, 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 .
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
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