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Plot Summary
Paul Schrader’s visually stunning, collagelike portrait of acclaimed Japanese author and playwright Yukio Mishima (played by Ken Ogata) investigates the inner turmoil and contradictions of a man who attempted an impossible harmony between self, art, and society. Taking place on Mishima’s last day, when he famously committed public seppuku, the film is punctuated by extended flashbacks to the writer’s life as well as by gloriously stylized evocations of his fictional works. With its rich cinematography by John Bailey, exquisite sets and costumes by Eiko Ishioka, and unforgettable, highly influential score by Philip Glass, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters is a tribute to its subject and a bold, investigative work of art in its own right.
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
95%- Reviews Counted: 20
- Fresh: 19
- Rotten: 1
- Average Rating: 7.4/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: It's Mishima's diagrammatic structure that most perfectly suits its subject, defined by his will to harmony.
Fresh: The most unconventional biopic I've ever seen, and one of the best.
Fresh: Graced with a throbbing orchestral score from Philip Glass and John Bailey's luminous photography, this is appropriately monumental filmmaking.
Fresh: From Philip Glass's glorious score to John Bailey's rich cinematography, Schrader's movie is never less than ravishing.
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