MovieChat Forums > Narayama bushikô (1983) Discussion > teeth

teeth

posted 14 years ago by Strazdamonas
6 replies | jump to latest

why did the old woman wanted to break her teeth off. the only thing i could not understand.

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"Common sense is not so common."
- Voltaire

[–] PinkPolka1010 14 years ago

Because she wanted to look "older" and more helpless -- that way she could ease people into thinking that she's "fit" to go to the summit of Narayama. If you recall in the beginning of the movie Orin's grandson (?) asks her how many teeth she has; a few scenes after that they were singing about her "ghost teeth." They were making fun of her because she was so healthy even at an old age.

[–] puttypaws 12 years ago

she wants to go up the mountain to die, because her time has come, but her son loves her and doesnt want her to go.
she's in very good health so she knocks out her front teeth to appear older and more decrepit than she is.

according to an essay on the dvd, the actress (who was only about 50 and far younger than the 70 year old she plays) actually had her 2 front teeth removed for realism for the part (and replaced by false ones after filming)

[–] hiccough 12 years ago

It's like the actress got caught up in the dedication and self-sacrifice of the character. I can't imagine doing that; didn't they have CGI or teeth-blackening or appliance bad teeth in 1983? I'd of course accept a little visible fakery, over making her knock out her teeth. Or for that matter, selfishly, to avoid the discomfort of knowing she did that. And what kind of dentist would agree to do such a thing? shudder. Japanese are hard core.

[–] rasaborio 11 years ago

Sometimes is better to stay in silence when you're a retard.

[–] fsvr54 (43) 4 years ago

Lmao

[–] 11 years ago

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