The Ballad of Narayama
楢山節考
“Only Time Could Change the Cruelty of Tradition… Only Their Love Could Survive It…”
Synopsis
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 they 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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA (Masters of Cinema) TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-08-07
Top Cast
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Ken Ogata
Tatsuhei
Sumiko Sakamoto
Orin
Tonpei Hidari
Risuke
Aki Takejo
Tamayan
Shoichi Ozawa
Katsuzô
Fujio Tokita
Jinsaku
Sanshō Shinsui
Zeniya Tadayan
Seiji Kurasaki
Kesakichi
Junko Takada
Matsuyan
Mitsuko Baisho
Oei
Taiji Tonoyama
Teruyan
Ben Hiura
Yakimatsu
Casey Takamine
Arayashiki
Nenji Kobayashi
Tsune
Nijiko Kiyokawa
Okane
Akio Yokoyama
Amaya
Kaoru Shimamori
Tomekichi
Yukie Shimura
Amaya's Wife
Release History & Theatrical Window
Eiga-Sai Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
February 6, 2019
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Shōhei Imamura
- Screenplay & Story
- Shōhei Imamura
- Original Score
- Shinichiro Ikebe
- Original Title
- 楢山節考
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Production Studios
- Toei Company
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Shōhei Imamura
Shōhei Imamura, Shichirō Fukazawa
Shinichiro Ikebe
Masao Tochizawa
Toshihiko Kojima, Fusako Matsumoto, Hajime Okayasu
Jirô Tomoda
Department Leadership Roster
Shōhei Imamura
Director
Shōhei Imamura
Screenplay
Gorô Kusakabe
Production Design
Shinichiro Ikebe
Original Music Composer
Jirô Tomoda
Producer
Masao Tochizawa
Director of Photography
Kyoto Isho
Costume Design
Toshihiko Kojima
Editor
Fusako Matsumoto
Editor
Hajime Okayasu
Editor
Yoshiko Onodera
Editor
Masahito Watanabe
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Ballad of Narayama.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Ballad of Narayama.
Asian Cinema
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All the Films I have on Hard Drives
Period Dramas
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ballad of Narayama
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Ballad of Narayama about?
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 they 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.
Who directed The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama was directed by Shōhei Imamura.
Who stars in The Ballad of Narayama?
The principal cast of The Ballad of Narayama includes Ken Ogata, Sumiko Sakamoto, Tonpei Hidari, Aki Takejo, Shoichi Ozawa.
When was The Ballad of Narayama released and how long is it?
The Ballad of Narayama was released in 1983 with a total runtime of 2h 10m.
Who composed the musical score for The Ballad of Narayama?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Ballad of Narayama was composed by Shinichiro Ikebe.
Is The Ballad of Narayama based on a book or true story?
The Ballad of Narayama is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Shichirō Fukazawa".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; FR: TP; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).