Harakiri (1962)
An elder ronin samurai arrives at a feudal lord's home and requests an honorable place to commit suicide. But when the ronin inquires about a younger samurai who arrived before him things take an unexpected turn. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Masaki Kobayashi
Written By: Shinobu Hashimoto, Yasuhiko Takiguchi
Starring: Rentarô Mikuni, Tetsurô Tanba, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kei Satô, Shima Iwashita, Hisashi Igawa, Masao Mishima, Yoshio Inaba, Akira Ishihama, Yoshirô Aoki, Ichirô Nakaya, Jo Azumi
Genres: Drama, Action, Mystery, History
AKA: Seppuku
Country: Japan
Where to Stream
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Harakiri belongs to 98 collections
1. Criterion Collection (collaborative: moderated by caffe - 167 stars)
2. IMDB Top 250 (collaborative: moderated by ppinocchio - 123 stars)
3. Favorite Film of Every Criticker Member (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 96 stars)
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Browse the full list of collections
| Stars | User | Rating | |
| 16 |  |
Nathan S | 6 99th |
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A hollow suit of armor, katana the embodiment of a warrior's soul, the status symbol of topknots, strict architectural frames. These are a few of the vain idols by which Kobayashi obliterates samurai mythology, exposing the moral vacancy of authoritarian honorifics and cruel caste systems. It's an angry, contemptuous, masterful film, carried out in a slightly inelegant flashback structure, but of such a tightly-stretched tension, the moment it finally erupts is in spectacular fashion.
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| 11 |  |
Alex Watkins | 5 91st |
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An uncompromising condemnation of the honor-bound strictures by which so much of society live their lives. One cannot abide by a code which has no room to accommodate the moral vagaries of everyday life.
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| 9 |  |
BillyShears | 100 98th |
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Cut my stomach into pieces / this review is really short.
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| 7 |  |
Magb | 90 85th |
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Harakiri is to the samurai film what Unforgiven is to the western: all romantic notions are torn down and stomped on. Mad shout-outs to Tatsuya Nakadai, who rocks the dance floor as main character Hanshiro Tsugumo. Props also to Kobayashi for his more than skillful direction. This was not an easy movie to watch, but it was well worth it.
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| 6 |  |
MartinTeller | 92 96th |
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Another excellent Kobayashi film, this one tearing down old notions of samurai honor. Lots of marvelous camera movement and dynamic lighting.
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| 6 |  |
KasperL | 90 97th |
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Kobayashi deconstructs the samurai way. His tale about honour, unfolding slowly and assuredly, is thoughtful and memorable, framings as beautiful as always. I very much appreciate that he keeps his actors restrained.
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| 6 |  |
FunkyAstro | 100 99th |
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I pinned this move about halfway through and I could tell how great it was going to be, even with the brilliant twist beginning. The last half hour really took me in with all the swordplay and instantly made it one of my favorite movies of all time. Again, another brilliant tale of conservatives bending traditions to their agenda, and of course, when the hypocrisy is thrown right in their faces, they turn to the way of the gun to silence the truth.
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| 6 |  |
shalev | 100 99th |
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This film is so haunting, so hypnotyzing, I had dreams in japanese after watching it :o. A heart-crashing performance from Nakadai, single-handedly exposing the absurdity and hypocricy of the samurai code. However the most amazing thing is how the story unfolds, it just sucks you in completely.
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| 5 |  |
turin | 100 99th |
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One of the most powerful movies I've seen. It's also one of the most complete, perfect and simply the best tales created on any medium.
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| 5 |  |
purgatos | 90 91st |
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This is very dark overall, with several scenes that are really tough to watch. Most of the film is slow and emotional and is incredibly effective, then the ending gives a couple of phenomenally well done fight scenes and it works just as well as the beginning.
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| 4 |  |
Actionberg | 95 97th |
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Damn great samurai movie. The plot, the suspense, and the thrills are so intertwined with the very concept of Bushido that it wouldn't work without it. It helps that it's also very smart about its subject, having its protagonist meticulously deconstruct the absurdity of their way of life while still trapped in the system he reviles.. The cinematography is of a rare quality, especially towards the end when the slow, contemplative duration of the film gives way to incredible sequences of action.
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| 4 |  |
PeaceAnarchy | 91 95th |
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A truly incredible story, every part works well and it's perfectly paced and executed.
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| 4 |  |
Barthalen | 92 98th |
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What a powerhouse of a movie. Every reveal makes the story more tragic and fascinating to watch, with a gripping finale to top it all off. Outstanding acting and some sweet camerawork too.
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| 4 |  |
Jeb | 100 98th |
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A brilliant, and very dark film. Simply a classic!
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| 3 | IHateMovies | 100 96th |
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Seven Samurai gets a pal.
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| 3 |  |
Dean Franz | 81 80th |
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A fascinating and unorthodox take on the samurai genre. If its pacing takes a while to get used to, rest assured that it's both warranted and entirely worth what can sometimes feel like a trudge. The effect is that at times, you will want to wriggle free but the film, in its relentlessness, simply won't let you.
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| 3 |  |
deaddilly | 95 98th |
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Wow. Harakiri has one of the most compelling premises I have ever seen and concludes as an absolutely insane undressing of the samurai way. The cinematography is also flawless. Few films have this much to give.
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| 3 |  |
billkerwin | 93 91st |
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A powerful critique of authority that calls into question not only the hypocrisy of the feudal system but the Samurai code itself, "Harakiri" is an anti-Samurai film that nevertheless concludes with perhaps the greatest sword fight on record. The bulk of the film--the sequences with Hanshiro in the courtyard--are flawless, gripping, filled with tension, but many of the flashbacks are visually stunning in a way that distracts us with their beauty instead of reinforcing the dark heart of the film.
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| 3 |  |
Noblet | 90 94th |
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A haunting critique of the historic Japanese code of honor. It's tone and style reminded me a lot of Unforgiven. As a bonus, the visuals are masterful.
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| 3 |  |
dardan | 88 91st |
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Society in flux. A suit of armor, once a shrine for reverance, a symbol under which hid a complex network of norms through which powers were assorted, as well as communities and etiquette formed, due to peace, due to individualization, is reduced to a suit of armor.
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| 2 |  |
TheDiceman | 90 99th |
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Brilliant film, a must see for film fans.
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| 2 |  |
Anomaly | 94 98th |
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An impressive game of emotional brinkmanship that pulls no punches in its dissection and criticism of Bushido and honor. Manages to be brutal without being gory, and then shifts effortlessly to thrilling as the ending explodes into violence. Nakadai's acting alone is enough to grip the viewer with its constrained mania, but Kobayashi's direction compliments it perfectly. As brutal as a bamboo sword forced into the abdomen.
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| 2 |  |
prowler | 95 98th |
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A masterwork, completely engrossing and unrelenting from start to finish.
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| 2 |  |
ktappe | 91 74th |
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I would have given this closer to a full 100 if it had been tighened up a bit. It could easily be 20 minutes shorter with another trip to the editing room. As it stands, it's still a good morality tale, a commentary on modern (and not so modern) politics, and the realities of having to deal with an ever changing world that can leave certain members of society behind. Highly recommended, but bring your patience for a slower than necessary presentation of a good story.
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| 2 |  |
Bmunise | 97 91st |
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You're going to want to see this.
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| 2 |  |
CosmicMonkey | 88 91st |
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If Anti-Westerns are a thing, then surely anti-jidaigeki must be too, and this would be that sub-genre's crowning jewel. Not only does this have some of the prettiest camerawork and tensest dialogue I've ever experienced in a film, but it also systematically dismantles and obliterates all romanticized notions of the bushido code, an entire country's national mythology, and ultimately, how the rich and powerful use violence under pretexts of ideological purity in order perpetuate their power.
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| 2 |  |
KAH | 4 93rd |
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A brilliantly unfolded story, impeccable acting, thoughtful comments on hypocrisy and the misuse of authority in social institutions. A great movie.
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| 2 | CarsonWid | 91 98th |
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Unsettling, depressing, and absolutely superbly made.
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| 2 |  |
mrandersen10 | 95 98th |
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Everything I value in a movie is represented here to near perfection. It has an emotional depth that you just don't see very often. It makes you really dig deep and think about your own life and existence. There is such power in its black and white cinematography -- the lighting, framing and timing of shots are perfect. It's one of the best movies I have ever seen. Warning: This is not an action flick. Come expecting samurai battles and you'll be sorely disappointed.
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| 2 |  |
kevinjoseph | 80 98th |
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Easily one of the best samurai movies ever made. Flawlessly fits into the genre while, at the same time, dismantling the (often romanticized) concept of the samurai. The story unfolds slowly at first, but the last hour was riveting, due in part to Kobayashi's innovative direction and Nakadai's compelling performance. Kobayashi certainly gives Kurosawa a run for his money.
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| 2 |  |
natebarrios | 85 94th |
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Has one of the best final acts to grace cinema.
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| 2 |  |
ribcage | 91 94th |
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Tatsuya nakadai is unforgettable. He brings intensity and sincerity and even dark humor to his character. The scenes in the courtyard are the highlight of course, the backstory is predictable but a acted and paced so well that i remained hooked. The finale explodes in action and damns selfrighteous honor codes effectively. The score created good atmosphere and paired very well with the excellent period sets...i felt transported back in time
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| 2 |  |
lex | 100 98th |
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Harakiri is like the Unforgiven of samurai movies in that it breaks the hyper-stylistic conventions of its genre and replaces it with harsh, gritty truths while at the same time becoming undeniably one of the best films in that genre. From start to finish a gripping, involving and superbly made film.
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| 1 |  |
djross | 78 89th |
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Effective if straightforward critique of the myth and code of the samurai, played in a melodramatic register, boosted by excellent cinematography and many remarkable and memorable shots.
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| 1 |  |
frankswild | 95 98th |
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An insightful critique of masculine codes of honor and appearance that managed to avoid a naive triumphant ending. It was was also an extremely effective lesson in the contingency of one's place in a hierarchy.
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| 1 |  |
frederic_g54 | 9 90th |
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It's a film that very deliberately plays its cards quite close to its chest, imbued with a human tragedy that reveals itself to the viewer ever so slowly yet cleverly. As a B&W photography enthusiast, I honestly don't think I've ever seen characters' faces framed and lit in such astonishing and memorable close-ups. Will undoubtedly play even better upon a rewatch.
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| 1 |  |
sebby | 94 99th |
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Difficult not to love. Everything from the performances to the story to the technical elements are damn near flawless.
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| 1 |  |
Icarus | 85 79th |
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Beautiful tragedy about a man beaten down by life and angry at the corrupt bureaucratic types that hide behind their authority. Kobayashi's photography is really a sight to behold, with exquisite framing and an expressive use of lighting.
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| 1 | Egregius | 90 77th |
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A movie about death, and the downfall (of samurai) in the broadest sense. A magnificent movie full of symbolism and subtle tension, though losing a lot of it's momentum somewhere after the middle, regains it's power towards the end.
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| 1 |  |
andagh | 100 97th |
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Despite being shot in black and white in the 1960s, the bamboo sword seppuku scene succeeds in being more brutal and harder to watch than anything Takashi Miike has ever done.
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| 1 |  |
omgfridge | 10 97th |
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Such an insightful look on samurais and well humans in general. It also has wonderful sword fighting and is completely brutal. Brilliant in other words.
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| 1 |  |
yesistasty | 100 99th |
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Wonderfully efficient story telling and thematic building. Every element of the film drives home its central premise: the codes of honor and organization that we build around ourselves are ultimately nothing more than an empty suit of armor, inhabited by no greater truth than that which we supply ourselves.
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| 1 |  |
FrankHowley | 85 90th |
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Great cinematography and direction, and its ending battle is incredible.
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| 1 |  |
glumpy_99 | 89 80th |
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A gripping and powerful slow-burn is perhaps a little too slowly paced in its first half, but once the narrative-within-a-narrative kicks in, it's emotional dynamite, with Kobayashi's stark and careful framing the perfect contrast to an ugly story of the hypocrisy of the samurai code. Finale explosion into violence is one of the great blow-offs of tension in any film; powerfully and movingly performed by the entire cast.
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| 1 |  |
bof | 95 99th |
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Slow pressure-cooker that adds and adds and adds until it pays off with razor-sharp precision.
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| 1 |  |
JJ1986 | 80 91st |
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Beautiful and grotesque slow-burn drama. Works both as a revenge thriller and a character piece about the conflict between being a Samurai and being a human.
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| 1 |  |
mattorama12 | 94 99th |
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A simply brilliant morality play, but viewed through the prism of honor rather than morality. Our protagonist makes us question whether a code can ever be applied in a way that is truly honorable (or moral) and demonstrates the need for a more human approach to resolving conflict. Absolutely amazing story and story-telling.
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| 1 |  |
DesertPunk | 91 97th |
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The emotion of sorrow transposed onto celluoid.
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| 1 |  |
okayfrog | 75 89th |
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Harakiri paints a different picture of the samurai. We see them at their most vulnerable yet not necessarily weakest points. Rentaro Mikuni and Tatsuya Nakadai both shine as men on opposite ends of the spectrum, and Tetsuro Tamba and Akira Ishihama play their roles magnificently as well. The first harakiri scene is excruciating without being overtly graphic.
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| 1 |  |
backwardsuit | 89 96th |
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Unyielding and tense anti-samurai film with a surgical plot slowly opening up to reveal the ugly underbelly of bushido. Kobayashi's superb camerawork maintains it's picturesque tranquility even as the characters' emotions explode in intense and nuanced performances. Brilliantly develops tension over prolonged scenes. The storytelling's not exactly subtle though, the one female role is terribly used and the amazing action finale didn't feel entirely true to this story. Still a masterpiece.
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| 1 |  |
Boxcars | 10 97th |
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"Harakiri" takes its time, slowly setting up and dismantling the expectations of both its characters and the audience, patiently working towards a finale that tears apart following arbitrary dogmas until nothing is left but man's sincerest ambitions.
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| 1 |  |
kito1 | 40 10th |
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Not that great. I was getting bored after the first 45 minutes. And the ending does not reward you enough for sitting through the tiring narration.
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| Average Percentile 84.68% from 1737 Ratings |  |