中年男子山下拓郎（役所广司）在亲眼目睹了妻子与人偷情的场面后，于愤怒中刺死了妻子，锒铛入狱，八年后，获假释出狱的他在千叶县利根河边开了家小理发店，因为当年的遭遇，他对人很难再信任，平时唯有的交流对象是所养的鳗鱼。山下无意…

A businessman returns from an extended trip, but something seems off. Criminal operations and religious cults come into play, while the man's daughter and her journalist boyfriend race to find the truth.

日本信州深shan的一个小村子里，由于贫困沿袭丅来的传统是，活到70岁的老人要被长子背到楢shan上丢弃（曰;参拜楢shan神）。 69岁的阿玲婆（清川虹子）离上楢shan的日子已不远，她常为自己异常结实的身体而苦恼。丈夫在前一年因可怕被丢到…