Paul Schrader's Mishima -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 133)

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Disclaimer: All reasonable comments are welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life. I believe in freedom of association and, by extension, freedom of dissociation from you.

[@nedelchohristoskov2434]

"Beauty is something that burns the hand when you touch it..." Yukio Mishima I just hit the bell. I can't afford to miss another review like this one.

[@dougo891]

Of particular interest to me was the fact that the designer on the film was Eiko Ishioka who also did the costumes for Francis Ford Coppola movie Bram Stoker's Dracula

[@LearningaboutMovies]

fascinating -- I didn't know that. thank you.

[@NormAppleton]

WEEABOO

[@somthingbrutal]

stunningly beautiful movie with an amazing score by philip glass.

[@NoahSpurrier]

Probably my favorite film score; although, almost any Ennio Morricone score would be a close second.

[@hejskipejski5751]

Paul Scharder still going strong. So is Doc. Matthews!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you!

[@dougo891]

Also what's really important is to look into the background of Yukio Mishima. He had a particularly Strange Life which is in part shown in the film

[@LearningaboutMovies]

the movie makes him look like one of the most fascinating figures of the 20th century, which he might have been.

[@PeterSmith-go9ef]

Thank you for this thoughtful review. Mishima is my favourite novelist, I have read all of his translated novels and plays, have read three biographies, and watched numerous documentaries, and interviews with him. Over 40 years later he is still an enigma to me, I think one of the great strengths of Schrader`s film is to approach his subject matter interpretatively, through his novels, his actions, his philosophy, all of which are presented in part during the film. At the films close I feel Schrader has posed more questions than answers, I feel he has done a fine job of expressing Mishima`s artistic aesthetic, elements of his nature and psychology, and created a viable biographical background to give the rest of the film an essential foundation. Schrader`s treatment of four Mishima novels is highly original and perceptive. Mishima`s final day has been interpreted, and reinterpreted by colleagues. friends, biographers, and other artists repeatedly. He was a deeply complex man in life, as he was a chameleon as an Author, Mishima too left more questions than answers on his death. All I can claim to know is that he was a great novelist, and an eternally intriguing and compelling man, whose literary works are the gift that keep on giving.

[@LuisRomeroLopez]

11:01 About this part: One thing the film didn't adress (or didn't do it too much) was Mishima homosexuality (or bisexuality). Once I heard that this was the case after arrangement with Mishima's family.

[@NoahSpurrier]

One of my favorite movies.

[@qweebag2488]

Your channel has helped me learn so much about film and it's so entertaining, thankyou.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome. Glad to help, and I noticed people who watch this channel picking up Mishima's writings even!

[@firewithfire848]

I saw this movie for the first time in the late 90s. I was familiar with Schrader’s work as a writer, but not as a director. The word, masterpiece, tends to get overused, but this is a film that truly deserves that moniker. Its an astounding film, one I’ve rewatched several times and will probably watch several more times. It introduced me to the writer Yukio Mishima, and composer Phillip Glass. This movie lead me to read several of his books that are translated but much of his work has not been translated. Note*** I recommend watching the film with the Roy Scheider voice over narration in English. The dialogue in Japanese. Also, even though Mishima did write plays, “Temple of the Golden Pavilion” and “Runaway Horses” are novels. Both are available in English translations. “Kyoko’s House”, is actually one part of a four part novel, that is not, unfortunately, translated into English.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

is that Roy Scheider narration an option on the Criterion disc? If so, I missed it. Great tip!

[@firewithfire848]

@Learning about Movies I think the Roy Scheider narration is available to watch on the App The Criterion channel. My understanding is what may be available to watch on the channel may not be what you’re able to buy from the collection. Both are Criterion but there are differences between the channel and the collection. Anyway, the Roy Scheider narration VO is available. And to be clear, his VO is in English but all dialogue is still in Japanese.

[@xwsftassell]

Fair assessment I thought. Been ages since I saw it. Must go back and watch it again.

[@ZombieDragQueen]

The movie is akin to Mishima's writing style which I would describe as "(day)dreamlike" - or less pretentious introspective poetry. That is a modernist style but infused with rich inner monologues or soliloquies his characters possess that seem to be aimed at the reader. He was influenced by European writers, especially Thomas Mann, so it's no wonder an Occidental/Western style and form permeated his life work. Though nominated several times he never received the Nobel prize in literature. On the other hand they didn't give Tolstoy one either. In my opinion the Nobel prize in literature is worthless and just a game of politics.

[@tr3snt]

great review!

[@cheeseandonions9558]

Philip Glass said that this was the first movie for which he had to write a score. That in itself is a reason to watch (hear?) it. (i thank you for adding the caution to your review at 11:00 because I was about to vent how you "omitted" Mishima's homo/bisexuality and fear of dying old)

[@NormAppleton]

The first he wrote after seeing the film.

[@CcJjGg_]

Thank you. Next on my list

[@LearningaboutMovies]

enjoy!

[@iansmith8783]

Great film. Great review.

[@Morphed626]

I’m really into “scoreCore” so what you had to say about the score and how it contributes to the film really got my interest piqued along with everything else. Thanks

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you'll enjoy this score, very likely!

[@JoelDaimao]

Great review!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you

[@changoshk]

Great review. Just a note: as far as I know it's not BY-OPP-ix but BIO-pix. Keep up the good work. I'd watching you older and also current videos.

[@daltonanderson3718]

Film Qualia does a great review and general thesis of Mishima's work in his review. I recommend it.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thanks

[@lawrencejohnson6957]

This is indeed a great movie!

[@TTykwer]

Thank you for the excellent presentation. Would Mishima be in the category of films called transcendental that Paul Schrader wrote about?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

maybe. I don't know that he's using all of the techniques he talks about in his book -- I don't remember the movie that well. However, the final sequences dealing with planes and flight -- there you go!

[@NarquelieNarmo]

Aside from the quality of Schrader's artistic direction which really stands out in this film, Mishima himself is quite a fascinating character. But I bemoan the fact that Paul S. wasn't particularly interested in showing the many contradictions Mishima was ridden with and instead presented a resolute individual. Nonetheless, this film has plenty of qualities and is a must-have.

[@NormAppleton]

Really, Shrader didn't deal with his grandmother's sexual abuse? He Also didn't deal with his macho obsessed homosexuality? I'm dying to know what you mean.

[@peterspaulding5584]

I’ve read a ton of Mishima, and I can say, at least on an aesthetic level, the film seemed spot on, true to the core of what he was writing about, almost to a fault. I was thrown off by the choice of the play adaptations, but either Shrader himself or someone close to the film was certainly well read in Mishima and got it spot on imo.

[@NormAppleton]

They weren't plays, novel adaptations.

[@peterspaulding5584]

@@NormAppleton Kiki's House was a play

[@somthingbrutal]

if you haven't seen it you might enjoy Peter Greenaway's movie The Cook the Thief His Wife and Her Lover

[@Icecreamforcrowtoo]

Yes, it is.

[@ortins7259]

hey man , i just finished watching the movie "The Trial" ( 1962 ) yesterday , and i see you gave it 4.5 stars on letterboxd , can you make a video about it ?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

yes, absolutely. I first need to procure a decent copy of it, as my cheap DVD is the worst-looking disc I have.

[@jimmerhardy]

I agree, it's an important film framed by a genius Philip Glass score. But isn't his name pronounced Mi-shi-ma, not Mish-im-a?

[@crunchyvids]

There was a screening of this film that had writer/director Paul Schrader in attendance this weekend. You may find these videos interesting. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIKmn32mnNOqjpY kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmPZYXWQmZurgJY

[@ronbock8291]

Autofocus was also pretty great.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@NormAppleton]

Oooh, Love that movie. I forgot that he made it.

[@user-sc3jr2rv8m]

緒方拳は最高です。でも沢田研二にも注目して欲しい。これ程美しく色っぽい人を私は知らない!

[@joealexandra7185]

I love everything about the movie except for the casting of the main character. He is nothing like Mishima; Mishima was nothing like him. It's a weird blunder, and a big hurdle to get over.

[@computerman789]

Mid-life crisis: The Movie?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

far more complicated than that. The social and political and religious aspects are at work here as well.