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Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai

Ichimei (Hara-kiri: Death of a Samurai)

2011

Takashi Miike

Ebizo Ichikawa, Eita, Kôji Yakusho, Hikari Mitsushima ...

6.8

3,627

Drama Seeking a noble end, poverty-stricken samurai Hanshiro requests to commit ritual suicide at the House of Ii, run by headstrong Kageyu. Trying to dismiss Hanshiro's demand, Kageyu recounts the tragic story of a similar recent plea from young ronin Motome. Hanshiro is shocked by the horrifying details of Motome's fate, but remains true to his decision to die with honor. At the moment of the hara-kiri, Hanshiro makes a last request to be ... [+]

	Author	Review
United States	Justin Chang Variety	"A formally elegant, dramatically faithful retelling of Masaki Kobayashi's (...) "Harakiri," this slow-burning tragedy will disappoint auds expecting (...) extreme violence. But (...) offers its own rewards"	POS
United States	A. O. Scott The New York Times	"More moving than shocking, it proceeds slowly and gracefully, and the few scenes of bloodshed are emotionally intense rather than showily sensational."	POS
United Kingdom	Allan Hunter Screendaily	"Patient audiences are rewarded with a beautifully crafted story of suffering, sacrifice and vengeance that gradually gains in emotional weight over the course of two long hours."	POS
United Kingdom	Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"This has the lineaments of a classic and would make a great double-bill with Miike's 1999 film 'Audition' on the theme of revenge (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Eric Kohn IndieWire	"[A] lethargic experience. Kikumi Yamagishi’s screenplay contains a major structural flaw that’s at the root of its dry progression."	NEG
United States	Maggie Lee The Hollywood Reporter	"'Hara-kiri' is expensively mounted with comfortably unobtrusive 3D effects, ceremoniously slow, and oh so respectable"	POS
United States	Scott Tobias AV Club	"[It] seems intent on proving that [Miike's] instinct to shock runs secondary to a more consistent instinct to rebel."	POS
United States	Patrick Cooper Collider	"'Hara-Kiri' is a simple story, but a very emotional and timeless one. Miike directs with precision and restraint"	POS

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