HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI on Blu-ray and DVD

Takashi Miike Hit Streets January 22nd Source: Cinedigm Entertainment Group press release Official Site: tribecafilm/hara-kiri-death-of-a-samurai HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI (??, Ichimei, 2011), a remake of Masaki Kobayashi’s 1962 classic samurai film, HARAKIRI (??, Seppuku), tells the story of Hanshiro (Ebizo Ichikawa), a samurai who arrives at the doorstep of his feudal lord and requests an honorable death by ritual suicide in his courtyard. The lord threatens him with the brutal tale of Motome (Eita), a desperate young ronin (a samurai with no lord or master) who made a similar request with ulterior motives, only to meet a grisly end. Undaunted, Hanshiro begins to tell his own story with an ending no one could foresee.

Directed by visionary auteur Takashi Miike (AUDITION, 13 ASSASSINS), HARA-KIRI releases January 22 on DVD from Cinedigm Entertainment Group, a division of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., and Tribeca Film. Following its release on Cable VOD and digital platforms on July 17, the film began screening in 3D at select theaters on July 20 and continued releasing in cities across the country throughout the summer and fall. Set in 17th-century Japan, HARA-KIRI examines the “ritual suicide by self-disembowelment,” that a ronin performs at the house of a noble lord. In some cases, they make a request for hara-kiri without intending to follow through, knowing that they will be sent away with money. As Hanshiro continues to tell his story to the lord, his connection to Motome is revealed through a series of flashbacks and his true intentions for visiting the house become clearer. With stunning cinematography and gripping performances, HARA-KIRI is a thrilling exploration of revenge, honor and individuality in the face of oppressive power. “What excites me about resurrecting this film from the past is being able to feel first-hand the existence of the universal human suffering which HARA-KIRI depicts at its core as it transcends time, genres and countries,” said Miike. The film was nominated for several awards, including Palme d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, Best Art Direction and Best Supporting Actress at the 2012 Japan Academy Awards and Best Composer and Best Supporting Actress at the Asian Film Awards. HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI is directed by Takashi Miike; produced by Toshiki Komatsu, Toshiaki Nakazawa and Jeremy Thomas; written by Kikumi Yamagishi; edited by Kenji Yamashita. Based on Yasuhiko Takiguchi’s novel of the same name. Runtime: 128 mins. + extras Rating: NR Language: Japanese with English subtitles Color: Color Audio Format: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Genre: Martial Arts, Action Bonus Features: Geoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Film, Discusses HARA-KIRI (Presented by American Express) BD Pricing: $29.95 US/$34.95 CAN BD Catalog #: NNVG292390 UPC: 7-67685-28239-7 ISBN: 1-4229-2297-9 DVD Pricing: $26.95 US/$29.95 CAN Catalog #: NNVG281810 UPC: 7-67685-28081-2 ISBN: 1-4229-2281-2

About Tribeca Film

Tribeca Film is a comprehensive distribution label dedicated to acquiring and marketing independent films across multiple platforms, including video-on-demand, theatrical and home video. It is an initiative from Tribeca Enterprises designed to provide new platforms for how film can be experienced, while supporting filmmakers and introducing audiences to films they might not otherwise see. American Express continues its support of Tribeca and the independent film community by serving as the Founding Partner of Tribeca Film.

Cinedigm Entertainment Group

Cinedigm Entertainment Group (CEG), a division of Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., is an end-to-end digital distribution company delivering content in theaters, across digital and on-demand platforms, and on DVD/Blu-ray. CEG reaches a global digital audience through partnerships with iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, Google, Hulu, Vudu, Xbox, Playstation, and others. The company’s library of over 5,000 titles includes award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films, next-gen indies from Flatiron Film Company and acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Film. CEG is proud to distribute many Oscar-nominated films including HELL AND BACK AGAIN, GASLAND, WASTE LAND, PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY, A CAT IN PARIS and CHICO & RITA. Current and upcoming CEG multi-platform releases include THE ONVISIBLE WAR, CITADEL, IN OUR NATURE, 22 BULLETS and DON`T STOP BELIEVIN`: EVERYMAN`S JOURNEY.

For more information on HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan: