Review of The Ballad of Narayama (1983) by Dave J — 01 Jul 2012
Set in a remote village upon the mountains of Japan, Shohei Imamura's "The Ballad of Narayama" chronicles the final year in the life of 69-year-old matriarch Orin (splendidly played by Sumiko Sakamoto), who is obligated by tradition to ascend the mountain once she has reached age 70 to die of starvation.
What sounds initially like a barbaric and arbitrary practice, is revealed by the end to be a graceful and noble rite that embodies the films themes of the cycle and balance between life and death. Taking his cues from the influential Ozu, Imamura scatters seemingly inconsequential vignettes or images between longer scenes as a form of visual punctuation, be it an animal hunting or mating, or a humanistic ritual such as.
.. hunting or mating. It gives the loose slice-of-life narrative an elegant pacing that promotes contemplation before and after each scene, a style which has pervaded many forms in Japanese film, including anime.
Observing a year in the life of the villagers and the harsh conditions they have endured for generations is the spirit of the piece, and much credit should go to Imamura and his team of cinematographers for capturing it so beautifully.
This review of The Ballad of Narayama (1983) was written by Dave J on 01 Jul 2012.
The Ballad of Narayama has generally received very positive reviews.
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