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SummaryA 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.

The Eel

Metascore
must-see
81
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
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Metascore
81
90% Positive
19 Reviews
10% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
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. [11 Sep 1998, p.F]
90
The New York Times
Yakusho and Ms. Shimizu deliver unerring performances in a splendid film that harvests hope from a bleak landscape.
88
San Francisco Examiner
In a way, The Eel is very much like Black Rain, and nearly as great. Both deal with an emotionally shattering aftermath, and both question mankind's ability to overcome its many weaknesses.
80
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.
75
New York Post
Writer-director Imamura's film seems as deceptively simple as the eel, and yet generates deep emotional ripples. [21 Aug 1998, p.064]
By Thelma Adams
75
The A.V. Club
Pointless conflict aside, The Eel is a thoughtful film, oddly touching despite its quirks.
By Joshua Klein
FULL REVIEW
50
CNN
The performances (especially the lead one by Shall We Dance's Koji Yakusho) are all quite good, but 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.
By Paul Tatara
FULL REVIEW
See All 21 Critic Reviews
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
50% Positive
1 Rating
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
50% Negative
1 Rating
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Aug 19, 2022
1
Broyax
C’est l’histoire d’un cocu avec tous les clichés que cela comporte… mais aussi avec quelques différences, quelques ‘aménagements’ si je puis dire, puisque ça se passe au Japon… En tout cas, le début du film est assez convaincant -malgré déjà des lenteurs regrettables- à restituer le geste -et la fureur- du mari cocufié… qui cède à la violence aveugle… mais compréhensible d’une certaine façon. Ensuite, on se doute… de la suite, ce sera le chemin chaotique de la rédemption, un chemin lent que seule la patience des légendaires tortues peut arpenter… En effet, la lenteur et l’ennui associé caractérisent l’ensemble de ce psychodrame affublé de temps à autre de quelques incohérences et/ou rebondissements bidons. Pour ne pas s’endormir, il faut des accélérations régulières à coups de télécommande comme dans tout film victime de la palme d’or (la palme dort…) de l’asile du festival de Cannes et de tous les trous du cul qui y sévissent. Enfin bref, pas facile donc… malgré pourtant (!) une durée sensiblement sous les deux plombes… mais qui en paraissent le double ! (environ).
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Production Company:
  • Eisei Gekijo
  • Groove Corporation
  • Imamura Productions
  • KSS
  • NHK Enterprises
  • Satellite Cinema
  • Shochiku
Release Date:Aug 21, 1998
Duration:1 h 57 m

Awards

Awards of the Japanese Academy
• 3 Wins & 14 Nominations
Kinema Junpo Awards
• 3 Wins & 3 Nominations
Mainichi Film Concours
• 3 Wins & 3 Nominations
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