Directed in 1983 by Imamura Shohei, The Ballad of Narayama is inspired by the eponymous novel by Fukazawa Shichirō. Through its understated yet powerful direction, the film immerses the viewer in 19th-century rural Japan. Harsh natural laws govern life, where every mouth that needs to be fed counts. This work, imbued with realism, profoundly questions the links between tradition, family, and survival.
A Village Ruled by Necessity
The story is set in a remote hamlet, surrounded by mountains, where isolation imposes its own rules. The land is infertile. Winters are long. Hunger is common. In this environment, the villagers observe the custom of ubasute: once the elderly person reaches the age of 70, a relative carries them on their back and abandons them at the summit of Narayama Mountain. They consider this ritual a necessity and accept it without question, even if it leads to death.
The character of Orin, an elderly woman still robust and dignified, is at the center of this ritual. Her departure is approaching. She calmly prepares for it. Her son, Tatsuhei, will have to carry her. But behind this apparent submission, deep ethical conflicts are revealed.
Moral dilemmas beneath apparent obedience
The film depicts characters who are torn. Although the villagers respect the tradition of ubasute, some question it. Tatsuhei embodies this ambivalence: he remains loyal to his family and his community, but the task ahead deeply troubles him. The viewer thus feels a constant tension between obedience to tradition and the call of conscience.
The film poses this question without resorting to excessive pathos. Imamura handles it with restraint. He doesn’t depict the suffering in a spectacular way, but he makes it felt accurately. The film adopts a neutral stance: neither open condemnation nor glorification of sacrifice. Room is left for the viewer’s judgment.
An aesthetic that serves the purpose
Imamura adopts a very rigorous visual approach. He films the mountain landscapes with slowness and breadth. Wide shots emphasize the insignificance of humanity in the face of nature. The camera lingers on everyday gestures. Work, food, rain, silence: all contribute to creating a harsh but authentic atmosphere.
The discreetly used traditional music anchors the film in Japanese culture. It accompanies certain key moments without ever taking over. The whole creates a picture deeply rooted in reality.
A universal reach, beyond feudal Japan
Even though the story takes place in a very specific context, the themes explored go beyond the Japanese historical framework. Managing end-of-life care, the issue of family burdens, and the weight of traditions on the individual: these are all issues that remain very relevant today.
In many countries today, population aging poses similar challenges. The tensions between intergenerational solidarity and resource rationalization are very real. In this sense, The Ballad of Narayama doesn’t just speak of the past: it also speaks of us.
Conclusion
With The Ballad of Narayama, Imamura Shohei creates a film that is both harsh and profoundly human. A cruel tradition is shown unvarnished, but always with respect for those who live it. The work poses a simple but essential question: at what point does tradition stop protecting and begin to hurt? The film doesn’t provide an answer; He leaves it hanging—between two silences, somewhere on the mountain.
