Original subtitles

THOU SHALT NOT COVET

[car unlocks]

Cheol.

-How are you doing? Going somewhere nice? -Yes.

"Somewhere nice"?

[woman sighs] Jeez.

I couldn't find anything black, so I just threw this on.

It looks weird, doesn't it?

I should've worn navy instead.

[man] What does it matter? It's just clothes.

Clothes are important to me.

What I choose to wear,

what I choose to make for dinner tonight, all that…

That's all important to me.

I haven't worn these shoes in a long time. Making my feet hurt.

But it's not like I could wear sneakers there.

If you want to cry, go ahead.

It's gonna fly away.

[gentle piano music playing]

[piano music building]

[music fades]

[turns off engine]

What are you doing?

You can go in.

I'll stay here.

After coming all the way here?

You went to the dry cleaners to pick up that suit.

Why don't you just go in and come back out?

Hmm?

What about Cheol?

Cheol, go with Mom.

Dong-min was a good uncle to you, right?

He bought you Legos, remember?

You should say goodbye.

Go on, then.

[man] That was last week, but we didn't talk much, to be honest.

[mom sniffles]

Go on and bow.

Twice.

[woman sobbing]

I can't…

[continues sobbing]

[woman 1] It's just so sad, huh?

[woman 2] She was changing her baby's diaper.

Her husband just appeared at the door and said, "I'm leaving."

And she was busy with the diaper, so she didn't say anything.

And then he just walked out the door like that.

A-reum's husband hadn't been around much,

and if he was home, he was on the balcony, having a smoke and just sighing.

She said she saw that a few times.

So now her mom is beside herself,

saying she should have noticed the signs.

[woman 2 sighs]

They're shooting something over there.

Yeah, they said they're just getting shots.

[woman 3] Shots of what?

[woman 2] The mood here.

I heard she's making a documentary.

You know Director Kang who runs the Heart-to-Heart Counseling Center?

She was able to get her permission to shoot here today.

-[woman 3] Mm. -Where's your husband?

Outside. Hmm. He didn't want to see this.

[woman 1] He's in the car?

Mm-hmm.

Your face looks thinner.

[woman 3] I lost 11 pounds.

You're not on a diet, are you?

[woman 3] No. I eat a lot, but I just keep losing weight.

My ring keeps getting looser. It's about to fall off.

This is the only thing my husband gave me when we got engaged.

It's all I've got, and it won't stay on.

[women chuckle]

He came inside.

[woman 1] There he is.

-Oh, is that your son there? -Yes. [chuckles]

[woman 4 chuckles]

Hello. Good evening. It's nice to meet you.

Oh, you scared me. [chuckles] Yes, it's nice to meet you as well.

He's very polite. Unlike his father.

Hey, you shouldn't joke like that with kids. They'll take it seriously.

He does seem pretty rigid. He got that from his father.

[both chuckle]

[mourner sobbing in background]

[man 1] You made it.

[woman] Oh, I'll have some more.

What time do you have to go?

The second round of therapy is in a few days.

[woman 3] Yeah, I know.

I wonder if he'll skip this round as well.

It's people like him who need it most.

He's the one who was affected most by the strike.

-Hey. -It's all right.

[woman in background] He was so good. He was so good.

[woman] How long have you known?

[man sighs deeply]

[woman] Oh dear. [sighs]

[indistinct background chatter]

[man in background] I think it's been quite a while.

-[woman] Time does pass, huh. -[man] Same.

Oh, no! You shouldn't do that. You said you wouldn't, didn't you?

[sighs] I can have one drink. Just--

-I don't think so. You promised, remember? -[husband laughs]

He agreed he wouldn't drink when he's out of the house.

It's all right. I won't drink it, then.

-I'll just-- -I don't think it's a good idea.

-I'll just hold it. I swear I won't-- -I'll hold it, okay?

-I understand. It's okay. -You understand what?

-Just… -[woman 3] No! [laughs]

-[husband laughs] -[woman gasps]

-Why are you doing this? Stop it! -Why am I doing this?

You promised.

What are you doing?

What is this?

So sorry. I'll turn off the camera.

-Is this funny? -[indistinct background chatter]

Is this funny to you? Huh?

-You think this is funny? -Mind if I have one?

-[man 1] Oh, sure. -Do you?

-[husband] Ah, damn it. -[chair screeches]

[man] Watch your step here.

-[woman] Should we have brought something? -[man] No, I think it's fine.

Oh!

Oh no!

[gasps] Shit! Oh!

[car door opens]

-[woman] Damn it! -[man 2] He was a hard worker.

[woman] Oh!

[footsteps approaching]

[man 3] Are you looking for something?

[woman] Oh!

I dropped my wedding ring.

Oh.

Just a minute.

[engine starts]

[car door opens]

-[door closes] -[woman groans softly]

[man in background] It's all right. Don't worry about it.

[woman] Oh! [gasps]

[man 3] Oh.

Ah. Got it!

[woman] Oh.

Uh, there. Thank you. [chuckles]

[laughs]

[sobbing]

[sniffles, sobs]

[footsteps approaching]

[woman 2] Sang-woo!

[woman 1 gasps]

Oh, hello.

Hi.

[beeps]

[woman] Importantly, my film will focus on the individual lives of the workers

and the specific realities they face.

I believe that a documentary will be the most effective medium

to tell this story.

Using the real-life stories of the workers and their families,

this film is going to question the value of labor in today's world

and invite audiences to reflect on life, work, and our collective future.

Thank you for your time.

THE VANISHING LABORER "LABOR IS LIFE."

[woman 2] Um, yes,

but if you were to make a documentary about labor issues in today's world,

I would imagine that the issues of AI or the threat of robots replacing workers

should be the focus.

Those issues seem to be more topical.

Don't you think that looking at labor issues

through the lens of corporate restructuring

might be a bit, um, outdated?

Has that concern ever crossed your mind?

Yes, but I… I don't think that covering the issue of corporate restructuring

is behind the times.

Uh, if anything, the issue is even more crucial

in an era where labor is disappearing.

Because soon, restructuring is going to become the reality everywhere.

You mentioned that the story would focus on the laid-off workers

of SP Heavy Industries, right?

Seeing as there are so many other workers out there,

why did you pick them as the main characters of your story?

As you know, SP Heavy Industries recently restructured two years ago

and laid off 40% of its employees.

The workers resisted and tried to fight back with a strike,

only to be suppressed by force,

and they are still suffering from the aftermath.

One of the laid-off workers even took his own life not long ago.

The workers of SP Heavy Industries

represent what the Korean workforce is dealing with.

Audiences will see how these workers have been treated

and how they struggle to survive in the aftermath.

Their voices deserve to be heard.

[man] I see. Thank you.

Great, thank you very much.

[woman 3] Next team, please get ready.

[woman 1] I'll see you tomorrow.

-[woman 2] See ya! -[woman 3] Bye!

-Excuse me. I'm leaving early today. -[man] Yeah?

But you need to sort the trash before you go.

Sorry, but I really can't.

It's trash sorting day. I need you. If you don't do it, who will? Me? [laughs]

I told you, I have somewhere to get to and that I have to leave at six o'clock.

This is labor exploitation.

Now, hold on. Are you serious? Are you kidding me? Come on! [laughs]

Do you even know what exploitation means? Don't throw that around.

Either way, I can't do it.

Why don't you ask one of them to handle it? I'm already running late.

They don't know how to sort the trash properly.

That's why I hired you to help them.

See? This is why I'm always so frustrated.

How could you say something like that right now?

Lose the attitude.

-You're gonna do it anyway. -I have an attitude because of you.

-Jeez. -All right. Get it done, quick. Go on.

[woman 1 groans]

-[woman 1] This goes in here. -[woman 2] Uh-huh.

-[woman 1] Here. Put this over there. -[woman 2] Sure. Got it.

Thanks for your help.

Hi! I'm so sorry. Have you been here long?

[woman 3] No, it's fine.

-How are you? -Oh, good.

I hope I don't make your car stink.

[gasps] Oh my God!

-Ah, that's my dog. Blue's a good boy. -[engine starts]

Ah, like the color blue?

Yeah, blue.

Ah. [chuckles]

The number you have called is unavailable…

His phone is turned off, I guess.

You seem worried.

Today's his first day at a new job

since being laid off from SP Heavy Industries.

Ah.

I was going to admit him to a hospital to get treated,

since I thought he could use some time to heal.

[sighs] He didn't want to do that, though.

Some people said I should just encourage him to get a new job.

They said, "Just get back to work, forget what happened,

and find new work somewhere else."

And so that's what he decided to do.

Is there a reason your husband is refusing therapy?

Well, he says he's not the type of person

to go on and on like that in front of others.

-Hmm. -[scoffs]

But he's really just afraid.

Of what?

-I don't really know. -Hmm-mm.

It's like there's something inside him that he's afraid to let out.

Once, he said that he doesn't know what would happen

if he were to let everything out.

He's afraid his eyes would roll back and he would just kill everyone.

He's not okay.

Did you two date before getting married?

Yeah.

When did you meet?

We were pretty young, so probably too young, actually.

[both chuckle]

Did you meet when you were teenagers?

He was 18 years old, and I'm two years younger, so 16.

Wow, you dated for a while then.

Yeah, you know.

Did we really even date?

-[chuckles] -Oh, boy.

By the way, Director…

Oh, no, please don't call me "Director."

I prefer if you just called me Ye-ji. Lee Ye-ji.

Uh… [chuckles]

Well then, Ye-ji, do you always call your husband by name?

Sang-woo, isn't it?

Yes. How did you know?

It's just, when we met outside the funeral,

I noticed you used it, and I thought it was interesting, you know.

I've never seen a wife address her husband like that.

[laughs] Yeah. We went to high school together.

Your husband must have been very popular.

[Ye-ji laughs]

Everyone had a crush on Sang-woo.

He was tall, handsome, and athletic too.

Everyone called him the school sweetheart, apparently. I didn't know.

One day, the two of us were called up

to receive some kind of certificate onstage,

and all the girls were so jealous of me.

"You're so lucky, up on stage with the school sweetheart." [laughs]

I'm not bragging, by the way.

-Oh, I see. [chuckles] -He slept with the whole school.

No, all the girls had a crush on him, but he only went for certain ones.

They were always very good looking, but that's really all they had.

The girls he was usually into, they were pretty much just airheads.

Well, isn't that just like a man, you know? [chuckles]

He didn't look at girls like me at all.

I wasn't even an option.

He came from a good family that had a lot of money, and…

We weren't poor, but compared to his, my family was nothing special.

So how did the two of you get together, then?

It was pure chance. We met again when I went to study in the States.

[cell phone buzzing]

-If it's not for that, we never would've… -[woman] Oh, um…

He's on his way now. He'll just be a little late.

-[chuckles] -Okay. [chuckles]

We're at the café by the counseling center.

How long?

All right.

He's almost here.

-[chuckles nervously] -[Ye-ji] Hmm.

[Ye-ji] Ms. Ahn.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

Did I want to be?

[Ye-ji] Something you dreamed of becoming when you grew up.

Did you have any dreams?

No, I didn't.

[laughs] I wonder why that is. I never thought about that.

-Did you, Ye-ji? -[Ye-ji chuckles]

-[both chuckle] -[Ms. Ahn] What did you want to be?

Ah, well, I wanted to be a film director since I was very little.

I always told stories and used my imagination.

I'm enjoying documentaries at the moment,

but eventually, I'll tell a narrative story.

Imagining things is my hobby. [laughs]

When I was little,

my mom used to work at a car wash.

My father was always out and about, collecting junk.

And I was… I was often sick when I was little.

They didn't know what it was.

I could feel my heart beat when I was lying down.

We lived in a small room beside the car wash.

My favorite thing to do in the summer

was to watch my mom spray down the cars with a hose,

and, even now, I can see it clearly.

The water, it sparkled in the sun. It was so beautiful.

So I think I wanted to do that.

But my mom would get really angry with me…

Sorry, wait a minute.

Would it… Would you say that again in front of the camera?

I'd love to get that story on film. [chuckles]

Uh…

Okay.

[chuckles] I'll be right back. It's just in the car.

See, this is why I should always have my camera on me.

[Ms. Ahn] Yeah.

LORO PIANA BACKPACK 5,630,000 WON

One, two, three, four, five… [gasps]

Whoa.

[plane engine roaring overhead]

Oh, there are so many planes in the air today.

There's a US military base here.

All right. So you can go ahead and say it all again.

Look at me, though, not the camera. Okay.

Um, when I was little, my mother worked at a car wash in the area,

and it was only hand wash then.

My father was always out of the house collecting junk.

And I was sick a lot when I was little.

I remember I always felt like I could hear my heart beating

when I was lying down.

I would lie there by myself

and watch my mom spray the cars with a hose.

I can still picture it clearly.

The water sparkling in the sunlight. It was so beautiful.

[water running]

[Ms. Ahn] So I think that's why I wanted to try it too.

But when I did, my mom noticed, and she was furious with me.

[mom] Ahn Mi-ok!

What are you doing?

What do you think you're doing, huh? Don't you ever touch that!

[Mi-ok] Back then, I didn't understand why my mom was so upset.

I think she was afraid of me doing the same work when I got older,

so that's probably why she got angry.

[Ye-ji] And now your mother is…

She still works every day. She's down in Jeolla Province.

She does all kinds of work.

Cleaning, restaurant work, public service jobs.

Okay, that's great.

Well done. [chuckles]

-Oh, that's all you need? -Yes, you did great. Oh, he's here.

Hello.

-[Mi-ok] You made it. -Thanks for coming.

-What are you doing? -An interview.

So how'd it go today?

It was okay.

-You think you can handle it? -Well, you know.

So did you agree to an interview?

We just sort of did it.

I really wasn't planning on doing any interviews.

We were just waiting here,

and there was something that she said that was very interesting,

so I asked if I could film her,

but I was just planning to introduce you to the counseling director.

I'm so glad that you're here.

I heard it wasn't easy for you to come all the way out here to do this today.

I think you'll be happy you came once you meet the counseling director.

-Well, since we're short on time-- -Let's go in.

-[Ye-ji] Yes, shall we? Great. -[Mi-ok] Oh. [chuckles]

[man 2] No way.

-Hey. -[man 2] Long time no see.

-How are you doing? -I'm all right.

It's good that you're here.

The other day, we were actually talking

about whether or not you would make it here.

But here you are.

-[woman] Mi-ok, good to see you! -[Mi-ok] Hi.

It'll be good for you.

Even if you don't say anything,

just listening to everyone else talk makes me feel better about things.

And some of them you'll know.

Oh, we're actually going to meet with the counseling director first.

Oh, yeah, sure.

-[man 2] Uh… -I'll see you in a bit.

[woman] Okay.

-Hey, I can't do this. -Why not?

Sorry, I, uh… Another time.

[Mi-ok] Wait.

Hang on!

What's going on?

[Ye-ji] It must be tough having to see that factory

whenever you drive down this road.

Do you ever intentionally avoid it because of that?

Oh, sorry.

I wasn't trying to interview you. I was just curious.

[lively Korean music playing]

Come on, let's go.

Hey, come here.

Is it okay to go?

-[Ye-ji] Don't mind us. Do your thing. -Okay. Come on.

[lively Korean music continues playing]

What is it now?

-Come on, honey. -Cheol. Hey.

They're all wearing their uniforms too. See?

Look. See? It's not just you.

-[kid] Let's do this! -All right.

DAEYA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIELD DAY

[woman] Hi! Good morning.

-[man over PA] Ready. -[cheering]

[man over PA] Begin! One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

-Five! -[Mi-ok] Choi Cheol!

-[over PA] Six! -[Mi-ok] Choi Cheol!

-You can do it! -[over PA] Seven!

-[chuckles] -[over PA] Eight!

This is just because he doesn't like to wear his uniform.

-[over PA] Two! -And how come he doesn't like wearing it?

I don't know. I think he just feels awkward.

He usually only wants to wear the clothes that he's used to,

and he's not used to this at all, so he won't…

No one knows what's going on.

[over PA] One!

Cheol is a little slow when it comes to things like this, sports, and…

Well, he can't ride a bike without training wheels, for example.

His dad was very athletic.

Gosh, what is he doing?

-We should get a closer shot of that. -Yeah, good idea.

[over PA] Two!

[Mi-ok] Oh, no. Don't film that, please. Please don't film that.

[over PA] Five!

-Six! -Uh, just…

-I'd rather you didn't film that. -[over PA] Seven!

Oh, okay. I completely understand. Don't worry about it.

[over PA] Ten!

[kids cheer]

[over PA] Return to ready!

[crowd cheering and clapping]

[Mi-ok] When he got the job offer from SP Heavy Industries,

it felt like we had won the lottery.

He was a full-time employee at a major company.

When my husband heard that he'd got the position, he said,

"I don't have anyone I can call to brag."

I don't think I've ever seen him so happy. He was just walking around with the phone.

He couldn't call his parents. They died young, so…

It didn't feel real, honestly, until we got his ID card.

That's when it really hit me. This is it here.

It's just a card with his name, employee ID, company seal,

but I was so moved by it.

SP HEAVY INDUSTRIES

-[Ye-ji] Cut. Wow. -[Mi-ok chuckles]

Did you bring that today on purpose?

I just thought it might be helpful for you to see.

-You're a natural. -Really? No!

Your husband wouldn't agree to do an interview, would he? Do you think?

He doesn't want to.

It was a struggle just for me to talk to you.

He said he would never do one.

I'd love to interview him.

It's people like your husband, they need to tell their stories.

I would really appreciate if you could help with this.

[Mi-ok] Uh…

-[Mi-ok] Uh… -[door opens]

[Mi-ok] Well, this is it.

[Ye-ji] Wow, it's so cozy.

People were saying the workers at SP Heavy Industries were rich.

A full-time job at a good company, you'd think that.

But the pay was just enough to afford this.

Oh, shoot. Just…

-Oh, jeez. -[Ho-seok] A spider.

Hey, what are you doing? Seriously!

He's from the countryside, so he prefers a house over a condo.

The first time I saw this place, I said, "No thanks, not here," and now we're here.

I used to prefer condos to this.

Now that we live here, though, I like it.

Having a yard for Cheol to play freely in is nice.

There was an outdoor toilet over here, and it created a huge, huge puddle,

so we had to pour dirt over it five or six times to--

[Ho-seok] Nine.

We poured nine truckloads of dirt to level it out like this.

You should look at the trees too.

We traveled all over to get these for the garden.

-[Ye-ji] Oh! -This is a crepe myrtle.

Royal azalea. Fragrant olive. We have all different kinds here.

We did it all ourselves. I carried Cheol on my back.

It took a few years to grow, but the garden started to flourish…

[sighs]

…just as the okswae strike began.

Feel free to look around. There's nothing to brag about or hide.

Let's get some shots of the house.

[Mi-ok] Oh.

These are photos of my husband's parents, young and old.

[Mi-ok] And next to it is a photo of my parents.

Before we left for the strike,

the three of us bowed in front of these photos.

We told them we would fight to the end to protect our family and our livelihood.

These are his cousins.

My husband has completely cut ties with his siblings ever since the strike.

He was hurt during the strike and ended up being bedridden for months,

but his siblings didn't even call once. It was truly awful.

Before living here, we owned a condo,

but then my sister-in-law suddenly got a divorce

and moved in with us with her two kids.

She was 40 million won in debt and had no way of getting out.

So we thought about it,

and… we decided to sell our condo and pay off her debt for her.

[Ye-ji gasps]

I was the one who suggested it.

So we sold the condo, paid off her debt,

and bought a used car with what we had left,

and then we had to move into a rental.

The thing is, we didn't even have a fight.

She just cut off contact and hasn't reached out since.

We moved a couple more times after that and eventually ended up here.

He'd come home from work and then get going on that.

It took him two months to do it.

-Do you know what he made that for? -[Ye-ji] What did he make it for?

For his work brothers, to drink together.

-That was his dream. -[Ye-ji] His work brothers?

His junior coworkers who worked with him at the factory.

My husband always called them his work brothers.

He wanted to make a place

where they all could gather and unwind together.

He had this idea… Um, no. What do you call it? Uh…

Anyway, he had a very clear vision.

"After work, I'll bring my brothers here instead of going to some expensive bar."

He worked so hard to build it, sweating buckets along the way.

Those marble tiles too.

He cut and laid those all by himself, little by little, on his days off.

And after the last tile, it was ready to go.

So he called all of his work brothers.

"Hey, guys, it's finally done!" "Okay, great. Let's plan something."

"How about this Saturday?" "Okay. Yeah, we can do that."

So they decided to have a samgyeopsal party on a Saturday.

And he invited his work brothers from the same line,

as well as friends who worked on the next line,

but then they called for the general strike.

The party was supposed to be on Saturday, but the strike began on Friday, so…

So now what?

He'll never get to meet up with them again.

So now those junior coworkers…

His work brothers all still… They still work there at the factory.

They're "the living."

Ah, I see.

That's what they call the people who weren't fired.

The workers who were fired are "the dead."

It's the dead and the living.

So he built all that but hasn't even gotten to use it once.

It's good for hanging laundry and drying chili peppers.

It's really great for hanging comforters out to dry. [chuckles]

[Ye-ji] Could you tell me the story of how you and your husband first met?

You said you were 16 when you met him.

I was in ninth grade then. [chuckles]

And… during summer break,

my friend invited me and another one of our friends

to stay at her aunt's orchard, which was supposedly empty.

My friend said that no one was there. Her aunt was out of town.

She had an older cousin,

but he was staying at his part-time job, so he wouldn't be there.

But it turns out that she was lying.

[Ye-ji gasps]

-I knew it! -He has such a crush on you!

So annoying!

[all giggle]

-Seriously. -He's ridiculous.

This is it!

-[girls giggle] -[girl 1] Come on in.

[girls shriek]

-[girl 2] What was that? -[girl 1 chuckles]

[girl 2] Who's in there?

-You said there would be no boys here! -Ugh!

[grunts] Ho-seok, come on! [groans]

[Ho-seok grunts]

Put some clothes on!

Why are you so surprised?

You never seen anyone working out?

Ugh, just hurry up and put a shirt on!

What's with her?

Hey, it's all good now.

-Who are they? -It's my cousin and his friends.

I said I wouldn't come if there were gonna be boys here!

-Oh! -I'm gonna go home.

No, wait!

How would you even get there? We don't have a ride.

Right! So let's go in. Come on. Relax, it's okay!

Follow me!

It's gonna be fine.

Oh!

[sighs]

-[girls shriek] -Ho-seok! What are you doing?

-Look at him, dude. -What are you doing?

So then we hung out with them.

He wanted to be a good host to us,

so he brought boiled eggs with a side of coarse salt.

And we were like, "Wow! Look how good of a chef he is!"

And then we were like, "Wait a minute."

"This salt is way too coarse to eat." [chuckles]

So he crushed it with a spoon. [chuckles]

After that, we all went to the orchard and spent the day together.

[girls giggling]

[insects chirping]

[boys grunting]

[in Korean] ♪ I don't get it The whole process seems messed up ♪

♪ Falling in love and drifting apart Is such a cliché ♪

♪ I don't think I have to say things Everyone can relate to ♪

♪ Everyone has their own feelings Everyone lives ♪

[boy 2] ♪ Their own way ♪

♪ Ever tried breaking up on a sunny day? ♪

[girls singing in Korean]

-[boy 1 in English] I can't see him. -Yeah, right. Just kidding.

-This way, right? -Yeah, just around the corner.

Cool.

[girls singing in Korean] ♪ White flower petals ♪

♪ Flutter in the air like snow ♪

♪ The sweet scent of flowers ♪

♪ Rides gently on the breeze… ♪

[in English] Hey.

[girls continue singing in background]

[Mi-ok] And then he suddenly just gave me an apple.

It wasn't even ripe yet.

A small, green apple.

He must have polished it a lot because it was shining.

Us girls slept outside in a little hut.

But for some reason, I woke up early, before sunrise even.

And the moment I woke up, I thought of that apple.

It was such a strange feeling.

[birds tweeting]

The other girls were still asleep, so I went outside by myself.

I just… couldn't stay still.

[birds tweeting]

I can't explain it. I…

I'm not sure what it was.

It's like I had turned into someone else there.

It was like the world was entirely different than it was before.

I don't know.

It was just a really good feeling.

[plane roaring overhead]

I felt happy for some reason.

Joyful.

I… I remember it so clearly.

[plane continues overhead]

The early morning dew, the apple.

The whole world was beautiful.

So sorry. I'm being so silly. Oh jeez. [chuckles]

Oh. No, not at all.

That was amazing.

I got goosebumps.

We got it. That was really special.

[car door closes]

-[Ye-ji] Great job! -[woman] See you!

-[Ye-ji] Take care. -[woman] You too!

Hey, you're on your way, right?

Yeah, I sent the crew home.

But Sang-woo, I have a favor to ask.

I really want to invite this family to dinner tonight.

Yeah, with us.

I know.

So will you join us for dinner? Please?

[sighs] It's really important. That's the only reason I'm asking you.

I really want to do well by them.

So you'll join us?

Thank you so much. I love you. See you soon.

Oh my gosh.

Uh, I didn't see you there. Hmm.

One more question. What are you doing for dinner?

My husband and I were just talking…

[chuckles] …and we thought, well…

He really wants to treat you to dinner tonight.

Both of you, and Cheol too.

He'd love to share a meal with you.

-Ah, hello. -Good evening.

-[Mi-ok] Hi, how are you? -Good to see you.

[Mi-ok] Oh, yeah.

Hey there.

How do you do? It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.

[Sang-woo chuckles]

Let's go in.

-Sure. -[Mi-ok] Great.

[car beeps]

[sizzling]

Here, have some. You must be hungry.

You like meat, right?

What's your name?

-Choi Cheol is my name. -[Sang-woo] Choi Cheol?

Your surname's Choi and you're Cheol?

Wow, that's a cool name.

My father is a welder, so he named me Cheol, after steel.

[Sang-woo chuckles] I see. That makes it even cooler.

[laughs]

Oh, thank you.

You're not going to drink that, right?

I have to drink tonight.

Why do you have to?

He promised me he'd only drink at home.

Oh. How come you only drink at home now?

[Mi-ok] He gets into trouble whenever he goes out drinking.

He gets into fights with people--

-Stop talking about that. -There's no need to hide.

You should be honest about everything.

-Right, Director? -I appreciate it.

[Ho-seok] All right, let's toast.

-[Ye-ji] All right. -[all] Cheers!

-[Ho-seok] Cheers. -[Cheol] Cheers.

[Mi-ok] Cheers.

Ah, I just remembered I can't drink.

Ah, because you have to drive?

No. I'm taking medication.

You're on medication as well.

You can't refuse a drink if it was offered.

Uh…

I'm sorry, then.

-Uh, I'll drink it for him. -I can drink with you.

-Oh, okay. -[Mi-ok chuckles]

All right.

-Cheers. -Cheers.

[Mi-ok] Mm, this is delicious.

You really know what you're doing.

Yeah, I'm pretty good with a grill.

[Mi-ok] Your husband looks like that guy.

What guy?

Uh, who am I thinking of?

Steve Jobs, yeah.

-[Ye-ji] Steve Jobs? -[Mi-ok chuckles]

[Ye-ji] Does he look like him?

-[both laugh] -I can't really see it.

[Mi-ok] I don't know what it is, but there's something similar about them.

I was a huge fan, wasn't I?

When I heard the news that he was gone, I could barely even eat.

Really?

-[Ye-ji] Why? -I was so sad.

[Ye-ji] Oh!

[snorts] Sorry.

[Mi-ok] Oh, no, not at all. I thought it was strange too.

I had no idea why I was so sad.

I guess I really liked him or something.

He was the kind of person who seemed like he knew everything.

And like he could solve any problem.

He seemed so free.

Well, there's only one thing I can do better than Steve Jobs,

and that's grill.

[all laugh]

Here.

-[Mi-ok] Oh. -Yeah.

[Mi-ok] Sure.

Well… to Steve Jobs.

[all chuckle]

Come on now. [laughs]

-[Mi-ok] Cheers. -[Ho-seok] To Steve Jobs.

[all chuckle]

Sang-woo, listen. We really need to go to their place

and have a barbecue in their yard one of these days.

They have this marble platform bench.

We should throw a proper barbecue there, right? Samgyeopsal.

Uh, sounds good.

Is that all right with you?

I'm good at grilling samgyeopsal too.

I'm even better, actually. It's a lot easier than beef. [chuckles]

[Mi-ok] It's so wonderful.

What is?

The two of you using your names with each other like you're friends.

-"Ye-ji, Sang-woo." -[Ye-ji] Ah!

Then should you and I be more casual? Like we're friends?

-[Mi-ok] Should we do that? -Don't say, "Should we do that?"

Just say, "Yeah, let's do it," since we're friends, yeah?

I mean, I guess you…

I think we're around the same age, so we can do it.

-[Ye-ji] Yeah, let's do it. Come on, girl. -[women laugh]

Oh, that's crazy. Be honest. How old are you?

-I just turned 25. -[Mi-ok] No, seriously, how old are you?

[laughs]

Um, I'm 43.

[Mi-ok laughing]

What is that?

How old are you, then?

[laughing] I'm 44!

You're older, damn it. Oh!

[women laugh]

[women] Cheers! [laughing]

Is it all right if we get going?

Go, go! We called a driver. He'll be here shortly.

All right.

[Mi-ok] Goodbye! Nice to meet you, Mr. Steve Jobs.

[women laugh]

All right, my friend. Have a good night.

Goodnight! Get home safe, girl!

[Ho-seok] Bye.

-Why is the driver taking so long? -He'll be here soon.

Then I'm going to start slowly walking down the street. [laughs]

[Ho-seok] Okay.

Choi Cheol. Walk with Mom.

Sang-woo, hey. I'm doing well, right?

Yeah, you're doing very well, Director Lee Ye-ji.

[Ye-ji] Hmm?

That's it? Can't you say something better than that?

-[Ye-ji scoffs] -Mm…

In today's world, when nobody cares about labor issues,

you're working hard to document the personal lives

and stories of these workers.

[scoffs] You're like ChatGPT.

Give it some soul.

Hmm?

Uh, you don't just see the workers and their families

as documentary subjects.

You genuinely try to get to know them and become their friends.

[Ye-ji] Hmm.

Thank you for understanding.

It's true.

That's the right way to do it.

[laughs]

Isn't she fun?

-Hmm. Definitely. -[laughs]

The issue is Choi Ho-seok, her husband.

I need him to be the main character.

He's such a special person.

Special how? What do you mean?

[Ye-ji] Well, it's like

there's no one like Ho-seok in all of Korea.

[Sang-woo laughs softly]

What's so funny?

He won't be special when you get to know him.

He's just like the others.

A laid-off worker.

There's a deep sadness behind his eyes.

Oh, goddammit.

[Ho-seok laughs]

Well, look who it is.

[man] You called for a driver?

Holy shit, man.

-[man sighs] -Never would've guessed.

You changed your phone number.

I'm trying to avoid the guys from SP if I can.

[laughs]

I'm serious.

-You lost a lot of weight, didn't you? -Come on.

You working out?

-Where's your car? -My car?

Right over there. Here.

I'm sorry, man.

What? What is it?

Call another driver.

Hey, Jung-dae!

[Ho-seok sighs]

Hey!

Ah, shit.

♪ Just the way that you look at me ♪

♪ Makes me feel like I'm a kid ag… ♪

Ow! Ow, damn it! These shoes!

♪ Yesterday, I cried for thee ♪

♪ But today, because of you I'll be happy again ♪

♪ You don't need to do anything ♪

♪ All I ever needed was your tender love ♪

♪ All our years have come and gone ♪

♪ Let them fade away ♪

♪ Nothing matters if we're not together ♪

♪ Nothing at all ♪

♪ All that I know is your love ♪

Oh!

Here they are!

-Where's the driver? -Just get in.

[Mi-ok] No, I'm not gonna do that.

Neither should you.

[groans]

Come on.

-[yells] Get in, now! -[woman gasps]

[foreman] Uh, and lastly, please make sure to keep your workplaces clean.

Safety starts with cleanliness. You all know that, right?

[workers] Yes.

[foreman] Okay, then let's recite our safety motto.

Uh, Mr. Choi Ho-seok, who just joined the team, will lead the chant.

[worker] Ooh-hoo-hoo! Ooh.

[foreman] All right. You got this.

Just read it from there.

Get…

-Get ready to be safe. -[worker 1] Ready!

-[worker 2] All right! -With heart!

-[worker 2] You got this. -[louder] Your safety is important.

Prioritize it daily.

[all] Rah, rah, rah.

Check your w…

Check your workplace hourly.

[all] Rah, rah, rah.

Don't forget your safety.

[all] Rah, rah, rah.

-[applause] -[foreman] Let's do this!

[worker 1] Well done. Nice. Well done.

-[foreman] Yeah! -[worker 2] We got this.

[equipment whirring, clicking]

You've worked in heavy industries before,

so you know you have to cut the angles exactly as ordered.

Always keep the bevel angle at 35 degrees.

Negative tolerance is not allowed here. You got it?

Speak up!

Yes, I got it.

How much positive tolerance allowed?

Positive tolerance is up to ten millimeters.

If you make a mistake and end up with negative tolerance,

there goes ten million won, so be extra careful. Got that too?

Got it.

[machine whirs]

[car horn beeps]

-[Mi-ok] Hello. -Hop in.

The director is busy preparing for the shoot,

so she asked me to come get you.

I see. You always seem to be helping out.

It's independent film.

I try to help when I can. It's a small crew working on it.

What's an independent film independent of?

It's a film independent of funding.

In simple terms, it's a movie with no money.

[Mi-ok] Mm.

You're not upset with me, are you?

No. Why would you think that?

I just thought maybe you were.

Of course not.

I'm glad we're together now.

SP LAID-OFF WORKERS ACTION COMMITTEE

You can go in now.

[man] The problem started when SP Heavy Industries

accepted investment from a private equity fund.

They don't care about the industry

or the workers who have dedicated their lives to the company.

All they care about are numbers and how much they can make and how fast.

The private equity fund's only intentions when they acquired us

was to restructure and sell it.

[Ye-ji] If they acquired it just to sell it,

why do you think they went through the hassle of restructuring?

So they could make a better sale.

They thought that by kicking out the workers,

the buyer would think their costs would be lower in the future.

-Cut. -[camera clicks, chimes]

-[camera beeps] -[man sighs]

Thank you, Chairman. That was so good.

-[chuckles] That was hard. -[Ye-ji] I'm sure. You did great.

[woman] You did so well.

[woman] Don't you think our director looks especially stylish today?

[man] She's always been a bit of a fashionista.

[woman] She has such a good sense of style.

[man] Yeah, but fashion is all about money.

[Velcro ripping]

-Six o'clock. See you at six? -One hour. Go ahead.

-Thanks for getting her. -See you later.

[Mi-ok] When we started the strike, I didn't know it would come to this,

but there was hope back then.

We all went into it full of hope and confidence.

-[man] Hi, welcome. -Good to see you.

-[man] Glad you're here. -[triumphant Korean music playing over PA]

[man 2] Hi.

-[man 3] Welcome. -Hey.

-You guys are working hard. All right. -[Mi-ok] Hello.

-[man 4] Glad you all made it. -[man 5] Welcome.

-Unity! Good to see you. -Hi.

-Hello. -Hi.

-Hello. Good to see you. -Good to see you as well.

-All right. -Hi there!

We all thought we would win, as long as we fought to the end.

We genuinely thought we would.

We really…

Gosh, I…

I…

I was so sure of it.

What do you think made you so sure?

[Mi-ok] Because we were in the right.

We worked hard, and the company was in the wrong, and so we thought we'd win.

We were certain.

Could you tell us more about the atmosphere

when you first went on strike?

It must've been just past 7:00 p.m. because it was getting dark outside.

And that night, it began to drizzle, almost like they planned it.

It wasn't raining too hard, but it wasn't stopping either,

which was unsettling.

And everyone was just staring at the front gate

because, well, we didn't think those who hadn't been laid off would show,

but we were still waiting for them.

I've never been so happy to see someone in my life.

[rain pattering]

The union members started walking in the front gate, one by one,

carrying backpacks with food and cooking supplies

because it was all or nothing. An okswae strike.

[man 1] Welcome.

-[man 2] Hello. -[man 1] This way, please.

[Mi-ok] I was watching from inside the tent,

and I had this strange feeling.

One person would come in,

then another.

Some were laid-off workers, and others weren't.

I was thrilled to see the people who weren't.

Everyone was welcomed with open arms from all of us.

That was how the strike started.

[families singing in Korean]

PLEASE SAVE OUR DAD'S JOB

[woman 1 in English] Hello!

[woman 2] There's no more space. You drew so much, there's no space left.

[singing continues]

[Mi-ok] The atmosphere was amazing. It felt like a little festival.

[woman 3] Oh my gosh! You all drew so much, there's no space left.

[all continue singing]

[woman 4] I think you'll love this color. It'll look great on you.

[woman on video] Last night, my daughter asked me…

-Oh, I know her. -[Ye-ji] Hmm.

This was the next day

when each of the families all took turns sharing something. [chuckles]

[woman] "Mom, when are we going home?"

Normally, I would've lied to her,

but I couldn't do that.

I want to win this fight.

I want to win this for my daughter and then take her back home.

Thank you.

[Mi-ok] For the women, this was our first strike,

so it was important for us to share our thoughts with each other.

-[Ye-ji] Hmm. -[Mi-ok gasps] Look, that's me.

Oh, this was my turn. I don't know…

Oh, we don't have to watch this.

[applause on video]

I also stayed up the entire night.

Uh…

It was my f… first time doing that.

Uh…

It was raining the whole night as well, so my heart felt even heavier.

Uh…

I want to stop the layoffs, too, and get back to my home with my family.

And for that to happen, we all need to work together.

If I just gave in,

I'd feel so horrible that…

that I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

I'm sorry. Thank you very much.

[applause]

[man chants] Fight these layoffs to the end!

[crowd chants] Fight these layoffs to the end!

[man] Fight these layoffs to the end!

[crowd] Fight these layoffs to the end!

Let's fight for our right to survive!

[all] Let's fight for our right to survive!

Let's fight for our right to survive!

[all] Let's fight for our right to survive!

[helicopter whirring on video]

What's going on here?

They're dropping flyers on us.

The company did that to break us down.

[crowd shouting]

[Mi-ok] This was just the beginning.

[child] Wow, snow! It's snowing!

[man] Why are they dropping them over there?

[man] It's coming this way now.

[kids squealing]

It says if the company goes bankrupt,

it's our responsibility.

The thieves are accusing the victims.

-Rip 'em up! -Those bastards!

[helicopter whirring]

-Eat this, you greedy fucks! -Goddamn it.

[yells] Fuck you!

[singing in Korean]

[Mi-ok in English] The kids grew more and more exhausted as time went on.

My job was to look after the kids who weren't going to school.

[all continue singing]

I even taught them songs like a kindergarten teacher.

[in Korean] ♪ The sweet scent of flowers ♪

♪ Rides gently on the breeze ♪

[in English] I was thinking, I'd like to film something different.

Not an interview, but you going about your daily life.

There's nothing special about it.

It doesn't need to be special,

just mundane things like working at the factory.

My boss won't allow that. [laughs] He's very strict.

I'll convince him to let us in. I'm good at that.

-[laughs] -[Mi-ok chuckles]

Have you talked to your husband at all?

-Not yet. -Oh.

He needs more time.

He won't even go to therapy. You think he'll do this?

Can I ask you a question?

Of course. Whatever you want.

How much are clothes like this?

-[laughs] What do you mean? -I don't know. [chuckles]

I just thought it looked really good on you,

and then I started to get curious about the price.

-Oh, well, I got this when it was on sale. -So how much was it?

Uh…

Don't ask. You'll think differently of me.

All right.

Can I tell you what I think?

What do you think?

I think your clothing stands out here.

You're interviewing workers who are struggling, Ye-ji.

I don't know. I just think it stands out a bit,

and that's probably not helping.

I'm not telling you what to do or anything.

It's just a thought.

[Ye-ji laughs wryly]

[both laugh]

[man] Director, what made you decide to make a documentary about workers?

[Ye-ji] Oh, didn't I tell you?

You did, but aside from the idea that labor is important,

were there any personal reasons for you?

You know, because I don't really associate you with workers, to be honest.

[both chuckle]

[Ye-ji] Hmm.

I think it was last year,

when my husband and I went to Qatar together.

We stayed at a big hotel there. I couldn't believe it.

This enormous artificial oasis in the middle of the desert.

And my husband said something interesting.

"This oasis, there's a ton of work that goes into it."

"This massive hotel doesn't just run on its own,

and yet we don't ever see any evidence of that."

It was really shocking, you know.

Well, the workers there, they're not even locals.

They're from India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ethiopia. From all over.

And they're kept hidden too,

almost like they live in some underground world.

Seeing them would make people uneasy.

It's an unspoken rule not to make people aware

that their privileges are a result of someone else's labor.

Do you remember what you said to me then?

No. What did I say?

You said, "Soon the workers will vanish entirely."

I just found that so shocking.

And for some reason, I don't know, I thought about elephants.

-Why elephants? -[Ye-ji chuckles]

When I was little, I saw a magician perform on TV,

and he did the classic trick of pulling a curtain in front of an elephant,

and then lifting it back up, and "boom," it's gone. [laughs]

I thought, "It's such a big animal. How did it just vanish like that?"

And then my dad said, "No, it didn't vanish just like that."

"The elephant is still there."

"The magician just made it invisible to us."

I think that's why, when I heard the workers were going to vanish,

I thought of the elephant, and I thought of my dad too.

My dad ran a dry cleaner's.

We watched that show with the magician on TV while he was at work.

I always did my homework at the dry cleaner's,

tucked away in a corner,

sitting next to clothes wrapped in plastic.

Ah, just like the elephant, people like my dad will vanish soon too.

Looks like it's inevitable.

So I decided I wanted to make a documentary.

A film about workers.

The funny thing is, your father didn't think of himself as a worker.

He was a business owner. [laughs]

He hated the union, and he hated strikes too. [laughs]

Why are you the one answering, huh?

[Cheol] Mom, where are you?

In the city.

What are you doing there?

I'm out with some friends and waiting for your dad.

What do you think I'm doing?

You're waiting for Dad?

Dad can't make it.

Why?

Dad's asleep.

He's asleep? What do you mean…

Okay, I guess I'll get a ride. See you.

[sighs] He's completely let go of himself. [tuts]

[woman] Who?

Uh, my husband said he would come get me, but he's sleeping, so I'll call a taxi.

Want one?

I don't usually. I stopped years ago. But this really got me started again.

[chuckles] Thank you.

Do you know what the director's husband does for a living?

He's quite well-known, in this industry at least.

He's a very big supporter of arts and culture.

He must be wealthy, then. I mean…

I heard he inherited a large company that his grandfather founded,

but he hired a professional CEO to run the business

so he could step away from the day-to-day operations.

It was on the news.

I heard he's a major investor in private equity funds.

That's what it said on the Internet.

But our director doesn't take a single penny from her husband

to make her films.

She applies for grants and things like that,

which are very difficult.

I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

She has her husband's money, right?

So why would she use up the grants

intended for artists who are really struggling?

A husband's money isn't your money.

[laughs]

[Sang-woo] Hi. I got your message.

-Oh. -We're probably gonna head out soon.

[Sang-woo] Right. They want to pressure us, but we expected that.

Look, all this time, we kept the valuation steady.

No. No need to panic.

Listen to me.

We can handle the risk.

Right.

[indistinct chatter]

-[woman] And you know it's true. -[women chuckle]

-[cell phone buzzing] -[woman 2] It really is.

Hi, Director. How are you? [chuckles]

I'm on my lunch break now.

Yeah.

You can come now.

[Mi-ok] That's my boss over there. The woman next to him is his wife,

and next to her is their 38-year-old daughter who still hasn't married.

Great timing. They're all together.

This is a family business. All three of them work here.

The husband went bankrupt after COVID,

since masks stopped selling like they used to.

So, on paper, his wife's actually the owner, and his daughter's the manager.

They used to have over ten full-time employees,

but now they're down to only three.

They're all middle-aged ladies, and I'm the youngest.

Do you think we should talk to them now?

I'll go over there.

-Good afternoon, sir. -[Mi-ok] Oh.

[man] Yes, hi.

[loud whirring]

[man] Stop! Stop! I said stop!

Hey, listen. Each one of these weighs over a ton.

If you get hit, you're dead!

This is how accidents happen, by standing like that.

Did you pay attention at all?

You have to stand diagonally, at an angle.

You have to stay focused, Ho-seok.

Stop spacing out here.

Okay?

Okay.

[loud clanging and whirring]

[Ye-ji] Cut.

[Mi-ok] Are you done? They're done. All finished. They got it. Cut.

So how'd you talk him into it?

[Ye-ji] Uh… [laughs]

It was pretty easy. I offered to promote the products they make.

So the shoot's already done?

Uh, yeah, the work is pretty simple and repetitive,

so it's not very interesting on camera.

I wish there was something more worth shooting.

Something interesting

like forming a union?

Is that possible here?

Well, I have an idea.

Uh-huh. That could be fun, yeah.

-Really? -[Ye-ji] Hmm.

-Excuse me, boss. I have a suggestion. -What is it?

I want to form a labor union here, so I'd like your permission.

A union?

What do we need a union for a company as little as this?

How many employees do we even have?

You can form a union if you have at least two workers.

That's what the labor law says, anyway.

I take such good care of all of you, don't I? No?

You're all regular employees.

Everywhere else, they only use short-term contracts.

So this is how you repay me for that?

You didn't do all that for us, though.

If you didn't hire regular employees, you'd need to hire day laborers, right?

They're much more expensive over time. That would cost you.

Honestly, it's cheaper to hire regular employees.

Uh…

Well,

then, uh,

if you get four members, you can do it.

That's not how this is supposed to work.

How can we get four when there are only three of us?

I'll allow it when you get four, all right?

-I'll be the fourth. -[Mi-ok] Huh?

[boss] What are you talking about? Why are you getting involved with this?

I can join the union 'cause I'm full-time here.

If I join, that's four.

-You'll allow it then, right? -Hey, what are you doing?

Oh my gosh.

I had no idea that was going to work.

So what do we do next to start a labor union?

-The founders' convention. -Oh, so…

When should we… Should we do that today?

[chuckles softly]

[Mi-ok] Hey, guess what?

You can fill out the application form with this pen here.

-Flowers… -Oh, I moved those. They're pretty.

-Yeah, we need things like that here. -All right. Is this--

-[cameraman] It looks great. -Right?

Okay, Ms. Union Chair, please read the union bylaws.

-Does the chair have to read it? -I think the chair should read it.

[all laugh]

[woman] Uh…

Uh, "The purpose of the labor union."

"The purpose of the labor union

is to maintain and improve the working conditions of the workers

and to advance the economic, social status."

-[woman] Nice. -Oh, I like that. [chuckles]

"The union is community

and aims for a horizontal relationship."

What does that mean? I don't understand that.

I think that means all union members are equal.

I'm the union president, though. How can we be equal?

-We're very different. -[Mi-ok chuckles]

From now on, you should call me "Ms. President." Okay?

-[all laugh] -Get out!

His phone's been off for a while now.

Do you think he's still at work?

It's Cheol's birthday. I'm worried he'll forget.

Oh, I didn't know it was Cheol's birthday. I should go with you, then.

You want to come with?

Yeah, I'll send them home and come with, all right?

I should celebrate his birthday as well.

-[cashier 1] Would you like this one? -Yeah.

[register beeps, prints receipt]

-[cashier 2] Your card. -[man] Thanks.

How many candles for you?

-[man] Ten small ones, please. -Ten. Okay.

[cashier 2] For your daughter or your son?

-[man] My daughter. -[cashier 2] I'll throw this in for free.

[man] Oh, thank you so much.

-Great. -[cashier 2] Hope to see you again.

[man] Thank you. Have a good one.

[cashier 2] I'll ring that up.

[woman] I can hold it. Here.

-What did you get? -[man] Chocolate.

[woman] Mm!

[engine starts]

[chiming]

[automated voice] Starting dashcam recording.

Choi Ho-seok.

Yes, he was just hired last week.

I'm just checking if he clocked out.

He's my husband.

Um, no, nothing serious. It's just…

Two hours ago?

All right, thanks. Sorry to bother you.

Hmm.

Everyone clocked out two hours ago, they said.

That's strange. And his phone's off too.

He could have gone out drinking.

But it's your birthday today.

He could have just forgotten.

[traffic humming in distance]

[muffled singing]

[car approaching]

[dog barking in distance]

[car door opens, closes]

[Ho-seok] What you doing out here?

[Mi-ok] Why are you so late? And your phone was off.

I had to make a quick stop on the way.

Where? And why did you have your phone off?

I didn't turn it off. The battery died.

I'll go to therapy tomorrow.

You mean that?

Sh! Okay.

♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Cheol! ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you! ♪

Whoo!

Yay!

Yay.

We fought and we lost.

You want to know what we lost to?

It wasn't a foreign investor or a company.

We lost to jeong. It means "justice."

It was justice that we lost to.

We knew that the international private equity fund

just wanted to take our technology and then sell the company for profit.

We knew that. We have all the evidence.

We knew they were trying to fire all of us

just so they could increase their revenue for their shareholders.

That's wrong, isn't it?

I don't know a lot about labor movements, but I promise you, that's wrong.

Anyone can see that.

And so I thought we'd win easily if we just fought for it.

If people heard about what's happening, we'd be sure to win in the end.

We lost, though.

We got trampled on and crushed by the police

who should have been protecting us.

We were trampled on by justice,

and that's just not fair.

[sobbing]

It's just not fair.

[sniffling]

We're still in the same building,

so I keep running into some of my neighbors

who are still working there.

We used to… have something to talk about

in the elevator or the hallways.

We could talk about our salaries or our kids' schools if we saw each other.

But now

it's nothing but silence. [laughs]

Those few seconds in the elevator are the hardest part of my day.

Now I'm scared to even leave my own apartment. It's so hard.

I feel like a criminal.

All I can do is pray I don't run into anyone.

And when… when I see them, I…

I turn around like I forgot something in my apartment.

I don't know if I can keep doing this.

Hmm.

What really pisses me off is the term "labor aristocrat."

That's what conservative news is saying.

Well-paid employees at large corporations don't even have job security.

I've been working for ten years,

and I live in a 1,200-square-foot apartment in Pyeongtaek.

I wouldn't call that an aristocratic life compared to the other workers in Korea.

Looking back, though, the best thing about working there was

when you work the night shift, after you get some rest,

in the afternoon, it gets hot.

In the summer, especially.

So I would say, "Hey, let's go out. Find air conditioning."

So I'd put my shorts and slippers on, and we'd hop on the shuttle.

We'd take the free shuttle to the supermarket.

[laughter]

And we'd go there and push a cart around for a while and never buy anything.

We didn't have money to get anything if we wanted.

It was great, though. It was chilly!

So we'd take our sweet time looking around.

Those were the good old days, looking back on it.

We really were living like aristocrats.

[all laugh]

[man] But… now they call me a commie.

First, I was an aristocrat, and now I'm a commie. [laughs]

I was having dinner with some friends the other day,

and I went to use the toilet,

and when I got back, who were they talking about?

"Well, he used to be all right, but he turned into a communist recently."

So what did I do?

I burst through the door.

I said, "What the hell? How am I a communist, huh?"

"I got fired for no reason at all, so I went on strike to get my job back."

"Isn't that what you would do?"

"You're all workers, too, you fucking dicks."

I couldn't say that, though.

[group members laughing]

[man] What did I actually say?

"Hey, so sorry guys. I have something urgent that I have to handle."

"I'll see you later, okay?"

I gave 'em a huge smile. A communist would never do that.

[group chuckle]

Afterward, I took a walk around the neighborhood,

but then I realized I was still smiling.

With my lips like this, yeah.

Like it was stuck.

[all chuckle]

But when I got home,

I got a stomachache from the food we ate

and had to go to the ER in the middle of the night.

I'm fucking serious!

[all laugh]

[man] I learned something from that experience, though.

You shouldn't smile when you're angry.

Huh? Smiling when you're angry gives you indigestion,

so just keep that in mind, everyone.

-All right? -[all laughing]

I thought, hmm…

Strangely, I really loved those days.

When the okswae strike started, we women were also there with our kids,

setting up tents, and protesting as well, of course.

The husbands and wives weren't fighting each other.

We were fighting together, you know?

That was really special.

It was such an incredible atmosphere.

Honestly, it felt like we were just having a party at first.

I've never been more exhausted.

I thought my back was going to break from the stress,

and still, I was happier than ever.

We weren't so-and-so's mom. We were Jeong-ah, Ji-young, Hye-soon.

We called each other by our names.

People who would normally flinch if their arms brushed

were putting their arms around each other.

And it was like we could understand each other with a single look.

Even the women were speaking up and fighting together.

It was truly equal.

One big family, all of us together.

I wanted to hug everyone.

Ah. [sighs]

I see why it's called a liberated zone.

It felt like a better world was just around the corner.

Even now, thinking back on that time, I was just genuinely happy. [sniffles]

That kind of happiness…

I never felt that kind of happiness before.

And I'm not sure if I will again.

I don't know why I was so happy back then. [laughs softly]

And so,

recently, I had this thought.

All the suffering and pain I'm experiencing now

is the price I'm paying for the happiness then.

A human isn't supposed to experience that kind of joy in their life.

But I got to experience it for a little while.

So this is the price I have to pay.

At least I got to experience what that feels like.

And now I have to pay the price.

[sniffles]

Mr. Choi, would you… Is there anything you would like to share?

If you don't have anything to say now, you can share it later.

I can go.

I don't mind sharing.

[clears throat]

[crying softly]

[grunts softly]

[siren wailing on video]

[clicking mouse]

-[distant siren wailing] -[clicks mouse]

When that footage was on the news, I couldn't… I didn't want to watch.

But everyone who saw it said it was Ho-seok.

I was too afraid to watch it.

I ended up watching a recording that someone had, though.

And I still can't make sense of it.

I don't know

if I'll ever understand why the government did that to us.

So when that happened, did you know that he got hurt?

[Mi-ok] That day, I went to the police station,

thinking he'd come out after being questioned,

but then his coworker said,

"Come with me. I'm going to take you somewhere else."

And I said, "I can't go. My husband is in there. I need to stay."

And he said, "Please don't be worried."

"The ambulance that left earlier, your husband was inside it."

So I went to the ER, and he…

he was unconscious, with an oxygen mask on.

He regained consciousness after three days, uh…

However, he was hyperventilating. He was gasping. He was having an issue.

Later on, I found out his lower body wasn't working either.

I asked the doctor, "What happened? He was perfectly fine before,

and now he can't even walk all of a sudden? What's going on?"

But the doctor didn't know either.

They said it probably had to do with the shock,

and he was diagnosed with panic disorder.

You mentioned that your husband was taken to jail.

So you're saying they detained him in that condition, then?

Yes.

It was October 19th, I believe.

There was… They called it a… a warrant review hearing.

He was wearing his hospital gown when they took him, in a wheelchair,

and in that condition, he was arrested.

That day, I'll never forget. It was so cold and windy.

When I heard that at the hospital, I told the nurse

that I could return the hospital gown later.

The nurse told me not to worry about the gown, so I didn't.

And then… he was detained for obstruction of justice.

And so how long was he in there?

[Mi-ok] Um, a month and 19 days. A month and 19 days.

-[gate opening] -[Mi-ok] The trial was held at the high…

It went all the way to the high court.

He was given one year in prison and two years' probation.

Those are mine.

You won't share any of them with us?

I was saving this bag of chips to have on my own.

-I won't have any more. -Hey, Choi Cheol.

You have to learn to share.

We always sit like this when we drink. We think it's more comfortable.

-This became our usual spot somehow. -[Ye-ji] Mm.

Did you drink much before all this?

Not at all. I almost never did.

Just the smell used to get you drunk. One glass of this, and you would be out.

Now she's different, though.

After he got hurt, he could never sleep through the night.

-The pain was too intense. -Come on, don't talk about that.

We didn't know what to do, so we tried using painkillers,

but they didn't really do anything for him.

Only alcohol did.

So we agreed he could drink, but I had to drink with him.

That's how we started to drink every day sitting here. Right?

-Oh, no thanks. I'm driving, so… -[Ho-seok] Oh, okay.

Honey, Director Lee has a proposal.

What is it?

Um, Mi-ok told me that you're taking the weekend off for a vacation.

My husband and I are also heading out of town this weekend,

and so… so I was thinking that we could go together if you'd like.

Together where?

[Ye-ji] On the west coast. We have a place.

It's basically my husband's vacation home.

He's been going there since he was a kid. The two of us go every summer.

She says it's very quiet there,

and it's much nicer than most tourist spots.

I really want to go.

We haven't gone on vacation in years.

[objects rattling]

[Ye-ji] Hmm.

Please don't feel pressured. I do hope you can come, though.

I'll have to do the interview if we go, right?

If you want to, that'd be great, but you really don't have to.

I know you've been through a lot,

so I just thought you would enjoy being able to rest a little.

Wow. So dedicated. [chuckles softly]

We'll go.

We'll join you.

And I'll do the interview. If you want me to.

You mean it?

Wow. [gasps]

[chuckles]

Hey, Mi-ok. We're going on vacation!

[Ye-ji laughs]

[seagulls calling]

[uplifting piano music playing]

[music fades]

I really appreciate you. This is really generous.

I'm happy to do it, honey. It'll be a fun weekend together.

-You mean that? -Of course.

I like this side of you.

You always do your best to understand what they're feeling.

I think you could become a method actor.

Is that what you think, that I'm acting right now?

You're different from them. You know that.

But you're acting like there's no difference at all.

It's impressive to see.

I'm trying… to love them. That's always my goal.

I'm a documentary filmmaker.

A documentary isn't anything without the people in it.

So my love for them is real, all right?

[piano music resumes]

[automated voice] Your destination is 900 feet ahead.

[uplifting piano music continues playing]

[automated voice] You have arrived at your destination. Ending navigation.

[music fades]

[Ye-ji] Come on, Blue.

[dog barks]2

[Mi-ok] Get out of the car.

We'll give you a tour later,

but for now, I can show you where you're staying. Hmm.

You can put your clothes in here.

And this is…

your bathroom.

[Mi-ok] Oh!

This was in storage, but we brought it out for Cheol.

Sang-woo used to use it when he was little.

Please make yourselves comfortable.

You can think of it like it's your own home.

Wow, look at the view.

Cheol.

Choi Cheol, come over here.

[birds tweeting]

[Ye-ji chuckles softly]

[Ye-ji clears throat]

There are so many old books.

[Sang-woo] Most of them aren't mine.

They're either my grandfather's or my father's.

These are all objects from my childhood. [chuckles]

He never threw anything away. He kept it all.

This is a stone I found at the beach. It's a dinosaur egg.

[Mi-ok] It's really a dinosaur egg?

No, I just thought it was.

-[laughs] -[Mi-ok] Oh! [chuckles]

This is a very old whistle.

My grandfather, he was a police officer when he was young,

and he used to use this whistle.

He called it his fue. It's a Japanese word.

-Does it still make sound? -Of course. It works just fine.

[whistle blows]

[Ye-ji] Oh!

-Want to try? -Yeah.

-[whistle blows quietly] -Blow harder!

-[door opens] -[whistle blows louder]

-What is it? -[whistle blows]

[Sang-woo] Oh! No, no, I wasn't calling you.

[Ye-ji] Oh! [chuckles]

[Sang-woo] His father used to be the caretaker of this house,

and after his father passed away, he took over the job.

He takes care of every nook and cranny of this house, even when we're not here.

We're so grateful for everything that Min-sik does.

We're roughly the same age,

so we used to play together when we were little.

Whenever I wanted to play with him, I would just blow this whistle,

and he would come running.

It's been so long, but I guess it reminded him of the old days.

I'd love to see the ocean.

Slow down, Blue!

[Ye-ji laughs] Here.

So this is a completely private beach? No one can even see it?

That's right.

As a kid, I used to come here alone.

It was like my own personal ocean.

Growing up, I'd come here and--

Don't talk about that.

I always swam naked! [laughs]

Why'd you tell him not to say that?

You just can't help but imagine it.

He told that to me my first time here, and now he's telling it again.

It must be an important memory for him.

It is. It was important.

But why swim without your underwear?

I don't really know.

I think because no one was watching.

I probably thought, "Why wear my underwear if no one can see me?"

Freedom.

Freedom. Yeah, that's true.

[Ye-ji] Cheol, come here.

It's okay.

-Stand with me. -[Cheol] Ugh.

It's all right.

Try going closer.

Go.

[Cheol yells]

-Cheol fall asleep okay? -It took him a while, but yes.

When did you make all this?

There's a Chinese-Korean lady

who helps us with the kitchen work when we're here. She's wonderful.

-Who are you gonna send that to? -[shutter clicks]

I wanted to brag to someone, but I have no one to send it to.

[Ye-ji chuckles]

Cheers.

Cheers.

Drink. You can drink tonight.

It's so beautiful here, like it's out of a novel or something.

-[both chuckle] -That's so interesting.

Why a novel and not a movie or a TV show?

It's too cliché to say a movie. [chuckles]

Are you an avid reader?

No.

I haven't read many novels, actually. [chuckles]

Even so, this is like a house from a novel I haven't read. [chuckles]

I like it here as well. I feel most comfortable here.

I hope you can relax and enjoy yourselves.

[cell phone buzzing]

Sorry, gotta take this.

He's working on an important deal with a US company,

and currently, it's business hours there.

How did the two of you end up deciding to marry each other?

Did you date from ninth grade until you decided to get married?

Date?

We didn't really date.

We would just get together, and we'd get together, and…

But Choi Ho-seok often stood up Ahn Mi-ok, so…

It's just that I was working out a lot back then.

[Mi-ok scoffs]

[Ho-seok] When you're working out, you lose track of time here and there.

[Mi-ok] Not just working out. He was getting into fights.

So, during winter break in twelfth grade, I thought, "I can't do this anymore!"

So I ran away and went to Seoul.

Just a minute. Hold that thought.

Ooh.

Cheers. [chuckles]

Go ahead.

Well, I got to Seoul, and I was able to find some work at a sewing factory.

[Ye-ji] There were still sewing factories back then?

Sure, of course. There still are.

Usually, country girls worked at semiconductor factories those days.

They wouldn't take me, though, because I hadn't graduated high school,

so I could work at a sewing factory or a bar.

Ah, you wouldn't believe how cramped it was in that factory.

And there was so much fabric dust.

We had to work overtime just to meet the deadlines,

and all I ever wanted was to get a good night's sleep.

And then he came to see me.

[lively music playing over radio]

Ah!

Mi-ok, someone's here to see you.

-Who is it? -[woman] I don't know. A soldier.

I used all my leave tracking you down.

How did you know I was here?

I just went to Mi-yeong and asked where you went.

[sighs] That bitch.

I told her not to tell you, no matter what.

She had to tell me. She knows what I'm like.

I'm gonna change.

I'm gonna drink less,

I'll stop fighting,

and I'll control my temper.

Sorry.

I'm really sorry.

And I'll make sure I don't have to say sorry again.

What happened to your hand?

The boss is asking for you.

-[Ho-seok sighs] -[Mi-ok] Oh. Oh!

[woman] Hey, Ahn Mi-ok!

[Mi-ok] Oh!

-Let go! -[Ho-seok] Come on!

[music playing in distance]

[Mi-ok] So after all that, we went to Wolmido Island in Incheon.

We sat by the wharf, looking out at the ocean.

The sound of the waves lapping right in front of us.

And there was a full moon in the sky that night,

so we just sat there, staring at the moon,

as if we'd gone through all that trouble just to come there and see the moon.

And while we were looking at it, he said,

"Don't just look at my outside. Look at my inside."

So I said, "What's inside you?"

And he said what's inside him is like that full moon.

I don't know how those words came out of his mouth.

He laughed too.

And then we just sat there, staring up at the moon,

without saying a single word.

There was something about it that made me feel calm.

I thought,

"All right, let's give him a chance. I guess this man is my destiny."

"If we give it our all, good days are sure to come."

[Mi-ok] Hmm.

That story just reminded me of something.

It was years ago.

-I want to hear it. Tell us. -[laughs softly]

[Ye-ji] Well…

It was 20 years ago, when I was studying in the US.

Twenty years ago.

Where were you 20 years ago?

Twenty years ago, I was 24, still at the sewing factory.

I was renting a tiny place for 200,000 won and commuting to work.

I was working part-time at a Korean restaurant in Chicago.

Seven dollars an hour.

One day, I was asked if I could stay after work and help wash the dishes.

Apparently, the dishwasher was sick and called out.

My boss offered $10 an hour.

There were a lot of dishes that day.

By the time I was done, it was already after 11:00 p.m.,

and when I got to the bus stop,

I realized I'd left my wallet at the restaurant.

So I ran back. The restaurant was already closed.

Oh no. So what'd you do?

I had no choice. I had to walk back to my dorm.

Walking back alone was terrifying.

It was only a ten-minute drive,

but on foot, it felt like I was walking forever.

But then… I looked up at the night sky, and

there it was, the full moon.

I was so scared,

and the only thing I could rely on that night was the moon.

The moon I saw that night was the same moon you saw in Wolmido.

That's right.

[sighs] I don't see the moon tonight, though.

[Mi-ok sighs]

[soft groaning]

[objects rattling]

[Sang-woo] Taegeuk two. Ready?

One.

You want to be precise with your movement. Your body, your torso.

One.

Try again. Torso facing forward. Move in that direction.

With precision.

Two.

Look at my front stance. Watch me.

Like this. Firm and bend your front knee.

Now, that's it. Now give me a punch. From the torso.

To strike harder,

you have to use recoil. You have to pull your left hand back.

Here.

That's it.

I made it myself. I'm not sure how it'll taste. [laughs]

It tastes good.

Though, I don't know much about coffee.

You did tae kwon do?

[Sang-woo] Yeah.

I liked all sports, but tae kwon do was easily my favorite

because my family didn't like when I did it,

so I wanted to do it more.

My family didn't approve of my marriage at first either.

I was studying abroad at that time.

I actually almost started a tae kwon do gym in the US.

[Ho-seok laughs softly]

I used to do tae kwon do too.

I was at the gym every single day.

Wow, every day?

[Ho-seok] I was pretty athletic,

but I ended up just picking fights with all of my friends.

[laughs]

It's nice here.

[Sang-woo] Yeah.

I feel so comfortable here.

I feel like a little kid again.

In the city, I have to act like an adult. [sighs]

I don't need to do that here, though.

Thank you.

-[Mi-ok] Thank you. -[Ho-seok] Thank you.

Okay, please, you can take a seat.

Could you go somewhere else?

All right.

Sang-woo's going to take Blue for a walk. Why don't you go with him?

You got this!

[Ho-seok sighs]

Cheol!

What are you doing?

We're gonna walk to the beach.

Those are cool.

[scoffs] I didn't wear them to look cool.

Well, you look cool. [chuckles]

I'll take 'em off, then.

Why?

I don't want to look cool. [laughs]

[birds tweeting]

[Mi-ok] Uh…

[laughs softly]

[bird tweeting]

Wow.

I don't think I'll ever forget this moment,

no matter how much time passes.

Why not?

I'm not sure why.

No, I think I know.

Uh…

I heard you were badly injured when the police arrived at the strike.

I was wondering if you would tell me what happened.

[helicopter blades whirring]

POLICE

[men grunting]

[all clamoring]

[Ho-seok] Jung-dae, get up!

-Dammit! -[grunts]

[grunts]

[Ho-seok] Jung-dae. Get up!

Let's go!

[both yell]

[officer] Piece of shit!

I passed out twice that day.

I passed out, then came to.

They kept beating me, so I passed out. [sniffs]

[helicopter whirring]

[gasps]

[groaning]

Oh fuck.

[officer] Where do you think you're going?

[grunts]

[Ho-seok] The last thing I remember seeing as I blacked out

was my work brothers running away.

All of them with their backs turned,

running further and further away.

So they're leaving me behind.

I'm here getting trampled,

and they're

running away from me?

Even now, I… I still can't forget that.

The backs of my brothers

as they abandoned me.

It, uh… It was like the tide going out.

Oh.

Oh!

Go on, take care!

Ah!

Good luck!

I had a few drinks at a restaurant recently,

so I booked a driver.

He got there, and… it was that junior colleague.

He was there when the police were beating me.

One of the guys who left me there.

I saved him when he was getting hit.

But he left me alone,

getting beaten and crushed until I blacked out.

My body was mangled.

I can still see his face.

I remember it so clearly,

as he turned to look at me while running away.

But you know what he said to me,

when he showed up as our driver?

He said he couldn't drive my car,

and he just left.

[Ye-ji] Do you know why?

I don't know.

I wanted to stop him and ask for a reason.

He left too fast, though.

He doesn't like me. I think that's it.

Why wouldn't he like you, though?

I just don't think he does. None of them do.

When they look at me, it couldn't be more clear.

And they know that I can't stand them.

I've gotten drunk and caused a scene with them more than a few times.

Why don't you like the union members, Ho-seok?

They all just make me so… so…

They make me so angry.

I can't stand hearing those words, "solidarity, workers' rights."

It's all bullshit!

Why do those words make you so angry?

It's garbage! It's all just nonsense!

They trick people with those words. I know!

I was tricked just like everyone else. You should never trust anyone!

[yelling] They'll stab you in the back. They'll betray each other.

The moment things change, they'll all just run away!

Solidarity, struggle, unity.

Those words… [panting]

They use them to con people!

[panting]

"We can do it."

"It'll all work out."

It's all just a con!

[panting and wheezing]

[Ho-seok yells]

It's all nonsense!

They have no idea. It's bullshit.

-Breathe, slowly. Slowly. -All of it's bullshit!

Deep breath. Slowly. That's it.

Breathe in.

Slowly. Good.

Breathe in and breathe out. Slowly.

It's all right. It's okay.

It's all going to be okay.

-Inhale slowly now, and out. -[door opens]

[music playing distantly]

[music and singing in background]

[Mi-ok] ♪ Tender love ♪

♪ All our years have come and gone ♪

♪ Let them fade away ♪

♪ Nothing matters if we're not together ♪

♪ Nothing at all ♪

♪ All that I know is your love ♪

[pop song continues playing over speakers]

♪ I'm the one that they all cast away ♪

♪ You're the only one that shed a tear ♪

♪ All my life I've dreamt of being with you ♪

♪ You're my everything ♪

♪ For the rest of my years ♪

♪ Please don't wake me up From this dream ♪

♪ Hold me tight As long as I have held on to this pain ♪

♪ Like a long awaited wind ♪

♪ Scared you'll drift away ♪

♪ Stay here And I'll always keep you happy ♪

♪ I won't let you go ♪

♪ Now that I know your love ♪

[Mi-ok giggles]

[song ends]

[new pop song starts playing]

[Ho-seok groans]

[urinating]

[urinating on the floor]

[coughs]

[grunts]

[continues urinating on the floor]

[coughs]

[groans]

[coughs]

[continues urinating]

[music echoing]

Oh fuck.

-[Sang-woo laughs] -[Ho-seok groans]

[Sang-woo laughs]

[continues laughing]

[Ho-seok groaning]

[laughing]

[belt jangles]

[unzips]

[Ho-seok groans]

[Sang-woo urinating]

[both laughing]

-Oh! -Oh!

[laughing]

[groans softly]

[sighs heavily]

[door opens]

[Mi-ok] Hmm?

[wind howling]

[bird tweeting]

[Mi-ok gasps softly]

[Ho-seok yells]

[yells]

[yells]

[Mi-ok gasps]

[Ho-seok grunting]

[grunts]

[yells] Fuck you!

Get off of me!

Hey! Hey!

[screaming and yelling]

[continues yelling]

Get off! No, no, no!

[Ho-seok sobbing]

[Mi-ok sobbing]

[Ho-seok continues yelling and sobbing]

-Mm. Nothing yet? -[Sang-woo] Mm.

Not yet.

It's driving me crazy how they're putting off this announcement.

[door opens]

[laughing quietly]

[Mi-ok] Did something good happen?

Jackpot! It's finally done.

[Mi-ok] What is?

I've been working really hard on this project for a while.

I just received news that it went through.

It sounds like a really big deal.

Hmm, total jackpot. [chuckles softly]

Congratulations.

Thank you very much.

You're the first person to congratulate me.

Would you like to go down to the water?

[phone line ringing]

[water spraying]

[cell phone buzzing]

Hey, hey! Congratulations!

Feels great, huh?

I told you we could do it.

[laughing] I didn't change one line of the contract.

They just signed it. [chuckles]

[Mi-ok sighs]

[Sang-woo laughs]

We can both celebrate now.

How much are you making from that project?

Uh…

How much am I making?

A million won?

Ten million?

[chuckles softly] Just kidding.

I'm not sure how much it'll be.

It's not about that, really. It's more of…

It changes everything.

Man, this is huge.

[both panting]

[Mi-ok gasps]

[gasps]

[gasps]

[both gasp]

[both grunt]

[both panting]

It was Cheol's birthday last week,

so I went to a bakery to get a cake.

There was a guy also buying a cake in front of me.

He's one of "the living" currently.

He still works there, at SP Heavy Industries.

He worked in another department when I was there.

I recognized his face, but I guess he didn't recognize me.

It was his kid's birthday too.

He bought a cake

and asked for ten candles.

Cheol was turning ten, and I guess his kid was too.

So I bought the cake, and then…

I'm not sure why I did this.

[sighs softly]

[door opens]

[Ho-seok] I just, out of nowhere, decided to follow his car.

A family of "the living" I didn't even know well.

While Cheol was waiting for me at home, waiting for his birthday cake,

I was following another kid's family.

After a while, he parked his car in front of a restaurant.

It was his kid's birthday,

so I guess they were going to eat out, as a family.

Before the meal,

they lit the candles on the cake and sang "Happy Birthday."

I sat at the table next to them and watched, in secret.

[Ho-seok sighs deeply]

It's not…

I wasn't angry or…

or depressed either.

All I could think was that…

[sniffles]

…"Oh God, I'm so sick."

[Ye-ji] Is that when you decided to go to therapy?

[Ho-seok sniffling]

Yeah.

I think I'm really sick. [sniffles]

Sitting next to that family, I felt like a ghost, dead inside.

I felt like there was no reason to go on living.

In here, there's…

I feel nothing. [sobs]

[sobbing] It's empty.

I feel so sorry for my wife and Cheol, but… [sniffling]

…I don't see why I should go on living!

[Ho-seok sobbing]

I don't want my family to find out what I've become.

I'm terrified of that.

I'm so scared.

[wailing]

That's enough. Stop.

We're getting out of here. Let's go home.

We don't belong here. Let's go. Come on, get up.

What's going on? Why are you acting like this?

We're leaving. I don't want to do this anymore.

This is it.

-Let's go. -Hang on.

-This can't be how we end things. -[Mi-ok] Why not?

Why can't we end things like this?

[sighs] Listen to me.

Let go of her.

I'm not messing around!

You son of a…

-You doing tae kwon do? -You little shit!

[Ho-seok grunts]

Ow, shit.

Sh! [grunts]

[Sang-woo] Relax.

-You'll get hurt. -Let go!

-Let go of me! -Easy.

-Get off me! -[Ye-ji] Stop!

-Stop! -[Ho-seok] Hey!

[both grunt]

You can go. If you really want to.

I'm sorry for making you two uncomfortable.

We should call it here, like you said.

I'm sorry to ask…

Have either of you seen the whistle?

What whistle?

The whistle that was on the shelf downstairs.

We always keep it there, and I can't find it anywhere.

Are you accusing us of taking it?

We haven't touched it or even seen it since then.

Here, go for it. I'm sure you're wondering if we took anything else.

I'm really sorry. I was just making sure.

Why would we take that? It's nothing special.

Did you think that we took it

because we thought it was an expensive antique?

No, it's not that. I was only asking.

I'll keep looking.

[sobbing quietly]

[sniffles]

[Blue whines]

It's okay.

[Blue whining]

Go away.

Wait a minute.

[engine starts]

[car door slams]

[cell phone buzzes]

[Mi-ok gasps softly]

SP Heavy Industries finally sold to an American company.

Someone just shared the news.

So what does that mean?

Will…

Will they hire you again?

No way.

They bought it 'cause it was restructured.

What do we do, then?

What do you think? We live.

[whistle blows softly]

[blows louder]

You're the one who took that?

Why did you do that, Cheol?

Why would you take someone's things without asking?

[whistle blows]

[whistle blows]

[birds tweeting]

I'm home again.

Now that I look at it, our house is a dump.

It even smells like one.

[Ho-seok] What are you talking about?

It's just because we haven't aired it out.

[Ye-ji moans softly]

[moans]

[both panting]

[Sang-woo grunting]

[Ye-ji moans softly]

Something feels weird.

What?

I don't know. Today felt different for some reason.

You were a…

You were a different person.

[sighs heavily] Nothing's changed.

[Ye-ji scoffs]

Right. Nothing has changed.

[tuts, sighs]

No reply from her yet.

Who?

Ahn Mi-ok.

I asked her if she got home all right,

but she hasn't replied.

[door opens]

[footsteps approaching]

Why are you drinking behind my back?

Cheers.

Cheers.

Why are you looking at me like that?

-What are you talking about? -You're looking at me all weird.

I was just thinking that this tastes sweet.

When I drink alone without you, it's really bitter.

[Mi-ok scoffs]

Full moon tonight.

Does it have a halo around it?

I wonder if it'll rain tomorrow. They say a lunar halo means rain.

[Mi-ok] It can rain tomorrow as long as it doesn't rain tonight.

[Ho-seok] I always think about the future when I'm talking.

You, on the other hand…

You only talk about what's right in front of you.

That's why we're not compatible.

-Not compatible, hmm? -It's true.

Except when we're in bed. Isn't that right?

I honestly wouldn't know.

-It's been so long, I can't remember. -[shutter clicks]

Bullshit.

LEE YE-JI DID YOU GET HOME OKAY?

[gentle piano music playing]

IN MEMORY OF DEKALOG 10

BY KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI AND KRZYSZTOF PIESIEWICZ

[uplifting piano music playing]

[music fades]