 The taboo subject of Departures made prospective distributors wary of taking on the film . Surveys conducted at pre @-@ release screenings placed it at the bottom of the list of films audiences wanted to see . Ultimately , the film 's debut at the Montreal World Film Festival in August 2008 , which was rewarded with the festival 's grand prize , provided the necessary incentive for distributors to select Departures ; it finally received its domestic Japanese release on 13 September 2008 . Even then , owing to the strong taboo against death , Takita was worried about the film 's reception and did not anticipate commercial success , and others expressed concern that the film lacked a clear target audience . 
