Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

Released to mixed reviews in 1985, Paul Schrader's Mishima—a challenging film that rewards repeat viewings—presents an intricately woven tapestry of biography, literary interpretation, and dramatic recreation as it covers (along with numerous flashbacks) the last day in the life of Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), the most celebrated Japanese writer of the 20th century. Directed and co-written by Schrader (with his late brother Leonard), Mishima employs evolving b&w styles to approximate technological and aesthetic advances in Japanese filmmaking throughout the decades of Mishima's short yet remarkable life. These sequences are balanced by opulently colorful, highly stylized scenes (with unconventional sets designed by Eiko Ishioka) that bring to life well-chosen passages from Mishima's fiction. The four 'chapters' of the film (Beauty, Art, Action, and Harmony of Pen and Sword) are a direct reflection of the drama that Mishima crafted from his own life, which ended with his public suicide (by seppuku) on November 25, 1970. Granted, Mishima is more successful on an intellectual than emotional level, despite the impressive charisma of Ken Ogata, who plays Mishima in the 'final day' sequences. Still, the dramatic thrust of Schrader's filmmaking is frequently powerful, aided by the operatic force of Philip Glass's unforgettable score. For this director-approved two-disc Criterion Collection edition, DVD extras on the first disc include audio commentary by Schrader and producer Alan Poul, and optional voiceover narration (either Roy Scheider's original English-language narration or Japanese narration by Ogata). The second disc includes interviews with Schrader's key collaborators (as well as Mishima biographer John Nathan and Japanese cultural scholar Donald Richie); a vintage French TV interview with Mishima; an informative hour-shy BBC documentary on Mishima's controversial life and career; and a booklet with an essay by critic Kevin Jackson, information about the censorship of Mishima in Japan, and photos of Ishioka's colorful sets. Highly recommended. [Note: Criterion has also separately released Mishima's 1966 short film Patriotism (DVD: $24.95), based on one of his short stories.] (J. Shannon) [Blu-ray/DVD Review—May 29, 2018—Criterion, 120 min., in Japanese w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: 2 discs, $39.95; Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1985’s Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters features an excellent transfer with a DTS-HD 2.0 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by director Paul Schrader and producer Alan Poul, two alternate English narrations (including one by actor Roy Scheider), the 1985 documentary 'The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima' (55 min.), a 'making-of' featurette (44 min.), a featurette with producers Tom Luddy and Mata Yamamoto (22 min.), interviews with Yukio Mishima biographer John Nathan and friend Donald Richie (27 min.), an audio interview with writer Chieko Schrader (26 min.), a 1966 interview with subject Mishima (6 min.), and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Kevin Jackson, a piece on the film’s censorship in Japan, and photos of production designer Eiko Ishioka’s sets. Bottom line: this contemporary classic sparkles in its handsome Blu-ray debut.]