EN: This event is rescheduled to December 5th at 01:30 PM.
If you want to cancel your ticket(s), send an email to [email protected] to get a refund.

Vragen/questions? [email protected]

 

Where should I start if I want to convince you to see Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)? There is so much to talk about what is special about this film. Idiosyncratic characters, an unusual narrative structure, explosive aesthetics… As noted by the famous reviewer Roger Egbert, “[Mishima] is the most unconventional biopic I’ve ever seen, and one of the best”. With the rich cinematography, beautiful set design, costumes and enchanting music of Philip Glass, this film is a must-see for anyone who appreciates film as an art form. Immerse yourself in the bright contrasting color schemes and fragmented storytelling, and embark on a feverish journey through the turbulent psyche of writer Yukio Mishima (Ken Ogata).

By directing Mishima, Paul Schrader was able to re-explore his own death drive; the feeling that prompted him to write Taxi Driver (1976) within a few days. In Mishima we see the same suicidal neuroses again, driven by isolation, obsession and violence. This kind of life-or-death attitude has remained with Schrader throughout his career, yet Mishima appeared to be a tipping point in his artistic vision. “Mishima represented the end of my interest in suicidal glory” says Schrader, noting that the film had resolved his preoccupation and allurement with suicide. By sharpening the links between art, happiness and death in this film, Schrader was able to use filmmaking as a form of therapy. May it be received in the same way by all who struggle with this.

Hilde