41: Harakiri (1962)

Harakiri (1962) is a Japanese samurai film directed by Masaki Kobayashi, widely regarded as one of the greatest films in Japanese cinema. It’s set in the early Edo period of Japan and tells a powerful, thought-provoking story that critiques the samurai code of honor (bushido) and the feudal system.
The film begins with an aging ronin (masterless samurai) named Tsugumo Hanshiro (played by Tatsuya Nakadai) arriving at the house of a powerful clan. He requests to commit seppuku (a form of ritual suicide, also known as harakiri) in the clan's courtyard. The head of the house, Saito Kageyu, suspects Tsugumo of bluffing and recounts a recent incident involving another young ronin who came with a similar request, only to seek charity. Saito explains how they forced the young man to go through with the suicide, despite his lack of resolve.
As the story unfolds, Tsugumo gradually reveals his personal connection to the young ronin, and his request for seppuku takes on a far deeper and more tragic meaning. The film then becomes a chilling critique of the samurai class's hypocrisy and the rigid, merciless honor system.
Harakiri is praised for its brutal yet poignant deconstruction of the samurai code. It’s often compared to Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai in terms of its impact and cinematic legacy, but where Kurosawa’s film is more celebratory of samurai values, Harakiri serves as a harsh critique of them.
It won the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1963 and remains a landmark in Japanese and world cinema. The film is often hailed for its deeply philosophical themes and its challenging of traditional Japanese values regarding honor and duty. So, grab a drink, some popcorn, and get comfy in your kimono because today we’re deep diving into the 1962, Samurai cinematic masterpiece, Harakiri. 

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