I Was Born, But...

1932 1h 31m JA

🙌

7.5

BANGER

🔥

100%

CERTIFIED FRESH

💯

METACRITIC

⭐

7.9

IMDB

★7.5TMDB · 158🍅100%Rotten Tomatoes●91Metacritic★7.9IMDB · 6,611

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Brothers Keiji and Ryoichi move to a new neighborhood in the Tokyo suburbs after their father, an office clerk, is promoted. The boys join the local gang as lowly new kids and emerge as natural leaders after defeating a bully. While visiting the home of their father's boss, the brothers witness the ridicule their father endures to please his superior. Angry and embarrassed, the boys find their naive ideas about power being challenged.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

KanopySubscription

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Tatsuo Saitō
Yoshi
Tomio Aoki
Keiji
Mitsuko Yoshikawa
Haha
Hideo Sugawara
Ryoichi
Takeshi Sakamoto
Juuyaku
Teruyo Hayami
Fujin
Seiichi Katô
Kodomo
Shoichi Kofujita
Delivery Boy

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Yasujirō Ozu
Writers: Geibei Ibushiya, Akira Fushimi
Languages: No Language
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

94 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Yasujirō Ozu, shot by Hideo Shigehara. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Hideo Shigehara shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Tatsuo Saitō and Tomio Aoki and Mitsuko Yoshikawa carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0023634 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Yasujirō Ozu directs. Hideo Shigehara behind the camera. Hideo Shigehara cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in No Language.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

194 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Yasujirō Ozu, shot by Hideo Shigehara. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Hideo Shigehara shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Tatsuo Saitō and Tomio Aoki and Mitsuko Yoshikawa carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0023634 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Released under 18 different titles around the world.