Life of Pi (2012)
Ang Lee’s Life of Pi (2012) blurs the lines between reality and fantasy in the most aestheticly pleasing way possible. Profoundly deep and rich in beauty, imagination, and philosophy, Lee has introduced us to a world in which we have never experienced before. A world where islands are carnivorous and survival on a lifeboat with a bengal tiger is possible.
Based on the novel by Yann Martel, Lee went on to direct a masterpiece that grossed over $609 million worldwide and won four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and others — rightfully so. Known for his previous works (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Brokeback Mountain; and Sense and Sensibility), Lee has shown to have an incredible sensitivity for films surrounding introspective, dramatic plot lines. In Life of Pi, he artfully conveys scenes of calm and innocence as Pi learns how to navigate the world around him in his youth as well as scenes of destruction and despair once Pi’s ship sinks in the middle of the Atlantic, leaving him stranded on a lifeboat for months. Of course, a director is ultimately useless without his crew of cameramen (Claudio Miranda), special effects experts (R&H Studios), and screenplay writers.
The film relies heavily on CGI (computer generated images) for scenes involving any animals and ocean scenes. How else were they supposed to film Pi (Suraj Sharma) and a bengal tiger together within three feet of each other? A real tiger’s behavior is unpredictable and would have had dangerous consequences, which renders an expertly managed CGI team as essential to the success of the movie for the sake of staying aligned with the plot of the story. And successful they were. CGI is only about a decade old technique in the film world and the degree to which it has evolved is incredible! Think about the animation in Pixar’s Toy Story for example and then compare it to that of the Life of Pi; it makes a dramatic difference in the viewing experience. Richard Parker, the name of the bengal tiger with whom Pi is stranded aboard the lifeboat with, looks as real as any tiger. The texture of the fur, the gleam in its eyes, the manner of its movements are all reliant on this futuristic technology that allows for the impossible to film become possible.
Even on the macro level, the backgrounds are rich in color and life. The trees seem greener, the animals seem more lively, and the sky looks saturated in hues of blue. In one particular night scene, there is a sudden gathering of bioluminescent algae that gives off an ethereal, starry glow. Pair that with the breaching of a massive humpback whale and you have, arguably, one of the most beautiful and harmonious scenes in the movie. Using CGI has given animators the freedom to enhance all aspects of the movie from the delicate whiskers on Richard Parker to the ominous changes in the weather. It’s like harnessing magic in real life.
Not only is this film visually pleasing to watch, but its music score is also one of a kind. Mychael Danna is the movie’s composer and has been the recipient of an Oscar, Emmy, and Academy Award for his work in Life of Pi. His work features elements from traditional Indian, French, and western style music. The opening, and arguably the most iconic, song “Pi’s Lullaby” is this fantastical number that incorporates dreamlike and soothing melodies from instruments like the flute, sitar, and violin. The lyrics are also sung in Tamil, one of the many languages spoken in India and Sri Lanka. Contrastingly, the next number “Sous le Ciel de Paris” resonnates a strong, Parisian connection with the use of the accordion and piano. Both songs may sound drastically different, but they both enhance the film in a beautiful and comforting way. “Pi’s Lullaby” introduces the world that Pi was raised in and compliments the scenes of lush foliage and sunny skies of the Indian community that he inhabits. However, Pi also lives in an area that was previously a French territory (Pondicherry), so the French-themed tune is appropriate in highlighting that aspect of his culture and upbringing. After all, Piscine is the french word for a swimming pool (you’ll have to watch the movie to find out why).
I love nearly everything about this film. It’s beautiful, unique, and a work of art. I remember watching it for the first time in the theaters, staring in awe at the kaleidoscopic dream sequences, lush countryside, and powerful ocean waves. This movie reminds me of the 2016 remake of Disney’s The Jungle Book. Both movies are set in India obviously, but there are other parallels between the two, such as the impressive visual performance rendered through CGI. However, in The Jungle Book, people expect to immerse themselves into a fantasy world complete with talking animals and a happy, concise ending. With the Life of Pi (for those who did not read the book), the audience rapidly finds themselves struggling to comprehend the direction of the plot as the lines between reality and delusional thinking begin to blur the longer Pi is out at sea. Art is not usually created to have a specific interpretation. This idea most definitely applies to this film, especially the ending when Pi is being interrogated so he tells two similar stories and leaves it up to the listener to decide which one is true.
Aside from the technical aspects of the movie, Life of Pi invites us to explore not only the Indian culture, but also the role of different religions in the life of a young boy. From the music to the dances to the schools and market places, life in Pondicherry is depicted in full color and sound. A bit fantasized nonetheless, the audience feels the energy from the bustling community and the tensions within Pi’s family as he grows up. As for the role of religion, Pi is raised as a Hindu, but adopts Islam and Catholicism as well in order to be further connected to the “love of God”. Through his mother’s stories, we the audience are given a brief introduction to Krishna and Vishnu and some other Hindu gods and goddesses that dominate about 80% of India’s population. While on a family vacation to the mountains, Pi is introduced to Christianity and the calling that he felt during that trip to the small rural chapel resonates with the audience as well as the benevolent face of Jesus seems to penetrate the soul. His introduction to Islam came when he heard the local mosque’s call to prayer and curiously joined the flow of faithful Muslims. Pi’s allegiance to three religions may seem strange, but it speaks volumes about the similarities between the three (Hinduism, Islam, and Catholicism) and how having blind faith can strengthen the human spirit and provide an outlet to channel doubt.
Coincidentally, God seems to have pulled a story of Job on poor Pi by taking away his family and his home and dropping him in a lifeboat with one of the most feared and revered beasts in the world within hours. The grief and isolation that followed was explicitly excruciating for Pi and the acting performance by Suraj Sharma let that pain and frustration be known to the audience. Nonetheless, the parallels between the stories are alarmingly similar and it poses an interesting question as to just how powerful is faith in the role of survival?
As someone who went to a catholic grade school and is familiar with the basics of religion, I never felt any profound “pull from God” in my life. I felt that the church and the community I grew up in was rather dogmatic, contradictory, and narrow-minded. Our priest would always give his homily about the importance and power of faith, but it always seemed so illogical and unnatural to me to believe that Jesus or God or whoever will save me if I embrace this notion of “blind faith”. Although, this movie gave me a fresh perspective towards the role of faith in a person’s life (even if it is fictitious). I guess in a way we all engage in some platform of faith in order to inspire and motivate us to continue living life with a purpose. Luckily for Pi, his faith helped him cope with loss, isolation, and doubt.
As I have said before, this film is by far one of the most visually stunning and philosophically stimulating movies that I have seen yet. Rich in culture and creative camera work, this movie will please those of all ages and backgrounds. While the book took me some time to comprehend (I was also quite young and lacked an understanding of philosophical concepts), the film illustrated those complex themes of innocence, struggle, and perserverance through faith in a way that the audience can follow and identify with.
