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 ast Life in the Universe" has been quietly
gathering acclaim on the festival circuits for some time now, and given
that its cinematography is by Christopher Doyle (best known for his work
on "Hero"
and "In
the Mood for Love"), I was very keen to catch it on the big
screen. The Japanese/Thai production also features an excellent cast, with
a mixture of first time Thai actresses and some of the more prominent
faces in Japanese cult cinema. Thankfully, I was not disappointed, and
"Last Life in the Universe" proved to be one of the most
beautiful and moving films I have seen for some time.
Given the title, it's quite obvious that this is a
melancholy piece. The plot follows Kenji (Tadanobu Asano, recently in
"Zatoichi"),
a decidedly odd Japanese librarian living in Bangkok who harbors suicidal
fantasies. After a series of strange events that cumulate in a tragic
accident, his path joins with that of Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak), a young
Thai woman. The two travel to her dilapidated rural home near the sea,
where they hide out and gradually come to depend on each other. After some
initial communication difficulties and clashes of personality, the two
form a gentle bond that is threatened as the consequences of past events
begin to intrude.
The above synopsis may make viewers fear they will be
getting a Hollywood-style "culture clash" comedy. Luckily,
that's not the case, as director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (who also directed the
excellent "Monrak
Transistor") takes a different route, bringing the two
protagonists together through their moods and small gestures, gradually
giving insights into their psyches and their growing feelings for each
other. Their differences are quietly played upon rather than exploited for
conflict. All of this is done skillfully but slowly, and it's fair to say
that the film drifts along rather than being driven by narrative. However,
this is not to the film's detriment, as Pen-Ek succeeds in creating a
poetic mood piece that has a wonderfully ambient and dream-like
atmosphere.
Having worked previously as an art director, Pen-Ek
has a fantastic eye for detail and shot composition, and the end result is
a film with a truly beautiful and fascinating look. Particularly
interesting is the way he uses a number of subtle visual devices to
reflect the characters' personalities and changing emotions. This is of
course helped greatly by Christopher Doyle, whose muted yet rich color
palette really brings the film to life, as well as accentuating the
surreal atmosphere. Also worth noting is the excellent soundtrack by
Hualongpong Riddim, which has a real hypnotic quality and definitely adds
to the overall feel of the film.
For some viewers, the downside of all this is that
the majority of "Last Life in the Universe" is given over to
character development and exploration. There are a couple of scenes of
gunplay, though the general lack of action and a driving narrative may
make the film feel dull. This is a great shame, as although "Last
Life in the Universe" is undeniably an art house film, it's by no
means obtuse or humorless, and has much to offer those who are willing to
make the effort. Personally, I appreciated the way the film managed to
avoid degenerating into either trite romantic comedy or simple nihilism,
as filmmakers often do when handling themes like these.
The acting in the film is of a very high standard,
and both leads are wholly convincing. Tadanobu Asano is particularly good
in a role that could easily have alienated the audience through its quiet
eccentricity. What may attract some viewers is the supporting cast, which
includes Riki Takeuchi ("Battle
Royale 2"), Yukata Matsushige ("Ring"),
Sakichi Sato (who wrote "Ichi
the Killer") and cult director Takashi Miike ("Shinjuku
Triad Society"). Their roles are all well played and are nicely
timed in terms of keeping the minimal plot moving. There are also a number
of film references for Asian film fans, most notably a rather odd shot of
the poster for "Ichi the Killer".
Overall, I would rate "Last Life in the
Universe" as one of the best and most beautiful Asian films of the
last few years. Although slowly paced, it offers an atmospheric,
thoughtful and surprisingly moving alternative to the usual "culture
clash" films. If possible, catch it on the big screen to get the full
benefit of the stunning visuals.
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