Review | Another World movie review: macabre human fable is a new milestone for Hong Kong animation
A haunting, philosophical triumph, Another World is a morally complex film and one of the best out of Hong Kong this year
4/5 stars
Hong Kong filmmakers rarely get as philosophical about the human condition as they do in the animated feature Another World, which contemplates the limits of goodness in the face of great evil, set against a vibrant action fantasy backdrop.
Although the film’s focus on reincarnation appears to align it with Eastern religions, Another World’s belief in kindness renders it a universally engaging watch. Young children should stay away, however, as they might be scarred by some of the shockingly grisly moments in this macabre tale.
Leading us into the afterlife is one of its spirit guides, Gudo (voiced by Chung Suet-ying), who is tasked with helping deceased souls let go of their memories and escorting them past a magical waterfall into the next life – all the while making sure the “seed of evil” inside each of them, if any, does not sprout out of resentment.
His latest charge is a girl named Yuri (Christy Choi Hiu-tung), whose pure and lively character fascinates Gudo. Yuri is initially not aware that she has died and is instead persistent in her search for her younger brother, whose fate remains unknown for much of the runtime.