The stories of "Pi" are both true | Far Flungers

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Brokeback Mountain" were both films that moved me deeply. Besides providing stories the viewer simply can't shake off, all of Lee's films are feasts to the eye. But perhaps none of his previous works match the visual poetry of his latest stroke of genius.

To say my expectations were met would be an understatement. "Life of Pi" reaffirmed that there is humanity in cinema. I understand that the novel was an international bestseller, but this story was meant to be adapted to the greatest art form of the modern age, cinema. It's one of those rare cases where words would not do the story justice. It has to be seen to be believed.

The film centers on the son of an Indian zookeeper who due to unfortunate events finds his family and himself on a freighter to Canada. All the animals are on board and are to be sold once they arrive. A shipwreck later, the boy finds himself alone on a lifeboat with a tiger, zebra, monkey and hyena. Throughout the film he forms a remarkable bond with the most beautifully realistic CGI tiger you could imagine.

This story is all told in flashback to a reporter. The adult protagonist promises that by the end of the tale, the reporter will believe in God. I don't know how they missed a chance to market this story with the following tagline: "A story that will make you believe in God." I suppose it doesn't really matter. "Life of Pi" has already grossed over $450 million worldwide so far.

I'm glad my review will be published a week after the film's initial release in Egypt, because it's a film that invites analysis. Most of you have seen this film by now and this gives me some room to discuss the film's message. For those of you who still haven't seen "Life of Pi" at IMAX, I recommend you stop reading at this point to avoid spoilers and let the above serve as a very positive review.

The minute I walked out the theater, I could already hear groups of people debating about which of the film's versions of the story is true. It's a shame, because this very debate contradicts the message of "Life of Pi". It's up to the viewer to believe in one or the other. Here's the tricky part. Viewers were using evidence from the mid-section/survival chapter to support their theories, but they were clearly looking at the wrong place. You see; Lee clearly gives enough evidence to support both stories. We are left with only one fact; there was a shipwreck and the boy survived.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7s7vGnqmempWnwW%2BvzqZmn5miYrOtwc2gZJynoqeytLzOp5uepqSofLW0xGaqraeinrK0ec6fZKmhXZa%2FpnnBqKuhZaSnwqY%3D