Life of Pi (2012)

Life of Pi is a 2012 American 3D live-action computer animated fantasy adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Yann Martel in 2001. Directed by Ang Lee, David Magee wrote the adapted screenplay of the film, starring Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Tabu and Adil Hussain.

 

Suraj Sharma as Pi Patel

 

Irrfan Khan as adult Pi Patel

 

 

Rafe Spall as Yann Martel

 

Adil Hussain as Santosh Patel

 

Tabu as Gita Patel

 

 

Plot Summary

In order to know the first-hand account of his travels, an ambitious Canadian author interviews the Indian storyteller Pi Patel. In French-occupied India, where his father owned a zoo, Pi recounts his upbringing. When Pi's family company collapsed, they went to Canada on a sea voyage to start a new life. In the middle of the ocean, one night on their Japanese cargo ship, a violent and lethal storm strikes and sinks. With some of their zoo animals, including a ferocious Bengal tiger, he survives in a lifeboat. Pi and the tiger forge an unlikely bond in a struggle to survive that gives him everyday inspiration to live. Life of Pi is a story about faith, hope, and the desire to survive.

 

 

 

Mise-en-scene

Settings

We will find five important settings in Life of Pi, including the Pondicherry Zoo, a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean, a carnivorous island, Mexico (where Pi is rescued), and Canada (where Pi makes a new life for himself). The Pacific Ocean is the most significant of both settings, since it is where most of the story takes place. In behind the scenes, the Pacific Ocean is built with a massive wave tank by Ang Lee and his crews on an actual runway at a Taiwan airport.

 

 

 Props

The main props which we can find in this film is the lifeboat. The lifeboat is the life saver of Pi as it helps him to survive on the Pacific Ocean and provided him other Important props such as the emergency supplies and food to keep him alive.

 

 

 

 Lightning

There is lightning in this film. Firstly, is the scene of Pi’s childhood memory during the school. In this shot, the lighting is dull and dreary which suggests school is not a fun and exciting place. This contrasts with the colors when he is stuck in the lifeboat, where the setting is brightly colored showing that they are two completely opposing places. This is the second scene which shows Pi’s adventure on the sea.

 

 

 

 

 Customs and Make Up

His costuming and the way the director have made him look is another attribute that allows us to understand the circumstances of Pi. We can see that his pants are faded and dirty, and he no longer wears his shirt. This costuming shows the circumstances under which Pi must survive as he has taken his top off and dirty, as his pants reveal, where it must be hot. For the make-up, we can see that Pi’s hair is grown out and he is becoming very skinny.

 

 

 

Conclusion

From a viewer’s perspective, I like the story structure very much as it is fantasy although the beginning of the story is a bit boring. However, the animation and the lighting of the film is amazing and nice. In the beginning, I thought this film was taken in real place but I only found out that this film is only taken in a place after doing some research. Overall, this movie is great to watch and it teaches me many things in life.