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Hara-Kiri

Drama

RatingRatingRatingRatingRating5.0

DirectorMasaki Kobayashi

ProducerTatsuo Hosoya

ScreenwriterShinobu Hashimoto

Release Date DateAug 4, 1964, Original

LanguageJapanese

Runtime2h 15m

Introduction

Aging samurai Hanshiro Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai) arrives at the home of Kageyu Saito (Rentarô Mikuni) and asks to commit a ritual suicide on the property, which Saito thinks is a ploy to gain pity and a job. Saito tells Tsugumo of another samurai, Motome Chijiiwa (Yoshio Inaba), who threatened suicide as a stratagem, only to be forced to follow through on the task. When Tsugumo reveals that Chijiiwa was his son-in-law, the disclosure sets off a fierce conflict.

Critics Reviews

Wael Khairy4.4

335

Sep 23, 2022
Masaki Kobayashi's "Harakiri" masterfully deconstructs the samurai ethos, exposing the rigidity and hypocrisy of the code of honor. The film follows aging samurai Hanshiro Tsugumo, who confronts the cruel realities of the samurai code when he reveals a deeply personal connection to another samurai, Motome Chijiiwa, who was forced into ritual suicide. Tatsuya Nakadai's powerful performance as Tsugumo underscores the emotional and moral conflicts at play. "Harakiri" stands as a poignant critique, unmasking the façade of honor to reveal a flawed system, making it arguably the greatest anti-samurai film ever created.

Roger Ebert5

329

Mar 18, 2016
"Hara-Kiri" is a poignant exploration of honor, family, and the harsh realities faced by aging samurai. Tatsuya Nakadai delivers a masterful performance as Hanshiro Tsugumo, who seeks to commit ritual suicide but unveils a tragic backstory involving his son-in-law, Motome Chijiiwa. This revelation ignites a gripping and fierce conflict with Rentarô Mikuni's Kageyu Saito. I won’t spoil the intricacies of Tsugumo’s story, but suffice it to say, it's profoundly heartbreaking. The film’s storytelling and character depth make it an unforgettable cinematic experience.
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