Harikari is a 1962 Japan Art Festival entry. The film is a drama surrounding the plight of ‘ronin’ masterless samurai, in the generation fallowing the Sengoku Edo [Age of War] that ended in 1618. It is now 1630 and ronin have been asking permission of noble houses to permit ritual suicide in their courtyards. Thought to be a ruse to collect a charitable payment, this practice is punished by one noble house by forcing the beggar to go through with his stated wish, and in a most cruel manner.

Harikari is as much about post war Japan in 1962 as it is about post war Japan in 1630. Excepting 30 painfully predictable minutes of family drama in the middle of the movie Harikari is a gripping movie. At its core it is about the emasculation of dispossessed men in the wake of social upheaval. Below are some of my favorite quotes from this very Shakespearean film:

“In times of peace…yesterday’s dreams…the honor of this house…such debased and empty forms.”

“Against the tide of Time.”

“The world does not bend to sentimental things.”