Harakiri

A masterpiece in the Japanese samurai film genre, Harakiri distinguishes itself with an emotionally complex tale of revenge, rooted in the ruthless 17th-century Tokugawa Shogunate's abuse of feudal authority, which ultimately brought an end to the era of noble ronin, or masterless samurai. Unlike Akira Kurosawa's rousing samurai epics, this is an uncompromisingly tragic tale, exposing the hypocrisy of Japanese society during the period with its story of a family destroyed by the dismissive treatment of warriors in peacetime. Truly Shakespearean in its emotional scope, embodied by the unforgettable performance of Tatsuya Nakadai (star of Kurosawa's Ran) as an elder warrior seeking revenge for the unnecessary seppuku (ritual suicide) of his beloved son-in-law, 1962's Harakiri (adapted from a novel by Yasuhiko Takiguchi) employs a non-chronological structure that was quite innovative for its time, with director Masaki Kobayashi beginning at the story's end, and then recounting the narrative as told by Nakadai's character. The effect is almost unbearably suspenseful, leading to an explosive climax of samurai swordplay erupting from a battle of wills, called bluffs, and hotly defended honor. Presented with a very nice looking black-and-white transfer, DVD extras include an introduction by film historian Donald Richie, an archival interview with director Kobayashi, new interviews with star Nakadai and screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto, and a 32-page booklet. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon)[Blu-ray Review—Oct. 25, 2011—Criterion, 133 min., in Japanese w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1962's Harakiri sports a great transfer with mono sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to those on the DVD release, including new interviews with star Tatsuya Nakadai and screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto (28 min.), an intro by film historian Donald Richie (12 min.), an archival interview with director Masaki Kobayashi (9 min.), a trailer, and a 32-page booklet that includes an essay by film scholar Joan Mellen and a reprint of Mellen's 1972 interview with Kobayashi. Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for a Japanese masterpiece.]