The Island Closest to Heaven – Cult Epics (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1984
Director: Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
Writer: Wataru Kenmochi
Cast: Miyoko Akaza, Tomoyo Harada, Wakaba Irie, Kiyomi Ishii, Shigeru Izumiya, Nenji Kobayashi, Kayo Matsuo, Nobuko Otowa

Release Date: November 25th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 102 Minutes 28 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese, DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"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." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "High-definition Transfer."

The Island Closest to Heaven comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.9 GB

Feature: 25.3 GB

The image at times looks soft, which may be intentional, and black levels often look greyish instead of black. The opening sequence, which is a flashback, has a desaturated look to set it apart from the rest of the film, which takes place in the present. That said, this transfer is comparable to the one Third Window Films used for their 2022 Blu-ray release.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese and a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese. It should be noted that there is some dialogue in French and English. I did not notice any differences between these two audio tracks. They both sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included are removable English subtitles. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer for The Island Closest to Heaven (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled Tomoya Harada, 28 Days in Caledonia: The Making of The Island Closest to Heaven (59 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Alex Pratt titled Kadokawa and Obayashi (26 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film critic Derek Smith, reversible cover art with original Japanese poster art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and a reproduciton 24-page Japanese pressbook (limited to the first pressing).

Other extras include theatrical trailers for His Motorbike, Her Island (1 minute 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), School in the Crosshairs (1 minute 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Adapted from a novel written by Katsura Morimura, The Island Closest to Heaven is a heartfelt story about a young girl who travels to the island of New Caledonia after her father's death. From there, a series of playful interactions unfold as she meets various people on the island.

When I watch Nobuhiko Ôbayashi's films, the first thing that strikes me is how he never limits himself as a filmmaker, while there are overlapping themes throughout his filmography. He never confines himself when it comes to style or tone.

Although The Island Closest to Heaven has many elements that are associated with melodramas, the result is an inventive film that never falls victim to genre tropes. Having said that, The Island Closest to Heaven is Nobuhiko Ôbayashi's most conventional film, coming from a filmmaker whose work has been anything but conventional.

Nobuhiko Ôbayashi casts Tomoyo Harada, with whom he previously collaborated on The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, as the protagonist. She delivers an amazing performance that perfectly captures her character's melancholy and soul-searching. That said, the rest of the cast are good in their roles.

From its opening moments, The Island Closest to Heaven quickly draws you in. It is an engrossing tale about an empathic character and her whimsical journey. Also, it is a beautifully shot film that fully exploits the exotic island location. That said, there is not an area where The Island Closest to Heaven comes up short.

The Island Closest to Heaven gets a first-rate release from Cult Epics that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras; highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer