Mamoru Oshii's 'Sky Crawlers' New York Premier

Mentioned in an earlier article by Alain about Mamoru Oshii, he was the one responsible for Ghost in The Shell. Years later, here he is again directing another blockbuster hopeful called Sky Crawlers based on Hiroshi Mori's Japanese novel series.

SONY PICTURES, STAGE 6 FILMS, PRODUCTION I.G,
NEW YORK –TOKYO, AND THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
PRESENT THE NY PREMIERE OF SKY CRAWLERS.

WITH SPECIAL VIDEO INTRO BY DIRECTOR MAMORU OSHII

Japan/2008/122 Min. /color/Japanese with English subtitles

FRIDAY, DEC.12 AT 7 & 9:30
WALTER READE THEATER AT LINCOLN CENTER
165 W.65TH ST (UPPER LEVEL, BET.B’WAY & AMSTERDAM AVE)

You can purchase tickets here

from NY-T:

We are proud to announce the New York Premiere of Director Mamoru Oshii’s latest film, The Sky Crawlers, - an engaging combination of philosophy and science fiction, featuring brilliantly executed aerial combat sequences. Oshii sees this film as a message to the youth of the world. Visually appealing high quality animation was produced by Production I.G. The Sky Crawlers was nominated for the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

Synopsis

The story takes place in another possible ‘now’ - a world that has eradicated war and finally attained peace. However, this prolonged state of peace created demand for a new kind of war. A conflict happening elsewhere, that could be seen on TV or read in the papers - in order to get a feeling of reality.

Private war contractors enlist fighter pilots to perform their services in an endless “war as entertainment.” They call these pilots Kildren. Innocent-looking teenagers, Kildren never age into adulthood, and live in a state of eternal adolescence until the day they drift gracefully through the endless skies.

One day, pilot Yuichi arrives to his newly assigned airbase. He has only vague memory of his past. The only two things he recalls are that he is a Kildren and how to operate a fighter plane. A woman is keeping an eye on Yuichi. She is Suito, the base commander. A Kildren herself, Suito behaves as if she’s been waiting to meet Yuichi for a long time. Perplexed, Yuichi is nevertheless gradually attracted by her.

All pilots at the base have to confront the most invincible enemy ace, known as Teacher. His trademark is a black jaguar painted on the nose of his plane. It is said that if you run into him up in the sky, you don’t come back to tell your friends. Who really is the Teacher? What does Suito know about Yuichi’s past? What are the secrets behind the Kildren?

[via taeko baba NY-T]