This sort of movie isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I found it to be subtle but very worthy.
Mired in stark realism, the characters are forced to conduct a funeral for an old man who died unexpectedly. At the center of everything is the man's daughter and her husband, who have been asked to take care of the whole business.
No one is a saint. They want to show their respect for the man's life, but it seems that very few of them knew him well at all and they're just going through the necessary motions. When this or that person does show regret at his having left, it even seems out of place.
A powerful undercurrent of humour runs throughout the film. Much of it has to do with how no one really knows what to do. At one point the main couple is watching a mass-produced VHS video about what should be said and done during the funeral process.
But perhaps the best part of the movie is how the director captures poignant natural human foibles for comical effect. They try their best to make the funeral a formal and respectful event, but people trip, children are boisterous, some people are not very respectful of the deceased at all, and people get tired or bored. They're mostly nice people, but of course no one loves to be there for such events, and the director captures this light natural tension in a skillful way.
Honourable Mentions: Tokyo Story (1953). The leisurely quiet realism of The Funeral really reminded me of Tokyo Story. But Tokyo story might be called a bit dull at points and had a really meaningful ending. Funeral is more about the subtle humor among the backdrop of strong realism.
Mired in stark realism, the characters are forced to conduct a funeral for an old man who died unexpectedly. At the center of everything is the man's daughter and her husband, who have been asked to take care of the whole business.
No one is a saint. They want to show their respect for the man's life, but it seems that very few of them knew him well at all and they're just going through the necessary motions. When this or that person does show regret at his having left, it even seems out of place.
A powerful undercurrent of humour runs throughout the film. Much of it has to do with how no one really knows what to do. At one point the main couple is watching a mass-produced VHS video about what should be said and done during the funeral process.
But perhaps the best part of the movie is how the director captures poignant natural human foibles for comical effect. They try their best to make the funeral a formal and respectful event, but people trip, children are boisterous, some people are not very respectful of the deceased at all, and people get tired or bored. They're mostly nice people, but of course no one loves to be there for such events, and the director captures this light natural tension in a skillful way.
Honourable Mentions: Tokyo Story (1953). The leisurely quiet realism of The Funeral really reminded me of Tokyo Story. But Tokyo story might be called a bit dull at points and had a really meaningful ending. Funeral is more about the subtle humor among the backdrop of strong realism.