Original subtitles

What?

What did you say?

Eternal life.

Fuck off.

You're crazy.

You've yet to understand it.

Are you fucking kidding?

Have you sold everything?

Well, almost.

What about the PS4 console?

Sell it to me.

No, that's coming with me.

I know a lot of guys like you

who leave the city to go live in the mountains.

But it's short lived...

Sooner or later they come crawling back.

Why?

Fuck, they ran out of money, that's why!

Like I said, you've yet to understand it.

What the fuck is so hard to understand?

I know how guys like you think

believing in the eternal life,

searching for life's purpose,

the meaning of existence,

trusting in some kind of God or Deity,

- Goal! - following some cult movement.

In the deadlock, the most experienced player

Serbia's Captain, Kolarov, stepped up with a beautiful free-kick.

And the Serbian fans are on their feet!

That's all you ever think about, isn't it?

You can say whatever.

How come you're still superstitious in this day and age?

Thien.

You've been so quiet.

Say something.

The existence of faith is ambiguous.

You are just like him.

I want to believe

but I can't.

I've tried searching for it many times...

but my mind holds me back.

Stop.

That's enough.

Hello! Have you tried our draft beer?

I'm promoting D & Mé beer.

And I'd like to offer a taste of our new IPA, Ba Hoa.

- Ba Hoa? - Yes.

I have my own drink.

Ours is made from a combination of three florals.

It has a plumeria flower aroma and a signature bitter taste.

You're going to enjoy it.

Why not give it a try?

If you like it, then help me out and buy some.

It's raining.

- What the hell? - Oh my God!

Damn, that's horrible!

An accident.

How strange.

Two motorcycles collided right into each other.

One died.

One was badly injured.

But the kid riding pillion

stood up like nothing happened, not even a scratch.

You're starting to think like me.

Sir, here's your mango.

Thanks!

I've checked and number 1 is available now.

But please wait another ten minutes for number 11.

It's alright, we'll go wait in our rooms.

All right sir, I'll get them ready for you.

How about you, sir? Any special requests?

No.

If there's nothing else, sirs, please head on upstairs.

I'll arrange for the masseuses.

Sure, give us 5 minutes.

Hello.

Are you Tam?

No.

I must be mistaken.

Please lie down.

Your phone is ringing, shall I get it?

No need.

Are you afraid to pick up because it's your girlfriend?

God is calling.

God?

It's my client.

So today, does my God want it hard or soft?

Somewhere in between.

Is God stuck?

Let me help you.

Can you ask him to take the call?

It's a family emergency.

Sir, your friend insists you answer the phone.

Shall I get it for you?

Okay.

Uncle Thien!

How are you feeling?

Does it hurt?

I feel pain over here.

Let me take a look.

It hurts.

It's okay.

This bruise will heal soon.

Uncle... where is my mom?

Your mom's one floor below us.

I want to see her.

The nurse won't allow it.

I want to see my mom.

Let me see my mom!

Watch this.

Which card is this?

The black two.

One, two...

Three!

What about this?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

The red seven.

What about...

This one?

The king of...

Red.

No, black.

I got it wrong.

It's black.

Hello, I'm listening.

I'm almost done.

I'm left with the ending

So tomorrow morning?

About 7 AM.

These are the personal belongings of the deceased.

The patient was admitted with multiple injuries and brain damage.

She didn't make it in time.

This is the autopsy.

Please read and sign on the next page.

What is your relationship with the deceased?

Hanh is my sister-in-law.

Fill this in and sign below, I'll take care of the rest.

Two banh mi, please.

That'll be 30,000 VND.

Here you go.

A Viettel 50 phone top-up card, please.

Trung.

I've taken care of all the procedures and paperwork...

Including the van.

I hired a private service.

It was much cheaper.

We'll settle it at home.

Dao's fine.

See you soon.

These are traditional wedding cakes.

There are various folklores about the love shared between husband and wife,

each blessing the newlyweds

to stay loyal and loving.

Here we have tea and wine

as offerings for the ancestral altar

for the ancestors to witness the ceremony and bless the couple.

We pray that they'd grant us a favorable and joyous ceremony.

Here is a rooster with some red sticky rice.

The stickiness of the rice

symbolises the everlasting bond between the newlyweds

- with their mutual understanding. - Hey, move away!

Ladies and gentlemen,

a roasted pig, to bless the couple with wealth and prosperity

and for a baby soon to come.

Here is a rooster with some red sticky rice.

The stickiness of the rice

symbolises the everlasting bond between

the newlyweds, their mutual understanding...

Thien!

Can I borrow your kettle?

Sure.

I'll return it soon.

Uncle Thien!

When is mom coming home?

When is she coming back, uncle Thien?

Go back to sleep.

I'll wake you the moment she arrives.

Please don't close the door!

I'll keep the door open for your mom.

Please rise.

My beloved Brothers and Sisters,

God brought us into this world,

and it is Him whom we shall return to when we depart.

The closing of the casket reminds us

that Teresa Nguyen Thi Hanh has departed from this worldly dwelling.

We look to God and pray she will be

reunited with Him in His heavenly kingdom.

My dear Brothers and Sisters.

In our earthly form, we are torn between our flesh and spirit.

The spirit may be willing but the flesh is weak.

I know Hanh possessed a strong faith.

I remember a few years ago,

she asked me to pray for her.

She was six months pregnant with her first child.

After the sonogram, the doctor said the baby had no limbs

and advised her to have an abortion.

When she came to me, she was crying profusely.

She told me she was ready to welcome the baby

regardless of its condition.

That was the faith of Hanh.

A faith comparable to that of the Virgin Mary.

“Behold, the Lord's servant.

May it be done to me according to your word.”

Come, let me wash your hands.

Can I ride the bicycle?

Go for it.

Hop on.

All good?

How many battles has this rooster fought, Trung?

This is not a fighting rooster.

It's a bait rooster.

What do you mean?

You see, it looks like a red jungle fowl.

It has a white earlobe,

a single comb, colorful feathers.

We use it to lure other red jungle fowl.

By the way,

how much did Hanh's repatriation cost?

The procedural fee was two million.

The hearse and funeral clothing were not included in the hospital package.

It adds up to 16 million.

Hold it for me, I'll get the money.

Trung!

Yes?

Let's share half the cost.

You've already helped me a lot, I'll take care of this.

It's okay.

Tam isn't around.

Let me give you a hand.

Here's eight million.

Are you free this afternoon?

I'm planning to take Dao out somewhere.

Do you remember the old man who prepared Hanh's burial shroud?

The old man with a grey beard.

Not really.

I was hoping you could pass him some money.

I tried to pay him something but he refused, says we're like family.

You're a stranger to him, maybe he'll accept it.

Please give him two million on my behalf.

What's his name?

Mr. Luu.

He's old and alone.

He only has this shrouding job, but he wouldn't take my money.

Please help me.

Dao!

Dao!

Do you want to feed the chickens?

Come here.

Here.

Put these in the cage.

This one too.

Whose motorbike is that, Trung?

My father's, from the old days.

It looks rundown but the engine is still intact.

Still holds memories?

Back then he used to take me everywhere on it.

I clean it every now and then.

Feel free to use it from now on!

Trung.

- Yes? - Where does Mr. Luu live?

Mr. Luu...

Remember the way down the paddy field?

Follow the path and you'll see road 6.

There'll be a cluster of wooden houses.

Just ask anyone, everybody knows Mr. Luu.

Dao!

Want to tag along?

Thien!

Hold on.

Put this helmet on.

My father loves me because I look like my mother.

My mother loves me because I look like my father.

Everyone loves one another in our family.

We miss each other when we're apart.

We laugh when we're together.

Who taught you this song?

My teachers taught me.

Excuse me, where does Mr. Luu live?

Over there, follow that way down.

Three baby buffaloes...

Mr. Luu's house!

Uncle Thien, let me play with with those friends.

Alright, you can go.

Mr. Luu!

Hello.

Who are you?

I'm Thien, Hanh's brother-in-law.

Please come in.

Where do you live?

My old house wasn’t far from Phan Boil Chau school.

But it was sold.

Why did you sell it?

My parents migrated to the USA.

I went to live in Saigon.

Mr. Luu.

Here's some money for taking care of Hanh.

I already told Trung I wouldn't charge.

That's life...

It's the least I can do for my neighbours.

My children sometimes complain that my job is too strenuous.

But if I quit, who'll replace me?

When will you go back to Saigon?

Maybe early next week.

I'll stay with my family a few more days to pray for Hanh.

Hanh's husband left years ago, has he returned?

Not yet.

Why did he leave?

I don't really know.

Where did you learn shrouding?

From the military medical school

at 7 Traffic Intersection Saigon.

For 3 months.

Then, I was assigned to Duc My town.

Our unit was located in Duc My.

Let's go to the living room.

Once I completed my medical course,

I was assigned to the unit in Duc My, Lam Son.

I was trained there to prepare for battle.

My first battle was at Vung Ro battlefield.

It was incredibly fierce.

We had three battalions fighting over three days and three nights.

We had to withdraw our troops.

Our strategy resulted in a lot of casualties.

Fighting is all I've known.

That's why sometimes I feel...

I should return to combat.

I've never needed anything else ever since.

Not even money.

Money is merely dust, isn't it?

I fought until the last drop of blood.

In a way, this job now gives me meaning.

So I'm fine.

It was an honor to fight till the bitter end but...

Although we requested for armored vehicles and artillery

to fight the Viet Cong, we couldn't defeat them

because their units were encamped within the stone caves.

They shot us down easily.

It was one-sided and cost us many lives.

But I had to fight that tough battle.

I assumed it would be straightforward.

Who knew it would last three days and nights?

We advanced, then were forced to retreat.

At Hoc Nhom village, now called Vung Ro,

we tried in vain to advance further.

We ended up retreating to the base camp

and providing cover for other units along Phu Yen.

When someone died, the unit returned the body to the family

and held the funeral for the fallen.

The family members had to deal with their own grief.

As the fighting carried on, we foresaw that the longer it lasted,

the more precarious the situation would become.

But we had to keep on fighting.

We were all freshly recruited.

By the time we got the discharge order,

we had already spent three years, six months and three days in uniform.

After my discharge, I returned and stayed home for...

February, for about...

February... August, eight months.

After eight months, they asked me to join the military again.

My unit offered me a position but I declined.

I went straight to the police instead.

You are not mandated to re-enlist if you've been in the military before.

The war was ongoing, but in truth, fighting is not that scary.

Obviously, if you were unemployed, you couldn't escape the draft.

I felt I made the right choice.

At that time, I really struggled.

I was barely 22, 23 years old

serving in the military for six months.

Of course, I gave my all on the battlefield.

Still, I knew I'd be stuck in the war

so I asked to join the police instead.

Being a former soldier, they agreed to recruit me as a police officer.

The battles were bloody, many of them were very intense.

Even as a police officer, I was frequently asked to fight.

Mr. Luu.

Hello. How can I help you?

Tomorrow afternoon, we are celebrating

the naming ceremony of my firstborn child.

Please join us.

At what time?

12 PM.

Sure, I'll come by tomorrow.

Thank you.

Thien.

Yes?

Well, I have some certificates from my time in the army.

This is the Certificate of Discharge.

This is the entry certificate for freshly recruited policemen.

This is a Declaration of Appearance and Military Service.

These days, no one pays attention to these kinds of papers.

Nobody brings it up because it's like a secret.

Certificate for Conduct Evaluation in the army.

Look at this.

“Lieutenant Colonel Phan Trong Thien,

the Commanding Officer of the 47th Infantry Unit,

confirms that Nguyen Van Luu joined the force.

He was born at Bac Ninh Province.”

This is an important artifact.

If I pass away, burn these papers.

My lover was Vu Thi Hong.

She's over there.

I've left it as it is.

Everyone in the 47th Infantry Unit is in this photo.

The 47th Infantry Unit...

This was me as a kid.

These were my parents, they passed away a long time ago.

This is me with Bishop Jean Cassaigne, a Frenchman.

And this is the bullet that struck me during the Vung Ro battle.

Let me see.

The gift of war.

Blessed am I, God has kept me alive till today.

Look at how the bullet lodged into my rib.

Now it lives on as a scar.

The First Sorrowful Mystery: the agony in the Garden.

We ask for forgiveness.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

We hope, in the name of the merciful God,

that Teresa's soul may forever rest in peace,

witnessing the bright face of God with great joy. Amen.

Look at my hand.

- What color is this? - Red.

Yellow.

Green.

Where do the dinosaurs live, uncle?

They are extinct.

What does extinct mean?

It means they do not exist on earth anymore.

So they died, right, uncle?

Yes.

Now go to sleep.

I'm not sleepy.

Show me some more magic!

Here, look at my hand.

Do you hear anything?

No.

It's a bell!

That's not all.

Stand up.

Go to the cabinet.

Take the bell.

Look at this.

Give it a ring.

Say water.

Water.

Ring the bell.

Let's go to bed.

Time to sleep.

I'll blow the candle out.

Okay.

Uncle Thien.

Uncle Thien.

What is it?

Where is heaven, uncle?

Heaven...

is a really beautiful place.

Only good people can enter.

So what is faith, uncle?

Why do you ask?

Because the priest said that my mom had a strong faith.

Faith... is also what I'm searching for.

What's its shape like?

It has no form.

No form?

Have you ever lent your toys to a classmate?

Yes.

And did you think that your friend would give it back?

Of course!

Why did you think so?

Because...

I know my friend is a good person.

Faith is a little bit like that.

Let's go to sleep.

Uncle Thien, I miss mom.

Your mom

is in heaven now.

Can you take me to heaven to see mom?

Yes, someday.

Sleep now.

At the time He was betrayed and entered willingly into His Passion,

He took bread, gave thanks, broke it,

gave it to His disciples and said,

“Take this, all of you, and eat it.

For this is my body

which has been given up for you.”

Since moving to Saigon,

I've rarely had opportunities to come home.

A lot has changed.

Why are you here?

I teach kids at a school nearby.

At the parish behind the church?

No.

I sat at the back during the funeral mass.

Could hardly believe my eyes.

I almost mistook you for someone else.

Right.

By the way,

there's something I'm curious about.

Why did you take the vows?

Excuse me, I have to help the sisters arrange the flowers.

They are waiting for me.

I want to apologize.

I didn't mean to offend you.

About your choice,

I'd like to congratulate you.

Thank you.

Your outfit, it's lovely.

Right.

Well, I have to go now.

Okay.

Thao.

Which school do you teach at?

It's Gia Lanh Home.

Is that on the way to Di Linh Leprosarium?

Yes.

I know the place.

Third time lucky!

I finally got you.

Look, it must weigh at least a kilo.

I'm planning a feast for our neighbors.

Tonight marks the last day of prayer.

Just this is not enough.

I'll buy something else at the market later.

Hold the rooster for me.

Hold it tight.

Why did you wake up so early this morning?

I don't know why...

I've been waking up at 3 AM.

It must be the funeral

messing with your body clock.

It's been going on for a few months now.

At this hour,

I feel strange.

Here, hold this one, it'll be easier for you.

It's familiar with humans.

Around that time,

I hear a voice.

Like...

Something that comes from within me

repeating over and over again.

Have you seen a doctor?

Yes.

What did the doctor say?

Chronic fatigue syndrome due to overwork.

Thien.

I don't think Tam left for another woman

like what others gossiped about.

There's something

most people don't know about Tam.

Tam once went to seminary school.

But during discernment,

his spiritual father advised him to pursue the vocation of marriage instead.

Honestly,

I can't wrap my head around this idea of divine will.

It's conflicting.

It's said that, therefore, what God has joined together, let no men separate.

But He called Tam away and took Hanh back to His heavenly home.

Maybe He has a divine purpose for Dao in the future?

Let me keep it.

Thien.

You don't have to go to the market.

I'll go fishing at the lake.

There'll be enough food for tonight.

All right.

May the Lord bless our love today and forever. 22.12.2012

I wonder...

if God still exists today?

Why do you ask?

If God exists,

A good and almighty God...

He wouldn't let something like this happen.

We entrust everything

to God's mercy.

I believe that everything is God's plan.

Are you cold?

Cold?

Who are you looking for?

I'd like to meet the head nun here.

May I ask what for?

I made an appointment last night.

I hope to enroll my nephew here.

I see, please come in.

Thank you.

Ten round eggs

mother chicken lays.

Ten little chicks

today they all hatch.

In white, in yolks.

Into beaks, into feet.

Tiny little beaks.

Tiny little feet.

Gleaming yellow feathers.

Bright black eyes.

Oh, little chicks, oh!

I love you so much!

Let's put on your sandals.

Let's go.

- Say hello to the Sister. - Hello, Sister.

Hello to you too.

How many classes are there, Thao?

Now we have 113 kids divided into four classes.

Most of the kids are K'ho ethnic minorities?

Yes and there are seven Kinh among them.

It must be tiring taking care of a whole class everyday.

Not at all, I'm actually happy

because I get to be close to them everyday.

You're right, after all, one has to be pure like a child

to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Stay here and play with your friends and the Sisters.

I'll pick you up in a few days. Okay?

I told the head nun about his family circumstance.

I was surprised that she didn't charge any fees.

Do you want to come and play?

I really admire you and the Sisters here.

Why?

You live your life according to the three vows.

Chastity, poverty and obedience.

Yes.

Anyway, do you have any news of Dao's father?

Shall we start making a circle?

Let's keep going round.

You've kept it.

You hid so well.

You can keep it.

Where did you get it?

It's a secret.

“'Every time a bell rings,

an angel gets his wings.”

Every time I watch that part

I cry like a baby.

Why don't they make movies like that anymore?

I wonder why too.

Are you alright?

It's okay.

If you're not ready,

I can wait.

Are you crying?

Thao.

Whatever your dad said, don't overthink it.

Once I arrive in Saigon, I'll get a job.

Your dad will have to change his mind.

Will you wait for me?

I'm not sure.

I feel...

like I'm drifting.

I find myself

troubled and suffocated.

As though

there's a dense cloud enveloping me.

It's preventing me

from reaching the light.

I cannot exist simultaneously in the light...

and in the dark.

This world

has tempted me long enough.

I'll have to decide.

My love is like a thousand waves endlessly pining for the shore.

Reliving the flood of memories of love in bygone days.

I still ache for you every lonely night.

My love for you remains the same after all, even time cannot fade.

Even though you're adrift at a place far away from me,

my darling, I wish you'd find your way back to my side.

On countless lonely nights, I search for you on the old street.

There it seems our nights together still shimmer vividly.

Here, it seems our kisses exchanged still murmur warmly.

We were once that much in love with each other.

You're faraway with another. Are you well, my darling?

My heart aches for you with each sorrowful night that passes.

Despite the cold darkness creeping over me,

I'm still searching for a familiar face from the past.

What's wrong?

I don't know, the gasoline seems to be leaking.

Check if it's the engine?

Hang on.

It ran out of gasoline.

No gasoline?

Where are you going?

I'm going to a place near Son Dien,

on a path leading to the village.

- You're going to Son Dien village? - Yes.

I'm looking for someone there.

Where in Son Dien?

Just around the village entrance.

Who are you looking for?

I'm looking for my brother.

What's his name?

Tam.

- Tam? - Yes.

Does Tam live near the Son Dien village entrance?

I don't know, I haven't seen him for a long time.

Near the entrance of Son Dien village...

You live in the area?

I'm going to Son Dien too. 732 Gasoline.

Here.

This is gasoline?

No, this is wine.

Wine?

I'm not going around with a bottle of gasoline.

- So you're heading to Son Dien? - Yes.

Where exactly?

I think a little after the welcome sign.

The sign at the entrance?

Yes, that's right.

Tam.

Does he run a business there?

I heard that he's working in sericulture.

Where do you live?

My family used to live in Di Linh

but everyone migrated to the USA, so I moved to Saigon.

Just go ahead, I'll help push from behind.

Thanks.

Slow down, let the gasoline run.

The tank is locked.

Open it.

Slowly.

Thank you.

Hello, could you take a look at my motorbike?

Just park it there, I'll check it in a bit.

Who sells the drinks?

Hey, we have a customer!

Wants to buy a drink!

One moment!

Do you know this man?

He looks like Duc, Mrs. Hat's son

from the next village.

Does he look like Duc to you?

What would you like?

A Red Bull.

- Okay. - Have a look.

Does this man look like Duc, Mrs. Hat's son?

He looks kind of similar, but that's not him.

Thank you.

Hello, madam.

Do you know the man in the picture?

What's your name?

I'm Thien.

Thien.

Why are you only looking for him now?

Do you know him?

I'm talking about you.

Me?

Have you forsaken your soul?

You have too many burdens to bear.

Sometimes

all you need is one thing.

Don't mind her, she talks like that to everyone.

It's alright.

No one can fully empathize with the soul.

It is beyond human comprehension.

When my soul left my body,

just for a few seconds,

I witnessed the misery of souls.

In this earthly world,

I smelt a pungent, rotting odour.

You...

Do you know why we can't pick it up?

Because... we're used to it.

Now, suppose we go around the wet market.

The air is putrid,

but the vendors are still there.

These souls...

They are so delicate...

and weightless.

But...

they suffer when they inhale the scent of this earth.

Yet for them, the greatest suffering was

knowing I had to return to this flesh.

Their gazes were filled with deep mourning.

I recognised some folks I once knew.

They were deeply pious and full of virtue.

But...

they were still being purged of their sins.

They begged me

to exhort their children to seek salvation

by being devoted to prayer and attending the Holy Mass.

When I came back to life,

I felt so miserable.

So I decided to spend the rest of my life speaking up about this

The brevity of suffering

compared to eternity

is but a fleeting moment, barely anything.

You...

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world

and lose his own soul?

Thien, Thien!

Come inside, don't be shy.

Make yourself at home.

You look so much like Tam.

I never knew Tam had a younger brother.

Please have some tea and snacks.

Do you bring lunch to Tam everyday?

No, only sometimes.

If he goes to work too early and I can't prepare it in time,

I bring the lunch to him later.

Thien, can you help me hold him?

Sure, let me.

Wait a little while.

I'll prepare lunch, then we can go.

He's usually here at this time.

Thien, hold him for me, please.

I'll go look around.

Wake up.

Wake up!

What's going on?

Why are you sleeping here?

I'm waiting for Tam.

Tam? Who's Tam?

I don't know any Tam here.

Move aside so I can open the door.

Why are you still here?

So, there's no one named Tam here?

No such person!

This is my farm.

Move your motorbike so that I can open the door.