OVERLAY REPORT

In Juzo Itami’s 1984 debut film **"The Funeral"** (original Japanese title: *Ososhiki*), the title is both a literal description of the plot and a satirical framing device for its themes. ### 1. Significance of the Title to the Plot The film’s title is deeply significant because the entire narrative is structured as a chronological, three-day procedural of a traditional Buddhist funeral. After the patriarch Shinkichi Amamiya dies of a sudden heart attack, his daughter Chizuko and son-in-law Wabisuke (both modern Tokyo actors) must organize the rites at their rural home. The title highlights the following thematic layers: * **Performance vs. Reality:** Because the protagonists are actors, the "funeral" becomes a literal stage. The title signifies the transition from private grief to public performance. The characters spend more time "rehearsing" their roles—learning the correct way to bow, the specific words of condolence, and how to look sufficiently somber—than actually mourning. * **The Clash of Eras:** The title represents the collision between ancient, rigid traditions and the materialistic, high-tech reality of 1980s Japan. It exposes the "business of death," where priests arrive in luxury cars and funeral directors upsell expensive coffins. * **Structure as Ritual:** The film is divided into the specific phases of the *ososhiki*: the arrival of the body, the wake (*tsuya*), the formal service, and the cremation. By naming it simply "The Funeral," Itami emphasizes that the ritual itself has become the main character, overshadowing the deceased. ### 2. Direct References by Characters Characters reference the title and the concept of the funeral directly and frequently, often in a "meta" or instructional way: * **The Instructional Video:** The most explicit direct reference occurs when Wabisuke and Chizuko realize they have no idea how to conduct the ceremony. They sit down to watch a literal VHS tape titled **"The ABCs of the Funeral"** (*Ososhiki no ABC*). The video features a narrator explaining funeral etiquette, which the characters then attempt to "perform" in the subsequent scenes. This scene directly links the film’s title to the characters' lack of cultural identity. * **Wabisuke’s Narration:** Wabisuke provides a voice-over throughout the film, often speaking directly about the "three-day ordeal" of the funeral. He treats the event like a production he is managing, commenting on the logistics and the behavior of the "cast" (the relatives). * **The Widow’s Speech:** At the end of the film, the widow, Kikue, delivers a formal speech to the guests. This is a direct reference to the "funeral speech" (a required part of the ritual). In a subversion of the satirical tone, her speech becomes one of the few moments of genuine emotion, acknowledging that the "funeral" provided a necessary, if exhausting, structure for her to finally process her loss. * **The Priest and the Undertaker:** These characters frequently use the term *ososhiki* when discussing the "package" and costs of the ceremony, further reinforcing the idea of the funeral as a commercial transaction. ### Summary of Specific Detail While the title is referenced throughout as a mundane necessity, the **"ABCs of the Funeral" video** is the most significant direct reference. It serves as a humorous acknowledgment that the characters are so disconnected from their own traditions that they must study a video—much like an actor studies a script—to survive the very event the movie is named after.