YNOT at the Movies

Young cellist Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) loses his job in an orchestra. He and his wife move back to his late-mother's old house in his small hometown. After he answers a job ad in a newspaper to help "departures," he reluctantly becomes an encoffiner who sends those "departed" to a new journey by gracefully dressing and placing the body into a coffin.

When Daigo's wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue) finds out his encoffiner job, like many others, she disapproves him and hopes that he gets a different job instead. However, after she sees his elegant work, she and people around the town gain respect toward Daigo's profession and appreciate how encoffiners bring a closure to the family and connect the life and death.

An encoffination ritual is tremendously moving and beautiful. Like during a tea ceremony (茶道), every move by a encoffiner possesses impeccable precision, soothing gentleness, and ultimate respect.

Boy-band-singer-turned-actor Masahiro Motoki (本木 雅弘) gives a terrific performance as Daigo. Tsutomu Yamazaki (山崎 努) brings humor and wisdom to the role of Daigo's boss. Unlike in the classic "Tampopo" (タンポポ | Japan 1985 | in Japanese | 114 min.), instead of eating noodles, Tsutomu Yamazaki is cooking good chicken and fish. He "hates" himself because he cooks them so well.

"Departures" is a well crafted film that touches all walks of live who must face the inevitable—death. The film does not shy away from being sentimental while dealing with a sensitive topic. Yet, it eloquently transforms the moaning of death into a celebration of love among the living.

"Departures" opens on May 29 at Bay Area theaters.

The film is set at present time, when the economy melts down deep into the recession. 21-year-old Chelsea (Sasha Grey) and her boyfriend Chris (Chris Santos) also feel the pinch in their own businesses, besides they hear about the economy constantly from their clients. Chelsea is a high-class escort making $2000 per hour, and Chris is a personal trainer at a local gym making $125 per hour. Chelsea records every detail about her service because she is also writing a book. When a Chelsea's client evokes her feeling and compromises her emotional detachment, both Chelsea and Chris must face the new challenge in dealing with their relationship, besides the economy meltdown.

Although Sasha Grey has stared in more than 80 adult films, this is her feature debut in a non-porn film, and her performance is quite impressive, considering her character is no match in sophistication to her hourly rate.

The film's cinematography is beautifully to watch, and it tends to draw more attention from the audience than the babblings from film's characters. Even they really talk a lot in the film, very few conversations seem sincere and meaningful. Sometimes, as if they are reciting from some newspaper articles to fill the emotion void during the "business transactions." Perhaps that's the reality when intimacy is based on money and payment. No soul or humanity can be found in these characters, or maybe they were buried too deep under cash to be noticed.

Like many personal trainers, Chris is a big talker and persuasive when he tries to sell something. However, when he sits down at home with Chelsea, he sounds like a shrink. It's totally understandable—It must be mind-boggling to have a girlfriend who is an escort. That's some "girlfriend experience."

"The Girlfriend Experience" opens Friday, May 22 at Landmark's Embarcadero Center Cinema in San Francisco, Shattuck in Berkeley, Piedmont Theatre in Oakland, Aquarius Theatre in Palo Alto, and Nickelodeon Santa Cruz. It opens on May 29 at Camera 3 in San Jose.

That was a few years ago when I was still living in North Carolina. It was cold and grey outside. I didn't leave the couch for about nine hours on that Christmas Day, mulching on leftovers and sipping hot tea — I was watching "The Godfather" (USA 1972, 175 min.), "The Godfather: Part II" (USA 1974, 200 min.), and "The Godfather: Part III" (USA 1990, 162 min.) continuously. I was completely captivated into a world that the legendary director Francis Ford Coppola creates in these films. It was a magical day that I will never forget. Coppola has been one of my favorite directors.

To celebrate his outstanding contribution to cinema, Francis Ford Coppola is honored with the Founder's Directing Award at the 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival (SFiFF52).

Tonight, over a thousand people packed the one and only Castro Theater to spend the evening with director Francis Ford Coppola, joined by his long time friends and fellow filmmakers George Lucas, Carroll Ballard, Walter Murch, and Matthew Robbins.

It was an enchanting night when these old friends tell entertaining stories about filmmaking, and the love of San Francisco — they all left Los Angeles and settled down here. Coppola's story about how Marlon Brando got the part in "The Godfather" drew big laugh in the audience.

It's inspiring to hear their journeys of pursuing their dreams. Coppola encourages the audience to tell individual personal stories. I wish Hollywood executives were in the audience, so they might have taken Coppola's advice and stop remaking Asian films.

Coppola explains that his latest film "Tetro" is one of those "personal" films that he has been making. The trailer of the film is stunningly beautiful, in black and white. It will be in theater in June.

Apparently, tonight's event is just one of the many "award nights" at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Many remarkable filmmakers are recognized with these awards, and festival goers get a chance to be up and close to these artists.

The festival just passed the half way mark. I am sure there are plenty personal stories yet to be told.

I am listening.