Not Rated

Running Time: 133 Minutes

Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Rentaro Mikuni, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tamba, Masao Mishima, Ichiro Nakatani, Kei Sato, Yoshio Inaba, Yoshiro Aoki

Screenplay by: Shinobu Hashimoto
Story by: Yasuhiko Takiguchi

Directed by: Masaki Kobayashi 

Studio: Criterion

Retail Price: $39.95

Features: Introduction by Japanese Film Historian Donald Richie, Interview with Director Masaki Kobayashi, Interview with Tatsuya Nakadai, Interview with Screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto, Theatrical Trailer

Specs: 2.35:1 Widescreen 1080p High Definition, Japanese PCM Mono, English Subtitles, Chapters (27 Chapters)

Released: October 4th, 2011

Harakiri is presented in a 1080p High Definition transfer, with the widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (with some slight windowboxing). It's not perfect, but given that the movie is now pushing 50, the image here is quite sharp. The black-and-white cinematography from Yoshio Miyajima — with its wide shots and fine composition — can be subtly breathtaking here, and detail is pretty good too. There is a decent amount of fine grain, but it is not distracting. Scratches and blemishes pop up, and there is shimmering at times. The positives outweigh the minuses here, for picture quality that is pretty encompassing. 

Harakiri features an uncompressed Japanese Mono track. There is a lot of dialogue in the movie, and all of the talk comes out clear. Sound effects are audible, while the strummy score from Toru Takemitsu makes an impression. This is a study, straightforward mix that does not have any hisses, scratches or any audio defects.

English subtitles are included.

This is a port of the 2005 DVD release, and all of those supplements are included here. Kicking things off is an Introduction by Japanese Film Historian Donald Richie. Running 12 minutes, Richie talks about seeing the movie for the first time as well as the worl of Kobayashi. He also provides Kobayashi in a historical context, and what his films stand for. A nice primer on Harakiri and its director. 

An October 1993 Interview with Director Masaki Kobayashi at the Directors Guild of Japan, moderated by filmmaker Masahiro Shinoda is also included. Shinoda does too much talking perhaps — what should be prompts feel like monologues, with Kobayashi only offering some tidbits about his collaborators and his work. Do not misunderstand, he offers some good anecdotes, and maybe the director was shy and needed coaxing, but it doesn't always feel like a conversation. Still, fans of the filmmaker will want to spend the 9 minutes seeing this. 

There is a 14-and-a-half minute Interview with Tatsuya Nakadai, the star of Harakiri. Referring to his work in the 1950s and 1960s as "a golden age" in Japanese cinema, the actor speaks at lengthy about his part as Hanshiro, and some hesitation in taking on the role. Nakadai is insightful and entertaining when it comes to talking about his background, his career and his approach to acting. He also talks about being at Cannes when Harakiri debuted. A good watch.

Also worth viewing is the nearly 13 minute Interview with Screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto. Hashimoto talks about his inspiration when it came to taking on the screenplay (after some flirations with the general idea), working on it and how the film was received. He also offers a thorough explanation of commiting seppuku. Very interesting. 

Rounding out the release is the Theatrical Trailer, plus the Criterion booklet featuring an essay from film scholar Joan Mellen, as well as an interview Mellen conducte with Kobayashi in 1972.

Harakiri is a film classic from Japan, and after a 2005 DVD release, Criterion has upgraded the film to Blu-ray. The presentation is pretty nice, and the supplements are worth watching. Those who love the movie will surely want to upgrade for the higher resolution transfer; all others with an interest in Japanese cinema should look into this release.