Harakiri. by Masaki Kobayashi (1962). Criterion R1 DVD in August?

Harakiri aswell as Kwaidan are absolute must-sees for anyone interested in japanese cinema.
While Kwaidan is visually totally stunning, Harakiri is one of the most absorbing pieces of cinema, I've ever seen.
Harakiri made Tatsuya Nakadai one of my favorite actors.

It's up on Criterion's web site: http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=302

Sorry, but a Criterion release possibly being the best? I don't know of a single Criterion DVD of a Japanese film that's the best. Criterion are so overrated it's laughable, certainly these days when even major studios can pull off better releases of world cinema titles. They're not up to the competition, let alone up to the standards of the Japanese DVD companies. I think I own about three Criterions and I only have those because they haven't been restored by another company. Criterions parent company HVE do a better job on many (quite a mix but some are superb) of their releases and get them done MUCH faster.

Anyway, it is a brilliant film indeed.

possibly best.

Some years ago I reluctantly saw this on a friend's recommendation and it is truly unforgettable. I've sent Criterion several e-mails over the years asking them to release this and I've overjoyed at they fianlly are. Kobayashi's "Kwaidan" is brilliant but I prefer "Harakiri". The narrative slowly but surely gets you in a vice grip until your stomach is in knots. And it's got one of the greatest endings ever.

My review is here.

I saw this film a few years ago on VHS and was just blown away. Nakadai gives an amazing performance, and the story and the way it unfolds is just gripping. Glad to see more people will be given a chance to see it.

"Kwaidan" is also quite good, but yeah, I think I prefer "Harakiri" too.

Criterion does list this as an August release on their website. You need to check the coming soon page : http://criterionco.com/asp/coming_soon.asp

(it's the last entry listed)

Seems like a lot of people like this film, need to add it to my "must buy" list then.

I must say that I agree with Lourdes about Criterion discs. They are quite often overrated and many DVD reviews give the video/audio transfers glowing scores just because it has 'Criterion' on the cover, even if the transfer is obviously lacking.
Not that big of a deal but if Criterion starts to think they can get by with less extensive remastering because the not-so-good discs get glowing reviews, well.. then it's another matter entirely.
Hopefully Criterion will do this film justice, as the comments here got me interested in seeing this and I would like to see a good DVD release for this to spend my money on.