Original subtitles

SHOCHIKU STUDIOS

A MOHARA-SYSTEM TALKIE

THE ONLY SON

A Film by YASUJIRO OZU

Original Story by YASUJIRO OZU (as JAMES MAKI)

Screenplay by TADAO IKEDA and MASAO ARATA

Cinematography by SHOJIRO SUGIMOTO

Sound Recording by HIDEO MOHARA and EIICHI HASEGAWA

Production Design by TATSUO HAMADA

Music by SENJI ITO

Directed by YASUJIRO OZU

Starring

CHOKO IIDA

SHINICHI HIMORI MASAO HAYAMA

YOSHIKO TSUBOUCHI MITSUKO YOSHIKAWA

CHISHU RYU TOMOKO NANIWA

BAKUDAN KOZO

TOKKAN KOZO

EIKO TAKAMATSU

"Life's tragedy begins with the bond between parent and child." - Ryunosuke Akutagawa

SHINSHU, CENTRAL JAPAN 1923

NOW BUYING SPRING SILK-COCOON CROP

Ma, four kids in my class are going to middle school.

Is that so?

The teacher asked what my plans were.

What did you say?

Nothing.

I know we haven't got the money.

You don't need middle school.

I'll make mugwort cakes tomorrow.

Good evening.

Well, well!

How good of you to come by! Come in.

Please don't go to any fuss.

Please sit down.

Thank you for all you've done for Ryosuke.

Oh, it's nothing.

He's very bright, a delight to teach.

Well, I'm speechless.

He told me today that you're sending him to middle school.

I was really glad to hear that.

You won't get noticed

without a diploma these days.

It'd be a shame for such a bright boy to quit school now.

You made the right decision.

A person can't do anything without an education.

I'd like to go to Tokyo myself to continue my studies.

There's no future in a small town like this.

You really made the right decision.

Sorry to have bothered you.

Not at all.

Ryosuke, Mr. Okubo is leaving.

Don't bother.

Good-bye.

Forgive our meager hospitality.

Ryosuke!

Why did you lie?

Why?

How can I afford middle school?

Little fool!

When is Mr. Okubo leaving?

On tomorrow's afternoon train.

Really?

He was such a good teacher.

I knew he'd move to Tokyo eventually.

It was all he ever talked about.

HURRAY FOR MR. OKUBO!

You're going to middle school after all.

I was up all night thinking.

You're class president.

If those kids go and you don't, I'll never forgive myself.

You're going to middle school. Maybe even high school.

Study hard and become a great man.

It would make your late father so happy.

I'll do anything for your education.

Don't worry about the house.

Just study hard.

Go to middle school.

I can do at least that much for you.

What kind of mother would I be if I didn't?

You understand, don't you?

I'm getting old.

I'd like you to stay with me.

But as Mr. Okubo said,

nobody can get by without an education these days.

Don't worry about me. Just study hard.

Understand?

You understand?

Just watch, Ma. I'll become a great man.

SHINSHU, 1935

My son found a job in Tokyo.

Really? How nice.

Time flies, doesn't it?

Does it?

It's seemed like forever to me.

I think I'll go to Tokyo in the spring.

Really? That'll be nice.

He's 27 already.

It's time he found a bride.

TOKYO, 1936

It's been a long time.

The overnight train must have been exhausting.

Not at all.

The man in front of me was very kind.

He even bought me lunch... - in Takasaki, I think.

Really? That's nice.

How's Shinshu?

The snow was terrible this year.

Was it?

Look... - the Sumida River and Eitai Bridge.

That's the Kiyosu Bridge over there.

Really?

What a big bridge!

I'm really glad you came.

My house is across this field.

Let's walk.

The place isn't much to speak of.

Mother, don't be shocked.

Why?

At what?

Actually, I'm married.

Well, let's go.

Here it is, Mother.

Come in.

Mother's here.

Come in.

Welcome.

Please come in.

How do you do?

This is Sugiko.

I'm so glad you came.

Nice to meet you.

Thank you for looking after him.

The place is a mess, isn't it?

Mother, come look.

He was born last December.

We thought of lots of names but named him Gi'ichi, after Dad.

Fast asleep.

He's your grandson.

Excuse me...

What shall we do for dinner? - You have any money?

Just a little.

What would you like to eat?

What do you feel like?

Anything will do.

You sure?

Buy some chicken.

Don't take too long.

- Her dad has a Western-style restaurant. - Really?

Near where I boarded as a student.

I should have told you. I'm sorry.

It's all right. As long as you're happy.

I put in the order.

Was it enough?

Look after her, okay?

I know.

I thought you were working at city hall.

I quit there six months ago.

You did?

Excuse me. I have to step out.

I'll be back soon.

Sir.

Why are angles BFD and EFA equal?

You know why these two are equal, right?

Yes.

As for triangles PBD and PAE,

these two are right angles.

The quadrilateral PBCA is within the circle,

so this and this are equal.

Thus these two angles are equal.

I understand.

You follow, right?

That's Simson's Theorem.

Could you lend me ten yen?

Ten yen?

I can't spare ten.

Five will do.

Sorry about this.

Thanks.

Mr. Matsumura, I'm sorry, but would you lend me five yen?

My mother came into town unexpectedly.

Please?

I'll return it without fail on payday.

How about 10% interest?

Thank you.

Sorry to trouble you.

She showed up out of the blue.

Sorry.

How much does the school pay?

Not very much...

but we manage.

I'm home.

Welcome home.

I'm back.

Sorry I'm late.

Teachers can't take time off whenever they want.

Try one?

Make some tea.

Here's a pillow for you.

If I'd known about Sugiko and the baby,

I'd have brought gifts.

By the way, I didn't get chilblains this year.

That's a relief.

How's Mr. Okubo?

Hale and hearty as ever. Shall we go see him tomorrow?

- Yes, I'd like to see him. - Let's do that.

He'll be surprised.

Have another.

This is a different kind.

Here we are.

PORK CUTLETS

Hello.

Well, well.

Please come in.

What a surprise.

Come in.

Give your mother a cushion.

I'm so glad you came by.

It's been a long time.

When did you come to Tokyo?

I arrived yesterday morning.

It's been a long time.

I'm sorry I didn't keep in touch.

I often hear about you from Ryosuke, though.

But as you see...

Anyway, I'm glad you came.

Ryosuke, sorry to bother you,

but could you find a towel?

A towel?

Thanks.

This laundry soap is too strong.

Here you are.

Thanks.

It's been so long.

I guess the old town has changed.

Yes. The banks of the Sai River, where you used to play with Ryosuke,

are all concrete now.

Are they really?

The evening primroses there were so pretty.

They built a big new auditorium too.

But in Tokyo you can hear cuckoos brought from the mountains in Nagano.

Yes, I've heard them myself.

I always think how nice it would be

to go back home when the milkvetch is in bloom.

What's wrong?

Well?

They picked on me.

What am I to do with you?

My second son.

Stop crying now.

Bow to our guests.

Hopeless.

Jiro.

I know that's no way to raise a child,

but it's a quick fix.

Children are like that everywhere.

How old is he?

Six.

Big for his age, but immature. Gives me a lot of grief.

Aren't you busy?

Not really.

I never thought I'd have to do this in Tokyo.

But things turn out the way they will.

I'm home.

Hello.

This is my wife.

This is Mr. Nonomiya's mother.

Welcome.

- Sorry to show up while you were out. - I'm very glad you came.

She gave us this.

Thank you so much.

Our fourth.

He looks very bright.

You have a grandson now.

You must be enjoying his company.

Oh, that charm I told you about, to stop babies from crying at night.

Is that it?

You hang it upside down.

This is called a talkie.

Won't that noise next door keep your mother awake?

But that's why the rent's so cheap.

There's nothing we can do.

What do we do now?

I've spent the money I borrowed, and payday isn't for a while.

I know.

- Welcome back. - I'm home.

Welcome back.

How was your bath? - Very nice.

Thank you.

- Wasn't it crowded? - No.

I'm tired.

You walked a lot today. How about a massage?

How's that?

Shall I do that?

That's all right. Just make some tea.

You have big hands now.

How's that? Harder?

Ryosuke showed me so many places today.

Asakusa...

Ueno, and Kudan.

Know what impressed her the most?

No. What?

The big paper lanterns at Asakusa Temple.

They were so big.

Have you ever had Chinese noodles?

They're a little different, but they're good.

Here you are.

Allow me.

The Kannon statue in Asakusa was so big.

Three orders of ramen.

And put in a lot of roast pork.

Evening.

Good evening.

Studying hard?

I hear your mother's visiting.

Yeah, showed up out of the blue. Caught me unprepared.

Your noodles are ready.

Good-bye now.

Eat it while it's hot.

Won't you have some, Mother?

I guess I will.

Good, huh?

Anything you'd like to see tomorrow?

I don't know.

You've already spent so much money.

Not at all. Where should we go?

Yes, where?

Mother, the broth is good too.

Right? Not bad, huh?

Those are the city's garbage incinerators.

Is that so?

Tokyo has so much garbage to burn.

Mother, do you like Sugiko?

Sure I do. She's a nice person.

I was worried you might not like her.

Mother...

what did you think I had become?

Are you disappointed?

Why would you say that?

Well...

this isn't the life I expected for myself.

I sometimes wish I never came to Tokyo.

I feel bad for what I put you through.

My schooling in Tokyo wasn't worth all your hardship.

Why do you think that?

Is that really how you feel?

As I see it, your life's just beginning.

I feel the same way.

But maybe I've had my roll of the dice and this is all I get.

How can you be so nonchalant about it?

I wish I'd stayed with you out in the country.

The skylarks are singing so loud and clear.

Mother.

What's wrong?

I can't sleep.

What is it?

It's late. You should get some sleep.

Thinking about what I said this afternoon, aren't you?

Let's get some sleep.

So you're disappointed after all.

I did everything I could.

Knowing how you suffered pushed me to do my best,

but all I could become in Tokyo was a night-school teacher.

I can't say I'm happy about it myself,

but I have no idea what else I can do.

Is that so?

You're still young.

You can't give up so soon.

It's not a matter of giving up. I've done everything I could.

But Tokyo's so crowded. It's hopeless.

Don't jump to conclusions.

In all these years, I've never once given up hope.

You think it was easy as a single mother to send you to school here?

I didn't work so hard to see you like this.

Maybe you think I'm a coward,

but Mr. Okubo came here with big dreams,

and he wound up frying pork cutlets.

All that lofty ambition, and he sells pork cutlets.

The competition in Tokyo is fierce.

But you're not him.

Here we're all the same. That's Tokyo.

You keep blaming Tokyo,

but lots of people succeed here.

Not that many.

Still, some do.

Didn't you come to Tokyo to succeed?

Yes, but things didn't go as I expected.

Were they supposed to?

That attitude is the problem.

I don't want you giving up so easily.

I've worked all this time

because I wanted to see you succeed.

That's why I kept on working.

That's why I kept on living.

But with an attitude like that... -

Listen, I've been keeping this from you,

but I had to give up the house.

The house and mulberry fields your dad left us... - I sold them all.

I didn't tell you,

but I'm living in a factory tenement now.

Yet none of that matters

as long as you're doing well.

I don't care about the house or land.

You're all I have now, but if...

but if this is how you feel...

Little one, what will you grow up to be?

Will you live in Tokyo too?

- Hey, Grannie. - Hello.

Where you from?

Shinshu.

That's in central Japan. I know all the prefectural capitals.

Niigata, Nagano, Gifu,

and in Yamanishi prefecture it's Yama... -

Shinshu's main product is silk.

Tomi.

Shucks, I have to go buy more tofu. Bye!

Dear...

please use this to take Mother somewhere.

The weather's nice.

Take her out somewhere.

I feel bad seeing her just holding her grandson

out in that dreary lot.

Where'd you get that?

I sold my kimono. I never wear it anyway.

You come too.

Me?

You're fine like that.

The lady next door will watch the place.

Let's all go together.

Tomi...

go do your homework.

Tomi.

Tomi!

Lend me your mitt.

Forget it.

Selfish! You always say no.

Just this once.

Hey, come look.

Come on.

Watch this.

"Fun going over, scary coming back..."

How about that? Now lend me your mitt.

Forget it.

How about this?

Hello.

Would you keep an eye on our place again?

I'd be happy to.

Sorry to keep troubling you.

Thank you.

See you soon.

Ma'am, Tomi got kicked by a horse.

What? Where?

Where? What happened?

Behind Shige's house.

Let's go.

Tomi!

Let's get him to a doctor.

- Pulse? - 120. A little weak.

Gauze.

He kept asking me to buy him a mitt.

I should have bought him one.

Mommy, buy me a ball.

What rotten luck.

But it's not as bad as we feared. A few days here and he'll be fine.

Maybe this will help with expenses.

It's all right.

We have to help each other in times of need.

Don't hesitate if you need help. I'll send Sugiko over.

- Thank you. - Don't mention it.

Thank you, ma'am.

You've been very kind.

I'm glad it's not too serious.

Take care.

Good-bye.

Mommy, buy me a ball.

Mother, I'm sorry.

All our wonderful plans for the day were ruined.

Not at all.

I can't tell you how proud I am today

to have you for a son.

No matter where you took me today, I wouldn't have felt

the way I do now.

When you're that poor,

the kindness of others fills you with gratitude.

I know, because I've been that poor.

Maybe it's for the best that you didn't get rich.

You've done something truly wonderful.

It's the best souvenir I could take home.

Mr. Nonomiya!

How's he doing?

He finally left the hospital today.

Thank you again for everything.

Not at all. I'm glad to hear it.

My mother sends her best and says to study hard.

- Your mother went home? - Yes. We just saw her off.

Really?

I wanted to thank her again

in person.

She was so kind to us

during her stay.

I tried to get her to stay,

but she likes it better in the countryside.

Let's go.

I wonder where Mother is now.

Yes, I wonder.

Do you think your mother liked me?

Yes. Don't worry about that.

Do you think she went home satisfied?

I don't see how she could have.

I really didn't want her to come to Tokyo just yet.

I didn't want her to see me like this.

Think about it:

Would we be happy if we visited Gi'ichi years from now,

and he was just a night-school teacher?

"Use this to buy something for my grandson... - Mother"

I'm going to go back to school.

I'll get licensed to teach high school.

And I'll have Mother visit again.

He won't be a baby forever.

I want him to have a good roll of the dice.

You're lucky to have...

such a good mother.

How was Tokyo?

It's so big, just like you'd expect,

and as crowded as the Buddha statue exhibit at Zenko Temple.

Crowds of people from morning to night.

How's your son?

He's become a great man.

Really?

You worked so hard for so long to put him through school.

He's found a good wife too.

I can rest easy now.

I can finally die in peace.

You're a lucky woman.

Yes, I am...

THE END