Takashi Miike’s Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai staring Ebizo Ichikawa is heading to Cannes in the Official Competition. Based on the 1962 Masaki Kobayashi period classic, this will be Takashi Miike’s first martial arts movie shot in 3D. The story takes place between 1619 and 1630 during the Edo period and the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate. It tells of a ronin, Hanshiro Tsugumo, who instead of committing seppuku (better known in the West by the colloquial term harakiri) after his lord was deposed, was ordered to stay alive in order to care for his daughter and grandson as well as his son-in-law, the son of another samurai who had committed the ritual suicide.
Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai stars Ebizo Ichikawa, Eita, Hikari Mitsushima and Koji Yakusyo. After its festival runs it is due to officially premiere in October.
Here’s a perfectly concise synopsis:
The story is set during the 17th century and centers on Hanshiro (played by Ebizo Ichikawa), an honorable, poverty-stricken samurai seeking a noble end as he requests to commit ritual suicide at the House of Ii, run by headstrong Kageyu (played by Koji Yakusho). Trying to dismiss Hanshiro’s demand, Kageyu recounts the tragic story of a similar recent plea from young ronin Motome (played by Eita). 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 assisted by Kageyu’s samurai, who are coincidentally absent. Suspicious and outraged, Kageyu demands an explanation. Hanshiro confesses his bond to Motome, and tells the bittersweet tale of their lives. Kageyu will soon realize that Hanshiro has set in motion a tense showdown of vengeance against his house.
Best known in the States for gory, over-the-top violent movies like Ichi The Killer and Audition, Miike’s movie Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai will be one of only two 3D films (the other will be the new Pirates of the Caribbean) playing at Cannes this year. Cannes Film Festival runs May 11th to the 22nd.
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source: filmsmash, thefilmstage
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