If You Were Young: Rage

Set in a Japanese industrial town, the story centers on a factory, a men's dormitory, and a later rough coastal area where a dump truck route operates. It portrays the daily grind of workers facing layoffs, debt, and the lure of small, risky independence. The landscape shifts from factory floors to the road and, finally, to a seaside wreck, underscoring the limits of their ambitions.

🤝 Solidarity

A core driver of the story is the bond among Asao, Kikuo, and their friends as they pool savings to buy their own dump truck. The film highlights how collective effort and mutual support help people navigate precarious labor. Their camaraderie is tested by debt, strikes, and harsh realities, but their willingness to stand together remains a central thread. The eventual unraveling shows both the strength and fragility of solidarity.

🚚 Independence

The dream of owning a truck becomes a symbolic pursuit of autonomy from low-wage work and factory control. Asao and Kikuo commit their earnings to purchase and maintain the vehicle, symbolizing hope and self-reliance. The plan drives much of the narrative, fueling risks and tough decisions. Yet independence is portrayed as fragile, easily compromised by external pressures and misfortune.

⚖️ Conflict

The story pits the workers against factory owners, management, and the broader systemic pressures of labor relations. Strikes, violence, and the label of 'strikebreaker' reflect the harsh consequences of choosing survival over conformity. Police intervention and the brutal consequences of dissent underscore the cost of resistance. The clash between labor and authority drives the tragedy that unfolds.

🕊️ Loss

The pursuit of pride and protection for friends ends in tragedy. Ryuji is beaten to death by the police after intervening in violence, and Kiyoshi dies in a wreck while fleeing consequences. The film closes on the wreckage and the quiet aftermath, emphasizing how ambition and loyalty can lead to irreversible loss. These moments linger as a meditation on the cost of striving for a better life.