The Eel (Japanese film)
Encyclopedia
The Eel is a 1997 film directed by Shohei Imamura
and starring Koji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Mitsuko Baisho and Akira Emoto. The film is loosely based on the novel On Parole by celebrated author Akira Yoshimura
, combined with elements from the director's 1966 film The Pornographers
. It won the Palme d'Or
at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival
.
. He helps save Keiko Hattori (Misa Shimizu) from a suicide
attempt, after which she works at his shop. It becomes clear that Keiko has romantic affections for Takuro, but his reciprocation is redirected towards his pet eel
.
Shohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
and starring Koji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Mitsuko Baisho and Akira Emoto. The film is loosely based on the novel On Parole by celebrated author Akira Yoshimura
Akira Yoshimura
was a prize winning Japanese writer.He was the president of the Japanese writers' union and a PEN member. He published over 20 novels, of which On Parole and Shipwrecks are internationally known and have been translated into several languages...
, combined with elements from the director's 1966 film The Pornographers
The Pornographers
The Pornographers is a 1966 Japanese film directed by Shohei Imamura and based on a novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka. Its original Japanese title is Erogotoshitachi yori Jinruigaku nyumon , which means 'An introduction to anthropology through the pornographers'. It tells the story of porn...
. It won the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival
1997 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Isabelle Adjani *Gong Li *Mira Sorvino *Paul Auster *Tim Burton *Luc Bondy *Patrick Dupond *Mike Leigh *Nanni Moretti *Michael Ondaatje -Feature film competition:...
.
Synopsis
Acting on the advice of an anonymous note, Takuro Yamashita (Kôji Yakusho) returns home early one night to find his wife in bed with another man. He kills her and then turns himself in to the police. After being released from prison, he opens a barber shopBarber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
. He helps save Keiko Hattori (Misa Shimizu) from a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
attempt, after which she works at his shop. It becomes clear that Keiko has romantic affections for Takuro, but his reciprocation is redirected towards his pet eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
.
Cast
- Kôji Yakusho - Takuro Yamashita
- Misa Shimizu - Keiko Hattori
- Mitsuko Baisho - Misako Nakajima
- Akira Emoto - Tamotsu Takasaki
- Fujio Tsuneta - Jiro Nakajima
- Shô AikawaSho Aikawais a Japanese composer and actor.- Film and TV filmography:2010*Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City2008*SS, aka Special Stage*Kurosagi The movie2006*Waru: kanketsu-hen* Taiyō no kizu* "Kurosagi" TV Series* Waru...
- Yuji Nozawa - Ken Kobayashi - Masaki Saito
- Sabu Kawahara - Seitaro Misato
- Etsuko Ichihara - Fumie Hattori
- Tomorowo TaguchiTomorowo Taguchiis a Japanese actor.After leaving Dokkyo University without graduating, he started to earn his living as an illustrator, writer and pornographic cartoonist. He joined a theatre called Hakken no Kai in 1978 and he made a screen debut in Zokubutsu Zukan in 1982...
- Eiji Dojima - Chiho Terada - Emiko Yamashita