"Departures (Okuribito)" to open in theatres in the U.S. and Canada on May 29th

by Chris MaGee

Even before Yojiro Takita's "Departures (Okuribito)" took home the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film last month I was fielding emails from anxious readers asking when the film about an unemployed cellist who takes a job as a funeral home would be released here in North America. Of course after the Oscar win there were even more emails, but for the longest time I just didn't know. Well, now I know.

Regent Releasing, the company that's picked up the North American distribution rights for "Departures" has recently updated the film's official English language site with a full theatrical release schedule for the United States with the film opening in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pasedena, Encino and Berkley on May 29th with additional releases in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Washington D.C. on June 19th. Click here for specific theatres.

Of course this doesn't clear up when the film will see a theatrical or DVD release here in Canada. That I still don't know, at least right now, so I guess I'll still be fielding emails from my fellow Torontonians and Canucks about this. Man, it's tough being a film blogger sometimes...

Thanks to Wildgrounds for the heads up on this.

UPDATE: I just got a reply from an email I sent to Regent Releasing this morning and it's official: their marketing manager has confirmed that "Departures" will be opening in select theatres in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal on May 29th! Great news!