You know, I wouldn't have put a Japanese cellist into an encoffining agency, but the story works.
It works exceptionally well. Like Amadeus and The Red Violin, this film shows a lot about the importance of music in a culture. It takes a step beyond that, though, and brings to light the beauty in death.
The story takes place in Japan, and the history and culture heavily influence the film. At the same time, it is modern and not too far from "American standards," so I was able to follow along easily. Listening to the Japanese, the words have a lyrical property to them, the wife's especially. It also gives the impression of containing a great deal of symbolism. As the protagonist learns the ways of his boss, we learn along with him. There is an immense amount of attention to detail and metaphor that goes into preparing the bodies. Beyond that, though, there are glimpses of things an outsider can't quite grasp.
The plot line has a lot of little twists and turns to keep the audience engaged. At the same time, it's quiet. It lacks all of the American pop-culture noise. There are many, many silent parts of the film where you can just sit and watch. That is refreshing.
The editing is, for the most part, well done. There is a montage sequence where it continues to cut to shots of Daigo playing his cello. The music that is playing lines up in no way with his actions. This was distracting and frustrating. Other than that, the cello's music ties in with the story well. It generates understanding and draws the story out into the open without having an overwhelming presence. That is one of the winning properties of a string instrument.
The story is told well. The photography is admirable. It is a thought provoking film; the dead are handled with such respect, and so many families are healed through the gentle actions of those who care. This is a kind film.
