Last Life in the Universe (2003)

A suicidal, obsessively compulsive Japanese librarian is forced to lie low in Thailand with a pot-smoking woman coping with the recent loss of her sister.

Director:

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang

Writers:

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Prabda Yoon

Stars:

Tadanobu Asano, Sinitta Boonyasak, Takashi Miike

8 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tadanobu Asano	...	Kenji
Sinitta Boonyasak	...	Noi
Laila Boonyasak	...	Nid
Yutaka Matsushige	...	Yukio
Riki Takeuchi	...	Takashi
Takashi Miike	...	Yakuza
Yôji Tanaka	...	Yakuza (as Yohji Tanaka)
Sakichi Sato	...	Yakuza
Thiti Rhumorn	...	Jon
Junko Nakazawa	...	Librarian
Akiko Anraku	...	Japanese Housewife
Nortioshi Urano	...	Salaryman
Phimchanok Nala Dube	...	Girl in Jon's Apartment
Ampon Rattanawong	...	Jon's Underling
Jakrarin Sanitti	...	Jon's Underling

Storyline

A mysterious, obsessive-compulsive, suicidal Japanese man living in Bangkok, Thailand, is thrown together with a Thai woman through a tragic chain of events. The woman is everything he is not. He is a neat freak who keeps his dishes washed and his books neatly stacked and categorized. She dresses like a slob, smokes pot and never picks anything up. It's a match that somehow works, though. Slowly and entertainingly, more is revealed about the Japanese man and why he's suicidal and living in Bangkok.

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Plot Keywords:

loneliness | melancholy | ambiguous ending | alienation | yakuza | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexual content, language and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Artificial Eye [UK] official site

Country:

Thailand Japan Netherlands

Language:

Thai Japanese English

Release Date:

8 August 2003 (Thailand)

Also Known As:

Last Life in the Universe

Filming Locations:

Bangkok International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,833, 8 August 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$31,747, 29 August 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bohemian Films, Cathay Asia Films, Cinemasia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Yukio Mishima, the author of "The Last Lizard", the book featured in the film, committed Harakiri (suicide by stabbing yourself in the stomach with a short knife). This is perhaps one of the reasons why Kenji likes the author.

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Connections

References Annie Hall (1977)

User Reviews

Wow...

The last 3 or 4 movies that I've seen lately made me fall asleep in the over air-conditioned, too comfortable theatres in Bangkok, which sometimes provide a blanket and pillow in a lazy-boy chair in the high-class places (at a surprisingly low price). But last night, I didn't even blink my eyes once while watching this wonderful movie. I was impressed... It was beautiful from the very start until the end.

This movie was magic... It didn't pretend to be perfect, and it's not, but it works so much on your feelings that you go out from it with mixed feelings. The jokes are very funny (for example the morning after the green papaya salad), the dramas are tear jerking, and you have to watch every details because there's a lot to watch. Believe me, it won't get you bored or sleepy, it's pure pleasure from the start until the end, no boring parts promise!

I hope that this movie will get more attention, I do recommend it to all. It's not an easy of family movie, some rough scenes, but go see it... I will go see it again, and I will buy the official DVD when it's available, not the pirated copy found in some markets... 4/5...