Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Harmonium Blu-ray Movie Review

From Koji Fukada (Hospitalite).

Harmonium is a compelling drama executive produced by Koichiro Fukushima (What Is Love?, Sweet Bean ). Starring Kanji Furutachi, Mariko Tsutsui, and Tadanobu Asano, Harmonium explores family ties and the universality of humanity. A worthwhile drama for fans of Japanese cinema.

Toshio (Kanji Furutachi) is a small-time business owner who runs his own family shop. Married to the beautiful Akie (Mariko Tsutsui), the couple manage their family affairs – including raising their young daughter (who plays the piano). When an old acquaintance of Toshio is newly released from prison for murder, Toshio gives Yasaka (Tadanobu Asano) a job at his personal business. Yet drama unfolds when Yasaka and Akie start an affair. Can the marriage survive – and can the family be left unbroken?

The performances are central to the filmmaking of Harmonium. The performance by Kanji Furutachi is superb and layered. The role is surprisingly complex and it gives the actor a lot to work with. The supporting cast members are similarly excellent (with both Mariko Tsutsui and Tadanobu Asano delivering solid performances). As the film is predominately character-driven, the actors are all required to delve in to their roles with aplomb dedication.

A compelling drama with a unique vision.

The cinematography by Ken'ichi Negishi (Lenses on Her Heart, Japan's Year Zero) is simple but enormously effective. The visuals are a key component of the filmmaking. An independent style, Negishi imbues each shot of Harmonium with a compelling aesthetic that makes a subtly strong impression. From the simple indoors of the family business to the barren streets of Japan, superb visuals help the storytelling unfold.

The music score composed by Hiroyuki Onogawa (August in the Water, Labyrinth of Dreams) also provides Harmonium with a stronger narrative structure. The score is never overbearing and has a classical style that ebbs and flows in the background. As a minimalistic score, the effort works well with the filmmaking style.

Edited by Koji Fukada and Julia Gregory (Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Arctic Heart ), the cut is well-done. The pace and rhythm of the film is effective. Despite a laid-back atmosphere and pace, the tone of the film works well. The filmmaking never seems dull or contrived.

Written and directed by Koji Fukada (The Man from the Sea, Hospitalite), Harmonium is an unusual drama about relationships and the complexities of family. The story explores both moments of quiet wonder – and dread. The conclusion is shocking and will leave one pondering about the end of the story. A surprising narrative, Harmonium is a unique Japanese drama that has plenty to offer up to international cinema enthusiasts.

Harmonium Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment in the Masters of Cinema series, Harmonium is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release looks impressive for an independent Japanese production. The low-key style of filmmaking is inherently soft looking. Colors are a bit muted in appearance. Grain structure is a little inconsistent during the presentation and is sometimes noisy. A modest high-definition presentation but one that still boasts better detail compared to the standard-definition counterpart.

Harmonium Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two lossless audio options: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo (24 bit). The audio quality sounds decent enough but is decidedly modest on the whole. A presentation that has little going on in regards to surround activity and is largely a track designed to provide extra ambiance for the music score.

English subtitles are provided.

Harmonium Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Interview with Actor Kanji Furutachi (HD, 29:06)

Interview with Director Koji Fukada (HD, 25:50)

Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:44)

Harmonium Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Harmonium is a worthwhile drama exploring a dark story. The filmmaking from Koji Fukada (Hospitalite) is compelling throughout. Though a complete u-turn from the charming hilarity of Hospitalite, Fukada showcases a different (and darker) directorial style that fits the drama well. The Blu-ray release features a modest high-definition presentation which offers viewers a small but appreciable upgrade over the Film Movement DVD release. The Eureka Entertainment Blu-ray is also noteworthy for including some exclusive interviews (with actor Kanji Furutachi and director Koji Fukada). Recommended.