Common Sense Media Review
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring British drama reflects on meaning of life.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Living
What's the Story?
LIVING is the story of Mr. Williams (Bill Nighy), a man who has become trapped in the monotonous clockwork of everyday life, lacking inspiration in a postwar world. When he discovers he is terminally ill, he confronts his past and seeks to salvage what he has left of his future. He befriends his ex-colleague Margaret (Aimee Lou Wood), and her youthful vibrancy and zest for life rubs off on him. He realizes that before he dies, he wants to do something meaningful, something he can be remembered for.
Is It Any Good?
This moving British drama is standing on the shoulders of cinematic royalty, as an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa's critically acclaimed Ikiru. Thankfully Living more than holds its own. Put together in the most beautiful way by South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus, the director captures the clockwork synchrony of everyday life, and yet does so with such passion. The lighting, the tonality -- it's truly sumptuous cinema, and manages to be so beautiful despite the mundaneness it depicts. But then that's the point and the takeaway message: that we should all try to find the beauty in the monotony of our lives, as our hero, Nighy's Mr. Williams, tries to do as he approaches the end of his life.
What transpires is a tender film, a warm production that manages to stay on the right side of sentimentality throughout. What helps is the absorbing central performance from Nighy. In what's arguably a career-best performance from him, he's matched at every turn by the charming Wood as Margaret, Williams' ex-colleague and the film's inspiration.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Living had to say about life. What lessons did Mr. Williams learn? What did he do with these lessons? What did you take away from the film? How to talk to kids about difficult subjects.
Discuss the character of Margaret. How did she inspire Mr. Williams? Would you describe her as a positive role model? What makes a good role model?
How were drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? How has our behavior when it comes to drinking and smoking changed from when the movie was set?
Living is an English-language remake of a Japanese film. What other remakes have you seen? How did they compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 23, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : April 11, 2023
- Cast : Bill Nighy , Aimee Lou Wood , Alex Sharp
- Director : Oliver Hermanus
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Director(s) , Multiracial Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , History
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some suggestive material and smoking
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate