The Ballad of Narayama(1958)
楢山節考
With my mother on my back, now is the time to say goodbye to this world.
The Ballad of Narayama Synopsis
In a remote village where food is scarce, elders who reach the age of 70 are carried by their children to the top of a nearby mountain to die in solitude. Orin, a vibrant 69-year-old grandmother, has accepted her fate — but struggles to prepare the rest of her family for the ritual.
The Ballad of Narayama (1958) is a drama film directed by Keisuke Kinoshita, released on June 1, 1958 with a runtime of 1h 38m. It stars Kinuyo Tanaka, Teiji Takahashi, Yūko Mochizuki and Seiji Miyaguchi. Viewers rate it 7.5 out of 10 across 92 ratings.
- Director:
- Keisuke Kinoshita
- Writers:
- Shichirō Fukazawa, Keisuke Kinoshita
- Producers:
- Masaharu Kokaji, Ryuzo Otani
- Cinematographer:
- Hiroshi Kusuda
- Composer:
- Matsunosuke Nozawa
- Production:
- Shochiku
- Status:
- Released
The Ballad of Narayama (1958) Trailer
Watch the official trailer for The Ballad of Narayama before you stream it.
The Ballad of Narayama Videos & Clips
Official trailers, teasers, clips and featurettes for The Ballad of Narayama.
The Ballad of Narayama - Trailer
Trailer
THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA (1958) Trailer | Director: Keisuke Kinoshita
Trailer
The Ballad of Narayama Cast & Crew
Main cast
Kinuyo Tanaka
as Orin
Teiji Takahashi
as Tatsuhei
Yūko Mochizuki
as Tamayan
Seiji Miyaguchi
as Matayan
Yūnosuke Itō
as Matayan's son
- Ken Mitsuda
Ken Mitsuda
as Teruyan
Danko Ichikawa
as Kesakichi
- Keiko Ogasawara
Keiko Ogasawara
as Matsu-yan
Eijirō Tōno
as Messenger
Kō Nishimura
as One of the villagers who Teaches Narayama's Manners (uncredited)
- Katsuyuki Hattori
Katsuyuki Hattori
as Tatsuhei's son (uncredited)
Tokuji Kobayashi
as One of the villagers who teaches Narayama's manners (uncredited)
Key crew
Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita, written by Shichirō Fukazawa and Keisuke Kinoshita, produced by Masaharu Kokaji and Ryuzo Otani.
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The Ballad of Narayama Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 7.5/10 from 92 ratings.
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The Ballad of Narayama – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Ballad of Narayama online?
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The Ballad of Narayama (1958) is available to stream on Criterion Channel, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in The Ballad of Narayama?
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The main cast of The Ballad of Narayama (1958) includes Kinuyo Tanaka, Teiji Takahashi, Yūko Mochizuki, Seiji Miyaguchi and Yūnosuke Itō. The film was directed by Keisuke Kinoshita. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The Ballad of Narayama released?
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The Ballad of Narayama was released on June 1, 1958 and runs for 1h 38m.
Is The Ballad of Narayama worth watching?
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The Ballad of Narayama (1958) holds an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 from 92 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Is there a trailer for The Ballad of Narayama?
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Yes. The official The Ballad of Narayama trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.