Overview: Based on Katsura Morimura’s 1966 best-selling travelogue, Obayashi’s paradise-laden coming-of-age tale is an island retreat to the white sands of New Caledonia. Fulfilling her late father’s (YMO’s Yukihiro Takahashi) dream to take her to the island closest to heaven, bookish teen Mari (Tomoyo Harada) ventures solo to the archipelago’s indigo waters in search of this mythic locale.

Taking in the island’s sites, Mari journeys off the beaten path, befriending a host of friendly locals in the process, from islander Taro (Ryoichi Takayanagi) to footloose tour guide Yuichi. One of Obayashi’s breeziest features, filled with a sense of old school Hollywood romanticism, The Island Closest to Heaven forms an affecting portrait of a young girl’s journey to self-discovery and her own piece of heaven deep within.

Blu-ray Verdict: The Island Closest to Heaven is about a teen girl, Mari, who after her father passes away travels to New Caledonia in order to find an island that her father talked about. An island that is said to be close to heaven, a paradise on Earth. During her quest she meets the inhabitants of the islands and learns a bit more about herself and about life.

The movie has a very serene and beautiful feel to it. The vistas allowed by the scenery of the islands is breathtaking and contribute so much to the mood of the story, in contrast to some of Nobuhiko Ôbayashi’s earlier films he almost uses no pre-made backgrounds. All seems to be shot in location. The story carries some certain poetic elements and perspectives that add a lot of maturity to the story.

And not to give too much away, but in New Caledonia she meets Yuuichi Fukaya an older man who is somewhat of a playboy. Mari tells Yuuichi that she’s searching for the island closest to heaven her father told her about. Yuuichi takes her around the island but Mari isn’t convinced that this is the place her father mentioned.

But through various adventures and being met with local people’s warmth she discovers where the real island closest to heaven resides. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Bonus Features:
2K Transfer & Restoration
Audio Commentary by film critic Derek Smith
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 (pamphlet)

Official Purchase Link

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