The Garden of Sinners: The Hollow Shrine

The Garden of Sinners: The Hollow Shrine
Directed by	Teiichi Takiguchi
Produced by	Atsuhiro Iwakami Hikaru Kondo
Screenplay by	Masaki Hiramatsu
Story by	Kinoko Nasu
Based on	Kara no Kyōkai by Type-Moon
Starring	Maaya Sakamoto Kenichi Suzumura Takako Honda
Music by	Yuki Kajiura Kalafina
Production company	ufotable
Distributed by	Aniplex
Release dates	May 24, 2008 (2008-05-24)
Running time	46 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

The Garden of Sinners: The Hollow Shrine (空の境界 第四章 伽藍の洞, Kara no Kyōkai Dai-Yonshō: Garan no Dō) is a 2008 Japanese animated film produced by ufotable based on the Kara no Kyōkai novels by Kinoko Nasu. It is the fourth installment in the series, preceded by Remaining Sense of Pain (2008) and followed by Paradox Spiral (2008).

Plot

Following the incident in the second movie, Shiki is being carried by ambulance to a hospital where she lies in coma (the cause will be revealed in the final movie). Mikiya visits her very frequently, leaving rose bouquets which garner him praises by the nurses for his commitment to visit Shiki all this time. Time passes, and Mikiya graduates from high school and then meets Toko Aozaki in a doll exhibition, who then hires him.

During Shiki's near death experiences within the Void, she encounters her male counterpart, SHIKI, who sacrifices its existence. After two years, Shiki finally wakes up and finds Mikiya's 'recover soon' note along with a bouquet of roses. However, at this moment Shiki does not recall Mikiya's name. As she looks at the bouquet, she sees cracks running through the roses and right at the moment she touches those cracks, the roses begin to whither and shatter. While being treated by the medical staff, who are unaware of Shiki's new ability, Shiki is able to see the cracks on them and on herself and visions appear where people and even herself are being sliced through those cracks. Confused and frightened, she injures her own eyes.

Mikiya is told Shiki has regained consciousness but visitors other than family members will not be allowed to see her. Toko, disguised as a therapist, visits Shiki, who has both of her eyes bandaged due to her self-inflicted injury. Toko introduces herself as a sorcerer and points out that Shiki's feelings of loneliness and hollowed heart can only be cured by the care of other people. Toko tells Mikiya that Shiki is okay, but he should not visit her yet.

During nighttime in the hospital, Shiki is being haunted by spirits who try to possess her body. During the day, Toko visits Shiki every day and discuss about Shiki's dual personality. Toko states that Shiki's condition is special because both Shiki and SHIKI integrated a combined personality and realizes that as SHIKI is gone, Shiki's memory created a lapse and therefore will not be able to conclude Shiki's involvement in the murders two years ago. Toko also points out that SHIKI sacrificed itself for Shiki to survive.

Shiki, still having her eyes bandaged, is told by the medical staff she has recovered and can go back home, but she refuses as she is deeply frightened by the world full of cracks she sees with her eyes. Later in the night she tries to stab her eyes with her fingers but is stopped by Toko, who speaks with Shiki about the 'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception'. Toko tells Shiki she can teach her more about her new ability, which allows Shiki to 'perceive' and also 'touch' the 'death' of things. Shiki feels that is unnecessary as she does not feel the desire to live. Toko points out that although Shiki does not want to live, she is also scared to die and under that condition, Shiki would be easily targeted by the spirits in the hospital and Toko's magical protection would be voided. Disappointed, Toko leaves asking Shiki if SHIKI's sacrifice was for nothing.

Later in the night, Toko's protection shatters and a possessed corpse assaults Shiki. Back with Mikiya, Toko describes Shiki's heart as being hollow and only through present and future experiences she will be able to build her new personality and 'shrine' in her heart. Mikiya starts singing softly 'Singing in the Rain'. As Shiki realizes how truly lonesome and frightful death is, she fights back the possessed corpse and both fall through the hospital room's windows. Toko finds Shiki and tries to stop the corpse with her ignition sorcery but her attempt is unsuccessful. Shiki removes her bandages and battles the corpse using her newly acquired 'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception' skill. Toko hurls a knife for Shiki to use. Shiki cuts her hair and uses the knife along with her 'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception' to slice the corpse. After rendering the corpse unable to stand up, the spirits possessing the corpse possess Shiki's body, but she fights back by stabbing her own body to reach the spiritual being's "existence" and cuts through them. Shiki erases the spirits and Toko offers to teach Shiki how to use her mystic eyes. In exchange, Toko asks Shiki to work for her.

Back in the hospital, Mikiya visits Shiki for the first time after her awakening. At the same time Shiki finally recalls Mikiya's name, saying that his (last) name sounds as a French poet's.

After the end credits, three people are visited by a mysterious man with a dark trench coat. He is shown with Kirie Fujo (from movie 1), granting her with a body that she can move; with Fujino Asagami (from movie 3), healing her back wound; and a down, blood-stained guy. When all three ask who he is, he responds, "A magus, Soren Araya."

Cast

Further information: List of Kara no Kyōkai characters

• Maaya Sakamoto as Shiki Ryogi (両儀式, Ryōgi Shiki)
• Kenichi Suzumura as Mikiya Kokuto (黒桐幹也, Kokutō Mikiya)
• Takako Honda as Toko Aozaki (蒼崎橙子, Aozaki Tōko)

External links

• Official Type-Moon website (Japanese)
• Official film website (Japanese)
• The Garden of Sinners: The Hollow Shrine at IMDb
• The Garden of Sinners: The Hollow Shrine (film) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia