The Blue Bird (2008)

54 %
based on 8 user ratings
The Blue Bird on IMDb 7.0/10 246 votes

Released:
2008-11-29

Overview:
Higashigaoka Junior High School is in turmoil as one of the pupils, Noguchi, who had been bullied, attempted suicide last term. On the first day of the new term, a substitute teacher arrives to take the second year class. When the teacher, Murauchi (Hiroshi Abe), introduces himself, the pupils are surprised by his stutter. He has a speech impediment. Unable to speak eloquently, Murauchi faces his pupils with ‘words of truth’. His first instruction to the pupils is to return Noguchi’s desk and chair to the original place in the classroom. Every morning Murauchi greets the empty desk, “Good morning, Noguchi.” This causes a ripple beyond the classroom and among other teachers and parents, but Murauchi will not stop doing it. Eventually the day comes when Murauchi must leave.

Director:
Kenji Nakanishi

Runtime:
1h 45min

Genre:
Drama, Family

  • Cast:
  • Hiroshi Abe
    as
    Mr. Murachi
  • Kanata Hongo
    as
    Shinichi Sonobe
  • Ayumi Ito
    as
    Ms. Shimazaki
  • Hajime Inoue
    as
    Mr. Ishino
  • Osamu Shigematu
    as
    Mr. Miyazaki