www.imdb.com/title/tt0056058/ A Masterpiece, one of the best movies ever made, "Harakiri". A must watch movie. Initially released on 1962 in Japan. Directed by Masaki Kobayashi.
For those who are confused why the samurais aren't doing more to attack him, it's because no one wants to be the one guy who dies so the rest of the group can overwhelm him. In theory, if they all charged they would kill him but some would die in the process which none of them want to do because most people don't really want to die
Evidence of how dangerous one man can be when he has nothing to lose. I love how this man is limping, can barley stand, with a hundred men surrounding him and they are all scared stiff afraid to attack.
People are saying "why don't we overwhelm this guy and just knock him off". Right these people are human and they don't want to get injured by recklessly charging a guy who already killed 3 men.
I always felt that his throwing to the ground the samurai armor, and the fact that he was killed by firearms was symbolic of Japan's leaving the old feudal ways and taking up the power of the west from then on.
This is one of if not the best Japanese tragedy of this genre. I love this move. The sadness and outrage over his son's death with the bamboo sword. The scorn and ridicule they heaped on him, was devastating. They in their cushy world couldn't understand why he made the sacrifice. Beautiful and sorrowful. 10of 10!
Nakadai brings the intensity of emotion and physical strain in the character. His raspy breathing almost sounds like a low growling wolf. For all its exaggerated movements, expressions, and slow-paced poses indicative of Kabuki plays, the sounds the actors make and the dynamic and messy action seems genuine and immersive.
There is a point to be made why he lasted so long: The Kageyu samurai, while all "Traditionally trained" had probably never been in a real fight. Tsugumo was a veteran of the recent war. The film makes it clear that many Samurai who fought for the other side are now without a master, and that Samurai on the winning side got complacent. It's basically saying that all these fancy rich samurai are all about talking big game about honor but are unable to back it up. So it took them so long to kill Tsugomo, finally resorting to gunfire, because he, unlike them, was a true Samurai and a true warrior.
This is one of the best movie fight scenes ever. And in was filmed the around the same time James Bond was doing campy karate chops for American and British audiences.
One of the best films I've ever watched. The story is very sad, but the ruthless revenge is executed perfectly. Loved the final showdown. Well done to all who performed and participated in it.
The composition of the shots is utterly beautiful. Each frame is a painting of black and stark white, with a million shades of grey. There really is nothing like the classic era Samurai films. For them, black and white wasn't a limitation. It was a whole pallete of its own colour.
You have to see the whole film - and the death of this samurai's son - to appreciate what led to this conclusion. Haven't seen this film in years - and forgot how important it was that he was killed by rifle at the moment he was committing his own ritual harakiri. Everything about this film - acting, music, costumes, scenery, and even weather (the wind blowing during his last samurai duel) - was chosen perfectly.
