"The Ballad of Narayama"
1983
Directed by Shohei Imamura

Winner of the Grand Prize at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival, The Ballad of Narayama is  based on one of the most astonishing of all Japanese legends. A century ago in a remote mountain village, local custom dictated that when a person reached 70 years of age, he was taken to Mount Narayama to die. A brilliant film from director Imamura that delivers a vigorous and beautiful affirmation of family, life and death. "A masterpiece of Japanese Cinema to stand beside Ugetsu, Tokyo Story, or The Seven Samurai" (M. Wilmington LA Weekly). Japanese with English subtitles. 129 minutes.