Review of Still Life (2013) by M E — 28 Jul 2014

John May in Still Life is a council worker who has all the characteristics of a person with schizoid personality disorder. For instance, he lives and works in isolation. He doesn't desire any close relationships, and his interactions with people are completely formal and superficial. Collecting pictures of his dead clients is his only hobby. There is a marked emotional coldness in his demeanor, even when he is encouraging the son of his deceased client to attend his father's funeral. There is no hint of emotion, when his boss criticises him for being "slow"!

I think poor John is not a very bright person; nor has he had an easy life. There are no caring families in the movie. He lost them all, physically or emotionally, at some stage of his life. He has become indifferent to everything, as "everything" has been so scary he has no choice but to be indifferent. If things had gone a little bit worse, his ego could have crumbled so badly that he couldn't have functioned. He was lucky enough to find work in the council. He was very "slow" at work but could manage to do this scary, sad, and demoralising job reasonably well thanks to his emotional coldness. However, he always felt on the verge of disintegration due to his past traumas. Therefore, he is very cautious. Everything should be structured, including his dinner, the way he serves his own meal, the way he carries his documents in his bag, his clothing, etc. He is probably aware of his obsessions, but he cannot help it. Changing anything, even his stereotyping behaviours can potentially cost his stability. He has worked hard to stay stable for so many years. He can't spoil that by changing something that may leave him somewhere he is not familiar.

Then, something big _ very big_ happens. He is fired from his job! Regardless of his flat stare at his boss, this is very shocking. He is going to lose his most important achievement in his life, and he can't do anything to stop it. This is the fear he has anticipated all through his life. He is going to end! He has crossed a line to the place where there is nothing but confusion. He pretends everything is fine, but he is far away from being fine. Disintegration has started. Then, the second surprise comes up. John May starts liking this process. Everything he tries taste good: hot chocolate, whisky, yogurt, and finally, the opposite sex. He didn't think breaking out of his cage would bring so much joy. Now, he can communicate with another human being.

Here is the inevitable part: he should die! There is no other possible good outcome from here. Life is not just love and hot chocolate. Life is savage, while John is not equipped to cope with its nasty parts. What he was afraid of all his life was actually a true fear. He has not learnt to deal with barriers. He has tasted the pleasure of a different life, so he can never go back to where he was before, but the road ahead has too many snags to travel. Death, with a smiling face, is the happiest possible ending for this story. He has achieved a big thing and now he should go. The good side is, he has died like a human, and if there is another story after this one- or another life- he will be able to communicate with other spirits normally!