New Images From Takashi Miike’s 3D Remake, And Upcoming Cannes Entry, Of Harakiri, Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai

After it was announced as a member of this year’s Cannes Film Festival lineup, we now, finally, have our first look at the hotly anticipated 3D remake of the Masaki Kobayashi film, Harakiri, directed by Takashi Miike.

Entitled Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai, the film is a remake of the 1962 classic who itself is based on the novel penned by Yasuhiko Takiguchi, and follows a samurai, Hanshiro Tsugumo, who presents himself to Lord Iyi, requesting to be allowed to commit seppuku.   However, he decides to take revenge after the fall of his son-in-law instead, leading him on his journey.

Apparently this film will feature ‘a considerably lower body count’ as compared to Miike’s previous films, something that having seen his last, 13 Assassins, shouldn’t be something all that hard to do.   Starring Ebizo Ichikawa, the film definitely looks like a continuation of what Miike was attempting to do with the first half of his samurai epic, 13 Assassins, and for that, I couldn’t be more excited.   I’m a big fan of the original film, and this one looks like it could be a really interesting remake. I’m not familiar with the lead, Ichikawa, or his work as a kabuki actor, but I do really dig a lot of Miike’s filmography, and while most people may not be too keen on this film getting remade, given Miike’s affinity for mythology, it could really work.

What do you think?

Source: Septimovicio / Rope Of Silicon / Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow