There is a meditate sense of hope and longing in LIVING, the new film from the pen of Kurosawa, via the pen of Sir Kazuo Ishiguro and the lens of Oliver Hermanus. I will obviously mention that this is the British version of the Japanese post war humanist masterpiece IKIRU. I will also mention Stephen Woolley, the British independent producer titan. All the standard tick box critics and film writers will mention this. They love to tick and a box is a certain way to do this. But LIVING deserves more. As, in its way it asks us to be more than the old systems, still in place. Still seeing those who went to the right schools and knowing the cushion of Mother and Fathers money to shield them. Weirdly many of these are in the film world, calling for change. Well calling for but not actually wanting to change as that would destroy the Ponzi scheme, which an ordinary clerk manager in the London County Council, wants to changed after finding he has limited overs to play.

Oppressive office routine in Britain is not uncommon. But in the vestige of local authority, its omnipresent. Williams (Bill Nighy), is accepting of it. The same as he is that his daughter in law hates him and his son is unable to talk to him in any meaningful way.  Then a shattering medical diagnosis leaves him with 6 months. Maybe more. Maybe less. He wants to grasp fulfilment before it goes. First a seaside resort offers it with an artist his guide (Tom Burke), but it leaves him cold. Back to London and instead he is drawn to the woman who offered him daylight in the office, Margaret (Aimee Lou Wood). She takes him to places and he opens up about his mortal end. One cold evening he is struck by a revelation. He can maybe make a better difference for someone and some others. With the help of Peter (Alex Sharp), a new recruit to his department, he sets about creating a legacy for the next generation.

I glean that the body of Kurosawa’s work had been both embraced and enhanced with a freshness.  That is what Hermanus wanted to deliver with flair and he mainly manages it. With a few issues. Now the disc has some sloppy interviews that are mainly all studio fair. Asking no deeper questions and not wanting troubling answers. What we do find out is that this is Bill Nighy film. It is also his best work. He is a perfect fit and extols a magnetic intelligence in LIVING, that I haven’t seen before. He is reserved, soft, tonally perfect, pictured in light that makes him cast, as if in marble often. The film is better for it. There is little I could add to upsell him. The transfer here does it justice, 1080p is respectful to the image and the cinematographer. Though there are flaws with the film in terms of pacing and tone, it does however deserve all the adulation heaped on it…

Living is on digital, Blu-ray and DVD now