Rito de Amor e de Morte

The contribution of Yukio Mishima to the Seventh Art was no big deal, but it does have one or two sequences that are really intense. His patriotic fever has its portrait in this elegy about sex and death, the suicide as an art or as an act of honor.

I recommend this one only for those that are fascinates by the figure of the Japanese writer.

*My rate: 5/10

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Infrequently, the esteemed "Criterion Collection" DVD label puts out a Short Subject as a stand-alone release (as opposed to comprehensive collections, such as the recently-referenced Jean Painlevé one and another devoted to the works of Stan Brakhage), albeit reasonably priced – for them – at a much lower-than-usual tier. A couple of these were notable films worthy of such a pedigree – Alain Resnais' fascinating (if necessarily harrowing) depiction of concentration-camp atrocities NIGHT AND FOG (1955) and Albert Lamorisse's charming (and Oscar-winning) THE RED BALLOON (1956; actually issued as a dual-movie edition with the same director's WHITE MANE {1953}, which I own but have yet to check out).

This one, then, was an odd choice for such a distinction: not only is it not that well-known, even to more-than-casual film-buffs (I, for one, was completely unaware of it!)…but, since it was a half-hour effort written, directed by and starring celebrated Japanese author Mishima, ideally it ought to have served as a great bonus feature on the same company's digital edition of Paul Schrader's semi-biopic MISHIMA: A LIFE IN FOUR CHAPTERS (1985; which, again, I do have a copy of but remains as-yet unwatched) – rather than ask potential buyers to fork out extra money for an additional disc! For the record, I had previously watched Kon Ichikawa's masterful rendition of Mishima's CONFLAGRATION (1958), as well as seen the author himself assume the lead role in Yasuzo Masumura's gangster thriller AFRAID TO DIE (1960); besides, I own other two adaptations of his work – THE MUSIC (1972), also by Masumura, and the Americanization of THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA (1976).

Anyway, what we have here is a Silent movie (itself divided into 5 chapters) – the narrative's progression described exclusively via the text (included on the DVD in either the original Japanese with accompanying English subtitles, as I opted to acquire it myself, or a ready-made English translation) on a scroll held in front of the camera! – involving the aftermath of a failed coup d'etat. A military officer (Mishima) is asked to execute the men responsible but, as they are his friends and colleagues, he becomes conflicted by this grave assignment (hence, the title is ironic): his understanding wife knows what this entails – he shirks his duty by committing ritual suicide on the eve of the appointed task (but not before having spent the night with his spouse), to be followed by the woman herself (who subsequently has nothing to live for)!

The double "seppuku" is quite graphically handled, with a generous display of blood and entrails 'tarnishing' the otherwise impeccable and spare monochromatic setting! The plot may bear similarities to the legendary (and oft-filmed, including an ill-advised brand-new version) saga of "The 47 Ronin"…but it had a chilling duplication in reality four years later when Mishima, himself a soldier with radical political beliefs, attempted an overthrow of authority and 'forced' (though some argue it was planned as such all along!) to take his own life when his 'noble' intentions left most of the witnessing 'brothers-in-arms' nonplussed and openly mocking! Talk of life imitating art!

The momentum of the DEI movement has waned, and in some cases, even regressed. The historical bias against homosexuality largely stems from religious and ideological doctrines rather than scientific reasoning, much like how witch hunts and political purges were once justified under the banner of democracy. The modern ethical framework that once constrained such primal instincts is now being challenged again.

Homosexuality, rather than being an anomaly, is one of many natural variations of human sexuality. If the pioneering work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935) had not been suppressed by the Nazi regime, scientific recognition of sexual diversity might have progressed more coherently. Instead, prejudice prevailed, delaying a deeper biological understanding of love in its many forms.

Diversity is the phenomenon that can't be circumvented but can be subdued through natural selection in every environmental change. Sometimes it reminds me of Mishima's "Confession of a Mask". His inherent covete to male brawny flesh is elucidated minutely rather passionately, with contrasting his ambivalent but requisite feeling for male to be attracted to chubby cute girl. We can see many works treating sex and death in Mishima's literature. Mishima's writing is strikingly detailed-his protagonist's attraction to the muscular male physique, particularly the famous image of St. Sebastian pierced with arrows, is described with both yearning and shame, reflecting an internal conflict that mirrors broader societal taboos, which apparently implies his ultimate desire was to be crucified to death in "naked". His life was obviously not personal and private, but really publicly exposed and theatrical, a really fragile "exhibitionist". And it was even his intention.

Yukoku (Patriotism), one of Mishima's most distilled expressions of his core themes-sex, death, beauty, and devotion, was strikingly intense work, particularly in the 1966 film adaptation that Mishima himself directed and starred in. Mishima is not writing about loyalty or patriotism-he's transforming the act of death into something sacred, erotic, and theatrical.

In his life, what is diversified for humans was sublimated and condensed. Ordinarily it's too arcane to clarify and classify. Thanks to him, we can feel and assume what it means, what it came from and what it leads to. Not so analytical, but rather instinctively. Begin from small empathy in his description to larger extention of understanding.

This is a very hard movie to rate or even review, as it is so foreign. Now I don't mean 'foreign' because it's made abroad, but 'foreign' because the entire story, style and spirit of this short film is alien to many out there who are not from an older generation in Japan. The film is a Noh play that is entirely without dialog--just music, LOTS of intertitle cards explaining the situation and a couple going through a long and drawn out ritual suicide!! See what I mean?! This ain't a Spielberg or John Ford film!! Instead, it's horribly violent and disgusting to watch because it is so real. Yet, at the time of its release, the film was admired because it was a lesson in honor and fidelity! It all stems from a real incident in 1936 when an officer was ordered to execute his friends who had participated in an attempted coup. So, if your idea of fun is watching a couple slowly and silently disembowel themselves, then by all means watch it. After all, the cinematography is amazingly good and is one of the prettier black & white films I have seen and the music is lovely as they eviscerate themselves. Sadly, I had hoped that the short was instead an explanation of WHY the coup was attempted in the first place--now THAT would have been interesting.

Kids: Don't try this at home!

This film prophetically (Yukio Mishima committed suicide in 1970) and dramatically portrays the ritual suicide of a dishonored Japanese patriot. It's an extraordinary short watch but may be a bit intense for those who dislike graphic gore. I doubt I will ever forget the experience of having seen this.