Jack Tulloss

Giri/Haji. Where to start? Film lovers who have eight hours of their life to flush down the loo might want to consider this calamity masquerading as entertainment. While watching any film requires the viewer to suspend their disbelief to get lost in the fictional world created by the screenwriter, director, and actors, enjoying Giri/Haji requires not just suspension of disbelief but rather a full-frontal lobotomy. The premise of the film—that an incident in London can cause chaos in Japan—is intriguing, exemplifying the butterfly effect from chaos theory. However, the chaos in the case of Giri/Haji is the film itself. Absurd plot points perpetrated by unsympathetic, despicable, selfish, half-formed, contemptible characters make the thought of seppuku seem reasonable compared to enduring this trial by endurance. Giving the benefit of the doubt to the actors portraying the main characters, I’m sure they are talented individuals who are kind to children, animals, and the elderly. Still, if they value their careers, they should think carefully before committing to similar projects in the future, or they might find themselves with new vocations managing takeout and ramen shops.