The Director, of course, shows not tells
his characters lives are the Unspoken Rules.
We are the Speakers, spoiler alert of Spoken Rules:
the Strong take the productive land
they are the Heroes.
to avoid War we face Famine
Ice and Snow will kill you if they can
the Sun rarely shines anymore
The Growing Season is Eight weeks,
Ten in a Good Year, none in a bad
the Food produced feeds very few
Hunting uses more Calories than it yields
in a bad year We are wild like our Brothers.
never eat from your Stores unless you will be unable to chew Tomorrow.
simple small Houses conserve Warmth
multiple occupancy essential.
extend your Family but can you smother that first cry?
if not the Cryer will pay
We encourage kindness so
the father must do it while
the briefly-a-mother sleeps
else payment is to be sold into prostitution
or a wifeless life in which dogs may be involved
with the owner's permission
the dog's permission may also be required
if it is a known biter.
Live while you ARE doing.
Same sex marriage is a Good Thing
no new mouths will ensue.
Capital punishment is reserved for one crime
stealing another's Food
it involves live burial with no food supplies.
at the first Snowfall of your sixtieth winter
when your life has shown
your child and grandchild the Unspoken Rules,
you will go up,with help if necessary,
to the Sacred Shrine in the Mountains.
Your child will bury the corpse in Spring
your Spirit will join The Mountain.
Final Rule:
all Rules, Spoken or Unspoken, are more important than people.
penalty for non-compliance - everybody dies.
except the Heroes.
See:- The Ballad of Narayama directed by Shohei Imamura.