Film Review - Living
Images courtesy of Transmission Films.
This film makes a statement. Bill Nighy has always been here and he’s not going anywhere.
Oliver Hermanus’ Living is a film that doesn’t ask for much. It simply wants the audience to observe. To see acclaimed actor Bill Nighy deliver what may be the best performance in his decades long career.
An English remake of Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa, Living tells the story of an ordinary man in 1950s London named Mr. Williams, played by Nighy. An old gentleman bureaucrat of few words and little emotions who one day, receives a terminal diagnosis and is told he has only six months to live. Realising his years have been wasted sitting at a desk and ignoring forms, he spends his remaining time looking for meaning and finding joy in the little life he has left.
When the opening credits roll, you immediately feel transported in time as Hermanus, production designer Helen Scott and costume designer Sandy Powell have clearly gone to great lengths to recreate the period. While it does remind the audience that that period in London looked quite dull, it reflects the film’s quiet mood along with occasional splashes of colour that still remind you of the film’s reality and message. Kazuo Ishiguro’s screenplay feels very honest when it comes to Nighy’s Mr. Williams questioning his years on this planet, giving him and almost every supporting character an opportunity for reflective dialogue about what we leave behind when we’re gone. Aimee Lou Wood also delivers an amazing performance as her portrayal of Mr. Williams’ co-worker Ms. Margaret Harris requires her to access many emotions that a young person making their way through life experiences. While she’s well known for her ditzy role in Sex Education, this film shows her potential to break from that mould and transition to a successful film career in her future.
However, it’s Bill Nighy’s performance as Mr. Williams that makes Living worthwhile. It’s clear why Nighy was cast in the role: he has no trouble in conveying emotion with nothing but a tweak in his still expression. Nighy’s melancholy eyes tell the audience everything they need to know about what his character is going through as he receives this bad news that everyone eventually dreads. Nighy immediately makes him relatable and as Mr. Williams becomes more contempt with his remaining time, Nighy elevates the honest dialogue. He delivers true pathos as he softly delivers these lines that will make one ponder about whether they’ve lived life to the fullest.
Living is a simple, reflective and sombre film that looks at mortality. While it’s not as flashy as other films this awards season, it doesn’t need to be. It proves that a good film only needs a simple story, kind words and a lead actor who is relatable to your audience and can still make an impact after a long career.
Living is screening in cinemas from Thursday 16th March. For tickets and more info, click here.