10/16
and the Singapore International Film Festival
Synopsis
Follow a singer who suddenly dies while on tour in Japan, but her spirit lives on as she embarks on a journey to find humanity in the afterlife. The Singapore premiere, which is also the film’s Southeast Asia premiere, will be co-presented at the 40th edition of French film festival vOilah!
“World of Spirits” is a multi-layered film that is essentially about two very human impulses
First, the creative instinct that drives artists, and second, the emotional need for familial bonds. Right at the start of the film, we meet three characters who have lost touch with both impulses as defined.
This is, of course, a very idealized perspective on this universal question: what happens after we die?
Singer-songwriter Claire (Deneuve), former songwriter and piano tuner Yuzo (Sakai), and his estranged son Hayato (Takenouchi), an anime director whose best known work seems to be behind him. For these three characters, choices and actions are required in death and the afterlife to find solutions to unresolved problems in life.
Spirit World answers this question in a very realistic and prosaic way
Casting aside the fear of the unknown, we make the decision to help the living – a selfless quest that, for our main characters, leads to the fulfillment of their own humble desires. This is a life-affirming message from the spirit world: the creative impulse can bear fruit in healing family bonds when exercised with selfless intent.
From a technical perspective, Spirit World meets all the requirements for audience engagement
Entertaining performances draw you in, the beautiful landscapes of Takasaka and Chiba (and seascapes) are a real feast for the eyes and a tribute to the musicians of the 60s and 70s, a golden age of creativity that may never be repeated. A sweet and heartwarming cinematic experience for anyone who feels the urge for creativity and love of family.