DEPARTURES — ★★★ — Masahiro Motoki, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ryoko Hirosue; with English subtitles (Japanese dialects); rated PG-13 (vulgarity, sex, brief partial nudity, brief gore, mild profanity, slurs); Broadway Centre

"Departures" isn't in a particular rush to get anywhere.

In fact, if you were to use one word to describe this Japanese import's pacing, "unhurried" would probably be the one to come to mind.

But it is the type of film that needs some time to find its story and its characters. This thoughtful drama is pretty rewarding, though the very deliberate tempo may test the patience of some.

(In fact, in that regard, the movie recalls the later works of beloved Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, who won Academy Awards — as did this particular film.)

With the film, director Yojoro Takita and screenwriter Kundo Koyama look at professional "Nokanshi" or "encoffiners," whose job it is to clean and prepare bodies before they are placed in caskets.

The newest person to join their ranks is Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki), a professional cellist who returns to his hometown after his Tokyo-based orchestra goes belly up.

Desperate to find employment, he's excited to see an advertised job that involves "departures." As it turns out, the ad contains a typographical error, and the job is actually working with "the departed."

Daigo is horrified by the sight of bodies, but finds the money is too good to resist. Besides, Daigo's new boss — Ikuei Sasaki (Tsutomu Yamazaki) — believes his new apprentice was fated for this.

There are a few false notes. A bit about marital discord — Ryoko Hirosue plays Daigo's adorable but suddenly argumentative spouse — is contrived and unconvincing.

And the movie ends in predictable fashion.

But we come to care about these people. We wish we knew more about the supporting characters, though. With his stoney demeanor, veteran Yamazaki resembles an Asian Gregory Peck.

Also, some occasional, darkly humorous moments help. Otherwise, this material would have been too downbeat for its own good.

"Departures" is rated PG-13 and features some sexually suggestive humor and references (slang), a brief sex scene and other sexual contact, brief partial male nudity (as well as some nude art), brief blood, scattered mild profanity, and some derogatory language and slurs. Running time: 130 minutes.

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com