Living is a 2022 British drama film directed by Oliver Hermanus and written by Kazuo Ishiguro, based on the 1952 Japanese film Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa. It stars Bill Nighy as a London bureaucrat who decides to live fully after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis. The film is a cinematic masterpiece that transports the audience to the 60s, with its long scenes, 4:3 aspect ratio, and focus on art over technical perfection. It shows the beauty of slow and artistic filmmaking, and delivers a powerful emotional impact despite being a cancer story. The character development is superb and the ending is stunning and moving. In starch contrast to Spoiler Alert ๐จโโค๏ธโ๐โ๐จ๐ฆ๐ป, which handled the thematic of cancer poorly.
However, the film is not flawless. The relationships between the protagonist and his wife and son are unclear and underdeveloped. We never get to see their bond or their conflicts. The film also suffers from some inconsistencies in its style and tone. The use of CGI and modern camera techniques clashes with the retro aesthetic and breaks the immersion. Some scenes feel out of place and unnecessary.
Overall, Living is a beautiful and poignant film that pays homage to the golden age of cinema, but it could have been more polished and coherent. It is a film for those who love slow and artistic filmmaking, but it might not appeal to everyone.
8/10