The Ballad of Narayama

Frequently cited as one of the greatest Japanese films ever made, the 1958 original version of The Ballad of Narayama has been aptly described by the late Roger Ebert as “a film of great beauty and elegant artifice, telling a story of startling cruelty.” The “cruelty” here is not between people so much as it is of blindly adhering to senseless, outmoded traditions, while the “elegant artifice” refers to the film's remarkably stylized sets—all created in-studio with realistic landscapes, cleverly controlled lighting effects, and artificial, mood-setting backdrops used to express passing seasons in a small, remote village in the foothills of Mount Narayama. Food is scarce in this harsh environment, where tradition dictates that when a villager reaches the age of 70, that person must be carried to Narayama's mountaintop and left there to die. Orin (Kinuyo Tanaka) is a dutiful woman who is about to turn 70 and is quite ready for death—in fact she's eager to summit the mountain on the back of her reluctant son, a recent widower. But first she arranges for him to meet the woman he will eventually marry. Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita, the film is based on a Japanese folk legend, and is heavily influenced by Kabuki theater, most notably in its use of traditional music and dance to enhance and punctuate the narrative. Presented with a 2k digital transfer on DVD and debuting on Blu-ray, extras include a booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp. A richly formalized film of arresting beauty and gut-wrenching emotion, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (J. Shannon)