FAQ

A film with the translated title "Ballad of Narayama" was directed by Keisuke Kinoshita in 1958. That Kabuki-influenced film was restored and re-released by Criterion in 2012. Another film with the almost identical translated title "The Ballad of Narayama" was directed by Shôhei Imamura in 1983. It won the Palme D'Or at Cannes.

Both are widescreen, with Japanese audio and good subtitles, and mostly in color.

Unfortunately many references do not clearly distinguish the two versions.

This film is sourced by two books: "Ballad of Narayama/Narayama bushiko" and "The Men of Tohoku", both by Shichir Fukazawa.

The second book "The Men of Tohoku" is also the source for another film, also called "The Men of Tohoku", directed by Ken Ichikawa in 1957.