Life After Life

Life After Life is a captivating drama released in 2018 that demands audience attention and participation. The movie beautifully tackles the complicated concept of reincarnation and life after death in a non-traditional narrative structure, providing an intensely captivating cinematic experience.

In the center of the story is a family: a couple Mikyong and Yugin, their son Go-Woo, and daughter Nana. They are living in a backwater town in South Korea, leading a simple life through their humble wooden house providing little shelter against the cold. Each family member grapples with their own issues and struggles, yet their bond is unbreakable. The tranquility of their life is disrupted when the mother succumbs to a terminal illness, bringing an indescribable grief upon the family.

Instead of focusing on death as a finite ending, this film explores the concept of life continuing in another form. Director Zhang Hanyi masterfully avoids the clichéd narrative arc and provides a fresh perspective on traditional beliefs. The movie assuredly forges ahead, guided by a theory of reincarnation, that death doesn't result in a complete disconnection but instead, sets the stage for a new beginning.

After the sudden demise of their mother, Nana and Go-Woo start witnessing unexplainable occurrences around their home. Strange happenings that initially suspected to be mischief turn out to be signs from a realm beyond human understanding. It’s their deceased mother who is trying to communicate with them, and she is requesting for their help for her reincarnation.

The movie then dives into the interesting exploration of reincarnation from the perspective of a person who has already passed but isn’t ready to leave the corporeal world behind. It showcases beautifully how the departed soul navigates this interim period between death and rebirth and the challenges she faces during her transition.

Meanwhile, the siblings grapple with the uncanny reality of having their mother's spirit lingering in their lives. As the film continues to unfold, the characters are forced to confront their grief, guilt, and fear associated with their mother's death, intertwining the narrative with deeply stirring emotions. They are drowned in sadness, wishing for her presence and when they got what they wished for it takes a whole different meaning.

Life After Life centers around the raw pain of loss and the human yearning for connectivity despite the inevitable end. Mikyong’s character goes through the hauntingly beautiful and poignant journey towards rebirth. Nana and Go-Woo on the other hand are confronted with an existential crisis whether to remain entrapped in the past or move forward embracing the life without their mother’s physical presence.

The film boasts of a beautiful minimalist visual style with long, still camera shots capturing the poetry of everyday life and the beauty of the mundane. The tranquil rural landscape of Korea becomes a character in itself, reflecting the characters' tranquillity and turmoil at the same time. The dream-like ambiance established by the scenic background perfectly complements the film's supernatural elements.

Moreover, the performances by all the actors in Life After Life deserve special mention. Their deep-seated performances, replete with subtle nuances, relay the depth of the characters' emotional turmoil. Their believable interpretations of grief-stricken individuals dealing with a phenomenal situation lends credibility to the surreal aspects of the plot.

Heady with allegorical symbolism and exquisite cinematography, Life After Life transcends the naturalistic paradigms of storytelling to deliver a hypnotic cinematic experience. The narrative elegantly shifts between reality and the paranormal, resulting in an evocative commentary on life, death, spirituality, and the human struggle for understanding and acceptance.

Life After Life is not for the faint-hearted or those who are looking for a straightforward plot. It requires patience and an open mind to delve into its profound examination of a unique, yet ubiquitous, human experience—death. It’s a beautiful journey and a thought provoking rendition of existence beyond the realm of life.

In conclusion, Life After Life is an enigmatic exploration of death and the hope for a new beginning. Its thematic depth, combined with exemplary performances and breathtaking visuals, make it a timeless piece of art worthy of being cherished by existentialists and cinephiles alike. It leaves its viewers pondering, well after the movie has ended, about the mysteries of life and the multitude of interpretations of what might lie beyond.