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I Was Born, But...

1932·Movie
1h 31min

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

I Was Born, But... fingerprint

Big heart, funny, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Tension5
  • Fast Pace4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Moving and nostalgic

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Coming of Age10
  • Family Dynamics9
  • Pathos8

Humor

Plenty of satire and situational comedy

  • Satire & Parody8
  • Situational Comedy7
  • Wit & Wordplay5

World

History, growing up, and family

Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Rewatchability8
  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

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.
Silent Film EraJapanese Social SatireFamily DynamicsChildhood PerspectiveComing-of-Age StoryMelancholyClassic CinemaOzu's Signature StyleSuburban LifeUnderstated Humor

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about I Was Born, But...

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream I Was Born, But... legally?

I Was Born, But... is included with a subscription to Kanopy in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is I Was Born, But... worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89/100 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 91). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How long is I Was Born, But...?

1 h 31 min

I Was Born, But... runs 1 h 31 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on I Was Born, But...?

Critics96
Audiences85

Not quite. Critics rate I Was Born, But... higher (96) than audiences (85). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is I Was Born, But... in?

Japanesexx

It was made in Japanese, with some xx. Produced in Japan.

In how many countries can I watch I Was Born, But...?

6CACHESFRJPUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for I Was Born, But... in 6 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does I Was Born, But... use?

Slice of LifeGang of BulliesEarly-Installment WeirdnessStanding in the HallSkipping SchoolCall-BackRaw Eggs Make You StrongerButt-MonkeySummon Bigger FishMy Dad Can Beat Up Your DadI Need a Freaking DrinkMatch Cut

TV Tropes lists 12 storytelling tropes for I Was Born, But..., including Slice of Life, Gang of Bullies, Early-Installment Weirdness.