Life of Pi

Life of Pi is, at first sight, a fantastic movie with a literally incredible story and visual effects. Upon closer inspection, though, one can see that it is an allegorical critique of religion and its function.

At the beginning of the movie, Pi is drawn to several religions and try to adhere to each of them. His dad, however, has suffered from Polio when he was a child and lost his faith. The guiding force in his life is reason and science. He tries to convince his son in this regard, but to no avail. It is interesting to note that Pi himself says at the end of the movie that it was the skills his father taught him that kept him alive on the rescue boat.

The sea and Pi's journey on the rescue boat represents Pi's life (Thus the title of the movie, "Life of Pi"), with its hardships and challenges. Pi needs religion and fantasy to deal with it, not unlike the motion sickness pills given to the animals in the ship that sunk (Here, we may remember Marx's maxim that religion is "the opium of the masses"). He comes up with a fantastic survival story with a tiger and other animals that would replace what really happened on the boat (His mother murdered by the cook, etc). Let's look at the dialog at the end of the movie closely after Pi tells us both the real account and the fantastic story with animals:

Pi: “...which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?”

Mr. Okamoto: “That’s an interesting question …”

Mr. Chiba: “The story with animals.”

Mr. Okamoto: “Yes. The story with animals is the better story.”

Pi: “Thank you. And so it goes with God.”

Pi here acknowledges that "God's" story (i.e. religion) is usually the better one (just like his "story" with the animals), but it is a story/tale nonetheless... The truth is something completely different and much more unpleasant. Pi says, "I have a story that will make you believe in God." As in: "If you believe in the animal story, you may indeed end up believing in God as well."