Taika Waititi’s new film is being adapted from Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun. Starring Jenna Ortega, the film tells the story of Klara, an artificial friend designed to keep lonely children company, and her efforts to help Josie, who is experiencing health problems. The film’s US release date has been announced as October 23, while the release date in Türkiye has not yet been finalized.
Why it matters
This adaptation brings together readers familiar with one of Kazuo Ishiguro’s well-known works and those who follow the work of Taika Waititi and Jenna Ortega, as it brings a novel recognized in literary circles to the attention of cinema audiences. The idea of an artificial friend at the center of the story offers a framework in which technology intersects with loneliness, care and human relationships; Josie’s health problems mean that Klara’s efforts to help go beyond merely being a story about friendship. For this reason, how the film will set its tone and how it will translate the novel’s emotional structure to the screen are among the main questions that remain open for those following the adaptation. The fact that the release date in Türkiye has not been announced also leaves uncertain when local audiences will be able to watch the film.