TRAILER
From the director of House (1977) & School in the Crosshairs (1981) & His Motorbike, Her Island (1986).
Released months before lead Hiroko Yakushimaru’s breakthrough hit Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, Nobuhiko Obayashi’s first groundbreaking teenage idol picture is a dazzling mix of special effects and blue-screen artifice—a stylistic flair perfected in Obayashi’s debut House, now utilized for the onset of an alien invasion. Ordinary schoolgirl Yuka’s (Yakushimaru) new term comes to an odd start when she inexplicably stops an accident by using latent psychic powers. Troubled by her newfound abilities, Yuka also senses a strange force start to take hold of the school, with students turning into mind-controlled fascists, patrolling school halls, stifling dissent and mandating the re-education of freethinkers. A psychotronic fantasy forged into a young girl’s destiny to defend the planet, School in the Crosshairs is a cosmic overload of extraterrestrial tyrants, preternatural powers and Obayashi’s uniquely adroit filmmaking abilities, underlaid with an existential cry for free will.
Cult Epics website Exclusive: Reversible Slipcase art by Sam Smith + Japanese theatrical poster Postcard. Limited Edition of 500.
- Product Info
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Blu-ray Exclusive
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DVD
Special Features
- High-definition Transfer
- Audio Commentary by film critic Derek Smith (Slant Magazine)
- Kadokawa and Obayashi – Visual essay by Alex Pratt
- Tomoya Harada 28 Days in Caledonia: The Making of The Island Closest to Heaven
- Theatrical Trailers
- New improved English subtitles
- New Slipcase art design by Sam Smith
- Reversible sleeve with original Japanese poster art
- First Pressing includes repro 24-page Japanese booklet
- Web Exclusive: Reversible Slipcase art by Sam Smith (500)
- Web Exclusive: Japanese theatrical poster Postcard (500)
Technical Specs
Japan / 1984 / Color / Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 / 103 Mins / Japanese language with optional English subtitles / LPCM 2.0 Mono / DTS-HD HD MD 2.0 Mono
Special Features
- High-definition Transfer
- Audio Commentary by film critic Derek Smith (Slant Magazine)
- Kadokawa and Obayashi – Visual essay by Alex Pratt
- Tomoya Harada 28 Days in Caledonia: The Making of The Island Closest to Heaven
- Theatrical Trailers
- New improved English subtitles
Technical Specs
Reviews
“The Island Closest To Heaven might be the purest idol-film Obayashi made.” – Psychocinematography
“With “The Island Closest to Heaven”, Obayashi takes what could be presented as a run-of-the-mill coming-of-age tale and instead turns it into something quite special, the film is a beautiful tale about growing up. The director delivers a rich and reflective story about finding happiness along with yourself, rife with romanticism and set against the glorious backdrop of the Southwest Pacific. With a stirring lead performance and a touching, character-driven narrative, the film is a beautiful tale about growing up.” – Asianmoviepulse
“Each of Obayashi’s films feel like gifts, but this has become one of my favorites.” – Letterboxd
“There’s a gentle, low stakes quality to The Island Closest to Heaven that feels very much in tune with some of the anime films put out by Studio Ghibli.” – Derek Smith (Slant Magazine)
