The Boy Who Came Back is a Japanese drama film directed by Seijun Suzuki, first released in 1958. The film revolves around Nobuo, a young delinquent who has been just released from a reform school. Determined to leave his troubled past behind and start afresh, he moves in with his older sister, who is married and lives in a small apartment in Tokyo.
However, Nobuo's desire to change his ways is quickly challenged by his old friends from the gang, who keep on pulling him back into his old habits of smoking, drinking, and getting into fights. Nobuo also faces pressure from his sister's husband, who disapproves of his lifestyle and demands that he finds a job to prove his worth to the family.
As the story progresses, Nobuo finds himself torn between his desire to live a straight and narrow life and his loyalty to his friends. When one of his old gang members commits a crime and tries to involve him in it, Nobuo has to decide whether to stay true to his newfound principles or risk his freedom and reputation.
The film is a gritty portrayal of post-war Japan's youth culture and its struggle with poverty, violence, and societal expectations. Nobuo's story highlights the challenges faced by young people trying to break free from a life of crime and find hope in a society that seems to have abandoned them.