Ballad of Orin

1977 1h 58m JA

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 24

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Expelled from her group for losing her virginity, blind travelling musician Orin endures a life of hardship, abuse, and poverty while wandering the countryside, finding brief companionship with an army deserter, and struggling against a society that marginalises her.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Shima Iwashita
Orin
Yoshio Harada
Heitaro
Tomoko Naraoka
Teruyo
Taiji Tonoyama
Mountain Man
Tōru Abe
Besho
Jun Hamamura
Saito
Kaoru Kobayashi
Torazo
Rie Yokoyama
Kaneko

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Masahiro Shinoda
Writers: Keiji Hasebe, Masahiro Shinoda
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

49 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Masahiro Shinoda, shot by Kazuo Miyagawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Tōru Takemitsu. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sachiko Yamaji shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Shima Iwashita and Yoshio Harada and Tomoko Naraoka carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0076124 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 24 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Masahiro Shinoda directs. Kazuo Miyagawa behind the camera. Tōru Takemitsu scores. Sachiko Yamaji cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

149 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Masahiro Shinoda, shot by Kazuo Miyagawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Tōru Takemitsu. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Sachiko Yamaji shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Shima Iwashita and Yoshio Harada and Tomoko Naraoka carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0076124 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 24 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.