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The Sky Crawlers
スカイ・クロラ
2008 121 min Japan PG-13 16+
★7.1
Animation, Action, War, Science Fiction, Drama
Director: Mamoru Oshii
Trailers
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Description
Youngsters called Kildren, who are destined to live eternally in their adolescence. The Kildren are conscious that every day could be the last, because they fight a war as entertainment, organized and operated by adults. But as they embrace the reality they are faced with, they live their day-to-day lives to the full.
Starring
Rinko Kikuchi
Actor
Ryô Kase
Actor
Shôsuke Tanihara
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 2008
— Future Film Festival Digital Award
Venice Film Festival 2008
— Golden Lion
Key opinion
Mamoru Oshii's The Sky Crawlers is a visually masterful and atmospheric meditation on war, mortality, and the stagnation of an eternal present. While the film's deliberate, meditative pacing and elliptical narrative leave some viewers feeling detached, it is widely praised for its technical brilliance and ability to evoke profound, melancholic contemplation.
| Cinematography | The film features exceptionally detailed, realistic animation that excels during fluid, high-stakes aerial combat sequences. | |
| Score | Kenji Kawai's symphonic score provides a crisp, atmospheric backdrop that deepens the viewer's immersion in the film's tranquil yet mournful mood. | |
| Direction | The director utilizes subtle, everyday gestures and long, silent pauses to build character depth and emotional resonance without relying on traditional expository dialogue. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative's preference for unanswered questions and elliptical storytelling creates an evocative, literary quality for some, while others find the lack of concrete explanation frustrating or alienating. | |
| Pacing | The film’s contemplative, slow-burning tempo rewards viewers who engage with its philosophical themes, though it risks boring those seeking a traditional plot-driven experience. |