48/32
French Film Festival and the Singapore International Film Festival
Synopsis
It follows a singer who suddenly dies during a tour in Japan, but her spirit lives on and she embarks on a journey to find humanity in the afterlife. The Singapore premiere, which is also the film’s Southeast Asian premiere, is to be jointly screened at the 40th edition of the vOilah!
One, the creative instinct that drives artists, and two, the emotional need for family bonds
Spirit World is a multi-layered film that, at its core, is about two very human impulses. Right from the start of the film, we are introduced to three characters who have lost touch with both of these impulses as they are defined.
This is, of course, a highly idealized perspective on this universal question – what happens after we die?
Singer-songwriter Claire (Deneuve), Yuzo (Sakai) – a former composer, now a piano tuner – and her estranged son Hayato (Takenouchi), an anime director whose most acclaimed work now seems to be behind him. For these three characters, it requires decisions and actions taken in death and the afterlife to find solutions to unresolved issues in life.
Spirit World answers this question in a very realistic, practical way
Putting aside the fear of the unknown and choosing to help the living, an altruistic quest that, for our protagonists, results in the fulfillment of their own humble desires. This is the life-affirming message of Spirit World: that creative impulse can bear fruit to heal family bonds, when exercised with altruistic intent.
Technically, Spirit World ticks all the boxes for audience engagement
The enjoyable performances draw you in, the beautiful landscapes (and seascapes) of Takasaki and Chiba provide pure eye candy, and a tribute is paid to the musical artists of the 60s and 70s, a golden age of creativity that may never be seen again. A sweet and heartfelt cinematic experience for all who have felt the pull of creativity and the love of family.