Ballad of Narayama
Another film in a series that I wouldn’t have been exposed to if Criterion hadn’t kept up their promise of delivering to us important, contemporary films that need a little tender loving. Indeed, I grabbed this film not only because the restoration was incredible, but it seemed like a fitting follow up to Seven Samurai, another essential Japanese film from the 1950’s. Ballad is advertised as being in the famous ‘Kabuki’ style, something I wasn’t familiar with and still researching. The end product is a film that holds my interest with not only fascinating characters and themes, but also radiant cinematography. The kabuki style of film-making is pulled from Kabuki-style plays of long ago, an art-form that was dying down as the Japanese culture faced a convalescence after the Second World War. Along with the style, the customs, traditions, and values alongside the unique film-making make for a truly foreign experience to my own “Western viewpoint” that I would imagine would prohibit this film from being entirely accessible to most audiences, although I would encourage everyone to experience it. The…