Paul Schrader's "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" gets picked up by Fortissimo Films

by Chris MaGee

Screen Daily is reporting that Fortissimo Films has picked up the international rights to Paul Schrader's biopic "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters". The 1985 explores the life of Japanese author Yukio Mishima through four stylistically different storylines. The cinematography by John Bailey, production and costume design by Eiko Ishioka and the original score by Philip Glass for "Mishima" continues to garner praise 23 years after the trio were awarded with a special Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival.

"Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" was re-released on DVD in North America in July by the Criterion Collection, but this new deal with Fortissimo Films will hopefully see this amazing and influential film getting similar re-releases worldwide.

This deal also comes as a fitting tribute to the uncanny depiction of Yukio Mishima by veteran actor Ken Ogata (above) who passed away last month.

Read J-Film Pow-Wow writer Matthew Hardstaff's review of "Mishima: a Life in Four Chapters" here.