Episode Description
The Trylon’s 2025 series on the films of HAUSU (1977) director Nobuhiko Ōbayashi comes to a close, and with it our episodes on one of the podcast’s favorite filmmakers… for now, anyway.
The series ends with THE ISLAND CLOSEST TO HEAVEN, an often overlooked gem in Ōbayashi’s significant catalogue about Mari (Tomoyo Harada), a young girl who travels to New Caledonia in search of a legendary island her father (Yukihiro Takahashi) told her about before his early death. Instead of the mythical island, Mari finds inhabitants like Taro (Ryōichi Takayanagi) with similar stories to hers: Loves lost, grief that’s filled the gap, and a hope for something new from what remains.
References:
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"Memories of Summer," Harry Mackin's essay on HIS MOTORBIKE, HER ISLAND (1986) for Perisphere, the Trylon blog
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Give to the Trylon’s Film Forever Fund so they never have to increase ticket prices!
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Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro music: “The Island Closest to Heaven” composed by Hayashi Tetsuji and performed by Tomoyo Harada from the THE ISLAND CLOSEST TO HEAVEN soundtrack.
Timestamps
0:00 - Episode 359: THE ISLAND CLOSEST TO HEAVEN (1984)
4:25 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary
5:23 - Some facts about New Caledonia
7:21 - A different kind of Obayashi classic
15:55 - The real island closest to heaven was inside you all along
21:12 - You know how it ends as soon as it starts
28:48 - The THE GREEN RAY (1986) of it all
37:20 - Mari’s journey
54:36 - People unified by grief as much as by love
59:41 - Yuuichi the lovelorn tour guide
1:02:59 - The Junk Drawer
1:08:24 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1984
1:13:38 - Cody’s Noteys: The Island Closest to Kevin (geographic trivia related to movies starring Kevins)