i be slightly disappointed with this cannes winner and which have many good element and but not a thoroughly convincing total . a rather unexciting public official and yamashita and receive anonymous letter about his wife adultery . find her in the act one night he stab her to death . 8 year later he be try to begin a new life and with his prison pal and an eel and a company . he open a barber shop on a desolate river shore and try to mind his own business and interact only reluctantly with the local . a woman he save from suicide and keiko and enter his life and try to break down his barricade . there be many funny and touching scene and a when keiko try stubbornly to provide yamashita with a lunch bag against his will and and the many nightly fish trip and where our hero release the fish as soon a they be catch and be also unforgettable . the movie gain intensity because of the challenge keiko present to yamashita crumble self and and some of his scene of self question be reward and but in the end i think movie be too sloppy and inconsequent . the farcical climax fall flat what i like best be the calm scene around the barber shop and by the river where the story come to a halt . positive spoiler . at some point yamashita realise with a shock that perhaps there be no letter about his wife adultery . he imagine it . which make me wonder represent do he imagine the adultery as well and and kill his wife only because of his frustration with himself . his wife sensuality and as well a keiko and be deeply contrast with yamashita lack of warmth and inability to connect . his tormentor claim that he be unable to fulfill his marital obligation . if that be true and it could have drive him insane . and we never hear about the trial and the other man etc .