Last Life in the Universe (2nd Blog)

Last Life in the Universe, is a film so finely woven with details that it often forces viewers to pause and take a breath. For instance, the shot of the sliver of cigarette smoke lingering in air is so artfully framed that it seems more like a moving painting then a shot from a movie. Last Life in the Universe was directed by Thai filmmaker Pen-ek Ratanaruang, who is most notably known for his films Fun Bar Karaoke (1997) and Monrak Transistor (2001).

Japanese film star Asano Tadanobu (Zatoichi, Ichi the Killer) is the heart of this movie, skillfully portraying Kenji, a suicidal librarian whose only ambition is to end his life--but somehow can't seem to carry out the final deed. His counterpart is played by the less famously known Thai film actress Sinitta Boonyasak who plays Noi, a young Thai woman that Kenji meets by chance and who eventually changes Kenji's outlook on life.

The general pacing of the movie is rather slow, but picks up with small action sequences that are interspersed throughout the movie. The action sequences almost seem out-of-place in this relatively quiet film, but without it the film would have lost the audience's attention and interest. Regardless of pacing, Last Life is still a film worth seeing if for its delicate details, which comes at you in a serene way. There is an art to Last Life that makes you look beyond story plot and sensibility and urges you to take more pleasure in its visual nuances. Overall, it was a beautifully crafted movie.