All language subtitles for The.Witch.of.the.West.Is.Dead.2008.JAPANESE.1080p.WEBRip.x264-VXT

She's unconscious.
It doesn't look good.

Mom, the wipers...

Thanks.

Now it all came back.

Two years ago, about now, when
I couldn't go to school any more...

.... I spent a month with Grandma,
just the two of us.

THE WITCH OF THE WEST IS DEAD

I'm not going back to school.

It just makes me feel terrible.

All right.

Take some time off, then.

It hasn't even been a month
since you started Grade 7.

You don't have to
decide anything now.

I've got to go.
I'll be back at 6, all right?

Yes.

Arguing will only make her
more stubborn.

The reason?

I don't know...

She's always been
overly sensitive.

She must have had
her feelings hurt.

She's always walked
to a different drum.

She just doesn't fit in.

Anyway, I'm thinking of sending her
to my mother's for a while.

I've heard of other kids
dropping out of school.

I never thought my own daughter
would be one of them.

So how are things with you?

'Doesn't fit in'...

Maybe because she was half-Japanese,
my mother never fit in at school.

Still, she made it through university.

And here I was dropping out of
middle school.

What was my grandmother
going to make of that?

You're looking well.

Mai...

Hello, Grandma.

You're here...

Nothing's changed.

In here?

It's so nice and green
here now.

Yes, it is.

They've widened the road up here.
I was surprised.

They have?

You didn't know?

Thank you.

That's a nice breeze.

Masao says hello.

The new factory's starting up,
so he couldn't get back.

You've got more herbs.
How many kinds do you have now?

I don't know...

That's lavender, isn't it.

About Mai...

I don't think
it's all that big a deal.

She's always been very sensitive.

I think that's the reason.

Out here she can get over it.
It might be hard for you, though...

'Doesn't fit in'...

I'll be glad to have Mai here.

I'm happy we have a girl
just like her.

I've always loved my grandma.

'Grandma, I love you'
I'd say sometimes....

.... And she'd give a llttle smile
and answer...

Mai...

What?

Go pick some lettuce and
nasturtium for making sandwiches.

OK.

Is this OK?

Yes.

Please wash them and
put them in here.

How many leaves?

Oh, three or four.

Thank you.

Mai, bring a plate
from the cabinet, please.

This one?

Yes, we'll use those plates
at most meal-times.

Go get your cup from the car.

I have cups.

She brought her own.

Oh.

And bring the luggage.

By myself?

Use the cart.

Hello.

Who are you?

This is my grandma's house.

Here for a visit?

I'm staying a while.

I'm sick.

Well, ain't you something!

What's your problem?

A weird man was looking in the car.

That's probably Genji-san.

Genji-san?

Did he come back?

Who is he? Where does he live?

Mai, why don't you sit down?

That's a nice cup.

Genji lives in the house
at the foot of the lane.

He does odd jobs for me.

The place with the dogs barking?

That's right.

So he's divorced?

I don't know. He seems to be
living there alone, though.

Does he come here a lot?

Not that often.

Anyway, which bedroom
would you like?

Grandpa's room, or your mother's?

I'll take Mom's.

Is it still how I left it?

Yes.

I'd better go tidy it up.

Right now?

I can't keep Mai waiting...

She's gone...

...to put away things
she doesn't want you to see.

You've got things that you don't
want people to see, don't you?

As one grows up, there are
more and more of those things.

That's the room
your mother grew up in...

...so she has a lot of them in there.

Is Grandpa's room
still full of rocks?

Yes. It's just the same.

He loved rocks, didn't he.

I loved this picture of Grandpa.

He was a science teacher
at a middle-school.

Grandma had come from England...

...all alone, to be
an English teacher there.

They got marrled....

.... Then had my mother,
which is why I'm here.

Somehow that's amazing.

Mom?

Good morning.

Your mother left early.
She said she had to get to work.

Yeah.

This is too much.

Today we will be working
up on the hill.

Doing what?

First eat your breakfast,
then take a walk up there.

A walk?

Wow!

For now, 'escape'.

Mai!

Let's get picking!

Mai, open your mouth.

It tastes of the hill.

Your grandpa loved
wild-strawberry jam.

He'd put it on anything.

The only time he ever gave up
was when he tried it...

...with cucumber.

Cucumber?!

And he never put it
on green vegetables again.

Did Mom help you here?

No.

There weren't any strawberries
here then.

They only started really growing here
the year after Grandpa died.

Like a present from him.

It really was.

Because that day...

...when I first found
a carpet of strawberries here...

...was my birthday.

Your grandpa never once...

...forgot my birthday.

You must have been really happy.

I was so happy...

...I squatted down here
and I cried.

You're stronger than you look.

Isn't all that sugar bad for you?

It's fine.

You never eat that much jam
all at once...

...and the sweeter it is,
the longer it keeps.

Mix that slowly, will you?

You're good at that.

Mai, trade with me.

Having you help me this year...

...made things a lot easier.

I'll come and help next year,
and every year after that.

The jam we made
had all the bitter sweetness...

.... Of the plants in the woods
behind the house.

You have a good sense of color.

This mint green is beautiful.

What are you sewing?

An apron for someone.

This is one of
your mother's old nightgowns.

I'll make the top
into a smock for you.

And the hem can be
an apron for the kitchen.

Grandma, I love you!

Do you know what a witch is?

A witch?

Someone who rides on a broom?

Not quite, but that's the idea.

I've seen them on TV...

They really do exist.

My grandmother was one.

She could see into the future,
and she was clairvoyant.

My grandfather came to Japan once,
more than a hundred years ago.

My grandmother was only 19 then.
They were engaged.

One afternoon
she was crocheting...

...some doilies for when
they were to be married.

Then suddenly,
right in front of her...

...she saw the sea at night,
and my grandfather swimming...

...all alone.

Something made her call out,
'Go right! '

At that very same time,
my grandfather had been on a ship...

...and he'd slipped somehow
and fallen overboard.

But the ship just kept on going.

There was nothing else to do
but start swimming after it.

After a while he began to think
he was lost...

...and he called out Grandma's name.

And right then...

...he suddenly heard her dear voice
calling out to him.

'Go right! '

He turned to his right
and started swimming.

Soon he reached the shore,
and he was safe.

He told my grandmother
about this experience in a letter.

She wrote back saying she was happy
he was safe, but nothing else.

Why not?

She should have said
'it was me who saved you.'

That's what those times were like.

Grandma, do you think
the witch thing runs in our family?

Absolutely.

But...

...I don't have power like that.

Oh?

That night I had a dream.

Go west!

'Morning, Grandma.

Good morning, Mai.

Turn off the water, please.

Mai, come over here.

Do you know what these leaves are?

Narcissus?

Not quite.

What is it?

Garlic.

Garlic? Where are the cloves?

You have to dig them up.

If you plant garlic
between rose bushes...

...it keeps bugs away,
and the roses smell better.

I love it here.

I wonder if I have witch's blood...

...like Grandma
was talking about last night....

Grandma...

...could I get
supernatural powers...

...if I try hard?

No, forget it.

It takes a lot of work, you know.

You'd have to do
basic training first.

I'll try.

How do you do 'basic training'?

Well, for sports, you have to
strengthen your body, don't you.

In the same way...

...to do magic or work miracles
you need strength of spirit.

Training to strengthen
your spirit...

Zen?

It's a bit early for that,
I think.

So how?

Well...

First, early to bed and early to rise.

You eat properly,
and get lots of exercise.

Good, regular habits.

Right away you're disappointed
at a very simple thing.

But for you that very simple thing
will be the hardest to overcome.

Yeah. I'm really bad
at things like that.

To become a witch...

...the most important thing
is strength of will.

The power to make up your mind...

...and do
what you've decided to do.

Until you can overcome
that most difficult part...

...you might not get what you want.

But give it a try anyway.

I'll try...

...to give it a try.

I'm glad to hear that.

All right, now decide
how you'll spend your day...

...from the time you get up
till when you go to bed.

Write it on a piece of paper
and put it on the wall.

What time do you wake up?

6 o'clock.

I'll never do that. I'll try for 7.

Then we can have breakfast together.

That means going to bed at 11.

But will I sleep then?

What's your usual bedtime?

2 or 3 am.

I decided on a schedule.

Mornings were for exercise:
Laundry and cleaning.

Afternoons: Study or reading.

And then, bed at 11.

Good night.

Mai...

...I've never once thought
you were weak-willed.

I think I am.

Mai?

Come in...

What's that?

A charm to help you sleep well.

Thanks. Good night, Grandma.

Onions?

Mai!

Yes?

It's 7 o'clock.

OK!

Get dressed
and go get the eggs, please.

Thus began
my training as a witch.

It was a lot different
from what I'd expected....

.... But it was new,
so it was fun.

Time to eat!

Why Is that man
barging into my life?!

Just when everything
was going so well!

Perfect timing. Take your shoes off.

Stomp around in the tub.

We're washing sheets.

That's the way, Mai.

Very good!

The pure-white sheets
spread out wide over the lavender...

.... Sent the bad feelings
flying far, far away.

Grandma, what are these for?

To make mint and sage tea.

It's medicine for the garden.

Medicine?

If you like, you can plant
your own garden somewhere.

Here in the yard...

...or up on the hill...

Choose anywhere you like.

That will be your place.

I've decided! My favorite place.

That was quick.

Here, Grandma.
What do you think?

I can see how you'd like it.

Once, a long time ago...

...this was a lovely little wood.

You see that rise there?

From here all the way back down
to the house...

Grandpa bought it.

So this is still your land?

Yes.

Great!

So you like it here...

I wonder if a garden
can be planted here, though?

But we'll make this your place.

But don't try to change it.
Leave it the way it is.

You can plant, um...

...wild thistle, adenophora,
gentian, violets...

Sweet flowers, but tough.

Grandma, that's perfect.

Grandma, I love you!

You're right, Grandma!
All the bugs are going.

Grandma named that place
'my sanctuary'.

I'm calling this plant
a 'princess forget_me-not'.

I'm watering It,
and when it gets bigger....

.... I'll transplant it to 'my sanctuary'.

What's wrong?

Aw, man!

Hm? Are you the grand-daughter?

Hello. Is your grandma here?

Yeah, that's it.
You know the place...

OK, Kentaro. Thanks.

Good thing I was on my way home.

I thought you'd want to see this.
It's tomorrow's mail, actually.

Air mail.

It's from my younger sister.

She's a very successful
fortune teller in England.

It's probably
a very late birthday card.

Granny...

...that stuff you gave my wife,
it was very good.

Should you?

It's all right.

My son's coming to get me.

Oh, all right.

You're more Japanese
than the Japanese are now.

You've always got a glass of water
for a thirsty traveler.

Your grandpa was the same.
He was quiet, though.

That isn't water.

Thank you.

Ah, that's good!

It's quince wine.

Delicious!

Can I tell you something?

So Mai's the same age?

The postman happily told us....

.... that his son Kentaro
wanted to be a postman, too.

He'd helped during spring vacation.

...chasing after my scooter
on his bicycle!

We'll get the scooter tomorrow.

This is Kentaro.

He looks like me,
but he's a good guy.

He'll take over from me.

Come along some time.
We'll make a party of it.

Come on, Dad.

Yeah, yeah!

OK!

'Night.

Let's go!

'Night!

My grandmother said....

.... That to be a witch you need
antenna that sense the flow of things....

...and the power
to decide things for yourself.

It's hard.

It's still far too soon.

It takes time.

A well-trained witch...

...sees what she wants to see...

...and hears what
she wants to hear.

Can you do that?
Your sister tells fortunes.

I don't do that.

Why not?

I enjoy the little changes that come
to my garden...

...from one day to the next.

So I have no need
to know about them in advance.

I do know when one thing
is going to happen...

...but that's all.

What's that?

It's a secret.

What?

One day you'll know.

Two years later, I found out.

What's the matter?!

The chickens...

It's happened before.

Probably wild dogs,
or a weasel.

What's wrong?!

Mai? What happened?

The woods...

Yes?

Grandma, could I sleep
with you?

Come in.

Grandma...

Yes?

What happens when you die?

I don't know.
I've never actually died.

Dad says...

Did you ask him, too?

A long time ago.

And what did he say?

He said that when you die...

...that's the end of everything.

He said there's nothing left.

I said, 'So even if I was dead...

'... the sun would come up
the next morning...

'... and everyone would go on
like they always do'...

...and he said, 'Yep.'

Mai...

...come here.

And you've been agonizing
ever since...

Let me tell you
what I believe happens...

...when a person dies.

OK.

When you die...

...the soul separates
from the body.

I think the soul is set free.

Even separated from its body,
the soul's long journey...

...must go on.

So my soul is me, then?

Your soul and your body together
are you.

When I die...

...what happens to
the part of me that thinks?

The thought of that disappearing
is what scares me most.

Yes.

You know how a lot of people
get grumpy when they're hungry?

Like me.

That's your body affecting
the part of you that thinks.

Because the body disappears,
you can't say that what's left...

...is the same as Mai is now.

Then I don't need this body.

It's like it's only here
to make me suffer.

Those chickens,
did they need bodies?

But Mai...

...it's because you have a body
that your soul can experience things.

And without experiencing things...

...your soul can't grow.

If my soul doesn't grow...

...who cares?

You're probably right.

But that's what souls do.
They can't help it.

Just like plants
reach out to the sun...

...the soul wants to grow.

Anyway, having a body...

...can be a lot of fun.

Doesn't curling up in these sheets,
dried on lavender in the sun...

...make you happy?

When you find a warm spot
in the sun on a winter's day...

...or a cool spot in the shade
in the summer...

...don't you feel happy then?

Or when you did a somersault
on the horizontal bar...

...for the first time?

When I die...

...I'll let you know.

You will?

Yes.

There's no rush.

I know that.

I'll find a way to let you know...

...my soul has separated
from my body...

...but not scare you.

Please.

Oh, while I remember...

I'll finish cleaning up.

You go down to Genji's
and give him this money.

Now?

Yes, before he goes out.

Good morning.

Good morning!

Um...

...here.

Thanks.

Who's the kid?

The foreigner's grand-kid.
She's too lazy to go to school.

She sounds just like you!

Grandma, their dog hair is the same
as was on the wire mesh!

The mesh?

In the chicken coop.
It was light-brown fur!

Weasels are that color.

No!

I'm sure it was those dogs!

They got out that night
and attacked our chickens!

But you didn't see that.

I just know!

Mai, sit down.

Now, listen.

For a witch, this is one of
the most important things.

A witch has to treasure
her intuitions...

...but she can't let them
take control of her.

But...

You're sure what you're thinking
is true, right?

Second-rate witches...

...let their delusions
take control and destroy them.

Mai, try to understand.

This is very important.

I'm not criticizing you.

You might be right,
or you might be wrong.

But what is concerning me now...

...is that your heart is full
of suspicion and hatred.

I think that only the truth...

...will make that go away.

Will it?

I think it would only create
more anger and hatred.

That kind of energy...

...makes a person tired,
don't you think?

Yes, I do.

I'm coming in!

Fresh-baked.

Have some.

I've brushed my teeth.

So have I.

They're still warm.

Sometimes in the middle of the night
I get the urge to bake.

You do?

I'll never be able to do it,
will I?

Do what?

You know...

That's not true.

You're doing very well.

Don't be in such a hurry.
Some things take time.

Grandma...

I...

I...

Um...

I don't know how to say it...

I like it here.

Really.

You can stay
as long as you like.

If you want,
I'll talk to your mother.

Mom suddenly phoned and said
Dad would be coming in three days.

Hi.

You're looking well.

Did you take time off?

It worked out perfectly.
You gave me an excuse.

Mai!

Thanks for helping me out.

That's all right.

Give this to your grandma.

OK.

My dad.

Hello!

Hello.

You know what?

Kentaro, my son...

...now he doesn't want
to be a postman.

You know what
he wants to be now?

A soccer player!

Can you believe that?
The fool says I'm too rigid.

Well, I've got to go.

'Bye.

Goodbye.

You like it here...

Yeah.

Grandma, here.

Hello, Masao.

You must be tired.

Thank you for having Mai here.

I enjoy having her.

So much so that
I wish I could keep her.

I see...

Dad...

Huh? Oh, this...

Here.

Oh, thank you.

It's nothing.

Mai...

...I've talked to your mother.

I think it's time we all moved
down to Kida. What do you think?

So Yoko will quit her job?

Yes, she said she would.

And school?

It'll mean a new school.

Do I have to answer right now?

Uh, well...

...I'm going back tomorrow.
Could you tell me by then?

OK.

Well, since I've got a car...

...shall we go for a drive?

OK?

We'll be back soon.

We won't be able to come up here
so often from Kida.

Yeah, it takes about
half a day to drive here.

I wish Yoko could make this.

That night, Grandma made
the quiche that Dad loves.

I really liked
your grandfather, you know.

Every time I saw him...

...he'd teach me about rocks.

Like I was his own son.

I really liked him.

Well! Isn't this a surprise!

You've learned something.

Oh, sorry...

There you go.
Good night, Dad.

Thanks. Good night.

'Night.

Grandma?

Yes?

Why doesn't Dad ask me
why I won't go to school?

Has your mother asked?

No.

Come to think of it,
nor have you.

That's because we all
have faith in your decision.

If you say you won't go...

...I think it's because
you have your own reasons.

Getting along with other girls
is a subject all its own.

When school starts, everyone
rushes around joining cliques.

They all go to the washroom
together during breaks...

...and talk about
the pop stars they like.

I see.

Up till last year, I did fine.

But this year, for some reason...

...I started to hate it.

Being part of a clique?

Yeah.

Smiling at girls whose clique
you want to be in...

...and going 'uh-huh'
to boring conversations...

I don't know, somehow...

...I just got sick of it.

I can understand that.

So this year
I didn't do any of that.

And I ended up on my own.

Couldn't you make friends with girls
in those cliques?

No.

Even if one of them
wants to talk to me...

...when the others call her over,
she has to go.

The girls in the clique
are testing her to see...

...who's more important.

That must be hard.

I don't hate those girls or anything.

They're stuck.

Do the different cliques
talk to each other?

Sometimes.

In my class this year
it was strange how well...

...all the cliques got along.

So that can happen?

It's easy.

Everybody just settles on one person
as the class outcast.

About Dad wanting me
to change schools...

A witch makes up her own mind.

You know that, don't you.

Yes.

But listen...

All right.

Even if I change schools
and leave that class...

...I still haven't solved
the basic problem of being an outcast.

So I'm still not out of the woods,
no matter where I go.

An apprentice witch
can't solve that problem alone.

Everyone's worried about
the same thing happening to them.

But I think the problem
is with me, too.

Do I want to be the lone wolf,
or be one of the pack.

Why don't you make your choice
on a case-by-case basis?

Tell yourself your decision is based
on what's best for you at the time.

Know what you need,
and don't ever look back.

Just as a cactus doesn't choose
to live in water...

...a polar bear doesn't choose to live
in Hawaii. He chooses the arctic.

But who would ever question
his decision?

You always tell me
to make my own decisions...

...but I get the feeling
you're always leading me somehow.

Well, it's time for bed.

'Morning.

'Morning.

'Morning.

Dad...

...I'll come with Mom
and live with you.

You will, will you?

Well, we'd better get started
right away.

Dad, I want to see
the different schools for myself...

...and choose my own school.

Mai!

Great!

That's fantastic!

Careful!

That's great!

Dad, stop it!

Wild Strawberry

Yeah...

OK.

Any day that's good.

Yeah...

OK, 'Bye.

The day after Dad left,
we had a call from Mom.

I'd leave in two or three days,
and get ready to move.

From Kida, I wouldn't be able
to come to Grandma's so often.

Just getting dirt for the garden.

That man has broken into
My Sanctuary!

Mai, let's sit down.

No!

Are you forgetting
your witch's training?

Don't get so worked up.

I don't care!

I'll always hate that man!

I can't stop myself.

Genji said he was taking soil
for the garden, didn't he?

What's wrong with that?

Yeah, but is that true?

He's stealing it!

If we let him get away with it,
he'll take the whole sanctuary!

There are the oak trees...

...and then
the mountain cherries.

He won't come past them.

Even if he were up to something.

But...

And I'll bet you were very rude
to Genji-san.

You didn't even say hello to him,
did you.

That's very insulting
You may have hurt his feelings.

I'll never be able to stay calm
and not get worked up about him.

I'll never like that man!

He's a filthy pig.
He can die for all I care!

Mai!

Mai!

That man's more important to you
than I am!

You must be hungry.

Do you want to come down and eat?

Your tea?

Don't want it.

You know, Grandma...

...you got worked up
about what I said, too.

Mai!

Mai!

Mai!

You're all wet!

Aren't you cold?

Let's get back.

Your grandfather...

...used to love to drink tea
and look out at the fog.

I always wondered
what he was thinking.

You got lost in the fog once
when you were a little girl.

Grandpa and I looked everywhere
for you.

But now...

...Mai's all grown up.

She can find her own way home.

We talked.

It's hard on Mai
with us living apart...

...and me busy with work.

A hard decision to make.

I had to think about
what my real priorities were.

You had to think?

Look, I'm not giving up my career
for good, you know.

I couldn't live like you.

I have my own life to live.

And even if you are 'Grandma'...

...you can't push your way
onto me, or Mai.

Well, I probably am
a little old-fashioned.

What's wrong?
That's not like you.

And what's 'like me'?

You never doubt yourself.

I'll call when we get settled.

In you get.

'Bye.

Grandma wanted me
to say lt.

'I love you, ' like I did
before our fight.

But I couldn't.

Two years have gone by.
I go to school every day.

I haven't been back
to Grandma's since then.

It was awful
the way I treated her that last tlme.

I shouldn't have gone off like that
and left her there alone.

I treated her a lot worse
than she treated me.

Will she forgive me?

Yes, she'll come out to meet me
like she always does....

Even though I'm a little awkward...
like she always does.

Mom, did you know
that Grandma was...

Yes. She was a true witch.

I'm going to tell them in the village.

Where is she?

We don't do that in our family.

Mai...

...could you go into the kitchen
for a few minutes?

If there's anything I can do,
let me know.

I never amounted to much...

...but the old lady and the old man
were always good to me.

That cucumber grass
is really blooming.

'Cucumber grass'?

That's what they call it.

From the Witch of the West...

.... To the Witch of the East.

Grandma's soul....

.... Has succeeded
in separating.

Grandma remembered
her promlse.

Grandma...

...I love you!

Grandma
Sachi Parker

Mal
TAKAHASHI Mayu

Mother
Ryo

Kentaro
SUZUKI Ryunosuke

Grandpa
SHINJITSU Ichiro

Genji's Housemate
SUWA Taro

Father
OMORI Nao

Postman
TAKAHASHI Katsumi

Genji
KIMURA Yuichi

Executive Producer
TESHIMA Masao

Producers TSUGE Yasushi
TANISHIMA Masayuki
SAKURAI Tsutomu

Original Story NASHIKI Kaho
(Published by Shincho Bunko)

Screenplay YAZAWA Yumi
NAGASAKI Shunichi

Cinematography
WATANABE Makoto (J.S.O.)

Gaffer
WADA Yuji

Sound
TSURUMAKI Yutaka

Design
TANEDA Yohei

Art
YAUOHI Kyoko

Editor
ABE Hirohide

Sound Effects
HOKARI Yukio

Casting
YOSHIKAWA Takeshi

Casting Coordinator (U.S.)
Christine Iso

Music Composed by
TOBETA Bajune

Music Produced by
YASUI Shin

Theme Song 'NIJI'performed by
TESHIMA Aoi
Lyrics ARAI Akino
Music ARAI Akino & HOKARI Hisaaki
Arranged by MIYANO Sachiko

A production of
Asmik Ace Entertainment

in association with
'The Witch of the West is Dead' Film Partners

Directed by
NAGASAKI Shunichi

Subtitles
Ian MacDougall

©2008 'The Witch of the West is Dead' Film Partners