After life 1998

After Life 

Hollywood films about death (e.g. Ghost, Stepmom, and What Dreams May Come) might have one think that there exists a rule that any movie concerning the hereafter must be cloying, melodramatic, or just plain silly. Thankfully, Kore-eda Hirokazu's After Life is nothing of the sort. Instead, it's a poignant, humorous, minimalistic meditation on the importance of memories.

One Memory 

Filmed in an understated, documentary style, After Life follows a group of 22 newly deceased souls as they stay at a way station — between earth and the afterlife — for one week. At the beginning of the week, the station's caseworkers explain to each person that they have died, and that within a few days they must pick a memory that was precious to them. The staff will then re-enact and film the remembrance, and the person will move on, taking only that memory with them.

Prompted by the caseworkers, the subjects begin reminiscing. One man discusses his pleasurable experiences with prostitutes. A young woman remembers eating pancakes at Disneyland and riding Splash Mountain. Another man recalls being a child, and feeling the warm sunlight on his naked body. An elderly man, Watanabe (Naito Takashi) can't come up with anything, so he watches tapes of his life, one for each of his 71 years.

The staff works diligently to re-create the moments, and as they do so, the subjects' faces glow with pleasure as they think back on their joyous moment. On the final day, there is a screening, and the souls vanish one by one, taking their one memory with them.

Elegant Extras 

The extras on After Life are perfectly suited to this elegant, delicate film. The production notes describe the cinematography and the casting of the film (the key actors' biographies). Theatrical trailers (one in English, one in Japanese) showcase some of the film's moments, asking the question, "What is the one memory you will take with you?" The section dedicated to Kore-eda Hirokazu contains his profile and filmography (consisting mostly of documentaries) and also a director's statement, which explains the inspiration behind After Life: the director had watched his grandfather suffer with Alzheimer's and become senile, gradually losing all memories and his sense of self. Hirokazu interviewed approximately 500 people, asking them which one memory they would take with them. These interviews were the basis of the film, and some of the interviewees are featured in the film, speaking about actual events. Hirokazu sought to show people coming to terms with the past, and affirming and accepting their lives. It's a remarkable achievement that he did just that, with this exceptional and affecting film.

After Life is presented in a widescreen letterbox format. Language is in Japanese only, with English subtitles. Though lacking the sharpness usually associated with DVDs, the transfer is visually pleasing, showcasing the film's muted grays, browns, and greens.