Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011)

Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai is a Japanese movie directed by Takashi Miike. It is a 3D remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s 1962 film, Harakiri, which was originally based on Yasuhiko Takiguchi’s novel “Ibun Ronin-ki”. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2011 and was released by Shochiku in Japan in October 15, 2011.

Set in the waning days of the Shogunate, the film stars Ebizo Ichikawa as Tsukumo Hanshiro, a ronin who arrives at the Iyi clan estate to ask a favor of the clan’s chief retainer, Saito Kageyu (Koji Yakusho). He claims he only wishes to use their garden to commit seppuku, but this has been a common tactic for down-and-out former samurai in recent years. They claim to want to commit ritual suicide, knowing they’ll probably get a hand out and be sent on their way. Saito knows this, so he decides to call the man’s bluff. Tsukumo insists it’s no bluff, but he would first like to tell the story of his daughter, Miho (Hikari Mitsushima), and his son-in-law Chijiiwa Motome (Eita), who once visited the Iyi estate himself.