Ballad of Narayama Film Review: Shôhei Imamura 1983 - FILMS N THAT #29

[@lawsonj39]

My son and I saw this years ago and we still talk about it. It's a film that leaves a deep mark on anyone who sees it.

[@Typoh_YT]

Hey! Not sure if you remember me but I’m the guy you spoke to that careers fair at my school. I’ve been watching your stuff for a while now and I really like what I’ve seen. You’ve given a wealth of new films to experience, and i especially like your video on City Of God. I would highly recommend you watch Dogtooth, I’d be really interested to hear your thoughts on it.

[@FilmsnThat]

Thankyou, comments like this are much appreciated. I've been intending to watch The Favourite by Yorgos Lanthimos for quite some time now, unfortunately I missed it at the cinema, I hope to catch it on Bluray when it comes out. I have seen Dogtooth and The Lobster, I'd like to see more of his films. I'll certainly put it past Rob, it certainly fits the bill. - Sam

[@stevemartin4249]

Living in Japan for 40 years now, and just came on this while looking up a reference for a Jordon Peterson podcast with primatologist Richard Wangham. I could not help but to notice 'Hotaru no Haka' (Grave of the Fireflies) on the shelf behind you. It is mandatory viewing for all public school students here in Japan, but few of the teachers have the critical thinking skills to do that film justice in the classroom. Besides, most of what passes for education in Japan is not critical thinking, but closer to rote memorization and compliance to authority. The great film makers and artists from Japan seem to emerge despite the education system, not because of it ... though that may be a universal pattern. Good chat guys! Followed and notifications turned on.

[@solmaior4771]

Thank you both for this review and footages. Stay safe! Greetings from São Paulo, Brasil.

[@Mellowcanuck33]

I watched this as a teen. It left me bawling my eyes out.

[@danischannel]

Great review ! Can someone tell me the meaning of the final scene where the protagonist returns home and looks intently at the two ladies at his home . The camera zooms into their clothing but what does that signify ? Is it to show that the grandmother's sacrifice was pointless because there are two new mouths to feed ?

[@renatomaffei2589]

Thanks for the review. I noticed that commentators almost don't speak of Tatsuhei, maybe because his image is not of an extreme character. But for me this very fact makes him central to the story, representing a constant existential crisis between sticking to the tradition and feeling unexplicably disconnected with it. You can see he never gives himself entirely to the customs, he don't even laugh of the jokes as everybody. And so his connection with his dissident father never ends, and this is another peculiar aspect of the story: the mother represents the tradition instead of the father

[@garyrobinson8665]

The original version from 1958 is a masterpiece I highly recommend you check it out asap.

[@FilmsnThat]

Yes I agree it's incredible in quite a different way to the 80's version - Sam

[@valerieannegagnon8803]

No wrong…..these people know better at this time than to let their elder die of starvation. This is age insane tradition. But the elder still believes in this madness. The only way to reach heaven…. The main protagonist knows that this is madness and refuses to let go of his brilliant good mother for what he knows to be superstition …..BUT HE CANNOT REACH HIS MOTHER ‘S . She is impervious to logic. And will have to die freezing to death on the flank of a mountain called NARAYAMA