Even though I have always been interested in Asian movies, I've never been really familiar with Shohei Imamura's work (as a matter of fact, without counting this flick, I have seen only one other full length feature and a short). Still, since this movie won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film festival back then in 1997, I was really eager to check it out. Eventually, it is a rather strange flick mixing various genres with more or less success. Like most of Asian Art movies, the whole thing is rather cryptic and I'm pretty sure I didn't get most of the symbolism. Still, I'd rather watch a movie like this which doesn't give some straight answers and let me think than your usual Hollywood production where everything is completely dumbed down in order to reach the biggest audience. So, it is rather slow and somethimes a little tedious but I still liked it anyway, I enjoyed Shohei Imamura's directing and I will check his other movies when I get the opportunity. To conclude, even though it is definitely an acquired taste, I still think it is pretty good and it is absolutely worth a look, especially if you're interested in Asian movies.
7/10