HARAKIRI

Travel through the decades of East Asian cinema to 1962 to witness Masaki Kobayashi's outstanding work. Harakiri does not follow the same structure or themes as other Japanese samurai films from the time, instead of focusing on the act of seppuku – also known as harakiri and literally means 'cutting the belly' – within samurai society. Despite their protests, Kobayashi portrays the soldiers in this film as selfish, dishonest individuals who lack true honor.

He deconstructs and mocks tradition while emphasizing the savagery of the suicidal act of harakiri. Slow zooms and steady camerawork perfectly represent the time and location, allowing the characters and screenplay space to come to life. Tatsuya Nakadai's main performance is a wonderful combination of hilarity and harsh words. Harakiri rightfully belongs in the top five of the rated list, as a work that is not only one of the best East Asian films but also one of the best in the world.

Detailed information:

Director: Masaki Kobayashi

Writers: Yasuhiko Takiguchi & Shinobu Hashimoto

Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Shima Iwashita, Akira Ishihama, Tetsurō Tamba, Rentarō Mikuni
Release dates: 16 September 1962
Running time: 134 minutes