Chibideka monogatari (1958) User Reviews

A memorable film

[spikedog123 · 7/10 · 27 September 2006]

Like the other 40 somethings that have posted above, I too was deeply affected by this film. All these years, the film has stayed with me deep in the recesses of memories. I loved Sharri Lewis and Kukla Fran and Ollie. I would love to see the film again.

This was my first "foreign film" and it was quite exotic to see characters speaking Japanese on our little black and white TV. I remember being struck by how much I could relate to the boys (being of the same age at the time) and thinking it odd that someone so different could be the same. It brought tears to my eyes those boys were facing the same things I was as a boy in the schoolyard in Massachusetts.

Quietly triumphant.

[F Gwynplaine MacIntyre · 7/10 · 12 September 2005]

This movie about the friendship between two Japanese schoolboys is intended for children, aged about eight or so ... about the same age as this movie's protagonists. Many western children might find this film alienating, as it's in Japanese (I viewed a print with English subtitles), the entire cast are Japanese ... and because the world of the 1950s is very different from our own world. An American child who watched this movie with me kept impatiently asking why the Japanese boys didn't have video games or anime.

IMDb's plot outline for this movie is accurate, except that the 'skinny' boy isn't actually skinny; his physique is normal. The new boy in class is Komatsu: he is very heavy-set, and straight away all the other boys (except Skinny) shun him and cry him 'Fatty'. When Skinny tries to make friends with Fatty, all of Skinny's shallow friends taunt him for befriending the fat boy. I found this story all too plausible.

The fat boy's parents have got more money than Skinny's family, so his friendship with Fatty enables Skinny to experience upper middle-class pleasures (such as a swimming pool) that he wouldn't have known on his tod. Eventually, Fatty begins to wonder whether Skinny likes him for himself or for material reasons. Meanwhile, Skinny feels a powerful peer-pressure from his schoolmates: in order to regain their approval, he'll have to betray Fatty. Again, I found this painfully plausible.

SLIGHT SPOILER NOW. The movie doesn't really have a climax, but there's a nice bit of business with one of those toys on a stick. I don't know what it's called; there's a ball at the end of a string tied to a stick, and a cup at one end of the stick. You've got to flip the stick just the right way so that the ball pops into the cup. (A correspondent has told me that this toy is named Kendama; I'll take his word for it.) Anyroad, one boy is able to use this plaything properly but the other boy isn't ... until the end of the movie. There's some beautifully stark photography as the two boys walk along in a large open area with a few skeletally leafless trees.

I found this movie to be a very accurate depiction of some of the more painful aspects of childhood, and for that reason watching this movie was more a painful experience for me than a pleasant one. The production budget is nil -- it's shot in documentary style -- but the movie does give some interesting views of urban Japan in the late 1950s. I'll rate this quietly triumphant movie 7 out of 10.

Vague sweet memories

[sheena1959 · 8/10 · 2 June 2011]

It seems like there is this whole generation of us who have a vague memory of this film. I too was touched as young kind watching this poignant story. I think I saw it on TV and at a camp I went too. That distance land of childhood, those first friends, the pain of peers, the hurt of being shunned. And of course the bullies. It would be interesting to watch this again with my 9 year old son and see what he thinks

Seems like there was a torrent kicking around for this but can't find a live one. If anyone knows where it can be found please let me know.

thanks,

fond memories

[step-15 · 10/10 · 29 August 2006]

I'll admit first of all that I don't remember details of this movie (no danger of a spoiler!), but I did an Internet search for it simply because of the impact it made on me 40 years ago when I saw it as a child of seven, which is the approximate age of the characters. I do remember that the movie was in Japanese, which seemed quite novel to me, but which in no way deterred from the story or the impact. To this day, I am still moved emotionally by the story of friendship, love, and courageous acceptance between two boys, one socially acceptable, one not. I am glad to discover so many others across the world enjoyed "my" movie.

Fabulous - for all ages

[danmoses-3 · 10/10 · 31 December 2005]

Growing up, I used to watch Kukla Fran, and Ollie's Children's Film Festivals on Saturdays and I believe this was the first film shown. It was so impressionable that, 30 years later, I searched far and wide to obtain a copy and STILL enjoy it as much as I did as a child. Skinny and Fatty is about friendship, courage and solidarity. The story takes place in Japan, where a fat boy moves into an unfamiliar town and finds himself isolated from his classmates. One boy (who's small) befriends him, but in doing so isolates himself from his friends. The film does an amazing job of getting the viewer to sympathize with the fat boy and at the same time feel for the skinny one, who is constantly encouraging his new friend. "You can do it!" he's heard telling his fat friend who can barely get off the ground while trying to climb the rope in gym. It's a great movie for kids, who are taught that being a nice person sometimes means not following the crowd or your friends. It's also refreshing for adults, who sometimes lose sight of these principles too. Just an amazing film - it shows what a filmmaker can do in 45 minutes if all the material is pertinent and excludes the fluff and special effects included in many of today's movies. Btw, if you want the toy in the movie referenced in the previous review, it's called Kendama.

Komatsu --- Where are you????

[gelashe · 10/10 · 9 April 2007]

One of the best CBS Saturday morning movies along with "Hand in Hand".

A simple film about two boys. One chubby and one thin. The chubby boy is ridiculed by his classmates - when he is introduced and goes to share a desk, he almost bumps "Skinny" right out of his seat. That's the first heartwarming/wrenching part and the beginning of their friendship.

Because Komatsu is big, he has trouble with the gymnastics but Skinny helps him out, encouraging him. One day they are approached by a group of boys on the way home from school and beaten up - another time they have to run from a dog on the way home from school. All things we can relate to.

Komatsu's family is well off, living in a nice home with plenty to eat. Skinny lives with his mom and younger sibling in a poor section of town - the dad is off working in another part of the country.

When Skinny's mom tells him they are moving away to be closer to their father, he has to tell Komatsu. I can't remember if he told him or gave the message to his family. But I remember Skinny calling "Komatsu" over and over again towards the end. I don't know why but I think it had something to do with him being able to do something that he couldn't do before.

This is such a beautiful film - I think adults born in the late 50's early 60's would appreciate it more than children today. Especially since it is in Black and White with such a primitive film feel to it. These were bare bones, on location movies with nothing added. The countrysides and everything is real.

A Forgotten Classic

[Ducky-23 · 10/10 · 19 June 2007]

I remember watching this film in the 1960s on Kukla, Fran and Ollie's Children's Film Festival. I recall it being such a powerful message on the value of friendship and believing in yourself. The story revolves around a lonely and overweight boy (Oyama) who moves to a new city and a new school. He is disliked and teased almost from the start because of weight. Another boy (Komatsu) befriends him despite what the others think, and he begins to effect the way the others and even Oyama sees himself. A few years ago I purchased the video online and watched it again. It was as good as I remembered and I have shown the film to many of my elementary students. I highly recommend this movie!

Nostalgia

[Tru-Blood · 4 September 2010]

If I remember correctly, The CBS Children's Film Festival aired on Saturdays at noon in Chicago during the 1960s. Of all the movies that must have been aired, the only film I recall is "Skinny and Fatty."

Over 40 years later, I still have visual memories of "Skinny and Fatty." It was interesting to view Japanese schools and residences and to get a tiny glimpse of life in Japan.

I also have physical memories. When I think of the film, a wave of nostalgia rushes in, tears come to my eyes, and I feel a slight heartache. For me, the film was beautifully sad yet beautifully triumphant.

I would recommend "Skinny and Fatty" to all as a great family film.

remember this very well

[ciecie · 10/10 · 29 May 2014]

I remember watching this when it was on Kukla, Fran and Ollie. While this film is dated, it also teaches an important lesson that is still valid 56 years after the film was made. The lesson is to judge a person by the content of their character and not by their weight. I wish that Kukla, Fran and Ollie were still on today so this film could be shown. Kids today need to learn the lesson that this film teaches. Fatty is a new boy in school who is from wealthy family. He is bullied by other students because of both. Skinny is a poor boy who decides to get to know the new kid in school. They become the best of friends. This film is from TV's golden age!

Best Bestfriends film in time when they were not popular.

[cnrfbones · 10/10 · 20 March 2019]

I've seen this film several times when my brother and I were young. We both; brother and sister, cheered for both of the top-billed children. We cried along with them because they each helped one another in their own ways. The best part is that way back in 1957 (I think) when standing up against bullying and hazing were NOT so popular, this film ran against the the abuse of other children, while becoming very close friends. The title seems to go against what I am saying, but at the time, it was, I believe, used to make the point home. Since then, I have seen this film several more times and can't help crying in the film----but it's a good feeling cry because "Fatty" the rich boy the "Skinny " helps to stand up for himself. My eyes water when "Fatty" turns back to his friend smiling and waving and then yells, " Komatsu, thank you!!". The poorer boy returns the gesture.

This film should be shown in elementary schools across the country---especially when we have a leader who preaches hatred, intolerance, 'stay with your own kind' junk and fear and prejudice. He does NOT care about America or Americans. A Japanese story long after the internment camps, from a once enemy, and now friendly country who can forgive, told a wonderful, tremendous story of true friendship and loyalty that should be a must see for all elementary students and repeated. The children are lovable and I have access to the show through a download and am happy to have it. It definitely helped my brother and I deal with bullies and haters. We had many friends and we were popular for standing up for our friends. I'm a martial arts specialist and my brother took USA Jiu Jitsu. I took GRACIE Jiu Jitsu, Judo, several types of Karate, Krav Maga, and many other styles and I am a self defense specialist and a knife fighting specialist and coach. I also took weapons training in sai boku, hanbo, bo, and many swords training. I teach children and adults quite a bit. I guess you can say "Skinny and Fatty" was an inspiration for learning for ourselves, and I went further to teach children and adults how to defend against hate and bullies. PLEASE make time to watch this with your family and children. Then they can learn to stand up for themselves and NOT have to be violent---self defense is NOT violent. It's defense. DOWNLOAD this Japanese miracle!!!!

Remember 'Skinny and Fatty'?

[jamesrupert2014 · 8/10 · 5 December 2023]

Oyama (Yoshiro Kataoka), a shy, 'big-boned', overweight boy from a well-off family moves into a new neighbourhood and is befriended by Komatsu (Shunkoku Sha) a small, thin boy whose parents are labourers. The pair, christened 'Skinny and Fatty' by the other kids, deal with bullies, schoolwork, Phys Ed class, and, most of all, Oyama's hobbling lack of self-confidence. Many people of my vintage and media-culture remember seeing this short Japanese film on 'The CBS Children's Film Festival', which was hosted in the 1960's and early 1970s by Kukla Fran and Ollie. I was probably about the same age as the characters when I first saw the film but I never forgot the scene in which the mean kids take Oyama's beloved cap'n'ball toy and throw it into the woods and, watching it again on YouTube more than a half-century later, I still wanted to punch the bullies. The two boys are quite good in the roles, there are some amusing scenes (usually involving the impact of Oyama's bulk when playing with his smaller peers), and the venue provides an interesting look at a small-town Japanese school in the mid-1950s. All in all, a simple and pleasant tale with lessons that hopefully children are still learning.

Worth every minute!

[ead759 · 2 October 2011]

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid...I couldn't possibly recommend it highly enough for any family. It was well done, funny and sad, but definitely memorable! Nothing much has changed since it was made in the 50's either. Kids can be cruel to each other, and it happens everywhere, not just at the local school. The boys who portrayed each of the characters in the movie did such an outstanding job getting the emotions across, even though it was a foreign film. We were always excited when we found out that CBS was going to show it, I think I saw it about 3 or 4 times when I was growing up. It is the ONLY movie I remember from the CBS Children's Film Festival, although I'm sure there were others that were memorable at the time, but this one just really struck home. I think Kukla Fran and Ollie should come back on RetroTV or TV Land, too. And Shari Lewis and Lambchop. Great entertainment for kids that no one does well anymore. Kids of all ages would enjoy Skinny and Fatty. As would adults who aren't total dorks. Should be in every kid's collection of classics!