Life Of Pi Review

• 9th Dec 2012

It is that time of year when we start to get films we suspect we’ll be hearing much about in terms of award predictions. Life of Pi is such a film; thankfully one that merits it.

As an adult, Pi Patel recounts his adventure (portrayed by a very impressive Irrfan Khan) and back in time we go to view the highlights of his life. From his parent’s beginnings, to his unfortunate first name (thanks to his dad’s penchant for swimming). But right from the get go we see that the young boy is always looking for ways to expand his life. Firstly by not just renaming himself, but by impressing it upon others in a way that they accept, to the way that he devotes most of his curiosity to the various religions he encounters.

It’s a life of youthful curiosity in almost mythic proportions; it’s also the slightest section of the film. In fact it is long into the film before the family decide to uproot and move to Canada, but it’s on the boat crossing the ocean that tragedy (or fate) strikes and Pi is left in a life boat with a wounded Zebra, an Orangutan, a Hyena and a Bengal Tiger.

As the numbers dwindle of the boat, Pi finds his life and faith put to several tests as they float about at sea. Survival and emotional healing is the focus of the journey and director Ang Lee makes sure that the most is made of it in terms of the look, performance, visual enhancements and sound.

Life of Pi is beautifully shot, and majestically scored. It’s a fairy tale of life and asks some discussion worthy questions in its climactic scenes which audiences are sure to make use of.

Steven Hurst