46/38
and the Singapore International Film Festival
Story
Follow a singer who dies suddenly while on tour in Japan, but whose spirit lives on and who embarks on a journey to find humanity in the afterlife. The Singapore premiere, which is also a Southeast Asian premiere of the film, is being presented jointly at the 40th edition of the French film festival vOilah!
First, the creative instinct that drives artists, and second, the emotional need for family ties
Spirit World is a complex film that is at its core about two very human impulses. Right at the start of the film, we are introduced to three characters who have lost touch with both of these defined impulses.
This is, of course, a very idealized perspective on that universal question: what happens when we die?
Singer-songwriter Claire (Deneuve), Yuzo (Sakai) – a former songwriter turned piano tuner – and his estranged son Hayato (Takenouchi), an anime director whose best acclaimed work now seems to be behind him. For these three characters, choices and actions are required in death and the afterlife to find a solution to life’s unresolved problems.
Spirit World answers that question in a very realistic, matter-of-fact way
Fear of the unknown is put aside and the decision is made to help the living, a selfless quest that, for our protagonists, leads to the fulfillment of their own humble desires. This is Spirit World’s life-affirming message: that the creative impulse can bear fruit and heal familial bonds when exercised with selfless intent.
From a technical perspective, Spirit World ticks all the boxes for audience engagement
The personable performances draw you in, the beautiful landscapes (and seascapes) by Takasaki and Chiba are a real feast for the eyes, and tribute is paid to the musicians of the ’60s and ’70s, a golden age of creativity that may never be seen again. A sweet and heartfelt film experience for anyone who has felt the pull of creativity and the love of family.
