Also known as A Town of Love and Hope. “Oshima's first film, about a poor boy, Masao, who sells his homing pigeon to a rich girl. The boy operates the scam to help pay his sick mother's medical bills. The girl, who genuinely likes him, tries to get him an honest job through her brother. But the patronizing brother sees Masao as a delinquent and turns him away. Masao returns, disillusioned, to the con game....
“Shochiku, which had promoted the 27-year-old assistant director to direct the film after his screenplay was published in the company newsletter, thought the finished product, which differed from the original, too divisive of the social classes. The company image, as reflected in the title ("The Boy Who Sold His Pigeon") chosen by the company president Shiro Kido, was (and is) one of wholesome hopefulness. Kido felt betrayed by the film's despairing tone and suspended Oshima for six months.” David Owens, Japan Society