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Plot
In the shadowy aftermath of the Pacific War, ten years later on August 15, a group of five mysterious strangers rendezvous in an abandoned station. They're on a clandestine mission to unearth a buried fortune - a cache of morphine valued at an eye-watering sixty million yen, stashed away by HASHIMOTO, a military medic, in a wartime air-raid shelter.
The motley crew consists of SHIMA, a captivating woman claiming to be HASHIMOTO's sister and indignant about her brother's demise; NAKADA, a pharmacist; ONUMA, a Chinese restaurant proprietor; YAMAMOTO, a brutish thug; and SAWAI, an alleged junior high school teacher. All claim to be part of the original trio of accomplices, but the math doesn't add up, sparking a game of deadly suspicion.
The location of the concealed treasure now lies beneath a bustling butcher shop. The group sets up camp in a vacant house opposite the shop, crafting a faux real estate office to cover their activities as they dig a subterranean tunnel. Finances dwindle, forcing a break in their operation, and ONUMA seizes an opportunity to betray his allies. Upon their return, detectives sniff around YAMAMOTO, a suspected robber, ratcheting up tension within the group.
With the clock ticking and the threat of a city renewal project looming, they resume their quest, even as their house tilts ominously under the strain of tractors working nearby. Internal conflicts reach a boiling point as YAMAMOTO and SAWAI brawl, culminating in a fatal catastrophe beneath the butcher shop.
Meanwhile, SHIMA, having seduced the landlord's son, SATORU, plans her own twist of betrayal. But as the plot thickens, ONUMA uncovers the truth about NAKADA's relationship to SHIMA, leading to a deadly showdown. SHIMA, her deceit unmasked, resorts to lethal measures, poisoning her rivals in a chilling toast.
Frightened, SATORU spills the beans to the townsfolk, triggering a frantic chase in a torrential downpour. SHIMA, morphine in hand, flees from relentless police, only to meet her downfall in the churning waters of a swollen river, ending this gritty tale of greed, deception, and desire.
Where to watch Endless Desire?
Endless Desire is a drama movie featuring Hiroyuki Nagato and directed by Shôhei Imamura.
Endless Desire is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.