Cannes 2011: First Teaser For Takashi Miike's HARA-KIRI: DEATH OF A SAMURAI

Japan's Takashi Miike wowed audiences around the world with his outstanding samurai epic 13 Assassins - a film I firmly believe will go down as one of his career best - and he remains in that classic style with upcoming Cannes selection Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai (Ichimei).

A remake of the 1962 film by Masaki Kobayashi, Miike's version is his first in 3D - and the first 3D film ever selected to Cannes - with kabuki actor Ebizo Ichikawa in the lead and Koji Yakusho, Eita and Hikari Mitsushima supporting in this tale of honor and vengeance.

And what did I wake to this morning but word that the first teaser had arrived on the official site. It is very much a tease, featuring no dialogue and a series of relatively static images, but it is clear that 3D or no Miike is continuing to work in a very classically informed style here and some of these shots are absolutely gorgeous. Take a look below.