Drama, 2003, Thai
Director: Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Laila Boonyasak, Sinitta Boonyasak,

Kenji (Tadanobu Asano) is a quiet Japanese library clerk working in Bangkok. He is so fed up with his mundane existence that he constantly fantasizes about suicide. After the tragic death of a girl he’s been infatuated with, witnessing the murder of his brother and murdering his brother’s killer, he moves in with the dead girl’s sister Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak) and their relationship slowly starts to grow.

This is an amazing and charming film. From the very first moment images appear, it will grab you. And it almost becomes addicting all the way through. It is playful and emotionally tender at the same time as Kenji and Noi’s lost souls build a bridge of the relationship. And once again Christopher Doyle did what he does best. His luscious images create a perfect mood for the film. The performance by the entire cast is superb. Asano’s performance is so effortless that if you haven’t seen him in other films you would believe he is this character in real life. And Sinitta Boonyasak is a total thrill to observe as well. If that’s not enough, this film has special guest stars. Riki Takeuchi and Takashi Miike portray yakuza in the film. This film brings together all the exciting talents in cinema world today and results in a piece that will be remembered for ages to come.

Last Life In The Universe is a funny, tender and subtly devastating film about how fate moves in mysterious ways. This is a film that should be on everyone’s watch list.