Movie Digest
Yukio Mishima, a well-known author, playwright, and critic, participates in a heated debate with 1,000 members of the Tokyo University Student Action in 1969, just before his self immolation. Watch the documentary to learn more about one of history’s most controversial figures.
The Feel-Good Part
The uplifting aspect of this documentary is that it accurately portrays the ideology of Japan’s most controversial character, Yukio Mishima, and the impact he had on the people of Tokyo at the time. It also transports us to a time when both celebrities and ordinary people were involved in political processes and movements. And it also demonstrates parallels between the current global climate.
The Disappointing Factor
The documentary’s disappointing element is that it only briefly introduces the concepts of political activity and nihilism, focusing solely on the student movement in Japan at the time, omitting the macro aspect that is important to fully comprehending the concepts.
In-Depth Analysis
Yukio Mishima’s thoughts about the postwar era and how they were unfulfilled owing to his self-immolation are discussed in this documentary. It also demonstrates the importance of critical philosophical relational moments as well as the ethical essence of Tokyo University’s ethical student movement.
Star Power
The star of this documentary is Yukio Mishima himself, as it concentrates completely on him and tells us what type of person he was, what difference his ideals made in Japan during the postwar era, and how his final debate went.
Overall Opinion
Overall, the documentary is a fantastic one-time watch that helps us understand the political environment in Japan at the time, as well as Yukio Mishima’s contribution to the political process through his debates and student movement, and what made him one of the period’s most controversial individuals.
