Thanks to the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Asian Showcase, I was able to see Key of Life, a gem of a movie that I otherwise would have never seen. Kenji Uchida’s Key of Life has to be the best movie that I’ve seen in a long time, and that’s saying a great deal because I watch a lot of movies!
On the surface, Key of Life may seem like your basic mistaken identity movie, but it has so much more depth than any of the trailers or synopses would have you believe. Director Kenji Uchida successfully created lovable and charming characters out of a mafia hitman, a suicidal actor and a workaholic magazine editor. The lives of these three people would have never crossed paths were it not for an accident at a bath house that kick-starts a story that is full of heart and wonderful surprises.
This movie had me laughing out loud within the first few minutes and never let up with the witty writing and creative story direction. Nothing is as it seems in Key of Life as the movie takes you for some pleasant and unexpected twists.
I can’t praise this movie enough for its story, comedy and overall entertainment value, and I definitely recommend everyone watch this movie. Currently, Key of Life can only be seen at film festivals, which is why organizations like the Newport Beach Film Festival are so important to the propagation of quality cinema.
The Newport Beach Film Festival is drawing to a close on May 2nd, but you still have a couple of days to get out and see some great films from around the world.
UPDATE: Key of Life will be screening on May 9th, 2013 as part of the L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival! Stay after the movie for the closing night gala!
~ Andrew Chen, AOF Staff Writer
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