Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Boy

Original title: Shônen
  • 19691969
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
75,142
10,820
Toshi Amatsu, Tsuyoshi Kinoshita, Akiko Koyama, and Fumio Watanabe in Boy (1969)
Drama
A young boy reluctantly aids his swindling father in a threatening scam.A young boy reluctantly aids his swindling father in a threatening scam.A young boy reluctantly aids his swindling father in a threatening scam.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
75,142
10,820
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Nagisa Ôshima
    • Writer
      • Tsutomu Tamura(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Fumio Watanabe
      • Akiko Koyama
      • Toshi Amatsu
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Nagisa Ôshima
    • Writer
      • Tsutomu Tamura(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Fumio Watanabe
      • Akiko Koyama
      • Toshi Amatsu
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 4 wins

    Photos49

    Toshi Amatsu in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu, Tsuyoshi Kinoshita, Akiko Koyama, and Fumio Watanabe in Boy (1969)
    Akiko Koyama in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu and Tsuyoshi Kinoshita in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu in Boy (1969)
    Akiko Koyama in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu, Akiko Koyama, and Fumio Watanabe in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu and Tsuyoshi Kinoshita in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu, Tsuyoshi Kinoshita, Akiko Koyama, and Fumio Watanabe in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu and Akiko Koyama in Boy (1969)
    Toshi Amatsu, Akiko Koyama, and Fumio Watanabe in Boy (1969)
    Tsuyoshi Kinoshita in Boy (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fumio Watanabe
    Fumio Watanabe
    • Takeo Omura
    Akiko Koyama
    Akiko Koyama
    • Takeko Taniguchi
    Toshi Amatsu
    • Toshio Omura
    • (as Tetsuo Abe)
    Tsuyoshi Kinoshita
    • Peewee
    LoLo Cannon
      Do-yun Yu
      • Victim driver
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Nagisa Ôshima
      • Writer
        • Tsutomu Tamura(screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      More like this

      The Ceremony
      7.3
      The Ceremony
      The Man Who Put His Will on Film
      7.0
      The Man Who Put His Will on Film
      Violence at Noon
      7.1
      Violence at Noon
      Kôshikei
      7.5
      Kôshikei
      Cruel Story of Youth
      6.9
      Cruel Story of Youth
      Sing a Song of Sex
      6.5
      Sing a Song of Sex
      Etsuraku
      6.9
      Etsuraku
      Nihon no yoru to kiri
      6.8
      Nihon no yoru to kiri
      Empire of Passion
      7.0
      Empire of Passion
      Muri shinjû: Nihon no natsu
      6.7
      Muri shinjû: Nihon no natsu
      Natsu no imôto
      6.3
      Natsu no imôto
      Taboo
      6.8
      Taboo

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        The role of the boy was cast by searching in Tokyo children's homes, eventually finding the young orphan Tetsuo Abe. Abe's own life resembled the fractured childhood of the character he was to play, and he was allowed to join the production with the children's home's permission. After the film's release, Abe was put up for adoption but refused it and chose to stay at the children's home's. He would never act again.
      • Goofs
        While the boy is wandering through a village it is night time, at the ocean inlet it's dawn, but the following scenes are at night time again.
      • Connections
        Featured in The Man Who Left His Soul on Film (1984)
      • Soundtracks
        Roei no uta
        (aka: Song of bivouac) (uncredited)

        Composed by Yûji Koseki

        [Sung at the geishas]

      User reviews7

      Review
      Top review
      7/10
      Amusing, Sad, Horrifying
      This movie dramatizes the real-life adventures of a roving family of con artists who faked traffic accidents to extort money from unwitting victims all over Japan. It offers a tension-filled psychological study of depraved, sociopathic parents exploiting each other and their 10-year-old son for easy money. The acting is remarkably good, particularly on the part of the boy who takes up the family trade with a mixture of gusto and reluctance.

      The cinematography is wonderful -- many shots are taken at a distance from the subjects, often through half-open doors, semi-closed blinds and other obstructions. The camera work reinforces the message, subliminally, that these are dangerous people living on the margins of society, and it is best to watch their antics at a safe distance. The film editing is excellent, particularly in the scenes where traffic mishaps are being plotted and executed by the family.

      My only quibble is that the film does at times have a mannered, contrived quality. For example, it abruptly switches from color to black and white and back again to color. At times, as when the black and white footage is quite overexposed, the effect is constructive and adds to the strained atmosphere; at other times, though, you feel a little whipsawed to little purpose.

      This film is as worthwhile as it is off the beaten track. Anyone with an interest in Japanese cinema or aberrant families would do well to see it.
      helpful•7
      1
      • barkingechoacrosswaves
      • Jan 22, 2014

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • April 9, 1970 (United States)
      • Country of origin
        • Japan
      • Language
        • Japanese
      • Also known as
        • Der Junge
      • Filming locations
        • Akita, Japan
      • Production companies
        • Art Theatre Guild (ATG)
        • Sozosha
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 37 minutes
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.35 : 1

      Related news

      Contribute to this page

      Suggest an edit or add missing content
      Toshi Amatsu, Tsuyoshi Kinoshita, Akiko Koyama, and Fumio Watanabe in Boy (1969)
      Top Gap
      By what name was Boy (1969) officially released in India in English?
      Answer
      • See more gaps
      • Learn more about contributing
      Edit page

      More to explore

      View list
      List
      New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
      See the full list
      View list
      List
      Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
      See the full list
      View image
      Photos
      Double Take: Celebrity Twins
      See the full list

      Recently viewed

      Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
      Get the IMDb App
      Sign in for more access
      Sign in for more access
      • Get the IMDb App
      • Help
      • Site Index
      • IMDbPro
      • Box Office Mojo
      • IMDb Developer
      • Press Room
      • Advertising
      • Jobs
      • Conditions of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interest-Based Ads
      IMDb, an Amazon company

      © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.