A key element in the Academy Award nominated film "Life of Pi," is its constant referral to God and the question of faith. The narrative of Pi's incredible experiences is labeled as 'a story that will make you believe in God', and the viewers are left to doubt their own beliefs by the end of the movie. God is presented to us through Pi's own religious beliefs and in his unbelievable journey with an adult Bengal tiger, and although "Life of Pi" does not emphasize on any particular religion, it urges us to believe in something because faith can bring meaning to life.
Director Ang Lee stated that he wanted to portray the internal turmoil of humans through the film, showing that Pi's 227 days at sea was not only a physical journey but a spiritual one as well. When Pi loses faith and begins to give up on life, a storm rages and Pi cries out at the magnificence of God. When Pi is battered by the ferocious sea, he yells to God that he has lost everything and he surrenders, asking what more God wants from him. Even as Pi is losing hope, God provides him with an island and gives him "a sign to continue his journey." Pi's journey to similar to one's religious journey, where we feel vulnerable and submit to God, and God provides for us in the end. We can relate the Pi because our internal turmoils are similar, as we all experience loss, isolation, and fear, although not to such a large extent. The film embodies faith through its events, and the idea of God is present throughout every scene.
As for Pi, he is a deeply religious boy and practices three religions, suggesting that all religions can coexist and that one is not better than the other. Pi has followed Hinduism, Catholicism, and Islam since a young age, and he is equally devoted to all three religions. Even though his father points out that "believing in everything at the same time is the same as not believing in anything at all," Pi does not falter in his belief.
