A review by bluestarfish
Star by Yukio Mishima

4.0

Twenty-three-year-old Rikio Mizuno is a famous film actor who is reflecting on his life and fame and persona as someone who is always perceived. We are on set with him and the director is setting up various shots so there are some moments to rest and think. He feels strained by the work and feels like he's on the cusp of it all being over. The descriptions of him slipping between the acting and the non-acting states are mesmerising and this really is all about the emotions and feelings and descriptions of the moments that he perceives (including being perceived) rather than much plot in the short novella.

Translated by Sam Bett.