The Funeral (1984) [Film Review]

The Funeral; or, The Art of Japanese Send Off

     This was my home when I lived in Izu. Now, since I moved to Tokyo, I call it my country place. But really, it's my in laws’ retirement home.

This week I would like to discuss yet another of Itami’s classics. The Funeral, which initiated his filmmaking career by winning five Japanese Academy Awards, is a careful study of a family organising the traditional ceremony of final farewell to their deceased relative.

Release Info 

Directed by: Jûzô Itami Starring: Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto, Kin Sugai, Hideji Otaki

Language: Japanese Original Title: Osōshiki Runtime: 124 min 

 

Plot

The story begins with an elderly man known as Shokichi Amamiya. After receiving a clean bill of health, Shokichi outrageously mocks his wife, Kikue (Kin Sugai), when saying that he wants to live to the age of 120 and with a young mistress by his side. However, Amamiya suffers from a massive heart attack after this statement and dies in a hospital. Back in Tokyo, his daughter Chizuko (Nobuko Miyamoto) and son-in-law Wabisuke Inoue (Tsutomu Yamazaki) receive a phone call with tragic news. It is up to them to organise the funeral and Chizuko tells her husband that the service should be held in Izu. Wabisuko is not too keen on the ceremony taking place in his childhood home but eventually agrees. All family members gather in Izu and the three days of preparations begin. During that time the relatives have to deal with various personal issues and mutual resentments.

Handle with care

Similarly to other Itami’s films, The Funeral can’t be exclusively labelled as a comedy. Certainly, there some noticeable light undertones in the story, but what makes this movie unique is a considerable distance from the events it focuses on. If the film had been shot entirely with a handheld camera, I would have thought that I was watching an actual documentary. The plot is virtually non-existent. You won’t find here any conflict, rising action, and climax. Yet, even though everything on the screen is shown very subtlety and cautiously, you get the feeling that there’s a lot of going on in the Amamiya family.

On the surface, we observe the family’s preparations for the funeral. Wabisuko and Chizuko have to face with such daunting tasks as choosing a coffin, learning formal etiquette, preparing a speech, holding a wake for the neighbours, and hiring a priest. Nevertheless, there are certain little things which make watching Amamiyas’ preparations disturbing. It is, for instance, Chizuko’s cousin who cheats Wabisuko on money when paying the hospital bill, Shokichi’s brother who is resented due to his wealth, and Wabisuko who has an affair with a younger woman. None of these issues are out of the ordinary in modern times, but perhaps this is the harsh message that Itami tried to convey: death in the family does not really matter.

The scene which made the greatest impression on me is the black and white sequence shot by one of the relatives. It’s naturally beautiful in its simplicity and innocence. In my opinion, it resonates even stronger when contrasted with the scene of Wabisuko’s unexpected sexual intercourse in a forest. In addition, Kikue’s speech towards the end of the film is also interesting as the widow expresses her regret that the hospital staff would not let her be with the husband in his last moments.

In terms of performances, Tsutomu Yamazaki and Nobuko Miyamoto are flawless as always. It is not surprising that Yamazaki and Miyamoto starred together in three other films (Tampopo (1985), A Taxing Woman (1987), and A Quiet Life (1995)). There is very little of music score, but its absence only reinforces the authenticity of the picture. In addition, the movie has excellent framing, very much in style of Akira Kurosawa, with action often going on the background rather than in the foreground.

Recommendations

Recommended to anyone who is into human interest stories or would like to know something more about the Japanese funeral rituals. It is also a great movie to start with when checking out Itami’s filmography. As mentioned previously, Yamazaki and Miyamoto give great performances and it is worth seeing the film just for them. The Funeral also has a whole new dimension of meaning for people grieving over their relatives who passed away. Watch the film and it will leave you thinking for a few good weeks.

Overall score: 8/10