Harakiri

Harakiri is also known under the title Madame Butterfly, which immediately indicates the inspiration for the story, although this is a very free interpretation. Harakiri dates from the start of Lang’s career, but is by no means the work of a inexperienced film-maker. The film is unjustly included among the less well-known works of Fritz Lang (probably because for a long time there was no good print available). It is a beautiful and above all visually powerful film and a perfect example of Japonaiserie. Lang trained as a fine artist and this is clear from the attention for detail, the sets and the styling. The story is about the impossible love between the Japanese girl O-Take-San and the American captain Olaf J. Anderson. O-Take-San lives as a priestess in ‘the holy wood’ that is forbidden for foreigners. She lives in isolation because her father had to commit suicide: after a visit to Europe he brought his daughter western gifts and his enemies explained this as improper frivolity and an insult to Buddha. The enterprising and curious Anderson meets O-Take-San after climbing over the wall of her home. He is seen and O-Take-San is locked up, but love has already taken hold. Lang was especially good at capturing the strict traditional surroundings of the girl. The figure of the Bonze, the high priest and ruler, is a truly demonic apparition. GjZ