin Hot Springs, a small-town bathhouse (sento) that his father...
“Yudo: The Way of the Bath” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
After shining briefly as a rising star of the Tokyo scene, architect Shiro Miura (Toma Ikuta) struggles to find his way as a solo professional, and – after his father's passing – decides to go back to his provincial hometown and take hold of the dying family business, the Marukin Hot Springs, a small-town bathhouse (sento) that his father...
- 4/30/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Departures
Many viewers would be touched by the tale of an aspiring cellist, who accidentally becomes a mortician (an undertaker or a funeral director, to some) when he loses his dream job with a symphony orchestra. Many would even be stupefied by the ingenuity of the filmmakers to pick up a seemingly unique subject such as “encoffinment” as a subject for a feature film. Many others would be in awe of the Asian traditions that respect the dead, the elderly, and the institution of marriage until (and beyond!) “death do us part”. Many others would be equally intrigued by the Asian traditions that consider associating any profession relating to the dead as being somewhat demeaning and not worthy of public stature.
Director Yojiro Takita’s film is loosely based on Aoki Shinmon’s autobiographical book The Coffin Man, which was subsequently adapted for the screen by the scriptwriter Kundo Koyama.
Many viewers would be touched by the tale of an aspiring cellist, who accidentally becomes a mortician (an undertaker or a funeral director, to some) when he loses his dream job with a symphony orchestra. Many would even be stupefied by the ingenuity of the filmmakers to pick up a seemingly unique subject such as “encoffinment” as a subject for a feature film. Many others would be in awe of the Asian traditions that respect the dead, the elderly, and the institution of marriage until (and beyond!) “death do us part”. Many others would be equally intrigued by the Asian traditions that consider associating any profession relating to the dead as being somewhat demeaning and not worthy of public stature.
Director Yojiro Takita’s film is loosely based on Aoki Shinmon’s autobiographical book The Coffin Man, which was subsequently adapted for the screen by the scriptwriter Kundo Koyama.
- 4/17/2010
- by Jugu Abraham
- DearCinema.com
A stray Chabrol, the next Juno and more Toni Servillo brilliance are among this year's hidden gems on the festival circuit. Hunt them down now before they're buried for ever
Home festivaling is one of the few perks of losing mobility through a back injury. What better way to cover 300+ screen events across the UK for Empire Online's Festivals & Seasons page than letting them come to you? Much festival fare falls squarely into the three-star category. But, every now and then, a disc arrives in the post containing a gem that leaves you wondering how the distributors missed it. So here's a personal selection of the festival favourites that have either failed to secure a UK release in 2009 or are not currently on the schedule for next year.
10) Let's Dance (dir. Noémie Lvovsky, France)
Festivals are invariably stuffed with quirky ensemble pieces, with Laís Bodanzky's superbly choreographed The Ballroom...
Home festivaling is one of the few perks of losing mobility through a back injury. What better way to cover 300+ screen events across the UK for Empire Online's Festivals & Seasons page than letting them come to you? Much festival fare falls squarely into the three-star category. But, every now and then, a disc arrives in the post containing a gem that leaves you wondering how the distributors missed it. So here's a personal selection of the festival favourites that have either failed to secure a UK release in 2009 or are not currently on the schedule for next year.
10) Let's Dance (dir. Noémie Lvovsky, France)
Festivals are invariably stuffed with quirky ensemble pieces, with Laís Bodanzky's superbly choreographed The Ballroom...
- 12/21/2009
- by David Parkinson
- The Guardian - Film News
(Screened as part of the 23rd Leeds International Film Festival which ran from 4th-22nd November 2009. Didn't see a Twitch review for this at all, so here we are.)
The biggest problem with Yōjirō Takita's Departures is probably how utterly predictable it is. After all, this is a film where the main character jumping (wrongly) to conclusions leads him to a life-changing epiphany he never expected, yet it's so ruthlessly put together nothing ever surprises. Nearly every pivotal moment is exactly what it seems.
Masahiro Motoki (The Bird People In China) plays Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist for a small orchestra who's just moved back to his home town after being made redundant. Struggling to find a job outside the big city, Daigo comes across a tiny classified ad for help wanted - the wording's a little ambiguous, but it seems to be something to do with travelling. Holiday bookings, perhaps?...
The biggest problem with Yōjirō Takita's Departures is probably how utterly predictable it is. After all, this is a film where the main character jumping (wrongly) to conclusions leads him to a life-changing epiphany he never expected, yet it's so ruthlessly put together nothing ever surprises. Nearly every pivotal moment is exactly what it seems.
Masahiro Motoki (The Bird People In China) plays Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist for a small orchestra who's just moved back to his home town after being made redundant. Struggling to find a job outside the big city, Daigo comes across a tiny classified ad for help wanted - the wording's a little ambiguous, but it seems to be something to do with travelling. Holiday bookings, perhaps?...
- 11/25/2009
- Screen Anarchy
When Yojiro Takita's Departures took the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film back in February, it caught a lot of people off guard, especially since it was going up against such critical favourites as Waltz with Bashir and The Class. Well, next month we'll finally get to see what all the fuss is about when Regent Releasing puts the Japanese film in North American theatres. Departures (Okuribito) is about a young man who plays the cello in an orchestra, only to have the orchestra disband, leaving him unemployed. He moves back to his hometown and takes a job at a funeral home where he prepares bodies for burial. Although most people are disgusted by it, he ends up taking great joy in the work. Both dramatic and funny, it does seem like this could be sort of a Japanese take on Six Feet Under. If that's not enough, writer Kundo Koyama...
- 4/23/2009
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
And here's the rest, including the Midnight Section, all after the break.
Encounters
This collection of engaging and entertaining narrative features and documentaries, a mixture of dark comedies and lighter fare, offers work from returning filmmakers, established talent, and popular subjects, and includes 10 World Premieres. Included in Encounters are performances from Academy Award®-nominated actors Thomas Haden Church, Melissa Leo, Elisabeth Shue; directorial debuts from both Eric Bana and Cheryl Hines (from a screenplay by Adrienne Shelly); stories ranging from an ill-fated man's discovery of inspiration and happiness, dysfunctional families, and unrequited high school crushes to a doc on the emergence of New York’s independent film scene.
• Blank City, directed by Celine Danhier. (USA) - World Premiere, Documentary. Celine Danhier’s kinetic doc mirrors the urgent, anything-goes energy of her subject: the Diy independent film movement that emerged in tandem with punk rock in late ‘70s downtown New York.
Encounters
This collection of engaging and entertaining narrative features and documentaries, a mixture of dark comedies and lighter fare, offers work from returning filmmakers, established talent, and popular subjects, and includes 10 World Premieres. Included in Encounters are performances from Academy Award®-nominated actors Thomas Haden Church, Melissa Leo, Elisabeth Shue; directorial debuts from both Eric Bana and Cheryl Hines (from a screenplay by Adrienne Shelly); stories ranging from an ill-fated man's discovery of inspiration and happiness, dysfunctional families, and unrequited high school crushes to a doc on the emergence of New York’s independent film scene.
• Blank City, directed by Celine Danhier. (USA) - World Premiere, Documentary. Celine Danhier’s kinetic doc mirrors the urgent, anything-goes energy of her subject: the Diy independent film movement that emerged in tandem with punk rock in late ‘70s downtown New York.
- 3/11/2009
- QuietEarth.us
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