Blu-ray release: ‘The Eel’

By   |  Feb 9, 2025

Radiance Films are bringing the 1997 Japanese drama ‘The Eel’ (うなぎ) to US and UK Blu-ray on March 24/25, 2025.

Based on the novel ‘On Parole’ by Akira Yoshimura and directed by Shohei Imamura, the film revolves around a recently released convict who takes over a barber shop and spends his free time communing with the pet eel he got while in prison. The cast includes Koji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Mitsuko Baisho, Akira Emoto, Fujio Tokita, and Sho Aikawa.

Synopsis: After serving time in prison for murdering his unfaithful wife, Yamashita (Koji Yakusho) is released on parole, accompanied only by his pet eel. Hoping to stay out of trouble, he takes over a rural barber shop that quickly becomes a gathering point for the eccentric locals. However, the discovery of a woman’s failed suicide starts a chain reaction that brings back past demons – and not just his own.

Features:
• High-Definition digital transfer
• Uncompressed mono PCM audio
• Newly improved English subtitle translation
• Interview with Tony Rayns
• Interview with screenwriter Daisuke Tengan
• Visual essay by Tom Mes on the year 1997
• Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and new artwork by Time Tomorrow
• Limited edition booklet
• Full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip [3000 copies only]
• Region: A/B

‘The Eel’ is available to pre-order now from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Phil Mills
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