Song of the Exile (1990) Movie Script
Miss, what would you like to eat?
What should we have?
I don't know
You choose, Hueyin. You're the expert
Spring rolls?
- Yeah!
- Great!
Spring rolls
Delicious
I finished my education in England
in summer, 1973
For me, life only started then
I lived happily. The Vietnam war,
the Mideast War
were nothing but TV newsreels only
I was then 25
He was horrible! He stank of Brut, imagine!
Well, you didn't have to stand so close,
he wore it all over him
Oh, the world's forgotten me
Oh my God, I don't believe it!
I've got an interview with the BBC!
Jesus Christ! What about you, Hueyin?
I'm sorry
It's ok
Look Hueyin, let's celebrate anyway
I've got a bottle in my room
Ok, I won't be a minute
Hello, I'm Tracy Cavalier, how do you do?
How do I look?
It'll be their loss if they don't choose you
I agree with you
I think there's something missing here
Do you think I should wear some jewelry?
Try this
Thank you, it's great. I love it!
There's something mysterious and oriental about it
Do you think it'll bring me luck?
- I hope it works better for you than it did for me
- Oh, don't be silly
I want to see you as a bride too,
but I got an interview with a TV station
You know, that's a rare chance for an oriental
There are so many TV stations, but you've got
only one sister
Hey! Sis
I know
Frankly, can you arrange the interview for
another time?
We haven't seen each other for a long time
After the ceremony,
we're emigrating to Canada
We'll have even less chance of seeing each other
Well, I'll try
Don't be disappointed if I can't make it
We'll see each other in Canada. Bye-bye
Sis! Mummy, it's sis!
Ma!
My eldest daughter Hueyin just back from England
with a master's degree
You two go in. I'll join you later
What did your daughter major in? Law?
I've no idea, so long as she could earn
more money
How do you find the groom?
Great, he looks as if he's going to be rich
some day
And my bridal gown
Simple, but elegant
Tell mummy about it
She's been griping about it,
saying more lace and beads have to added here
The designer nearly blew his top
Hueyin, come out
Look, beautiful isn't it?
Try it on
We can still make some modifications
Mummy, it's too red and too loud
I'll buy another one for myself tomorrow
What's wrong with red? Mine's red too
Red suits the occasion
Go and try
So you think it's too loud now?
When you were a child, you'd wear nothing
but red
How nicely it fits!
This pair of shoes will match it perfectly
Have your hair clipped and permed tomorrow
Dressed up like that, everybody will know you're my daughter
Well, hang it up now to avoid wrinkling it
My God! Since when has she become like that?
In Canton
Huewei
Your daddy bought this one year
when he got a bonus
You were still kids then
Daddy said it's for his daughter
when she gets married
Now that you' re both here, my idea is to
give it to Huewei since she is getting
married first
I shall be fair
I'll buy another one for you when you
get married
It's daddy's money anyway
So it'll also be a gift from daddy
Mummy there's no need
Maybe I'd never get married
Or suddenly got married abroad and
wouldn't come back
You won't stay in HK?
Why ask her?
Didn't she say she might marry
someday without even telling us?
Of course she won't stay!
What's the matter with her?
Sis, you don't understand mummy
Maybe I've never understood my mother
In my memory, mother wasn't like that
When we were children, Daddy worked in Hong Kong
while we lived with our grandparents in Macao
I remember my mother
as a silent and reserved person
Bread for sale
Grandma, the bread man's here
Hey, bread man!
You want bread. Good, good
Thank you
Hueyin, take these buns to grandpa
Take care
Grandpa, have some buns
Good girl, you eat first
Mummy, have some bums
Grandma will crack it for you
Don't go
Drink up the lotus seed soup first
Have a bun
Thank you, grandpa
It's almost done
What a good smell
Hueyin, come
Tasty, isn't it? Grandma cooks well,
unlike your mummy
who serves everything cold
Bad for the stomach
Everything should be taken hot
Wild flowers grow beside Chu Chu Bridge
As the sun sets in Wu Yi Lane
Swallows of the former Wang Shih clan
fly into a layman's family
Excellent. Grandpa will give you a sweet
If you study every day, you won't forget
your origins
When our home town is safe
I'll bring you back
Be a doctor when you grow up
A doctor or a seer serves the people
Dr. Sun was a doctor
and a great man from our Guangdong province
Though the men under him didn't do well
Anyway, things are getting better
Grandpa wanted to learn western medicine once
but your great grandpa owned a
Chinese medicine shop
and forced me to learn Chinese medicine
Miss, this style is not bad
It's the latest
It will look good on you
Mum, can't I do without a perm?
What's wrong with straight hair?
It's just that
It doesn't match the gown I made for you
Remember Mrs Lo?
When her daughter got married last year
All her female relatives had the same perm and
the same dress on
They stood in a row to give a feeling
of splendor
and the impression of being the same family
It's this hair style
If I don't perm my hair does it mean we're not
in the same family?
Forget it
It's up to you
We aren't family even if you permed your hair
Why did you bring me back then?
And made me give up an interview?
Sis, please don't argue with mummy
Let me be a happy bride, won't you?
Okay, then, if it pleases you
You brat!
I don't want it, I don't want it
Stop
I don't want it, I don't want it
Grandpa
Sit down
You must go to school, must cut your hair,
and wear this
Grandma, grandpa
Why is mummy beating you?
Mummy wants to cut my hair
and put on that ugly dress
Mummy says if I don't cut my hair & wear
that uniform
the school won't let me in
Who says so, I'll take you there tomorrow
and see who'll stop us from entering
Yin-yin, put this envelope of snacks
in your schoolbag. Eat them when you're hungry
Remember, I'll wait outside the school for you
Don't worry, and study hard
Mrs Chang, congratulations!
The bride and groom toast the guests
Shall I dump these leftovers?
They're nauseating!
They're for making a hot pot
I brought them back specially
You loved them you were a child
Remember you were always eating in the room
your grandpa?
Ma, I hope you're not serious
What do you mean by "dying in Japan"?
I'm serious
Your dad is dead, and Huewei is now married
You said you won't return to HK
So it's better for me to return to Japan
than to age and die here
At least I've my family over there
You haven't contacted them for years
Are you sure they still feel kinship?
No
Even my own daughter doesn't care.
What can I expect from others?
It's better than being left alone here anyway
At least it's my own homeland
I've been yearning for and dreaming about it
these last 20 years
You've never talked like this
Now that Huewei is away, you create
difficulties for me
Is that being fair?
Why worry?
You don't even care about me, why worry
about what I say?
You only care about your grandparents in Canton
As for me, you wouldn't care even if I died
Have you cared about me then?
Since I was 15, I've been studying in a boarding school
and living alone
Nobody cared about me except dad
You've never asked how was doing
You forsook me first before I gave you up
The more you're educated, the more
heartless you become
You're accusing me now
Are you afraid I might become your burden?
Never! At worst I'll return to Japan now
Our house is small and we have lots of things
Things get lost easily
Yes, small things like earrings and bracelets
once lost, are difficult to find
Right, my memory is bad
I might have misplaced it
I just wanted to ask her had she seen it?
And she wore a stony face
Don't we belong to the same family?
Let's go to Hong Kong, to find dad
No
I want grandma
Dad, Hueyin has to leave sooner or later
Let her come with us
while she is still young
She just started her studies here
and is doing well
But you're getting old
I'm afraid she may be troublesome
Grandpa, I don't want mummy, want grandma
See, children are straightforward
Come and take a bath
It was summer 1963
I was sent back to Hong Kong
to join a totally strange home
Grandpa, are we going to have papaya?
Pung
Hurry, I must cook for my husband
Since when have you become so devoted?
Are you afraid your husband will starve
to death?
If he dies, I can marry another one
But if there's nothing to eat at home,
he may go out to find other game
The other day, I smelt perfume on his jacket
So I tore it to shreds
Wow, what a move!
On my part I don't care
so long as he gives me money to spend
Do your homework
That Mrs Wang upstairs got so many abortions
She can't have the electric fan turned on
even in summer
Daddy
Have you cooked?
Not yet
You're a big girl now and should know better
Some people stay home all day and don't know
she should cook too
Well, have you had luck?
If I had such a husband
I would smile even when I'm dreaming
This one
That's right
You won
I win
Are you going to play again after dinner?
If not, we'll go to the movies
Hear that? Eat up
Okay
Guess what I'd like to watch?
"West Side Story"
No, we'll watch Mifune's "Seven Samurai"
Mummy likes to watch Mifune
Right?
I'm not going
OK, but finish eating first
I've never seen such a weird girl
I've never seen such a strange home either
If you don't like it here, don't come back
You've said it
I should've followed grandpa to the mainland
instead of coming back here
Who are you talking to? She's your mother
Should a mother act like that?
Playing mahjong all day long without
cleaning or cooking
And you still dote on her
Do you want us to act like her?
If I did
I would feel ashamed
If you would feel happier going to boarding school
I have nothing to say
But I want to tell something
I've never told you
Mummy is Japanese
Do you know that?
I met her in Manchuria after the war
We didn't inform grandpa of our marriage
You've studied history
You should know Sino-Japanese relationship then
Mummy couldn't understand a word of Chinese
I wasn't around much either
You could imagine how lonely she was
Finally I brought her here after
much difficulty
Only then did she learn to speak our language
and lead our life
How could we make her suffer anymore?
She's indeed learned to lead our life
The worst kind of life
If you want to blame anyone,
blame me
but not mummy
I haven't the ability
to settle all of you in better surroundings
Sis, didn't you know mum's Japanese?
You were born earlier
Mummy told me she came from a big family
Her house is huge
10 times larger than our home
There were hot springs, cherry blossoms, and snow
How come you didn't know?
Because mummy loves you more
Mummy
I got in touch with my brother
He told me to join him immediately
There's no need to bring anything
except a few changes of clothes
He's got everything else
Mummy, I'll go with you to Japan
No need. I'd better get used
to living a lonely life
What about your air ticket and the visa?
Don't cry anymore
I must leave, mummy
David, come here
I know I'm being selfish, but it can't be helped
I never imagined that you who had been furthest
from mum
will now be closest to her
Take care of Huewei, don't bully her
or I'll bring mother to Canada to settle
with you
I will
Let's go, Huewei
Take care
Okay, go now
I'm taking you to Hong Kong, to find dad
No, I want grandma
I'm back
Brother!
Welcome home
You must've waited a long time
No, not very long
No, I'm okay. Thank you
Your daughter?
Your Uncle
My eldest daughter Hueyin
She just graduated in England
I brought her along because she wanted to see
my hometown
Is that so? Few young people nowadays
want to see their mother's hometown
Right
So she's a university graduate
and such a beautiful girl, you're lucky
Yes, perhaps
But my husband died early
My life in a foreign country is hard
Yes
What did Uncle say?
He admires me
Oh, she's asleep
Must be really tired. Are you hungry?
Your mother must be hungry
Let's get something to eat
Mummy get up. I can't understand what he said
Let's go and get something to eat
Now what? Have we arrived?
We're stopping by to eat
What will you have?
Shrimp noodles, vegetable noodles, bean curd
All my favorites, one each
Do you eat them all by yourself?
Yes
Right!
These things don't taste so good in Hong Kong
Aiko?
Aiko?
My teacher!
So you still remember me
You naughty child
Running off to Manchuria without telling us
Left just like that
It's so nice you're still alive
My parents, I'm back
I miss you both, I miss my hometown
Day and night all these years
Look at the tombstones and
you know how respectable our family is
Look at the others. They are just
pieces of stone
Your grandpa used to boast about his
family background
I just didn't care to contradict
Aiko
Where are you?
Aiko
Just a small present
What is it?
Oh, it's delicious!
I'll give you one every day if you like
Her husband is a fishmonger. So it's no problem
Is that so? Married to Komatsu
Yes, yes
Please
Welcome home
So you finally married Arakawa?
No, I left him
You jilted him to marry another man?
You shouldn't have fought with me then
Whom are you married to now?
My husband died in action
I'm now single
Aiko's husband is dead as well
You two should start the fight all over again
No, I'll lose for sure
Look, she is still young and beautiful
I'll show you who is really young and beautiful
My eldest daughter Hueyin just back
from England
with a degree
My younger daughter is married and is now
in Canada
What a beautiful girl
She must have many admirers
Like you did when you were young
Your husband must've been rich
For his child to get a good education,
you must live well too?
Like Tokyo, Hong Kong full of skyscrapers
I live in a 15-storey building
Stop the car!
Do you still remember Arakawa's house?
Get out now. Go and see Tetsuro
He still admires you
Aiko, are you done?
Shouko is now with us
I'll wait until I can meet him alone
She's your mother's rival
So you speak mandarin, uncle?
A little. Long time ago
I lived in Manchuria
Your mother did too
Mother, when young
Boys liked her a lot
Have you many boyfriends?
No? No?
You not your mother's daughter, then
It's nice to be back
to meet old friends
to see them getting old and fat
I must say it's a consolation
How strange! Your body came out of mine
but you are totally different from me
I won't go out with you tomorrow
What? You resent what I've said?
I can't understand a word of what you said
the whole day and I feel like a fool
Only after one day?
Now you know what I went through in Macao
Even if I don't come back
I would like to feel the house is still there
I would feel lost if it's sold
What does Masahiko say?
He agrees too
Could be tell me that directly?
He may not come to see you
Tell him I'll go and pay him my respects
Will that do?
Mother
She's out
Breakfast is ready
Will you eat there or over here?
You don't feel like eating as well?
Just do as you like
Have you got something to say to me?
Did mother talk to you about the house?
Was she mad?
She was angry last night
You're strange. Didn't you say
you're not eating?
Delicious
Wish your mother could be like you
First say no, and then say yes
Did she ask you clean the house?
Your mother
Yes, yes
My mother likes to scrub the floor at home
Never mind, I have nothing else to do
I understand
She wants to keep house
Did you leave home then
because you were disappointed in love?
Not really, father often talked about China
My brother worked in Manchuria too
thought I should go there
With some hope of finding a better man
Did you find him?
Ah, good men die young
Like my son
I hardly spoke enough to him
And he died
So, I speak to his photograph
Day and night
Spending my days speaking to him
Stop fighting
Be good
How's Tarou? Don't feel like eating?
Tomoko, don't do that
Give that back!
Wait, don't eat that tomato!
You wanna die?
Stop!
Bastard!
Hey stop!
Can't you hear me?
Stop that girl!
What's the matter?
You wanna die?
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to steal it
I'm very sorry! Okay?
You're not Japanese?
I'm sorry
She was wandering in front of my house
as if she was going to eat that tomato
I stopped her and she fled
It was sprayed with pesticide and can't be eaten
Maybe you looked too threatening
Or she thought you were a maniac
Didn't think she was a foreigner
From Hawaii? How are you?
Doesn't look like an American either
A Chinese?
How could a Chinese be here?
Uncle Lau's got a lucky hand today
Ah Rung, your Japanese wife's sort of cranky
She hides in her room all the time
Maybe she dislikes us?
I really don't understand the Japanese
The food they cook looks good
but is tasteless
Did you ask her whether she likes here?
She might run away one day with the child
Keep an eye on her
Please come out, teacher
Can I help you?
Yes, yes
Splendid
You disappeared this morning. I thought
you were angry
Neither you nor your mother came back for lunch
I was really worried
Then your mother returned. She agreed to
sell the house
So I can go with your uncle to Tokyo
to join my children
Thank you, thank you indeed
The only trouble is your mother may
become homeless
But she once saved my son's life
She will always be welcome at my home in Tokyo
How could you get lost here?
It's easy to get lost in Tokyo or Osaka
But in such a small place!
Uncle
Eat
Your mother is not eating
She's not well
Don't disturb her
Your father gave it to me
A long time ago
I wanted to wait for him to come
to get drunk with him
And then he passed away
Drink with me
You represent your father
A wooden seal would do. Have it made quickly
Well, tomorrow night
Mummy, is this your original name?
My eldest daughter Hueyin
She just graduated from a University in England
Her sister's married and lives in Canada
You are getting old
I'll take a walk with Hueyin.
Pick you up later
Uncle, is he mummy's former lover?
No, no
He's your Uncle, our youngest brother
Mother loves him
She loves him most
Not now
I don't either
Why?
He's still at war
What?
He was a Kamikaze pilot
The war ended, before his despatch
He is still at war
Mother, wanted to come home
He wrote
He swore, never to see his disloyal sister
Beast
Poor Aiko
She is heart-broken
Your mother, quarrelled with uncle
She hadn't returned home
We look for her
Fill my glass once more
I might never meet you again in this life
One last glass
Health to your wife
Oh! She is angry
Mother
Come here
Come and see my lover. In my youth
I loved him but he didn't love me
And I didn't love the man who loved me
God, what a complicated thing love is!
Your daughter?
She looks like you when you were young
So you still remember?
This is Hueyin. She just returned from
studies abroad
Have a drink with him
Mummy
I'm all right, I won't be sad
He's regretting
I can see it
He said he wasn't happy all those years
How could he be happy?
With such a wife
And such kids
One still in prison
Has he got what have?
Mummy, let's go home
We will. we'll go home
I came back only to show them
I didn't fare worse than any of them
And I've got you, my child
What have they got?
You know?
I told your uncle
"I'm disloyal"
"You're loyal"
"Why didn't you commit harakiri after the war?"
"If you are truly loyal"
"do it now and I'll accompany you"
He dared not do it
I spilled hot tea over him
Life is strange
Had it not been for a flash of impulse
I wouldn't have gone to Manchuria
If Japan hadn't been defeated, I wouldn't have met your father
At every turn, life could have been different
Don't you think
life is strange?
Where are you going?
To get help
Don't go
If the Russians find us
we would all be exiled to Siberia
to wait for death
Countless died in this war
What is the life of one mere child?
Don't worry. If I get caught
I'd only be one among the many dead
Among ghosts I'll bless him to recover
Aiko!
Who's that?
A child is ill
Japanese?
Your father was a translator?
He looked smart in his uniform
He said his family runs a shop selling
Chinese medicine
He actually saved the life of Uncle's son
He took us all the way to
the Japanese Repatriation Center
While we waited for the boat, he came often
to see the child
Your Uncle was completely charmed by him
He said your dad was nice because
he loved children
On the eve of our departure, he came again
Thank you
For me?
We'll return to Japan tomorrow
I know
Come to Beppu when you have opportunity
We'll entertain you to thank you for your
great kindness
I don't want to go to Japan
You hate the Japanese, is that so?
No, I hope you won't go back to Japan
Please stay with me
Stay with me here forever
I remember how he said that
"Stay with me here forever"
He really never came to Japan
But his daughter came
Really, the ones dearest to us are always
furthest away
I felt the house was big as a child
Now I feel it's gotten small
Do you want to go home?
The food is not right, always served cold
I have the feeling of an empty stomach
Cantonese food tastes better
Oh for a bowl of hot soup
This bathhouse should be altered.
One has to walk
to take a bath, and the snow?
Father, mother, I've been back with Hueyin
The airfare is expensive and the trip is long
I can't tell when may return again
So long as I've been back, I'm content
When saw my mother going away
I felt I sort understood her
I once forsook my home like that
But I was only 15 then
Mother is going on 50
Would she be reconciled to it like I did?
That year when we left Beppu
Japan was enshrouded in autumn mist
In Hong Kong, summer was hardly over
Corruption is illegal
Down with corruption
The government has a duty
To fight corruption
We oppose persecution
When there's corruption,
there's no fairness
When there's corruption,
there's no future
We'll never give up,
till corruption is stamped out
I found work in a TV station
For the first time
I came into close contact with the people here
I looked at their faces intently
and listened to their voices
I'm a hawker
Those wicked cops ask us for money every day
If we don't pay up, they threaten
to arrest us
How can we live?
I oppose corruption!
Cut. this segment is good, isn't it?
Keep on running. There're more
I forgot my things not yet shipped back from
the dormitory in England
I even forgot about Canton
Mother seems to have changed too
since her return
She has become quiet and reserved
I have the feeling she's suddenly turned old
Go to sleep, Mummy
Oh, you're back
I couldn't contact you the whole day
Your grandpa had a stroke. It's from grandma
Wonder how he is now
I went out this afternoon and bought you
and your grandparents something
Go to see them no matter how busy you are
You're all they've got now
Hueyin? Hueyin, come up quickly
Come and worship
You silly girl, we've got lots of preserved
vegetables here
Grandpa, look. What's this?
I haven't seen it for over 10 years
Grandpa was in fair health
Then knowing you've returned to HK
and worked in a TV station
I went to send you a volume of Sung poetry
Who knows
I was interrogated by Red Guards the whole day
I was so tired I collapsed while
climbing the stairs
Hueyin, don't lose hope in China
I'm old but you're still young
Hope rests in yourself, understand?
You brat!
He's like a mad dog. He even bites grandma
Oh! It hurts!
I told your uncle
it's dangerous to keep him here since
he's retarded
Have some of this
That day the weather observatory announced
the first cold spell has arrived, it's autumn
It turns cold even in this southern city
Grandpa fell asleep in the afternoon
while looking at him, I thought
Such an old stomach might not again
stand the weight of his granddaughter
What should we have?
I don't know
You choose, Hueyin. You're the expert
Spring rolls?
- Yeah!
- Great!
Spring rolls
Delicious
I finished my education in England
in summer, 1973
For me, life only started then
I lived happily. The Vietnam war,
the Mideast War
were nothing but TV newsreels only
I was then 25
He was horrible! He stank of Brut, imagine!
Well, you didn't have to stand so close,
he wore it all over him
Oh, the world's forgotten me
Oh my God, I don't believe it!
I've got an interview with the BBC!
Jesus Christ! What about you, Hueyin?
I'm sorry
It's ok
Look Hueyin, let's celebrate anyway
I've got a bottle in my room
Ok, I won't be a minute
Hello, I'm Tracy Cavalier, how do you do?
How do I look?
It'll be their loss if they don't choose you
I agree with you
I think there's something missing here
Do you think I should wear some jewelry?
Try this
Thank you, it's great. I love it!
There's something mysterious and oriental about it
Do you think it'll bring me luck?
- I hope it works better for you than it did for me
- Oh, don't be silly
I want to see you as a bride too,
but I got an interview with a TV station
You know, that's a rare chance for an oriental
There are so many TV stations, but you've got
only one sister
Hey! Sis
I know
Frankly, can you arrange the interview for
another time?
We haven't seen each other for a long time
After the ceremony,
we're emigrating to Canada
We'll have even less chance of seeing each other
Well, I'll try
Don't be disappointed if I can't make it
We'll see each other in Canada. Bye-bye
Sis! Mummy, it's sis!
Ma!
My eldest daughter Hueyin just back from England
with a master's degree
You two go in. I'll join you later
What did your daughter major in? Law?
I've no idea, so long as she could earn
more money
How do you find the groom?
Great, he looks as if he's going to be rich
some day
And my bridal gown
Simple, but elegant
Tell mummy about it
She's been griping about it,
saying more lace and beads have to added here
The designer nearly blew his top
Hueyin, come out
Look, beautiful isn't it?
Try it on
We can still make some modifications
Mummy, it's too red and too loud
I'll buy another one for myself tomorrow
What's wrong with red? Mine's red too
Red suits the occasion
Go and try
So you think it's too loud now?
When you were a child, you'd wear nothing
but red
How nicely it fits!
This pair of shoes will match it perfectly
Have your hair clipped and permed tomorrow
Dressed up like that, everybody will know you're my daughter
Well, hang it up now to avoid wrinkling it
My God! Since when has she become like that?
In Canton
Huewei
Your daddy bought this one year
when he got a bonus
You were still kids then
Daddy said it's for his daughter
when she gets married
Now that you' re both here, my idea is to
give it to Huewei since she is getting
married first
I shall be fair
I'll buy another one for you when you
get married
It's daddy's money anyway
So it'll also be a gift from daddy
Mummy there's no need
Maybe I'd never get married
Or suddenly got married abroad and
wouldn't come back
You won't stay in HK?
Why ask her?
Didn't she say she might marry
someday without even telling us?
Of course she won't stay!
What's the matter with her?
Sis, you don't understand mummy
Maybe I've never understood my mother
In my memory, mother wasn't like that
When we were children, Daddy worked in Hong Kong
while we lived with our grandparents in Macao
I remember my mother
as a silent and reserved person
Bread for sale
Grandma, the bread man's here
Hey, bread man!
You want bread. Good, good
Thank you
Hueyin, take these buns to grandpa
Take care
Grandpa, have some buns
Good girl, you eat first
Mummy, have some bums
Grandma will crack it for you
Don't go
Drink up the lotus seed soup first
Have a bun
Thank you, grandpa
It's almost done
What a good smell
Hueyin, come
Tasty, isn't it? Grandma cooks well,
unlike your mummy
who serves everything cold
Bad for the stomach
Everything should be taken hot
Wild flowers grow beside Chu Chu Bridge
As the sun sets in Wu Yi Lane
Swallows of the former Wang Shih clan
fly into a layman's family
Excellent. Grandpa will give you a sweet
If you study every day, you won't forget
your origins
When our home town is safe
I'll bring you back
Be a doctor when you grow up
A doctor or a seer serves the people
Dr. Sun was a doctor
and a great man from our Guangdong province
Though the men under him didn't do well
Anyway, things are getting better
Grandpa wanted to learn western medicine once
but your great grandpa owned a
Chinese medicine shop
and forced me to learn Chinese medicine
Miss, this style is not bad
It's the latest
It will look good on you
Mum, can't I do without a perm?
What's wrong with straight hair?
It's just that
It doesn't match the gown I made for you
Remember Mrs Lo?
When her daughter got married last year
All her female relatives had the same perm and
the same dress on
They stood in a row to give a feeling
of splendor
and the impression of being the same family
It's this hair style
If I don't perm my hair does it mean we're not
in the same family?
Forget it
It's up to you
We aren't family even if you permed your hair
Why did you bring me back then?
And made me give up an interview?
Sis, please don't argue with mummy
Let me be a happy bride, won't you?
Okay, then, if it pleases you
You brat!
I don't want it, I don't want it
Stop
I don't want it, I don't want it
Grandpa
Sit down
You must go to school, must cut your hair,
and wear this
Grandma, grandpa
Why is mummy beating you?
Mummy wants to cut my hair
and put on that ugly dress
Mummy says if I don't cut my hair & wear
that uniform
the school won't let me in
Who says so, I'll take you there tomorrow
and see who'll stop us from entering
Yin-yin, put this envelope of snacks
in your schoolbag. Eat them when you're hungry
Remember, I'll wait outside the school for you
Don't worry, and study hard
Mrs Chang, congratulations!
The bride and groom toast the guests
Shall I dump these leftovers?
They're nauseating!
They're for making a hot pot
I brought them back specially
You loved them you were a child
Remember you were always eating in the room
your grandpa?
Ma, I hope you're not serious
What do you mean by "dying in Japan"?
I'm serious
Your dad is dead, and Huewei is now married
You said you won't return to HK
So it's better for me to return to Japan
than to age and die here
At least I've my family over there
You haven't contacted them for years
Are you sure they still feel kinship?
No
Even my own daughter doesn't care.
What can I expect from others?
It's better than being left alone here anyway
At least it's my own homeland
I've been yearning for and dreaming about it
these last 20 years
You've never talked like this
Now that Huewei is away, you create
difficulties for me
Is that being fair?
Why worry?
You don't even care about me, why worry
about what I say?
You only care about your grandparents in Canton
As for me, you wouldn't care even if I died
Have you cared about me then?
Since I was 15, I've been studying in a boarding school
and living alone
Nobody cared about me except dad
You've never asked how was doing
You forsook me first before I gave you up
The more you're educated, the more
heartless you become
You're accusing me now
Are you afraid I might become your burden?
Never! At worst I'll return to Japan now
Our house is small and we have lots of things
Things get lost easily
Yes, small things like earrings and bracelets
once lost, are difficult to find
Right, my memory is bad
I might have misplaced it
I just wanted to ask her had she seen it?
And she wore a stony face
Don't we belong to the same family?
Let's go to Hong Kong, to find dad
No
I want grandma
Dad, Hueyin has to leave sooner or later
Let her come with us
while she is still young
She just started her studies here
and is doing well
But you're getting old
I'm afraid she may be troublesome
Grandpa, I don't want mummy, want grandma
See, children are straightforward
Come and take a bath
It was summer 1963
I was sent back to Hong Kong
to join a totally strange home
Grandpa, are we going to have papaya?
Pung
Hurry, I must cook for my husband
Since when have you become so devoted?
Are you afraid your husband will starve
to death?
If he dies, I can marry another one
But if there's nothing to eat at home,
he may go out to find other game
The other day, I smelt perfume on his jacket
So I tore it to shreds
Wow, what a move!
On my part I don't care
so long as he gives me money to spend
Do your homework
That Mrs Wang upstairs got so many abortions
She can't have the electric fan turned on
even in summer
Daddy
Have you cooked?
Not yet
You're a big girl now and should know better
Some people stay home all day and don't know
she should cook too
Well, have you had luck?
If I had such a husband
I would smile even when I'm dreaming
This one
That's right
You won
I win
Are you going to play again after dinner?
If not, we'll go to the movies
Hear that? Eat up
Okay
Guess what I'd like to watch?
"West Side Story"
No, we'll watch Mifune's "Seven Samurai"
Mummy likes to watch Mifune
Right?
I'm not going
OK, but finish eating first
I've never seen such a weird girl
I've never seen such a strange home either
If you don't like it here, don't come back
You've said it
I should've followed grandpa to the mainland
instead of coming back here
Who are you talking to? She's your mother
Should a mother act like that?
Playing mahjong all day long without
cleaning or cooking
And you still dote on her
Do you want us to act like her?
If I did
I would feel ashamed
If you would feel happier going to boarding school
I have nothing to say
But I want to tell something
I've never told you
Mummy is Japanese
Do you know that?
I met her in Manchuria after the war
We didn't inform grandpa of our marriage
You've studied history
You should know Sino-Japanese relationship then
Mummy couldn't understand a word of Chinese
I wasn't around much either
You could imagine how lonely she was
Finally I brought her here after
much difficulty
Only then did she learn to speak our language
and lead our life
How could we make her suffer anymore?
She's indeed learned to lead our life
The worst kind of life
If you want to blame anyone,
blame me
but not mummy
I haven't the ability
to settle all of you in better surroundings
Sis, didn't you know mum's Japanese?
You were born earlier
Mummy told me she came from a big family
Her house is huge
10 times larger than our home
There were hot springs, cherry blossoms, and snow
How come you didn't know?
Because mummy loves you more
Mummy
I got in touch with my brother
He told me to join him immediately
There's no need to bring anything
except a few changes of clothes
He's got everything else
Mummy, I'll go with you to Japan
No need. I'd better get used
to living a lonely life
What about your air ticket and the visa?
Don't cry anymore
I must leave, mummy
David, come here
I know I'm being selfish, but it can't be helped
I never imagined that you who had been furthest
from mum
will now be closest to her
Take care of Huewei, don't bully her
or I'll bring mother to Canada to settle
with you
I will
Let's go, Huewei
Take care
Okay, go now
I'm taking you to Hong Kong, to find dad
No, I want grandma
I'm back
Brother!
Welcome home
You must've waited a long time
No, not very long
No, I'm okay. Thank you
Your daughter?
Your Uncle
My eldest daughter Hueyin
She just graduated in England
I brought her along because she wanted to see
my hometown
Is that so? Few young people nowadays
want to see their mother's hometown
Right
So she's a university graduate
and such a beautiful girl, you're lucky
Yes, perhaps
But my husband died early
My life in a foreign country is hard
Yes
What did Uncle say?
He admires me
Oh, she's asleep
Must be really tired. Are you hungry?
Your mother must be hungry
Let's get something to eat
Mummy get up. I can't understand what he said
Let's go and get something to eat
Now what? Have we arrived?
We're stopping by to eat
What will you have?
Shrimp noodles, vegetable noodles, bean curd
All my favorites, one each
Do you eat them all by yourself?
Yes
Right!
These things don't taste so good in Hong Kong
Aiko?
Aiko?
My teacher!
So you still remember me
You naughty child
Running off to Manchuria without telling us
Left just like that
It's so nice you're still alive
My parents, I'm back
I miss you both, I miss my hometown
Day and night all these years
Look at the tombstones and
you know how respectable our family is
Look at the others. They are just
pieces of stone
Your grandpa used to boast about his
family background
I just didn't care to contradict
Aiko
Where are you?
Aiko
Just a small present
What is it?
Oh, it's delicious!
I'll give you one every day if you like
Her husband is a fishmonger. So it's no problem
Is that so? Married to Komatsu
Yes, yes
Please
Welcome home
So you finally married Arakawa?
No, I left him
You jilted him to marry another man?
You shouldn't have fought with me then
Whom are you married to now?
My husband died in action
I'm now single
Aiko's husband is dead as well
You two should start the fight all over again
No, I'll lose for sure
Look, she is still young and beautiful
I'll show you who is really young and beautiful
My eldest daughter Hueyin just back
from England
with a degree
My younger daughter is married and is now
in Canada
What a beautiful girl
She must have many admirers
Like you did when you were young
Your husband must've been rich
For his child to get a good education,
you must live well too?
Like Tokyo, Hong Kong full of skyscrapers
I live in a 15-storey building
Stop the car!
Do you still remember Arakawa's house?
Get out now. Go and see Tetsuro
He still admires you
Aiko, are you done?
Shouko is now with us
I'll wait until I can meet him alone
She's your mother's rival
So you speak mandarin, uncle?
A little. Long time ago
I lived in Manchuria
Your mother did too
Mother, when young
Boys liked her a lot
Have you many boyfriends?
No? No?
You not your mother's daughter, then
It's nice to be back
to meet old friends
to see them getting old and fat
I must say it's a consolation
How strange! Your body came out of mine
but you are totally different from me
I won't go out with you tomorrow
What? You resent what I've said?
I can't understand a word of what you said
the whole day and I feel like a fool
Only after one day?
Now you know what I went through in Macao
Even if I don't come back
I would like to feel the house is still there
I would feel lost if it's sold
What does Masahiko say?
He agrees too
Could be tell me that directly?
He may not come to see you
Tell him I'll go and pay him my respects
Will that do?
Mother
She's out
Breakfast is ready
Will you eat there or over here?
You don't feel like eating as well?
Just do as you like
Have you got something to say to me?
Did mother talk to you about the house?
Was she mad?
She was angry last night
You're strange. Didn't you say
you're not eating?
Delicious
Wish your mother could be like you
First say no, and then say yes
Did she ask you clean the house?
Your mother
Yes, yes
My mother likes to scrub the floor at home
Never mind, I have nothing else to do
I understand
She wants to keep house
Did you leave home then
because you were disappointed in love?
Not really, father often talked about China
My brother worked in Manchuria too
thought I should go there
With some hope of finding a better man
Did you find him?
Ah, good men die young
Like my son
I hardly spoke enough to him
And he died
So, I speak to his photograph
Day and night
Spending my days speaking to him
Stop fighting
Be good
How's Tarou? Don't feel like eating?
Tomoko, don't do that
Give that back!
Wait, don't eat that tomato!
You wanna die?
Stop!
Bastard!
Hey stop!
Can't you hear me?
Stop that girl!
What's the matter?
You wanna die?
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to steal it
I'm very sorry! Okay?
You're not Japanese?
I'm sorry
She was wandering in front of my house
as if she was going to eat that tomato
I stopped her and she fled
It was sprayed with pesticide and can't be eaten
Maybe you looked too threatening
Or she thought you were a maniac
Didn't think she was a foreigner
From Hawaii? How are you?
Doesn't look like an American either
A Chinese?
How could a Chinese be here?
Uncle Lau's got a lucky hand today
Ah Rung, your Japanese wife's sort of cranky
She hides in her room all the time
Maybe she dislikes us?
I really don't understand the Japanese
The food they cook looks good
but is tasteless
Did you ask her whether she likes here?
She might run away one day with the child
Keep an eye on her
Please come out, teacher
Can I help you?
Yes, yes
Splendid
You disappeared this morning. I thought
you were angry
Neither you nor your mother came back for lunch
I was really worried
Then your mother returned. She agreed to
sell the house
So I can go with your uncle to Tokyo
to join my children
Thank you, thank you indeed
The only trouble is your mother may
become homeless
But she once saved my son's life
She will always be welcome at my home in Tokyo
How could you get lost here?
It's easy to get lost in Tokyo or Osaka
But in such a small place!
Uncle
Eat
Your mother is not eating
She's not well
Don't disturb her
Your father gave it to me
A long time ago
I wanted to wait for him to come
to get drunk with him
And then he passed away
Drink with me
You represent your father
A wooden seal would do. Have it made quickly
Well, tomorrow night
Mummy, is this your original name?
My eldest daughter Hueyin
She just graduated from a University in England
Her sister's married and lives in Canada
You are getting old
I'll take a walk with Hueyin.
Pick you up later
Uncle, is he mummy's former lover?
No, no
He's your Uncle, our youngest brother
Mother loves him
She loves him most
Not now
I don't either
Why?
He's still at war
What?
He was a Kamikaze pilot
The war ended, before his despatch
He is still at war
Mother, wanted to come home
He wrote
He swore, never to see his disloyal sister
Beast
Poor Aiko
She is heart-broken
Your mother, quarrelled with uncle
She hadn't returned home
We look for her
Fill my glass once more
I might never meet you again in this life
One last glass
Health to your wife
Oh! She is angry
Mother
Come here
Come and see my lover. In my youth
I loved him but he didn't love me
And I didn't love the man who loved me
God, what a complicated thing love is!
Your daughter?
She looks like you when you were young
So you still remember?
This is Hueyin. She just returned from
studies abroad
Have a drink with him
Mummy
I'm all right, I won't be sad
He's regretting
I can see it
He said he wasn't happy all those years
How could he be happy?
With such a wife
And such kids
One still in prison
Has he got what have?
Mummy, let's go home
We will. we'll go home
I came back only to show them
I didn't fare worse than any of them
And I've got you, my child
What have they got?
You know?
I told your uncle
"I'm disloyal"
"You're loyal"
"Why didn't you commit harakiri after the war?"
"If you are truly loyal"
"do it now and I'll accompany you"
He dared not do it
I spilled hot tea over him
Life is strange
Had it not been for a flash of impulse
I wouldn't have gone to Manchuria
If Japan hadn't been defeated, I wouldn't have met your father
At every turn, life could have been different
Don't you think
life is strange?
Where are you going?
To get help
Don't go
If the Russians find us
we would all be exiled to Siberia
to wait for death
Countless died in this war
What is the life of one mere child?
Don't worry. If I get caught
I'd only be one among the many dead
Among ghosts I'll bless him to recover
Aiko!
Who's that?
A child is ill
Japanese?
Your father was a translator?
He looked smart in his uniform
He said his family runs a shop selling
Chinese medicine
He actually saved the life of Uncle's son
He took us all the way to
the Japanese Repatriation Center
While we waited for the boat, he came often
to see the child
Your Uncle was completely charmed by him
He said your dad was nice because
he loved children
On the eve of our departure, he came again
Thank you
For me?
We'll return to Japan tomorrow
I know
Come to Beppu when you have opportunity
We'll entertain you to thank you for your
great kindness
I don't want to go to Japan
You hate the Japanese, is that so?
No, I hope you won't go back to Japan
Please stay with me
Stay with me here forever
I remember how he said that
"Stay with me here forever"
He really never came to Japan
But his daughter came
Really, the ones dearest to us are always
furthest away
I felt the house was big as a child
Now I feel it's gotten small
Do you want to go home?
The food is not right, always served cold
I have the feeling of an empty stomach
Cantonese food tastes better
Oh for a bowl of hot soup
This bathhouse should be altered.
One has to walk
to take a bath, and the snow?
Father, mother, I've been back with Hueyin
The airfare is expensive and the trip is long
I can't tell when may return again
So long as I've been back, I'm content
When saw my mother going away
I felt I sort understood her
I once forsook my home like that
But I was only 15 then
Mother is going on 50
Would she be reconciled to it like I did?
That year when we left Beppu
Japan was enshrouded in autumn mist
In Hong Kong, summer was hardly over
Corruption is illegal
Down with corruption
The government has a duty
To fight corruption
We oppose persecution
When there's corruption,
there's no fairness
When there's corruption,
there's no future
We'll never give up,
till corruption is stamped out
I found work in a TV station
For the first time
I came into close contact with the people here
I looked at their faces intently
and listened to their voices
I'm a hawker
Those wicked cops ask us for money every day
If we don't pay up, they threaten
to arrest us
How can we live?
I oppose corruption!
Cut. this segment is good, isn't it?
Keep on running. There're more
I forgot my things not yet shipped back from
the dormitory in England
I even forgot about Canton
Mother seems to have changed too
since her return
She has become quiet and reserved
I have the feeling she's suddenly turned old
Go to sleep, Mummy
Oh, you're back
I couldn't contact you the whole day
Your grandpa had a stroke. It's from grandma
Wonder how he is now
I went out this afternoon and bought you
and your grandparents something
Go to see them no matter how busy you are
You're all they've got now
Hueyin? Hueyin, come up quickly
Come and worship
You silly girl, we've got lots of preserved
vegetables here
Grandpa, look. What's this?
I haven't seen it for over 10 years
Grandpa was in fair health
Then knowing you've returned to HK
and worked in a TV station
I went to send you a volume of Sung poetry
Who knows
I was interrogated by Red Guards the whole day
I was so tired I collapsed while
climbing the stairs
Hueyin, don't lose hope in China
I'm old but you're still young
Hope rests in yourself, understand?
You brat!
He's like a mad dog. He even bites grandma
Oh! It hurts!
I told your uncle
it's dangerous to keep him here since
he's retarded
Have some of this
That day the weather observatory announced
the first cold spell has arrived, it's autumn
It turns cold even in this southern city
Grandpa fell asleep in the afternoon
while looking at him, I thought
Such an old stomach might not again
stand the weight of his granddaughter