Original subtitles

Spain Year 2011

You have cancer.

Three days earlier

Your turn, Teresa!

Girls, I'd like to suggest something.

- It's just that during the dance… - Teresa.

- Oh, she's fallen. - Teresa.

- Teresa? - What's wrong, Teresa?

She's not well.

What's wrong, is everything alright?

Teresa?

Teresa isn't well. She has problems.

Teresa, dear?

She's not listening.

She's not well. She's overwhelmed. Leave her alone.

I don't bother her.

- What's wrong with her, mother? - Nothing. Nothing's wrong with her.

Let's go.

You're taking your sleeping pills?

Yes, I've changed prescription. These are stronger,

but they take longer to kick in.

- Would you give me one? - Did you enjoy the dance class?

I loved it.

There are things that I would change, but, of course, I don't run it.

What things?

Well, the beginning is very good,

but I think when Teresa begins to sing it doesn't work.

Not because of her, she's a dear and adores me,

well, they all adore me, because I'm so understanding.

So?

I think if only one person would sing it would be better.

I don't mean me, I mean one person.

Any notes?

- Notes? - On dinner, any notes?

- A ten. - It's not good?

But mother, I gave you a ten, it's very good.

It's a very healthy meal. No processed meats or chemicals.

- Why aren't you eating? - I'm not very hungry.

Have you gone potty today?

- Yes. - What was your stool like?

I don't know, normal.

Soft normal or hard normal?

More soft normal.

And what color?

Brown.

Brown?

You must have diarrhea.

- Oh, the spearmint. - What?

I've forgotten the spearmint.

Was it you that tore the picture of your father?

Dear.

The 17 year old teenager…

The leader of the Democratic Republic of North Korea

claims to have found a living unicorn

in a den in Pyongyang

along with a group of North Korean archeologists.

The North Korean Ministry of Information

claims that it is the best country in which to live

and its citizens are the most content.

That is the reason the mythological animal is found there.

They also assure us that the Great Leader has captured the animal

and the international press wasted no time in criticizing the dictator,

who has subjected his country

to the most totalitarian dictatorship in the world.

Let's go to bed.

You're not coming with Mother?

Why don't you give me a sleeping pill too?

You don't need them, you sleep like a log.

But only if I sleep with you.

If I'm alone I can't sleep.

Why do you want to sleep alone, son?

I don't know.

For when you're not here.

I'll always be here.

I'll try to sleep alone.

As you like, dear.

I'll leave the door open in case your change you mind.

Are you awake, darling?

My heart is racing.

Mine too.

Don't be afraid, I'm here in your head.

- Mother, we'll be late to class! - Coming!

Mari Carmen? It's Libertad.

Your student from dance class. Yes.

Do you remember yesterday after class when I wanted to mention something?

Yes, and I couldn't because Teresa started to cry.

Look, I think it'd be better if I did the whole song.

Teresa does very well, but I think...

Well, alright dear, don't change it. It was only a suggestion.

You know how sensible I am.

Goodbye.

Mateo!

Where were you?

What did you do, Mateo?

I thought you had left.

I was in the bathroom.

I'm sorry dear, I've frightened you.

I'm not feeling well.

- Dizziness? - Yes, very dizzy.

Vomiting?

Constantly. I wonder if I might be pregnant.

- I doubt it. - One is enough.

It might just be gastroenteritis.

Gastroenteritis? I don't think so.

I feel much worse than that.

- We'll do an analysis, alright? - Now?

He's afraid of needles, he can't stand them.

He can step outside, it's only for a moment.

No, no need, I'll lie down here and he'll turn around.

I don't like being alone.

I'm afraid of needles too, I just don't show it.

Nurse, we're going to run an analysis on patient Libertad.

You're pale, son.

Mateo!

What happened? Young man!

The kid, he had a dizzy spell.

Don't hit his face like that, no.

Mateo. Mateo!

We'll take him to the next room

and in the meantime we'll run your analysis

Excuse me, you're taking him? Why?

Ma’am, we're not taking him, I'm carrying him next door.

Relax, it's just a dizzy spell

Libertad. Libertad, relax.

It's just a moment alone.

Leave the door open, the boy is very sensitive.

I have to see him.

- How long will this take? - Not long at all, just two minutes.

Two minutes?

Mateo, are you alright?

I'm alright.

Stay right there, son!

Door closing.

- Is the boy alright? - Yes ma’am, he's fine.

Mrs. Consuelo!

Oh, it hurts. How much longer?

This is the last.

Mrs. Consuelo, you can't leave!

- Mrs. Consuelo, relax! - Help! I don't want to be here!

You'll die if you go outside by yourself.

Mateo!

Where are you going on your own?

Mateo, my dear! Mateo!

Mateo, are you alright?

Yes.

Be careful, don't slip.

- I'm sitting. - The don't get up, son.

- Will you let me help you? - No need.

Mateo, let me bathe you, you're lightheaded.

I always used to bathe you.

I'm fine, mother.

The window's open, you'll catch a cold.

Be careful, don't slip.

You have so much hair already, it grows so fast.

Just like your nails, they're so long.

I'll cut them right away.

My dear!

And once again we have strange news out of North Korea.

TaeYang, soldier of the regime,

and his wife, Cheong Yeong-Il,

fled the country after their daughters

died from ingesting poisoned fruit

given to them by the dictator's regime.

In this way, the government is able

to control and lower its population.

North Koreans must deal with the serious issue

of being poisoned or not eating.

The only solution seems to be to run away.

Let's go to bed.

Mateo!

Mateo!

The Pieta

Mateo, now we need to count

from five to one, but backwards.

Starting on five…

Five.

Four.

Hit me.

More.

Three.

Choke me.

More.

Two.

Say you're my mother.

- I'm your mother. - Say it.

I'm your mother.

I'm cumming, I'm cumming!

The results aren't good.

As we suspected from the beginning,

the tumor Mateo has is a malignant one.

Mateo has cancer.

The operation has been complicated,

it's taken more than four hours,

but we've done it in time, which was the most important thing.

Regrettably, we've found

more cancerous tissue than we expected.

It's a cerebral tumor known as glioblastoma

and its treatment consists of simultaneous radio- and chemotherapy.

- But who? - What do you mean, who?

Who has cancer? Me?

No, not you.

Mateo has cancer.

No, you mean I have cancer, I'm very ill.

It's logical, Libertad.

Mateo has cancer and you're worried.

I have cancer?

No, not you.

- I have cancer. - Not you. You're alright.

Mateo is the one who has cancer.

We haven't removed it entirely because it's in the area controlling speech.

I can't breathe.

We have a psychologist at your disposal.

No!

My son doesn't have cancer, he's good!

Mother, it hurts!

My son is good!

- He doesn't have cancer! - Nurse! Nurse!

Libertad!

Don't touch his head!

He doesn't have cancer, he's very good!

I'm going to bed.

Already? It's only seven.

- I'm tired. - And you're sleeping alone?

Yes.

…author who has confessed to the murder of the child

is spending their third night after…

Well,

I'd like to know how you are.

Not well, not well at all. Right, dear?

He's depressed.

We'll start with Mateo, alright Libertad?

Yes, of course, he's the one who needs support, he's beside himself.

- How is everything, Mateo? - I don't know.

How are you, physically?

Alright physically.

I'm a bit tired and my scar stings.

Don't touch it with your dirty hands, dear.

You still haven't begun radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

No, we haven't started.

- How do you feel about that, Mateo? - We'll see how we deal with it,

because I'm a very brave and courageous woman.

What do you think, Mateo?

- Me? - Mateo.

Me?

He's very brave, just like me. He's just not himself right now.

Libertad, is it alright if I speak with Mateo first and then with you?

Huh?

Yes. That's great.

Just call me.

I think it'd be more positive for everyone involved.

I thought we could do it together, but whatever you say.

He's the important thing.

- Can Mateo and I be alone? - I have to go?

That'd be best.

Libertad, why don't you take a walk, get some air?

You're on the other side, aren't you?

Side? I don't understand.

Why do you all want to take my son from me?

I called you because my son needs help,

not so you could keep me out of the conversation.

I see. In order to help Mateo I need him to express himself.

Yes, but that's not your business.

I will not allow you to take my son from me.

This illness belongs to both of us. Mateo, don't you realize

that when you're away from me everything goes wrong?

Mateo, look at me.

You can't go outside on your own.

I can.

Try it and the same thing or worse will happen again!

- I'm going to die here alone, Mother. - You'll die if you go out alone!

You have to help me, Carolina.

Mateo is not well.

The other day he told me he wants to sleep on his own.

Libertad, I think you need help too.

This isn't an easy situation for you,

but if you don't give Mateo the freedom he's asking for,

you'll only push him further away,

he won't want to be with you.

He already doesn't want to be with me.

What does his father think of this?

No, this isn't about his father.

His father hates him and Mateo hates him back.

Did something happen with him?

Roberto decided to leave when Mateo was a baby

and we don't want any sort of relationship with him.

If Mateo has never had a relationship with his father, why does he hate him?

Look, this subject is closed. We won't mention it.

Libertad.

Mateo needs to separate from you.

It's a normal process that you'll both have to go through.

Then I've done everything wrong.

I treat him like I always have.

He's going to need you more than ever,

especially when his treatments begin.

Then what should I do?

Give him space.

I don't know if I'll be able to.

You'll have to.

It's essential for Mateo.

Hello Libertad, how are you?

Here, waiting for my son.

How is Mateo?

Different.

Normal. Mateo is going through…

Normal would be that I'd be with my son

during his first radiotherapy session.

You're doing very well Mateo, we're nearly done.

You can be here during the next sessions,

that way you could see your son is fine.

Here's the temozolomide.

They're the chemotherapy pills.

Mateo needs to take one a day.

- Will you make sure? - Yes, I'll make sure.

He needs to know we're talking about a very aggressive treatment,

since we're dealing with a very aggressive illness.

It's possible Mateo will have difficulty taking care of himself

and doing things on his own.

He may have loss of memory, loss of appetite, loss of hair,

nausea, vomiting, poor healing.

It's possible he'll feel disoriented

or perceive reality in a distorted fashion.

I understand, doctor. I'll take care of everything.

Make sure he isn't constipated

and if he's in pain, never give him any medication on your own.

No.

We'll continue treatment for 15 days and then we'll take a break.

Today after the first radiotherapy session,

it's possible Mateo may feel very tired.

Simply let him rest.

Very well, doctor. Perfect. Thank you very much.

- I'm pregnant. - I'm going to die.

Stop saying that, I can't stand it anymore.

I know that he'll die too.

Stop talking about them.

Before dying,

I need to see her.

Mateo, my dear.

I don't want to bother you,

but if you need me to help you take a bath, let me know.

Mother.

My wound opened up.

Teresa, your turn!

Lili, are you alright?

You're doing very well, son.

Mother is here with you.

Hello, Berta.

They're lovely.

What are they?

Those are breast cancer awareness ribbons.

You can take one, they're free.

They're very pretty.

I also have a son with cancer.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Is he on this floor or in pediatrics?

- On this one. - Ah.

And how old is he?

He's like a baby. It's very hard.

So your son has breast cancer?

Of course not, he has cerebral cancer.

Oh!

But that counts too, no?

Well, this one is really for breast cancer.

What color is the one for cerebral cancer?

There's no ribbon for cerebral cancer.

- Seriously? - No ribbon.

- How is that? - There's no ribbon, no color.

Then I'll just take this one, alright?

But your son doesn't have breast cancer.

- I'll just take one anyway. - Oh, of course, of course.

It's free.

I'll wear it here because I'm a fighter.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

I hung a picture of Mother

so that I'll always be with you.

- Like it? - Mateo Trancoso Viedma?

Yes, that's us.

Doctor Estrada wants to see you.

Are we waiting on Mateo? Is he coming?

No, he's sleeping in the room, he's very tired.

- How is he? - He has trouble doing things.

I have to help him with everything.

Now he'll take a week long vacation

and then we'll start the radio- and chemotherapies again.

- Vacations? - Well, something like that.

Mateo needs a break from the treatment to recover his energy.

But…

is he cured?

No, he's not cured. Mateo's body simply needs to rest.

This treatment take a lot out of the patients.

He needs to recover his energy for when we restart.

And if he recovers his energy, he'll be better?

Of course he'll be better than now.

Oh good.

Hello.

What are you doing here?

Hello Libertad.

I thought we needed an appointment to see you.

I was coming to see a patient and thought…

The truth is that since the first time we saw each other,

I've been so tied up with Mateo. I thought of calling you many times

to tell you that you've been very helpful-

I'm very glad.

and that we don't need you at the moment.

I'm working on everything we talked about, giving Mateo more space

and helping him with everything he needs because, of course, he's my son.

I understand.

Then it would be best if I only saw Mateo.

I just said it wasn't necessary.

I think Mateo is able to speak and tell us what he wants.

Mateo?

It's not necessary. Thank you.

Thank you very much for everything, Carolina.

We'll be sure to call if we need you.

That's important.

If you need something, call me.

You have my number.

First, a bit of stew. Yummy.

Very good, that's it.

Drink a little, dear, we must eat. That's it.

Bit by bit, dear.

Bit by bit.

We must eat, my dear.

Go on, dear. Son, go on.

Very good, dear, that's it.

Pyongyang North Korea

The beloved leader of the republic,

our father Kim Jong-il,

sends five kilos of communist berries from our sister country, China.

Great light of the nation, the eternal father Kim Il-sung!

Give eternal thanks to our great leader.

What happened?

Hurry, speak! What happened?

Myeong ate strawberries?

Get up! Get up!

I hate you!

You're killing us! I hate you!

I hate you! You're killing us! I hate you!

Why did you let her eat strawberries?

You knew they were poisoned!

Myeong! Myeong!

Myeong!

Get up, Myeong!

How could you?

Cheong, they're watching us.

They know we want to escape.

I couldn't do anything!

No!

Cheong, you have to stop! They're going to come for us!

Stop screaming!

No!

Dear, listen to me. We have to continue with the plan.

Take this.

If they find us, take them before they lock us up.

You'll die in 10 minutes, painlessly.

I'm going for Jeong.

Go away.

We've been discovered. We have to go.

No!

No!

Did you finish the cereal?

- We need to buy more. - We should eat healthily.

- Do you want more milk? - I'm hungry.

That's normal, you've slept for two days.

You haven't changed since we got back from the hospital.

Now sleep a bit longer.

I'm not tired.

Your hair has grown.

When you stop taking these pills, everything changes.

I like the hair, mother.

You're very handsome without it as well.

I'll get you another cup of milk.

I'd like to go out somewhere.

Aren't we going back to your dance class?

Yes son, whatever you want.

The UN is alarmed by reports coming out of North Korea.

People have stopped eating out of fear of their government poisoning them

in order to control population growth.

This is according to some refugees who have fled the country.

Any foreigner who views a photograph of Piongyang

tends to wonder about the significance of the marks drawn on the ground.

Those marks are used to indicate to the citizens

where they are to move.

This is the most evident symbol

that the capital of the Democratic Republic of North Korea

is not a city, rather a gigantic film set.

What happened, mother?

It slipped.

Yes?

- Libertad? - Yes, that's me.

This is Marta, your ex-husband Robert's wife.

- Who was it? - It must have been a wrong number.

Aren't you going to answer?

Give me a moment.

Be careful, don't cut yourself with the glass.

What do you want?

Libertad?

I'm calling to let you know that your ex-husband has tried to kill himself.

He wants to see you.

Libertad?

Robert can't die without first seeing his son, we beg you.

Our address is: 42 Marques de la Fuente

Your mother doesn't know you're going to your father's house, right?

No.

Why are you afraid of going out on your own?

I don't know.

I guess because I can't.

You're doing it now.

Mateo, you're not afraid of going out on your own, you know that, right?

You're afraid of separating from your mother.

I need her now.

Only because of your illness?

We're here.

You live 10 minutes from your father.

You're Mateo?

I want to see my father.

Come in.

Where's your mother?

She doesn't know I'm here.

And you?

Why did you come to see me?

Because I don't know where to go.

It doesn't matter where you go.

She's like the sun.

You grow too distant, you freeze.

You grow too close, you burn.

But you need the sun.

I don't understand what you're saying.

It's because I've gone crazy.

What happened to you?

The same thing that's happening to you.

Tell her to come.

It's very difficult to stop smoking.

That's why I don't smoke.

You'll be happy here.

We'll be a normal family.

Your father came to me after he fled from your mother.

Just like you.

You look so much like him.

What happened to my father?

Your father… depression.

He was very depressed.

Mateo, he needs you.

He needs us.

He wants to see my mother, not me.

Don't say that.

He's very grateful that you came.

And I am too.

My name is Marta, but if you want you can call me mother.

Seoul South Korea

Cheong, you have to eat. You've gotten very thin.

You didn't bring anything to put in the soup?

I didn't manage to sell anything today.

But look.

An American left his phone behind.

And you took it?

He must have others.

Why do we want a phone? We don't have anyone to call.

You have to eat.

How could you let your daughters eat poisoned strawberries?

Dear, we couldn't do anything to save them.

Why did we leave after our daughters died?

We should have stayed there.

We were dying of hunger there.

Aren't we dying of hunger here too?

We can have a better life here, there's freedom, more opportunities.

We're invisible here. We don't matter to anyone.

We mattered to our leader.

Our leader was killing us.

I miss my country,

I miss my daughters, my home…

Dear, this is our country too. It's the same country.

I don't want to be like the people here. I'm not like them.

Where are you going?

Take this.

If they find us, take them before they lock us up.

You'll die in 10 minutes, painlessly.

Where are you going?

Back to my country.

If I have to die, I'd rather do it among my people.

You'll die in 10 minutes, painlessly.

If only my daughters had died that way.

Marta, I want to go back to my mother.

Mateo, they just called from the hospital.

Your mother attempted suicide.

Please, mother, forgive me.

Please.

Forgive me.

The North Korean who fled from her country has decided to return.

She claims that life in the south was torture.

Being a North Korean deserter

should have made her someone relevant,

but in Seoul, a city with a population of 10 million,

Cheong felt invisible.

Sociological experts say that on occasion, people that flee...

Come with me, Mrs. Consuelo.

…feel incapable of functioning without their leader…

Hello, may I help you?

I need a razor.

If it's for shaving your hair,

I can send a barber to your room tomorrow.

What room are you in?

In 24. I need it now.

Give me a moment.

Mateo, where were you?

What are you doing here?

I came to see you. You called me the other day.

I don't want to see a psychologist.

We told you the other day, don't come back.

It's really cold.

You're freezing, I'll close the window.

No.

Hug me.

If you hug me, you'll warm me up and I won't be cold anymore.

Your fever is rising.

I don't feel well.

I left the pills in the bathroom.

Bring them.

Yes, my darling, right away.

If I take them I'll feel better?

No.

Mateo, you'll bleed out!

Mother, treat my wound.

- Treat my wound. - Yes.

Nurse me.

Give me a sleeping pill.

Yes, my darling.

I have a cough.

- Hand me the Ventolin, please. - Yes.

I'm going to prepare the milk.

You have to eat.

No.

Today I want it like before, mother.

Come, dear.

Good morning, sweetie.

Mateo, time to wake up.

Mateo.

Darling.

Wake up, my dear.

Mateo.

Mateo, don't scare me, honey.

Mateo.

Mateo!

Mother!

Libertad.

Libertad.

Libertad.

- Lili. - And Mateo?

We've been able to stabilize Mateo.

Where is he?

Mateo's condition is serious.

He's in the isolation ward.

- He came in with neutropenia. - What's neutropenia?

His immune system is very weak.

Libertad, I have to be honest with you.

The situation is very critical.

The chances are low that Mateo will recover,

it's practically impossible.

But if we go back to the radio- and chemotherapy, will he get better?

No, Mateo can't go back to those treatments.

- Why not? - He'd die on the spot.

If he recovers we can try any other treatment,

but I'm telling you, the situation is complicated.

Libertad, I have to ask you something.

Yes.

Have you given

or has Mateo taken any sort of unprescribed medication?

No.

He was well?

Like always, with that wound on his foot that wasn't healing.

I want to see him.

Yes?

Hello, Libertad.

What do you want?

Roberto is dying. He doesn't have much longer.

He needs to see you, Libertad.

And Mateo?

He can't.

When your son arrived at my house,

I had the same feeling as when Roberto entered my life.

He reminds me so much of his father.

- My son is like me. - He is now.

But when he arrived he was like his father.

Mateo went back to you because he had a mirror in which he was reflected

and it scared him.

However, Roberto didn't.

Roberto only saw me.

And during all this time

I've done nothing but try to be like you.

Why do you want to be like me?

Because I want someone to truly need me.

No one has ever needed me.

You have no idea…

how much I wanted to be like you, hating you all the while.

Know what?

When Roberto jumped off the balcony,

deep down I was happy.

I thought that he'd need me now.

You're expecting a son.

Yes.

- So why do you smoke? - No, I don't smoke.

Why do you want to be a mother?

Because my son will truly need me.

He won't care who I am.

Having a son is a lot of responsibility, you know?

I know.

No.

But you'll know when he's born.

What do you do that they need you so much?

Ever since he came Roberto wanted to die.

He never stopped talking to me about you.

He hates you deeply yet still needs you.

Your son will need you.

Yes.

I hope so.

Go see Roberto before it's too late.

Look at what you've turned me into.

You wouldn't be like this if you hadn't left.

I'd already be dead if I hadn't left.

So tell me, what's the difference?

Why did we have a son, Lili?

None of this would have happened.

We were older.

We had no need.

Don't you dare blame my son for anything.

He's my son too.

No. Where were you all these years to call yourself father?

Being with you was killing me.

Of course. You couldn't accept a woman had more power than you.

- You're a dictator. - You are too,

that's why we're incompatible.

Who are you going to dominate once Mateo dies?

You've made it so we're afraid of freedom.

Tell me, what should I do?

Disappear forever.

That's how you are, Lili.

You're a cancer.

- Goodbye, Lili. - Goodbye.

Goodbye, Mateo.

- Goodbye, Lili, take care. - Goodbye.

- Goodbye, dear. - Goodbye, Teresa.

You look very happy, you must have gotten past your sad spell.

Yes, I'm much better.

It's been a complicated year.

Of course.

My daughter, she wanted to leave home.

- That's why you're happy? - Yes.

My husband was more worried about it than I was and I understand,

but it's what she wanted.

You know something, Libertad?

- It drives us mad. - What does?

The whole world does, a bit.

If I could do it all over, I wouldn't have children again.

I had a daughter because my mother wanted a granddaughter.

In the end I wanted her,

but sometimes we're not prepared for what lies ahead.

Who the fuck teaches us to do this shit?

- Hello, mother. - Hello, my dear.

You're so pretty.

- Are you a lesbian? - Me?

I'm sorry, I have a boyfriend. Find someone else.

We're going, alright?

You're both lovely.

Take care.

I'm glad to see you, Mateo.

Did you like the choreography?

I loved it.

Teresa didn't sing in the end.

No.

The teacher decided to change it.

It's much better this way, you were right.

- Mother. - Go on, dear.

Are we going back to the hospital?

- There's no need. - Am I cured?

No, my love.

I never want to get better.

Why are you sad, mother?

Because…

I love you so much.

The pill is taking effect.

I'm going to sleep.

I'll come with you.

No.

You finish eating,

I'll wait for you in bed.

Alright.

In breaking news:

Today, November 17th, 2011,

at eight thirty in the morning,

the president of the Democratic Republic of North Korea has died.

Unable to hold back her tears, the anchorwoman, Ri Chun-hee,

gave news of the dictator’s passing

on the country's official television channel…

Mother.

...say that he suffered from cardiac and cerebrovascular conditions

and that he had a heart attack while traveling in his car.

Mother, are you alright?

…are in a state of collective hysteria over the death of the dictator.

A national month of mourning has been declared…

Mother.

Mother.

Mother.

Come on, Marta, push!

Come on, push, push!

Go on, it's coming. It's coming, it's coming!

That's it, that's it!

That's it.

It's here.

Congratulations.

It's a girl.

What will her name be?

She'll be called Mateo.

Translation by A. Ruiz