The Wings of Honneamise

An animated manga feature set in an alternative reality where the north and south hemispheres of the world are locked in eternal combat and the hero is a member of the Royal Space Force. The sci-fi elements, however, are played down, and the journey into space is presented as a moral fable, the stars being 'a place where all mankind can find a new freedom'. Whether or not you swallow this, let alone the subplot of specifically Christian redemption, depends on whether tears spring to your eyes when you listen to 'Imagine'. First-rate score by Ryuichi Sakamoto, lighting effects that would shame Ridley Scott, lushly detailed background and a great eye for composition. A weak story, however, is required to go a long way.