Another World

Hailing from Hong Kong, Another World is a feature film that's based on a Japanese story called A Demon for a Thousand Years by Naga Siajo.

The film is a tale of two realities, straddling the afterlife of Another World with events set in the mortal realm. Initially the move between these stories can be jarring, but by the midway point the film manages to cleverly lock these interwoven narratives together in a way that's both genuinely surprising and powerfully emotional. You'll need the hankies out for this one.

The film begins with an introduction to Another World by Gudo, a Soul Keeper tasked with escorting the spirits of the dead across a lake and up to Mount Mi, where they will leave their memories behind and be reincarnated. The waterfall they pass through removes much of the soul, transforming it into a red rope, usually containing knots which represent that life's unresolved resentments. Should enough of these knots form within a lifetime, they will turn into seeds of evil which can twist humans into terrifying creatures called "Wraths".

Gudo meets a young girl named Yuri, who hasn't realised that she has died and is looking for her younger brother Kenji. Gudo agrees to join her in the search, his curiosity piqued by her constant talk of family and her daily life. Unfamiliar concepts such as companionship and hunger have him wondering about life outside his limited role in Another World. 

Another World is full of imaginative scenery

The story then shifts to the mortal realm, where we meet Goran, the princess of Flower City. Her mother having died in childbirth, this leaves her as inheritor of the throne when her father falls in battle - this leads to chaos within the city as the General blames the King's brother and insists on his execution. Confused and grief-stricken, a seed of evil begins to stir in Goran's heart, until Gudo appears and tries to help her and keep the seed from taking root. 

Other lives are touched on in the same way, Gudo always appearing to try and help a soul infected with the seed, but are these appearances random or part of a larger narrative?

I don't want to spoil the film with too much detail, as the revelations need to be experienced first-hand. As I say in the opening, this bouncing around can be confusing at first, but it does all relate and the final third of the film, where the purpose is clear and the stakes now compelling. The film is an emotional rollercoaster and director Tommy Kai Chung Ng wrings every emotional beat with breathtaking animation and a wonderfully ethereal soundtrack.

It's not a particularly happy film, the tragic deaths depicted throughout are only slightly offset by the knowledge that there is an afterlife and reincarnation, but the events shown here are very, very dark. I found the number of children that died to be particularly hard to take - having a 6 year-old daughter makes these scenes a bit too close to home, and had there not been at least a glimmer of redemption I'm not sure I'd have made it through the film. It's honestly not the type of drama I seek out, so it's testament to the film that I made it to the end even though some scenes were honestly upsetting.

I am glad to have survived the near two-hour runtime though - the final scenes are very moving and will stick with you, the themes of friendship, discovery and dedication being front and centre. The final shot is a perfect summation of both the hope and strife writ large throughout the film.

Princess Goran meets Gudo

The drama is realised through some absolutely wonderful animation, the dream-like realm of Another World being a particular high-point, with stunning vistas that are surreal but perfectly logical in the context of the film. The darker tones of the mortal plane are detailed and oppressive, with little to offer in the way of optimism - dreary colours reflect a dreary world, and you have to wonder if reincarnation is really worth it at times, as tragedies just seem to pile up endlessly throughout.

Character designs are simple but emotive, the lines always being slightly rough to give a hand-drawn feel that I appreciated. If you're old enough to remember The Mysterious Cities of Gold, you'll have an idea of the sort of character designs to expect. Of course, the fluidity and dynamism of Another World is of a much higher calibre, and really deserves to be seen on the big screen if you get the chance.

There's a lot of meat to the film that deserves a proper discussion, but perhaps we'll embark on that journey another time. Until then, in terms of a recommendation, I can honestly say Another World is a beautifully directed and animated movie, the themes of friendship and sacrifice perfectly written with the emotional gut-punches all landing. 

The theatrical run will have a Q&A with the writer and director, though I think they'll have a hard time if the audience are in floods of tears by the end.

Trailer: