‘Living’ – movie review
Category: Movies
Bill Nighy stars in this dark yet hopeful story. Living is set in London in the early 1950s and focuses on Mr. Williams (Nighy), a supervisor in a county office where everyone dresses the same, conducts their business the same, and continues to live in a bland world where they push papers around and get little accomplished.
When Williams learns he has only a few months left to live, he takes stock in his existence. What has he really done that is worthwhile? What has he contributed to society? What, if anything, has made him truly happy?
Being an administrator he has done what his fellow civil servant administrators do. He passes the buck to another department. This is the way things have been done and what he continues to do, until he decides he must do something worthwhile before he dies.
The film is a remake of the Japanese film Ikiru (translation – “To Live”) about life and death. It’s a melancholy tale that drips of sarcasm and as the characters move slowly through their dreary days, viewers will see the conflicts arise in them.
When Williams changes course and begins to actually get something accomplished, he is an uplifting source of inspiration to his staff. But will they continue to follow his lead after he is gone or will they return to their boring and mostly useless jobs?
It is rare to see Williams smile as he goes through his life. Every once in awhile viewers see that he is not a zombie-like creature, but a man with feelings. That is rare. His ultimate demise changes the way in which he looks at the world, his life, and his job. And he does provide inspiration to his co-workers. Most notably is Miss Harris (Aimee Lou Wood), a former coworker who left the office to work at a restaurant. In her he confides his story and together they are able to justify his life.
This is not a film that will have wide appeal to the masses. It is dark and slow, however the acting is wonderful and the sets take viewers back to the 1950s.
Living is rated PG-13 for some suggestive material and smoking. It opens in theaters December 23, 2022.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.