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I Was Born, But...

1932Movie1 h 31 min

ComedyDrama
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic918.8Rotten Tomatoes100%89%

A moving, nostalgic comedy movie about history and growing up.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

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Not for scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

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.

Feels like

  • Silent Film Era
  • Japanese Social Satire
  • Family Dynamics
  • Childhood Perspective
  • Coming-of-Age Story
  • Melancholy
  • Classic Cinema
  • Ozu's Signature Style
  • Suburban Life
  • Understated Humor

Cast

10 of 10

Crew

Directed by
Yasujirō Ozu
Written by
Akira Fushimi, Geibei Ibushiya

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 3, 1932 · 1 h 31 min · Comedy, Drama

Released
June 3, 1932
Runtime
1 h 31 min
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
Japanese
Also spoken
xx
Made in
Japan
Available in
6 countries

Tropes

Slice of Life, Gang of Bullies, Early-Installment Weirdness +9

  • Slice of Life
  • Gang of Bullies
  • Early-Installment Weirdness
  • Standing in the Hall
  • Skipping School
  • Call-Back
  • Raw Eggs Make You Stronger
  • Butt-Monkey
  • Summon Bigger Fish
  • My Dad Can Beat Up Your Dad
  • I Need a Freaking Drink
  • Match Cut

From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream I Was Born, But...?"

Questions about I Was Born, But...

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

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

KanopyCriterion

In the United States, I Was Born, But... streams on Kanopy and Criterion. It also streams in 4 other countries.

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

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 91). Critics rate it higher (96 out of 100) than audiences (85).

Is I Was Born, But... okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will I Was Born, But... make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly satire (8 of 10) and situational comedy (7 of 10).

Is I Was Born, But... plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is I Was Born, But... in English?

Japanesexx

No, it was made in Japanese, with some xx.