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The Ballad of Narayama (1983 film)
Encyclopedia
is a 1983
Japanese film
by director Shohei Imamura. It stars Sumiko Sakamoto
as Orin, Ken Ogata
, and Shoichi Ozawa. It is an adaptation of the book Narayama bushiko by Shichiro Fukazawa
and remake
of the 1958 film directed by Keisuke Kinoshita
.
The film has some harsh scenes that show how brutal the conditions could be for the villagers. Interspersed between episodes in the film are brief vignettes of nature – birds, snakes, and other animals hunting, watching, singing, copulating or giving birth.
1983 in film
-Events:*February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York*May 25 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, is released. Like the previous films, it goes on to become the top grossing picture of...
Japanese film
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
by director Shohei Imamura. It stars Sumiko Sakamoto
Sumiko Sakamoto
was born on November 26, 1936 in Osaka, Japan. Sakamoto is a singer and award-winning actress whose heartfelt performances made her a favorite of the late film director Shohei Imamura...
as Orin, Ken Ogata
Ken Ogata
Ken Ogata was a Japanese actor.Ogata was born in Tokyo, Japan. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book, Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and Shohei Imamura's The Ballad of Narayama...
, and Shoichi Ozawa. It is an adaptation of the book Narayama bushiko by Shichiro Fukazawa
Shichiro Fukazawa
was a Japanese author and guitarist.- Biography :Fukazawa was born in Isawa, Yamanashi, Japan. His first novel, won the Chūōkōron Prize, and was twice made into a movie script: first by Keisuke Kinoshita in 1958, and again by Shōhei Imamura in 1983...
and remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of the 1958 film directed by Keisuke Kinoshita
Keisuke Kinoshita
was a Japanese film director.Although lesser known internationally than his fellow filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa , Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujirō Ozu , Keisuke Kinoshita was nonetheless a household figure at home beloved by audience and critics alike, especially in the forties through the sixties...
.
Plot
The film is set in a small rural village in Japan in the 19th century. According to tradition, once a person reaches the age of 70 he or she must travel to a remote mountain to die of starvation, a practice known as ubasute. The story concerns Orin, who is 69 and of sound health, but notes that a neighbor had to drag his father to the mountain, so she resolves to avoid clinging to life beyond her term. She spends a year arranging all the affairs of her family and village: she severely punishes a family who are hoarding food, and helps her younger son lose his virginity.The film has some harsh scenes that show how brutal the conditions could be for the villagers. Interspersed between episodes in the film are brief vignettes of nature – birds, snakes, and other animals hunting, watching, singing, copulating or giving birth.
Cast
- Ken OgataKen OgataKen Ogata was a Japanese actor.Ogata was born in Tokyo, Japan. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book, Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and Shohei Imamura's The Ballad of Narayama...
- Tatsuhei - Sumiko SakamotoSumiko Sakamotowas born on November 26, 1936 in Osaka, Japan. Sakamoto is a singer and award-winning actress whose heartfelt performances made her a favorite of the late film director Shohei Imamura...
- Orin - Tonpei Hidari - Risuke
- Aki Takejo - Tamayan (as Aki Takejô)
- Shoichi Ozawa - Katsuzô (as Shôichi Ozawa)
- Fujio Tokita - Jinsaku
- Sanshô Shinsui - Zeniya no Tadayan
- Seiji Kurasaki - Kesakichi
- Junko Takada - Matsuyan
- Mitsuko Baisho - Oei (as Mitsuko Baishô)
- Taiji Tonoyama - Teruyan
- Casey Takamine - Arayashiki (as Kêshi Takamine)
- Nenji KobayashiNenji Kobayashiis a Japanese actor. He won the award for best supporting actor at the 23rd Japan Academy Prize for Poppoya.-Filmography:* Captain Ultra * The Doberman Cop * Hokuriku Proxy War * Message from Space...
- Tsune - Nijiko Kiyokawa - Okane
- Akio Yokoyama - Amaya
Awards
- Palme d'OrPalme d'OrThe Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival1983 Cannes Film Festival- Jury :*William Styron *Henri Alekan *Yvonne Baby *Sergei Bondarchuk *Youssef Chahine *Souleymane Cissé *Gilbert de Goldschmidt *Mariangela Melato *Karel Reisz...
. - Japanese Academy AwardsJapanese Academy AwardsThe , often called the Japan Academy Awards or the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Nippon Academy-shō Association for excellence in Japanese film...
(1984)- Best Actor Ken OgataKen OgataKen Ogata was a Japanese actor.Ogata was born in Tokyo, Japan. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book, Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and Shohei Imamura's The Ballad of Narayama...
- Best Film
- Best Sound Kenichi Benitani
- Best Actor Ken Ogata
- Blue Ribbon AwardsBlue Ribbon AwardsThe are film-specific prizes awarded solely by movie critics and writers in Tokyo, Japan.The awards were established in 1950 by which is composed of film correspondents from seven Tokyo-based sports newspapers...
(1984)- Best Actor Ken OgataKen OgataKen Ogata was a Japanese actor.Ogata was born in Tokyo, Japan. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book, Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and Shohei Imamura's The Ballad of Narayama...
- Best Actor Ken Ogata
- Excellence in Cinematography Award (1984): Masao Tochizawa
- Hochi Film AwardHochi Film AwardThe are film-specific prizes awarded solely by the Hochi Shimbun.- Categories :*Best Picture*Best International Picture*Best Actor*Best Actress*Best Supporting Actor*Best Supporting Actress*Best New Artist*Special Award*Best Director- Winner :...
(1983)- Best Supporting Actress Mitsuko Baisho
- Mainichi Film Concours (1984)
- Best Actor (Ken OgataKen OgataKen Ogata was a Japanese actor.Ogata was born in Tokyo, Japan. Ogata is well known for his roles in Peter Greenaway's The Pillow Book, Paul Schrader's Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters and Shohei Imamura's The Ballad of Narayama...
) - Best Sound Recording: Kenichi Benitani