(The trailer above is without English subtitles but this film will screen subtitled)
Don’t judge a book by its cover because, while the premise of Library Wars: The Last Mission may seem a little naff, it’s played straight and proves itself a page turner, building to a lengthy and exciting climax where either side could be the winner.
The film is the second to come from author Arikawa Hiro’s series of bestselling young-adult novels which have already been made into manga and animated television serials.
Library Wars: The Last Mission takes place in the year 2019 when the Media Betterment Act is in force, censoring free speech and burning books that are deemed harmful to society. The earlier Libraries Act protects the books kept safely in those now-hallowed buildings but libraries around Japan have been forced to build their own armies to protect the tomes under their care as the Government’s own Betterment Squad gets more and more aggressive with each attack.
As the only woman on the Library Task Force, Iku Kasahara (Nana Eikura) is an equal amongst men but finds herself progressively experiencing feelings for her aggressive trainer Dojo (Junichi Okada) as she comes to better understand his commitment to freedom.
Like all good science fiction, Library Wars: The Last Mission is a commentary on our current society and where things may be heading. The screenplay by Akiko Nogi is smart, entertaining and pointed, nicely balancing the heavy action with the minor love story, giving a deeply human approach to an otherwise standard war film. While the source material may be aimed at young adults, Nogi brings us a unique action tale aimed at a older age group.
Director Shinsuke Sato meets the challenges of Nogi’s script with tight action sequences and an ever-changing pace that keeps the story balanced and tense. He doesn’t shy away from the violence of battle but nor does he wallow in gratuitous gore. There’s just enough to make you catch your breath.
Yu Takami is the hidden star of the film. Behind the stellar cast is Takami’s rousing score which can be grand in scale at times, giving a sense of patriotism, hope and adventure. The music stands out without ever overwhelming the action.
Library Wars: The Last Mission is an unexpected thrill which stands on its own. No prior knowledge of the books or previous movie is required to fully grasp the characters or story. As the only film screening more than once in the Adelaide leg of this year’s Festival, the faith of the curators is well justified.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Rating out of 10: 8
Library Wars: The Last Mission will screen on 31 October and 7 November 2015 for the Japanese Film Festival, which runs 30 October to 8 November 2015 exclusively at the Mercury Cinema.
All films are spoken in Japanese with English subtitles unless otherwise noted on the Festival website.
More News
