THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA (1958)

KEISUKE KINOSHITA

Drama Art House Classics Historical 10th - 19th Centuries Recommended

Cast

KINUYO TANAKA TEIJI TAKAHASHI YUKO MOCHIZUKI DANKO ICHIKAWA SCHICHIRO FUKAZAWA

Plot

In a remote village, due to food scarcity, everyone who reaches the age of 70 must leave their home and travel to a certain mountain top to die. If anyone should refuse they would be disgracing their family within the small community. Orin is 69 and this winter it is her turn to make the journey, but she is torn by the fact that her eldest and widowed son, Tatsuhei, has yet to find a new wife. 'Ballad of Narayama' is a striking and fascinating human drama contemplating the issue of Cultural Relativism and made in Kabuki style.