Harakiri15

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi | Japan | 1964 | 2h 14m | Japanese w/ English subtitles | Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Ishihama, Shima Iwashita, Tetsurô Tanba, Masao Mishima

After the fall of his clan, masterless samurai Hanshirō arrives at the estate of Lord Iyi, asking permission to end his life through ritual suicide. The clan’s senior counsellor doubts the ronin’s sincerity, suspecting he’s simply looking for charity. But Hanshirō is not what he seems, and his quiet determination hides a deeper purpose. Masaki Kobayashi’s gripping period drama, winner of the Cannes Special Jury Prize, is a bold critique of hypocrisy, a stirring portrait of individual will, and is now hailed as one of the greatest achievements in Japanese cinema.

Classic Season: Samurai Summer

Reviews

‘It would be wrong for me to reveal the details of the story Tsugumo tells. What I can say is that it is heartbreaking.’
★★★★★
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Book tickets

Monday 28 July

 8.15pmBook tickets
Tuesday 29 July

£6 for Members

 6.00pmBook tickets
Wednesday 30 July

 3.00pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Sunday 27th July)
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12:30

Kino Kids Cinema Club: Elio PG
1h 38m
Kino Kids Cinema Club
Pixar’s newest hero is a lonely boy catapulted into the cosmic spotlight. Mistaken for Earth’s ambassador, Elio must charm aliens, conquer fears, and find himself in a galaxy of wonders. A vibrant, heartfelt tale of belonging across the stars.

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14:45

The Other Way Around 12A
1h 54m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
Breaking up has never looked so charming or complicated. A film-loving Spanish couple’s plan for a graceful split dissolves into emotional chaos in Jonás Trueba’s witty, bittersweet spin on the romantic comedy.

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17:15

The White Ribbon 15
2h 24m | German w/ English subtitles
Michael Haneke Classics
A remote German village, just before WWI: a series of eerie crimes unsettle the community. As a teacher investigates, dark truths emerge. Michael Haneke’s stark Palme d’Or winner chillingly explores innocence, repression, and the birth of collective violence.

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20:15

Hot Milk 15
1h 33m
In a sun-drenched Spanish town, a mysterious illness strains a mother-daughter bond. As Sofia drifts toward independence and desire, secrets simmer beneath the surface. Emma Mackey and Vicky Krieps star in this sensual adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel.

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Tomorrow (Monday 28th July)
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18:00

Hot Milk 15
1h 33m
In a sun-drenched Spanish town, a mysterious illness strains a mother-daughter bond. As Sofia drifts toward independence and desire, secrets simmer beneath the surface. Emma Mackey and Vicky Krieps star in this sensual adaptation of Deborah Levy’s novel.

Book here

Find out more

20:15

Harakiri 15
2h 14m | Japanese w/ English subtitles
Classic Season: Samurai Summer
A samurai’s plea for ritual suicide hides a quiet rebellion. As his past unfolds, a brutal hypocrisy is laid bare. Harakiri is a masterwork of honour, vengeance, and emotional power. An essential entry in the canon of Japanese cinema.

Book here


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Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!

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