Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

A biographical drama interweaves the life of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima with dramatizations of his most famous novels.

The story

The film begins on November 25, 1970, the last day of Yukio Mishima's life, as he prepares to meet with four loyal followers from his private army, the Tatenokai. Through a series of flashbacks, the narrative explores Mishima's progression from a sickly boy to an acclaimed post-war writer. It depicts his transition into a man of muscular discipline and extremist traditionalism, fueled by a loathing for modern materialism. The biographical sections are interwoven with dramatizations of three of his novels, segmented into four chapters: Beauty, Art, Action, and Harmony of Pen and Sword.

First release year

1985

Runtime (minutes)

120

Production countries

United States; Japan

Original languages

English; Japanese

Directors

Paul Schrader

Writers

Paul Schrader · writer; Leonard Schrader · writer

Genres

biographical drama

Themes

masculinity; extremist traditionalism; materialism; art and violence

Tone and mood

avant-garde; stylized; ritualistic

Premise and plot tags

biographical; LGBTQ-related; fascism; suicide

Source material / true-story basis

The life and work of Yukio Mishima, including his novels The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoko's House, Runaway Horses, and Confessions of a Mask.

Content notes

homosexuality

Reception

The film received universal acclaim on Metacritic and was praised for its avant-garde structure, production design, and score. It was also recognized as a 'triumph of concise writing and construction' by Roger Ebert.

Reported review scores

Metacritic · score: 84 · scale: 100 · review count: 15

Production trivia

The film was not officially screened in Japan until 2025.; The title role was originally intended for Ken Takakura, but he withdrew due to pressure from ultranationalist groups.; The film's production met with controversy due to Mishima's status as an icon among Japanese ultranationalists.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

Your lists

Loading your lists…