Re-agitator (Tom Mes)
A full decade ago, plucky Dutchman, Tom Mes wrote a full and complete
work on the films of Miike Takashi: 'Agitator'. With the director's recent fame
at the time from films like 'Audition' and Ichi the Killer' gaining him
international acknowledgement, 'Agitator' came at a good time to fully explore
the first twelve or so years of the Japanese director's efforts.
Fast forward ten years, and the international success of his work has
seen him move from straightforward straight-to-video releases to bigger budgets
and bigger ambitions, with his name gaining further respect throughout the
world. Following him all the way, Mes has continued his writing on Miike and
his films, culminating in the release of 'Re-Agitator: A Decade of Writing on
Takashi Miike'.
From the outset, in Christian Storms' less than articulate foreword, it
is made clear that this is not 'Agitator Part II'. And that it is not. Whereas
'Agitator' was an in-depth look at each of Miike's films to date and themes and
patterns emerging throughout his work, 'Re-Agitator' is a selection of various
random writings by Mes on Miike that have appeared on various websites, DVD
sleeves and at international film festivals. And this is a shame.
While 'Agitator Part II' may have been a little underwhelming as a
release, perhaps a re-release of the original book with a new second half, with
analysis of the Miike films in the same vein may have been useful.
'Re-Agitator', while claiming not to simply be a fan-boy book, clearly is, with
no additional analysis or interpretation really added, going over some old
ground. Little criticism is offered, with digs more at critics of Miike
themselves rather than any negative words said against the man.
'Re-Agitator' offers a couple of insights, such as his various trips to
European film festivals that have subsequently started, but not much more. Each
film he releases seems to be more of a masterpiece than the last, which is, of
course, not true, making 'Re-Agitator' seem the mere work of a fan-boy it
claims it will never be.
Days to read: 11
Days per book: 15.9
The Sea of Fertility Tetralogy (Mishima Yukio)
To say Mishima's magnum opus is a sum greater than its parts would be
true. The four books written between 1964 and 1971 tell four separate tales of
Honda Shigekuni, who in each encounters a different reincarnation of his
deceased boyhood friend, Kiyoaki; each in turn dying at the age of 20. Each
book looks at a different period of Twentieth Century Japan, and how the nation
has changed over this time.
'Spring Snow' begins with the death of old Japan, with the aristocracy fraternising
with the wealthy to their downfall. 'Runaway Horses' looks at the growing appeal
of 'The League of the Devine Wind' in the build up to World War II. 'The Temple
of Dawn' focuses on the importance of Buddhism in Japan, focusing on the
tetralogy's key theme of reincarnation. The final book, 'The Decay of the Angel', completed on the day Mishima would commit seppuku, examines the
awareness of the self. In each, Honda tries to save the Kiyoaki-incarnate from
their certain fate, each time to fail, as they move on to their next life.
Individually, none of the books is a masterpiece in its own write: the
intention that there would be a following chapter leaving no satisfying
conclusion, until the end of the last. None particularly work as a standalone
piece either, and so all four have to be considered as one. What you're essentially
left with, then, is a four-figures of pages long novel which begins to drag and
struggles to maintain the interest. Each of the books feels like an over-long
chapter in a greater story: that of Honda and how his life evolves over a sixty
year period.
Mishima, at times, adds far too much detail into the works. Throughout
there are long break-offs including extracts from diaries and pamphlets that
are long-winded and feel poorly done. At times, Mishima can write well; at
others, he is far too detailed, over-explanatory and has his characters mull
over things to the last. The motivations of the characters are a point that
sits a little badly with the reader at times, never fully believing in them. Though
this is something that would match with Mishima himself: a married gay man, he
was a nationalist who travelled and dedicated much of his time to bodybuilding;
a right-wing radical that modelled.
But with the ambition of 'The Sea of Fertility', Mishima has taken an
interesting look at the life of his home nation. With his political views, the
work is a reflection of his thoughts about the changing nature of Japan;
thoughts that would prove his legacy.
For fun, with each next book, I chose to read an earlier edition, as a
sort of reincarnation reversal.
Spring Snow
Days to read: 17
Days per book: 15.9
Runaway Horses
Days to read: 26
Days per books: 16.1
The Temple of Dawn
Days to read: 16
Days per book: 16.0
The Decay of the Angel
Days to read: 19
Days per book: 16.1
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