Living-2022
Director Oliver Hermanus
Starring Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood
Scott’s Review #1,380
Reviewed July 20, 2023
Grade: B+
Living (2022) is a British film remake of a Japanese movie named Ikiru made in 1952. That screenplay was partly inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s 1886 novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich. I have not seen that film but my best bet is that it is either equal or superior to Living.
The remake is quiet yet powerful. It teaches a poignant lesson about living life to its fullest and not wasting time on trivial and meaningless things that most people stress over.
Before you know it life is over.
The brilliance of this message is that anyone can apply it to their own lives at any age and in any given situation. At least that is what I took from the film and therefore the film is inspiring to me personally.
In this particular case, the focus is an elderly man who has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a maximum of six months to live.
With high reliability, Living tells the story of an ordinary man named Rodney Miller (Bill Nighy) who has so far lived years of dull office work and a careful routine. In other words, he has enjoyed only a bland existence and rarely does much exciting.
To be clear, he is not a loser but is quite polished and prim and proper. Well-dressed, has a good job, and is highly responsible. He resides with his son and daughter-in-law.
Once his doctor gives Mr. Miller his diagnosis, he becomes determined to turn his dull life into something wonderful with the help of a young office worker, Miss Margaret Harris played by Aimee Lou Wood).
While the supporting actors are fine they are not given much to do or deeply explored except maybe Wood. She is compelling as a girl next door type who bonds with her much older boss. We root for her to find happiness and she does.
Living works best as a character study and Nighy quietly takes charge with a ferociously understated performance that justifiably landed him with an Academy Award nomination.
The actor has a gorgeous voice, so very poised, deep, and oozing with polish and sophistication. I fell in love with the character right away even before his deadly cancer diagnosis.
He’s not a bad man just a boring one and Nighy is successful at showing his appeal. This is evidenced in his personal life when he is unable to communicate with his son though he desperately wants to. His life has so far avoided any ruffling of feathers that he cannot even adequately express himself.
The film avoids exploration of much of anything about Mr. Williams’s personal life and he has no designs on Miss Harris other than his envy of her joy and passion for life. He does not seem to be gay but nothing is said for a wife or ex-wife.
The overall pace of the film is slow which may not appeal to some viewers. Since the running time was merely one hour and forty-two minutes I wasn’t bored though I wasn’t energized either until the ending which I found moving.
The experience is not a downer despite the subject matter and no scenes of Mr. Williams dying a painful death or any hospital scenes are featured. Rather, it portrays life.
The filmmaking is clean and polished sort of like Mr. Williams and there exists a rich London texture. Rainy days, a sophisticated swagger, and crisp structured sets and art design are what I mostly notice.
The title of Living (2022) is appropriate for the lesson being presented to the audience. Spend an enormous amount on that savory dinner, eat an enormous ice cream sundae, or help someone before looking the other way.
Because one day it will be too late.
Oscar Nominations: Best Actor-Bill Nighy, Best Adapted Screenplay