The Child Writers (1958)

Plot Summary

A touching story about little Futyan and his sister Matiko. Their parents are very poor, but the children are not discouraged—they run to school together and find many interesting things in life. The children love literature and are good at writing essays. When they hear about a global competition for the best essay, they decide to take part and write an essay about how their school is going to be demolished and a military factory built in its place, about how difficult life is for their parents, how poor they are, but how they never lose their cheerfulness and hope. The essay was sent to Moscow, and the children eagerly await the decision. But Futyan did not wait for the answer; he caught a cold and became seriously ill. And since there was no money for his treatment, little Futyan died, and soon the answer came — the brother and sister's essay was awarded first prize.

Full Cast & Characters

Takao Zushi

Fumio

Masao Oda

Father

Yūko Mochizuki

Mother

Nobuko Otowa

Aunt

Kyōko Kagawa

Fumio's Teacher

Hisaya Morishige

Mr. Kawahara

Keiko Tsushima

Natsu

Kin Sugai

Toki Kawahara

Bokuzen Hidari

Nakahara

Director & Crew

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