Algoma International Film Association

Reviews:

Philip De Semlyen, Empire Magazine: “Heart-warming funny, wise and profound. Not to be missed.”

Phillipa Hawker, The Age (Australian): “Departures is about life, death, grief and loss, but it is also, in a quietly effective way, about coming to terms with expectations.”

Jason Di Rosso, MovieTime, ABC Radio National: “It’s an affecting experience--you’ll need to bring some tissues--but rest assured it’s a joyous one, too.”

.. the newest and most significant in Canadian and International films right here in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Algoma International Film Association promotes the viewing and appreciation of films not usually available to the community commercial cinema. We are a member of the Film Circuit, a division of the Toronto International Film Festival. The Toronto International Film Festival Group is a charitable, cultural and educational organization devoted to celebrating excellence in film and the moving image.

Welcome to our 42nd season!
Greetings to our members and friends of film! We are very pleased to be returning to Galaxy Cinema at our usual 7pm Sunday screening time for the winter half of our 2009/2010 season. With the bigger screen and sound comes bigger costs, of course, so please encourage everyone you know to join us for the best in current international cinema. We welcome your support! Our membership fee is $20 & passes are $85. Ticket prices are $6 for members & $8 for non-members.

Okuribito / Departures

Year: 2008
Country: Japan
Director: Yôjirô Takita
Leads: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 130 minutes
Rating: 14A (for thematic material)
Language: Japanese

Daigo Kobayashi, a cellist in an orchestra in Tokyo, loses his job when the orchestra dissolves. He moves back to his hometown with his wife Mika to look for work, and decides to pursue a classified advertisement for ‘assisting departures’.

Thinking he is going into the travel industry, Daigo soon learns he will be involved in preparing the ‘departed’ in front of mourning family members. Unable to admit the type of work he is doing, he tells his wife he is involved in the ‘ceremonial occasions industry’. Following a series of comedic interludes, Daigo earns the respect and understanding of those around him, as he himself comes face to face with his own past in a poignant turn of events.

Winner of the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film.