Jun. 03, 1932|Japan|91 Min.|n/A
Genre: Comedy;Drama;History;Reality
Description: “I Was Born, But…” (Japanese: 大人の見る絵本 生れてはみたけれど) is a 1932 black-and-white Japanese silent comedy directed by Yasujirō Ozu. This film marks the first of six Ozu works to win the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Film of the Year. Ozu later revisited the story with a loose remake titled “Good Morning” in 1959.
The narrative follows two young brothers whose admiration for their father, an office worker, is shaken when they witness his submissive behavior toward his boss. The Yoshi family relocates to the Tokyo suburbs, near the home of their father Kennosuke’s direct supervisor, Iwasaki. Kennosuke’s sons, Keiji and Ryoichi, initially skip school due to bullying but are eventually forced to attend after their father intervenes. Seeking to overcome their tormentors, the boys attempt unconventional methods until an older delivery boy helps them assert dominance over the bullies.
A pivotal moment occurs when the brothers visit Taro, the son of their father’s boss, and watch home movies showing their father acting foolishly to entertain his colleagues. Embarrassed and disillusioned, they confront their father, questioning why he must demean himself in front of Iwasaki. The film explores themes of childhood innocence, parental authority, and societal expectations, offering a poignant yet humorous reflection on family dynamics and social hierarchies.
Cast director: Yasujirō Ozu
Cast actor: Tatsuo Saitō, Tomio Aoki, Mitsuko Yoshikawa, Hideo Sugawara, Takeshi Sakamoto, Teruyo Hayami, Seiichi Katô, Shoichi Kofujita, Seiji Nishimura, Zentaro Iijima
Original name: 大人の見る繪本 生れてはみたけれど