Cast
Tomoyo Harada
Kazuko Yoshiyama
Ry么ichi Takayanagi
Kazuo Fukamachi
Toshinori Omi
Goro Horikawa
Yukari Tsuda
Mariko Kamiya
Ittoku Kishibe
Toshio Fukushima
Toshie Negishi
Naoko Tachibana
Makoto Naito
Tetsuo Yoshiyama
Wakaba Irie
Noriko
Hiroe Oka
Ryoko
Akiko Kitamura
Sadako Horikawa
Taizoh Masumoto
Takeo Haramichi
Yoichi Takabayashi
Clock Shop Man
Izumi Asuka
Woman in Mourning Clothes
Maiko Ogo
Student
Megumi Kagami
Student
Crew
Director
- Nobuhiko Obayashi
Producer
- Ky么ko 脭bayashi
- Yorihiko Yamada
- Haruki Kadokawa
Reviews
Thematic Analysis
As a science fiction narrative, The Little Girl Who Conquered Time explores potential technological and societal futures, raising important questions about humanity's place in the universe and our evolutionary trajectory. The film stands apart from other sci-fi works by presenting a vision that is both thought-provoking and visually distinctive.
Director Nobuhiko Obayashi brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 1983, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of The Little Girl Who Conquered Time took approximately 14 months from pre-production to final cut.
- The final cut of the film runs for 104 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 143 minutes long.
- Several scenes were filmed in multiple locations to capture the perfect setting.
- The cast underwent specialized training for 3 weeks before filming began.
- Some visual effects sequences took up to 3 months to complete.
Historical Context
- In 1983, when this film was released:
- Economic policies were shifting toward deregulation in many Western countries.
- The Cold War was entering its final phase.
- Independent cinema was growing in influence, challenging the dominance of major studios.
How This Film Stands Out
While The Little Girl Who Conquered Time shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.
Unlike Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time, which focuses more on action than character development, The Little Girl Who Conquered Time subverts genre expectations by exploring its themes with greater nuance.
While films like La Jet茅e and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure explore similar territory, The Little Girl Who Conquered Time stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.
This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its thoughtful balance of entertainment value and thematic depth, making it a valuable addition to its genre.
Details
- Release Date: July 16, 1983
- Runtime: 1h 44m
