“One of the most gorgeous and sophisticated portraits of an artist ever put on film.” - Michael Sragow, The New Yorker
“One of Schrader’s finest efforts in documenting his characters’ impulses toward self-annihilation.” - Jake Cole, Slant Magazine
Saturday, March 29, 5:30 p.m. & Saturday, April 5, 12:00 p.m. | MISHIMA: A LIFE IN FOUR CHAPTERS might seem like a departure for Schrader, but this haunting, surreal portrait of acclaimed Japanese author and poet Yujio Mishima is a study of a man defined by his contradictions—right up Schrader’s alley. Taking place on Mishima’s last day alive, when he famously committed public seppuku, Schrader interweaves four thematic chapters—Mishima’s early life, his literary career, his personal struggles, and his dramatic death—in a striking narrative, set to an unforgettable score by Philip Glass, blending reality and fantasy. Called “one of the most gorgeous and sophisticated portraits of an artist ever put on film” by The New Yorker, Schrader considers MISHIMA to be the best film he’s directed.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Artistic Contribution, Cannes Film Festival
Nominee - Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival
An Evening with Paul Schrader
On Saturday, April 5, Paul Schrader joins us for an intimate conversation about his life and career, followed by the Renaissance Award presentation.
Directed by Paul Schrader Series
Leading up to the Renaissance Award presentation, we will screen seven films written and directed by Schrader, demonstrating the auteur’s provocative explorations of faith, his perpetual examinations of characters’ values in conflict with society, and his indelible mark on American cinema, March 21–April 5.
Curated by Paul Schrader Series
Schrader, a passionate and curious cinephile who began his career as a film critic, has also curated four films for the Film Center’s screens, which will run alongside and complement his own films, March 23–April 4.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu