Original subtitles

Xi'an Film Studio

The year 1923

THE HORSE THIEF

The wind will tell.

There.

Thieves!

The thieves are taking our horses!

- If only we had stew. - Yes.

Have some.

It smells good.

Pass me some flour.

- Dad! - Yes?

Dad!

- Do you like my little dog? - Yes.

Let it go, it's time for bed.

No, I want to sleep with Ma.

- She'll come in a minute. - No, I want to sleep with Ma...

- Do you? - Yes.

- Go to sleep, Tashi. - He's impatient .

Dad! Dad!

Look at the bird!

Be careful, or you'll kill it.

The merchant's here!

The merchant's here, quickly!

- 2 pieces of silver. - It's worth it.

Check it out.

Hello, hello.

It's very good.

- This one is three pieces. - Do you have candies?

- Swap this for a quiver. - Then...

- Take it. - Thanks.

- I want to see! - I want a kite!

- What's Granny got? - A quiver, for arrows.

This costs a piece of silver.

Not bad, no?

These things are very good..

- How much?

40 pieces of silver.

- How much is this quiver? - Only...

2 pieces of silver.

- Here you are. - Thanks.

Dad, why've we bought a quiver?

So the Mountain God will bless us.

- Will he bless me? - Yes.

When you are older I'll teach you how to prepare it

so that you can use it.

Mountain God, bless us.

Protect us!

Mountain God!

Mountain God!

Mountain God!

Protect us!

The Headman's father died.

All the monks from the temple will come.

Many holy men are praying for him.

They will pray for him at the Gods, for three days and three nights.

What a lucky man!

The good are rewarded with good.

He was good,

he'll go to Heaven.

If he's reincarnated, his life will be good.

Yes, that is very clear.

Yes, the vultures won't touch the evil.

My Nowre won't go to Heaven.

Neither will Norbu.

You're back, Dad!

Your mother returned the skin and the butter.

But those were a gift.

She says you're a horse thief.

I want butter, I want butter!

Horse thief...

The Headman's father died, you should go.

Dad, where are we going?

To pray, son.

Buddha, bless us.

Let the halter go...

and I'll spare you.

Have mercy, do not kill to us, please!

Norbu.

Give them each a piece of silver.

With this you will be cured.

Put some butter on the wound.

Buddha bless you.

The big pile is for the temple, the small ones are for us.

First I will separate our part.

This is for the temple, to bless my son, Tashi.

Tashi!

- Tashi! - Dad. Dad's back!

Dad!

- You're back. - Yes.

Down you go.

Good boy.

Dad, dad.

- Tashi, look what I brought you. - Give it to me.

Give it to me.

Here.

A dog bit me... Look.

Come and bathe.

No, no.

Don't say this, it's Holy Water.

Come on.

My precious child, the Holy Water will protect you.

Listen everybody.

Norbu has offended God.

He stole the officials' temple gifts.

The government wants strict punishment.

Whatever happened, he's one of our clan.

We'll go according to our rules.

The punishment will be the exile.

He has to leave our town.

Forever.

Don't do this, have mercy for us.

Headman, I promise to repay your kindness.

I will never let my crime...

- I will leave the town. - It will be the best thing for you.

If I see you again, I'll cut your hands off.

Yes.

Buddha, save my son from this horrible disease.

Buddha, I beg you, save my son, save him.

You'll see.

The Holy Water will make you better.

Let me.

"Go to sleep, my son.

Sleep and I will give you a horse.

There's a saddle ready for you.

And I have a bridle, too.

I will catch a star just for you.

And pick you a flower, too.

I will bring a small dog to you".

Go to the temple tomorrow.

Ask Buddha to save him.

"Go to sleep, my son.

Sleep and I will give you a horse.

There's a saddle ready for you.

And I have a bridle too.

I will catch a star just for you."

Norbu.

Norbu.

Buddha has granted us another son.

- Go see what's happening with the wood. - I'm going.

There they come.

Let it go.

- I want to work here. - Not here.

- The harvest was bad. - A handful of barley is enough for me.

- I'm sorry. - Norbu!

You?

I heard the clan...

had a disaster.

- How's Nowre? - His whole family died.

- And him? - Him too.

- The rest of the clan? - They moved west.

Work hard.

- I'll come and see you. - Good

I'm leaving...

Bye.

Bye.

Get out!

Leave!

Leave our people!

We don't want you here!

Leave!

Get out!

Harvest was bad, God is angry.

Granny.

Listen, it's thundering.

The Mountain God is angry.

Granny.

Life is too harsh here.

I want to return to the clan.

Will the Headman agree?

I'll be going to Heaven soon.

Buddha, protect us.

I'll be going to Heaven soon.

Buddha, protect us.

Your wife and child can go back whenever they want.

The order is not against them.

But you are a river ghost, full of evil.

If you return they will cut your hands and kill you.

And you will never be able to reincarnate.

This is a good horse.

I'll give you three pieces of silver, I can't give you more.

Good. Three pieces.

This year I have to sell.

But it is worth it, I can't do anything else.

I want to stay with you, I won't go.

The clan doesn't have any food, either.

What about the child?

Tashi is dead for 2 years.

I can die myself, but this one must live.

We are being robbed.

They are robbing!

Catch him!

I got him!

Kill him!

I'm not a horse thief! Let me go!

- I didn't steal the horse! - Beat him to death!

Grandmother!

Grandmother!

Grandmother!

Dolma!

- Dolma! - What?

I killed it.

The sacred lamb.

Pack the things, we are leaving.

You're crazy, you didn't have to kill it.

Don't trouble me anymore. Get the child and let's go.

- Go? Now? - If it starts snowing...

it will be impossible to get out of here.

Quickly! Hurry up!

Faster!

Give him to me!

Don't cry.

Quickly!

- What are you doing? - Don't ask!

- But the tent...

How's the boy? Let me see!

This child must live.

Poor baby.

Off you go! Quickly!