As sentimental as a Hallmark film and yet it is as elegant
as the art of encoffining that it depicts. When the ceremony is presented again
at the end of the film, I couldn't help but stare at the dance above, upon and
around the corpse. When some in the film are disgusted at the procedure, I am
stunned, because I am one of those few who have seen it at it's best, while
they have not. Once seen, the respect and power of the profession cannot be
denied.
And the parallels to music just add a layer to the art.
Encoffining, preparing a corpse for coffin placement, has as little to do with
western embalming as the work of a conductor has to do with a construction
crew. The conductor is all about expressing life and respect for music through
his movements, while a crew is all about the fast-and-dirty business of meeting
the goal as cheaply and efficiently as possible.
As a movie, it is shallow and sentimental. As an
introduction to an amazing art, it is perfect.
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