Wandâfuru raifu is the memory i have selected.

A fascinating and thought-provoking study of the subjective nature of memories and filmmaking. While the sequences with the talking heads goes on slightly long, they are ultimately necessary and provide the heart of the film. I love how low key the aesthetics are, despite such metaphysical subject matter.

Recommended for fans of Haruki Murakami's novel Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, or the anime series Haibane Renmei. This film is simple and documentary-like (lending credence to Koreeda's reputation as a modern Ozu), while the concept of an "old home" where people reflect on their lives after death is familiar and resonant. It also comments on the nature of memories and reality, film, etc. If the one thing you choose to remember is a dream, can it be real?

The moments that make us real. Stunning and thought provoking; what would I choose?

While the overall premise sounds a bit cheesy, Koreeda handles it with appropriate care, focusing on the memories with static close ups in non-descript rooms. This helpfully drains away much of what might be played for sentiment, instead allowing the viewer to engage the memories of these characters simply and in a straightforward fashion. The basic idea of thinking about your happiest memory is a provocative one though, prompting plenty of personal reflection as others go through the process.

Its not perfect. Its too long and, despite the fact that its realistic minimalism is inspired, Koreeda misses the opportunity to use natural sound and light fully, which would have not only make the film more real but has an importance to the subject as memories are more than just the images. The ideas are still thoughtful though, and for a film to avoid sentimentality completely is an achievement. The depiction of the afterlife as an office block also is wonderfully unconventional.

Very touching, and a very clever concept to boot. The execution of the concept is even better, and the characters are all fleshed out wonderfully.

Nice little gem of a movie.

After Life is a touching film with a lot of heart, and it never stoops to crass sentimentality. In fact, I don't believe there was a single crying scene, which is actually quite remarkable when you consider the subject matter. The concept behind the movie is the type that can haunt your thoughts for a long time. (I've been thinking about little else for the past few hours.) That alone is a pretty good achievement.

A wonderful, warm, thought-provoking film, shot in a documentary style with very naturalistic performances. What cinema is all about.

Fantastic first half, full of little anecdotes and a light but poignant tone. The second half is pretty good too, though a little more uneven, with great moments of humanity counterbalanced by the relatively uninteresting machinery of the plot. Overall it opened up some interesting avenues of thought and that's an achievement in itself.

After Life is strange. It takes the concept of the afterlife from one point of view and avoids answering any question that could reveal a slight detail of this universe; it's mostly dialogue, and it does drag at parts, but it's hard to go wrong with a strong concept like this. And what's most interesting is that 'After Life' doesn't only tell the story of those who recently died, but those who work retrieving memories as well - their stress at work, and frustration of looking back at life.

Quiet, beautiful, and moving. Seems so terribly authentic, too.

I usually enjoy films that explore the nature of memory, and this one is no exception. It also has an intriguing concept of the afterlife, and manages to avoid filling in every little detail without frustrating the viewer with too many unanswered questions. The movie occasionally gets a little sentimental, but never maudlin. Koreeda is a pretty good director, but his work has yet to really grab me.

Though it drags a little (hence the less than perfect score,) this is honestly one of the most moving films I've ever seen. The concept is intriguing and the execution works.

"This is a delightful addition to anyone's filmic memory."

I tried very hard to like this. Most of the characters are well-defined, and it's quite touching in many cases. However, the story really dragged on and I don't like the concept of having only one memory to take into eternity - life is made up of many memories, good and bad, and I honestly think it's absurd that the people in this movie are expected to sum up their lives in one moment.

Good Movie

It's easy to tell Koreeda has a background in documentary, as half the film takes the talking head concept and turns it towards a fictional narrative. This is a quaint little film with a lot to love, as its high-concept is told through relatively simple aesthetics. The ending - an interesting take on the transcendence of Cinema - is unfortunately marred by a too-slow middle.

Wandafuru Raifu is not your typical film about the afterlife. It plays like a documentary, with counselors interviewing the recently deceased about their happiest moment. The acting was terrific, some performances felt like in fact it was a documentary, the experiences of the individuals came to life, and it was further reinforced with the representation on tape of their memores. The film was simple, it told beautiful stories that took time to tell.

I wish I could rate it above a hundred.

A quaint yet substantial humanistic drama exploring life and memory. As others have said, it isn't maudlin, but it is subtly emotive. By neither smothering the viewer in philosophy or melodrama, the film does itself a great service. It is -- in several ways -- an interactive film. It demands conscientious reflection, and the film gives plenty of space to enable us to do this. Artistic camerawork, attractive setting, and gentle steps of imagination bring After Life into its own plane of appeal.