Original subtitles

The surrogate Woman

Madam!

Please, endure, madam

It's a kind of asceticism

for being pregnant

If you cauterize with the moxa

about 200~300 times

the whites in your womb will be gone

Do that way and you can have a boy

When people treat the deceased cordially

Kang Soo-Yeon

Directed by Im Kwon-Taek

Your grandson and his wife have been married

for the last 12 years She soon will be 30 years old

But they don't have a child

What a pity!

The late elder brother

only had one son, Sang-Kyu

Besides I have the only child, Sang-Il

I can't let him be adopted into your family

Do this way

I'm worrying that there is no one

to carry on a family line

My family is the class of Confucian scholars

It' humiliating to take a concubine

I am the wife of heir I honor the forefathers

If my family don't have an heir we can't honor the forefathers

I really don't know What I am supposed to do

I feel so oppressed

Mother!

I've been thinking about this

I have a plan

What is it?

Yon can take on a surrogate

A surrogate?

Many noble families If they don't have sons

They take on surrogate in secret

But those women are vulgar

They are unqualified

to be the mother of the heir

It's ridiculous

I know that

However some of them are aristocrats' illegitimates

We just use their wombs for a little while

If Sang-Kyu's wife say OK

I'll have Chaek find a surrogate

in secret

Chaek?

He chose your father's grave site Didn't he?

You're right And he's trustworthy

He learns many books

and is good at choosing women

Tell me about the physiognomy

There are several conditions for having a boy

First, the girl must have

nicely oval eyes, a high nose

and reddish palms

Her back is thick and she also has round shoulders

deep navel, well-rounded hips and large abdomen

And eyelids don't cover the pupils as those of phoenix don't

How about the girl who can not have a boy

There' re 30 different conditions

The girl who has yellow or red hair

deep eyes, pale tongue

longish face, hairy nostril and swollen lips

She can not have a boy

Women who live in this village only have given names

They don't have surnames

Surrogates' daughters will become surrogates

Just like female shamans

Please look at the valley

It looks like...

So this village is named jade gate valley

Oh!

Catch the calf

Calf, the calf, right there Catch the calf

Catch the calf

Oh, my goodness!

You idiot!

You can't even catch a calf

How rude you are!

Bitch

Oh! Sir...

Long time no see

It has been years

Please come in

You don't have to tell me about your family name

But before you choose please set the 'hou' price

What is it?

Money for taking clothes off

That means reward

You tell me

5 patches of field for boys 2 patches for girls

Giving birth to a girl?

Boys or girls... It's the business of Gods

I can't affirm it will be a boy

That's right

But I came here and take on a surrogate

It's for having a boy who can carry on a family line

not for having a girl She can't be an heir

You don't have to worry, sir

If she give birth to a girl she'll take care of her baby

You calf! Are you going to your home?

Come on! I said come on

You idiot!

You lose the calf again

I ran after him and I catch him at snake village

Get into the cage Or I'll break your legs

I said to you Treat him like your master

If Oh-Mok know this she must take the calf back

I don't care

We can live without the calf

Shut up!

We can't live without the calf

I don't think so

Watch your tongue

The first one is 28 years old

Her first child was a girl but the second one was a boy

According to physiognomy

she's perfect

The second one is 30 years old

she already had 3 boys and no girls

Fortuneteller said

she'll have 4 boys in future

The last one is 24 years old

She lost her husband and 2 sons two years ago

She is new here

But I recommend her

If you take on her you must pay double, sir

For what reason?

When she has intercourse

the colors of her skin and lips become purple

Besides her lips become solid

that means her upper muscle's solid

For those reasons she must have a boy

Please make a decision, sir

I have a few more girls for you

But they're not good

Some of them are over 30 and don't meet the conditions

The others are too young

I saw a girl outside

Where is she?

You mean...

A girl who was chasing a calf

I glanced at her

I think she's good enough

She is Pil-Lye's daughter

She's only 17 years old

She isn't a mature woman

She will come into full bloom

I pay double the price

Pil-Lye, Where is Oak-Nye?

Why?

She is chosen

What are you talking about? She's just a child

The customer is willing to pay double the price

It's too good for her

Double, treble! I don't care!

I won't let her do that

I was hurt deep in my heart

I never forget

She must not tread in my steps

You are so considerate

But Oak-Nye is strong

She's not like you

Nobody wants to be a surrogate But money...

Don't you want to be rich?

I'll give my daughter away in marriage

She'll marry someone Just like normal people

Nobody loves surrogate's daughter

Shut up!

I'll find someone

who can make you happy

Face the truth We are so poor

Nobody wants to marry into our family

I said watch your tongue

Ouch...

Don't move!

To become a good surrogate

endure the pain

They are finished

Tomorrow

They are going to hold a rite

for having a boy

You don't have to feel cheap

You

You're going to give birth to an heir

Your back hurts

You can't work hard

I can take care of myself

I worry about you instead

In customer's house staying at your room all day

Can you do that?

For 10 patches of field

there's nothing I can't do

To have an easy delivery

take care about your health

Eat something fat

What are you going to eat?

How can I eat food by myself?

Suddenly you became a good girl

They just use your body

Never fall in love with anyone, anything

Here you are

Seventeen...

In those surrogates

I chose a virgin

I washed myself

I said I washed myself

Ouch, It's burning, ouch

Ouch, it's burning

What are you doing? Stand up and honor them

You!

You should honor them

after they take seats

Do it again

That's all right

She's Grandmother of this family

and her grandson-in-law

When did you have menarche?

Menstruation!

Fourteen

How precocious you were!

Within 28~29 hours following menstruations

you should have intercourse

It's the best time for pregnancy

Check dewdrops

with clean muslin

If the color is gold

odd number days are propitious

You must be careful

I'm hungry

I rode in a rocking palanquin for long time

I'm starving

Eat slowly

Mmmm...

Last night the surrogate girl arrived

Why are you doing this? It's so silly

My dear

It's for having an heir

Don't hold her so cheap

Please obey your grandmother

There are many ladies

who had babies in their forties

You are 28 years old

Don't give up

I don't think so

I did everythig

everything I heard

We made love

on February 18th and 22nd

I went to propitious places

and prayed for 1000 days

But it didn't work

Keep trying

You pray with your whole heart

Gods will give you a son

I am unable to have a child It's a sin

Do you want me to be driven out?

My family can't drive you out

You and I held my parents' funeral

According to our manners

that is prohibited

Did she sleep well?

She suffered from diarrhea all night

I couldn't sleep either

What did she eat?

She's eaten inferior food

I think fat food made her sick

Ouch

You must stay in your room in the day time

Never try to find out where you are

Pretend to be deaf and blind

Mom!

Hey! Don't move!

Come out

Look at the moon

Inhale the spirit and energy

of full moon

for strengthen 'yin' the power of bearing a boy

Take it deeply

While I count 8 breathings you shouldn't breathe

After I count 8 you can take a deep breath

Put your hands together

Take a deep breath

One breathing Two breathing

Three breathing Four breathing

Five breathing Six breathing

One breathing Two breathing

Three breathing Four breathing

Five breathing Six breathing

Seven breathing Eight breathing

Huh!

One breathing Two breathing

Three breathing Four breathing

Five breathing

It' a medicine

It's made of a stone Buddhist image's nose

It is a cordial for men

And it also strengthens women's 'yin'

On the 5th day at 5 AM

you should have intercourse with her

In intercourse to have a boy

female's 'yin' should go first

and then male's 'yang' follows

So you need to

Uncle!

I can't...

It's wrong!

You listen!

We honor our forefathers

It's for requiting them

How undutiful you are!

You stupid!

I'm not asking you to lead a dissolute life

Just asking you to have an heir

After you should die

who will honor forefathers?

You should obey

It's 3 o'clock Please get ready

It soon will be 5 o'clock Please get into sleeping place

It's the time

You should emit semen at the right place

or it's going to be of no use

Please do it

It's the blood of deer It's from your uncle

It'll make you feel vigorous

Please drink it

The color of muslin It's gold

This time you should do it

on the 4th day of this month at 3 AM

He hid himself from me for a month

So I asked her...

Is it true?

Master met her in her room

I tried to stop him

Then he met her outside

You should watch her!

I did, madam! I pricked my thigh with an awl

but couldn't help falling asleep

It's all my fault, madam

You deserve to be killed

But this time You're whipped instead

Never do it again

Whip her!

Many scholars say

a learned man must control his sexual desire

You shouldn't do that

even with your wife

Shame on you!

What are you doing? What time is it?

A huge yellow snake appeared in my dream

It came into my skirt

I was startled

and then realized it was dream

If a dragon or a yellow snake appear in one's dream

she can have a boy

It's good for you

Today is madam's birthday

She gave you this How kind she is

Hey, you!

If you make her cry

I'll kill you

How dare you are!

You don't know men

Do you?

You know nothing

The nobilities regard reputation as of great importance

They observe the decorums even in beds

It's silly

Do you understand?

And what happened?

In the end, he's expelled

It's not easy to honor forefathers

During the war

some people always carried about

their ancestral tablets and utensils with them

even if they starved

How dutiful they were!

Anyway in burning houses

many dutiful daughters and virtuous wives

took the tablets out first

then give up their children

Where does the spirit live in?

In the other world? In the grave?

Or in the shrine?

It's really confusing

We call out the spirit after someone die

Yeah

On the roof, with clothes of the deceased

call his name 3 times

To make the spirit stay

in his own body

That's right

And before we shroud

we put the soaked rice

into the deceased's mouth thrice

And we also put the coins thrice

The rice is food for

going to the other world

And the coins are road money

Maybe it's a long way

Anyway I still don't get it

The spirit goes to the other world with his body?

Or without the body?

Anyway after the body's buried

in other words after the spirit's gone

We carry the tablet along with us

and bring the spirit back

then start to weep

If we do that

the body of the deceased is in the grave

and the spirit of the deceased is in the house

That's right

The spirit is in the house now

but we still hold a rite for the deceased

Does that mean the spirit's still wandering in woods?

Maybe it's because

we can't assure ourselves where the spirit is

But for whom do we hold a rite anyway?

We keep tablets and spirits

of our forefathers in the shrine

Even if there's no shrine

we still keep the spirits and tablets in the house

So you can say that

the spirits stay in the house

But if we don't keep the tablets

in the shrine or house either

Where are the spirits?

They must be in their graves

We honor all our relatives passed away

at their graves

So you can say

first, the spirits stay home

and then go back to graves where their bodies were buried

Nobody knows

Where the spirit goes to and the other world is

It's a pallbearers' song

First part of the lyrics

Even the pallbearers don't know where it is

Let me tell you a story

There was a gentleman

one day he had to lodge at a respectable home

Wholly unexpected

the day he lodged was the worship day

So the host and his wife

went to the grave to bring the spirit back

They treated the deceased with respect

What are you doing? You haven't changed yet

Get up!

She's pregnant

Is that true?

I think she's 2 months pregnant

She's tried so hard so far

Congratulate you, madam

Thank you

You are pregnant Go your room and take a rest

She loses her appetite It must be a boy

Shut your mouth up!

I said when you're preparing food for a rite

you shouldn't say a word Don't you remember?

She wants to be served by you so badly

So here you are

The heir of our family is in her womb

So you must serve her with all your heart

Here's your mother

Let me see your face

Mom, try this one There' re plenty of these

They seem to be live for honoring the dead

they hold rites even thrice in a month

How about your back?

It's OK

Keep it

Where did you get these

Master gave these to me

He really likes me

What did I say?

You shouldn't fall in love

Don't worry He's not here

His family sent him to a temple for separating him from me

Drink it It's red pepper soup

Red peppers in this soup are from the house that have a boy

stand up

Take your skirt off

I stole the knife that was used by a woman who bore sons

This trinket is made of that

All of these are for having a boy

Take it along with you Always!

What makes human noble is education

A pregnant woman must teach the baby in her womb

It's called prenatal care

You're illiterate

So draw pictures and have a clear mind

I don't know how to draw a picture, madam

Don't you understand?

You draw well or not That isn't important

It's for teaching the baby

Hold the brush!

What are you doing?

I met master in my dream

I was worrying that I might have a girl

He said he doesn't care

He also said the deceased they're only ghosts

He said the same before

Tomorrow is the worship day of his great grandfather

He must come home

Master! Master!

You always think about him

He's a aristocrat and we are not!

Baby moves, mom

It kicks so hard makes me startle

It is said that a hard kicker must be a boy

Let me feel it

Don't do that!

She's right It must be a boy

Here you are

six eggs at the sixth month

Are they going to hatch?

Absolutely!

Oh, my goodness

Oh, master

Please don't... We will be punished

Leave us alone for a moment

Master

Leave us alone, mom

Did you study at a temple?

What?

I just went on a tour

What did you do there?

I was thinking about rites for the deceased

As the proverb goes This world where we live in

is better than the other world

So the deceased want to stay here

with us

Did you miss me?

Did you think about me?

Baby's kicking Feel it

Sometimes I startle

Don't do that We will be finished

No matter what happened you shouldn't let her do that

Drub her!

Mom!

I'm sorry I'm sorry, mom

My back...

It's killing me

It's getting worse

Why was you beaten before?

Ouch...

I became a surrogate at 21 years old

I gave birth to a son

After I was paid for the boy I left the house

But I missed my son so much

When he was six years old I went to meet him

I broke the rule

Here! Right here! Here!

Hey!

Come on

Come on

Oh, my boy

Then I went to jade gate valley

I was hired again

But this time I bore a girl It was you

And then nobody wants to take on me as a surrogate

That's the story

No! No! It's wrong

Madam?

It's too large

Get rid of some

Yes, madam

Put your shoulders like this

and don't forget to move heavily

Yippee!

Madam knows this...

She must be crazy I don't know

My goodness! Watch your steps

My goodness!

If someone watch a masked dance

He can't even hold a rite in this house

What is she thinking?

Hey! Look at yourself

How ugly you are!

Anyway

Your mother gave birth to you...

So ugly...

Hey!

Let me see...

There's a monk

What are you doing? Asshole!

What's this?

I shoo him away

There's a 500-year-old snake He's sticking out his head

How filthy!

Hey! Listen to me!

She is in labor May it be a boy!

Push!

What's wrong?

Give me a chamber pot!

I got it

The surrogate girl has labor pains

You should pretend to feel pains

Madam is in labor

Get ready for that

Turn over the laundry stone And make a fire

Hurry UP!

Madam, she seems to have a hard labor

Give wheat-flour paste to her

All right! Take one more push

Eat the paste

No! I won't!

It's good for you

She's right

- Eat the paste - Eat this

Because you are so young You have a hard labor

You're too young

May a boy come down from heaven

- Oh, Mom - It's alright

Stand up, yes Stand up

Sit on the corner

and you can gain strength

Make your feet hot

For an easy delivery

Stand up on it

Mom! It's burning!

Go to your master and tell him

Make the girl hold his waistband

Yes, madam

Master! She's dying

Yeah!

I want to run away

You are not going anywhere

Take one more push

Try one more time

It's coming

It's coming

It's a boy

Mother! Congratulate you!

It's too good for us

Congratulate you!

Thank you

Mom, give him to me

This is the land register

It's 10 patches of paddy field

Live in there and never come back

You should leave tonight

You was in labor I know you don't feel well

But it's an order

You should leave

I want to see my son

Before I leave I want to see him again

Take me to him

Face the truth

They won't let you see him

He's my son

I have the right to see him

I have to see him

He's not your son

Let me go Master will allow me to see him

Let me go! Let me go!

I don't need money I don't need field

I want to take my boy along with me

He's my son

I can't give him to them

I feel pain I feel sorrow

I'm human So are you!

No, we are not

Even if we look like human

We are not treated as human

It's the last chance to see her face

Look at her!

One year later Oak-Nye killed herself

at the village where her son lives in

She was victimized by a notion of preferring sons to daughters