1
00:00:08,245 --> 00:00:11,043
Ah-shue, where are your parents?
2
00:00:12,049 --> 00:00:14,244
They left this morning.
3
00:00:15,686 --> 00:00:20,680
Dad usually comes home late, drunk.
4
00:00:20,891 --> 00:00:23,792
He staggers and vomits all over the house.
5
00:00:28,599 --> 00:00:30,226
When did your father's club close?
6
00:00:30,401 --> 00:00:31,629
In March.
7
00:00:31,735 --> 00:00:34,033
It was chaotic for a while.
8
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:35,930
Many people died,
9
00:00:36,340 --> 00:00:38,240
...and the neighborhood was wrecked.
10
00:00:40,945 --> 00:00:44,642
Dad's friend, Mr Ko, was arrested.
11
00:00:44,748 --> 00:00:45,680
Ah-shue!
12
00:01:25,656 --> 00:01:27,886
Aunt Hinomi, uncle has returned.
13
00:01:31,362 --> 00:01:33,626
We waited a long time, but he knew...
14
00:01:33,964 --> 00:01:36,057
...which station exit to take.
15
00:01:59,456 --> 00:02:00,252
Ah-shue,
16
00:02:00,491 --> 00:02:01,924
...look for your brothers.
17
00:02:07,798 --> 00:02:09,231
Take your time and write.
18
00:02:14,705 --> 00:02:17,469
Uncle, you cannot eat that.
19
00:02:18,943 --> 00:02:20,604
It's food for the altar.
20
00:02:25,249 --> 00:02:26,443
You can't eat it.
21
00:02:48,544 --> 00:02:52,544
You are thinner.
Are you OK?
22
00:02:52,545 --> 00:02:56,545
My brother disappeared.
He was hiding in Lai-liao.
23
00:02:56,546 --> 00:03:01,546
One day soldiers came.
Since then, we have had no news.
24
00:05:28,825 --> 00:05:30,238
Wen-ching!
25
00:05:31,650 --> 00:05:32,638
Wen-ching!
26
00:06:00,898 --> 00:06:02,263
Here comes Mr Huang.
27
00:06:05,335 --> 00:06:09,271
Mr Huang, this is
my good friend Wen-ching.
28
00:06:14,111 --> 00:06:16,170
He was in prison with your brother...
29
00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:19,613
... before he was executed.
30
00:06:20,017 --> 00:06:22,178
He has come especially to see you.
31
00:06:24,325 --> 00:06:25,100
Sit down.
32
00:06:58,801 --> 00:07:01,801
"In life, far from the motherland.
33
00:07:01,802 --> 00:07:04,802
"In death, returning to the motherland.
34
00:07:04,803 --> 00:07:08,803
"Both life and death
are governed by destiny."
35
00:08:05,004 --> 00:08:07,804
Hinoe got married and
lives in the mountains.
36
00:08:07,805 --> 00:08:11,805
I can't tell you where.
She doesn't want her family to know.
37
00:08:11,806 --> 00:08:15,806
She said, "Consider me dead.
My life belongs to the motherland.
38
00:08:15,807 --> 00:08:19,807
"In prison, I swore to live, for the sake of
friends who had died."
39
00:09:26,808 --> 00:09:31,808
I cannot live like before.
I want to stay here.
40
00:09:31,809 --> 00:09:36,809
I know I can do whatever you ask me.
41
00:09:36,810 --> 00:09:40,010
This is no place for you.
42
00:09:57,211 --> 00:10:04,211
What's important are your beliefs,
not where you live or what you do.
43
00:10:04,212 --> 00:10:11,812
They suggested marriage to Hinomi,
but it's you she loves.
44
00:11:02,599 --> 00:11:05,295
Let me introduce my best friend,
Wen-ching.
45
00:13:07,924 --> 00:13:09,448
Are you going to reopen for business or not?
46
00:13:11,595 --> 00:13:12,584
Enough!
47
00:13:12,796 --> 00:13:14,457
Go and play outside
48
00:13:14,564 --> 00:13:16,725
Wen-leung, this is for the altar.
49
00:13:16,833 --> 00:13:19,529
Eat after the prayers.
50
00:13:21,171 --> 00:13:24,800
You decided to close.
51
00:13:24,908 --> 00:13:27,274
Now you won't say
when you'll reopen.
52
00:13:27,377 --> 00:13:28,639
Can't you make up your mind?
53
00:13:30,413 --> 00:13:31,345
Shut up!
54
00:13:31,681 --> 00:13:32,978
Don't argue with me!
55
00:13:38,421 --> 00:13:40,048
Don't drink from the teapot!
56
00:13:40,290 --> 00:13:41,780
You're setting a bad example to the children!
57
00:13:42,192 --> 00:13:44,387
You're too big for such things.
58
00:13:50,634 --> 00:13:51,965
Are you thirsty?
59
00:13:55,939 --> 00:13:59,102
Drink properly or not at all.
Don't be ridiculous.
60
00:14:05,982 --> 00:14:07,142
Look!
61
00:14:07,450 --> 00:14:10,419
You were gone for days,
God knows where!
62
00:14:10,787 --> 00:14:14,086
You either lock yourself in your room
or hide out where...
63
00:14:14,190 --> 00:14:15,680
...nobody can find you.
64
00:14:16,159 --> 00:14:20,323
I wanted you to visit mother's grave
with me. Where were you?
65
00:14:21,464 --> 00:14:23,329
That's why I have such bad luck!
66
00:14:24,167 --> 00:14:27,000
I am the only one of the four children...
67
00:14:27,103 --> 00:14:30,197
...who visits mum's grave.
She asks me why,
68
00:14:30,941 --> 00:14:34,069
...and I don't lack for words.
As for you,
69
00:14:34,477 --> 00:14:36,707
...how long do you think you can go
without working?
70
00:14:38,815 --> 00:14:43,912
I planned to open a photographic studio
on the side so you could run it.
71
00:14:44,654 --> 00:14:46,121
We discussed it enough.
72
00:14:46,790 --> 00:14:49,691
When will you give me an answer?
73
00:14:49,826 --> 00:14:52,351
How can he reply? He can't hear.
74
00:14:52,495 --> 00:14:54,053
Shut up!
75
00:14:54,531 --> 00:14:57,796
The only thing you know
is to tell people off.
76
00:14:59,903 --> 00:15:02,303
Ah-shue,you tell him.
77
00:15:08,044 --> 00:15:10,535
When a young woman visits us,
78
00:15:10,613 --> 00:15:13,013
...without thinking of her dignity,
79
00:15:13,116 --> 00:15:16,677
...it's obvious what's going on.
Don't you understand?
80
00:15:17,721 --> 00:15:19,985
What are you waiting for?
81
00:15:39,809 --> 00:15:42,505
What's all the row?
Stop singing!
82
00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:51,750
Damn it!
83
00:15:52,422 --> 00:15:53,650
Shut up!
84
00:15:54,891 --> 00:15:58,190
What's all this howling?
85
00:16:01,264 --> 00:16:04,791
You are like bad spirits.
What's all the noise?
86
00:16:05,435 --> 00:16:07,630
Why are you shouting?
87
00:16:09,272 --> 00:16:13,208
Can't you talk normally?
88
00:16:16,646 --> 00:16:17,806
What's going on?
89
00:16:22,819 --> 00:16:27,017
It's useless. He seems incapable
of acting normally.
90
00:16:29,225 --> 00:16:30,590
I'm sorry.
91
00:16:31,561 --> 00:16:32,960
Please, carry on singing.
92
00:16:35,231 --> 00:16:36,357
No, thank you.
93
00:16:38,234 --> 00:16:39,997
Take no notice of him.
94
00:16:40,103 --> 00:16:43,630
You sing very well.
95
00:16:44,350 --> 00:16:45,950
Please, carry on.
96
00:16:45,975 --> 00:16:47,442
He's as stubborn as a mule!
97
00:16:47,544 --> 00:16:50,377
People like him
can't be taught anything.
98
00:18:47,210 --> 00:18:48,010
Damn you!
99
00:18:49,499 --> 00:18:52,366
How come you're not dead?
100
00:18:53,136 --> 00:18:55,263
You really made Wen-leung
suffer.
101
00:18:55,371 --> 00:18:56,838
Shame on you!
102
00:19:02,078 --> 00:19:03,602
So?
103
00:19:06,649 --> 00:19:07,479
What's up?
104
00:19:07,584 --> 00:19:09,347
What's up?
105
00:19:09,852 --> 00:19:12,878
You know what you did.
106
00:19:13,423 --> 00:19:17,553
Shut up or you'll be sorry.
107
00:19:17,660 --> 00:19:19,025
What will you do about it?
108
00:19:20,563 --> 00:19:21,427
What?
109
00:19:21,598 --> 00:19:22,792
Calm down.
110
00:19:22,899 --> 00:19:24,127
You don't scare me.
111
00:19:26,302 --> 00:19:27,496
Pig!
112
00:19:27,604 --> 00:19:29,435
You'll come to a bad end
one of these days.
113
00:20:39,509 --> 00:20:40,567
Older brother!
Older brother!
114
00:20:44,113 --> 00:20:47,446
Ah-ga.
115
00:20:48,584 --> 00:20:49,414
Call a doctor!
116
00:20:49,519 --> 00:20:50,679
What happened?
117
00:21:02,532 --> 00:21:04,727
Kim-tsua, take that knife.
118
00:21:05,501 --> 00:21:06,729
Call a doctor.
119
00:21:31,327 --> 00:21:32,259
Wen-heung!
120
00:24:09,085 --> 00:24:10,347
Here comes the bride.
121
00:24:13,122 --> 00:24:17,320
Let's ask our ancestors...
122
00:24:26,369 --> 00:24:27,700
...for children and wealth.
123
00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:45,851
Bow to the ancestors.
124
00:24:59,936 --> 00:25:00,960
Kneel down.
125
00:25:05,808 --> 00:25:06,900
Pray.
126
00:25:08,911 --> 00:25:10,208
First reverence.
127
00:25:13,583 --> 00:25:15,073
Two.
128
00:25:17,253 --> 00:25:18,550
Three.
129
00:25:21,157 --> 00:25:22,249
Pray.
130
00:25:24,226 --> 00:25:25,557
Four.
131
00:25:28,531 --> 00:25:29,691
Five.
132
00:25:32,535 --> 00:25:33,763
Six.
133
00:25:36,172 --> 00:25:37,366
Pray.
134
00:25:39,108 --> 00:25:40,439
Seven.
135
00:25:43,379 --> 00:25:44,676
Eight.
136
00:25:47,216 --> 00:25:48,706
Nine.
137
00:25:50,853 --> 00:25:52,320
Stand up.
138
00:25:56,125 --> 00:25:57,854
Bow to each other.
139
00:26:02,264 --> 00:26:03,526
Kneel.
140
00:26:09,980 --> 00:26:12,340
Bride and groom, bow
to each other three times.
141
00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:13,950
One.
142
00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:18,080
Two.
143
00:26:19,700 --> 00:26:21,100
Three.
144
00:26:22,250 --> 00:26:23,650
Stand up.
145
00:30:15,851 --> 00:30:17,216
It's late.
146
00:30:17,620 --> 00:30:19,918
I heard the first thunder
of spring.
147
00:30:20,322 --> 00:30:24,053
One clap after another,
148
00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:28,196
...as if waking the hillsides
and the sea.
149
00:30:31,734 --> 00:30:34,362
Someone came from the mountains.
150
00:30:34,803 --> 00:30:37,203
He said my brother
needed money.
151
00:30:37,439 --> 00:30:39,498
He needed it...
152
00:30:39,608 --> 00:30:42,577
...to print pamphlets
to educate people.
153
00:30:43,045 --> 00:30:46,947
The man said they didn't want
to be always asking...
154
00:30:47,349 --> 00:30:50,876
...for help from Weng-ching.
155
00:30:51,353 --> 00:30:53,321
But only when they come
to ask for money,
156
00:30:53,656 --> 00:30:56,591
...do we know that they're safe
and that the struggle continues.
157
00:30:56,992 --> 00:31:00,723
Only then are we satisfied.
158
00:31:04,166 --> 00:31:05,997
Ah-chien can already make sounds.
159
00:31:06,101 --> 00:31:08,535
Last night I thought
he was saying "mummy."
160
00:31:09,338 --> 00:31:13,035
I was so happy.
161
00:31:13,142 --> 00:31:15,406
I hurried to find Wen-ching...
162
00:31:15,811 --> 00:31:17,540
...so he could hear too.
163
00:31:17,746 --> 00:31:21,546
It was only when I saw him I realized
my stupidity. How could he hear?
164
00:31:40,669 --> 00:31:42,364
Prices are rising.
165
00:31:42,805 --> 00:31:45,899
The neighbours say
times will be hard.
166
00:31:46,275 --> 00:31:48,140
Maybe I'm a fool.
167
00:31:48,410 --> 00:31:52,574
But while I have Wen-ching
and Ah-chien...
168
00:31:52,748 --> 00:31:55,512
...I think I'll be happy.
169
00:35:34,636 --> 00:35:36,433
Don't run!
170
00:35:40,876 --> 00:35:42,865
Still running! Shit!
171
00:35:46,682 --> 00:35:47,808
Why are you shouting?
172
00:36:02,898 --> 00:36:03,990
On your knees.
173
00:36:07,336 --> 00:36:08,667
Heads down.
174
00:36:15,777 --> 00:36:16,971
What are you looking at?
175
00:39:19,194 --> 00:39:22,823
Ah-shue, your uncle Wen-ching
has been arrested.
176
00:39:23,198 --> 00:39:26,759
We still don't know where he is.
177
00:39:27,803 --> 00:39:29,794
At first we considered running away,
178
00:39:30,138 --> 00:39:32,868
...but there was nowhere to go
179
00:39:36,111 --> 00:39:38,204
I am writing this long after,
180
00:39:38,413 --> 00:39:41,849
...because only now do I feel
calmer.
181
00:39:43,185 --> 00:39:47,349
This photo was taken three days
before Wen-ching's arrest.
182
00:39:48,523 --> 00:39:49,956
When they came for him,
183
00:39:50,158 --> 00:39:52,490
...he was taking someone's portrait.
184
00:39:52,994 --> 00:39:55,189
He insisted on finishing the job...
185
00:39:55,597 --> 00:39:57,758
...before they took him away.
186
00:40:01,069 --> 00:40:05,768
I searched and asked all over
Taipei but have no news.
187
00:40:07,309 --> 00:40:09,277
Ah-chien has his first teeth.
188
00:40:09,744 --> 00:40:11,405
He has a lovely smile...
189
00:40:11,513 --> 00:40:13,413
and your uncle's eyes.
190
00:40:14,516 --> 00:40:16,507
Please, come and see us soon.
191
00:40:17,519 --> 00:40:19,282
It's fresh in Chiu-fen.
192
00:40:19,754 --> 00:40:21,381
The autumn flowers
are in bloom.
193
00:40:21,756 --> 00:40:24,623
The mountains are all white,
like snow.
194
00:40:31,132 --> 00:40:32,156
It's time to eat.
195
00:40:32,267 --> 00:40:33,996
OK. Just a moment.
196
00:40:34,450 --> 00:40:35,500
Ah-chi,
197
00:40:36,004 --> 00:40:37,437
...you shouldn't be watching
adults gambling.
198
00:40:37,639 --> 00:40:38,833
Bring your uncle.
199
00:40:39,474 --> 00:40:41,066
Uncle, it's time to eat.
200
00:40:52,387 --> 00:40:53,411
Where is Uncle Wan?
201
00:40:53,522 --> 00:40:55,422
He said he'd be back soon.
202
00:40:55,524 --> 00:40:56,616
Wash your hands.
203
00:41:30,717 --> 00:41:31,717
Help yourselves.
204
00:43:14,618 --> 00:43:20,318
December 1949.
Mainland China is lost.
205
00:43:20,319 --> 00:43:25,319
The Nationalist government
moves to Taiwan.
206
00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:31,320
Taipei becomes
provisional capital.
207
00:43:33,321 --> 00:43:38,321
Translated by Wu Ming
Spanish version by kairocure y Silien
208
00:43:38,322 --> 00:43:41,322
Corrected by kairocure
English version by mexicanray
W W W . A L L Z I N E . C O M