In a poor 19th century rural Japanese village, everyone who reaches the age of 70 has to climb a nearby mountain to die. An old woman is getting close to the cut-off age, and we follow her last days with her family.
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Title: The Ballad of Narayama (1983)
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9 wins & 8 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ken Ogata | ... | Tatsuhei | |
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Sumiko Sakamoto | ... | Orin |
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Tonpei Hidari | ... | Risuke |
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Aki Takejô | ... | Tamayan |
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Shôichi Ozawa | ... | Katsuzô |
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Fujio Tokita | ... | Jinsaku |
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Sanshô Shinsui | ... | Zeniya no Tadayan |
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Seiji Kurasaki | ... | Kesakichi |
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Junko Takada | ... | Matsuyan |
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Mitsuko Baishô | ... | Oei |
| Taiji Tonoyama | ... | Teruyan | |
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Casey Takamine | ... | Arayashiki (as Kêshi Takamine) |
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Nenji Kobayashi | ... | Tsune |
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Nijiko Kiyokawa | ... | Okane |
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Akio Yokoyama | ... | Amaya |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
In a small village in a valley everyone who reaches the age of 70 must leave the village and go to a certain mountain top to die. If anyone should refuse he or she would disgrace their family. Old Orin is 69. This winter it is her turn to go to the mountain. But first she must make sure that her eldest son Tatsuhei finds a wife. Written by Mattias Thuresson
Taglines:
In a time not long past, the first law was . . . The Old Must Die . . . [Video Australia] See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Performed by Sumiko Sakamoto
Courtesy of Radio City Records
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Did You Know?
Trivia
"Narayama" translates literally into English as "oak mountain". See more »Soundtracks
Oya wo nemurasu komori utaPerformed by Sumiko Sakamoto
Courtesy of Radio City Records
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
JapanLanguage:
JapaneseRelease Date:
29 April 1983 (Japan) See more »Also Known As:
The Ballad of Narayama See more »Company Credits
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On numerous occasions Japanese filmmaker Shohei Imamura has confessed that he is more interested in filming tales of despicable low lives than narrating stories of hypocrite Japanese middle class.This is precisely what makes his film special.It must be mentioned that an earlier version of this film was made in 1958 by veteran Japanese film maker Kinoshita Keisuke.Imamura has often stated that his film is more sensual than that of Kinoshita as it featured a Kabuki style narration of events.Ballad of Narayama is a film about ancient traditions which are hard to follow.It takes place in a Japanese village where a majority of inhabitants are low lives who lead a not so decent life.As traditions are to be respected there is a lot of respect for elders. The highlight of the film is the existential dilemma of a Japanese man whose task consists of leaving his old mother in the mountains of Narayama to be eaten alive by vultures.It is believed that forthcoming generations will live when sacrifices are made by old people.It is amazing how Imamura has managed to recreate a vivid life of ancient Japanese village.Ken Ogata is a joy to watch as an obedient son who hesitates to see his old mother die.A truly great film to learn about the eccentricities of human mind especially of the oriental kind.