A warm, sensitive, and very funny look at a Japanese family, as the unexpected death of their father, owner of a brothel, brings together the older and younger generations.

In this hilarious black comedy, filmmaker Juzo Itami pokes fun at Japanese traditions -- in particular, the culture's strict Buddhist funeral rites.
Wabisuke and Chizuko are a modern married couple who live in Tokyo. Their happy lives are turned upside down when her father -- a diabetic old bully -- unexpectedly passes away, and they must take on the hefty price tab and the numerous rules involved in planning his funeral.
But the film's not over yet, because a gallery of annoying relatives and Wabisuke's young mistress are planning to show up for the occasion!

Co-produced by A.T.G. and Itami-N.C.P.

Shot in Fujicolor.

Shown at the Cannes Film Festival (Directors Fortnight) May 10, 1985.

Released theatrically in New York City October 23, 1987.

Additional cast: Kiminobu Okumura (Shinkichi Amamiya) and Chikako Yuri (Ayako).

First feature film for Japanese actor-turned-writer/director Juzo Itami.

Before becoming a director, Juzo Itami appeared in such international films as "55 Days at Peking" and "Lord Jim."

Actress Nobuko Miyamoto is married to the director, Juzo Itami.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33

Nobuko Miyamoto: Japanese Actress
Tsutomu Yamazaki: 

Juzo Itami: Director/Actor

"...A series of joyous contradictions....[Itami is] far and away the most exciting new fim maker to burst onto the international scene in a decade..."
"...Wise, compassionate and slyly amusing....THE FUNERAL is as audacious in style as in its views..."