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IMDbPro

Harakiri

Original title: Seppuku
  • 19621962
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 13m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
56K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,121
190
Harakiri (1962)
ActionDramaMystery
When a ronin requesting seppuku at a feudal lord's palace is told of the brutal suicide of another ronin who previously visited, he reveals how their pasts are intertwined - and in doing so ... Read allWhen a ronin requesting seppuku at a feudal lord's palace is told of the brutal suicide of another ronin who previously visited, he reveals how their pasts are intertwined - and in doing so challenges the clan's integrity.When a ronin requesting seppuku at a feudal lord's palace is told of the brutal suicide of another ronin who previously visited, he reveals how their pasts are intertwined - and in doing so challenges the clan's integrity.
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
56K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,121
190
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Masaki Kobayashi
    • Writers
      • Yasuhiko Takiguchi(novel "Ibun rônin ki")
      • Shinobu Hashimoto(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Tatsuya Nakadai
      • Akira Ishihama
      • Shima Iwashita
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Masaki Kobayashi
    • Writers
      • Yasuhiko Takiguchi(novel "Ibun rônin ki")
      • Shinobu Hashimoto(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Tatsuya Nakadai
      • Akira Ishihama
      • Shima Iwashita
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 293User reviews
    • 82Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Top rated movie #45
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos59

    Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri (1962)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri (1962)
    Harakiri (1962)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri (1962)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri (1962)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri (1962)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri (1962)
    Tatsuya Nakadai in Harakiri (1962)
    Harakiri (1962)
    Harakiri (1962)
    Harakiri (1962)
    Harakiri (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    • Hanshiro Tsugumo
    Akira Ishihama
    Akira Ishihama
    • Motome Chijiiwa
    Shima Iwashita
    Shima Iwashita
    • Miho Tsugumo
    Tetsurô Tanba
    Tetsurô Tanba
    • Hikokuro Omodaka
    Masao Mishima
    Masao Mishima
    • Tango Inaba
    Ichirô Nakatani
    Ichirô Nakatani
    • Hayato Yazaki
    Kei Satô
    Kei Satô
    • Masakazu
    Yoshio Inaba
    Yoshio Inaba
    • Jinai Chijiiwa
    Hisashi Igawa
    Hisashi Igawa
    • Retainer
    Tôru Takeuchi
    • Retainer
    Yoshirô Aoki
    • Umenosuke Kawabe
    Tatsuo Matsumura
    Tatsuo Matsumura
    • Seibei
    Akiji Kobayashi
    Akiji Kobayashi
    • Ii Clan Retainer
    Kôichi Hayashi
    Ryûtarô Gomi
    Ryûtarô Gomi
    • General
    Jô Azumi
    • Ichiro Shimmen
    Nakajirô Tomita
    Shichisaburô Amatsu
    • Retainer
    • Director
      • Masaki Kobayashi
    • Writers
      • Yasuhiko Takiguchi(novel "Ibun rônin ki")
      • Shinobu Hashimoto(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While filming, Tatsuya Nakadai was afraid during most of the sword and spear fighting scenes because real swords were being used, a practice now forbidden in Japanese films. His concern was not alleviated even though professional swordsmen were employed during the choreographed swordplay.
    • Goofs
      After Motome's seppuku, when Omodaka steps forward and chops Motome's head off (supposedly), he visibly stops his swing before striking Motome's neck (naturally, since real swords were used).
    • Quotes

      Hanshiro Tsugumo: What befalls others today, may be your own fate tomorrow.

    • Connections
      Featured in Through the Mist (2009)

    User reviews293

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Gem of Japanese Cinema
    Harakiri is an excellent human drama set in feudal Japan that involves a ronin presenting himself to a powerful clan and asking to commit harikiri. However, through a series of flashbacks we see that this ronin is motivated by more than the idea of dying honorably. The events that follow are a critique of the feudal system and a celebration of dying for one's beliefs.

    Every frame in Harikiri is wonderfully composed and a treat to view. The cinematography is crisp, the sets wonderful and the actors are spectacular. Much can be said about this film's technical merits as well as its social implications. I found out about this film through my love of Akira Kurosawa's samurai dramas (who else...) and I must say that it is very different from Kurosawa-sans work although it draws inevitable comparisons. Due to its themes, Harikiri is more of an anti samurai film. Generally Kurosawa's work seems to glorify the honor of the samurai and celebrate them as Japanese heroes by showing them gloriously in battle. Kurosawa is the Japanese John Ford, taking an icon from his culture and celebrating it. Harikiri exposes the virtues that Kurosawa portrays as being "a facade" to directly quote the film.

    I say this so as not to mislead any potential viewers, I do not know enough about Japanese history to judge what the samurai really stood for and really I am not concerned with the idea. This is the only Kobyashi film I have seen and it has been brought to my attention that many of his films deal with similar themes. All in all I think that Harikiri is a wonderful film that offers a new take on feudal Japan.
    helpful•57
    9
    • lstrawser
    • Apr 13, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 4, 1964 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Hara-Kiri
    • Filming locations
      • Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
    • Production company
      • Shochiku
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $15,222
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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