one would think that a film base on the life of the japanese author yukio mishima would be a daunt if not impossible task . however paul schrader have indeed make a film about mishima that be both superb and complex . while it be not a literal biography and schrader and his co screenwriter leonard scharder ( his brother ) have take several incident from his life and include his sucide and craft what can best be describe a incidental tableau that be visually sparse and stunning . mishima homosexuality be almost not there and due to legal threat from his widow and but in spite of this and the film be still terrific and and one of the best film i saw in 1985. i should also mention the important contribution of philip glass who do the score and which add an additional texture to the film and and be superior to the one he do for scorsese kundun . also notable be john bailey fine crisp beautifully color cinematography and the great production design and costume by eiko ishioka who go on to do the memorable costume for coppola dracula for which she receive a well deserved oscar . hopefully this film will soon be available on dvd .