by Sapphire Mason-Brown

Created on: September 19, 2010

Beware, this contains spoilers.

Last Life in the Universe is the fourth, and most critically successful film from Thai director Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. The film’s title itself is subject to interpretation, as mentioned, the English title is Last Life in the Universe. The Thai title is, Ruang rak noi nid mahasan, which literally translated into English is, “Love Story, a Little, a Lot”, this can also be read as, “A Little Love Story that is a Lot”. The Words Noi and Nid appear in the Thai title, these are also the names of two sisters within the film paving the way for yet another interpretation, “Love Story of Noi and Nid, a Lot”. Every one of these readings can be applied, accurately, to the film, as further analysis shall reveal. However, I do believe that the words Noi and Nid, within the film title are not references to the characters’ names, but instead, the characters names are allusions to the terms “few” and “small”.

The film opens with a series of images depicting the apartment of one the protagonists, Kenji. His apartment is meticulous, with every item in its place; his shoes are in neat rows, his clothes categorised by item and colour with an equal space between every piece of clothing, his books are packed in perfect piles so categorised that one can identify the month and year in which he read them. Some books, however, are out of place. The camera in one swift movement focuses on a collapsed pile of books and pans up to reveal Kenji hanging from a rope with a note saying, “This is bliss” in his hand. Surely this is not the main character? He’s dead. Or is it an American Beauty or Sunset Boulevard approach that Ratanaruang is taking? The reasons behind this man’s suicide are to be revealed during the course of the film, one might assume. Such a notion is quashed as Kenji’s voice is heard, “This could be me three hours from now”.

Kenji is a quiet and stoic librarian for the Japan Foundation in Thailand. He holds a somewhat unique and fantastical view of suicide. He states, “Why do I want to kill myself? I don’t know… I wouldn’t kill myself for the same reasons as other suicidal people. Money problems… Broken heart… Hopelessness… No, not me. Many books say “Death is relaxing.” Did you know that? No need to follow the latest trends… No need to keep pace with the rest

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