The Ballad of Narayama is a Japanese film by director Shōhei Imamura from 1983, tells a story about long-standing Japanese tradition of treatment of older people. The film bases on a really old tradition of treatment of older people who were escorted by sons to the Mount Fuji. Script writer : Shōhei Imamura and lead roles : Ken Ogata (Tatsuhei), Sumiko Sakamoto (Orin, mother of Tatsuhei).
The action takes place in Narayama, it is a small village in the inaccessible mountains. There is a age-old principle that every villager, who finished 70 years must go to the mountains to die. Refusal pulls shame and contempt for the whole family. Old Orin is 69 years. This winter is her turn. Before leaving she wants to make sure that her eldest son Tatsuhei find a wife...
The great advantage of this film are costiumes created by Kyoto Isho and music composed by Shinichirô Ikebe. However the bad side of the film are scenes of animal's copulation. The director has not left anything the viewer's imagination.
I recommend to you this film because is not very well known, but it is worth to watch it. Shows the life of the Japanese people in the nineteenth century village away from civilization.
after all our exams, I'll try to watch this film. I'm very curious about these costumes! thanks for your recommendation! :)
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