Where to Watch Being Two Isn't Easy (1962) in the US

What it's about

Husband and wife Gorô and Chiyo, and their only offspring, an infant son named Tarô, go through the ups and downs of family life living in a cramped modern apartment building in suburban Tokyo. Their story is told in Tarô's second year of life. Many of their issues stem from both Gorô and Chiyo being unsure of themselves as parents, and being different in their perspectives of parenting, Gorô who believes in the traditional roles in which Chiyo is tasked with most of the child rearing responsibilities especially around the home. They also differ in the number of children they want, Gorô who believes Tarô is enough of a handful, while Chiyo really wants at least one more child in the general joy she feels in being a mother despite the problems. The unsurety that Gorô and Chiyo feel about their parenting is confirmed by Tarô, openly in his frequent crying fits when he is unhappy in what his parents or other adults around him have done wrong, and in secret as Tarô provides an inner voice narrative of what he wants and believes as a baby which is often contrary to what Gorô or Chiyo believe Tarô wants or needs. Their situation gets more complicated as Gorô's aged and thus stuck in her ways mother Ino gets directly involved in Gorô, Chiyo and Tarô's home life and thus Tarô's upbringing.

Cast and crew

Director

Kon Ichikawa

Writer

Michio Matsuda, Natto Wada

Starring

Fujiko Yamamoto, Hiroo Suzuki, Eiji Funakoshi

Details

Release date

Nov 18, 1962

Language

Japanese

Country

Japan

Awards

5 wins

Where to Watch Being Two Isn't Easy (1962) in the US — common questions

Where to watch Being Two Isn't Easy in the United States?

Being Two Isn't Easy is available with a subscription in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on The Criterion Channel (HD).

Can I stream Being Two Isn't Easy or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Watch the movie with a subscription on The Criterion Channel (HD).

Can I watch Being Two Isn't Easy for free in the United States?

We have not confirmed a free option for Being Two Isn't Easy in the United States.