Movie Analysis Guide Question

Title: Life of Pi

Genre: The genre of this movie in which it belongs is in Fiction under the Realistic Subgenre.

Characters: Piscine Molitor Patel “aka”(Pi)-The protagonist in the movie and also he is the narrator of this movie, Richard Parker- The companion of Pi althroughout of this story/movie and he is a large Bengal Tiger, Francis Adirubasamy-The person who taught Pi how to swim, Ravi Patel-Older brother of Pi, Santosh Patel-Father of Pi, Gita Patel-The loving mother of Pi, Satish Kumar-Pi’s teacher, Father Martin-The catholic priest.

Setting: The story shows where Pi was born and where he grew up (Pondicherry, India), the place in which he struggle for survival with an unlikely companion which also give him reason to live and survive (Pacific Ocean & Algae Island). And the place in which he found new life and hope(Canada) . 

Plot: The story revolves in the past of Pi in which he retold his story of tragedy, survival and triumph on a Cnadian author who seeks a very good story.

Theme: For me, the theme of this movie is never giving up and cherishing what we have for we cannot surely know what it’s worth when it is gone. The  will to survive,  in any situation that calls for some extraordinary measures to keep a person alive in a situation like Pi had experienced.

Symbolism: The Boat, in which for me symbolizes faith, Pi’s faith helped and kept him alive. Peter Parker, The Harsh Pacific Weather, Hunger and Thirst In which for me symbolizes the problems and struggles we encounter in our Journey of life and also this are the things that also make us strong when we learn how to fight through it. The Algae Island, symbolizes temptation, it looks very majestic and wonderful in the morning but at night it turns out to be a monstrous killer, like temptation it lures us because of its beauty, luxury and comfort that blinds us from truth. The Mere Cats that inhabits the Island, symbolizes people who are the victims of temptation, although they know the horrors of the island they still refuse to leave it because they considered it as their home, like in real life even though we knew that bad things and doings will lead us into suffering and shame we still tend to live with it because we feel (but in reality: blinds us) that it helps cure our lusts, false desires and catch our dreams.
 

1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?

-It tells the life story of the main character, his ups and downs in life, his struggles when he meet his adversaries. And the lesson he learned after he survived his ordeal and lived a new life.

2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?

-I can relate myself on Ravi Patel, although I don’t like sports, but rather I prefer computer games than school work. And I not bragging about it, I am famous only among my friends and people who are close to me.

3. Which part of the presentation struck you the most? Why?

-In the part in which  Pi woke up from his sleep and went out to watch the thunder storm, I was just shocked on how he react at the storm, because normally people would avoid or hide from the storm. But in his case he likes to chase the storm. For me it’s just weird.

4. What is the movie’s message?

There is a very rich message the movie that wants to share to us, the message of giving importance on what we have, facing our weaknesses and making them our strength, struggling  for survival and never giving up so easily. Also the message of taking risks, I just like the attitude of Pi towards his surroundings he takes risk to know something, achieve something and prove something.

5. Did I like this in general? Why?

Yes, because I can consider it as a new movie/story experience, the twist of the story is very unpredictable. And the story carries your imagination and emotion in a very subtle way.

6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not?

Yes, because the theme really adds flavor to the movie. It contains complex and unique twists, yet it is very understandable.

7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?

- I dislike the part in which Pi never really have got the chance to say goodbye to Richard Parker, for me it is just really regretful moment. But I cannot argue with the author that’s what he wants to happen. He wants to play with the emotions of his audience. But generally speaking I liked the story.

8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why?

-What happened then to Richard Parker after he and Pi depart from each other, I want to know what is the situation of Richard Parker, and left me with the questions, does he found a mate, was he killed by hunters or does he found solace in the island where he and Pi last saw each other.

9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life?

- It really shows what is happening in my life, the situation I am having, the decisions I am making the people that surrounds me and my struggles to face my problem. The story really relates to common or simple person like me, yet like Pi, I have some memorable and challenging journeys that made me strong and wise.