The Ballad of Narayama poster

The Ballad of Narayama

Only Time Could Change the Cruelty of Tradition… Only Their Love Could Survive It…

7.5(213)19832h 10m7

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.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
Japanese

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

Japan

Gallery

Still from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of NarayamaStill from The Ballad of Narayama

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereSan Francisco22 Jun 1984
  • United KingdomGB

    • PhysicalPGDVD11 Jun 2007
    • Physical15DVD & Blu-ray24 Oct 2011
  • AustraliaAU

    • PhysicalR 18+DVD6 Feb 2019
  • CzechiaCZ

    • PremiereEiga-Sai Film Festival26 Jan 2012
  • FranceFR

    • PremiereCannes Film Festival7 May 1983
    • TheatricalTP28 Sept 1983
    • TVFrance 2 (Ciné club)31 May 1997
    • PhysicalDVD25 Mar 2003
    • TheatricalRerelease11 Jul 2018
    • PhysicalBlu-Ray17 Jan 2020
    • PhysicalDVD & Blu-Ray (Re-Release)14 Apr 2021
  • GermanyDE

    • TVARTE (Cannes 2004)19 May 2004
  • Hong KongHK

    • Theatrical29 Apr 1983
  • JapanJP

    • Theatrical29 Apr 1983
  • NetherlandsNL

    • Theatrical61 Nov 1983
    • Physical6DVD2 Nov 2004
  • PortugalPT

    • TheatricalM/1626 Oct 1984
  • South KoreaKR

    • Theatrical1830 Oct 1999
  • SpainES

    • Theatrical129 Jul 1984

Frequently asked questions

The Ballad of Narayama was released on 29 April 1983.

Audience reviews

1
  • B

    badelf

    11/24/2023

    10/10

    The short review is "life's a bitch, then you die" LOL, that doesn't do this absolutely brilliant film any justice, though. Imamura has crafted a rather sardonic, brutally honest mirror of humans. Like humans, it is both hard to watch, and simultaneously invokes emapthy. Few directors every achieve this level of mastery of the audience's emotions. It holds a well-deserved Palme d'Or. The legend upon which the m…

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