Japanese Film "Harmonium" Builds Intrigue Leaving You Emotionally Wrung Written/Dir by Koji Fukada

"Harmonium" is a tense family drama, wrapped in mystery and wrung with an emotional force I found completely draining.  Dir/writer Koji Fukada (b Japan 1980) has created a disturbing & lugubrious family drama that looks at life in a very unique way.  The film has a lolling pace but mounts to a crescendo that overwhelms with painful poignancy.   It's visually stunning & the 3 lead actors are remarkable.  So too is the young actress who plays Haruko, the daughter of an unhappily married couple.  The husband Toshio (Kanji Furutachi) runs a small manufacturing business from the family's home.  His beautiful, dutiful & Protestant wife Akie (Mark Tsutsi) appears trapped in a joyless marriage except for the happiness  derived from her vivacious daughter.   Toshio is remote with the family.  An atheist, he is set apart from the religious faith of his wife & daughter.  Haruko is a delightful child.  She has a zest for learning & practicing music on the harmonium.  Her inquisitive mind questions the pastor's sermons on the afterlife and lessons from science classes at school.  The innocent conundrums posed early in the film by a young Haruko come back to the haunt & torment the family.  A polite stranger, Yasaka (Tadanobu Asano) appears early in the film.  Yasaka & Toshio are familiar with each other but their connection is ambiguous at first.  Toshio knew Yasaka had been imprisoned for 11 years but it's not revealed for what crime.  Toshio offers Yasaka a job & room in his home which he gladly accepts.  Toshio did so without conferring first with his wife.  Akie, the gracious hostess accepts Yasaka into their home but admonishes Toshio for not consulting her.  Yasaka soon makes himself welcomed by Haruko & her mother.  Yasaka confides to Akie of killing a man & being sentenced with prison time when he could have received a death penalty.   Being a woman of religious convictions she chooses to see Yasaka as a lost soul deserving of forgiven and not a dangerous threat to be sent packing.  A polite flirtation turns passionate between the two with dire consequences for entertwining families although the circumstances are shrouded in mystery & intrigue.  The leisurely paced family drama takes a drastic turn.  There is pain & penance to be paid.  Themes of retribution and atonement overshadow the grace & grandeur of the tranquil surroundings.  This film is exquisitely shot, superbly acted & cunningly scripted.  The question remains whether I urge you to see this skillful & trenchant movie.  I do so with a forewarning.  Should you venture to view this riveting film, you will come up gasping for air.