Life of Pi
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Suraj Sharma, Adil Hussain, Tabu,
When a young Indian boy named Pi is cast into the sea after a storm, he embarks on a journey of transformation and healing as he struggles to survive nearly a year at sea with only his faith to guide him home and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker for company.
Faith plays a powerful role in this film and nowhere is it illustrated more perfectly than in the character of Pi and the relationship that Pi shares with the tiger, Richard Parker.
The irony of this film is realized in the words of Pi’s father…”You cannot believe in all three faiths, you can only believe in one. If you believe in more, you really believe nothing.” In truth, it is very easy to say that one believes in a higher power…it’s comfortable. The true testing of one’s faith comes when the circumstances of life forces one’s actions to reflect that belief. In Pi’s case, his test comes after he has been literally stripped of everything but his faith. Although he has studied Christianity, Hinduism and Islam while in India, his faith is challenged when he loses his family after their ship is lost in a storm and he is forced to witness death again when the animals that survived with him on his lifeboat are slowly killed.
There are four animals in the boat with Pi – a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and the tiger, Richard Parker. Ironically though, it is only after Pi’s rage is manifested after the hyena (aka the cook) kills the animals representing Pi’s mother and the sailor that the tiger is introduced and he is the one who ultimately kills the hyena. As Pi and Richard Parker begin their lonely journey in the lifeboat, Pi attempts on multiple occasions to show Richard Parker that he is the one in control, but it is very quickly established that he is not. Richard Parker is the one in control. Over time, Pi slowly reaches a fragile truce with Richard by offering him sustenance. This truce reflects Pi’s inner battle with his emotions in the sense that while he has not yet relinquished his rage...the "evil" as he calls it...it has been a part of him for so long that he has learned to live with it.
The moment where Pi and Richard Parker leave the “island” is a pivotal turning point in Pi’s journey towards redemption. It is in this moment that Pi makes a conscious choice not to surrender to the negative emotions (rage…guilt…pain) that have been plaguing him and ultimately leading him to his own demise. Instead, by leaving the “island” with Richard Parker, Pi chooses life. This theory is strengthened by the fact that we do not see Richard Parker again until Pi reaches the beach where he is rescued. We know instinctively that he is there in the boat with Pi, but Pi is no longer battling him. Richard Parker leaving without bidding Pi farewell on the beach is, in essence, Pi relinquishing his rage and guilt. Although he is heartbroken by his friend’s departure, once he is able to let go of the emotions that shackled him to his past, Pi is able to move on and embrace a new life; one in which he can find forgiveness and happiness again.
“Life of Pi” is one of the most excruciatingly beautiful movies that I have ever seen. As I witnessed Pi’s story play out – both physically and metaphorically - I was deeply moved by his suffering, but I was likewise inspired by his unwillingness to surrender his faith; even when all hope seemed lost. The cinematography in this movie is absolutely stunning and the casting, particularly for Suraj Sharma who played Pi, is flawless. This is one film I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Suraj Sharma, Adil Hussain, Tabu,
When a young Indian boy named Pi is cast into the sea after a storm, he embarks on a journey of transformation and healing as he struggles to survive nearly a year at sea with only his faith to guide him home and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker for company.
Faith plays a powerful role in this film and nowhere is it illustrated more perfectly than in the character of Pi and the relationship that Pi shares with the tiger, Richard Parker.
The irony of this film is realized in the words of Pi’s father…”You cannot believe in all three faiths, you can only believe in one. If you believe in more, you really believe nothing.” In truth, it is very easy to say that one believes in a higher power…it’s comfortable. The true testing of one’s faith comes when the circumstances of life forces one’s actions to reflect that belief. In Pi’s case, his test comes after he has been literally stripped of everything but his faith. Although he has studied Christianity, Hinduism and Islam while in India, his faith is challenged when he loses his family after their ship is lost in a storm and he is forced to witness death again when the animals that survived with him on his lifeboat are slowly killed.
There are four animals in the boat with Pi – a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and the tiger, Richard Parker. Ironically though, it is only after Pi’s rage is manifested after the hyena (aka the cook) kills the animals representing Pi’s mother and the sailor that the tiger is introduced and he is the one who ultimately kills the hyena. As Pi and Richard Parker begin their lonely journey in the lifeboat, Pi attempts on multiple occasions to show Richard Parker that he is the one in control, but it is very quickly established that he is not. Richard Parker is the one in control. Over time, Pi slowly reaches a fragile truce with Richard by offering him sustenance. This truce reflects Pi’s inner battle with his emotions in the sense that while he has not yet relinquished his rage...the "evil" as he calls it...it has been a part of him for so long that he has learned to live with it.
The moment where Pi and Richard Parker leave the “island” is a pivotal turning point in Pi’s journey towards redemption. It is in this moment that Pi makes a conscious choice not to surrender to the negative emotions (rage…guilt…pain) that have been plaguing him and ultimately leading him to his own demise. Instead, by leaving the “island” with Richard Parker, Pi chooses life. This theory is strengthened by the fact that we do not see Richard Parker again until Pi reaches the beach where he is rescued. We know instinctively that he is there in the boat with Pi, but Pi is no longer battling him. Richard Parker leaving without bidding Pi farewell on the beach is, in essence, Pi relinquishing his rage and guilt. Although he is heartbroken by his friend’s departure, once he is able to let go of the emotions that shackled him to his past, Pi is able to move on and embrace a new life; one in which he can find forgiveness and happiness again.
“Life of Pi” is one of the most excruciatingly beautiful movies that I have ever seen. As I witnessed Pi’s story play out – both physically and metaphorically - I was deeply moved by his suffering, but I was likewise inspired by his unwillingness to surrender his faith; even when all hope seemed lost. The cinematography in this movie is absolutely stunning and the casting, particularly for Suraj Sharma who played Pi, is flawless. This is one film I would highly recommend.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.