Warm Water Under a Red Bridge – Film Movement (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 2001
Director: Shōhei Imamura
Writers: Shōhei Imamura, Daisuke Tengan, Motofumi Tomikawa
Cast: Kōji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu, Mitsuko Baisho, Mansaku Fuwa, Isao Natsuyagi, Yukiya Kitamura, Hijiri Kojima 

Release Date: August 26th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 119 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Stereo Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $41.98

"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. - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.1 GB

Feature: 33.5 GB

The source has been cleaned up; flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity is strong, and there are no issues with compression. That said, there are instances of black crush, especially during black and white flashbacks.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clear and balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a trailer (1 minute 44 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay by author and film curator Tom Vick titled Messy and Juicy (9 minutes 50 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a spot gloss and embossed slipcover (limited to 2,000 units), and a 20-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled She Shall Redeem the Man written by Hwang Kyunmin, and an essay titled Warm Water Under a Red Bridge: A Surreal Comedy of Redemption and Love written by Jessica Yeung.

Summary:

Shôhei Imamura directed Warm Water Under a Red Bridge. He’s known for Pigs and Battleships, The Insect Woman, Intentions of Murder, The Pornographers, Vengeance Is Mine, The Ballad of Narayama, Zegen, and Black Rain.

A salaryman visiting a seaside town falls in love with a woman who has a most unusual way of climaxing during sex.

Although the film begins as a story about a man searching for an object hidden in a house by someone he knew, it evolves into a romantic comedy about characters searching for meaning in their lives. That said, its premise does a superb job drawing you in, and its well-crafted narrative effectively builds momentum.

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is a film infused with magical realism and social commentary. Themes explored include alienation, male sexuality and the fear of impotency, and a celebration of female ecstasy. Despite its salacious premise, Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is actually a heartfelt exploration of the human condition. Although the moments where the Seako climaxes are striking, it is ultimately non-sexual moments between her character and Yosuake that drive the narrative.

All around, the cast are excellent in their roles; the secondary characters are mostly quirky characters who provide some humor. That said, it is the two leads, Kōji Yakusho (Cure) in the role of Yosuke Sasano and Misa Shimizu (The Eel), who shine the brightest. Their performances are nuanced, and they have an incredible amount of on-screen chemistry.

The narrative moves at a deliberate pace that allows characters' stories to flesh out and key moments to resonate. The last 20 minutes offer up a superbly executed twist and a dramatic tonal shift; things become violent and darker. The film culminates in a cathartic finale where the two leads reveal truths from their pasts, thereby exposing old wounds. Not to be overlooked when discussing Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is its use of odd sounds, which enhances the mood in a way a more traditional score would not. Ultimately, Warm Water Under a Red Bridge is an exemplary blend of melodrama, fantasy, and humor that serves as a perfect coda for Shōhei Imamura, a filmmaker who constantly challenged boundaries.

Film Movement gives Warm Water Under a Red Bridge a serviceable audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer