Welcome to The Best Movies I’ve Never Seen! This is the part of the blog where I work my way through 100 films I’ve never seen that are generally considered to be great. You’re invited to watch along with me if you can find a copy or find it streaming. So grab some popcorn and let’s get started!

Harakiri

1962

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi

As we continue down the list of the Best Movies I’ve Never Seen, we’re taking a look at the 1962 Japanese masterpiece Harakiri, directed by Masaki Kobayashi. This jidaigeki (period drama) packs a powerful punch that left me thinking about its themes long after the credits rolled.

The story follows a ronin named Hanshiro Tsugumo, played brilliantly by Tatsuya Nakadai, who requests to commit ritual suicide (seppuku) on the grounds of a feudal lord’s estate. But this is no mere honorable death – Tsugumo has an agenda to expose the hypocrisy and cruelty behind the enforced seppuku of his friend Motome months earlier.

As Tsugumo recounts his tragic tale to the samurai retainers, the film becomes a searing indictment of the feudal system and the supposed code of bushido that the samurai claim to uphold. We see how rigidly upheld traditions and obsession with appearing honorable lead to brutal, senseless acts.

Kobayashi’s direction is masterful, utilizing long takes and static camerawork that add an air of formality matching the subject matter. The famous scene of Motome’s excruciating bamboo sword suicide is unflinchingly portrayed. The visuals are stunning, from the minimal courtyard setting to the shot of Tsugumo defiantly smashing the clan’s ancient suit of armor.

The cast is phenomenal across the board. In addition to Nakadai’s phenomenal lead performance, Rentaro Mikuni is chillingly pragmatic as the feudal lord’s counselor. The three samurai who condemned Motome – played by Tetsuro Tamba, Ichiro Nakatani, and Yoshio Inaba – are embodiments of flawed moral codes taken to extremes.

On a thematic level, Harakiri cuts right to the bone (no pun intended) in dismantling myths of samurai honor. It shows how codes like bushido can be twisted to serve the powerful rather than operate as a true moral system. The cycles of violence, retribution, and willful ignorance are vividly portrayed.

While the climactic action scenes are thrilling, the film’s true power lies in its philosophical arguments against blindly accepting tradition and institutional cruelties. Kobayashi forces the viewer to consider the human costs of unchecked authority and dogmatic belief systems.

In the end, Harakiri‘s gut-punch comes not just from its harrowing story, but from its continued relevance. The vanquishing of hollow cultural legacies and questioning the justifications of those in power is something every generation must continually revisit. This cinematic masterwork deserves to be widely seen and discussed.

So what did you think of Harakiri? Did its blistering critique of systemic injustice still resonate with you, or did you feel it went too far in condemning bushido? Share your thoughts and reactions in the comments below! For a 1960s period piece, this one packs a punch that still stings today.