Ichimei (2011)

Hara-Kiri: The Death of a Samurai poster

English Title:  Hara-Kiri: The Death of a Samurai
Recorded Picture Company (RPC)
Starring:
 Ebizô Ichikawa, Eita, Kôji Yakusho
Directed by: Takashi Miike

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: A remake of the 1962 classic Harakiri. A samurai named Hanshirô Tsugumo (Ebizô Ichikawa) requests to perform ritual suicide in the court of the House of Ii, but there is more beneath the surface of his request.

Kitty Cameos: The Lord in the House of Ii is named Kageyu (Kôji Yakusho) and he is seen sitting in his private chamber with a white cat on his lap.

Hara-Kiri - White cat on lap of Kageyu Kôji Yakusho

Hara-Kiri - White cat on lap of Kageyu Kôji Yakusho

Hara-Kiri - White cat on lap of Kageyu Kôji Yakusho

When Kageyu begins to tell the story of another samurai who came with a similar request, he is seen again in flashback with the cat.

Hara-Kiri - White cat at feet of Kageyu Kôji Yakusho

The cat then walks out of the room.

Hara-Kiri - White cat walking out of room

Hara-Kiri - White cat walking out of room

Hara-Kiri - White cat walking out of room

During a later flashback, the young samurai Motome Chijiiwa (Eita) is seen in his school room and home with a visitor. A dirty white cat is sitting in the background. The differences between the cats in these scenes show the stark contrast between the living conditions of the rich and the poor.

Hara-Kiri - Dirty white cat in background of room with Motome Chijiiwa Eita

When Chijiiwa’s wife enters, the cat hides in a cupboard.

Hara-Kiri - dirty white cat moving toward cupboard

Hara-Kiri - dirty white cat inside cupboard

Tsugumo visits Chijiiwa and notes how the cat seems comfortable there.

Hara-Kiri - dirty white cat licking itself

Kitty Carnage Warning! Sadly Chijiiwa’s wife eventually finds the cat dead in the courtyard. She says that she thought the cat had come home, only to find it had died. This is only the beginning of the bad luck for the small family.

Hara-Kiri - Motome Chijiiwa Eita and wife looking at dead dirty white cat

Near the end of the film, the cat of the House of Ii is seen sitting on a cushion watching events unfolding as it snows.

Hara-Kiri - white cat looking at snowy courtyard

Hara-Kiri - white cat looking at snowy courtyard closer

Finally the cat is seen only last time in the background of Kageyu’s chamber.

Hara-Kiri - White cat sitting in background of Kageyu Kôji Yakusho chamber

Final Mewsings: Cats can’t believe how cruel people can be to other people.

Many thanks to Ted Davis for letting us know about the cats in this film!


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