Well, Melvil, you need to check this one out for certain:
Hara-KiriAll I can say is, watching this at the beginning of the marathon, it will be a tough one to beat.
The best of all possible movies is a marvelously scripted one which is marvelously played by marvelous actors. And that is what we have here. The script unfolds like Rashomon… or perhaps like the end of a Colombo mystery… step by step pulling us in, revealing to us a bit more truth. This is the very rare samurai movie where action is almost unseen because it is about people and events, carefully plotted, carefully paced.
The centerpiece performance of the film is played by Tatsuya Nakadai, who here is equal to Mifune at his best. In fact, I wonder if Mifune didn’t borrow some of Nakadi’s inflections for his performance in Red Beard a few years after Hara-Kiri. But I also have to laud Rentarō Mikuni, who played, but didn’t overplay, the perfect foil. The conversation between these two was not only believable, but grew in intensity as the film wore on.
The only weakness I would have to give the film is the choreography at the end. The action suited the plot well, but it was simply unbelievable. Let’s face it, our hero should have died many times over, and it was obvious with what we saw. But that’s just five minutes of cringing for me in the midst of two hours of 12 Angry Men-level performance. It’s worth it.
One thing I noted is the placement of this film historically. It speaks of the habit of ronin (masterless samurai) asking to commit suicide in a town in order to obtain money. This particular town is horrified at the dishonor of the samurai and determines to force honor, even if the samurai has no honor themselves. This film was made in a time when Japan’s suicide rate soared, and people were desperately impoverished after the end of WWII. I wonder if the film isn’t encouraging those contemplating suicide to not do so, but to fight back.
But even today, it speaks to all societies of a too-high code of honor and how that effect the most vulnerable parts of society.
Powerful movie. 4.5/5