"Here ye, Ladies and gentlemen!" "We're honored to bring to you, for your viewing pleasure" "This grand work based on the ancient legend of Obasute:" "Narayama Bushiko" "THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA" "A one of a kind tale!" "In the land of Shinano" "Amidst high summits" "Where the river crosses" "The valley of the forgotten" "The cicadas sing" "The sad tale" "Of this village, enclosed between mountains" "The cicadas, on the river banks" "Sing of the melancholy of its sites" "The story of a village" "Living in a long lost time." "Hello!" "Good day!" "Is there anyone in?" "Are you Orin, of the tree stump?" " Yes" " It's a pleasure to meet you" " And, say, who are you?" " I come from a far away town" " Welcome" " Thank you" " I bring news for you" " Thank you very much" "Please, come in." "The voyage must have been very tiring." "Yes." "She invites in The tired messenger" "Impatient to hear" "The news" "He brings." "You see, in our village, a woman had just become a widow." "I see." "Go on." "Her husband's funeral was held three days ago." " And how old is she?" " 45." "So, she's the same age as my Tatsuhei." " A favorable coincidence." " Yes, certainly." "Things couldn't have been more favorable." "And when might this woman come live with us?" "Grandmother!" "Before the messenger could answer" "Enters Kesakichi, Orin's grandson." "I'm hungry." "So, what is there to eat?" "On the fire, You'll see some baked beans." "These beans might be bad for me." "I'm not like you." "Old man Amaya used to say to me:" ""Your grandmother could eat anything..." "And you know what she could do it?" "She has 33 teeth that allow her to eat everything"" "Don't speak nonsense." " You've 33 sharp and hard teeth." " That's not true, I only have 28." "No." "You can only count to 28, but you have more." "Kesakichi!" "The old woman has 33 teeth!" "Kesa!" "The old woman hid" "In her hut" "With her 33 teeth" "A demon's teeth." "How fragile and ephemeral!" "How fragile and ephemeral!" "Is the life of mortals." "Very soon, it'll be one year since your mother died." "Remember it, children:" "You mustn't play in dangerous places" "You could fall from a cliff, like what happened to your mother." " We're leaving." " Yes" "Tatsuhei!" "Tatsuhei, cheer up." "You'll have a new wife soon." "Come on, don't be like this." "A messenger from another town came to tell us." "There's a woman who'd became a widow a few days ago." "Her name's Tamayan." "What do you think?" "I understand, but..." "How old is this woman?" "Same as you, 45 years old." "She'll be able to come once the 49 days of grief pass." "Come, give a hint of pleasure, please." "Truth is, I've already passed that stage." "Three years have passed and we all are three years older." "Son, the Festival of the Dead is coming near." "And it's going do begin with the same old song." "Time doesn't cease." "I'm already old, my hour is approaching in giant steps." "When the new year arrives, I'll be 70 and I'll have to go on my pilgrimage to Narayama." "Such was the custom among the elders of the town" "Narayama's peak" "calls those who've reached 70." "The festive songs also speak of the age." "And Narayama reminds the mortals" "that the hour is coming." "Tatsuhei, your flaw of daring makes you seem like bad company for the sacred ascent to Narayama." "Yet soon your new wife will be here, so show a bit of happiness." "Mother, although only for trying, would you like me to carry you?" "Well, yes, I think it's a good idea." "What is it, son?" "Am I light or heavy?" "You've become very light, mother." "Narayama has some very steep slopes." "You'll need all of your strength to carry me up to the top, my son." "What is it that upsets you?" "No, your hour hasn't come yet." "It's true, certainly." "Before the new year comes, I don't have to ascend Narayama." "Very soon you'll have a wife again." "If you'll be happy, I won't fear my last duty." "I'm ready, but, these damn teeth..." "What are you doing, mother?" "I'm ashamed of these teeth." "I can't climb Narayama, with teeth so strong, that allow me to eat as if I were a young woman." "Tatsuhei, only if I'm a senile and toothless old woman" "Narayama's peak will accept me." "Orin, of the tree stump hid in the shack" "and, now, has a demon's teeth." "Amaya!" "Hey, what are you singing?" "But how dare you?" " Come count the teeth." " I wouldn't want to offend." "It was Kesakichi that taught me this song." "I apologize for bothering you." "Kesakichi!" "The Festival comes once a year and brings rice to our humble table." "The old woman hid in the shack and now has demon's teeth." "Kesa!" "How disgraceful." "After all of the sacrifices she'd made to raise you." "How ungrateful you are..." "Saying she has demon's teeth?" "Come here!" "Demon's teeth!" "Yes!" "Idiot!" "You won't eat dinner with us tonight!" "The seventh month of the year" "brings fog and rain." "The time when they wear out" "the humble food supplies the spirit becomes heavier." "The soul of man" "suffers silently and its dreams" "run into obstacles." "Here." "Son, we have to tell it to Kesakichi." "Your new mother will be here soon, you know?" "I'm not sure, but it's possible she'll be with us during the Festival." "When she's here, you won't have so much work, mother." "One moment." "I don't need another mother." "Kesa!" "I'm going to get married soon and bring my new wife here." "My wife will cook." "So we won't need you." "Idiot!" "No dinner for you!" "Yes, grandma." "I know Kesaki wants to marry Matsuyan." "Idiot!" "Shut up!" "One should be prudent in any age" "Another person means another mouth to feed 175 00:16:31,174 -- 00:16:35,898 The Festival of Rice has arrived." "The chestnut's seeds have become flowers." "The old woman hid in the shack and now she has" "33 demon's teeth." "Rice!" "I smell rice!" "Rice, rice..." "Back off, stupid." "If you're hungry, say it, I'll give you food." "But, a shame, you look like a starving demon." "Hear, Matayan, as an old friend of mine," "I have to tell you what the people say." "You already now that, sometimes, rumors aren't mistaken." "And they say, Matayan, that you were so miserable that you never set anything aside for old age and you don't have anything to celebrate your ascent to Narayama with." "Sir, how embarrassing." "You're one year older than me and you should have ascended the mountain a long time ago." "They said you'll rise come spring, but we've seen it pass, spring is gone and you stick among us, you old coward." "You're only an old coward." "I know your son is fed up with you." "He even refused to feed you." "And you on pleading to the townspeople, begging and stealing." "You can't see what miserable creature you've turned into?" "What sorrow you give me..." "And how I feel like crying..." "More rice, more rice..." "Yes, you can have the rice you want." "You know we're generous in this house." "And, besides, today is the Festival of Narayama and we have to share what we have." "Begging for rice from our neighbors!" "What a disgrace!" "Come, we're going." "Home." "You're father is an embarrassment, surely, but, at least on the day of the Festival you can give him some food." "Pray tell, stranger, have you come for our Festival?" "Is this Tatsuhei's house?" "I'm looking for it." "Yes, it's here." "And you must be that woman from the other village, eh?" "You're Tamayan, right?" "Yes, I am." "They insisted back home that it was best if I presented myself... on the day of the Festival." " And here I am today." " Come in." "There, come with me." "Come inside your new home." "A warm welcome for her son's new wife." "Her heart rejoices as the heart of a good mother does." "Though death awaits in the mountains," "today is not a day for lamenting." "There, eat as much as you want." "But it's too much..." "Wait, I'm going to tell my son Tatsuhei that you've arrived." "When leaving home, they told me that instead of eating a good meal there" "I should eat at your home." "So I left without having eaten." "So." "Eat as much as you please." "No need to be shy." "They hurried me off, telling me that here I'll meet this very generous Grandmother." "And why haven't you come before?" "I expected you yesterday." "The messenger who was here the other day is my brother, did you know?" "He told me you were a wonderful woman." "That made it easier for me to come." "Why were you sitting on that tree stump?" "Tell me, why didn't you come right in?" "Because I was coming alone," "I was a little embarrassed." "My brother promised he would come with me," "But he drank too much festive sake last night, he couldn't come." "He encouraged me by reminding me again how nice you were, but the poor man wasn't capable of joining me." "Pity." "If I'd known it, I might have looked for you myself." "I wish you had." "I would have carried you myself on the trip back." "Tamayan..." "Mother..." "Have you choked?" "Come, eat whatever you want." "My, that hurt..." "When the new year comes, I'll climb the mountain." "What do you think, daughter?" "It's true." "My brother mentioned it as well." "But, according to him there's no hurry." "Well, he's wrong." "The quicker I go, the more the gods will favor me." "Come, eat everything I've made for you." "The fish is very good." "I caught it in the river myself." "So, you know hot to fish..." "Yes." "Neither Tatsuhei, nor Kesakichi, not one man in the village, fishes as well as I do." "No one here is a better fisherman than me." "They smell so good." "I'm almost sad to eat them, to be honest." "Eat calmly." "I know in which part of the river the fish hide." "Some day I'll show it to you." "Yes." "Come, eat." "I've a lot of dry fish in the cupboard." "I'm going to fetch Tatsuhei." "Pleased with her son's new wife" "Orin leaves looking for him." "Like a beautiful spouse from times gone by her beauty knew no equal." "In her time of widowhood not one scandal stained her honor." "During those painful years never an accusing finger." "Why go and lose a faultless life for just some teeth?" "What are teeth if not an outer expression of appetite?" "With such a shame, she does not dare present herself to the mountain's gods." "Grandmother." "Something happen?" "Take your time eating." "Eat calmly." "Soon, my son Tatsuhei will be home." "And soon I'll be able to leave to meet my destiny on the mountain." "Yes, I don't have those teeth anymore." "The Festival arrives once a year and brings rice to our humble table." "In our deaf and trembling old age" "All our human bonds are severed." "The Festival arrives once a year..." "Tatsuhei!" "Tatsuhei!" "Tatsuhei!" "Where's Tatsuhei?" "Tatsuhei..." "Mother." "Tatsuhei, your wife..." "I'll present you to Tamayan." "She's your new wife." "Come, join her side and dine together." "White rice." "It's our annual festival meal." "Only once a year." "Damn it!" "Mother, don't be brazen." "I'll eat too." "If you can't chew, just swallow it." "Come on." "Take some more." "What a miserable and wretched life!" " The old hag of the tree stump!" " The old hag of the tree stump!" "Get out of here!" "You brats!" "¡No quiero volver a veros!" "The crimson of the maple in autumn illuminates the room" "of the young ones" "who love..." "Shouldn't you help collecting the rice?" "Nonsense." "When you don't have food, the wisest is to not let in the appetite." "I'd like to lose it but my belly doesn't cease asking for food." "As much as I eat, that hunger always remains." "Eat some beans." "My parents want me to come living with you." "Listen, could I come to dine at your house tonight?" "Of course, but I'm afraid my grandma won't like it very much." "The idea of having great-grandchildren does not appeal to her." "Even the autumn crop of the golden rain, serves only" "to remind us" "of the passing of time." "Narayama's summit seems so close..." "You're daydreaming." "Go on with the harvest." "The golden spikes" "fall soaked with the dew's tears." "We've only this small lot." "Why the need for such haste?" "Mother." "You go ahead." "What happened?" "I had the odd sensation that I carried her on my shoulders." "What bothers you?" "You've injured your leg." "That son of yours refuses to give you food, but that swine makes you carry such a heavy load." "Come, there's not much left." "Hold on to me and walk slow." " Careful, careful.." " It's the fault of your own foolishness." "Instead of carrying on suffering so, you have to climb Narayama, once and for all." "Narayama is the seat of the gods." "The top of the sacred mountain is a sanctuary of peace and harmony." "I plan to go after the New Year." "No, I'll never go." "Never." "I won't climb Narayama." "You can't force me." "When will you go to the mountain?" "I'm thinking of climbing Narayama when the New Year comes." "The New Year?" "The winter might bring snowfall." "Wouldn't it be more sensible to go before that?" "To climb Narayama, you have to go through seven steep gorges." "With the snow, it'll be impossible." "I've always been lucky." "I'm sure it won't snow, until I'd already left, as what happened with old Otori of Shioya." "My grandfather went up mid-summer." "Do you forget my grandmother didn't live that much?" "I prefer to leave at winter." "But, if so, before the snow is too thick." " The sooner, the better." " The later the better." " The sooner, the better." " No, it's best not to rush." "Up!" "A thief!" "A thief!" "To the thief!" "Get him!" "Don't let him escape!" "Catch him!" "To the thief!" " Tatsuhei, Kesakichi..." " To the thief!" " We can't calm her." " Matsuyan, get up." "Make the culprit do his penance to Narayama!" "Leave your sandals there!" " To Narayama!" " Penance to Narayama!" "Take him to Narayama!" "To the thief!" "Make him pay to Narayama!" "To Narayama!" " Do not let him escape!" " There!" "It's him!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Search the house!" "Get back everything he's stolen!" "He kept it here!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "Come, carry everything out." " Look, more rice." " Don't leave anything behind." "Penance!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "So Amaya was the thief." "Thief!" "Thief!" "Thief!" "The bastard!" "He took my hay!" "It's in his blood." "His father was condemned before Narayama." "We'll divide it." "Come on, line up!" "Come, give it out!" "Look!" "This one dared to come with his sandals on!" "Watch!" "Damned old man!" "You should climb the mountain." " Come, give him a good lesson." " Yes." " Get him!" " Harder." "Harder." "Wait, wait." "Hold your anger." "This man came willingly to catch the thief." "Yes." "Despite having a wounded leg." "After paying due taxes, we won't have enough food for the winter." "Amaya has twelve mouths, and I have seven." "But we have more adults, we eat more." "We have to ration some of the food." "Matsuyan eats too much." "That appetite will ruin us." "This one isn't here for love, nor for wanting to marry Kesakichi." "Anything she eats, is food spared for her family." "Amaya steals because it's in his blood." "At least that's what they say." "They want to get rid of the entire family." "When Amaya's father was banished to Narayama, he survived a hard winter eating nothing but roots." "The say he hid food at the top, to have if he's discovered." "Beans again?" "Aren't they delicious?" "Why do you always have to eat?" "I don't know what to do." "As hard as I try, I keep gaining weight." "Matsuyan, you get fat because you eat all day." "Yes?" "Is that so?" "Kesakichi, smack that girl." "I am the heir, I have my rights." "Eat what you want." "There." "The potatoes we shared last night were tiny." "I thought my crops were poor, but I was being robbed." "It's funny, everyone says they'd lost more than he even had." "We only took what was ours." "We have to retaliate against those people." "Yes." "When night falls, they'll sneak back and get some more." "If we don't do anything, we wouldn't sleep at night." "We have to get rid of them." "But how?" "They're a family of twelve." "We'll dig a big pit and bury all of them." "Nonsense." "How are you going to bury those poor people." "Don't laugh." "It's a very serious matter." "This conversation is not a good omen." "Even the crow joins in." "I have a feeling that death is stalking tonight." "I'm afraid that the poor Amaya" "will start disappearing one at a time." "Mother, we may have to climb the mountain." "I'm glad you finally understand, son." "I feel very relieved, for sure." "My mother, when she reached my age, ascended to the mountaintop." "My mother-in-law also followed that same path." "It's natural that I do it too." "The people sing of our shortcomings, when we have left this life." "Look at old Ginyan:" "So shameless." "He live longed enough to see his grandson born." " I won't go through that humiliation." " Easy, no one will know." "I myself will go leave the baby in the mountains." "No one could ever sing any song to slander you." "Nonsense." "I'll abandon the child." "Didn't I say I would?" "Well let's not talk about it now." "Yes." "I know you'll do it." "Dear father already approaching is the day they have to embark the fateful journey." "So it is." "Fine." "You'll have to take the old grandmother to the mountains where the crows fly crazed." "Very well." "Through our door, no crow shall enter only the birds who sing at night." "Very well." "Tatsuhei, let your mother look at you, while she still can." "Still feeling sorry, no?" "But you'll take me up Narayama when I'll ask you too..." "Tamayan, you're the best wife I could have for my son." "Even better than his first wife." "Tonight, I'll show where in the river you can catch fish." "Here we are." "You'll see, just reach into this hole here and you'll get the fish." "Don't tell anyone, understand?" "It's right here." "Right under that big boulder." "Kesakichi went out as well." "We mustn't speak of the Amayas." "It's better that way." "Like in a clear day of spring, the warm glow of one's home" "illuminates out dreams" "that survive the long years." "Our daily lives our nothing more" "than a fleeting dream." "Tonight we invite the council of elders, my son." "I know there are still four more days till the New Year but I want to get it over with." " Wait until the New Year." " Nonsense." "What importance do a few days have?" "And I want to leave before my grandson is born." "Go notify the elders." "Come on." "Go where they usually carry out their routines." "Look, look, the snowflakes start their wintry dance." "The day I ascend Narayama is likely to be snowy." "Go, son." "Go." "If you don't, I'll have to climb Narayama alone tomorrow." "Come on." "The path to Narayama's summit it a very tough one, and your sacrifice is greatly appreciated." "During the ascension of the sacred mountain, one shall abide by the formalities set forth:" "On reaching the sacred mountain, you must not pronounce a single word." "During the ascension of the sacred mountain, one shall abide by the formalities set forth:" "When you're about to undertake on your journey, it is of paramount importance that no one sees you leave." "During the ascension of the sacred mountain, one shall abide by the formalities set forth:" "Tatsuhei, when you start your way back, under no circumstances you can look back." "The path that leads to the mountain borders the slopes of the southern hills, passes by the sacred tree and continues, meandering, along." "After reaching the third summit, you will see a lake." "Leave behind the lake, and go up the fourth summit until the stone stairs." "From that point one, beyond a gorge there, you will see Narayama." "Continue your advance, keeping the gorge always on your right" "and the mountain on your left." "Go on for a further eight kilometers, until the Gorge of the Seven Curves." "The path starting form that gorge will take you directly to Narayama." "The path to the summit itself exists, and yet it doesn't." "Continue climbing among the oaks, and rely on nothing but your instincts." "The gods will await you." "Listen, if one wishes so, one can turn back when he finds himself at the midway through the Gorge of the Seven Curves." "Yes, I just wished to let you know that the tradition includes that possibility." "Now you know it." "March, march, march towards Narayama" "How difficult is the task of ascending to the summit with a companion." "A heavy burden on one's back;" "a leaden weight upon the heart." "What are you doing, you stupid old man?" "Are you trying to escape?" "Leave me!" "Leave me alone!" "Stop!" "Come back here!" "Damn old fool!" "Open it!" "Open it!" "Let me in!" "Tatsuhei, Tatsuhei..." "What are you doing here?" "Damn old man..." "He has run away." "Matayan, remember the old song:" ""In our deaf and trembling old age, our worldly ties are severed."" "Don't you want to break your bonds with your son and establish eternal ones with the gods?" " I don't want to go..." " How come?" "You won't leave tonight." "I'll accompany you to your house." "No!" "I will not go!" "Let's go, I said!" " You'll harm him." " Come on!" "Silence!" "What is this fuss about?" "All the old people should just go!" "Kesakichi, I will leave tomorrow night." "I don't need you to tell me when to do it." "Cold, the moon of the dying year," "observe the anguished departure." "Ragged clothes, the clouds they float in the heavens." "Already broken" "are all earthly ties" "of love and filial affection." "The ties that bind mother and son" "are interwoven like a fine woolen cloth." "The months have passed quickly," "and arriving is the fateful day of departure." "Upon his shoulders, the son places the dear burden that is his mother." "You must be Tamayan." "Here, come with me." "Come in your new home." "Don't be timid." "Here, eat all you want." "When the New Year arrives ascend the sacred mountain Narayama." "For this good and loving mother the day has come for the fateful parting.." "Mother, aren't you cold?" "What child doesn't suffer in an occasion such as this?" "Mother, the moon is hidden behind the clouds." "Narayama is now near." "Its silhouette is visible as the frozen winds cries in the night." "Mother, it's getting colder and colder." "It's very likely to snow." "Mother?" "Why won't you speak to me?" "We haven't reached Narayama." "You can still talk here." "Mother..." "This is the Gorge of the Seven Curves." "Soon we arrive." "Mother..." "Say something." "One word." "We've already reached Narayama, but I want to hear your voice." "Say just one word." "Help!" "No, let me go...." "Don't do this to your father..." "Matayan!" "Mother!" "Mother!" "Mother!" "It started snowing!" "Mother!" "Mother..." "You must be cold." "Mother..." "You were fortunate." "The snow..." "Mother!" "The snow has arrived!" "Mother..." "Dear father the day is already approaching when you must embark on the fateful journey." "Fine!" "You'll have to take the old grandmother to the mountain where the crows fly crazed." "Fine." "Through our door no crow shall enter only the birds who sing at night." "Very well." "You'll have to take the old grandmother to the mountain where the crows fly crazed." "Fine." "Through our door no crow shall enter, only the birds who sing at night..." "When we've reached 70... we shall climb the mountain too."