Film Review: Departures

November 14, 2008 An out-of-work cellist finds a new lease of life as a corpse cosmetician when he develops professional pride and respect for the dead in the heartwarming and humorous "Departures." Yojiro Takita, who directed enduring commercial hits like "The Ying Yang Master" and "The Yen Family," has made a popular gem -- thematically respectable, technically hard to fault, artfully scripted to entertain and touch. Cinemas catering to semi-mainstream, artistically-inclined audiences would be a likelier overseas outlet than elite arthouse.

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