Harakiri (1962): Synopsis

 

Harakiri (1962)

Harakiri, also known as Seppuku, is a Japanese samurai film directed by Masaki Kobayashi. It was released in 1962 and is considered one of the greatest Japanese films ever made. The film is set in 17th century Japan and explores the samurai code of honor, known as bushido.

Plot

The film begins with a ronin (masterless samurai) named Tsugumo Hanshiro (Tatsuya Nakadai) arriving at the home of a powerful lord, requesting permission to perform harakiri, a ritual suicide. The lord's retainers initially assume that Hanshiro is trying to extort money, as many ronin had been doing during this period of economic hardship.

Hanshiro is allowed to perform harakiri in the courtyard of the lord's home, but not before he tells the story of another ronin, Chijiiwa Motome, who had made the same request and was forced to actually go through with the ritual. The film then flashes back to Motome's story.

Motome had come to the same lord's home and requested permission to perform harakiri, but was told that the lord no longer had any funds to offer. The lord's retainers pressured Motome into performing harakiri with a bamboo sword, which was considered a shameful act. Motome's death was brutal and prolonged, as the bamboo sword was not sharp enough to complete the ritual properly.

After Motome's story is told, the lord's retainers realize that Hanshiro is not trying to extort money, but rather seeking revenge for Motome's death. Hanshiro then reveals his true identity and challenges the retainers to a duel, one by one. He ultimately reveals that his entire purpose for coming to the lord's home was to expose the lord's hypocrisy and cruelty.

Themes

The film deals with several themes, including:

• Bushido and Honor: The film explores the samurai code of honor, known as bushido, and the importance of maintaining one's honor in Japanese culture. The ritual of harakiri is a demonstration of the samurai's commitment to their code of honor, even in the face of defeat or disgrace.

• Power and Corruption: The film also examines the corrupting influence of power and the lengths people will go to maintain their positions of authority. The lord's retainers are shown to be more concerned with protecting their lord's reputation than with upholding the principles of bushido.

• Justice and Revenge: The film raises questions about justice and revenge, and whether the two can ever truly be reconciled. Hanshiro seeks revenge for Motome's death, but ultimately realizes that true justice can only come from exposing the lord's hypocrisy and the corrupt system that allowed Motome's death to happen.

Reception

Harakiri was a critical and commercial success upon its release and has since become a classic of Japanese cinema. It won the Special Jury Prize at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and has been praised for its beautiful cinematography, powerful performances, and deep exploration of Japanese culture and history.

Conclusion

Harakiri is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores important themes of bushido, power, corruption, justice, and revenge. Tatsuya Nakadai's performance as Tsugumo Hanshiro is considered one of the greatest in Japanese cinema history, and the film's beautiful cinematography and masterful storytelling have influenced countless filmmakers and artists. The film is a must-see for anyone interested in Japanese cinema, samurai culture, or the complexities of justice and revenge.