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The Eel

Unagi

1997

Shôhei Imamura

Kôji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Mitsuko Baisho, Hiroyuki Konishi ...

7.0

2,383

Drama The film opens with Takuro Yamashita (Koji Yakusho), a seemingly normal salaryman, learning that his wife might be having an affair. When he catches the couple in flaganto delicto, he freaks out and brutally stabs them both to death. Eight years later, Yamashita is released on parole into the care of a Buddhist priest living in rural Chiba prefecture. Far away from his former life, yet still plagued with memories of his crime, Yamashita ... [+]

	Author	Review
United States	Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times	"Unpredictable and captivating."	POS
United States	Paul Tatara CNN	"I was once again stuck watching a movie that's solely about repressed passion, perhaps the least cinematic thing you could ever try to film."	NEU
United States	Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle	"A flash of quiet brilliance that resonates long after the images have faded from the screen."	POS
United States	Lawrence Van Gelder The New York Times	"Yakusho and Ms. Shimizu deliver unerring performances in a splendid film that harvests hope from a bleak landscape."	POS
United States	Bob Graham SFGATE	"A viewer may even blink his eyes to be sure the turn of events is actually happening."	POS
United States	Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune	"Imamura, like many older directors, has evolved a style of wonderful simplicity, lucidity and economy, cutting to the marrow of events, switching moods with effortless ease"	POS
United States	Desmond Ryan Philadelphia Inquirer	"The accomplishment of 'The Eel' is to be both sardonic and compassionate - often at the same time"	POS
United States	David Stratton Variety	"While the symbolism of the eel itself is a bit obvious, Imamura has created a rich tapestry of characters and situations, all of it vividly brought to life with pristine visuals and a generous emotional warmth."	POS

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