Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai

Friday, October 7, 2011

U.S. Premiere
一命 (Ichimei)
2011, 126 min., 35 mm, in Japanese with live English subtitles.
Directed by Takashi Miike.
With Ebizo Ichikawa, Eita, Hikari Mitsushima, Koji Yakusho, Naoto Takenaka.

A tale of revenge, honor and disgrace centering on a samurai warrior (leading Kabuki star Ebizo Ichikawa), who seeks entry to the estate of a feudal lord (Koji Yakusho) to discover the tragic fate of his ronin son-in-law (played by Eita), setting in motion an intense, inexorable showdown of ruthless vengeance. The film was premiered in competition at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and is scheduled for theatrical release in Japan on October 15.