ISLAND CLOSEST TO HEAVEN, THE (1984)

天国にいちばん近い島

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.

Special Features and Technical Specs:

• 2K RESTORAITON OF THE FILM
• 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 only: a reproduction of an original 24-page Japanese booklet (pamphlet)