Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 135

mm 'Mishima9 Boasts Vivid Performance, Scenery shima is how he chose to die: at the peak of his fame and physical perfection by seppuku, real life of the man who took the name of Mishima when he began to write as a student is unfolded in black-and-white fragments from his delicate childhood with a protective, elitist grandmother, to his early fascinations with pain, bondage and homosexuality, through to his decision to transform himself into his own work of art, the muscled warrior-poet-movie star-philosopher. All of this is rather much to fit into a film that runs only two hours. So at times, the Schraders seem to be offering fancifully illustrated Cliffs Notes on Mishima. But although its fragmentary techniques initially seem too gimmicky, and then become elusive and weird with four different Mishimas and the literary alter egos ''Mishima" finally becomes more and more seductive as its subject emerges in all of his madness and brilliance. There is enough for many films here, but these four chapters form a compelling introduction to this man of many masks.

Rated this film contains a few scenes of grisly violence, Including intense sadomasochism, and a few passages involving nudity and sex. By MALCOLM L. JOHNSON Courant Film Critic As its literary title suggests, "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" is a film willing to die commercially as long it succeeds artistically. This Japanese-American production, largely in the language of its subject, yet with an English narration by Roy Scheider, is in many ways a difficult work, sometimes momentarily confusing in its method, occasionally almost ridiculous. Yet it is deeply provocative, and full of fascinating elements.

It boasts a commanding, absurd, tormented, yet witty central performance by Ken Ogata as Yukio Mishima boundlessly prolific novelist and playwright, film director, actor, tough guy, body builder, fanatical worshipper of Japan's imperial past, and impeccably uniformed leader of his own private army of young samurais. And, because of the moody and resonating scoring of Philip Glass and the abstract and vivid scenery of Eiko Ishioka, "Mishima" is a film that scores high in the realm of the senses. As directed by Paul Schrader from a. Film Review MISHIMA: A UFK IN FOUR CHAPTERS, Directed by Paul Schrader; screenplay by Paul Schrader and Leonard Schrader; director of photography, John Bailey; music composed and arranged by Philip Glass; executive art director, Kuzuo Takenaka; production designer, Eiko Ishioka; edited by Michael Chandler; produced by Mata Yamamoto and Tom Luddy; executive producers, George Lucas and Francis Coppola. A Zoetrope StucNosFHmUnk IrrternatkxialLucasfitm Ltd.

presentation, released by Warner opening Friday at Cinema City, Hartford. Running time: 121 minutes. Yukio Mishima Ken Ogata Morita Mashayuki Shtonoya Gen. Mashita Junkichi Orimoto Mother NaokoOtanl Mishima, age 18-19 Go Riju Mishima, age 9-14 Masato Aizawa Mishima, Age Yukl Nagahara Excellent; Very Good; Good; Fain Poor screenplay he devised with his brother Leonard, the film begins on the morning that Mishima will boldly take his life. The few brief words of prologue before the serene opening stop short of saying so, but the one fact that nearly everyone knows about Mi ritual suicioe ny evisceration.

"Mishima" ends with that act of self-annihilation. In between its tranquil beginnings and its final violent acts, it sketches the writer's life and work in the promised four chapters, which illustrate his successive yearnings toward Beauty, Art, Action and 'The Harmony of Pen and Sword." Three of Mishima's novels have been compressed to illuminate the first three impulses: ''The Temple of the Golden Pavilion," "Kyoto's House" and "Runaway Horses." In the first, a stuttering young Buddhist priest struggles against his sensual desires and succumbs. In the second, a young actor enters into a bizarre sadomasochistic relationship with a rich older woman. In the third, a noble young student creates a cadre to cut out the heart of modern capitalistic Japan. In the final chapter, art and life intertwine as Mishima acts out his beliefs.

The fictional visions of Mishima's life are all shot in color, on the stagelike settings by Eiko Ishioka, one of Japan's leading designers. His final day is also filmed in color. The NEW BRITAIN mr OountiCurtains a 32 West Main Street 111 AV0I1 NexttoTheTalbots MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC With Yamaha's personal portable electronic keyboards, you've got an entire band at your fingertips. Yamaha's keyboards are easy and fun to play- just a press of a button brings the music, and the moment, to life. And best of all, you can pick one up for a song.

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