The author of ‘What’s left of the day’ signs the script for this adaptation of one of the Japanese filmmaker’s masterpieces.
The fundamentalists will already be swearing at such sacrilege: nothing less than a remake of ‘Vivir (Ikiru)’ (1952), Kurosawa’s masterpiece. Those who, on the other hand, understand that nothing in cinema is sacred will approach the challenge with curiosity as before they came close, to give one example out of a hundred, to ‘Fall in love’ (1984), the modern version of another timeless classic, Lean’s ‘Brief Encounter’ (1945). And if Ulu Grosbard’s film had an undeniable charm, ‘Living’, within its modesty and lightness, too.
The script is signed by a prestigious writer, the Englishman of Japanese origin Kazuo Ishiguro (‘What remains of the day’), who had dreamed of this project for years. Surprisingly, his work is invisible, because ‘Living’ is practically identical to ‘Vivir (Ikiru)’, except for small details, sometimes of location (the compartment of a train as a substitute for the long stretch of the wake), which do not alter the plot. In addition, the same decade of the 50s has been maintained, but in England instead of Japan. And that’s where ‘Living’ has its juiciest point: transferring the fierce criticism of the bureaucracy of the original film to a fauna in a suit, bowler hat and umbrella. The magnificent office scenes only lack Terry Gilliam from the frontispiece of ‘The Meaning of Life’ (1983) to turn them into a pirate ship. Impeccable Bill Nighy in the leading role, the perfect incarnation of the grey, cold and stuffy civil servant; his performance upholds Kurosawa’s genuine humanism.
To rediscover, from London and in colour, the greatness of a classic of cinematographic humanism.
DATA SHEET
Direction: Oliver Hermann Distribution: Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Tom Burke Country: UK, Japan, Sweden Year: 2022 Release date: 4–1-2023 Gender: Drama Script: Kazuo Ishiguro, based on “Living” by Akira Kurosawa Duration: 102 min.
Synopsis: Set in 1950s London, the film follows Williams, a veteran civil servant buried under office paperwork as the city rebuilds after World War II. Receiving a devastating medical diagnosis, he empties his savings account and heads to the coast. He vows to make his last days a meaningful time, but realizes he doesn’t know how to do it. After a mysterious stranger takes him out on the town, Williams finds himself intrigued by a young co-worker who seems to possess the vitality he’s lost. With the help of his optimistic colleague, Williams tries his best to make his people happy in surprising ways.
Source: Fotogramas
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
