A businessman kills his adulterous wife and is sent to prison. After the release, he opens a barbershop and meets new people, talking almost to no one except an eel he befriended while in prison.
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Title: The Eel (1997)
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16 wins & 13 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kôji Yakusho | ... |
Takuro Yamashita
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| Misa Shimizu | ... |
Keiko Hattori
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Mitsuko Baishô | ... |
Misako Nakajima
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Akira Emoto | ... |
Tamotsu Takasaki
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Fujio Tokita | ... |
Jiro Nakajima
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Shô Aikawa | ... |
Yuji Nozawa
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Ken Kobayashi | ... |
Masaki Saito
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Sabu Kawahara | ... |
Seitaro Misato
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Etsuko Ichihara | ... |
Fumie Hattori
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Tomorowo Taguchi | ... |
Eiji Dojima
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Chiho Terada | ... |
Emiko Yamashita
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Shinshô Nakamaru |
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Sei Hiraizumi |
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Seiji Kurasaki |
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Toshirô Ishidô |
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Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
White-collar worker Yamashita finds out that his wife has a lover visiting her when he's away, suddenly returns home and kills her. After eight years in prison, he returns to live in a small village, opens a barber shop (he was trained as a barber in prison) and talks almost to no-one except for the eel he "befriended" in prison. One day he finds the unconscious body of Keiko, who attempted suicide and reminds him of his wife. She starts to work at his shop, but he doesn't let her become close to him. Written by Anonymous
Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
JapanLanguage:
JapaneseRelease Date:
21 August 1998 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Eel See more »Box Office
Opening Weekend:
DEM 12,386 (Germany) (6 February 1998)Gross:
$413,793 (USA) (28 May 1999)Company Credits
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company contact information
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This film deals with the theme of faith, its loss, its recovery. It has strong images, as usual in Imamura's films. It has also a well thought out plot development. But... it hints at directions that are never fully explored. There is a suggestion that the main character is insane. There are hallucinations. Keiko's behavior is also a little obscure at times. But as the core of the movie is melodrama, surreal aspects are only hinted at. That leaves a slight sensation of unachievement.