Directed by Mike Flanagan, TIFF 2024 film 'The Life of Chuck' delves with mystery and coming-of-age drama

As a short story told in reverse, and narrated by Nick Offerman deviating between mystery and coming-of-age drama, “The Life of Chuck” is divided into three acts each.

The story kicks off with “Act Three,” showcasing the world falling apart from the perspective of a small American town.

The most frequent topics of conversation in this town include the latest catastrophic news bites and people asking one another about the curious billboards of a man named Charles “Chuck” Krantz (played by Tom Hiddleston) for “39 great years” and leaving them to wonder if he is a doctor, a radio host, or a local TV personality and speculate how this misfortune came to be.

Feeling that the world is ending and Chuck is being bid farewell by everybody, the film explores something special about an ordinary accountant and why he wants this sendoff.

Other characters in the film include an unemotional schoolteacher Marty (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his ex-wife, an exhausted nurse (Karen Gillan) who are also trying to make sense of all the mysterious “Thanks Chuck!” billboards, signs and TV ads.

Amidst his connections including Marty, his ex-wife, her co-worker, his neighbour, and everyone else they know, Chuck’s life story soon begins to unravel going back to a childhood with grandfather Albie (Mark Hamill),

The film moves onto “Act Two” and eventually “Act One” follows Hiddleston’s character. A dance sequence between Chuck and a heartbroken young girl, Lauren (Annalise Basso), on the street depicting a life lived to the fullest in spite of regrets.

In its concluding segment, the movie follows Chuck’s childhood through a nostalgic story, in which Chuckis taught about accounting by his grandfather Albie, who also  inclucates in Chuck the love for dancing, but is kept in the dark from a prophetic secret in the attic. The intimate, reflective, and simple story, 'The Life of Chuck''s underlying message is learning to embrace precious moments in the face of adversity.

The film was introduced at the world premiere at 2024 TIFF with a quote from King himself: “When an old man dies, a library burns down".

The winner of the top audience award prize, Flanagan in a statement thanked TIFF, “I’m absolutely overwhelmed. We’re so grateful that The Life of Chuck connected with audiences in such a powerful way, but never expected this.”

(Reported by Asha Bajaj)