Running Time: 72 Minutes
Starring: Keiichi Noda, Mako Hyodo, Jinpachi Nezu
Originally released in 1985, Angel's Egg was a collaboration between writer/director Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) and artist Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy, Speed Racer). The pair's combined efforts led to this experimental work set in a post-apocalyptic setting, offering little spoken dialogue between its two nameless characters. Despite the film being a financial flop upon its release, it has since become a cult classic, with GKIDS celebrating the film's 40th anniversary with a 4K restoration that will receive cinema screenings.
Across a desolate landscape, a young girl wanders throughout to keep herself alive. Under her clothing, she clings onto a large egg that she intends to protect from harm. She crosses paths with a man who carries a gun, searching for a bird that he dreamt about. These last two souls share in each others company, while trying to stay alive.
If that description left you scratching your head, then I am afraid that is the best you will get here. This is a work which invites viewers to make their own interpretations of the allegory that is nestled within this feature. What viewers are treated to include a stunning visual style and exceptional sound design, both of which breathe life into the on-screen crumbling ruin which holds no sign of life.
Whether it is a red sky punctuated by the sight of a giant orb, the latter revealed to be made up of numerous human-like figures, or a scene where soldiers chase shadows while hunting for fish, the visual style is unforgettable to witness. It effectively brings alive this bleak landscape, where even a moment of calm is set amidst a location filled with loss, a scene which speaks volumes amidst quiet scenes.
There are no details for what tragedy demolished society, only hints as the real focus is on the aftermath. How do the survivors move forward in the wake of such devastation? By finding hope wherever they can. It is clear that the unnamed man and girl have experienced this reality for too long, unable to remember where they came from as they question what truly exists anymore. The only hope the girl finds is the angel's egg, a symbol of better things to come, but the blind faith is not shared by the man. It all makes for a fascinating work about how, despite all seeming lost, rebirth and salvation are achievable. The result leaves Angel's Egg as a one-of-a-kind experience that must be seen to be believed.
Angel's Egg played at Fantastic Fest 2025. It will receive a limited theatrical release in North American theatres on 19th November.
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