Harakiri: A great story with beautifully choreographed fights
May 9, 2022
“What befalls others today, may be your own fate tomorrow.”
This film has an interesting story with multiple twists that were very well implemented within the plot structure. Both the pacing and plot felt really balanced. The plot was actually one of the most solid plots I’ve ever seen in a film. Usually I feel that the acting in older films aren’t that good, but the acting was great and contributed heavily to the captivating story.
A dance between opponents
The fight scenes had some great and realistic choreography, that created a lot of tension. The fight scenes had me paying full attention to see what moves the two opponents would make next. The synchronized movements of the opponents, was visually stunning and also kind of mesmerizing to look at. These synchronized movements felt like a dance between the opponents and created an abstract composition through the blocking of the characters.
This was especially done extremely well during the final act, where you first see a group of men simultaneously lining up in front of Hanshiro Tsugumo, which then hold their Katana and take a step forward. Followed by 3 men behind them that grab their Katana. Which then ends with the men in the front taking another step forward right before they attack and retreat… all in sync.
Emotions and body language that add to the immersion
The cinematography was stunning. The slow zoom shots beautifully placed the emphasis on the emotions and body language of the characters. It also grabbed and held the attention of the viewer, which contributed to the overall immersion.
The linear blocking of multiple characters, within the static framing, also created beautiful symmetrical and linear compositions. Combine this with the extremely well choreographed fights, great acting and interesting story, and you will get a mesmerizing film that captivates you from beginning to end.
