Harakiri
Harakiri
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2h 12m
Directed by Masaki Kobayashi • 1962 • Japan
Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Rentaro Mikuni, Akira Ishihama
Following the collapse of his clan, an unemployed samurai (Tatsuya Nakadai) arrives at the manor of Lord Iyi, begging to be allowed to commit ritual suicide on the property. Iyi’s clansmen, believing the desperate ronin is merely angling for a new position, try to force his hand and get him to eviscerate himself, but they have underestimated his beliefs and his personal brand of honor. Winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s Special Jury Prize, HARAKIRI, directed by Masaki Kobayashi, is a fierce evocation of individual agency in the face of a corrupt and hypocritical system.
Up Next in Harakiri
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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on HARAKIRI
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Donald Richie on HARAKIRI
In this introduction, recorded in New York in 2004, Japanese-film scholar Donald Richie analyzes important themes and motifs in HARAKIRI and discusses the antiauthoritarian focus of its creators. Please note: the introduction contains remarks about the ending of the film.
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A Golden Age
This interview with HARAKIRI star Tatsuya Nakadai was conducted in Tokyo in 2005. In it, the Japanese screen legend discusses his career and his performance in the film.
