About

In 17th century Japan, during Japan's peaceful transition away from constant warfare, many masterless samurai faced poverty. Some adopted a scheme of “suicide bluffing”, threatening to perform ritual suicide at wealthy households in hopes of receiving money to leave without carrying out the act. Against the backdrop of this setting, destitute rōnin Hanshirō Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai) arrives at the estate of a powerful clan requesting permission to commit ritual suicide. The clan leader (Rentarō Mikuni) responds by recounting the fate of another rōnin who made a similar request, but as past and present intertwine, concealed truths emerge and Tsugumo's visit becomes a profound challenge to the ideals the clan claims to embody.

Kobayashi's first period film, Harakiri is both a gripping drama and a devastating critique of entrenched authority. Widely regarded as the definitive anti-samurai film, it strips away the veneer of nobility surrounding the warrior code to expose the cruelty and moral bankruptcy lurking beneath.

Through a masterfully constructed screenplay, Kobayashi crafts a mesmerising nonlinear narrative sustained by psychological tension rather than spectacle. The film's symmetrical framing and expressive contrasts between light and shadow create an atmosphere of melancholy and ethical uncertainty, further enhanced by Tōru Takemitsu's mythic biwa-driven score. Awarded the Special Jury Prize at Cannes in 1963, Harakiri is still celebrated as one of the towering achievements of Japanese cinema.

M | Contains strong violence