LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
Directed by: Pen-ek Ratanaruang.
Produced by: Nonzee Nimibutr, Duangkamol Limcharoen & Wouter Barendrecht.
Written by: Prabda Yoon & Pen-ek Ratanaruang.
Director of Photography: Christopher Doyle.
Edited by: Patamanadda Yukol.
Music by: Small Room & Hualampong Riddim.
Released by: Palm Pictures.
Language: Thai, Japanese & English with English subtitles.
Country of Origin: Thailand/Japan. 112 min. Rated: R.
With: Asano Tadanobu & Sinitta Boonyasak.

Obsessive-compulsive Kenji (Asano Tadanobu) is a solemn Bangkok librarian who plans his suicide in his spare time. Just as he is about to jump off a bridge, he locks eyes with a beautiful woman, only to watch a car strike her fatally. The tragedy temporarily hinders Kenji's suicidal wish. He meets the victim's sister, Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak). She's his opposite: an impulsive, loud, and slovenly prostitute. Noi offers to drive Kenji home; instead, he spends the week with her, during which they learn to trust one another. It's just as well; Kenji can't go home - it is now a crime scene. His past with the yakuza has followed him from Japan. Both Tadanobu (who plays Kenji with hilarious and apologetic seriousness) and Boonyasak give fine performances.

Last Life in the Universe is an unexpectedly touching black-comedy-cum-bittersweet-love-story. It maintains a slow rhythm, but the highly philosophical and oddly funny scenario always entertains. The mood takes priority thanks to the languid, studied compositions by Christopher Doyle. Many of the scenes are hazy and randomly flashbacked, a nod to Doyle's work with director Wong Kar-wai (In the Mood for Love). It's an intricately structured and sentimental film, with twists reminiscent of Mulholland Dr.
Hazuki Aikawa, journalist, director of the documentary Yancha
August 6, 2004