(Original title: 遠くの空に消えた/Tooku no Sora ni Kieta)
144 min. / 2007 / Color
A vast wheat field, a straight road that has no end, a sky without a single building in sight——This is a town in the country where time comfortably passes by. But this former paradise is now being stirred up by a fight amongst its people over constructing an airport.
Having been brought to this town by his father, who is the leader of the group pushing for the construction of the airport, Ryosuke has transferred from a school and doesn’t get along with the town bully, Kohei. But unexpectedly they find themselves becoming friends. What brings these two together is Hiharu, a girl who is always standing on top of a hill by herself. Hiharu’s dream is to “see the UFO that abducted her father.” Ryosuke and Kohei believe her story, and the three of them solidify their friendship. But the fight between the adults grows more heated day by day, and they even crush the modest dreams of their children.
“I want to make Hiharu’s dream come true——. If a miracle won’t happen on its own, let’s create one ourselves!”
This is their last summer vacation as boys. The feelings of Ryosuke and Kohei to help their dear friend are trying to reach out into the deep sky…
The acclaimed director Isao Yukisada (“Crying out Love, in the Center of the World”) proudly presents his new original story full of love and fantasy that make the audience want to look back in their childhood and treasure their bitter sweet memories.
The film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, who is one of the best kid actors in Japan now and starred “The Great Yokai War” and did character voice in Gibli films like “Howl's Moving Castle,” "Spirited Away.” Also Ohgo Suzuka stars, who had received high acclaim from Ken Watanabe and Bruno Ganz for her role in “Memoirs of a Geisha” as Zhang Ziyi’s younger self. The up-and-comer Yuma Sasano brings fresh breeze to the screen, along with the experienced actors like Fumiyo Kohinata, Shinobu Otake, and Tomokazu Miura supporting the youngsters with the roles of weird yet funny village people.
(C) 2007 "INTO THE FARAWAY SKY" PARTNERS