The Funeral
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Movie Reviews of The Funeral
Movie Review: Cathartic and Hillarious if...
Summary: 5 Stars
In order to really appreciate this film, you really have had to been through the experience... for that reason, there are a lot of people who will watch it and not get it.... - - I first saw the film before I really knew very much about Japanese culture... Some elements of the humor were universal... and I still could appreciate the Itami Juzo's dry surrealism... but after seeing the film I came to live in Japan on and off for 9 years and went through the experience, watching the film went beyond "interesting and sometimes funny"... one one had it was incredibly cathartic... on the other hands, uncomfortably hillarious... Its one of those films that if you'd just been through the experience and you watched it, it would definitely serve as a cathartic dose of laughter... - - Too many scenes, unfortunately, parody experiences and rituals (sometimes seemingly senseless, others incomprehensibly complex) that you'd really have to experience to appreciate... If you haven't been through them, those scenes might be a bit boring... for this reason my advice is this : read up on the subject first... and also, watch the film with an understanding that Japanese funerals are very different than Western funerals... The strange scenes in this film in many way present Japanese funerals as they are, and in other ways parody them... All in all, having been lucky to have gone 9 years without any close personal losses in Japan, but recnetly having lost an important member of our family, I can't tell you how thankful I am that Juzo Itami made this film !
Movie Review: Soushiki: not a comedy by any means
Summary: 5 Stars
At first I was worried when I purchased this film, because my fellow amazon reviews gave it such a low rating, however, I was pleasantly surprised that it was the DVD not the movie itself, that received such low scores. This is a wonderful film, although, for the life of me, I can not figure out why this film is refered to as a "comedy." It is true there are some funny moments when the main character and his wife are learning their lines to address mourning guests and at moments such as when the phone rings during a prayer. What this film's strongest point is, however,a glimpse of Japan while the bubble economy was at it's peak. Even someone just giving a cursory glance at this film ill realize how important money is to the family. It is the chief conversational topic throughout the movie. How much do we have to pay for the coffin? How much are the obento lunchboxes, etc. The power of money can really be seen when the monk arrives in a very stylish car and is given a gift of french tile to make a table for his garden. Funerals are extraordinarily expensive in Japan, so many Japanese do not look at Buddhist monks as a sign of benevolence, but as money lovers. However, although money is a major subject, as is the preocupation of acting a certain way during the funral, the key point of this movie is that although the world might be completely obsessed with money, in death one can bring members of the faily closer together, and in death there is also rebirh, as can be evidenced at the end of this film.Movie Review: Not what I expected.
Summary: 5 Stars
This film was nothing like I thought it would be. Having spent four years in Japan I wanted to see for myself what all the controversy was about surrounding 'The Funeral'. Well, I really liked this film, and found it had a lot to offer. From start to finish there is a lot going on at all levels of the emotional spectrum. I found it very touching, a little sad, a little funny, and very human. The quiet love and dignity of the widow and her daughter are the glue that hold the family and friends together. The widows humble expression of thanks to the guests after the funeral, thus releaving the son-in-law of the obligation, is nothing but poetic. I Recommend this film.Movie Review: Juzo Itami
Summary: 5 Stars
Another hit by Juzo Itami. I see complaints re the Fox Lorber DVD among the reviews.
The Fox Lorber is far better than the Gameon which is why I duplicated my purchases with the Fox Lorber disks.
The Fox Lorbers may be no better tan the VHS but for bad, try Gameon.
Movie Review: Movie is great; DVD is sub-par
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great movie, but the DVD could be a lot better. Typically, Fox Lorber seems to have done as cheap a job as possible. It's not letterboxed, and they didn't re-do the subtitles.