Watch After Life

After Life is a 1998 Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. The film stars Arata Iura, Erika Oda, Susumu Terajima and other well-known actors from Japan. The movie centers around the idea that each person has one memory that they would want to keep forever in the afterlife. Set in a place that can be described as a halfway house between life and the afterlife, the film follows a group of newly-deceased individuals as they begin their afterlife journey. This is a very unique way of interpreting death as it is viewed as a place to still be dealt with, as opposed to just an end destination.

The characters are given one week to choose a single memory from their life that they want to take with them into eternity. They are then aided by counsellors who help them to recall and re-enact the chosen memory, which is recorded and then played back to them for eternity.

In an age where memories can be manipulated by digital technology, and history can be rewritten, After Life paints a unique and thought-provoking picture of how our memories can remain strong and poignant in the afterlife.

As the movie progresses, we see various individuals each with their own unique experience of life and death that is in itself a reflection of the different cultures, traditions, values, and personal experiences of Japan. Some of these experiences are touching, while others are hauntingly sad.

The movie doesn't provide many of the easy answers to the questions it raises. For the characters, the afterlife exists as a limbo-like space but in the meantime, the barriers between the living and the dead are not insurmountable: humans communicate with ghosts, memories and experiences can be shared, and the supernatural is not at all separate from reality.

The film tries to reflect on some big philosophical questions about life like What is the purpose of life? What is left after we die? Would one memory be enough to sustain us even after death? These philosophical debates are rendered even more powerful given the fact that the choices offered to the newly departed are performed with such care and empathy.

After Life is beautifully shot, with soft lighting that adds a gentle touch of beauty to darker themes. The setting of the film is also appealing, particularly the visual effects used to create the neutral location of the halfway house; a gray location that is not quite the land of the living or the dead.

The acting is top notch from the actors with realistic performances that encourage empathy for their decisions and emotions. The film's many characters are often only in the narrative for a brief period of time, yet their stories and struggles leave a lasting impact.

The themes of life, death, memory, and time captured in After Life seem to be intended to remind us of the profound nature of life and the importance of capturing the most important memories. The film urges us to hold onto and value the things that make our lives worth living.

Overall, After Life is a poignant, thought-provoking, and profoundly philosophical work of cinema. With a beautiful visual style and superb performances, it manages to capture the essence of life and death in a truly unique and powerful way. Without a doubt, it is a must-see for anyone who is looking for something truly transcendent.