Beware, this contains spoilers.
Last Life in the Universe is the fourth, and most critically successful film from Thai director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. The film's title itself is subject to interpretation, as mentioned, the English title is Last Life in the Universe. The Thai title is, Ruang rak noi nid mahasan, which literally translated into English is, "Love Story, a Little, a Lot", this can also be read as, "A Little Love Story that is a Lot". The Words Noi and Nia appear in the Thai title, these are also the names of two sisters within the film paving the way for yet another interpretation, "Love Story of Noi and Nid, a Lot". Every one of these readings can be applied, accurately, to the film, as further analysis shall reveal. However, I do believe that the words Noi and Nid, within the film title are not references to the characters' names. but instead, the characters names are allusions to the terms "few" and "small".
The film opens with a series of images depicting the apartment of one the protagonists, Kenji. His apartment is meticulous, with every item in its place; his shoes are in neat rows, his clothes categorised by item and colour with an equal space between every piece of clothing, his books are packed in perfect piles so categorised that one can identify the month and year in which he read them. Some books, however, are out of place. The camera in one swift movement focuses on a collapsed pile of books and pans up to reveal Kenji hanging from a rope with a note saying, "This is bliss" in his hand. Surely this is not the main character? He's dead. Or is it an American Beauty or Sunset Boulevard approach that Ratanaruang is taking? The reasons behind this man's suicide are to be revealed during the course of the film, one might assume. Such a notion is quashed as Kenji's voice is heard, "This could be me three hours from now".
Kenji is a quiet and stoic librarian for the Japan Foundation in Thailand. He holds a somewhat unique and fantastical view of suicide. He states, "Why do I want to kill myself? I don't know... I wouldn't kill myself for the same reasons as other suicidal people. Money problems... Broken heart... Hopelessness... No, not me. Many books say "Death is relaxing." Did you know that? No need to follow the latest trends... No need to keep pace with the rest of the world... No more e-mail... No more telephone... It'll be like taking a nap... Before waking up refreshed and ready to begin your next life. That's what they say". Not only is Kenji's view of suicide fantastical, but his suicide itself is a mere fantasy. During the actual attempt he is disturbed by the unexpected arrival of his brother. Kenji's brother Yukio is on the run from his Yakuza boss upon having slept with his daughter. Yukio is assassinated in Kenji's house and as the assassin turns his gun on Kenji, Kenji kills him with his brothers gun.
It is through Kenji that we are introduced, by proxy, to the second protagonist, Noi. Kenji steals glances of Noi's sister Nid in the library before Noi angrily confronts her sister at work. During an argument as they are driving home, Noi kicks Nid out of her car but has a change of heart as her sister is walking on the busy road. Meanwhile, Kenji is crouched in the edge of the same bridge contemplating jumping off. Kenji and Nid make eye contact, which is extinguished by a car crashing into Nid ending her life. Noi and Kenji are brought to together by their shared presence during this event, mutual loss and Kenji's desire to escape his home where two dead bodies lay.
Despite the deaths and suicide attempts, Last Life in the Universe is not a morbid or depressing film. Rather, the suicide attempts and related deaths add humour to the film. Kenji's attempt to hang himself is interrupted by the most annoying of doorbell buzzing which persists until Kenji has to halt his plans and answer the door. With such an irritating noise, he suicide would be anything but bliss, and not a particularly pleasant nap. As his brother enters, he says nonchalantly, "suicide again?", this is something he is accustomed to. In one scene, Kenji lays down in front of Noi's car, she sees him and apologises. Even the moment of Nid's death has some comic irony; Kenji plans to end his life jumping off a bridge, and Noi, who has no desire to die, and partially as a result of seeing Kenji, loses her's. Dark comedy is present in the arrival of the Yakuza Boss (played by Thai director Takashi Miike) who upon being quizzed about having only one bag at the airport responds, "We only go there to kill someone. Then come right back". The woman then jokingly asks if he is going to hijack the plane, to which he answers, "Don't worry, we're not Arabs", all of which is said with incredible deadpan. Despite the deadpan associated with the Yakuza, a classic slapstick-style sidekick is one of it's members.
Noi and Kenji, superficially appear highly dissimilar. Unlike Kenji's, Noi's apartment is in complete disarray with an unbelievable amount of dirty dishes overflowing the sink and almost no visible floor. Noi smokes marijuana, is expressive and seems to be very comfortable with herself. Noi is Thai, whereas Kenji is Japanese (this is something I shall return to). However, one of their central similarities is integral to the film. Both have lost their siblings and been present during their siblings' deaths. Additionally, it is made apparent early in the film the Nid and Yukio may have met each other. When in the library, in a sense stalking Nid, Kenji comes across a children's book titled, The Last Lizard, which tells the story of a lizard who wakes up to find it is the last lizard in existence. In the meantime, a lizard resides in Noi's house and appears during important occasions during the film.
Last Life in the Universe is notable for the number of languages used within the film. Kenji speaks Japanese, some English and very little Thai. Noi speaks Thai, Japanese somewhat well and some English. Reading what is actually a speaker speaking a language they are unfamiliar with can give the impression that the subtitles were written poorly. As someone with no grasp at all or Thai or Japanese, I can't help but wonder if some aspects of the film are lost by viewer such as myself.
Stylistically, Last Life in the Universe is an intriguing film. The films title does not appear until 34 minutes into to film. It follows many of the key moments in the film including Nid and Yukio's deaths. It appears after Kenji and Noi have dinner and briefly converse. It is possible that this title delay may represent a division in the film in relation to Kenji's self-imposed life as one such, Last life in the Universe. I quote The Last Lizard, which Kenji reads,
"The lizard wakes up and finds he's the last lizard alive. His family and friends are all gone. Those he didn't like, those who picked on him in school, are also gone. The lizard is all alone. He misses his family and friends. Even his enemies. It's better being with your enemies than being alone. That's what he thought. Staring at the sunset, he thinks. "What is the point in living... If I don't have anyone to talk to?" But even that thought doesn't mean anything... when you're the last lizard."
Kenji is not the last lizard, but there is reason to believe that the life of the last lizard is one that he wants. He separates him self from others, be it his work colleague who is clearly interested in him, a man in the bus who is desperate to his his limited Japanese to talk to him or even his own brother whom he barely speaks to. The title sequence doesn't appear until Kenji voluntarily connects with another person, Noi. The title can be seen as the title of the story that preceded it. Visually, Last Life in the Universe is a joy. With cinematography from renound cinematographer of Asian cinema and long time Wong-Kar Wei collaborator, Christopher Doyle, the film is stunning.
Fantasy plays an important role within the film and is central to its interpretations. Fantasies from both Kenji and Noi are seen. As mentioned, Kenji fantasises about his own death. In a wonderful sequence, Noi is high and all her books and papers pick themselves up off the floor and put themselves in the correct place. Noi dances as everything circles around her culminating in a picture of her sister floating into her hand. At one point, Noi and Kenji share a fantasy. Noi lays down with her head on Kenji's lap and transforms from herself, to her sister, and back again. Whether this represents a desire on Kenji's part to be with Nid, a desire on Noi's part to be Nid or both is unclear.
The very presence of fantasies paves the way for the possibility that components of the main narrative may fantastical. The film ends with Kenji being arrested for some crime and at some point being reunited with Noi. One could argue that Noi and Kenji are not reunited, that their being reunited is Kenji's fantasy. Perhaps, the majority of the narrative is a fantasy of Kenji's. As his brother's assassin turns his gun on Kenji, what Kenji wants his life to be life flashes before him. He imagines his relationship with Noi and the fantasies of Noi becoming Nid are natural excursions within his imagination. The title sequence may well represent what Kenji wants of his life. This fantasy may precede his death or, it may be a period during his life that Kenji conjures to escape the reality of his brother's death and subsequent murder his brothers assassin. The scene of his arrest may be his arrest for the murder of the assassin and his being reunited with Noi, a continuation of the previous fantasy.
Thank you for reading.
Last Life in the Universe on IMDB
Pen-Ek Ratanaruang on IMDB
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