A rural village in 19th Century Japan: According to tradition, once a person reaches the age of seventy, he or she must travel to a remote mountain to die of starvation, a practice known as ubasute. Orin is 69 and in the best of health. Nevertheless, tradition is tradition, and she's determined not to meet the same fate as a neighbor, who was forcibly dragged to a nearby mountain to die by his son. She spends her final year arranging her family's affairs and that of the village, including severely punishing a family for hoarding food and helping her younger son lose his virginity.

NOTE: In addition to showing the harsh and brutal conditions faced by Japanese villagers of the time, there are uncensored sex scenes, including bestiality! Please be advised of this and decide accordingly.