The Ballad of Narayama
Dir: Imamura Shohei
Japan, 1983, 130minmins, DCP
Cast: Ogata Ken, Sakamoto Sumiko
Vital choices of life and death in this stark 1983 Palme d’Or winner at Cannes. The themes are intimate and harsh rather than epic, focused on a small village in 19th century Japan that maintains its fragile ecological balance by exposing all citizens who reach 70 to death on the mountaintop. Rather than resisting this fate, the heroine, Orin, reaching age 69, embraces nature and uses her final year to order her own affairs and those of her family. A theme that perplexed the Western critics when produced in postwar Japan, but which now raises much more complicated and profound questions about themes of community, sustainability, balance of resources, and responsibilities that face us directly as a global ecosystem.
1983 Cannes Film Festival, Palme d’Or
1984 Japan Academy Film Prize, Best Film, Best Actor and Best Sound
26.8.2018(SUN): Post-screening talk with Thomas Shin
Screening:
In-theatre Screening
Full House 2018-08-18 (Sat)
20:30Full House 2018-08-26 (Sun)
18:00
Hong Kong Arts Centre Louis Koo Cinema (Venue)
Tai Kwun (Venue)
Category III
Chinese Subtitles
Post-screening talk / Q&A
Full House
Remarks
1. Unless otherwise stated, all films (except English-speaking films) are subtitled in English.
2. For screenings at ALL commercial cinemas, tickets are available at URBTIX till 5:00pm one day before respective screenings. After that, tickets will be available only at the box office of the screening venue on the day of screening, subject to availability.
3. Screenings at HK Arts Centre, HK Film Archive and Tai Kwun: For screenings that are about to start in 1 hour, all remaining tickets can only be bought at the box offices of the respective screening venues.
4. Screenings at HK Science Museum: There is no URBTIX Outlet at the venue. Tickets are available at URBTIX till 1 hour prior to the respective screenings. Door ticket counter opens 30 minutes before the screening. Limited tickets to non-sold out screenings will be available at the door, subject to availability (Cash Only).
5. Screenings at M+ Cinema: Tickets are available at URBTIX only. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are available at URBTIX website, mobile app and outlets only. Ticketing services for respective screening will not be available from 30 minutes after the screening begins.
6. While it is the HKIFFS’s policy to secure the best possible print of the original version for all its screenings, the HKIFFS appreciates its patrons’ understanding on occasions when less than perfect screening copies are screened.
