BACKWATER
I was 17 when Dad died.
It was in 1988.
- Back from school? - Yes.
It's your birthday.
Yes.
Want some cola?
No, thanks.
Drop by any time.
Jinko lost her left hand years ago in a WWII air raid.
Her house went up in flames,
trapping her and her hand under burning debris.
She said:
"It was a blazing inferno I traded my hand for life.
Jinko almost got married when the war ended.
The man's mother said:
"Her babies might not have hands."
Jinko grabbed the woman's mouth with her right hand
and shoved in her left arm stub.
"Want me to push your tongue down your throat?" she said.
As Jinko's parents died in the war,
she had to take on live-in work at a fish shop in Kawabe.
Unlike towns near stations and ports Kawabe wasn't rebuilt.
Sometimes roaming hobos ended up staying on.
That's Kawabe.
Ten years younger than Jinko,
a hobo named Madoka Shinogakiwa met her at a festival.
They married.
"Why would someone marry a one-armed, older woman?"
Jinko thought.
But after they got married, it turned out that he'd had a history with women.
And he would get violent during sex.
Hi, Toma!
Dad didn't beat Jinko, when she was pregnant.
He had a string of lovers instead.
He started beating her again when I was one.
So Jinko went back to the fish shop to live on her own.
Why didn't you take me with you?
You're this man's offspring.
By that time,
I was pregnant again with your sister.
I was over 40 and wanted one last baby.
But I thought one child with that man was enough.
So I had it scraped out.
When that woman isn't on the veranda, she's with dad or some other guy.
She's a middle-aged woman, not young anymore.
Happy 17th birthday.
So it'll be my birthday sex?
We should go to the hotel then.
There's no difference.
Of course there is.
You came putting on a condom the first time.
We promised we'd wait with sex for your birthday, Toma.
We didn't last month.
Is this how it should be?
Wasn't it good?
It was. That's why I have to think about it.
You're thinking during sex?
No, but when it's over.
I thought I'm no different from Dad.
Like him, I love sex.
But you don't hit me, Toma.
You'd only know that after it happened.
Toma, you wouldn't hit me.
Toma and Chigusa are a couple!
They are dating!
Got your period?
You idiot. We just had sex.
Just checking.
I don't get it.
Why can't menstruating women go through the shrine gate?
The Gods discriminate.
Jinko said, that now she's not a woman anymore, she's free.
She's lucky. I don't want to menstruate.
You wouldn't be a woman!
As long as I have a slit, I am a woman.
It does look like one.
What?
Dad once said this river is a vagina.
Are you hurt by what's done to you, Ms. River?
Did I hurt you?
Don't worry. It'll pass.
Your dad's right about this river.
I don't give a damn about the river.
Living in this slum is no good.
No amount of effort will get you off the riverbed.
Hey, don't get confused.
You're making love to me, not to a river.
That makes me just as bad as Dad.
Sex is everything.
Life by this sad river offers little more.
You used to catch fish here.
The local kids don't go in the river anymore.
It was even dirtier when I was a kid.
But the fish were bigger.
It's just that you were small.
You want to come over for dinner?
No thanks. I'm tired.
And...
It still...
...hurts?
It hurt more while we were at it.
I must be hopeless in bed.
Don't say that.
With experience and effort...
Experience. How many times have we done it?
I was counting but I lost track.
13 times.
And it still hurts?
Toma, you're late!
Where have you been?
Hey, boy!
Answer your father!
Were you with a girl, Toma?
Is that true?
Yes. One of the regulars at the bar saw him with a girl.
It's Chigusa.
Bloody hell.
Those pretty young things.
I'll be late tonight.
He probably goes to that woman.
Toma, your steak's ready.
It's your birthday,
so I splurged on meat and cake but he went out...
Kotoko is 35 and works at a bar by the sea.
She moved in a year ago.
Dad's no drinker, but he visited the bar until he won her over.
Happy birthday.
Sometimes Kotoko has bruises and black eyes.
Why do you stay?
Doesn't Dad scare you?
He says he loves my body.
Even more so when he hits me.
I thought she was an idiot.
Leave the plates. I'll do them later.
Off I go.
My Dad's run a shady business since I was little.
Lots of people call, including foreigners.
His visitors don't look like businessmen.
Our house and shed were full of clutter.
I want to thrust my penis in Kotoko and poke her.
You're early. Did you skip class?
School's out for summer.
Let's catch some eels.
OK?
Dusk is the best time.
You go first. Don't wait for me.
Use the nail hook.
You don't listen to me!
How is it?
It still hurts a little.
Oh, come on.
I'm going slow, so it won't hurt.
It's okay, do as you like.
Welcome back...
I'm home.
Where's Dad?
He doubts me.
Why?
There's a young guy who comes to my bar.
Your Dad snoops around looking for a proof.
Is it true?
Huh?
Which part?
That your Dad doubts me? Or that I cheat on him?
The latter.
Not you too, Toma!
Don't be stupid.
You want some lunch?
No, I'll eat at the fish shop.
Sorry.
Don't apologize.
Is Dad here?
He trooped by, but then he left.
It was his idea, but then he doesn't show up!
Why do you come here for eels?
The fish guts you throw in the river attract eels.
Really?
I only catch eel with Dad,
so the three of us can spend time together.
- Just like this? - Perfect.
I wonder what he's up to.
Why?
Did he say something?
No, but he had that look in his eyes.
When he gets that look it means trouble.
He had that look in his eyes, on your birthday.
It's like he's possessed.
Tell me...
When Dad sleeps over here,
does he hit you?
I caught one!
Over here!
What were you asking me?
What about when he sleeps over?
What?
Never mind.
He doesn't sleep over anymore.
He just drops by sometimes.
Now that I'm not a woman anymore he's not interested.
With Kotoko it would be different. He'd hit her.
He only does it to fertile women.
That's how he feels manly.
- Want one? - No.
Your dad doesn't smoke either.
- Do you drink? - Of course not.
Moms don't encourage kids to smoke and drink.
I don't have to. You'll smoke and drink
in your own good time.
- Just one eel? - Yes.
The factory that made this has closed.
Now I get it repaired at bike and watch shops.
I even tried an optician.
Lubricating helps but I can't keep cheating it.
Next time it breaks I'll get a normal false hand.
Don't you need a customized one for your job?
You couldn't work with a regular one.
Maybe I should hire someone.
Maybe I can find someone to take over.
How about you?
I'll come again tomorrow.
Is Dad home?
He went out.
He has to prepare for the festival.
The festival is not for a month!
You eat like a child,
but your dad's even worse.
You two eat in the exact opposite way.
Dad pours soup and egg on his rice.
The rice drowns in a disgusting sludge.
I have some news that your dad said I should tell you.
I'm pregnant.
I'm having this baby.
Do you approve?
What?
Don't ask me.
You don't need my approval.
- Where are you going? - I'll pick up the eel.
Hello.
Come to the shrine storeroom. And hurry.
- Got a condom? - I forgot.
You're kidding. You want me to scream?
You'd rather screw a condom than me?
Your eyes are scary! Get off!
Don't you want to get pregnant?
Would you scrape my baby out?
I don't know, what you're talking about!
If you don't want it down there, use your mouth.
Either way's OK, as long as I can be inside you.
Let me put it in please!
I'm here for the eel.
Tell her it's OK to return the empty pot.
What's that horrible look?
What's that look?
What?
It reminds me of your dad.
I wish I'd made you look more like me than him.
Kotoko is pregnant.
Really.
That means she won't be beaten for a while.
Like when I was pregnant with you.
He stopped it completely.
If she's constantly pregnant, she can avoid the beatings.
In my case, I only had you.
When Kotoko has a little one,
what will you do?
They might tell you to leave.
I don't know.
God knows if the baby will make it to full term.
Don't say that!
So you truly want it to be born?
One kid with his blood in the world is more than enough.
That's how it should be.
Despite all his screwing around,
only one baby survived. You even had a decent upbringing.
I bet I'm the only woman tough enough to bear his child.
You almost had another.
If I had, he would have kept the baby.
I had it scraped out so I could keep it.
When I had you, I thought you would be mine.
Though I gave birth to you, you are the product of your dad and me.
And though I'd rather die than to accept that, I had to.
Thanks.
So you're seeing Chigusa?
Who told you that?
Nobody in particular.
I don't remember, which rumor it was.
If you must see a girl, why couldn't she be prettier?
Don't eat that eel. And tell Kotoko not to.
I can never eat them.
Eels caught in that river are polluted with sewage!
The festival is near.
Don't touch anything dirty.
- How do you want it? - As it is.
- I can reheat it. - Leave it alone.
Ginger and soy sauce.
Why aren't you two eating it?
You don't know what you're missing!
Ginger kills the stink.
I caught it with the nail hook.
- First time? - Yes.
That's my boy!
Oops, you'd deserve a bite then!
I ate it all up!
She said to return the empty pot.
It's me.
What do you want?
It's been 10 days.
What do you expect after what you did? Get it?
Alright!
Sorry I choked you!
Don't forgive me, but let's have sex. I won't hurt you.
Go screw yourself!
Kotoko said thanks and sorry for being late.
Dear me...
Thank her for me.
Wait a minute.
I don't want a cola.
Chigusa's mom came by yesterday.
She bought some fish and...
What?
You haven't seen Chigusa recently?
Who cares?
Her mother is worried.
Did she tell you anything?
Like what?
What?
You...
didn't hit her, didn't you?
Maybe it was in the heat of the moment.
But you'd better be ready for anything.
It could get really bad.
When he hit me the first time,
I seriously thought to kill him.
I still don't understand, why I didn't do it right then!
You know something? That man,
he had that scary look.
It was the same look you get.
He looked down at me.
He only hit me to make himself feel good.
I could see in his eyes that he didn't despise me for my hand.
It wasn't that.
He just hit me.
Got a minute?
I'm leaving.
You've been good to me, so I couldn't just go.
I wanted to tell you.
OK?
So Dad doesn't know?
Don't tell him until I've gone.
He might do something crazy.
I want to get away without being hit just this one time.
Is it that guy?
Wrong. I'm going alone.
This one's too little to count on.
Today?
No.
You have money?
That's not for a kid to worry about.
I don't want to be stuck in this town like Dad and Jinko.
I want to leave like Kotoko. I'll leave with Chigusa.
But right now I just wanted to screw Chigusa.
With or without the beatings I wanted sex.
That's why I flushed my semen into the river every day.
I finally visited that woman.
It was my first unprotected sex.
I told her that Dad would pick up the tab.
She said, "I'll give you a discount."
"Because you weren't as brutal as your dad."
Toma! Toma!
Don't forget your girlfriend!
You put them up to it?
No way!
They dragged me over here.
You didn't have to follow them.
Don't be mean! I wanted to see you.
Don't forget what I did to you.
I'll kill you the next time, OK?
It's not OK. I'm sure I'll do it again.
Don't do it again and we'll be OK.
I will hit you. I'm that man's son!
See you at the shrine the day after tomorrow.
- Hello. - Hi.
Toma!
Will you help out at the shrine?
You're asleep.
What's wrong? The festival is in a few days!
That's enough.
Off I go, Toma.
Dad is the biggest fool.
But I used to think you and Jinko were just as bad.
I mean, he hits you!
But I was wrong.
You aren't stupid.
You're brave to leave him.
I couldn't stop Dad.
That makes me as big a fool as him.
Even if things are unbearable,
Toma, don't call yourself or your parents fools.
If that's how you feel you should leave too.
Oh, ouch!
It's raining, Toma. Doggone it!
But the show must go on.
Hey, Toma.
I heard you took shelter at the Lady the other day.
Let me tell you, it doesn't bother me at all.
Not in the slightest.
Attaboy! Go for her all you want.
How was it? Did you slap her while you fucked her?
Good, wasn't it?
Once you know what it's like there's no going back.
Not that I want to stop. There's nothing better!
She's ugly but if we both keep pumping her,
she might have two babies.
For both of us!
You shouldn't speak like that.
Wow, look who's being complicated!
You think you know right from wrong.
But you don't know yourself. The Lady told me about you.
How you swung her head around by her hair,
with your eyes wide open and your nostrils flared like an overexited kid!
Don't you know?
Kotoko has left you for good.
Did you know it? It's your problem!
- Did you know it? - You hit her!
What's that brat?
You hit Jinko, Kotoko and the Lady.
How many have you beaten?
She took my baby away!
That stupid bitch!
I told Dad
Kotoko got brave and effortlessly decided to leave Kawabe with the baby.
I envied Kotoko.
Toma! Toma!
Come to the shrine!
It's your dad!
Sorry, Toma! We tried to stop him!
Toma! Toma!
I can't find Kotoko anywhere.
Where is Chigusa? What did you do to her?
In the shrine?
I was looking for Kotoko, when I saw the kids at the shrine.
They asked me where you were. They said Chigusa was waiting.
So I went to look.
I'd rather have had Kotoko.
But you know how it is, Toma.
When you want it badly, any woman would do.
As long as you can stick it in, you know?
By the way, haven't you hit that girl yet?
That's cold, you prick!
Hey!
Oh, no...
Why did you come in this rain?
You knew the festival would be off.
I told you I'd be here.
The kids tried to stop him, but they couldn't.
He shoved me in here,
and locked the door from inside.
It didn't last long.
Maybe I was punished for doing it with you in a shrine.
It's my fault.
If I'd come it wouldn't have happened.
It's not your fault.
You're right. It's not!
I did this to you.
That's why I have to kill him!
Wait a minute.
- Don't stop me. - I won't, but I need your help.
My body's in shock.
I need a hand.
I thought I'd never get up.
But it's not so bad.
Thank you.
I won't stop you.
Kotoko?
Kotoko.
Kotoko, where did you go?
Kotoko!
Kotoko?
Where are you?
Kotoko!
She's gone.
She's nowhere.
He dropped by a while ago.
He said Kotoko had gone. He had that look.
What did you do to her?
I didn't go...
to the shrine.
To the shrine?
At the shrine...
At the shrine that man did this to you?
This is why I should have done something
a long time ago.
So I'm going to...
You can't handle this.
You've never been hit by him.
Chigusa.
Please look after my boy, okay?
Everything is going to be OK, for both of you.
For Kotoko, too.
For Kotoko and her baby.
I said I wouldn't stop you!
I won't stop anybody who'd kill him for me!
Just remember.
I'm a coward.
Instead of doing it myself,
I'm leaving my mother and father to their fate!
It's okay!
No, it is not okay!
Of course it's not okay!
Go to the police by yourself.
Toma, what are you going to do?
What's the matter with you?
It hurts!
It's over.
Where are you going?
I won't die.
I'll handle this.
Are you Jinko Shinogaki?
Yes.
For the murder of...
What was his name?
It's Madoka. Shinogaki Madoka.
Right.
We need to ask you some questions about him at the station.
This is the shrine where it all started.
I met him dancing at the festival.
I have to go around the gate.
You have a period?
No, I'm tainted with that man's blood.
I see.
Now that I don't have that thing on,
it feels so light.
I can't process fish anymore.
I'll have to close the shop.
Unless you take over.
I can bring you supplies. Do you want anything?
Nothing at all.
I heard...
The Man vomited blood.
The Man?
Don't you read the papers?
Oh, you mean him.
You get to read papers?
Everybody says The Man should live until I'm sentenced.
- Why's that? - So I'll get a pardon.
A pardon?
When somebody gives birth or gets married in His family,
or some kind of celebration or a death occurs,
criminal sentences get reduced.
Oh, so you'll be released sooner.
I lost my hand by the war The Man started.
That's the least He can do for me.
I've been telling myself I have to outlive Him.
I'm determined not to die before Him.
I had no intention to return to Kawabe.
Come see me again.
Thank you.
I'll see you with the baby.
Please come back before I have the baby!
Please!
Take care of yourself.
Thank you very much.
Go back, it's cold.
Thank you, I will.
I'll see you all.
Thank you for coming.
Kotoko.
Ah, it's you!
Wait somewhere until I close the bar.
Have you eaten? I know a nice place.
Go to my place afterwards.
Is there someone?
No, silly.
I'll draw a map for you.
We are here...
This is where we are.
The Emperor is still bedbound.
At 5:30 pm His Majesty's temperature is 37.5 degrees.
With a 90 bpm pulse, 60/140 blood pressure and 18 breaths a minute.
His condition is stable and he shows no signs of pain.
The physician on duty suspects internal bleeding.
Anxiously the city officials decided...
Come on.
You're drunk!
I know you've wanted me.
I know you won't hit me.
You don't have to wear a condom. I won't get pregnant now.
You can put it in.
I haven't done it for so long.
What's wrong?
I don't feel like poking my siblings.
It's not your brother or sister.
It's not your father's baby.
So that guy knocked you up?
Jinko told me that your dad wouldn't hit me if I was pregnant.
So...
Don't worry about anything.
Would it help if you hit me like your dad?
You can hit me if you're not rough.
It kicked!
The baby kicked!
Welcome home.
Just like this?
Be killed or have your hands tied. It's your choice.
Do you have hands so you can hit me?
Or do you have hands to love me?
It doesn't hurt anymore?
No. It feels very good.
As the new year arrived the Showa era ended.
It was on January 7, 1989.
At 6:33 am.
It was almost high tide.
Masaki SUDA as Toma
Misaki KINOSHITA as Chigusa
Yukiko SHINOHARA as Kotoko
Ittoku KISHIBE as Detective
Ken MITSUISHI as Madoka
Yuko TANAKA as Jinko
Based on the original novel by Shinya TANAKA
Producer Naoki KAI
Sreenplay by Haruhiko ARAI
Directed by Shinji AOYAMA