Paul Schrader's visually stunning, structurally audacious 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 (ritual suicide), the film is punctuated by extended flashbacks to the writer's life as well as 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 sincere tribute to its subject, and a bold, investigative work of art in its own right.

Supplements Optional English and Japanese voice-over narrations, the former by Roy Scheider, the latter by Ken Ogata New audio commentary featuring Schrader and producer Alan Poul The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima, a 55-minute BBC documentary about the author New interviews with Donald Richie and John Nathan, collaborators and friends of Yukio Mishima New interviews with Bailey, producers Tom Luddy and Mata Yamamoto, composer Philip Glass, and production designer Eiko Ishioka A new audio interview with coscreenwriter Chieko Schrader A video interview excerpt featuring Mishima talking about writing Theatrical trailer

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