Can we talk?

Life of Pi

         I finally saw the movie Life of Pi. Pi is the man, not the tiger. And, the name is not because he's good at math, although he is. It's a great story, one that makes you think and ask questions. It has multiple choice endings.

         First, it's an exotic looking film. There are zoo animals, nature shots, Indian scenery, and ocean views. Porpoises. whales, zebra, lion, elephant mix together in the Pacific Ocean after a cargo ship sinks. It's not only exotic, it's fantastical.

         From the beginning, you are told the story is about God. Pi pursues religion and his understanding of "god" or "gods" like it's a matter of life and death. He is raised a Hindu, becomes a Christian without abandoning Hindi gods, is a Jew for a while, then embraces Islam. He learns things of value to himself in each of these religions. In fact, it is his confused vision of god that helps him survive the shipwreck for almost a year until he is found.

         He tells two tales of his survival. The director never tells you which is right or wrong. I haven't read the book, but am told the book does the same thing, maybe in more detail. You, the viewer choose which to believe. It is a matter of preference, which is more satisfying to the individual. Pi very blatantly says, "And so it is with God."

         He never concludes that one religion was better than another, or that one helped his survival more. But he does make a clear case for some kind, any kind of religion. He seems to support what psychologists refer to as "our higher power" without giving that power a name. Mankind needs a god to make it through the storms and the shipwrecks of life. According to this movie, God is real, and a relationship to Him/Her/Them makes life richer, stronger, more enduring.