and conventions of the culture he's depicting so much, ...that the film plays more like a cinematic elegy than cosmetic theater. When the film cuts in its final scene to actual location footage, it isn't jarring so much as relieving, a chance to exhale after an exhausting journey." See also The Ballad of Narayama (1983 film). References External links The Ballad of Narayama: Abandonment an essay by Philip Kemp at the Criterion Collection Films directed by Keisuke Kinoshita Jidaigeki films Shochiku films 1950s Japanese-language films Best Film Kinema Junpo Award winners 1958 films 1958 drama films Films with screenplays by Keisuke Kinoshita 1950s Japanese films