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Editorial Reviews
Playwright and novelist Yukio Mishima predicted his own suicide with this ravishing short feature, his only foray into filmmaking yet directed with the expressiveness and confidence of a true cinema artist. All prints of Patriotism (Yukoku), which depicts the seppuku (ritual suicide) of a naval officer, were destroyed after Mishima's death in 1970, though the negative was saved, and the film resurfaced thirty-five years later. New viewers will be stunned at the depth and clarity of Mishima's vision, as well as his graphic depictions of sex and death. The film is presented here with a choice of Japanese or English intertitles.
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
• New, restored high-definition digital transfer of the Japanese and English versions, with optional Japanese or English intertitles • A 45-minute audio interview with Yukio Mishima speaking to the Foreign Correspondents' Association • A 45-minute making-of documentary, featuring crew from the film's production • Interview excerpts featuring Mishima discussing war and death • New and improved English subtitle translation • PLUS: A new essay by renowned critic and historian Tony Rayns, Mishima's original novella, and Mishima's extensive notes on the film's production
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love and Honor,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Patriotism (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)
On February 26, 1936, a day noted for the thick snow that had fallen, a group of some 1400 soldiers, primarily from the Imperial Japanese Army's First Infantry Division, led by a group of junior army officers influenced by the radical philosopher Kita Ikki, whose philosophy evolved from a socialist to a pro-fascist perspective, attacked prominent members of the Japanese government and even killed a number of them, including Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Saito Makoto. Attempts were also made on the lives of other prominent political figures such as the Japanese Prime Minister Okada Keisuke. The instigators of the Ni-niroku jiken (the February 26th Incident) wanted to eliminate corrupt politicians and to truly put Emperor Hirohito as the center of the nation in order to purify the corruption in its various branches. The uprising received a bit of support when it occurred, but many, including the Emperor himself, saw it as nothing more than an uprising. The event petered out by February 29th and a number of the young officers were executed.
It is this historical backdrop that forms the setting for Mishima Yukio's first and only film that the prominent novelist directed: Yukoku (Patriotism). Lt. Takeyama Shinji, a member of the same group that initiated the February 26th Incident, was not involved in the siege because, unlike most of his compatriots, he is married and his love for his young wife Reiko knows no bounds. However, when he learns that he is to attack his fellows, Takeyama is caught between his loyalty to his fellow young officers and the Emperor. Instead of betraying either, he decides to commit hara-kiri (seppuku, ritual suicide by slitting the belly open), and is overjoyed when he learns that Reiko will follow him into death. What follows is an intense and sensual lovemaking scene and then a gruesome, albeit sensual, depiction of hara-kiri. A scene that will remain in the viewers mind long after the film comes to an end. Unlike many of his other works which Mishima allowed directors to make filmic adaptations of, the noted novelist, short story writer, playwright, and body builder was reluctant to allow another man to bring Patriotism to the big screen. Instead, he went to producer Fujii Hiroaki who wholeheartedly supported Mishima's desire to direct the film. Instead of using a normal set depicting the shabby home of a low ranking officer, Mishima worked with Noh master Domoto Masaki to create a set that looked like the stage for Noh theatre, including the raised platform and three pine trees covered in cotton snow. The stark whiteness of the set represents the purity within the hearts of Takeyama and his wife Reiko and the purity of the act that they commit. Mainly intended for a foreign audience, the film was first shown in France and Mishima created scrollwork for the intertitles of the film in English, France, and German, Patriotism was to make Mishima a renowned man around the world. The film did quite well, but after Mishima's suicide in 1970, he committed hara-kiri, legit copies of the film were locked away in a tea cabinet by Mishima's widow, Yoko. But after her death, the film resurfaced and world film audiences can now see this beautifully gory and tragic film by one of Japan's most prominent postwar writers.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
for your entertainment and consideration, hara-kiri,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Patriotism (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)
Patriotism is an amateur short art film. It was shot on a single set in black and white. Without dialogue, the sound track is a complete and unbroken excerpt from Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde." The subject matter is the ritual suicide of a Japanese army officer and his wife.
I will admit to having a weak stomach. Between the nihilism that passes for entertainment in America today and film buffs who refuse to look away in disgust, we have an entire cinematic culture of violence, epitomized by films I won't even watch like Hostel. Yes, I have a weak stomach, but that doesn't mean I can't tell the difference between a shoot-em-up action flick, a horror film, etc, and it doesn't change the fact that death, pain, and murder are parts of life. Therefore, I find writer/director Mishima confusing and both fascinating and revolting. This has been true ever since I saw "A Life in Four Chapters" in high school and started reading Mishima's work. What do you make of someone who actually conflates sexuality, death, youth, not as a poseur but in his own mind? Aside from Mishima's own suicide, Patriotism is his clearest expression of this tendency. It is appropriately difficult to know what to make of it. The film consists almost entirely of a scene of lovemaking followed by a scene of disembowelment. The actors are attractive and youthful, and the camera lingers over their bodies, as it does eventually over their bloodstains. The film is technically good and affecting, but not enjoyable. It is difficult to watch. Has it expanded my understanding or my artistic appreciation? I'm not sure. I can't recommend it or pan it. It exists out there, and you can choose to look or not. I for one place no value on choosing to look, although I had to myself. As reviewer Neil Kambeaze points out, Criterion has put together a great package that includes a printed booklet with the original short story in the DVD extras. The short story goes even beyond the film as Mishima attempts to get inside the head of the dying man and explore the experience of pain and death, something more thoroughly done in prose than on screen. I agree with Neil that the short story is stomach churning, and I almost regret reading it. If you are not a Mishima enthusiast, you might want to skip this one. Also, if you have not seen or read anything of Mishima before, I would definitely not start with Patriotism. Four stars for great packaging and technically well-made film.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yukio Mishima's foray into the film world is as challenging as you would expect from him....,
This review is from: Patriotism (The Criterion Collection) (DVD)
Yukio Mishima, one of Japan's greatest writers and artists, made only one film, Patriotism, and our good friends at Criterion have released it in this very reasonably priced edition. The film is only 27 minutes long, and has no dialogue (though it has "written" narration). It's really a striking piece of work, and quite startling at times. It is also very gory and bloody, and can even make today's gorehounds grimace. I think the violence and blood in this film are much more effective is because they actually mean something, as opposed to many films today who seem to push the uncomfortable gore quotient with no reasoning or rhyming behind it. Yukio Mishima was an incredibly prolific, intense, brilliant, convulted, complex, and artistic individual, a man of many faces, masks, illusions, and realities, and this DVD is an absolute must for any of his fans. If you're not a Mishima fan, you should still rent/buy this disc, as you may become one. The film deals with many Mishima themes, that of patriotism, loyalty, the code of the Samurai, loyalty, modern vs. feudal Japan, etc., and the film is really quite good. It's staged on a Noh stage, which gives it a very distinct feel. If it was done in a realistic manner, it would have been immensely boring, but Mishima makes good choices by filming it in this manner.
Granted, this film is not the greatest of Mishima's artistic output (that is his Sea of Fertility tetraology), but it's still absolutely fascinating and holds up quite well today. The music in the film is a bit overdone, but as the film progresses, one adjusts and it becomes less intrusive. The DVD also includes snippets of Mishima interviews, and it's absolutely brilliant stuff. Where many "artists/writers" give interviews today and say very little, Mishima encompasses worlds in the few words he says. His talk about death, heroism, heroic deaths, politics, etc., etc. are very provocative and still valid today. He certainly wasn't shy about expressing his opinions, but as many people shout to express their opinions, Mishima's opinions are ones that mattre and really make one think on a deeper level. There is also a 45 minute documentary on the making of Patriotism, with the original crew and producer assembled. They reminisce about the making of the film (which only took 2 days to film), and how Mishima was pretty well organised for a first time director. It's a very good companion piece to the film. This is a great DVD for any Mishima fan, and for any fan of Japanese and world cinema.
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