MovieChat Forums > Seppuku (1964) Discussion > the ending (spoilers)

the ending (spoilers)

posted 9 years ago by angusmcnevin
2 replies | jump to latest

I can't help but feel that the ending could be made better by cutting that last five minutes after Tsugomo's death - imagine if instead of cutting to the Counsellor Saito after his death in the room with the sacred armour the film had gone straight to that excellent tracking back over all the carnage just caused by the ronin (which reminded me of Taxi Driver funnily enough) and than to that final shot of the white sheet being pulled from the court. You could even from there fade to the journal with which we started the picture and have Saito recount his final lines, I just felt as if all that unnecessary exposition of the fate of the characters at the end was a tad anti climactic, much like that psychiatrist's speech at the end of Pyscho.

[–] Sandman-27 9 years ago

I can't help but feel that the ending could be made better by cutting that last five minutes after Tsugomo's death - imagine if instead of cutting to the Counsellor Saito after his death in the room with the sacred armour the film had gone straight to that excellent tracking back over all the carnage just caused by the ronin (which reminded me of Taxi Driver funnily enough) and than to that final shot of the white sheet being pulled from the court. You could even from there fade to the journal with which we started the picture and have Saito recount his final lines, I just felt as if all that unnecessary exposition of the fate of the characters at the end was a tad anti climactic, much like that psychiatrist's speech at the end of Pyscho.

Although I get what you are saying, I disagree with the omission fate of the characters. Knowing this affirms what Tsugomo said is all true and the House of Iyi is indeed hypocritical. It is also the single ray of light for us that our protagonist was right and his bitterness and contempt was justified.

"You don't like Beethoven."

[–] raimund-berger 9 years ago

all that unnecessary exposition of the fate of the characters

In addition to what the poster above said about the political implications, it wasn't all that unnecessary with regard to Hanshiro either, who had expressed much concern about meeting Motome empty handed in the afterlife.

Since the word of reconciliation he was hoping for hadn't been offered there's at least those seven lives he can show, as we learn during that closing dialog. Including those of the three who supported the plan of taking Motome through that brutal and humiliating ritual to begin with.