Taika Waititi’s film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun arrives as a quiet, timely reflection on artificial companionship, anchored by **Jenna Ortega** in the title role. The movie’s mix of intimate family drama and speculative technology makes its soundtrack and casting choices especially relevant for viewers today.
In the film, Klara is an Artificial Friend on display in a storefront, waiting for someone to choose her. She is quickly taken in by Josie (Mia Tharia) and forms a close bond with the girl and her mother, Chrissy (Amy Adams). Their relationship becomes the emotional center of the story as Klara navigates Josie’s illness and the family’s complicated decisions about genetic enhancement.
The cast also includes Natasha Lyonne, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi and Rachel House, each adding texture to Waititi’s measured adaptation of Ishiguro’s novel. Rather than spectacle, the film leans into small moments—eye contact, care, and the uneasy promises of engineered youth—that make its themes feel immediate.
Why the soundtrack matters: The music blends classic pop, indie rock, and classical pieces to shape the film’s atmosphere. These choices guide the viewer’s emotional response and help bridge the story’s near-future setting with familiar cultural touchstones, giving the film a tonal range that oscillates between warmth and melancholy.
- “Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows” — Lesley Gore; music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Howard Liebling
- “Straight Jackin Fools” — Owen Chaim (written and performed)
- “Days” — Television; written by Richard Lloyd, Fred Smith, Billy Ficca, Tom Verlaine
- “Okay” — DecadeZ; written by Arcale Maurice Turner
- “Believe in Yourself” — Disasteradio; written by Like Rowell
- “Good Feeling” — Violent Femmes; written by Gordon Gano
- “Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp Minor (Posthumous)” — Frédéric Chopin
- “Gloria in D major, RV 589 — Qui tollis peccata mundi” — Antonio Vivaldi
- “Mandala” — from The Man Who Fell To Earth; written and performed by Stomu Yamashita
- “Fistful of Love” — ANOHNI and the Johnsons; music and lyrics by ANOHNI
These selections serve different narrative purposes: some underscore tenderness and innocence, others introduce disquiet or solemnity. The presence of classical works alongside indie and vintage pop tracks creates an emotional counterpoint to Klara’s robotic perspective, highlighting what she observes and yearns to understand.
For viewers following contemporary conversations about AI, bioengineering and family care, the film’s understated approach offers concrete moments to consider rather than sweeping answers. Its soundtrack is not merely background: it is an editorial choice that steers tone and invites reflection.
On the publicity side, the movie has already drawn attention at red carpet events, where principal cast members—including **Jenna Ortega** and **Amy Adams**—appeared alongside other notable names. That visibility helps the film reach audiences who are tracking both mainstream performances and adaptations of modern literary work.
In short: Klara and the Sun pairs a carefully curated score with intimate performances to probe what companionship and obligation mean in a near-future world—making both the film and its music worth watching for anyone interested in how culture is processing advances in technology and medicine.
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Hello, I’m Declan. I share my film reviews and discoveries with you to enrich your moviegoing experience.