The Ballad of Narayama (1958): Cast
The Ballad of Narayama is a 1958 drama directed by Keisuke Kinoshita, starring Kinuyo Tanaka as Orin, Teiji Takahashi and Eijirô Tôno. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Keisuke Kinoshita
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Shochiku
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Ballad of Narayama About?
The premise of The Ballad of Narayama without spoilers.
In a mountain village, food scarcity forces a ritual: relatives carry 70‑year‑old kin up Narayama mountain to die. Orin accepts her fate, but her son Tatsuhei cannot bear losing her and is urged to marry a widow. Her grandson Kesa, whose girlfriend awaits, selfishly hopes for her death. The Kabuki film asks if Orin’s spirit will ennoble her family.
The Ballad of Narayama Themes & Keywords
· 25 tags- dying traditions
- tradition
- social convention
- mother son relationship
- death
- aging
- ubasute
- poverty
- mountain
- widow
- village
- rural setting
+13 more Show fewer
- generation gap
- snowing
- snow
- closed society
- starvation
- song
- rice farming
- pregnancy
- selfishness
- society
- arranged marriage
- rice
- old age
The Ballad of Narayama Cast & Characters
Kinuyo Tanaka leads the cast as Orin, with Teiji Takahashi as Tatsuhei and Eijirô Tôno as Messenger. Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita; 13 actors are credited in all.
- Director Keisuke Kinoshita
-
Kinuyo Tanaka as Orin -
Teiji Takahashi as Tatsuhei -
Eijirô Tôno as Messenger - Kō Nishimura as One of the villagers who Teaches Narayama's Manners (uncredited)
Also Starring in The Ballad of Narayama
· 9 more- Seiji Miyaguchi Matayan
- Masao Oda One of the villagers who teaches Narayama's manners (uncredited)
- Yūnosuke Itō Matayan's son
- Tokuji Kobayashi One of the villagers who teaches Narayama's manners (uncredited)
- Ken Mitsuda Teruyan
- Yūko Mochizuki Tamayan
- Keiko Ogasawara Matsu-yan
- Danko Ichikawa Kesakichi
- Katsuyuki Hattori Tatsuhei's son (uncredited)
More from Keisuke Kinoshita
More films directed by Keisuke Kinoshita: Father, Big Joys, Small Sorrows, Children of Nagasaki and The Young Rebels.
The Ballad of Narayama Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA (1958) Trailer | Director: Keisuke Kinoshita
Seen The Ballad of Narayama?
Movies Like The Ballad of Narayama
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Ballad of Narayama, The Ball at the Anjo House and The Song Lantern.
The Ballad of Narayama FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Ballad of Narayama, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was The Ballad of Narayama released?
The Ballad of Narayama was released on June 1, 1958.
Who directed The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama was directed by Keisuke Kinoshita.
More films by Keisuke Kinoshita Who is in the cast of The Ballad of Narayama?
The Ballad of Narayama stars Kinuyo Tanaka as Orin, Teiji Takahashi as Tatsuhei and Eijirô Tôno as Messenger, among 13 credited actors.
Does The Ballad of Narayama have a post-credit scene?
No. The Ballad of Narayama has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Ballad of Narayama in?
The original language of The Ballad of Narayama is Japanese.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
