Name: I Graduated, But... (大学は出たけれど) Director: Yasujirō Ozu Studio: Shochiku Starring: Minoru Takada, Kinuyo Tanaka, Utako Suzuki Release Date: 1929 (Japan) Runtime: Approximately 11 minutes (extant fragment) Format: Black-and-white, silent film Country: Japan Language: Silent (Japanese intertitles) Genres: | Drama | Social Commentary | Silent Film | --- **Summary:** *I Graduated, But...* (1929) is a Japanese silent film directed by Yasujirō Ozu, exploring themes of pride, unemployment, and societal expectations. The story follows Tetsuo Nomoto (Minoru Takada), a recent college graduate who rejects a receptionist job offer, deeming it beneath his qualifications. To maintain appearances, he deceives his mother (Utako Suzuki) and fiancée (Kinuyo Tanaka) into believing he is employed. As financial pressures mount, his fiancée takes a job at a bar, leading Tetsuo to confront his pride and reassess his situation. The film concludes with Tetsuo returning to the company to accept the receptionist position, only to be offered a salaried role instead. ([Wikipedia][1]) --- **Background:** *I Graduated, But...* was one of six films directed by Ozu in 1929, a year marked by his prolific output. The film was co-written with Ozu's friend and colleague, Hiroshi Shimizu, who was initially slated to direct. It is notable for its exploration of the challenges faced by young graduates in a rapidly modernizing Japan. The film is now considered lost, with only an 11-minute fragment surviving. ([Cinematic Scribblings][2]) --- **Trivia:** * The film's title reflects a popular slogan mocking employment promises in 1920s Japan. ([Our Culture][3]) * Kinuyo Tanaka, who played the fiancée, was a prominent actress in early Japanese cinema and later became a renowned director. ([Wikipedia][4]) * The surviving fragment has been preserved and is available for viewing on platforms like The Criterion Channel. ([The Criterion Collection][5]) --- **Hashtags:** \#IGotMyDegreeBut #YasujiroOzu #SilentFilm #JapaneseCinema #LostFilm #KinuyoTanaka #SocialCommentary #EarlyCinema #FilmHistory [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Graduated%2C_But...?utm_source=chatgpt.com "I Graduated, But..." [2]: https://cinematicscribblings.wordpress.com/2016/03/06/director-series-yasujiro-ozus-i-graduated-but-1929/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Director Series: Yasujirô Ozu's I Graduated, But… (1929)" [3]: https://ourculturemag.com/2023/06/11/longer-cut-of-yasujiro-ozus-a-straightforward-boy-1929-found-in-japan/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Longer Cut of Yasujiro Ozu's A Straightforward Boy (1929) ..." [4]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinuyo_Tanaka?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Kinuyo Tanaka" [5]: https://www.criterionchannel.com/directed-by-yasujiro-ozu/season%3A1/videos/i-graduated-but?utm_source=chatgpt.com "I Graduated, But . . . - Directed by Yasujiro Ozu"