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Harmonium (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Harmonium (2017) movie poster

Harmonium is a 2017 drama directed by Kôji Fukada, starring Mariko Tsutsui, Kanji Furutachi and Momone Shinokawa. It runs 2 hours and earned $153,283 worldwide. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic. Stream it on Film Movement Plus and Hoopla, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Rotten Tomatoes
100%
worldwide gross
$153.3K
Echo Score
87
Metascore
84
Harmonium (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h (120 min)
Director
Kôji Fukada
Genre
Drama
Original language
Japanese
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Harmonium About?

The premise of Harmonium without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A harmonium maker seeking a fresh start hires an old friend, unaware of his troubled past. The decision unexpectedly triggers a series of events that impact his family and tests the fragile peace he’s trying to rebuild. The story explores themes of friendship, responsibility, and the complexities of second chances.

Where to watch

Where to Watch Harmonium

Stream it on Film Movement Plus and Hoopla, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Harmonium Cast

Mariko Tsutsui leads the cast, with Kanji Furutachi and Momone Shinokawa. Directed by Kôji Fukada; 7 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Harmonium

· 3 more
Ratings

Harmonium Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Harmonium 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 87/100, strongest in character & emotion (92) and weakest in rewatch factor (80).

87 /100

Harmonium Echo Score Breakdown

Harmonium presents a consistently engrossing yet somber experience rooted in precise craftsmanship and immersive performances. Critics emphasize the film’s masterful direction and textural visual style, coupled with outstanding acting that brings depth to its melancholic narrative. The pacing and surprise twists sustain engagement, while the nuanced sound design and discordant mood linger well after viewing. Altogether, Harmonium achieves a gripping and artistically cohesive drama that resonates beyond its ending.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of art and craft, Harmonium excels through its measured visual design and assured direction. The film’s metronomic pacing and lucid hyper-textural style create a precise sense of space, while editing selections underscore the tension in each scene. Reviewers note the elegant framing and seamless transitions between moods. Overall, the art direction contributes a meticulous framework that supports the film’s unsettling atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 92

    When it comes to character and emotion, Harmonium relies on consistently nuanced performances. The cast conveys deep internal conflicts through subtle gestures and controlled vocal tones, making their interpersonal tensions palpable. Critics highlight the humanity in each portrayal, noting how the actors sustain an undercurrent of suppressed resentment. In closing, the character work provides a resonant emotional core that anchors the film’s bleak narrative.

  • Story & Flow 85

    In terms of story and flow, Harmonium unfolds with steady, deliberate pacing and strategically timed twists. Reviews point to its coherent progression of dark revelations and the gradual intensification of dramatic stakes. While the film maintains a measured tempo, it avoids stagnation through surprising narrative turns. Overall, the plot delivers an engrossing, if sombre, trajectory that sustains engagement from beginning to end.

  • Sensory Experience 87

    Regarding sensory experience, Harmonium features a finely tuned soundscape and restrained musical cues that heighten its tense atmosphere. Critics commend the film’s visual cohesion, from its understated color palette to its hyper-textural composition, which reinforces the underlying unease. The discordant ambient sounds and careful sound design amplify each emotional beat. Altogether, the sensory elements form a compelling, immersive environment that underscores the film’s thematic weight.

  • Rewatch Factor 80

    As for rewatch factor, Harmonium offers a compelling yet challenging experience for multiple viewings. The film’s lingering atmosphere and narrative nuances invite further reflection on its moral complexities, though its unrelenting bleakness may temper enjoyment on repeat watches. Commentators note its haunting final twist and underlying spatial design retain their impact over time. Ultimately, the film’s lasting resonance rewards contemplative re-examination for interested audiences.

Plot

Harmonium Plot Summary

What happens in Harmonium from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Toshio [Kanji Furutachi] and his wife Akie [Mariko Tsutsui] live with their daughter Hotaru [Momone Shinokawa] in a quiet, banal existence, with Toshio running a small machine shop in his garage. Life unfolds with an unremarkable rhythm until an old acquaintance, Yasaka [Tadanobu Asano], who has just been released from prison, arrives to help out and ends up staying as a kind of informal assistant.

Full summary

The whole story of Harmonium, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Harmonium Box Office

Harmonium grossed $153,283 worldwide. $17,191 came from the US and Canada and $136,092 (89%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$153.3K

US & Canada
$17.2K
International
$136.1K
US & Canada 11% Rest of the world 89%
Videos

Harmonium Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Harmonium.

HARMONIUM Original HD Theatrical Trailer (UK & Ireland)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Harmonium?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What musical instrument does Hotaru practice?

Details

Harmonium Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “Fuchi ni Tatsu” and “Okaleczone”.

Also known as
  • Fuchi ni Tatsu
  • Okaleczone
  • 临渊而立
  • Хармония
  • 하모니움
  • Harmonyum
  • 臨淵而慄
  • Фисгармония
  • 奏不響的風琴

Seen Harmonium?

FAQ

Harmonium FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Harmonium, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Harmonium?

Harmonium runs 2 hours (120 minutes).

When was Harmonium released?

Harmonium was released on June 16, 2017.

Who directed Harmonium?

Harmonium was directed by Kôji Fukada.

More films by Kôji Fukada

Who is in the cast of Harmonium?

Harmonium stars Mariko Tsutsui, Kanji Furutachi and Momone Shinokawa, among 7 credited actors.

Where can I watch Harmonium?

In the US, Harmonium is streaming on Film Movement Plus, Hoopla and Kanopy and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Harmonium make at the box office?

Harmonium grossed $153,283 worldwide ($17,191 domestic, $136,092 international).

How is Harmonium rated?

Harmonium has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic, 66% on TMDB and 3.7/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Harmonium have a post-credit scene?

No. Harmonium has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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