‘Life of Pi,’ which was a subject of discussion and debate among film critics, officials of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the public last year, became the focus of attention for a select group of invitees at the Events Cinemas in Auckland’s Central Business District on April 13.
Directed by Taiwanese-born American Ang Lee, ‘Life of Pi’ was undoubtedly one of the best films of 2012, winning four Oscars at the 85th Academy Awards, including ‘Best Visual Effects’ and ‘Best Direction.’
Lee has once again shown his mastery over capturing sensitive issues and the emotions behind them, particularly on alienation and marginalisation in his previous films such as Sense and Sensibility (1995), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Brokeback Mountain (2005).
Multiple issues
Based on the book of the same name by Yann Martel, ‘Life of Pi’ touches issues such as the search for God, philosophy, ethics, migration, isolation and above all, survival. The central character, Piscine (aka Pi), played by Suraj Sharma, shows how he survived at sea, initially with three animals and later solely with a dangerous Bengal tiger named Richard Parker after being shipwrecked and stranded for 227 days.
The film portrayed his battle with spirituality and practicality, or the rational versus the irrational, with several themes that are often hard to explain, and difficult to film, as people may be sceptical about such beliefs.
‘Life of Pi’ brought together the three main religions (Hinduism, Christianity and Islam) and showed how Pi tries to blend them to attain the common goal of spiritual enlightenment.
The film also tries to invoke the emotions of animals, which is again another heated debate, as animals, particularly the wild ones, are perceived to have a mind- set that is different from humans.
Survival instincts
Even though Pi tries to tame Richard Parker, he is still a wild and dangerous animal, as his survival instincts are based on the resources that are easily available to him.
Pi knows that he would be safe, so long as he is able to meet the tiger’s needs and maintain a ‘respectable distance’.
The 3D animation was a prominent feature that made this film a commercial success; the tiger and the vast sea especially look real.
I particularly enjoyed the scene in which Pi and Richard Parker stare at the ocean, with various underwater inhabitants such as frightening sharks, giant squids, terrifying anglerfish and other deep-sea life flash to the viewer’s eyes. The camera takes you to the bottom of the ocean, where Pi’s ship lies in ruins with lifeless victims, including the members of his family.
A scene which I initially thought was lengthy and confusing was the one in which Pi describes his ‘made-up’ story consisting of human occupants instead of animals to visiting Japanese reporters. But it made sense when it was revealed that he likened them to the animals aboard and Richard Parker as Pi himself.
Open Option
It leaves the audience with the option: What to believe – whether his experience with the animals really happened, or whether he was hopeful in finding similar humanistic emotions hidden within animals, since he had no one to count on except them?
Or perhaps, was it due to the isolation that he felt when he was alone at sea, and Richard Parker is in fact an alter ego of Pi himself?
Whatever perceptions people may have, this film is a reminder that we should be thankful to all things that we usually take for granted, and show how the power of belief is important when the power of nature starts to overpower.
Lincoln Ting, Director General of the Auckland based Taipei Economic and Cultural Office organised the special screening to promote Taiwan as a tourist and investment destination, since almost 85% of ‘Life of Pi’ was made in his home country.
Members of Parliament, government officials and community leaders representing a cross-section of the society attended the event.
The picture appearing in this Report, taken at Events Cinemas shows (from left) Amy Ling Tin, Lincoln Ting, Steward Rundle, President of Free China (Taiwan) Society and Peter Goodfellow, President of the National Party.
