"I Are You, You Am Me" film screening at The Japan Foundation, 5A Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV > 2pm on 8th October 2011

Time : 2:00 pm

Entry : Free

Place : The Japan Foundation, 5A Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi - 110024

Venue Info : www.jfindia.org.in | Map | Events | Nearest Metro Station - 'Moolchand'
Set Attending / Not Attending status below :

Event Details : 'I Are You, You Am Me' Japanese film screening.
SAITO KAZUO is a third grader at junior high school who is fond of 8mm home movies. One day,
his class receives a transfer student SAITO KAZUMI. In no time when his teacher Hiss ONO introduces her to the class, KAZUO and KAZUMI know they went to the same kindergarten. KAZUMI is thrilled with the reunion. However, KAZUO feels it a nuisance as she remembers every little trouble he caused.
On their way "home from school, "he" tries to push away KAZUMI who hangs about him. As KAZUMI
totters, he tries to help her, but in panic the both, clasping in each other's arms, fall down a long flight of stone steps from a hilltop shrine.
While they are unconscious momentarily, they go through an exchange of their bodies. KAZUO finally gets home and gasps at-finding his body changed into KAZUMI's. He dashes off to her house and is dumbfounded to see her in his body. As the members of her family do not notice the change and welcome home KAZUO in KAZUHI's body as their daughter without a slightest doubt, the two decide to exchange their homes too. Although suddenly manly-mannered KAZUHI and effeminated KAZUO create perplexity at home, a doubt never arises among families.
One day, KAZUO in KAZUHI's body .goes on a date with her boyfriend HIROSHI in a nearby city, but the date goes down the drain due to the odd behavior of KAZUMI whom KAZUO portrayed. What
comes next if the situation continues? Despite their grave concern and desperate circus-stances, they gradually grow affectionate feelings for each other.
Eventually, KAZUO's father is assigned job in another city and his family is obliged to move away on a near day. When KAZUO and KAZUHI are at the hilltop shrine^ KAZUHI once again totters. KAZUO extends hands to help her, but the two in embrace fall down a flight of stone steps again. Upon regaining their unconsciousness, they discover their bodies have been exchanged back...KAZUO's soul in KAZUO's body and KAZUMI's soul in KAZUHI's body. They embrace each other, saying "I like you, KAZUO." and "I like you, too, KAZUMI."
On the day of KAZUO's departure, he films KAZUHI, who comes to see him off, with his 8mm camera. They finally depart, crying "Good-bye, myself", "Good-bye myself", repeatedly to each other.

Notes : OBAYASHI NOBUHIKO is a true-born independent filmmaker who began making films with 8BH hose movie, going into 16mm, and made 35mm films for movie theatre whenever an opportunity arose.
Based on a fantasy novel by YAHANAKA 11ISAS1II, OBAYASHI made "I Are You, You Am He" with the very unique idea that the bodies of adolscerit boy and girl exchange.
There are male and female figures of speech in the Japanese language. Thus, in this film, the boy KAZUO in the girl KAZUMI's Body speaks masculine Japanese, and KAZUMI in the body of KAZUO speaks feminine words. The inverted speeches naturally sound very funny to Japanese audiences.
In most of other languages, however, there is not much difference in speech figures between male and female. So it is regrettable that the comical word play cannot be conveyed fully through the subtitles of other languages even though manly and womanly behaviors can be portrayed in action despite the physical appearances.

Year : 1982

Duration : 112 min.

Directed and Scripted by : Obayashi Nobuhiko

Related Events : Films at Cultural Places | Movies