A trailer for Klara and the Sun, a film by Taika Waititi, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro

Showing all posts about Kazuo Ishiguro

A trailer for Klara and the Sun, a film by Taika Waititi, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro

25 June 2026

The first trailer for the Taika Waititi directed adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel, Klara and the Sun has landed. I’m not one to complain about differences between the book and its movie counterpart — mainly because adapting a novel for the big screen is far from straightforward — but this two minute glimpse of the film version shows up some obvious differences with the book.

The tone of the film, at least the little we see of it in the trailer, is somewhat lighter (no pun intended) than that of the novel. Bordering on the comedic at times. It is not without dark moments though, which the novel is replete with.

Klara, portrayed by Jenna Ortega, as an AF (Artificial Friend), looks startlingly human in appearance. AF’s, being humanoid robots, were meant to look like people to a degree, but it was obvious they were not human. Ishiguro’s novel, for instance, created the impression AF’s were usually shorter than the teenage humans they accompanied.

Here, Klara looks as human as Josie (Mia Tharia), the fourteen-year-old girl she was bought to be friends with. A two-minute long trailer isn’t much to go on of course, but if Taika Waititi is directing, we’re going to get Taika Waitit. That includes lines such as “you’re not the droid we’re looking for”, delivered by Amy Adams, as Chris, Josie’s domineering mother.

Entirely Waititi’s idea that one, I’d say.

Klara and the Sun being adapted to film by Taika Waititi

18 May 2023

Klara and the Sun, the 2021 novel by British author Kazuo Ishiguro, is being brought to the big screen by New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi. While all parties are yet to sign on the dotted line, it’s looking pretty certain, according to Justin Kroll, writing for Deadline:

Sources tell Deadline that the Jojo Rabbit Oscar winner is in negotiations to direct Klara and the Sun, based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s New York Times bestselling novel, for Sony’s 3000 Pictures. The project is in development, with Dahvi Waller penning the original draft of the screenplay.

I loved the novel. I believe Waititi could bring forth a faithful adaptation of Klara without dispensing with too many of his trademark cinematic flourishes.

The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro, and another England

13 January 2023

Reading Kazuo Ishiguro’s 1988 novel, The Remains of the Day, twenty-years ago, changed the way British freelance writer Max Liu saw England. When Liu re-read the novel last year, he changed the way he saw the central protagonist James Stevens, the stoic butler of Darlington Hall, where much of the story is set.

It was one of the most profound reading experiences of my life. Partly, this was down to geography and timing. I grew up in Cornwall and, living hundreds of miles from home for the first time, I was ready to think about England and its meanings. This quietly subversive novel showed how the English obsession with class colours our emotions, speech and interactions. It changed the way I saw the country I thought I knew.

If you haven’t had the chance yet, check out the brilliant 1993 Merchant Ivory produced screen adaptation of the novel, starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.

Seriously though, what of Ishiguro’s work isn’t thought provoking, or somehow transformative?

Klara and the Sun wins the 2022 Tournament of Books

3 April 2022

Another gong for Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel Klara and the Sun, after winning The Morning News 2022 Tournament of Books. Ishiguro’s book went up against No One Is Talking About This, by Patricia Lockwood in the final round, and emerged the victor after winning eleven votes to six.

Running every March, the Tournament of Books is like an elimination contest, and starts with a longlist of fiction titles considered to be “worthy tournament competitors” that is formed in December. From there a shortlist of sixteen, sometimes more, books is produced, before they go head to head against each other, but that’s only a brief outline of how the tournament works.

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Kazuo Ishiguro, Patricia Lockwood

Kazuo Ishiguro writing screenplay for Living, based on Ikiru

26 January 2022

British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro, author of Klara and the Sun, is writing the screenplay for South African film director Oliver Hermanus‘ new feature, Living, an English language adaptation of Ikiru, the 1952 film by renown late Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood are set to star in the lead roles.

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Dymocks 2021 Book of the Year shortlist

10 November 2021

Australian book retailer Dymocks have unveiled the shortlist for their 2021 Book of the Year award. Titles to make the cut include Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty, Who Gets to be Smart by Bri Lee, and one of the inspirations behind the name of this very website, Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro. The winner will be announced later in November.