ReelBars

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

7.8 IMDb 79% RT 84/100 MC
IMDb Trailer

A fictional account of the life of Japanese author Yukio Mishima, combining dramatizations of three of his novels and a depiction of the events of November 25th, 1970.

Best Release

Criterion Collection · 4K + Blu-ray

A-Tier

Buy

Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

Share

Director

Paul Schrader

Genre

Drama

Sub-Genre

Social Drama

Box Office

$437,547

Editor's Notes

Note

A-Tier Criterion 4K. Paul Schrader's film about Yukio Mishima, effectively banned in Japan for 40 years until 2025. The Philip Glass score and Eiko Ishioka's production design are the main draws on disc. First-time viewers tend to be surprised by how different it is from everything else Schrader has made.

noted Apr 9, 2026

Mentions

Paul Schrader’s ‘Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters’ to Finally Screen in Japan After 40-Year De Facto Ban 42 Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985, Paul Schrader) 28 Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985) Masterful work by Schrader, a gem for cinema and for the biopic genre itself. Three narrative times, one of which is conceptually perfect. Great contribution by artists like Eiko Ishioka and Philiph Glass. To be seen, at least once in a lifetime. 13 Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters - Discussion Thread 31 “Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters” 4K UHD Blu-ray from Criterion 3

Related Movies