A long time ago...
... a young woman went off into the world...
... like her brothers and sisters.
She fought in wars...
... had children...
... suffered...
... and loved greatly.
I was the sixth-born child...
... Phung Thi Le Ly...
... and I lived in the most beautiful village on earth.
My earliest memories were working alongside Mother in the fields.
Always working, my mother.
Each grain of rice, a symbol of life never wasted.
While we worked, she would teach me everything I had to know about life.
Mama, where did I really come from? Where do babies come from?
From my bellybutton.
Don't worry. God makes babies and put them in your belly.
You have plenty of warning.
The fragile rice had to be planted and transplanted several times.
Our rice paddies were always near the cemeteries...
... because we believed the spirits passed through the soil into the rice...
... so the new generation, in eating the rice...
... was sharing in the spirit of their ancestors.
Then one day, in the summer of 1953...
... the French came.
They destroyed our village.
And the following year, we went hungry.
I will never forget my father's eyes...
... as he watched our house burn to the ground.
But as it had happened to our village for so many centuries...
... we rebuilt our lives.
Mama, where do babies really come from?
Then in 1963...
... the peasant countryside changed forever.
When the Vietcong first arrived that rainy season...
... some of them were remnants from the war against the French.
Many of them were displaced immigrants from the North.
All of them were angry.
My parents taught me Vietnam is...
...a free nation.
That is what this war is about.
The Chinese, the Japanese, the French. They have each tried to rule us.
And we have won!
The North and the South are inseparable, like sisters.
But in 1954 the French and American allies gave themselves the right...
...to separate us and kidnap the South.
Can we stand by and watch the kidnappers...
...taking turns, raping and corrupting our sister?
That is what this war is about.
Why should outsiders come in...
...divide the land and tell some people to go north and then go south?
If Vietnam were truly for the Vietnamese people...
...shouldn't we be able to choose the kind of government we want?
A nation cannot have 2 governments any more than a family can have 2 fathers.
- They have bombs, 10 men for one of us! - He's right.
What do we have?
We have rags, we have rifles!
And sticks! We have sticks!
We have no rank, no promotion.
We take no money.
We are your servants.
We respect your homes and shrines.
We are your family.
Do you want to dance?
Le Ly, come on.
It was my brother Sau I loved the most.
He was always there to protect me and make me laugh.
Hurry.
Sweet rice, black beans.
You be very careful. Write, Sau.
I will return.
- Take care. - Le Ly, I will return.
Be a big girl. Always take care of Mama and Papa.
Protect yourself from ghosts.
Take care.
As they went north to Hanoi with the Vietcong...
... I felt it was the last time I'd see my older brother, Bon...
... and my younger brother, Sau, for a long, long time.
Maybe forever.
But it was Sau who was ripped from my heart.
You understand that a country is more than dirt...
...rivers and forests?
You know your brother Sau may not come back?
I told you many times...
...the Chinese ruled our land.
Many die.
Le Loi, Jia Long and the Trung sisters.
And your ancestor Phung Thi Chinh fought to throw out the Chinese.
Your grandfather fought and died against the Japanese...
...just before you were born.
We suffered much.
When the Japanese came...
...your mother and I were taken to Danang...
...to build a runway for the airplanes.
We worked like slaves.
Our reward was a bowl of rice...
...and another day of life.
Freedom is never a gift, be Ly.
It must be won and won again. You know that?
I do.
See this land?
Vietnam is going to be yours now.
If the enemy comes back...
...you must be both a daughter and a son now.
From my father I learned to love God and the people I could not see...
... my ancestors.
But I would learn in time...
... my father's words would be twisted by events.
Government soldiers came with the support of American advisors.
Your village will be safe.
They built barricades against the Vietcong.
It's part of the new Binh Ky hamlet.
Many of you will be asked to take militia training...
...so you will be prepared...
...to resist the Communist rebel!
You will be rewarded...
...with food and money.
Your older children will be sent to camp...
...for military training.
But younger children can go to school.
Your village will be happy and peaceful.
Do you have any questions?
Go to your leader.
The soldiers ate our food, slept with our women...
... and searched our homes...
... just as the soldiers of the warlords had centuries before.
But the government's leader, whose name was Ngo Dinh Diem, America 's ally...
... was a Catholic, like the French...
... and that alone made him suspicious to the Buddhists in our area.
The Northern leader, Ho Chi Minh...
... had been a great patriot against the Japanese and the French.
And we always heard stories of his compassion and his love for Vietnam.
What are they?
Americans?
They say they all have blind blue eyes behind their glasses.
If you take their shoes off, they have soft feet and cry in pain.
Take away their glasses, their boots, they can't fight.
Not very good soldiers.
Not very good fence.
Your president, Ngo Dinh Diem, wants to know...
...what will you do if you see a Vietcong...
...or hear about someone who's helping them?
Turn him in to the soldiers.
Good.
And get a big reward for every Vietcong you help capture.
During the day, we were a government village.
But each night...
... when the soldiers returned to their base and we played...
... there was never any shortage of Vietcong fighters.
One night, the Vietcong came for my teacher.
Have you been teaching these children to betray their country? Treason!
The first thing you should learn on this night...
...Ky La was saved from the boots of the oppressors.
We're the liberators!
The night belonged to the Vietcong.
Even though I was scared, there was no real choice.
They fought for our freedom against the Southern government.
No matter who's asking the questions, either side...
...play stupid, stupid, stupid child.
- Any news from Sau or Bon? - They're training in the North.
- Any chance for a visit? - There's no time for sons and mothers.
I told them we needed her on the farm.
For all the help she is here...
...maybe we should send her with Sau.
That'll teach her the value of work.
Don't say that!
Le Ly must do her work like everyone else.
She thinks she's too good for work.
Too busy flirting with no-good schoolboys.
- No, the big boys bother me... - Don't talk like that.
- Be quiet! - Don't hit her.
Do you hear me?
Do you want to send all my children to Hanoi or Saigon?
If I can't have my family around me, what's the point of living?
You always think only of yourself!
The French, the Japanese, now the Americans are all over us!
It's good they go north and fight.
War is coming, you stupid, selfish man!
Stop it!
Go!
Forgive him, Mama.
Don't cry.
I've made your papa lose face.
If you ever do that to a husband...
...I'll have both your cheeks glowing, one from him and one from me.
You hear me?
Which one is first?
Anybody? This is it!
You talk now or it's bye-bye, Charlie!
You dig, asshole?
All right, it's your ass!
Kiss it goodbye.
You're next.
You talk?
You gonna talk?
At my mother's request, a local wizard examined the umbilical cords...
... of my two soldier brothers...
... who had not written in over a year.
The older one...
...is strong and healthy.
The younger one...
...is in a place too gray for me to see.
No, this is not true.
I know Sau is alive.
I feel it in my womb.
Did you hear...
...funny noises last night?
Maybe voices last night in the rain?
I did.
Here is your trouble then.
Your shrine...
...is too small.
And we have a lost soul...
...who needs to come in.
That's all.
Just build a shrine outside...
...and everything will be fine.
The Vietcong ingrained in us a sense of xa...
... duty to land...
... duty to country.
The ant became our moral model.
We formed cells, associations where no one accumulated power over others.
Only in battle or by your own hands will you be immortalized.
You never moved up in the ant society, you only moved further in.
If the Vietcong won us over...
... it was because they lived their lives with us.
But every time we ambushed the government soldiers...
... twice as many came back.
Get your asses in there. Get your smart asses down there!
One day...
... they came for me.
Papa! Help me!
Tell me quickly. Why were you on the road?
Cutting grass for the water buffalo. I didn't tell my parents.
Liar.
Again.
Why were you on the road?
I didn't mean any harm to anybody.
Liar!
You are can bo cai...
...VC cadre girl.
You were giving warning to your friends.
Where's the VC base?
I don't know.
How many battles have you been in?
What is your rank?
Please...
I'm just a girl.
I haven't done anything.
Do you know what this is for?
Think about what this can do to your body.
How would your baby like you with no nipples?
Or maybe I could cut some skin off your ass to make some sandals.
Think about it...
...Miss Vietcong Hero.
And when you're called again...
...you be prepared to tell me everything you know.
Don't move.
I haven't done anything! I don't know anything!
My mother used my dowry to bribe a military official...
... to have me released.
And now...
... the villagers were suspicious of my family's ties to the government.
Finally...
... the Vietcong came for me.
- She did nothing! - Stay back!
No respect!
You've no respect!
- I'm coming too! - No, the prisoner come alone!
Stay back!
Our men were betrayed.
There are informers here!
How else could the enemy know so much?
This village is filled with traitors...
...government sympathizers that would sell us out for a relative...
...for money, for privilege!
So I ask you:
What should we do with these people?
We must give these people a lesson they will never forget.
See?
See it?
- What is it? - A grave.
Your grave...
...stupid girl.
What kind of deal did you make to get out?
Did you promise them some of our ears for their belts?
My mother bribed an official. Why won't you believe me?
Little rich girl!
You want to live?
My life is in your hands.
What does that mean?
I mean, I won't talk to the enemy.
I've been shamed enough in my village.
If you want, I'll go far away.
I'll never come back.
You talk about this, we'll kill you for real.
No, don't!
No, get off!
Shut up!
I was never to understand why I was raped...
... and not killed.
Or if I had ever really been sentenced by the Vietcong.
It may have just been a warning to my father.
But it ended forever...
... my relationship to my village.
My sister Hai found us a job in the city.
Papa stayed on the land to guard the spirits of our ancestors.
In Saigon...
... much to our confusion...
... the monks were being arrested.
I've never seen so many cars, so many people.
The other one.
Madame, they're ready.
This way.
Country fresh. Good workers.
So which village?
Ky La.
Near Danang.
Le is wonderful with children.
Perfect babysitter.
How old is she?
Eighteen.
Is she strong?
Yes, she's very strong. She started to work in the fields since she was 4.
They'll do.
Yes, ma'am. Let's go.
You'll be punished for this, you stupid girl!
Making the master open the door!
Don't be too hard on her. It's been a long day for everyone.
Run off to bed. I'm fine. Go on.
I could not sleep.
I couldn't either, master.
I am not your first.
Yes, you are.
I was raped...
...by the village boys in Ky La.
My poor thing.
Have you bled?
Stupid girl.
You were not satisfied with a perfect life in a perfect house?
You had to seduce the husband! Make him stray from his wife.
Look what it brought you.
That's not how it happened! Anh cares for me, he loves me.
Do you think a stupid girl like you means anything to him?
Now you're going to have his bastard.
Perfect!
You will just have to get rid of it.
We'll go see the herbalist tomorrow.
What are you doing, Le Ly?
Oh, I'm sorry, Madame.
I'm expecting a child.
Yes, I know.
We learned it from the herbalist.
Who is the father?
Don't look so surprised.
A boy.
Someone I met in the park. You don't know him.
Why are you burning incense?
Because...
...I don't want the baby.
I was praying to be forgiven.
In front of my husband's ancestors?
I don't know what else to do.
The boy's Catholic, like you.
I'm a Buddhist.
I see.
Well, I have another explanation.
I believe the father of your baby is my husband.
Oh, no! Anh, I mean the mas...
Be silent!
You know I'm not well.
But I have given my husband sons.
Beautiful boys.
As fine as any woman could have given him.
So don't think...
...you won't pay for what you've done.
You and your daughter must leave the house at once.
Leave?
But why?
Nobody knows but you.
Let people think the father is some soldier.
I know, and that's enough.
Men are like dogs pissing on posts.
They go once, they go twice.
But be Ly's no threat to you. She has nothing for a proper man.
She's just a country girl.
An ignorant, stupid, foolish child.
A maid that will never be a bride.
She's nothing! Worthless!
Absolutely not.
I won't have her in my house.
Not as a nanny.
Not as a housekeeper.
Then as number two wife!
You're out of your mind.
As concubine to the master.
As your slave to kick around.
To warm your husband's bed when you have better things to do.
Why waste your health on a man's rutting...
...when a stupid girl can do it?
You're always number one wife. The law is on your side.
- Please, Mama! - Stupid, stop!
They must go now. Today, before supper.
You tried to get rid of it?
Yes, of course. But your seed, master, is too strong.
Now it has hold of be Ly too.
Please, help us get by the best we can.
At least until the child is born.
I won't throw you into the street.
But I cannot ask my wife to let you live with us.
- I'll put you in an apartment. - Not in Saigon.
How far away do you want them?
How far can you drive in a day?
All right.
They'll go to Danang...
But we have nothing!
...with enough money until the baby's born.
I'll send you money monthly.
To a bank or a relative.
I don't want you to know their address.
That's an absolute condition.
You will have enough to live on.
My steward will handle everything.
One day she'll come back!
Don't forget her! She makes an excellent second wife.
Promise you won't forget her.
But the money never came.
Madame Lien saw to that.
My mother sold snails for a while in Danang...
... but soon gave up and returned to Ky La.
My father, ashamed that I was unmarried and pregnant, refused to see me.
- You want Mary Jane? - Go away.
Hey, G.I., number one cigarette?
How about some boom-boom?
No, me no hooker!
- Give you $10. - No. Cigarette?
- $15. - No. Cigarette?
What you hiding there? Those baby bellies turn me on.
- Come on, give you $50. Come on. - No can do! No, you fuck off!
What's in the box?
Johnny Walker, cigarette.
- What's this? - Marijuana, huh?
This is all I have.
That's okay.
Where's Kim?
Kim work.
I'll wait for her, little sister.
No, baby san. Baby san.
- You go bye. - Beer.
You go bye.
Beer?
I look for Kim.
Me daughter.
- Kim here? - She no here.
Please. Me daughter, daughter.
I come long way.
- Go away. - Please, please.
Me Papa. Papa.
No see long time.
Please, please!
Go now, you fucking stupid gook asshole!
- What are you doing here? - Papa's at the house. Paul's back.
Paul's back? So soon?
Paul, good to see you, honey! This isn't a good time.
Oh, baby!
I'm six weeks in the fucking bush. I need some pussy bad! Now!
Father came a long way to see me. Not good time.
He's got time, I don't. Get him out!
Come back.
I need some pussy, baby. Now!
He pays my bills. He's my man.
- Will you come on? - Give me a little time, Papa.
Come back in two hours.
Let's do it.
See you.
I came to see your sister.
She's at work.
Selling near the base.
- Is she doing well? Getting by? - She's lazy.
- But I help her all I can. - And the baby?
I don't know why she seduced her master's husband.
When she got caught, did she keep quiet? No.
She has brought shame on us.
An unwed mother.
But she's not the only one who has brought shame to us.
I do the best I can, Papa.
I'll be late for work.
When you see be Ly...
...tell her I came here to see her.
I miss her very much.
She should not worry about being punished for her mistake.
Life finds a way to balance itself.
Will you tell her that for me?
Of course, Papa.
And me?
You too, my sweet one.
Your boyfriend treated Papa so bad.
You would be ashamed.
You were there.
This is not the way Papa taught us to be.
Do you think I like what I'm doing?
Somebody has to make a living here. You don't help!
I don't know why I let you stay here!
My boyfriends complain about you!
Pregnant women are bad luck!
How disrespectful you are! If Papa...
Papa what?
- An invader! - Really?
You sleep with the enemy! You betray your family!
That's enough!
That's enough out of you!
And I'll marry one too! You'll see!
And I'll get out of this goddamn country!
And as for you, young lady...
...no more charity for you!
Go on! Get out!
Get out! Do you think that you're the only one Papa loves?
You spoiled!
Spoiled!
To survive, I picked through the American base camp garbage.
And it was there that I first saw the remains...
... of poor prostitutes who had been murdered by men.
Thank heaven it's a boy.
Put him up to feed quickly. Too much blood.
How will you care for him?
Better give him away or kill him.
And your shame will be washed away.
You're a lucky girl among the indig personnel referred to this office.
I will have no problem placing you.
Provided, of course, you play ball.
No big deal.
We'll do it any way you want.
Now, you do your best...
...and I'll do my best.
Open door!
Don't make such a big deal about it. Just a little suck...
Bitch!
Stop!
You! Call MP now!
This man try rape me!
Go! Go!
Supposed to be a joke, right? It's a joke.
Months went by.
There were more prostitutes, black marketeers. Everything had a price.
My family was suffering.
My papa had gotten old and sick and could no longer work the land.
Hey, G.I., you buy? You buy?
- Not today. - G.I., you buy? Smokes? You buy?
G.I., you buy?
Hi, Big Mike.
You look beaucoup sau.
No good day.
I got something to change your mood. See those grunts?
They're leaving for the world today.
So what? They want souvenirs?
I got Chinese jade, Big Mike. Mary Jane. Titi money.
No, they want a real souvenir. They want boom-boom you.
Beaucoup boom-boom over there.
Plenty crabs too.
These pencil-dicks are clean. They've been in the bush since they got here.
One of them's going home to his wife.
Want them to go boom-boom some scuzzbag and bring home the clap?
They're willing to pay $20 each head.
Le Ly good girl. Fuck off.
Okay, 5 flags and that's just for one. $100 for the other.
Two hundred dollars, real money.
Why?
Too much.
You joking.
These guys got the bread from being in the bush.
I told them clean poon is expensive.
Look, Le...
They beat the odds. They want to leave something behind.
A memory. Something.
Le Ly not that kind of girl.
No deal.
Jesus Christ, you drive a hard bargain.
400 fucking dollars. This is green.
And that's it. That's all they gave me.
You give me 50 commission, you pocket 350.
Support your family for a year, easy. What's so hard about it?
15 minutes. It ain't even work. Lie there and let them do the work.
What'll they do that ain't been done already?
They don't got all day. Take the money...
...and give them a story to bring home.
You're no cherry.
Just do it for fucking world peace.
Come on!
Send the poor bastards home with a smile.
My father was dying.
I returned for the first time to my village.