All language subtitles for The Only Son (Hitori musuko) (1936).ENG

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