Osôshiki (1984)

The Funeral DVD

English Title: The Funeral
Itami Productions
Starring: Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto
Directed by: Jûzô Itami

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Upon learning of the death of her father, actress Chizuko Amamiya (Nobuko Miyamoto) and her actor husband Wabisuke Inoue (Tsutomu Yamazaki) arrange the funeral to be held in their vacation home.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The couple travel from Tokyo to their home in Izu with their two children and their orange and white cat Kichi. Kichi is seen in the car during the trip.

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi riding in car with kids

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi riding in back window of car behind sleeping kids

Once the family arrives at the home, one of the boys can be seen carrying the cat inside.

The Funeral - boy carrying orange and white cat Kichi into house

Kichi is next seen wandering into the family room where the casket and display have been set up. The cat walks to the edge of the tatami mat and lies down, looking perfectly content. It’s possible some kind of smell was placed in the spot, as the cat sniffs at a certain point on the mat before settling down.

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi walking into room opposite casket

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi sniffing tatami mat in room opposite casket

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi lying on tatami mat in room opposite casket

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi stretched out on tatami mat in room opposite casket

Later Kichi makes a brief appearance in the 16 mm black and white film which an assistant named Aoki (Takashi Tsumura) has filmed. Kichi is on hand to smell the flower arrangements when they arrive.

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi in black and white sniffing flower arrangement

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi in black and white beside flower arrangement

Finally Kichi is seen on the lap of an elderly man as a group of Chizuko’s father’s friends talk about their association with him through playing gateball. One man says Chizuko’s father always spoke about her and of Kichi the cat and how the cat didn’t mind making the drive from Tokyo to Izu and back. “Kichi never once complained!” the man repeats. “He couldn’t complain: He’s a cat!” the elderly man points out. Moments late the older gentleman has fallen asleep with Kichi still on his lap.

The Funeral - orange and white cat Kichi on lap of elderly man sitting at table with other people