is a 1927 Japanese silent film

Silent film

A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...

 by Yasujirō Ozu

Yasujiro Ozu

was a prominent Japanese film director and script writer. He is known for his distinctive technical style, developed during the silent era. Marriage and family, especially the relationships between the generations, are among the most persistent themes in his body of work...

. It is the first film directed by Ozu and was also the first of his many collaborations with screenwriter Kogo Noda

Kogo Noda

was a Japanese screenwriter most famous for collaborating with Yasujirō Ozu on many of the director's films.Born in Hakodate, Noda was the son of the head of the local tax bureau and younger brother to Kyūho, a Nihonga painter. He moved to Nagoya after completing elementary school and later went to...

.

Production

The film is the first that Ozu made after being promoted to director, however the first scene was filmed by Torajiro Saito

Torajiro Saito

was a Japanese film director known for his comedy films. Born in Akita Prefecture, he entered Shōchiku's Kamata studio in 1922 and debuted as a director in 1926. He later worked at the Shintōhō and Tōhō studios...

as Ozu had been called away for military service before filming was completed. No script or prints of the film survive today.

Plot

Sakichi is a thief who visits his brother. His brother, Isimatsu, who was recently released from prison wants Sakichi to reform his ways. Sakichi's partner frames the brother for the theft of a hairpin in order to prevent Sakichi from leaving his life of crime. Isimatsu is eventually freed but is fired and returns to a life of theft. Sakichi is then killed by Shozaemon in a climactic fight.