Which story do you prefer? Life of Pi book written by Yann Martel movie directed by Ang Lee How well does a movie depict a book?
Pi Patel lives in India with his family, but because of funding they have to move to America with the zoo they own. Pi is a religious man who’s faith is put to the test when he is stranded on a lifeboat with a 450-pound tiger.
Pi is a faithful boy, and he has always been looking for new ways to meet God. He finds God three times in three different religions. He is Hindu, Islamic, and Christian. Needless to say he is a man with an all-consuming faith. His faith is the focus of the story. After the ship that carried himself, his family, and their zoo sinks he is the only one left. He is the only human alive, but somehow a zebra, hyena, orangutan, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger ended up on his lifeboat. Now Pi is left to struggle against both the endless ocean all around him and the dangerous species residing in his only chance for survival. Except, soon it is the dangerous tiger that is the reason he is alive.
In this book the beauty of Pi’s surrounding is overlook, but in the film version that came out in the year 2012 the beautiful scenery is the main focus. The book did not emphasize the romantic power of nature, but in the movie it is all anyone can see. The way the water grows still and creates a double sky. Clouds swim in the water as the sunset brushes warm light on the reflection creating a multitude of heavenly colors. While the book is told in a primarily factual way as soon as Pi is in the boat the movie continues the themes of religion from the first part of the book giving life to the true meaning of this work.
Faith is the theme that makes Life of Pi have meaning beyond being a castaway story. Faith is firmly established as being a driving force in Pi’s life. He adopts three religions not to seem cool and cultural, but because he doesn’t see any problem with it. He sees God in a way that opens the reader’s eyes and makes complete sense. Pi is able to see God in three different ways and his already strong faith prospers. This theme in the book is almost cut short by the shipwreck. Although the theme is evident in the book it is swallowed by the excitement of Pi’s struggle to train the tiger and survive. This isn’t the case in the movie. Pi continually talks to God. His devotion is not muted by the encompassing events and images around him. On the contrary, it is through these visual elements that his faith is emphasized. Yann Martel’s book is astounding contains all the elements of the movie, but it is through this other media that anyone can clearly see Pi’s internal conflicts to stay faithful and hopeful. Martel gives all of this in the book, and the movie throws them into the viewer’s face. Richard Parker, the tiger, is a good example of the transition of Pi’s thought about God. At first the tiger seemed like a curse. Does anyone want a menacing tiger for company in a small isolated space right after they have lost everything and everyone? In the movie Pi scream into the wind asking the gods “What more do you want?” However as the story in the movie and book progresses Richard Parker turns into a blessing that keeps Pi sane. Without the tiger Pi says he would not have lived. The tiger gave him a purpose and that is why he is a gift from the gods and not a curse. While this all occurs Pi’s faith is even more emphasized by the cinematography of the ocean.
Nights pass with the ocean as still as a looking glass and the stars show their smiling faces from above and below the quietly rocking wooden boat. Pi’s eyes rest on the tiger alighted on the wood panel seat. Pi asks, “What are you looking at? What do you see?” The tiger shifts his head in recognition of Pi’s wondering voice. Then the camera dives into the bottomless sea. Fish swim busily with both direction and indirection. The visions of fish warp into the animals that found themselves swimming to the depths of the spacious black following after their creaky cages on the creaky boat descend, all heading in one direction. The ship finds the sandy end to the descent into darkness. The camera zooms back out to Pi looking into the complicated soulful eyes of the tiger. This scene reflects a comment Pi had made when he and the tiger were both young and meeting for the first time at the zoo. Pi said animals have souls and even though it can’t be proven it is true because their souls shine out of their eyes. His father dismisses this notion, and after that day Pi even though he is faithful he forgets the wonders of God he used to see all around him. Now with this majestic animal that has become his equal Pi can once again see what he once saw, and so can the viewer. This scene reflects the feelings and tone that Martel was conveying in the book, but now the theme is naked and clear through images and expressions.
Sometimes a movie can disturb the intentions of a book, but in this instance the movie has brought out the themes of this book even further through visual and musical expressions. Faith is a powerful part of this movie and book. To watch the movie and to read the book may seem like a hassle to some people, but this is a story who's real potential is brought out by both. Also the story is spectacular enough to want to see the movie and read the book twice. Each. Martel even makes you question the incredible story he tells. Since the whole story is so unbelievable at the end he gives the reader another story. This second story has humans in place of the animals and sounds more familiar, but at the same time less impactful. So, which story will you prefer?
