KINORAFIELD GUIDE TO FILM
My films
1983 · 130 min · NR

The Ballad of Narayama

Directed by Shōhei Imamura · Drama

The Ballad of Narayama (1983) is a Drama film, directed by Shōhei Imamura set in Japan during the 1800s.

Themes of mortality & aging, survival, and family & loyalty run throughout.

Composer
Shinichiro Ikebe
Cinematography
Masao Tochizawa
Cast
Ken OgataSumiko SakamotoTonpei HidariAki TakejoShoichi OzawaFujio TokitaSanshō ShinsuiSeiji Kurasaki

The world of this film

Setting

Where
Japan
Setting
RuralMountain
When
1800s

Premise & themes

Themes
Mortality & AgingSurvivalFamily & Loyalty
Tone
BleakContemplative

Shape

Protagonist
Female Led
Pacing
Slow Burn
Based on
Pure Fiction

More like this

  • 1962

    An Autumn Afternoon

    Tokyo — 1960s
    Urbandir. Yasujirō Ozu
  • 1983

    Barefoot Gen

    Hiroshima — 1940s
    Urbandir. Mori Masaki
  • 2000

    Battle Royale

    Japan — Near Future
    Island · Wildernessdir. Kinji Fukasaku
  • 1989

    Black Rain

    Osaka · New York City — 1980s
    Urbandir. Ridley Scott
  • 1967

    Branded to Kill

    Tokyo — 1960s
    Urbandir. Seijun Suzuki
  • 1997

    Contact

    New Mexico · Puerto Rico · Hokkaido · Florida — 1990s
    Desert · Off Worlddir. Robert Zemeckis