I Was Born, But . . .

In this early silent comedy by Yasujiro Ozu, two precocious young boys get used to their new suburban neighborhood – avoiding classes, battling bullies, making friends – while their father commutes to work every day. When they witness him being subservient and playing a fool for his boss, the boys become ashamed and decide to protest with a hunger strike, declaring, “You tell us to become somebody, but you’re nobody!” This charming and insightful consideration of childhood innocence and social hierarchies is widely acknowledged as the master director’s first great film, later reworked into his 1959 color film Good Morning. Screening one day after Children’s Day (May 5th) in Japan.

1932, 100 min., 35mm, b&w, silent with Japanese and English intertitles. Directed by Yasujiro Ozu. With Tatsuo Saito, Tokkan Kozou, Hideo Sugawara, Mitsuko Yoshikawa, Takeshi Sakamoto.

Tickets
$12/$9 seniors & students/$5 Japan Society members

Part of Monthly Classics
Year-round screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems and recent discoveries of Japanese cinema on the first Friday of every month.

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