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Last Life In The Universe on DVD (2003)

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Average rating: 71%
1114512132079
3.5
from 426 members
 
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Laila Boonyasak
Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Studio: ARTIFICIAL EYE
Run time: 109 mins
Certificate: 15
User collections: Some of the best of 2003, My Five Star Movies, where to start with asian cinema... how do i know if it's any good?!
Genres: Thriller, World Cinema
Languages: Japanese, Thai
Subtitles: English
Released: 22/11/2004
Also Available on: Also Available on: DIGITAL

Brief synopsis of Last Life In The Universe

Shy Kenji is a Japanese librarian in Bangkok who lives within a neatly organized world and fantasizes about committing suicide, but gets interrupted every time he attempts to end his life. While at work, he becomes obsessed with a beautiful girl he spots through the bookshelves. Later, while attempting to jump off a bridge, he watches her die when she is hit by a car. Kenji attempts to comfort the girl's sister, Noi, but eventually returns home, where he is visited by his loutish brother and a Yakuza-linked associate. A scuffle between these visitors results in their deaths. Scared and confused, Kenji retreats to Noi's messy home, which he systematically cleans while they get to know each other and help each other through painful issues in their lives. Tragic and blackly comic with elements of gangster cinema and toilet humor, LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE is a touching work that refuses easy categorization. Pen-ek Ratanaruang's film boldly takes its time to unfold, allowing viewers to savor Christopher Doyles's (IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE) lush visuals. With Kenji, Asano Tadanobu has created a protagonist who says more with his silences than most characters do with dialogue. Japanese film fans will also enjoy director Takashi Miike's raucous cameo as a Yakuza boss.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Beautifully photographed by Christopher Doyle, yet infinitely less flamboyant than Monrak Transistor, Pen-ek Ratanaruang's enigmatic character study owes less to traditional Thai melodrama than the steely stylisation of the new wave of Japanese film-makers. Indeed, Takashi Miike (Audition, Gozu) even makes a cameo as a trigger-happy Yakuza. But the main focus falls on the unlikely relationship between meticulous librarian Tadanobu Asano and slapdash bargirl Sinitta Boonyasak, whose sister's death in a road accident interrupts one of Asano's frequent suicide attempts. Drily witty and occasionally truly magical (notably when Asano tidies Boonyasak's beach house), this is a slow-burning and deeply seductive story that keeps springing dark surprises.

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Quirky drama that is at times so elusive as to be difficult to grasp, graced by some splendid cinematography and effective performances.

Time Out

Weltschmerz never seemed more dynamic than it does in Pen-ek's sly and seductive movie about an ex-yakuza working as a... Read more on www.timeout.com

See all 4 Critics Reviews »

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 0 starslanguage problem

A customer from cornwall , 22/06/2007

no english or thai language options as advertised. only japenese speaking and english subtitles

  6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsSuspend belief and enjoy

Rory Aitken from Totnes England , 18/04/2005

I loved it: quirky, damaged characters find solace in each others company when they are witness to a common tragedy. Some of the side line plot is a bit dodgy, but always fun

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsA real dream.

visceral from Hackney , 31/10/2005

This is a fabulous film. It is subtle so don't expect to be spoon fed with action, sex and violence. This film works more on a subliminal level. The stuff dreams are made of. If you like the etherial side of life this is one for you.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsA beautiful air of impending doom

Brooksie from Dorset , 17/12/2004

This gorgeous film had me slightly un-nerved all the way through. Starting with a would-be suicide, the feeling of doom follows the main character to the end. Fabulously shot by Wong Kar Wai's cinematographer, the male lead Asano Tadanobu fixes your gaze when he is on-screen, nearly all the acting is superb.

Quiet, very engaging (but I?m not sure why), laugh-out-loud funny at times. Even though it has Yakuza, don?t expect much action, but if you like eastern cinema, a definite must-see. I just wish I had seen it at the cinema (not much chance in this neck of the woods).

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 0 starslanguage problem

A customer from cornwall , 22/06/2007

no english or thai language options as advertised. only japenese speaking and english subtitles

  6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsVery pleasant surprise!

KenS from London , 10/04/2005

No it's not Sci-Fi, although there are some moments of fantasy. This is a very unusual story on a very familiar theme. Yes, it's boy-meets-girl-and........but, the boy is a neat-freak and the girl a complete slob. They both appear to have pretty complicated pasts and they don't really speak each others languauges. She's Thai, he's Japanese, so they spend much of their time conversing in rather patchy English.

The film has as very natural rhythm and though much of it seems improvised, the scenes are perfectly controlled and beautifully shot. It is a delight to watch and always engaging as you need to fill in a lot of the gaps in the story and the characters yourself.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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