A fictionalized account in four chapters of the life of celebrated Japanese writer Yukio Mishima.
Director:
Paul Schrader
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Title: Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)
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1 win & 1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Ken Ogata | ... | Yukio Mishima (segment "November 25, 1970") / Narrator |
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Masayuki Shionoya | ... | Morita (segment "November 25, 1970") |
| Hiroshi Mikami | ... | Cadet #1 (segment "November 25, 1970") | |
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Junya Fukuda | ... | Cadet #2 (segment "November 25, 1970") |
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Shigeto Tachihara | ... | Cadet #3 (segment "November 25, 1970") |
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Junkichi Orimoto | ... | General Mashita (segment "November 25, 1970") |
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Naoko Ôtani | ... | Mother (segment "Flashbacks") |
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Gô Rijû | ... | Mishima, age 18-19 (segment "Flashbacks") |
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Masato Aizawa | ... | Mishima - age 9-14 (segment "Flashbacks") |
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Yuki Nagahara | ... | Mishima, age 5 (segment "Flashbacks") |
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Kyûzô Kobayashi | ... | Literary Friend (segment "Flashbacks") |
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Yuki Kitazume | ... | Dancing Friend (segment "Flashbacks") |
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Haruko Katô | ... | Grandmother (segment "Flashbacks") |
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Yasosuke Bando | ... | Mizoguchi (segment "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion") |
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Hisako Manda | ... | Mariko (segment "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion") |
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
A fictionalized account in four chapters of the life of celebrated Japanese author Yukio Mishima. Three of the segments parallel events in Mishima's life with his novels (The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoko's House, and Runaway Horses), while the fourth depicts the actual events of the 25th Nov. 1970, "The Last Day". Written by Nick Lopez <ntlopez@fas.harvard.edu>
Taglines:
On November 25, 1970, Japan's greatest author Yukio Mishima commited an act that shocked the literary world...Parents Guide:
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Details
Release Date:
20 September 1985 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Mishima See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$5,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$10,378, 15 September 1985, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$437,547Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$518,842Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Isao: We'll only use swords. Our best weapon is purity.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Has never been officially released in Japan even to this day (2005) theatrically or on video because of the controversy over both Yukio Mishima's politics and the film itself. However, it has been shown on television (albeit with the gay bar scene removed) and the U.S. DVD can legally be imported there. See more »Goofs
In the road scene, when Mishima and his crew are going to the Ministery of Defence, many models of cars can be seen which existed when the movie was filmed, but did not exist in the year the events happened (1970). See more »Quotes
Cadet #1: You have firearms?Isao: We'll only use swords. Our best weapon is purity.
See more »
Crazy Credits
Yukio Mishima is acknowledged to have been a real person, but his acts have been fictionalized by writers. Other persons and events in this film are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons and events is unintentional. See more »Alternate Versions
Criterion's DVD (and the newly struck 35mm prints of the film) add a brief deleted scene, from the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" segment in which Mizoguchi talks to an old man, back into the main film. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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It has taken several viewings for me to fully appreciate this film. Initially, I was struck by the stylized sets, but found the rest slow going and dull. I thought that such a sensational subject needed the Ken Russell treatment to take it way over the top. I now find the enforced restraint (placed on the production by Mishima's widow) to be an asset. Some of the more lurid aspects of Mishima's life are reiterated and dramatized by corresponding themes from his novels. I think it helps to be familiar with the novels - that's what finally made the difference for me. Still feel the film overall could be a little tighter and warmer, but it's genuinely unique, and deserves serious attention. Love the fact that the Japanese characters speak Japanese - not English. The Philip Glass score is mesmerizing.