The Eel

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The Eel

Released May 12, 1997

1h 56m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Freed after spending eight years in prison for killing his unfaithful wife in a jealous rage, Takuro Yamashita (Koji Yakusho) opens a barber shop and spends his free time communing with the pet eel he got while in prison. One day, he saves a young woman named Keiko Hattori (Misa Shimizu) from committing suicide, and offers her a job in his shop. Despite the pair's growing mutual attraction, Takuro's enduring guilt over his wife's murder obstructs the growth of their relationship.

Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Like much of Imamura Shôhei’s work, The Eel deals frankly with matters of sex and sexuality, but with an emotional detachment akin to an anthropological study.

Apr 17, 2025

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: A-

May 23, 2013

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Unpredictable and captivating.

Feb 14, 2001

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Through Imamura’s film, concepts of violence, greed, and lust are ruminated on and manipulated until one’s own straight-forward beliefs regarding redemption are challenged in this surprisingly hopeful, though familiar, tale.

Apr 15, 2025

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 3/5

Oct 12, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Aug 12, 2005

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Der B

This Movie was truly inspiring. I never watched anything like this before. I would give it an absolute 10/10. Anyone who hasn't watched this masterpiece of a movie is missing out on a lifetime experience. Every single scene in this beautiful piece of art is truly fascinating. Watching the main character evolve and socialize brought me to tears. If i could watch this movie the first time again, dear lord i would sell my soul. It is so beautiful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

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Audience Member

Just like an eel, this movie is indeed slimy at first, but ironically doesn't give in to what the viewer's might expect.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Poetic, funny, gripping, The Eel is a masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

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Audience Member

All of the pieces might not fit together - particularly Yamashita's personal journey - but the central relationship and the climax alone make the film lovable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

This film (Imamura's second and final film to win a Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival) is living proof that Japan (alongside France) has reinvented cinema.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

This is the most perfect film I've seen.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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Shôhei Imamura

Director

Kôji Yakusho

Takuro Yamashita

Misa Shimizu

Keiko Hattori

Fujio Tsuneta

Jiro Nakajima

Mitsuko Baishô

Misako Nakajima

Akira Emoto

Tamotsu Takasaki

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Synopsis

Freed after spending eight years in prison for killing his unfaithful wife in a jealous rage, Takuro Yamashita (Koji Yakusho) opens a barber shop and spends his free time communing with the pet eel he got while in prison. One day, he saves a young woman named Keiko Hattori (Misa Shimizu) from committing suicide, and offers her a job in his shop. Despite the pair's growing mutual attraction, Takuro's enduring guilt over his wife's murder obstructs the growth of their relationship.

Director: Shôhei Imamura
Producer: Hisa Iino
Screenwriter: Shôhei Imamura, Daisuke Tengan, Motofumi Tomikawa, Takashi Yoshimura, Akira Yoshimura
Distributor: New Yorker Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): May 12, 1997, Original
Box Office (Gross USA): $413.8K
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)