AFTERLIFE

In this film, one of the eschatological themes that are artistically presented is that of heaven. The film
interprets heaven as a state of happiness of a person within the context of a particular segment or
memory of his earthly life. When a person dies, he is given the option of finding the best memory he/she
has during his/her lifetime on earth. The deceased person will go to a place where he/she can enjoy and
dwell on the feeling of happiness of that chosen memory. Hence, while all the other memories cease to
exist, according to the film, the chosen happy memory will live forever with the person. This is heaven
according to the film.

As a student of Eschatology, I am not so comfortable with the notion of heaven that the film offers.
Although the aspect is happiness is present, one important element is missing. This is the element of
God! When we say heaven is the state of happiness due to a single memory in the earthly life, where is
the aspect of grace, nay of God? It’s as if the only thing that will truly matter is the life that was spent on
earth. I believe that our earthly experiences are not everything. There is a need to invoke the
transcendent aspect—one that may not be seen in the worldly realm. The idea of eternal bliss and
communion with the eternal God, where is it? In many ways, I would prefer a notion of heaven that
always says ‘union with God’ or ‘happiness with God’. It is, precisely, a state of being with God in eternal
splendor because there is the never-ending vision with God, the source of all happiness.

As far as entertainment is concerned, I find the Japanese idea of heaven something novel and unique. I
was also enthralled at the conversations and individual stories of the film. There was also the
interconnectivity of two characters in the story—the guy who died as a 22-year old, who was engaged to
a woman whom that septuagenarian actually married. But as far as eschatology is concerned, I have
some reservations of accepting the films concepts on heaven, at least.