Warm Water Under a Red Bridge (2001)

A down-and-out businessman travels to a seaside town, where he meets a woman with unusual sexual powers.

Director:

Shôhei Imamura

Writers:

Yo Henmi (novel), Shôhei Imamura

Stars:

Kôji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Mitsuko Baishô

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Kôji Yakusho	...	Yosuke Sasano
Misa Shimizu	...	Saeko Aizawa
Mitsuko Baishô	...	Mitsu Aizawa
Mansaku Fuwa	...	Gen
Isao Natsuyagi	...	Masayuki Uomi
Yukiya Kitamura	...	Shintaro Uomi
Hijiri Kojima	...	Mika Tagami
Toshie Negishi	...	Tomoko Sasano
Sumiko Sakamoto	...	Masako Yamada
Taka Guadalcanal	...	Taizo Tachibana
Mickey Curtis	...	Nobuyuki Ohnishi
Takao Yamada	...	Kazuo Namamura
Katsuo Nakamura	...	Takao Yamada
Kazuo Kitamura	...	Taro

Storyline

An impossible tale. Taro, an old man who dies homeless in Tokyo has told Yosuke, a weak-willed out-of-work salaryman about a golden statue that he left years ago in a house by the sea in Noto. Yosuke goes and he's captivated by Saeko, a young women who lives in the house where Taro left the statue. She has a strange affliction: water builds up in her and she can only vent it by wicked acts, such as shoplifting, or, more powerfully, through orgasm. Yosuke obliges, the water gives him life, as well as the plants and fish it reaches. Saeko feels shame, and she has a past. Taro's ghost urges Yosuke to fulfill his desires, but can the relationship survive?

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Plot Keywords:

statue | water | shoplifting | desire | female ejaculation | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Nikkatsu Corporation [Japan]

Country:

Japan France

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

3 November 2001 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Lauw water onder een rode brug

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,842, 5 May 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$62,044, 3 November 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

BAP Inc., Catherine Dussart Productions (CDP), Comme des Cinémas

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Dr. Akagi (1998)

User Reviews

A wonderful film. Among the best recent Japanese works...

I must admit to discovering Imamora only recently. He has all the vivid cinematic detail, the edginess of Oshima, and the humor of Itami; but he is a unique and original master of Japanese cinema. I am delighted that a film like this is even available in America. And, I am not surprised that there have been people here who proclaim it to be a 'silly film.' The film is a great surreal satire. It examines the ridiculous nature of male sexuality, and how we as men are motivated by our fears that one day well 'our little soldier won't be able to salute.' I loved the scene where the title character outruns an African long distance runner so he can meet up with the nymphomaniac shoplifter who he has started to have relations with even though he knows very little about her. I love the way birds and fish are used to symbolize fear and desire. This is an intoxicating film. I saw "The Pornogaphers" earlier this year, and it is a delight to see that a brilliant filmmaker has not lost his touch, not remotely!