Winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar (beating The Class, Waltz With Bashir Revanche and The Baader Meinhof Complex - which shows you how good this film actually is), as well as 10 Japanese Academy Awards, Departures is one of the finest films you are ever likely to see.

Daigo Kobayaski (Motoki) is a young, newly married and devoted cellist in a Tokyo orchestra which has just been disbanded. Suddenly on the street without a job, Daigo decides to move back to his hometown and begins to work for a 'Nokanshi', a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. His wife and others dislike his job choice, but Daigo takes his work as a gatekeeper between life and death seriously. The film follows this profound and sometimes comical journey with death as Daigo uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of humanity.

Preceded by:

SIUBHLACHAN THE TRAVELLER
UK 2008/ 5 mins (In Gaelic with subtitles)

Sgeul smaointeachail mu dheidhinn nighean òg, Seonag, a tha siubhal air ais ann an tìm agus a tadhal air a Seanair nach maireann.
A poignant tale about a young girl, Seonag, who travels back in time to visit her recently deceased Grandfather.