Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge
Warm Water Under a Red Bridge

Film Movement Classics

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge

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Edition Type: Limited Edition Slipcover

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This Partner Label release is distributed through Vinegar Syndrome's sister company OCN Distribution. Vinegar Syndrome had no part in, nor are responsible for, the restoration, extras, quality control or any content(s) of this release. We hope you enjoy our growing roster of Partner Labels and the expertise and curation brought to each release by their dedicated staff!

Details

This special limited edition spot gloss and embossed slipcover (designed by Brandon Schaefer) is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.

Brimming with magical realism, sensuality, and humor, the final film by revered filmmaker Shohei Imamura is "an enlightening, even liberating, experience" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) that tells the story of Yosuke Sasano, an unemployed salaryman who arrives in a remote fishing village following a rumor of hidden treasure. Instead, he meets Saeko Aizawa, a charming and unusual woman with a unique problem: a well of warm water inside her longing for release. Saeko faces both shame and adoration for her condition, which the local anglers believe feeds the river and its fish. Intrigued and enamored, Yosuke decides to take up a new life as a fisherman. Through their passionate affair, Imamura paints a picture of longing, fantasy, and the search for true happiness in the most unexpected of places that's both "nonchalantly freaky and uncommonly pleasurable" (Michael Atkinson, The Village Voice).

directed by: Shohei Imamura
starring: Kôji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu
2001 / 119 min / 1.78:1 / Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0

Additional info:

  • Region A Blu-ray
  • Messy and Juicy video essay by author and film curator Tom Vick
  • 16-page booklet with essays by film scholar and writer Hwang Kyunmin and film critic Jessica Yeung
  • English subtitles

Overall rating: 4.56 / 5 from 50 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge, directed by Shohei Imamura, is a limited edition Blu-ray featuring a heartfelt story and memorable scenes. It includes a video essay and a booklet with essays by film scholars. Available exclusively on the Film Movement website and select indie retailers.

Summary topics

  • Story Quality: 15%
  • Film Enjoyment: 35%

Review topics: ["quality","looks","packaging","picture","work","film","comedy","release","story","moments","slipcover","movie","art","filmmakers","fan","piece"].

Review highlights

  • "I loved how it mixes the everyday with the surreal, turning an odd little story into something deeply moving." — Reza S.
  • "Overall, the film is beautifully shot, with a number of memorable scenes." — Micah D.
  • "Very enjoyable film about a woman with the unique ability to make a splash anywhere she goes lol." — Scott C.

Reviews

Great release

"Blind bought this on sale and it is great, very happy I took a chance on it. Looks and sounds great, too. Super packaging incl. slip and booklet."

— Jakob P. (5/5)

Whimsical story

"Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is a whimsical, gently surreal romantic comedy that blends everyday melancholy with magical realism, resulting in one of Shohei Imamura’s most tender and eccentric late‑career films. The story follows a down‑on‑his‑luck salaryman who drifts into a small coastal town and meets a mysterious woman whose emotional state is tied—quite literally—to flowing water. What begins as an odd, almost folkloric premise becomes a warm, humanistic exploration of loneliness, desire, and the strange ways people heal each other. Imamura’s trademark interest in earthy, bodily, lived‑in humanity is present, but here it’s softened by humor, charm, and a sense of gentle wonder. Visually, the film is calm and sunlit, with the seaside setting reinforcing its themes of renewal. Some viewers find its magical conceit unusual, even baffling, but many consider it one of Imamura’s most accessible and emotionally generous works—quirky, sweet, and quietly profound."

— Tarek E. (3/5)

Fountains of Pleasure

"Thematically unique Japanese drama by the late great Imamura. Handles a strange topic with both humanism and sensitivity. A sweet film about a man finding a new direction in life."

— William G. (5/5)

Not As Weird As It Sounds

"“You must see me as a slut. ” 
“I do.  But I can’t stop thinking about you. ” This is my first Shohei Imamura film, a director I've been aware of but had yet to dive into his filmography. This movie encourages me to seek out his other work as I found his filmmaking to be quite stunning, both in it's balance of tone (comedy and sincerity) as well as it's formal rigor (most scenes are covered in extended wide shots that rarely cut in to closeups, a risk when you're trying to draw the audience in to the emotional life of the characters)."

— Ryan B. (5/5)

Shohei Imamura's Final Feature-Length FIlm

"Shohei Imamura is one of Japan's most revered directors and while his final feature-length film isn't among his absolute best (he enjoyed a long career with many exceptional releases) it's not one to pass on either. This release is a little light on special features with a video essay and booklet, but still worth having for anyone who isn't region-free."

— Trent S. (4/5)

Excellent Japanese cinema

"Warm Water under a Red Bridge is a 2000s classic. The restoration on this one is great and probably has one of my favorite slip covers. Recommended for fans of Japanese cinema."

— Drake D. (5/5)

Surprisingly good

"Recommended movie. Great release"

— Adam R. (5/5)

A Creative Sex Comedy

"This seems like the perfect sex comedy and it definitely has its fair share of memorable moments. I hope this means more Imamura films will see a release in the US. Definitely very focused on gags, but that's fine!"

— Douglas M. (5/5)

Sweet, strange, and very memorable

"Really enjoyed this one. Warm Water Under a Red Bridge has a relaxed, whimsical feel that makes it stand out right away, and it balances humor, tenderness, and oddball charm really well. It is one of those films that feels very specific to its director, and I was happy to finally see it in such a strong edition. A lovely and very worthwhile release."

— Thomas L. (4/5)

Love the cover

"Perfect as always!"

— Grant B. (5/5)

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