A Japanese teenager travels to New Caledonia to seek what her father called “The Island Closest to Heaven” in Nobuhiko Obayashi’s travelogue melodrama; in a new Blu-Ray from Cult Epics.
The Film
The Island Closest to Heaven is from Nobuhiko Obayashi, the same director as Hausu, the largest touchstone for American audiences of his varied film work. But don’t expect this film to match the gonzo over-the-top horror entertainment fest. The Island Closest to Heaven is a low-key, breezy, coming-of-age travelogue melodrama. Lot of modifiers there, but it’s a fine flick, engaging and beautiful shot on location in and around New Caledonia.
Based on the 1966 travelogue book by Katsura Morimura and written by Wataru Kenmochi, the 1984 film follows Mari, a teenager from Tokyo who visits New Caledonia, off the coast of Australia, during winter break. She’s hunting for an island her deceased father once described as “The Island Closest to Heaven,” in a way to connect to him one final time (metaphorically, again not Hausu) and find closure.
There’s a soft melodrama quality, harkening to Douglas Sirk and Joseph Mankowitz in style and presentation. Between the crossfades and the stringy score, along with how Obayashi shoots with cinematographer Yoshitaka Sakamoto and Mari narrates her story; it gives a personal and narrative push. But without the heart wrenching moments of things building up and falling apart. That’s the soft bit. Her internal drive has a melodrama, and the external is a travelogue filled with interesting characters who come and go; high-strung official tour guide, older unofficial guide/minor-conartist type, (there’s a little bit a sleaze to his bit but just a little), a 3rd generation Caledonian young man longing for a connection to Japan as much as she does with the islands, and various locals.
There’s a peaceful kindness to it. I never once felt Mari was in any sort of danger. In a good way; it’s nice to turn off the “oh this narrative is going to go dark, you in danger girl” part of my brain and let the travelog nature of the film soak in the splendor and majesty of these gorgeous islands. The closet is comes to any sense of darkness is a single bar/hotel with people… gasp smoking and (oh my lord) playing pool!
It’s about connections to those around you, and kindness in others. (On a side note, New Caledonia has had a troubled past of colonialism, and not long after this film it came to head, but that’s not a matter to the film; but just wanted to note the historical context). I loved the integration with the Aboriginal people, living in their peace. It’s ultimately a film about closure. We’ve all lost someone too soon and long for that final bit. For Mari, making this trip allows her to find peace with her gone father. In an incredibly touching mirror of deepening the themes, a widow from WWII reflects on her own losses and finding her own closure. It’s in finding this peace within oneself that both these women are able to move on and become their next selves; all the more important for the 16 year old with the adult world looming. 
As a lead, Tomoyo Harada is a little bland, not very emotive, and doesn’t give much in the form of reaction or emotion. But she is charming and unassuming enough. She’s not flat in performance, just not putting out the energy. Lots of contemplative looks out the distance. I can see that working both ways; the audience can’t really hook onto her to give the drive but they can also paint themselves on the blank canvas. I suppose it would depend on the viewer. Luckily there’s more than enough character in the people she meets and physical beauty to engage with across the film.
While I found this to be a positive and matching a dreamlike quality to the melodrama and coming-of-age some may not like the meandering nature. Characters come and go, some seem important but vanish completely or for a while. For fans of Obayashi, much of his style is muted but the film still works, just don’t expect the pep, even that found in his other 80s coming-of-age films.
The Island Closest to Heaven is a sweet, coming-of-age travelogue, for better or worse. It’s engaging at what it is, even with a bland lead and meandering story. It’s beautiful in what it says about how we work with one another, finding closure, and enjoying the splendor of the world.
The Package
The Island Closest to Heaven and the features are housed on a single Blu-ray in a hard case. A DVD option is available as well. The case contains a reversible sleeve with two choices of poster design from the original release. It contains a booklet of the film, containing stills and information. I presume a sort of press-kit from the look. It’s in Japanese so I can’t confirm. The Blu-ray option has a slipcover with new art from Sam Smith, limited to 500.
The Presentation.
The print looks a little faded and cloudy, showing it’s 1984-ness. However, it provides a dreamlike quality that matches the feel of the film. But don’t expect crisp, wowing detail. The audio is Japanese and French in LPCM 2.9 Mono and DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono with new English translation subtitles.
The Features
Audio Commentary by film critic Derek Smith
An insightful, very informative commentary track. It is more about the career of Obayashi over specifically this film. Much of the discussion of the film in question is “this film did it this way compared to his others” but I brought a lot out of it. It makes sense, as a straightforward flick, there wouldn’t be enough to dig into the gritty of the making of; but Smith does cover stories of and around the film.
Kadokawa and Obayashi – Visual essay by Alex Pratt
Much like the commentary, this information packed video essay by Pratt is more about the makers than the movie. Of how director Obayashi worked with Japanese super producer Haruki Kadodawa and their work in the industry, especially in molding Japanese cinema to their liking. Pratt obviously knows what’s talking to, but man does he have a flat voice that is a little draining. (26m)
“Tomoya Harada 28 Days in Caledonia: The Making of The Island Closest to Heaven
Harada filmed behind-the-scenes as they filmed, compiled here. A good look at different avenues: fly-on-the-wall, on the spot interviews, her own recollections both in the moment and added voiceover. (59m)
Theatrical Trailers
A collection of Obayashi trailers of this and other films released by Cult Epics.
Final Thoughts
The Island Closet to Heaven is a nice easy slice of feel-good filmmaking. Beautiful exploration of the atolls off of Australia, with enough narrative push even if it’s a little loose with a merely okay lead. It’s always good to dig into the deeper catalog of a known filmmaker, outside of the cross cultural hits. For that Island Closest to Heaven is a good film, and a nice disc from Cult Epics, releasing November 27th.