Plot Summary
In Kabuki style, the film tells the story of a remote mountain village where the scarcity of food leads to a voluntary but socially-enforced policy in which relatives carry 70-year-old family members up Narayama mountain to die. Granny Orin is approaching 70, content to embrace her fate. Her widowed son Tatsuhei cannot bear losing his mother, even as she arranges his marriage to a widow his age. Her grandson Kesa, who's girlfriend is pregnant, is selfishly happy to see Orin die. Around them, a family of thieves are dealt with severely, and an old man, past 70, whose son has cast him out, scrounges for food. Will Orin's loving and accepting spirit teach and ennoble her family?
Full Cast & Characters
Kinuyo Tanaka
Orin
Teiji Takahashi
Tatsuhei
Yūko Mochizuki
Tamayan
Seiji Miyaguchi
Matayan
Yūnosuke Itō
Matayan's son
Ken Mitsuda
Teruyan
Danko Ichikawa
Kesakichi
Keiko Ogasawara
Matsu-yan
Eijirō Tōno
Messenger
Kō Nishimura
One of the villagers who Teaches Narayama's Manners (uncredited)
Katsuyuki Hattori
Tatsuhei's son (uncredited)
Tokuji Kobayashi
One of the villagers who teaches Narayama's manners (uncredited)
Director & Crew
Keisuke Kinoshita
Director
Official Trailer
Where to Watch The Ballad of Narayama Online
You can currently stream The Ballad of Narayama online or watch it in HD via the link below.
Find The Ballad of Narayama StreamingMovies Similar to The Ballad of Narayama
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Ballad of Narayama online?
The Ballad of Narayama (1958) is available to stream on various platforms. You can also watch it online via our Watch Online button.
What is the IMDb rating of The Ballad of Narayama?
It has an IMDb rating of 7.5/10 based on 89 votes.
Who directed The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama was directed by Keisuke Kinoshita and released in 1958.
How long is The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama has a runtime of 1 hours and 38 minutes.
Movie Details
- Release Date
- 1958-06-01
- Status
- Released