I'm so sorry, friends. I have to leave you early this week. We recently found out that Hal's papa passed away. By the time you read this, we'll be on a plane to LA for the funeral.
This week has been rough. But after discovering his passing, we watched a beautiful Japanese film, called "Departures" (Okuribito), by Yojiro Takita. It won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film last year. Have you seen it? It completely hit home for Hal and I think it helped him grieve. Isn't it crazy how sometimes you watch a movie and it perfectly correlates with your current life situation?
A cellist finds himself unemployed and returns to his home town with his wife to start fresh. He answers a help-wanted ad for someone to handle "departures", thinking it's a travel agency position. He finds out the job is for a funeral professional who prepares bodies for burial and entry into the next life. His wife and other townspeople frown upon it, but he begins to enjoy and respect the art of "nokanshi," acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, and in doing, learns a profound lesson in living.
I highly advise you to put this film on the top of your Netflix queue. Even though it's about death, it was done very sweetly with heartwarming comedic moments. Definitely, my favorite film of the year.
I'll see you again on Monday, my loves.
{Images by Departures}
