Last Life in the Universe (2003)

90% of critics liked it
(40 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(8,542 ratings)

A story of two very different people coming together in the wake of personal tragedies, Last Life in the Universe stars Tadanobu Asano as Kenji, a quiet, bespectacled Japanese librarian living in Bangkok. Obsessed with suicide, he meticulously stages ways to kill himself, only to be interrupted… More A story of two very different people coming together in the wake of personal tragedies, Last Life in the Universe stars Tadanobu Asano as Kenji, a quiet, bespectacled Japanese librarian living in Bangkok. Obsessed with suicide, he meticulously stages ways to kill himself, only to be interrupted every time. One night, his more raucous brother shows up for an unexpected visit, accompanied by a yakuza gangster. A gunfight breaks out, leaving both visitors dead. Kenji ventures out into the night and happens upon Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak), a feisty bargirl whose sister has just died in an accident following a fight over their shared boyfriend. Kenji accompanies Noi to her sprawling, dilapidated house in the country, where a relationship develops despite their language barrier and clashing personalities, until another twist of fate threatens to tear them apart. ~ Tom Vick, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Written By: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Prabda Yoon
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 6, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Feb 15, 2005
Studio: Palm Pictures

Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
[Reflects] the growing interpenetration of many individual national cinemas into a cultural conglomerate that reflects the irresistible tide of cinematic globalization.
G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
The film has a precise, slow pace that allows us to get to know these quiet, quirky characters, and an imaginatively experimental approach to their thoughts and dreams.
Michael Booth, Denver Post
An absorbing series of intricately planned shots that play like installation art at a modern museum.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
There is some lovely filmmaking here, and nice surprises.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
The Thai locales, the stars and Doyle's expressive cinematography add up to a disarmingly seductive yet always precarious film experience.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
The closest thing to entering a dream state at the movies right now is watching Last Life in the Universe.
Jean-François Vandeuren, Panorama
Un film dont les élans singuliers mènent à la fascination.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One fascinating -- if not wholly accessible -- movie.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Asano é sempre um ator interessante, mas a montagem é auto-indulgente e o roteiro, pretensioso.
Rudy Joggerst, Reel.com
...one of the most beautiful and deeply satisfying films I've ever seen.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Macabre film about a suicidal librarian.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
A film that demands second and even third viewings in order to absorb all of its nuances.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Image quality is a major letdown but the Chris Doyle commentary track certainly is not.
Andrew Wright, The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
This trip-hoppy tone poem left me feeling like I'd never seen a movie before.
Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
... a dreamy study in stillness broken by suicide fantasies, flashbacks, and the hired killers, but even the violence has a meditative even melancholy quality to it...
Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times
It's an offbeat romance that defies easy labeling, recommendable as a film buff's pleasure and a semi-audacious art-house curio.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Constantly surprising.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

familiar s

This one was quite a light film as opposed to what I was expecting. The story is odd, but not appealing enough. Slightly slowly paced, this flick is neither serious (dark and interesting) nor an out and out entertainer. Watchable, but not a must watch.
Arash X

Nice dreamlike atmosphere & beautiful images by Doyle but the film suffers from overusing the indie spirit cliches, It could have been a lot better & could have had a lot more to offer
Luke B

With Christopher Doyle's unrivalled cinematography this is a film that always looks good no matter what its flaws may be. A seen it before plot is handled in a much quiter than usual way. Language barriers are gradually broken down to make way for more misunderstandings in a very… More
With Christopher Doyle's unrivalled cinematography this is a film that always looks good no matter what its flaws may be. A seen it before plot is handled in a much quiter than usual way. Language barriers are gradually broken down to make way for more misunderstandings in a very bittersweet film. Not particularly easy to like, it is however impossible to hate. Asano adds another fantastic credit to his filmography.
Ken S

Good movie, gorgeous cinematography. Awesome Chris Doyle commentary track
Tsubaki S

Wong Kai Waresque thai flick about two lonely characters trying to find a way in their lives. While this type of "oh i'm so lonely" melancholic flicks are hardly my type the film has plenty of details here and there that makes it a more rich offer than other flicks of… More
Wong Kai Waresque thai flick about two lonely characters trying to find a way in their lives. While this type of "oh i'm so lonely" melancholic flicks are hardly my type the film has plenty of details here and there that makes it a more rich offer than other flicks of the type, which are usually just about as interesting as watching the grass grow. Not a classic by any chance, but won't hurt a check. Good casting with Asano and that Thai chick. Also, special mention to the cameos of Rikki Takeuchi, Sakichi Sato and Miike.
Drew S

I cannot imagine a romance film that is more sincere or subdued. It's like watching every good dream you've ever had unfurl on the screen.
Lanning :

Ruang rak noi nid mahasan This is bliss. A Thai-Japanese surreally blended love story. Life goes like this, we all hope: you believe you have reached the end of your rope--no pun intended if you've seen the movie. When you believe the end… More
Ruang rak noi nid mahasan This is bliss. A Thai-Japanese surreally blended love story. Life goes like this, we all hope: you believe you have reached the end of your rope--no pun intended if you've seen the movie. When you believe the end has come, that life really has no purpose, suddenly you are thrown, through circumstance, into a situation where you realize you are not alone, that life does have meaning, and that love is the reason why you have found this new perpective: This is bliss. The best scene in this movie is the magical house-cleaning one. Kind of like the sorcerer's apprentice. There is definitely a nod to Harold and Maude in this movie. Big applause for Tadanobu Asano as the ex-patriot Yakuza hiding out in Bangkok.
Lesley N

Thai/Japanese drama about two isolated people hanging out together after their siblings are abruptly killed. I was wary about waching this as I feared it would play out like a cute romantic comedy, but it doesnt in the slightest, just two people getting the space and time to get to… More
Thai/Japanese drama about two isolated people hanging out together after their siblings are abruptly killed. I was wary about waching this as I feared it would play out like a cute romantic comedy, but it doesnt in the slightest, just two people getting the space and time to get to know each other in the worlds messiest beachside house. <img src="http://img.listal.com/image/1617915/600full-last-life-in-the-universe-screenshot.jpg"> From CEWEBRITY's favourites list
Joey N

This movie = zzzzzzzzzzzz + one magical scene.
Ira Z

Love this movie. The movie's director is a complete genius, with his techniques from making the film interchange smoothly from a "glossy" to an indie movie as the story line progressed to choosing to make the actors speak biligually.
Anthony V

Intensely moving and beautiful.
FanGirl B

Very stylish but you have to be in a very calm mood to sit through this movie. It certainly takes its time and in the end you still may not get it.

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

Cast

Yutaka Matsushige
as Yukio
Riki Takeuchi
as Takashi
Yoji Tanaka
as Yakuza

See full cast

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