Movie Review: Life of Pi (2012)

Movie Review: Life of Pi (2012)*

Cast:                Pi Patel – Irrfan Khan/Sunaj Sharma,

Canadian Writer – Rafe Spall,

Honorary Unlce/Family Friend Mamaji – Elie Aouf,

Mother – Tabu, and

Father – Adil Hussain

Director:           Ang Lee

Synopsis:

Irrfan Khan and Suraj Sharma star as Pi Patel in this adventure drama film. Set on the Pacific Ocean on a life boat, the adult Pi recounts his ordeal to a Canadian writer, who is in search of a story. Claiming that ‘you cannot know the strength of your faith until it has been tested,’ Pi tells him his peculiar experiences with God.

Review:

Ang Lee breathes new life to a 2001 novel by Yann Martel as he brings the “Life of Pi” to the big screen.

Story – The movie is divided into three major parts:

1) the first part gives us Pi’s background. Here, we get to know how Pi got his name, and we also get acquainted with his family;

2) the second part narrates ‘the’ life of Pi as he struggled to survive out in the ocean;

3) the third and last part presents us with a weeping Pi as his heart broke when he was ‘so unceremoniously’ left behind after finally reaching the shores.

Script – The movie is very balanced in that there was a perfect mixture of funny, serious and thrilling moments. More importantly, the movie gives us a lot of lessons to learn, to wit:

1) Mamaji to Pi regarding swimming: “a mouthful of water will not harm you, but panic will”;

2) Pi’s father talking to him regarding religion: “believing in everything at the same time is the same as not believing in anything at all”;

3) Pi in the middle of his ordeal: “don’t lose hope”;

4) Pi remembering the instances when he considered that God did not leave him: “even when God seemed to have abandoned me, He was watching. Even when He seemed indifferent to my suffering, He was watching. And when I was beyond hope of saving, He gave me rest, and gave me a sign to continue my journey;”

5) Canadian writer: “so, your story does have a happy ending.” Pi answering back (the author sending a message to the audience to the effect that one is the ultimate driver of his life, no matter what): “That’s up to you. The story is yours now.”

Presentation – the cinematography is superb, because there are a number of stunning scenes in the movie. Also, the use of computer-generated images is very realistic in that I never thought that there were until my brother, while watching the trailer of the movie, made a comment to that effect.

Music – The musical direction was so perfect that all of the emotional scenes almost made me cry.

Because of the foregoing, the movie “Life of Pi” is a highly recommended one.

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* This Movie Review is first published in the 24 January 2013 Issue of "Sandiwa," the official newsletter of the Rotary Club of Marikina North.