The Ballad of Narayama

A slow, haunting immersion into a harsh world where love and duty collide, leaving a lingering ache.

Directed by

Keisuke Kinoshita

Genres

Drama

Starring

Kinuyo Tanaka, Teiji Takahashi, Yūko Mochizuki

Tagline

With my mother on my back, now is the time to say goodbye to this world.

Overview

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.

How it feels

Bleak, melancholic, earnest and warm. Slow-burning and needs your attention.

About

Family, death, aging, trauma

Content

Mild violence and sexual content. No gore or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)