‘After Life’: A Hauntingly Beautiful Fantasy Drama That Redefines the Afterlife Experience
Films have frequently explored the idea of life after death in a variety of ways, ranging from humorous to deep. Robin Williams’ ‘What Dreams May Come’ includes a terrifying rescue attempt in hell, while Meryl Streep’s ‘Defending Your Life’ portrays a hilarious middle ground of judgment. The essence of what it is to have a soul is examined in Pixar’s ‘Soul’. Hirokazu Koreeda’s ‘After Life’ (formerly Wonderful Life), on the other hand, provides a unique and contemplative perspective on the afterlife that emphasizes human introspection.
‘After Life’, a 1998 film, is about a purgatorial waystation where people who have recently passed away must select one memory to live forever and give up all others before continuing. This procedure is presented in a quasi-documentary fashion, with the main focus of the movie being interviews with twenty-two clients.
Image Courtesy: IMDb
To recreate each selected experience using basic props and stand-ins, staff workers at this waystation take on the role of “filmmakers.” The result is a screening that lets each relive their selected moment before dying.
Koreeda’s film distinguishes itself by depicting the hereafter as a private process of introspection rather than as a religious event or judgment. The story is given a calm and poignant depth by the director’s humanistic style, which is sometimes likened to Yasujirō Ozu. The movie creates a sincere, moving ambience where memory and reality coexist together by fusing true stories from more than 500 interviews with amateur actors. Focusing on the simple, unvarnished moments that speak to everyone, Koreeda avoids using dramatic effects or story twists.
Image Courtesy: Netflix
When Takashi, a longtime employee, decides to move on after facing his past, the story takes an emotional turn that embodies the spirit of the movie. ‘After Life’ is a fascinating study on what gives life purpose by asking viewers to consider what one memory best describes their life.
–Farheen Ali
