Hara-Kiri

Released Aug 4, 1964

2h 15m

Drama

List

100%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

97%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Lars N

Do NOT miss out on one of the best movies ever made. I was completely floored since I saw it the first time knowing very little about it in advance, and it has stayed with me ever since. There isn't a single shot in this movie, that isn't perfection.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Tom K

For years, Seven Samurai has been just about my favorite film. Hara-Kiri is good enough to edge it out. I don't know how I missed it for so long. Be aware though, that for a samurai film there aren't many duel or battle scenes (in case that's what you're expecting).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/24

Full Review

Christopher S

I am not a connoisseur of Japanese cinema, but I have seen many Japanese films, particularly in the samurai genre. To this date, this one is my favorite. The intensity is unmatched, as is the psychological warfare between the Iyi clan and two ronin, a man and his son-in-law. Both come separately to Iyi in order to perform the rite of harakiri, but for distinct reasons. As these reasons unfold, the drama heightens and the action builds until the fantastic crescendo at the end. The film is rooted in historic realism, not fantasy, and is a critique on Japanese traditions, but is not bogged down by didactic dogma. It is also beautiful, with high contrast black and white, long continuous shots, and multiple views of the scenery. Certainly worthwhile.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/23

Full Review

Dani G

Masterful filmmaking. In the likes of Rashomon and Seven Samurai. By the way, I couldn't help thinking of Kurosawa and Mifune while I was watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/12/23

Full Review

Yash B

"Harakiri" puts a lot of emphasis on the dramatic weight of its backstory, which makes the action sequences near the end of the film really engaging. I did feel this samurai story was more dialogue-heavy than I expected, but once one major thing is revealed, I saw the direction the film intended to go, and found myself interested to see how it would play out. The movie tells an impressive story and brings some complex moral ideas to the forefront. Overall, this is a well-made movie that despite its age, feels effective in how it is made on a technical level while also boasting an original and engaging story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/15/23

Full Review

Pulec T

Tarantino had to see this movie. Lots and lots of talk.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/14/23

Full Review

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Masaki Kobayashi

Director

Tatsuya Nakadai

Hanshiro Tsugumo

Shima Iwashita

Miho Tsugumo

Akira Ishihama

Motome Chijiiwa

Yoshio Inaba

Jinai Chijiiwa

Rentarô Mikuni

Kageyu Saito

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Wael Khairy

RogerEbert.com

Masaki Kobayashi’s “Harakiri” illustrates the samurai code as a flawed system hiding behind a façade of honor and principle—it is undeniably the greatest anti-samurai film ever made.

Sep 23, 2022

Full Review

Roger Ebert

RogerEbert.com

It would be wrong for me to reveal the details of the story Tsugumo tells. What I can say is that it is heartbreaking.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 18, 2016

Full Review

Michael Sragow

New Yorker

The film has a steady, hypnotic momentum; the director, Masaki Kobayashi, wrings as much drama out of facial twitches as he does out of sword fights.

Sep 15, 2014

Full Review

Randy Meeks

Espinof

Harakiri is the symbol of resistance against authority and the inhuman tendencies of the untouchable elite against the nobility of an impoverished working class... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/5

Mar 28, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The film’s condemnation of the lies systems of authority will tell to preserve their power and engrain their ideology is deeply felt and presented in a structure that leaves the viewer rife with indignation.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 21, 2022

Full Review

Michelle Kisner

The Movie Sleuth

Both a thrilling character piece and a scathing take down of authority, Harakiri is a tour-de-force and a compelling look into the facade of institutions.

Nov 7, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

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.

Director: Masaki Kobayashi
Screenwriter: Shinobu Hashimoto
Production Co: Shôchiku Eiga
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 11, 2017
Runtime: 2h 15m

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