In 1950s London, a humorless bureaucrat decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis.In 1950s London, a humorless bureaucrat decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis.In 1950s London, a humorless bureaucrat decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 10 wins & 48 nominations total
John Mackay
- Jones
- (as John MacKay)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe production designers went to a great deal of trouble to make this film look like it was made in the era it was set, including avoiding quick edits, softening the colour palette and using a relevant font for the film credits.
- GoofsIf you leave Waterloo Station to walk to the Greater London County Council (GLCC) you don't walk across Westminster bridge. They're on the same side South Bank.
- ConnectionsFeatured in EE BAFTA Film Awards (2023)
- SoundtracksTempo di Valse
Written by Antonín Dvorák
Performed by Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH
Under licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd
Featured review
Emotional and bittersweet remake
I have a bit of a soft spot for movies set in the grey, emotionally repressed landscape of post-war Britain. I also happen to believe that Kazuo Ishiguro is one of our best living authors and Bill Nighy is always worth the price of admission. So I went into this preview of "Living" with high expectations and emerged happy that they had been met.
In a way this film reminds me of "Brief Encounter" in that the emotional tone is subdued with deep feelings left unsaid and unshared. Nighy's character is a man of the age and he's led a controlled, functional life of duty. It takes a brush with death to break this control and to let his Mr. Williams belatedly catch up on all that has passed him by.
It's a simple tale and yet I cannot deny that several poignant moments bought a tear to my eye. There's laughter too but this is a bittersweet film that leaves enough space for you to reflect on your own life and where you might have squeezed more juice from the journey.
Now I understand that the original film "Ikiru" is even better and I can well believe that with Akira Kurosawa at the helm. However I haven't seen it (yet) and I am more than satisfied by this modern retelling.
In a way this film reminds me of "Brief Encounter" in that the emotional tone is subdued with deep feelings left unsaid and unshared. Nighy's character is a man of the age and he's led a controlled, functional life of duty. It takes a brush with death to break this control and to let his Mr. Williams belatedly catch up on all that has passed him by.
It's a simple tale and yet I cannot deny that several poignant moments bought a tear to my eye. There's laughter too but this is a bittersweet film that leaves enough space for you to reflect on your own life and where you might have squeezed more juice from the journey.
Now I understand that the original film "Ikiru" is even better and I can well believe that with Akira Kurosawa at the helm. However I haven't seen it (yet) and I am more than satisfied by this modern retelling.
helpful•1009
- movie-reviews-uk
- Oct 26, 2022
- How long is Living?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Жити
- Filming locations
- Worthing, West Sussex, England, UK(conversation in the Lido Cafe between Mr. Williams and Sutherland)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,038,113
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $22,784
- Dec 25, 2022
- Gross worldwide
- $12,377,310
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.48 : 1
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