A Truly Magical Journey On The High Seas That Is A Visual Delight And Emotional Rollercoaster
By ALAN SAMUEL
This awards season would not be complete without a visit to see Life of Pi. Made from the keen eye of noted directed Ang Lee this 20th Century Fox release can still be found screening at Silvercity Metropolis and other select theatres around B.C.
Big screen coverage is needed to appreciate this tale of survival. Vivid cinematography highlight this flashback story that charts the troubled course of life of a young Indian boy named Pia Patel. Fresh face actor Suraj Sharma brings lots of poise to the table as the son of a zoo-owning family in India who winds up battling for his life. Bad things happen to the boy when a journey to Canada by sea goes amiss, leaving the lad adrift on a 26 foot raft. Ah, but this human is not alone.
Also trying to survive with Pi at sea are a hyena, an orangutan and a 450 foot pound Bengal tiger. Needless to say there is never a dull moment as this group of God’s children fight for every inch of this floating not so hospitable home.
Again Ang Lee shows the human condition facing unbearable strain. Tension abounds at sea and this is one of the best disaster films ever that focuses on the mental stress this boy must endure. You can’t predict Mother Nature and the fight over turf on this confined space is expertly filmed putting you in the center of the action.
Though a touch long at 127 minutes Life of Pi is a jarring tale that well transitions to the big screen from the acclaimed pages of novelist Yann Marte’s masterful creation. Gorgeous colours depict all the animal kingdom as the fabled zoo in Pondicherry India with human appearances by Irrfan Khan as the adult Pi and Rafe Spall as a writer adding to the impact of this jarring story of abandonment and triumph over unsettled seas.
Comments are closed.