The film captures so many phenomena above mentioned book can not. Such as a funny scene of Osamu Kimura, a producer of this debate who also presided at the debate, and appears on the film as a witness of the debate after 5 decades later. He, who was an undergraduate of TU, unintentionally announced Mishima as a “Teacher” on the stage. Soon after that, he corrected his mistake, but justified himself by admitting Mishima as a better professor than that of his. Watching it for the first time, I learn that this mistake eases the tension between them, and subsequently leaves positive effect on following debate. At this moment, the eyes of the camera pan from nervous Kimura in the student uniform, and zoom up toward Mishima, who is smoking, smiling, and taking a rest (impossible moments to be captured by the letters).
Or, employing “Theatrical Space” by Masahiko Akuta (he is another witness and appears also on the film) to the debate is not only for the purpose of increasing its density but the intervention by “dumb show”, which is unretrievable by the letters. In the faint laughter from the audience, Akuta is approaching to Mishima from outside the camera, and lights up Mishima’s cigarette in his mouth. This shows a beautiful movement of the particular instance which recent anti-smoking customs wipe off from the screen. And these are impressive cinematic moments.
