I have some great news for anybody interested in Japanese films and the work of Takashi Miike (Audition, 13 Assassins): Revolver Entertainment is releasing Miike’s version of Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai in cinemas on the 4th of May and on DVD and Blu-ray on the 7th of May.
This is a remake of the cult classic made by Masaki Kobayashi in 1962. Miike’s version got its premiere at last year’s Cannes Film Festival where it competed for the Palme d’Or. Reviews largely dismissed the 3D but praised the story and action.
Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai
Release date: 15th October 2011 (Japan)
Running time: １２６mins.
Director: Takashi Miike
Writer: Kikumi Yamagishi, Yasuhiko Takiguchi
Starring: Ebizo Ichikawa, Hikari Mitsushima, Koji Yakusho, Eita, Naoto Takenaka,
17th century Japan was a time when the samurai class struggled to find work. Poverty stricken samurai Hanshiro Tsukumo (Ebizo Ichikawa) requests to commit ritual suicide at the House of Ii, run by obstinate Lord Kageyu Saito (Koji Yakusho) in a desperate attempt for an honourable end. In an effort to persuade Hanshiro to rethink his request, Kageyu tells the tragic story of a similar plea from another young ronin named Motome (Eita). Hanshiro is stunned by the story but undeterred and makes one last request which results in the shocking revelation of a bittersweet tale of vengeance against the house of a feudal lord.
The DVD is priced at £15.99 while the Blu-ray is priced at £17.99
Nice, I’ve been waiting for this one to come out. Too bad about that lame boxcover though.
The cover is reminiscent of Artificial Eye’s 13 Assassins release:
I would have to agree…that dvd cover is lame! No matter though, I will definitely be seeing this one!
I my university library has the original so I’ll get that out so I can make comparisons and look far more cineliterate than I might actually be.