The Cinematheque

Free Admission

“Allusive and enigmatic … A film that registers its ideas more by sleight of hand than by direct statement … Rewarding [and] beautiful to look at.”

Stephen Holden, The New York Times

Better to be an enemy than to be alone. Last Life in the Universe marks Pen-ek Ratanaruang’s first collaboration with cinematographer Christopher Doyle and actor Asano Tadanobu. Against the neon-lit backdrop of early 2000s Bangkok, Kenji (Asano), a fish-allergic Japanese librarian with a quiet death wish, meets Noi (Sinitta Boonyasak), an eccentric, weed-smoking bar hostess, on a bridge after both witness the sudden death of Noi’s sister (Laila Boonyasak, Sinitta’s real-life sibling). Deeply entangled with the yakuza in Japan, Kenji has fled the country seeking solitude—and an end to himself. What follows is a quiet odyssey of loneliness between two outsiders who find each other in the restless metropolis. A tender and bold declaration of connection through stillness, Last Life in the Universe remains one of Pen-ek’s most celebrated and beloved works, with Asano’s performance earning him the Best Actor prize at Venice.

In Thai, Japanese, and English with English subtitles

Last Life in the Universe will be followed by a discussion with Pen-ek Ratanaruang, moderated by William Brown and curators Anton Hing and Anna Sreekullkorn.

“What truly differentiates Last Life in the Universe from [Pen-ek’s] previous films is its confidence and ease that comes without having to overshare or divulge all its secrets to the viewer … A turning point in Pen-ek’s oeuvre.”

Kelley Dong, MUBI Notebook

“A stylish, slightly surreal mood piece … The Thai locales, the stars, and Doyle’s expressive cinematography add up to a disarmingly seductive yet always precarious film experience.”

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times