Reviews, Interviews , News, Commentaries, My Top 5 Movies, Best-Of Lists, Filmmakers of Faith, Film ForumLife of Pi
As such images attest, Pi's adventure makes for a powerful theodicy in his search for meaning in the midst of suffering. Pi discovers that God was present in his journey, providing for him every step of the way—with the help of the tiger and later a magical island. Pi learns that even his pain had meaning and purpose. Unfortunately, Life of Pi ultimately nulls this truth, especially in the film's conclusion.
In the third act, Pi offers an alternative perspective to his skeptical listener, who admits that it's a lot to take in. Pi tells a second, similar story that communicates the same ending—yet this version is void of God, the animals, and the other fantastical details. He then asks the writer which story he prefers. Lee tries to evoke an epiphany moment but merely repeats the pluralistic theology that makes his film problematic. This theology, rooted in philosopher Jacques Derrida's theory that "there is nothing outside the text," dismisses the concept of ultimate reality, concluding that all we have are subjective interpretations. While this thinking might be redeemed if understood that not every interpretation is created equally, Life of Pi places all religions on even terms, as if these faiths don't contradict one another and make exclusive claims. Such political correctness essentially diminishes the spiritual gravitas of the film, inadvertently insulting the very religions it celebrates and squandering faith into a meaningless, faith-for-the-sake-of-faith matter.
In a recent conversation with Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert, Lee described his own spirituality like this: "I believe the thing we call faith or God is our emotional attachment to the unknown. I'm Chinese; I believe in the Taoist Buddha. We don't talk about a deity, which is very much like this book; we're not talking about religion but God in the abstract sense, something to overpower you."
In Life of Pi, God and religion are also abstract, making the film the quintessence of a postmodern artifact, one that proves about as conflicted as its message. Lee's grandiose images, in all their splendor and glory, certainly reflect the Creator, but the meaning behind them represents something altogether different—and unfortunately, in the end, it's all smoke and mirrors. There are grains of truth, but woven amidst a lie.
Talk About It
- Life of Pi indicates that all religions lead to God. What is problematic about this pluralistic approach to faith? Does the view work logically? Spiritually?
- Why must Christians believe that Jesus is the only path to God? Why is this belief essential to the Christian faith?
- How should Christians treat those of other religions? Have Christians always done a good job at this?
- Pi learns that his suffering wasn't in vain. How should we view our personal suffering? How does it relate to verses like Romans 8:28-30?
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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!