Runtime: 133 minutes
Directed by: Masaki Kobayashi
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tanba, Masao Mishima
From: Shochiku
Featuring a scene I'd boldly say was more gruesome than (probably) anything in Spiral: From the Book of Saw.
For a long while now I have known that Harakiri has a sterling reputation and is currently one of the highest rated films on all of Letterboxd; last night on the Criterion Channel it was discovered that it deserves such lofty praise. It may sound like a simple premise of “a ronin samurai feels disgraced that he is poor and can't find a new master so he wishes to commit ritualistic suicide in a random clan's courtyard, only they think he is running some sort of scam for money or other goals” but it is far more complex than that. The movie has a measured pace and has plenty of dialogue; it works in this case as the more conversation you hear, the more the story unfurls and you realize what everyone's motivations are.
It would be a crime to reveal much more so I'll mention a few general comments. The setting is early 17th century Japan and it was brought to life perfectly, as was everything in this movie... both in front and behind the camera. Various themes are addressed, from machismo and tradition to the sometimes absurdity of samurai tradition/lore. It was an expert job done by director Masaki Kobayashi. The few times that there is violence, it was brutally effective. The most unforgettable moment there was early on in a scene that I will safely presume was more wince-inducing for me than anything in the new Saw film. Not that I've seen any of the Saw movies... but I know that the deaths are all so absurdly over the top they are gross yet they wouldn't be effective for me because they are preposterous. The moment I am referring to in Harakiri was just incredibly painful due to all the details surrounding it... the bloodshed, the facial expressions, the way that things were turned around on someone, etc.
Point is, this is much more than just “a samurai movie” and to use a phrase from someone else on Letterboxd, it it almost plotted like it is a courtroom drama. No matter what you typically prefer in a movie, there's a likely shot that you'll find this to be as excellent as advertised.
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