I Are You, You Am Me (Japanese: 転校生, Hepburn: Tenkōsei), also known as Exchange Students, is a 1982 Japanese fantasy film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi. It is based on a novel of the same name by Hisashi Yamanaka. Obayashi himself directed and co-wrote a second film based on the same novel, premiered in 2007 and titled Switching: Goodbye Me (Japanese: 転校生－さよなら あなた－, Hepburn: Tenkōsei: Sayonara Anata).
Contents
Plot
I Are You, You Am Me tells the story of two junior high school students, Kazuo and Kazumi, who accidentally fall down a flight of stairs and inexplicably switch bodies. As they navigate their new lives in each other's bodies, they experience the world from a different perspective, leading to humorous and poignant moments. The film explores themes of identity, adolescence, and empathy, providing a unique take on the body-swap genre.
Switching: Goodbye Me, the 2007 remake, retains the core plot of the original while updating the setting and characters for a new generation. It follows the same premise of two teenagers swapping bodies but incorporates modern elements and sensibilities. Both films are based on the novel by Hisashi Yamanaka and showcase Obayashi's distinctive directorial style, blending whimsical fantasy with heartfelt drama.
Cast
Toshinori Omi as Kazuo Saitō
Satomi Kobayashi as Kazumi Saitō
Makoto Satō as Akio Saitō (Father of Kazuo)
Kirin Kiki as Naoko Saitō (Mother of Kazuo)
Jō Shishido as Kouzou Saitō (Father of Kazumi)
Wakaba Irie as Chie Saitō (Mother of Kazumi)
Masuno Takahashi as Masuno Saitō (Grandma)
Munenori Iwamoto as Masaaki Kaneko
Daisuke Ohyama as Kenji Sakui
Etsuko Shihomi as Mitsuko Ono
Switching: Goodbye Me Cast
Misako Renbutsu as Kazumi Saito
Misa Shimizu as Naoko Saito
Tomorowo Taguchi as Kozo Saito
Joe Shishido as Yoshinojo Yoshida
Hiroshi Inuzuka as Konosuke Saito
Hiroyuki Nagato as Masao Imada
Awards
4th Yokohama Film Festival
Won: Best Film
Won: Best Screenplay – Wataru Kenmochi
Won: Best Newcomer – Satomi Kobayashi