About

In a remote village in 19th century Japan, a grim tradition continues: those who reach the age of 70 must be left to die at the summit of Mount Narayama. The strong-willed Orin, who is on the brink of reaching the cut-off age, is at peace with her morbid fate. But before her final moment arrives, she decides she must prepare by attending to unfinished family business, including arranging her eldest son Tatsuhei’s marriage and resolving various village conflicts.

Winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, The Ballad of Narayama unflinchingly explores themes of mortality and family duty, along with the reality of the harshness of rural life. Under Imamura’s masterful direction, this captivating drama emphasises the raw beauty and brutality of nature, while also reminding us that all human beings cannot escape the cycles of life.

R18+