Reviews, Interviews , News, Commentaries, My Top 5 Movies, Best-Of Lists, Filmmakers of Faith, Film ForumLife of Pi
There's a memorable dinner scene in Life of Pi that attempts to springboard the main theme forward but ironically paralyzes it. After the young Pi becomes the poster child of "coexist" and simultaneously embraces the religions of Hinduism, Catholicism, and Islam, his father confronts him during a meal. The serious businessman says, "Believing in everything is the same as believing in nothing." He tells his son to use reason and common sense, but in doing so, he's painted as the bad guy—as if the rest of the film will prove him wrong. But it turns out he's right after all: With a little thought and reason, it's easy to see the holes in Pi's thinking, and that this film, at its core, is nothing more than a big and beautiful spiritual mess.
Adapted from the Yann Martel's popular 2001 fantasy adventure novel by screenwriter David Magee, director Ang Lee's new film traces the journey of its title character from India, across the Pacific Ocean, to Canada. Told in flashbacks from the perspective of the adult Pi (Irrfan Khan) to a struggling author (Rafe Spall) who hopes to be inspired and "believe in God," the story consists of three acts. The first, set in India, focuses on Pi's childhood living at a zoo run by his parents. Here, he develops a love for a girl at school, for the world's many animals, and for various religions, declaring that "faith is a house with many rooms." Lee captures the many creatures with stunning detail and a unique sense of humor, but this thread moves clumsily and feels stale and didactic rather than inspiring.
The second act makes up for it, though, when Pi's family decides to leave India for Canada. While crossing the Pacific, a fierce storm sinks their ship; Pi (Suraj Sharma in a breakout performance) and a few zoo animals are the only survivors. On a small boat in the middle of the ocean with a tiger, zebra, orangutan, and hyena, Pi finds himself on a quest to survive, in a battle of man vs. nature—or man against his maker, as he puts it—and an unforgettable adventure ensues. Filled with action, comedy, and moments of spiritual transcendence—like during a storm when Pi cries out to God, "What else do you want from me? I've surrendered everything!"—it's a riveting journey, and Lee the artist makes a visual spectacle of it.
Working with cinematographer Claudio Miranda and a talented visual effects team, Lee creates a masterful 3D experience better than even James Cameron's Avatar. Where Cameron's remarkable visual effects were flashy and gimmicky, Lee's are more substantive. He seems less concerned with making an impression and more concerned with using the medium to put together meaningful, symbolic images. This approach plays out most vividly out on the ocean, specifically a night scene where a bloom of jellyfish surrounds Pi and the tiger, dubbed "Richard Parker." The images form a visual ecstasy, lighting up the dark waters while also pointing to a greater light despite Pi's dire situation.
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Pete Jones
continued from previous comment..... As a Christian seeking to bring others to gospel this all seems like something we can use to me, it presents a point of departure and a platform for discussion. A popular novel/film that is worth discussing for the resonances it has with biblical stories and the gospel regardless of what the author is trying to say.
Pete Jones
This sounds like evangelical rigidity all be it intelligently articulated. The world isn't Christian and neither are Hundus. If that sounds obvious then consider that this is a worldly novel, not an evangelical treatise! Firstly, Pi, as 'a Hindu first' is a pantheist. Within the conceptual reality of the text it is perfectly natural for him to assimilate other gods as he wishes to, it's not pluralism as such as just good Hindhu Dharma. He prays to Vishnu in his hour of need! Secondly, the book tells a single story twice, leaving the believing/interpretation up to us. As such it creates debate. The end piece, 'a story we can believe' 'is lonely, dark and tragic. It is stripped of all romance and poetry and has little resonance. Nobody wins, the loss and suffering hold no meaning, but they are all that remain. The alternative however, is full of resonance; Purpose and self discovery are born through the suffering as well as an unlikely empathy with other life. ...to be continued
Don Cope
This movie was to me one of the most intellectual and spiritual movies I have ever seen. My favorite part of the movie was when the Japanese claim investigators came to hear Pi's story. Of course, the entire journey that was covered in the adventure section of the movie, was his story. The investigators were unsatisfied with the story since there was so much that was uncomprehensible to them. Pi asked them "what do you want with me?". They responded, "A story that doesn't make us look like fools; a story that we can believe; the truth!" So Pi told the second, more believable story. This is so like us as modern Christians! The story of Jesus is so amazing, yet so hard to believe! So we seek to understand through reason alone (Just like Pi's father!). We seek another story. One that doesn't make us sound like fools in an intellectual world. One that is more believable. Our concept of truth! And the world is willing to tell us such a story!