Ending Note: Death of a Japanese Salaryman (2011) User Reviews

There is no fear in love

[shi612 · 9/10 · 7 December 2011]

I feel thankful for seeing this movie, which portrays in such detail about the life of a real man facing death.

There are many fictional movies of a terminal cancer patient. "Ikiru" of Kurosawa Akira is a classic one. The movie "My Life Without Me" had the same motif with "Ending Note". But this "Ending Note" is a documentary, not a fiction.

I was moved by the protagonist who faces his own death straight. I could see great love to his daughter, who wants to record her father's last stage of life until death. The daughter who shot the movie may be a Catholic Christian. In Christianity, death is not defeat but glorious return to heaven. I could see her such belief through the movie. However, what keeps him from despair is not the dogma, but the strong tie with his family. The Bible says "There is no fear in love". In his case, it seems his love to wife, to children and to grandchildren has made him overcome the fear on his own death.

By the way, I envy him that so many videos had been left since his young age. Even at the farewell party of his career, his daughter went there to record the video. What a blessed life it was!

A Memorable Documentary

[hippo_hooray-545-476334 · 8/10 · 9 December 2012]

Tomoaki Sunada had a successful career as a sales at chemist company. After he's retired and wanted to live fully. But life not always as we wanted. Tomoaki had verdict has a cancer in fourth stadium. Knowing his life will end soon, accepted in a big heart. His filmmaker daughter, Sunada Mami, recorded his last days of in a such sweet, decent and memorable way. Tomoaki always busy, he rarely had time spent his time with his own family, especially his wife. He busy with work, business trip, even after he's retire he lived separately with his wife and ended called as : a weekend couple. Tomoaki has 3 children, 2 sons and one daughter who not show signed going to get married on her 30's ages, which is the film director itself!

The narrator which is I believe is Mami herself, used simple sentence but titillated viewers to laugh and involved with her family life. We felt like a friend told us her father's diary. All was so natural, palpable, and just the way it is. The tone of Sunada was flat and no emotion, but we just know how Mami loves his father. Tomoaki has a tremendous sense of humor, even in his last minute. Tomoaki loved his grandchildren very much, but his favorite was Emma, she had been frequently called by Tomoaki. One of his son working in US, he wanted to visited US one more time to play with his grandchildren. The fact that Tomoaki was a real salesman proved when he decided to baptized into Christian, because he wanted has memorial but not spend too much money, as we know land in Japan is very expensive. The best moment is when the last days of Tomoaki prior his death that his messages to his entire family. Tomoaki wanted only family and close friend permit to attend his funeral.

The narrator : I faced my last days. But I think one of my son yet letting me go. Son : Dad, this is the last list of the people who will attend your funeral. Is it correct? Dad : .... (paused in confusion) Others : hey stopped it! Dad, you no need to think anything anymore. Let us handle this. (laugh from around)

For me, this is more than just a documentary. This is a family heritage. When Emma grow up with her other siblings and cousins, they will always memorize their grandfather as what Mami's made. Even they can tell to their children later on, a great man as their ancestor who merit to respected.