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UNAGI (Original title)The EEL (Alternative title)
Date: 1996 (Copyright)

Country: Japan

Director: Shohei Imamura

Production company billing: © Eisei Gekijo (Satellite Cinema) Co Ltd/KSS Films Co-produced by Groove Corp. in association with Imamura Productions A Shochiku Cinema Japanesque presentation In Colour Subtitles [Cremin version] ©1996 Shochiku-Fuji
Synopsis: Based on the story `Yami ni Hirameku/Glittering in the dark' by Akira Yoshimura. Begins in 1988, when the middle-aged protagonist returns home from a fishing trip to find his much younger wife in bed with another man. He stabs her to death, then gives himself up to the police, Eight years later, he is paroled from prison and tries to rebuild his life by opening a barber's shop in a rural backwater. At first, taciturn and inward-looking, he confides his thoughts and fears only to the eel he adopted as a pet while in prison, but a chance meeting with a woman who has attempted suicide gradually draws him out of his shell.Synopsis: Story begins in 1988 when Yamashita finds his wife in bed with a lover, stabs her to death and then gives himself up to the police. Eight years later, released on parole, Yamashita attempts to rebuild his life. At first he communicates only with an eel he found while he was in prison but his chance meeting with Keiko, a thirty-year-old woman, begins to change his life.

Genre:
Drama
Releases
Date: 1996Country: JapanRelease type: unknownFormat: not specified - Colour - SoundRuntime: 117 mins Subtitles: Japanese

Articles held in BFI Reuben Library (16)
In: Screen Finance v21 n9 21 May 2008  Page: 5
Title: Why Palme d'Or gold does not always glitterAuthor: ADLER, Tim Article type: Short ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Comment on how poorly Cannes Film Festival's winners do at the box office. Includes table with figures for 1988-2007.

In: Sight and Sound v9 n7 July 1999  Page: 5
Title: RushesArticle type: Short ArticleLanguage: English
Description: The EEL is the third Japanese film to be released in Korea and the first to be a hit after the lifting of the fifty- year ban on Japanese culture.

In: Film Review vSpec nNo.26 Year Book 1998/9  Page: 58
Title: The eelAuthor: BINNS, John Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Short review.

In: Sight and Sound v8 n12 December 1998  Pages: 38-39,44
Title: ReviewsAuthor: RAYNS, Tony Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Screen International n1157 08 May 1998  Page: 26
Title: Cannes 1997: How did the winners fare at the box officeArticle type: TablesLanguage: English
Description: Looks at the winners at Cannes (1997) and what impact the prize had on box office takings, includes UNAGI, Palme D'Or winner

In: Empire n114 December 1998  Page: 34
Title: New filmsAuthor: COLLINS, Andrew Article type: ReviewLanguage: English

In: Variety 26 May 1997  Page: 65
Title: Film reviewsAuthor: STRATTON, David Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Positif n440 October 1997  Pages: 8-10
Title: "Je fais plus que ce q'on me dit de faire"-entretien avec...Author: NIOGRET, Hubert Article type: InterviewLanguage: French
Description: Interview with Shohei Imamura about his work, particularly his latest film UNAGI.

In: Positif n437/438 Jul/Aug 1997  Page: 109, 111
Title: [Positif - n437/438 Jul/Aug 1997: no known title]Author: L.C. Article type: ReviewLanguage: French
Description: Reviewed at the 1997 Cannes International Film Festival.

In: Positif n440 October 1997  Pages: 6-7
Title: Anguille - discrète et miraculeuseAuthor: TOBIN, Yann Article type: CreditsLanguage: French

In: The Hollywood Reporter v347 n23 13 May 1997  Page: 8,16
Title: Film reviewAuthor: BYRGE, Duane Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Screen International n1108 16 May 1997  Page: 15
Title: Cannes ReviewsAuthor: SCHILLING, Mark Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Premiere n247 October 1997  Page: 44
Title: [Premiere - n247 October 1997: no known title]Author: BERNARD, Jean-Jeacques Article type: CreditsLanguage: French

In: Screen International n1064 28 Jun 1996  Page: 19
Title: International ProductionAuthor: SCHILLING, Mark Article type: Prod. DetailsLanguage: English

In: Cinemaya n35 Winter 1996/97  Pages: 25-26
Title: UnagiAuthor: TESSIER, Max Article type: CreditsLanguage: English

In: Screen International n1060 31 May 1996  Page: 20
Title: International ProductionArticle type: CreditsLanguage: English