Harakiri (1962)

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Director: Masaki Kobayashi

Writers: Shinobu Hashimoto, from the novel by Yasuhiko Takiguchi

Stars: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Testuro Tanba, Masao Mishima, Ichiro Nakatani, Kei Sato, Yoshio Inaba



Following Japan's civil wars in the 17th century, masterless samurai roam the land.

 


Some have begun to appear on the doorsteps of powerful clans, asking for the right to commit ritual suicide within but actually hoping that their show of devotion will inspire some act of charity. 



When Hanshiro Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai) makes his request, the Iyi clan suspects his honor and intends to treat him harshly, as they have done with samurai making similar requests in the past. 



The stage is set for reversals, surprises, and revenge. 



Director Masaki Kobayashi created a masterpiece. 



His film lays bare the hypocrisy of the feudal system of honor and by extension functions as a sharp critique of the appeal to national honor that the military used to involve Japan in its attempt at empire-building in WWII. (This film was released less than 20 years after the end of that war.) 



It is also a harrowing tale of poverty that elicits great sympathy for its principal characters.

 


A tour-de-force.



Spoiler alert!!! Final scene!!

































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