Thoughts on Harakiri (1962) · 4:16pm April 14th
Wow. This was a masterclass in buildup and tension. I knew about Masaki Kobayashi's movie before - a scathing indictment of the samurai and the honor code that they profess to live by - but all the same, watching the movie had me hooked from start to finish. 
"Harakiri" is a long and very deliberately paced movie, but it reels you in with each new addition to the story. This is not an easy watch in a lot of ways: the death scene of poor Motome (Akira Ishihama) is absolutely nightmarish to see play out, though just as awful is the slow death of Hanshiro's family. The desperation and grief are palpable, and the performers sell every moment of it. 
I can't state this enough. Tatsuya Nakadai is magnificent as the mysterious, wily old ronin who shows up at the house of the Iyi clan and gradually unveils how he has set up his revenge on them for the destruction of his loved ones. The flashbacks through the course of his story keep you engaged, from glimpses of happier times to the painful demise of Hanshiro's daughter and grandson, all carefully doled out as the old warrior gradually sets up the samurai of Iyi for a grand humiliation. (This isn't to discount the other characters in his story though: Shima Iwashita is excellent as Hanshiro's daughter. Her anguished screams over Motome's body are just haunting.)
For a movie that spends so much time in one courtyard, or else in the confines of one manor house, "Harakiri" is still masterfully shot. And indeed, when some scenes move to the outside, you're almost startled at the presence of them just because of having gotten used to the halls and courtyard of Iyi Clan's estate, or the inside of Hanshiro's hut. This adds to the impact of the outdoor scenes for sure: the duel between Hanshiro and Hikokuro (Tetsuro Tamba) out in the windy hills by a cemetery is a feast for the eyes and a thrill to watch unfold. Easily a highlight of the movie, though the movie's bloody finale is well worth the price of admission.
All in all, a damned good movie and one that I am tremendously glad to have seen on the big screen. 
