Last Life in the Universe

Last Life in the Universe (2003)

  • 90% of critics liked it
    (40 reviews)

  • 88% of users liked it
    (8,711 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

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R,
Directed By
Written By
Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Prabda Yoon
Genres
Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
In Theaters
Aug 6, 2004 Limited
On DVD
Feb 15, 2005
Palm Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • 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.

  • 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.

Read all 20 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

  • 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

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

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