Review of Life of Pi (2012) by Tony P — 01 Jul 2017

I saw this film was being broadcast and to be honest thought little of it. It had slipped my attention upon release in 2012 but on closer inspection I don't know why.

The film is based on the extraordinary story of an Indian Piscine (as in hissing)/Pi Patel who as an older man recounts the extraordinary story to a writer.

It starts in India with the early life of Pi who is mercilessly taunted at school for his name and its annotations to the mathematical Pythagoras connection.

Pi as a child has experiments with different religions in a comedic moment.

His parents own a zoo in botanical garden grounds and own some marvellous animals including a Benghal tiger called Richard Parker after a mix up with the Indian immigration documentation!

However one day Pi's parents decide to sell up and emigrate for a new life in Canada getting their via a Japanese steamship taking the animals with them. Richard Parker and all.

The ship sinks in a storm and Pi ends up alone on a lifeboat with some of the animals, a zebra, hyena I think and Richard Parker.

The castaways are at sea for what seems an eternity and even stop off on on a deserted island before finally being rescued 227 days later in Mexico (22/7=Pi) get it.

Featuring excellent use of CGI. I mean how else would a Benghal tiger be shown in a lifeboat?

I usually hate the practice of CGI and 3D films but on this occasion it is fully understandable and technicalkt brilliant.

The film won several Oscar awards including Best Director for Ang Lee on release. Fully deserved.

By the way the writer git one hell of a book story!