The Naked Island (1960) review

On a remote island in the Seto Inland Sea, a family of four ritualistically go about their lives, constantly bringing fresh water up the hill for their crops (they produce sweet potatoes and wheat) - later in the movie, their oldest son suddenly becomes ill, passes away and his classmates come to pay their respects.  Inspired by Visconti's masterpiece La Terra Trema, it's considerably more minimalist (there is virtually no dialogue, except when some characters sing and dance), but still an earnest ode to the workers of the world: the very act of trudging around with the heavy barrels brings to mind the myth of Sisyphus (the Husband, irate with his Wife accidentally slipping and spilling one, unexpectedly slaps her).  The boy becoming sick isn't ever explained and doesn't feel "natural" (this happens in other Japanese movies, presumably to make for a "stronger" third act), and a smidge of conversation would have been nice ... but overall, it's a mesmerizing visual experience.