Physical media boutique Cult Epics is releasing their third of four Nobuhiko Obayashi Teenage Idol movie, The Island Closest to Heaven, on November 25th on both Blu-ray and DVD. Courtesy of MVD Entertainment Group, EoM is giving away one (1) Blu-ray edition of Obayashi’s travelogue adaptation. Submit an entry before time runs out for a chance to win.

Giveaway runs until Sunday, November 30th at 11:59p EST.

Official Synopsis:
Based on Katsura Morimura’s 1966 best-selling travelogue, Obayashi’s paradise-laden coming-of-age tale is an island retreat to the white sands of New Caledonia. Fulfilling her late father’s (YMO‘s Yukihiro Takahashi) dream to take her to “the island closest to heaven,” bookish teen Mari (Tomoyo Harada) ventures solo to the archipelago’s indigo waters in search of this mythic locale. Taking in the island’s sites, Mari journeys off the beaten path, befriending a host of friendly locals in the process, from islander Taro (Ryoichi Takayanagi) to footloose tour guide Yuichi. One of Obayashi’s breeziest features, filled with a sense of old school Hollywood romanticism, The Island Closest to Heaven forms an affecting portrait of a young girl’s journey to self-discovery and her own piece of heaven deep within.

The Island Closest to Heaven Special Features:

• High-definition Transfer
• Audio Commentary by film critic Derek Smith
• Kadokawa and Obayashi – Visual essay by Alex Pratt
• Tomoya Harada 28 Days in Caledonia: The Making of The Island Closest to Heaven
• Theatrical Trailers
• *NEW* improved English subtitles
• *NEW* Slipcase art design by Sam Smith
• Reversible sleeve with original Japanese poster art
• First Pressing includes repro 24-page Japanese booklet (pamphlet)

Available on Blu-ray and DVD November 25th, 2025.

For more information, head to the official Cult Epics The Island Closest to Heaven webpage.

Rules of the Contest

1. To enter – fill out the contest form below and submit before Sunday, November 30th, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST. Only one entry per person/email/address.
2. Entrants must be 18 years old or older to win.
3. Winners will be notified via email after the close of the contest.
4. One (1) selected winner will be awarded with one (1) Blu-ray copy of The Island Closest to Heaven.
5. Participants understand that the prize is not the responsibility of Elements of Madness.
6. Winners must live in the contiguous United States, Alaska, or Hawaii. Elements of Madness does not ship internationally.
7. Information collected during the giveaway will not be shared or disseminated and will only be used for the purpose of mailing the Blu-ray to the winner.
8. Prizes are not redeemable for cash or other items.
9. Prize cannot be swapped or traded for anything else.
10. EoM not responsible for prizes lost to the Spam filter.
11. Current members of EoM staff or their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

The contest is now closed. The winner will be contacted.

Categories: Contests

Tags: Cult Epics, drama, foreign film, Japan, Japanese, KADOKAWA, Katsura Morimura, Miyoko Akaza, MVD Entertainment Group, Nobuhiko Obayashi, restoration, Ryoichi Takayanagi, The Island Closest to Heaven, Tomoyo Harada, Toru Minegishi, Wataru Kenmotsu, Yukihiro Takahashi, 天国にいちばん近い島