Another World

Another World is a beautifully nuanced feature by Tommy Kai Chung Ng that explores themes of forgiveness, redemption and the horrors of human greed. Gudo is a spirit guide who resides in Another World, where life and death collide. There, he meets Yuri, a lost girl desperately searching for her brother. As the two travel together, Yuri learns more about her past and her death. Meanwhile, Gudo begins to understand human emotions: heartbreak, happiness, hunger and love. But Yuri’s regrets threaten to turn her into a “Wrath” – a monster burdened by anger and hatred. The two make a pact in which Gudo promises to follow her through all her lives for a thousand years and save her from this horrid fate.

Another World features familiar clichés such as the red string of fate, reincarnation and ghosts with unfinished business. However, it takes these tropes and creates an intriguing lore that amplifies the emotional impact of the characters’ arcs. Gudo’s unrivalled devotion to Yuri tests his faith in humanity, as he witnesses reincarnated versions of her making choices that actively harm others. Her constant anger breeds violence, leading to a tiresome journey for Gudo, who becomes visibly fatigued with every new life he encounters.

This sensation is reflected in the viewer, with the deluge of tragedies and Yuri’s brutal retaliation creating a cycle of hopelessness. The visuals reinforce this bleakness, with dull colours in Yuri’s reincarnated lives contrasting against the illustrious image of Another World. As the plot unravels, vibrancy is reintroduced into the picture, but this time through volatile hues that represent blood, darkness and disturbing deaths. These deaths are brutally unique, further intensifying both Gudo’s and the audience’s conflicted feelings towards Yuri.

The narrative jumps between multiple timelines. What initially seems like a convoluted storytelling mess gradually unfolds into an intricate tapestry that tracks Gudo’s journey with Yuri across the millennia. This choice injects an air of mystery into the film’s early stages. There are many unexpected twists alongside some predictable turns, but every revelation nonetheless leaves a lasting imprint on the viewer – a cathartic experience that is both painful and powerful.

Gudo is a charming lead; his innocence and unwavering determination exude an infectious quality that encourages audiences to root for his success, even when they lose hope in Yuri. His friendship with Dark Sky is an endearing and refreshing development amid the barrage of suffering. Yet despite Gudo’s role as the protagonist, the emotional core of Another World lies in the familial bond between Yuri and her brother. It is a relationship that haunts the narrative, adding another layer of complexity to the story.

Another World is visually majestic, with an expressive art style and richly detailed backdrops, elevated by a deeply sentimental score. It is an astounding movie, reminiscent of works by animation legends such as Gints Zilbalodis and Hayao Miyazaki. Ultimately, it is a feast for the senses and a love story for the ages.