The 2009 Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film went to the Japanese film “Departures”, and I am tickled “pinku” now that there is news that this award winning film is being added to the Madman Entertainment collection!

Here is a synopsis of the film:

Daigo Kobayashi is a professional cellist who faces unemployment when his orchestra is dissolved. Upon answering an advertisement entitled “Departures”, thinking it is for a travel agency, Daigo finds himself in the role of Nokanshi, or encoffineer, a funerary celebrant who prepares bodies for entry into the next life. While his wife and others around him despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of Nokanshi, acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. Daigo experiences a profound and sometimes comical journey as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living.

The lead actor of this interesting film, Masahiro Motoki, is also the recipient of Best Performance by an Actor at the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards for this role. Someone struck it lucky this year, huh?

Australians and New Zealanders who would be interested in purchasing this DVD will need to wait until the 17th of February 2010, where you can expect to pay around $34.95 a copy.

And just so you know, Madman have a few other Academy Award® winners in their catalogue including COUNTERFEITERS, MAN ON WIRE, SPIRITED AWAY, AMORES PERROS, TAXI TO THE DARKSIDE, HARVEY KRUMPET, LA STRADA, RASHOMON and TSOTSI.

For more info on “Departures”, head over here and pre-order your copy. For the other Academy Award films, visit Madman’s website to get them.

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