The western and the samurai film genres are fraternal twins. They embody the national myths of their respective nations of origin. It is no coincidence that some straightforward masterpieces in the genres steal from one another (Seventh Samurai vs The Magnificent Seven, for instance). It is also no coincidence that some of the early deconstructions of each genre borrowed from one another (Yojimbo/Sanjuro and Sergio Leone's Man With No Name series).

While not our first example of Samurai film deconstruction -- and certainly not our last -- Masaki Kobayashi's Harakiri is a hard hitting take on Japanese society and societal mythology, tearing the veil away from traditions

Donovan Hill joins us to deconstruct some national mythology as we talk Harakiri on this week's Lost in Criterion, listen via iTunes or LostInCriterion.com, and while you're at it, like us on Facebook or support us on Patreon.