The Ballad of Narayama (1983 film)



The Ballad of Narayama (楢山節考) is a 1983 Japanese film by director Shōhei Imamura. It stars Sumiko Sakamoto as Orin, Ken Ogata, and Shoichi Ozawa. It is an adaptation of the book Narayama bushikō by Shichirō Fukazawa and slightly inspired by the 1958 film directed by Keisuke Kinoshita. It won the Palme d'Or at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot
The film is set in a small rural village in Japan in the 19th century. According to tradition, once a person reaches the age of 70 he or she must travel to a remote mountain to die of starvation, a practice known as ubasute. The story concerns Orin, who is 69 and of sound health, but notes that a neighbor had to drag his father to the mountain, so she resolves to avoid clinging to life beyond her term. She spends a year arranging all the affairs of her family and village: she severely punishes a family who are hoarding food, and helps her younger son lose his virginity.

The film has some harsh scenes that show how brutal the conditions could be for the villagers. Interspersed between episodes in the film are brief vignettes of nature – birds, snakes, and other animals hunting, watching, singing, copulating or giving birth.

Cast

 * Ken Ogata – Tatsuhei
 * Sumiko Sakamoto – Orin
 * Tonpei Hidari – Risuke
 * Aki Takejo – Tamayan
 * Shoichi Ozawa – Katsuzō
 * Fujio Tokita – Jinsaku
 * Sanshō Shinsui – Zeniya no Matayan
 * Seiji Kurasaki – Kesakichi
 * Junko Takada – Matsuyan
 * Mitsuko Baisho – Oei
 * Taiji Tonoyama – Teruyan
 * Casey Takamine – Arayashiki
 * Nenji Kobayashi – Tsune
 * Nijiko Kiyokawa – Okane
 * Akio Yokoyama – Amaya

Awards

 * Cannes Film Festival (1983)
 * Palme d'Or
 * Japanese Academy Awards (1984)
 * Best Actor Ken Ogata
 * Best Film
 * Best Sound Kenichi Benitani
 * Blue Ribbon Awards (1984)
 * Best Actor Ken Ogata
 * Excellence in Cinematography Award (1984): Masao Tochizawa
 * Hochi Film Award (1983)
 * Best Supporting Actress Mitsuko Baisho
 * Mainichi Film Concours (1984)
 * Best Actor (Ken Ogata)
 * Best Sound Recording: Kenichi Benitani

Home media
The Ballad of Narayama was released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment in May 2010. The DVD is compatible with all region codes and includes special features such as the theatrical trailer.