Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Hollywood screenwriting luminary and Scorsese collaborator Paul Schrader broke the mould with his epic biopic of nationalist author turned failed insurrectionist Yukio Mishima. Lauded for its nonlinear narrative and hallucinatory visuals, A Life in Four Chapters interweaves Mishima’s infamous last days with dramatic reenactments of his writing, enriched by Philip Glass’ gorgeous instrumental score."
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A event held at The Cube on Monday 17th November. The event starts at 20:00.
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
Dir: Paul Schrader, 1985, USA, 120 mins, Cert 15.
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Had he lived, the Japanese author and playwright Yukio Mishima would have been 100 years old this year. His spectacular death in November 1970 - where his attempted coup d’edat and subsequent ritual suicide / sent shock waves through Japanese society, dividing opinion on whether he was a visionary or a fraud, a revolutionary or a reactionary, a martyr or a madman.
Paul Schrader’s 1985 biopic does much to unpick these various quandaries at the centre of Mishima’s life and work. Using the 1970 ‘Incident’ as a structuring motif, the film explores the author’s biography in relation to several key works, which receive truncated adaptations in different cinematic styles. Visually stunning, the film also boasts a terrific score from American minimalist Philip Glass, and is perfect as both an introduction to the author’s work and a companion piece for those already familiar.
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For those of a more adventurous nature, experience some Mishima-adjacent hi-jinx in our screening of ‘Beautiful Mystery’ on Tuesday 18th November!
Entry requirements: 18+
Dir: Paul Schrader, 1985, USA, 120 mins, Cert 15.
—
Had he lived, the Japanese author and playwright Yukio Mishima would have been 100 years old this year. His spectacular death in November 1970 - where his attempted coup d’edat and subsequent ritual suicide / sent shock waves through Japanese society, dividing opinion on whether he was a visionary or a fraud, a revolutionary or a reactionary, a martyr or a madman.
Paul Schrader’s 1985 biopic does much to unpick these various quandaries at the centre of Mishima’s life and work. Using the 1970 ‘Incident’ as a structuring motif, the film explores the author’s biography in relation to several key works, which receive truncated adaptations in different cinematic styles. Visually stunning, the film also boasts a terrific score from American minimalist Philip Glass, and is perfect as both an introduction to the author’s work and a companion piece for those already familiar.
———
For those of a more adventurous nature, experience some Mishima-adjacent hi-jinx in our screening of ‘Beautiful Mystery’ on Tuesday 18th November!
Entry requirements: 18+
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