This movie is absolutely brilliant. Probably this is Ozu's first real masterpiece. Sure, I love his early comedies, like Days of Youth (1929), but this movie has got things to say, a real existential idea. Two kids are struggling through their boyhood, they think that their father must be the most influential man in the village, but soon everything changes. Father demands from children to have good grades in Calligraphy and Maths, if they want to become influential people, they have to do it. Soon kids manage to overcome obstacles and now they are the leaders of the gang. But father doesn't seems to be influential among his circle of friends and employees. At very early age, kids found out that if someone is rich, he can have more influence. Yes, life is unfair. Movie itself, is filmed very naturally, acting is good, of course nobody has doubt in Yasujiro's directing. Also, dialog is full with great one- liners and quotes. My favorite is: ,,What do you want to be in future? - Captain! - Why not General? - Because Ryoki wants to be a General and he's my older brother." Although ending is bright and hopeful, with smile on everybody's face, still this generation will face a great tragedy - World War II, but as the ending of the movie says: Life continues.
Review of I Was Born, But...
