I went to see the movie Life of Pi recently.
I had read the book many years ago so was fairly up on the story.
Having watched the Oscars, I knew the film received a number of awards (Ang Lee for Best Director, Cinematography, Original Score and Visual Effects) and now that I have seen it, all were very well deserved.
Life of Pi is an amazing story of courage, endurance, humour and surprises. The young boy Pi lives with his family in India and his father buys a zoo.
Naturally the young boy gets to know the animals and I must say we saw some wonderful creatures in the beginning of the movie.
One of the boy’s most revered animals is the adult Bengal tiger whom Pi visits one day and tries to hand some meat.
Well, his father finds out and comes quickly to the boy’s rescue, showing him just how ferocious this creature is (that scene is rather horrific, but tastefully done).
We, the audience, are made aware of just how strong and wild this animal is.
The zoo falls into financial difficulty so the family sets sail for Canada.
There are some very nice scenes of Montreal where the adult Pi is living, these at the beginning of the film while the story is being told.
The majority of this colourful drama is set on the high seas with Pi in a lifeboat with his Bengal tiger, aptly named Richard Parker – the name was given to him after a mix up in paper work when the animal was delivered to the zoo.
The ocean liner that Pi and family were in came to rather a bad end, leaving Pi alone, drifting for a very long time.
I won’t give away what happens, but will say that the cinematography and skill with which this film was delivered was spectacular.
The beginning is a bit slow but sure picks up steam later on.
I am fond of films showing the Indian culture; it is a very colourful picture indeed, full of interesting animals and women dressed in wonderful saris, also these women are very beautiful indeed with lovely long black hair and sweet smiles.
What wonderful imagination the author of this book has and he is Canadian too, Yann Martel is the name.
Yet another fine movie people, this has been a grand few months at the theatre. I will be interested to see what comes next.
– Liz Martin is a film critic for the Grand Forks Gazette, a movie lover, cello player and happy retiree