The moral of this movie is that true happiness can only be achieved by helping others and doing good deeds for society in general and not by indulging in activities for self happiness. Based on a Akira Kurosawa movie " Ikiru", the story set in London city of 1950, has a senior Civil servant of the public works department Rodney ( Bill Nighy) who has eight months to live due to a terminal illness and now seeks a noble purpose in life. He now wants to do something for society and instead of putting off decisions which he has been doing so far in the department, he digs in his heels to pursue a case to provide a playground for children in place of a dilapidated neighbourhood. (When he confronts delays he says " I don't have time to be angry".)
Director Oliver Hermanus has made a slow and laid-back paced movie. The possible reason is that it deals with London of the 50s when the ladies/ gentlemen were formal and introverts, strictly followed the hierarchy at workplace and spoke little. They addressed each saying Mister/ Madam. Also the lead character is a terminally sick man, lonely and desolate who moves slowly and speaks in whispers. Nevertheless the movie is an interesting watch and is poignant, sad and sentimental at most places. Bill Nighy gives a laudable, moving and a low profile performance. He is rightly nominated for the best actor Oscar though I feel at least one competitor stands a better chance .Young lady Aimee Lou Wood ( with a pretty overbite) plays Miss Margaret Harris and makes a cute office employee who provides much needed company to old man Bill whom she calls " Mr Zombie" in fun. In an interesting sequence she is direct in asking him if he is infatuated with her and Bill clarifies he only impressed by her cheerful demeanour.
Review of Living
