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Endless Desire

果しなき欲望

Directed by: Shohei Imamura
1958 / 101 minutes / Unclassified 15+

Can this band of misfits dig their way to fortune, or are they digging their own graves?

Ten years after the war, five wildly different strangers are united by one thing – their endless desire for a hidden stash of morphine worth 60 million yen! The group’s only connection is a star badge, symbolising their shared desperation and common goal: to dig up and find the treasure, now buried under a local butchery. With meddling locals and a planned demolition threatening to derail the project, it’s not long before the team unravels, as secrets are revealed, alliances shift and survival becomes paramount.  

Filmed with Imamura’s early mise-en-scène brilliance, Endless Desire is filled with thrilling twists, betrayal and a good dose of dark comedy. Starring notable actors from the era including Misako Watanabe (Kaidan, 1964), this high-stakes story showcases Imamura’s knack for portraying humanity’s deep-seated desires, as he weaves complex narratives intertwining social commentary and human drama. A vivid snapshot of post-war turmoil in Japan, Imamura’s third title captures the hope for opportunity in a country ravaged by poverty, inequality and disillusion.