'There's an Indian man in
French-Canada who has a story that will make you believe in God.' Our
surrogate character, a Canadian author in French-India is told,
whilst researching his newest book. We meet him as he meets the
titular character, Pi Patel, and the movie that plays out is a visual
illustration of their conversation.
Life of Pi is an adaptation of
Yann Martel's multiple award winning, critically acclaimed
bestseller. It follows the strange journey Pi takes when he and his
family are immigrating to Canada, and tragedy strikes. He finds
himself stuck on a dinghy with a Bengal Tiger, floating alone in the
sea.
It's a well documented facts
that animals make rubbish actors, and as such most of this film takes
place in a wonderous world of CGI. The exotic and incredible
locations created in the film also demand a certain level of computer
jiggery-pokery. Admittedly, mostly it does hold up as wonderous -
there are breathtaking sequences and striking images abound in Life
of Pi. Nonetheless, the extent of CGI used here does become a
weakness at times, not always look particularly believable. A problem
that is all the more frustrating for the fact there was no real way
around it.
The story here is quite unlike
anything else, and a real triumph in simplicity. It starts out slow,
telling us little stories, all more suited to fairy tales than real
life. Of Pi's uncle, and a pool in France. Of how he came to be known
as Pi. The scene is being set, as is the tone: this is a real world
in which things happen as they do in stories. The main event itself
is always bright and always hopefully and (CGI allowing) always
beautiful, but behind it lurks a darkness. For some, that darkness
may sour the experience.
There's a lot going on here -
it's not a simple story, but it is told very simply. Herein is where
the film really excels, it realises that it should not be trying to
show off how complex it is, but rather concealing it and letting the
audience themselves explore its depths.
The acting is a triumph
throughout. Both actors who play Pi - but especially in his younger
form - are fantastic and captivating. The Canadian author, too,
pitches the role well, being blank enough to be a conduit for our own
reactions to the story whilst still retaining a sense of personality.
Life of Pi isn't really like
anything else, and for that reason alone it deserves a watch. That it
also happens to be very well made, very well told and filled with awe
certainly doesn't hurt. Highly recommended.
