Watches
January 21, 2024
Japan's 90s Cannes winner. Of all the Japanese films that were made in the 90s, I have no clue why this one managed to win this prestigious prize though. I know that Imamura is a respected director, and The Eel isn't a terrible film, but there's not much that jumps out here. Even a second viewing couldn't reveal the film's secret.
When Takuro catches his wife with another man, he murders her. He is sent to prison and is released again eight years later. He starts his life anew, in a small village, where he opens a barber shop. He tries to stay out of trouble, but when he meets Keiko, a young woman resembling his late wife, Takuro can't help but fall in love again.
Koji Yakusho's performance is solid but nothing too out of the ordinary, the mix of drama and crime elements works well, but it's been done before. There are some slightly more surreal scenes, but they feel a bit flimsy, the ending on the other hand was a bit too farcical. Not bad, but not all that memorable either.