Revanche (2008 German, Russian movie)

Cast: Johannes Krisch, Ursula Strauss, Irina Potapenko

Revanche in German means revenge or vengeance. Alex, an aging convict works as an errand man at a brothel in Vienna. He's in love with a pretty sex worker, Susanne. When the brothel owner starts to deviously manipulate her into making more money, Alex learns of these plans and turns to protect her. They escape from the brothel but left with no money to live on, Alex convinces Susanne that he must rob a local bank and with this money he can invest in a bar in Ibiza to afford them a comfortable life together. After some hesitation, she gives in but insists she'll wait in the car (that he's stolen) closeby. While she's in the car praying, Alex robs the bank with his face masked brandishing an un-loaded gun. When he makes it back, he spots a cop by the car questioning her. So he waves the gun threateningly at the cop and they getaway in the car. As they're fleeing, the cop shoots. Alex drives away but soon discovers Susanne dead from the cop's shooting. Sobbing his heart out, he finally steps out abandoning the car and his dead Susanne in a wooded area, and walks on foot to his grandfather's little farm house. There he stays on to help his ailing grandfather with chopping firewood and tending to cows on the farm. As it happens, the cop and his wife live on a neighboring land. Does Alex get caught? Does he kill the cop out of vengeance?  Although suffering from bouts of dizziness, Alex's old man refuses to go to the hospital saying thus "Once they take you in, they never let you out. And then they'll send me to a home. No, I'll stay here. If I leave here, everything will go to ruin. They can carry me out when am gone." Life must go on at any event whether good or unpleasant, just as one needs to eat or sleep. This story is real, human. 

Rating: I'd give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

Departures (2008 Japanese film)

Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki

Departures is a beautiful film about death. One that doesn't shy away from exploring the loss, helplessness, and the inevitable mortality faced by the living. The dead pass away but it's hard for the ones left behind to deal with the loss and grief for the departed. Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) lands this job quite by accident after losing his job as a cello player in an orchestra. He applies to the NK agency's ad in the newspaper for a person with no previous experience required in the business of 'departures.' Taking this to mean a travel agency, he's entirely unprepared and unwilling at first to work as a professional casketeer--professionals that prepare the dead for their final passage, allowing the family and close ones to bid their last farewell. All of this done in a manner so dignified with a calmness that can otherwise be icy cold to the harshness of life, yet now gentle in caring for the peaceful passing away.This is one movie that leaves behind a residue of a poem sad but exquisite.

Rating: Four out of 5 stars.