Original subtitles

The people from Lokošnica can't imagine

life without the string pepper.

WELCOME TO THE KINGDOM OF PAPRIKA

The pepper is the best here in Lokošnica.

We gave our seeds to other villages.

The string pepper couldn't grow there.

I don't know why.

Maybe this land is somewhat special. Maybe it's the climate.

Something has to be special.

Let's get another one.

Women usually do the stringing. Men know how to do it, but they don't.

It's too hard for them.

My right shoulder still hurts.

We use garlands to dry our peppers.

We string it traditionally.

The pepper business is more than a full-time job.

So, we don't stop.

The main producers are Marina and Boban. They are my daughter and son-in-law.

Tell Boban he can unload it now. There's enough space.

They are in charge.

And my grandson Danijel works with them too.

Shake it a little.

Every generation of my family were farmers.

My grandfather, father and others were all involved.

So I'm going to continue it as well.

I started working with my family when I was in eighth grade.

I help them as much as I can.

It's not easy.

My husband, older son, and I are always in the field.

We are busy around the clock.

Should we roast some more?

I was born into peppers.

I've spent my whole life with peppers, and I make a living from peppers.

I have to learn how to do this.

You will learn, but first you have to get rid of those long nails.

As the saying goes, I was raised on peppers and lard.

There are stories that the pepper came from South America...

and they left it to be handed down from generation to generation.

Sometimes we do stuffed peppers,

or minced, or we grind them up for barbecue.

The pot has to go on the stove so we can fry ajvar.

We worry deeply about the next 15 to 20 years.

Young people are not keen on doing agriculture in general.

They are getting other jobs.

Year after year, we have fewer producers.

Should I add sugar and salt?

Yes, add them.

It's delicious.

This is so good.

Amazing.

Let's eat.

Good ajvar...

Young people are leaving and going to work in companies.

Farming is tough, physical work.

And the profit is small.

They don't want to farm anymore.

They would rather work in business.

Most of my peers would never do this.

I've also tried to work in a company.

But it was just not for me.

My son has a genuine interest in agriculture.

It's never difficult for him to work.

I am really glad for him to stay if that's what he wants.

I told him, "It will be your decision, and we'll support you."

He will choose his destiny.

This pepper is of superb quality,

and it would be a shame if we don't preserve it.

Ladies and gentlemen,

dear guests from the villages and from afar,

welcome to the Sixteenth Paprika Day Festival.

This day is dedicated to one of the most famous vegetables in the region:

the renowned Leskovac paprika pepper.

For centuries,

this village has kept the ancient recipe of cultivation alive

and produces the juiciest and healthiest paprika in the world.

We've joined together

to improve the quality and quantity,

and above all to struggle less and live longer.

I believe that this is better for me.

I'd like to continue what my family has been doing for years.

Mint is from Bangkok.

I'm a son of farmers.

Given where I'm from, I never thought I'd meet someone like her.

What makes us see each other is food.

When I first met him, I thought,

"Hey, is this the famous chef everyone's talking about?"

But when I saw him, I thought, "He looks like a football player or something."

Once he started talking, the words that came out of his mouth made me think,

"Hey, this guy is actually very interesting."

Everything he said synced with my heartbeat.

- We're here. Thank you. - Thank you.

- Let's go. - Thank you.

Auntie Moo.

- Yes, hello. - Good evening.

- How are you, Auntie? - I'm fine, honey. Feeling great.

Can I sit here?

What would you like to eat?

What should we eat in the rain?

- It's raining, we should drink beer. - Rain brings bad people together.

- You have eel, please cook it. - All right. Will do.

- And deep-fried frog with garlic. - Yes.

Snakehead entrail Tom Yum?

Make it spicy too.

You should use more chile than eel.

Can I help you?

Please.

Make it so spicy that I sneeze.

So extreme.

As you wish.

Auntie Moo's place is not like a restaurant to me.

She reminds me of my grandmother from when I was young.

Okay. Smells so good.

Now let's sprinkle some hot chiles on here.

And some very delicious peppercorn.

Here is our restaurant's signature dish: stir-fried eel with chile.

Looks yummy.

Smell good?

- Nice smell. - Okay, try it, kids.

- We can eat now, right? - Let's try it.

- Let's try. - Here is its head.

Are the chiles okay?

Very delicious.

Spicy, spicy, spicy.

- Is it spicy? - Yes.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Thank you.

It is said that when we eat spicy food,

once the heat passes we will be happy.

- True, isn't it? - It's true.

Like having sex.

So naughty.

- Really? - Yes.

Our first date was not fine dining.

I wanted to take her out to Isaan street food.

The restaurant was on the roadside.

But I was afraid she wouldn't like Isaan food.

Okay. We're here.

Thank you, sir.

- Good evening. - Hello, hello. Hi.

What should we have?

Papaya salad?

Bitter raw meat, spicy salad like before and roasted meat. Okay.

Now chile has become part of our eating experience.

And it all started right here.

Here it comes.

Thank you.

- Thank you. - This is great.

On our first date, I couldn't believe it.

Mint was eating larb with raw meat, blood and everything.

Right then, I was like, "I love her."

Is it that bad?

Cheers!

- Hi, everyone! - Hi.

- Hey! Hello. - Hello.

I'm going to cook jungle curry for everyone.

Make it spicy, please.

- Spicy? - Yes, very spicy.

- Do you really want something spicy? - Very spicy. Yeah.

I'll go cook.

The first ingredient for me is always chile.

But how spicy?

Spicy with fun? Or spicy to be hated?

Chiles...

make everything have more dimension.

Pound chiles for me, please.

Pounded chiles. It’s not spicy enough.

The more we use spice, the more we add sweetness.

The more we add salt.

The more we add other tastes like bitterness and astringents.

Everything is for balancing that spicy taste.

Chiles are a main ingredient in all our food.

We put chiles in almost every dish

except for dessert.

Somebody always cries,

and somebody makes fun of their friend.

People don't hide anything. They show themselves.

Crying.

I feel that it helps break the ice and drop people's ego.

What I'm doing now with my food

is connecting people.

I want people to go home with happiness.

That's all I want.

Choose your weapon.