Why So Blu?

The Eel (Blu-ray Review)

Shōhei Imamura’s The Eel arrives on Blu-ray in a stellar special edition from Radiance Films, giving fans the definitive home video release of this Palme d’Or-winning gem. If you’ve never seen The Eel (1997), this is the perfect way to experience Imamura’s meditative and offbeat drama in its full context — complete with both the original theatrical cut and the extended director’s cut. The Eel Blu-ray is a must for collectors of Japanese cinema, especially those who appreciate the intersection of human strangeness, personal redemption, and the quietly surreal.

Film

Shōhei Imamura’s The Eel is one of the most quietly unsettling and unexpectedly tender films to emerge from late-’90s Japanese cinema. The Eel Blu-ray from Radiance Films brings this Palme d’Or-winning film to home video in a definitive, feature-packed release. With both the theatrical and rarely seen director’s cut included, The Eel Blu-ray gives longtime fans and first-time viewers the best possible way to experience Imamura’s moody blend of strangeness, melancholy, and offbeat humanity.

The film opens with one of the most shocking cold opens in 1990s Japanese cinema: a mild-mannered salaryman (played with eerie calm by Kōji Yakusho) murders his unfaithful wife and serves an eight-year prison sentence. Upon release, he sets up a barber shop and tries to reintegrate into society with the help of his only confidant—his pet eel. Imamura presents the story as a curious blend of crime drama, character study, and absurdist comedy. Tonally, it walks a tightrope between dark and whimsical, never quite tipping fully into either. While the pacing may challenge some, especially in the longer cut featured on The Eel Blu-ray, the rewards come through in its layers of emotional depth and narrative unpredictability.

What makes Imamura’s work stand out is his refusal to separate the sacred from the profane. The Eel drifts along its own rhythm, introducing a gallery of damaged, often oddball characters who reflect the protagonist’s struggle with guilt and reinvention. With moments of hallucination, confessions, and strangely spiritual gestures, it’s a film that can feel like a dream one minute and like raw documentary the next. The transfer on The Eel Blu-ray preserves this strange tonal balance beautifully, offering clean visuals and rich textures that complement Imamura’s grounded but surreal aesthetic.

In the end, The Eel is about guilt, loneliness, and the effort to move forward while still haunted by the past. Imamura imbues his characters with unexpected warmth, never mocking them, even when their behavior veers into absurdity. That odd tenderness is what makes this film so compelling. For fans of Japanese cinema or collectors of auteur-driven world cinema, The Eel Blu-ray is essential viewing—both as a historical restoration and a deeply affecting piece of filmmaking.

 

Video

NOTE: Stills are provided for promotional use only and are not from the Blu-ray

Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Region: A, B

HDR: N/A

Layers: BD-50

Clarity and Detail: Both versions of The Eel are presented with impressive clarity for a late-90s film. Facial details, textures on clothing, and the suburban barbershop interiors all carry a pleasing sharpness. Outdoor scenes in particular benefit from the clean transfer, with natural elements like grass and trees appearing crisp and free of noise.

Depth: The image has a strong sense of depth throughout, especially in the wider shots that frame characters against the backdrop of Japan’s countryside. Foreground-to-background separation is evident, giving the transfer a subtle depth that enhances its grounded realism.

Black Levels: Black levels are deep and stable, particularly in nighttime sequences and interiors with lower light. There’s no evidence of black crush, and shadow detail is preserved well without veering into murkiness.

Color: The color palette remains naturalistic and restrained, in line with Imamura’s aesthetic. Skin tones, greens, and browns are especially well-balanced. Nothing feels oversaturated or digitally pushed — this is a faithful representation of the film’s original look.

Flesh Tones: Flesh tones are accurate and consistent across both cuts. Characters appear lifelike without any artificial tinting or waxiness, and the lighting conditions are rendered authentically.

Noise and Artifacts: There are no major compression artifacts or edge enhancement present. Film grain is intact and finely resolved, adding to the organic texture without becoming intrusive. No DNR or visible damage interferes with the viewing experience.

 

Audio

Audio Format(s): Japanese LPCM 1.0 Mono

Subtitles: English

Dynamics: Despite being a mono track, the LPCM audio offers a surprisingly dynamic range. Ambient sounds, especially in rural scenes, come through clearly, and the occasional emotional outburst or tonal shift is handled smoothly.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: N/A

Surround Sound: N/A

Dialogue: Dialogue is consistently clean, balanced, and easy to follow. There’s no muddiness or distortion, and the mix ensures the actors’ performances are front and center without being buried under environmental effects or music.

 

Extras

The special features also go above and beyond. Interviews with critic Tony Rayns and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan offer insight into both the film’s production and Imamura’s worldview. Tom Mes’ video essay about the year 1997 as a turning point for Japanese cinema helps contextualize the film historically. Add to that a newly translated interview with Imamura in the booklet, improved subtitles, reversible artwork, and a classy full-height Scanavo case with OBI strip.

What really makes this The Eel Blu-ray release stand out is the inclusion of Imamura’s rarely seen 134-minute director’s cut, meticulously reassembled by the director himself. Radiance Films has done a great job with the presentation. You’re given the choice between the leaner theatrical version and the more introspective, slower-burning director’s cut. Both are fully restored and beautifully encoded in 1080p. This kind of care and respect for the filmmaker’s intent is something physical media fans dream about.

 

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES

• Contains both the Theatrical cut (117 mins.) and rarely seen Director’s cut (134 mins.)
• Interview with critic Tony Rayns (2024)
• Interview with screenwriter Daisuke Tengan (2024)
• Visual essay by Tom Mes on the year 1997 as a turning point in Japanese cinema (2024)

• Trailer
• Newly improved English subtitle translation
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
• Limited edition booklet featuring a newly translated archival interview with Imamura
• Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

 

 

Summary

As a release, The Eel Blu-ray goes above and beyond. The inclusion of both versions of the film, along with insightful new interviews and essays, makes this not just a watch but an experience. Imamura’s final major work is rich with layered emotion, dry humor, and symbolic oddities that reward multiple viewings. If you’ve never seen it, or if you only know the theatrical version, The Eel Blu-ray is absolutely the way to go. It’s one of Radiance’s most essential offerings to date.

 

 

The Eel is available on Blu-ray!

ORDER NOW!

 

Paid Advertising Link