Friday, March 28th 2025

HARAKIRI (1963)

A mesmerizing, often brutal, but thoroughly engaging film, HARAKIRI manages to elevate the usually pulpy Japanese chambara or samurai genre into something approaching high art. Set during the Edo era, a period of unprecedented peace in Japan that saw the mighty samurai class decimated and many of its members reduced to masterless ronin, former samurai Hanshirō Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai) requests to commit seppuku, or harakiri, within the manor of a local feudal lord, using the opportunity to make a case for the hypocrisies and injustices of a corrupt class system. Renowned director Masaki Kobayashi's elegant and austere style perfectly suits the material. Meanwhile, Japanese star Tatsuya Nakadai delivers a searing and unforgettable performance. Awarded the Special Jury prize by the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, HARAKIRI is riveting cinema Presented in Japanese with English subtitles.