Master filmmaker Shohei Imamura's Palme d'Or-winning film, The Eel, is presented here on Blu-ray. The story follows Yamashita (Koji Yakusho), recently released on parole after serving time for murdering his unfaithful wife. Accompanied only by his pet eel, he attempts to start fresh by taking over a rural barber shop, which soon attracts eccentric locals. However, the discovery of a woman’s failed suicide triggers a chain reaction that forces him to confront past demons.

This release celebrates the breakthrough performance of star Koji Yakusho and marks the second Palme d’Or win for director Shohei Imamura, following 1983’s The Ballad of Narayama.

Key Features & Content

• High-Definition digital transfer
• Uncompressed mono PCM audio
• Newly improved English subtitle translation

Special Features (2024 Interviews & Essay)

• Interview with critic Tony Rayns
• Interview with screenwriter Daisuke Tengan
• Visual essay by Tom Mes on the year 1997 as a turning point in Japanese cinema
• Trailer

Specifications

Director: Shohei Imamura

Starring: Koji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Sho Aikawa

Run Time: 1 hour and 57 minutes

Media Format: Blu-ray

Language: English, Japanese

Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over

Release Date: 22 Jun. 2026

Experience this critically acclaimed Japanese cinema landmark with high-quality presentation and insightful bonus materials.