Does the razor use up much power?
No, it's American.
Come here. So...
Look there. Don't move.
Be natural. Are you all set?
1, 2, 3...
Ready? - Ready.
Finally I can take this off. Everybody come here!
Mother, come, we're doing a family portrait.
A little bit closer together.
What's up with him? - He's fallen of the horse.
Give me the picture of Grandpa!
Do not move!
Nobody move. Look here!
Everything OK? 1, 2, 3...
Ready? - Yes!
Another one with sunglasses? Only 3 Yuan. - No Sunglasses.
Do another one of my mother.
O.k. This time with American background.
Looking through the camera, ruins the eyes!
Bilike! Come here!
Come on!
Bilike, what's Siriguleng doing here?
He's taking pictures of my family. Come on, hurry.
Who's first.
Wait for me, you're cheating!
Hey, what're you doing?
Here - for you.
For you, Dawa.
And these here are for Erguotou.
Where did you get the dates?
Siriguleng brought them for my grandma.
Nonsense, they're for your sister! Siriguleng likes her.
He'll surely become your brother in law. - And I値l become your father!
Hey, what're you doing?
Why are you here?
Do you have any sweets?
What are you doing?
You've scared my brother. - Just making fun!
Leave it.
Just take your brother with you!
Hey! Somebody come here!
Fetch some water from the river! - Yes.
Look! It floats!
What's that?
Is it yummy?
Perhaps it's a birds egg?
Nonsense! No bird's egg is so lightweight and round.
Is something in there?
It's lucent.
My grandma says ghosts live in the current.
It's probably a treasure from the ghosts. - What?
I've only seen ducks on the river but no ghosts.
Pa, what's that?
Woman? Do you know what that is? - What?
This here. - Perhaps a children's toy.
I don't know.
What do you care about children's stuff?
Look. This was streaming down the river.
Is it a ghost's treasure?
With ghosts it's like this:
Their treasures have a golden shine.
Does it bring luck to the finder? - Yes, it's a lucky charm.
It's gonna rain.
Bilike, look: She's glowing! - Leave me alone.
She's glowing a bit. Glowing pearl my ass!
There are no glowing pearls.
Your Granny made that up.
Perhaps your granny is a liar, mine's not.
This pearl is a lucky charm.
You sure, Dawa? Why does the moon shine?
Because it's high up in the sky.
But this thing's not. - Why does electric light glow?
Electric light? Because the wind puffs it.
Erguotou! Hurry, get up!
Dawa, get up!
Hurry!
A storm is brewing.
There's lightning! It's gonna rain soon. Let's hurry home!
What a thunderstorm! Now there's a lot of work to do outside.
How can an old woman like me help? I can only lie around.
I wonder how the poor animals are doing?
Beyond Peking's golden hills
the sun beams in all directions...
Beyond Peking's golden hills
the sun beams...
They catch horses that early in the morning?
Bilikes horse bucks. He needs another one.
Is there something you like? I carry new stuff!
Take your time to look at it.
Here, Tea from Hong Kong. - What's that?
And the photographs? - No worry.
Developing will take two weeks.
This is for you! I still owe you money for the lamb hide.
Dawa!
Fetch me a cold beer, you hear?
Hey, Dawa! Bring one more!
You wanna get me into trouble? - Why?
If my father notices this, I知 gonna get it, not you.
Is it only the few sheep? - Yes.
Then round 'em up. - Ok, in a minute.
One moment.
Dawa!
The guy from the anti-epidemic center comes for vaccination.
Vaccination?
I've been vaccinated only a few days ago.
Does it hurt?
Erguotou, please close up from the outside? - Okay.
What's that? - A famous American tea: "Coffee".
What else did you bring? What's that?
These are coffee mugs.
Not bad.
For you, Wurina!
Even more nice things? - That's a coffeepot.
Oh, the matching pot.
Do you bestow it to me? - That's not possible.
It's American. Worth at least a lamb.
That little thing?
Or the whole set? - Yes, a lamb for the whole coffee set.
What a strange book!
What does it say?
I've to go now, vaccinate the other kids!
I'll vaccinate Dawa next time. - Fine.
Where the hell is he?
Dawa!
You've scared me! What are you up to?
Look. - What's that?
A glow in the dark pearl. Come on, let's look if it glows.
Rubbish. It doesn't glow at all.
Get out! You're stamping on the dried yoghurt.
I could see it glow. You must be blind.
Whatever.
Is he back? - Didn't you find him?
I've no idea where he is. - It's very late already!
Where can he be?
There you are! I'll!
Hold still already! - Wait, I値l get the catching pole.
Master! What is this?
Don't fool around with it!
Come on, let's go!
What does a little lama do? - Dunno.
Let's play bonelet. Looser has to take a sip.
Beyond the lama are the ghosts. If he knows it, it's a ghost's treasure.
But the lama said it glows, if you really believe in it.
We can go to the sacrifice site and pray.
I don't want to, it'll be dark soon.
Erguotou, you don't drink liqueur? - I feel cold.
It won't glow at all.
What are you doing? Secretly boozing I bet?
What's it to you?
Come on, let's go.
I've heard about your glowing pearl. Show me.
No.
Told you: They're liars!
I really have a pearl but I don't show it to you.
What did you say?
Say it again!
What's with you? - You've hit him? - Yes, and?
I'll also hit you. - Stop it, Dawa!
We won't fight them. Come on, Dawa, we're leaving.
We don't fight stupid guys like you.
Wait for me.
Hurry!
Bilike, your granny lied.
How should the pearl be able to glow? - My grandma doesn't lie.
Even the lama said it's a lucky charm.
You're making that up! - No I don't!
Can't you ever stop struggling?
Where you running to?
Will you stop?
Stop!
What's the harm? - I don't need another drunk in the family!
You won't be keen on liquor anytime soon!
Pa was also drunk two days ago.
Why don't you hit him? - What's that to do with everything?
My father punches much harder.
When you're grown up, nobody hit's you.
Come on, let's split.
A little bit closer.
Only a little bit.
Now a little further to the left.
Can you see anything?
A little bit more. - And now? - what are you up to?
Now to the right! - O.k. Now?
Some more. - That OK? - No, more to the right.
Father adjusts the TV. - Yes, that's it.
We're nearly finished. Just a little bit more to the left...
SONG- AND DANCE TROUPE "THE RED RAG"
Lakes are mirrors for mountains and clouds,
in this land of clear water,
in this land, where one can live happily,
in this wonderful land!
This land, where one can live happily,
this beautiful land!
Pa, I want my old horse back.
You need another one, the old one bucks. - You just want it for yourself.
Keep away from my stuff!
Come on, Dawa!
Not bad! You've won! Here.
You're on a lucky streak. - Wanna try again?
Only one Yuan.
Now I知 gonna win the coffee. Get outta my way.
Damn, missed! - It's my turn now!
You're standing on the line!
I've struck!
You've stepped on the line, it doesn't count.
You overstepped, give me the bottle.
You cheat, it's mine! - Give it to him!
But I致e hit it. Give it to us!
Siriguleng!
You're pulling a fast one on us. Hand it over!
Stop this ruckus. There comes the police.
He tricked us.
What kind of deals are you doing, Siriguleng?
What a cheat!
Officer, Siriguleng is a crook!
He harasses Bilike's sister and cheats kids.
Put him away. - Okay, now I know.
Anything else? - No nothing. - Good, thanks.
Gimme some.
You coward!
Are you embarrassed?
You're the coward! - But you did run away.
I'm not scared of you! - Then don't be a chicken.
Come on, be brave!
O.k.
Already lost. - Did not.
Want some more?
Don't accelerate it's no good.
I'm pulling you out.
Sirigulengs feast- and spare time activities
What a slow police car! - Don't be such a show-off!
Cigarette?
Your old heap is still in good shape. - Do you have a light?
Show-off.
I've lost my lighter, can I borrow yours? - You must be...
I have to go now.
Come back!
Uncle, can you make me be up there?
Hands off!
This is a bad one! - No, a good one. - A bad one!
Which rascal did that?
Look! A glowing pearl?
A glowing pearl!
Uncle, the thing in the movie, what is it?
Is it a glowing pearl?
Keep away, let me clear in peace. - Is it a glowing pearl?
Look, uncle!
I also have a glowing pearl. Look here, uncle!
That's a ping pong ball.
Uncle, please turn on the movie. - We wanna watch again.
Please, please, one more time!
What's it good for? - Keep away, don't touch!
There he is! - Stand still!
So this is your glowing pearl! As if, a ghost's treasure!
We've seen how to stuff rat holes with it.
We have a lot of rat holes, stuff them with your ball.
Come on, let's go.
Show-off.
Bilike, look at what the movie uncle gave us!
Bilike!
Papa!
I want to join the "Red Rag". - What's that?
A song- and dance troupe.
Here, try it.
If you hit you may go. If not, tough luck.
Try your luck. I'll hold that for you.
THE PERFECT LIVE
Ready, set, go!
The noose is too wet. We'll try again.
Hold on!
Where can it be?
Where is it? Have you seen my spindle, Bilike?
No.
Where have I put it?
Do you receive anything? - No.
And now? - No.
Turn the knob some more.
Still nothing.
- What's wrong?
Bilike, hurry, look here!
You damn rascals! Looking for trouble?
Exactly!
One more time and you're finished!
As soon as my car is finished, I値l get you!
Bilike, Erguotou!
They are something about ping pong on the TV. - What did you say?
...on the TV. - Where are you running to?
Is this it?
Perhaps a different channel.
Yes, that's it.
The young Li Dong plays a wonderful slice ball...
Ping pong is our national sport...
The ping pong ball is our national ball...
In spite of progress...
much training is needed...
No picture anymore. - What happened?
The uncle on TV said, it's a ping pong ball.
And now the TV says it's a sport,
Can't be! For a sport it's much to light. Wrestling, that's a sport!
What does that mean: "National-ball"?
Where did you put the ball?
Thrown away.
Where?
And what if snakes are in there?
That's way to deep.
Wait a second, we'll fill it up with water.
That's not enough.
I have an idea!
Some more!
Strain yourself!
There it is.
Give it to me.
What's that noise?
That's easy!
Horse-stamping, obviously. And the horseman has the ball.
I wonder what a "national ball" is?
Dumb question: It's the ball of our nation.
The ball of our nation?
Don't you know the Panda? - Who?
The Panda is our national animal.
And this is our national ball.
The nation must be troubled then.
We must guard the national ball. - That's not enough.
We must bring it back to the nation.
But where is the nation? - In Peking, like the Panda.
Rubbish, the nation is at Tiananmen.
Where is that? - In Peking. - And where is Peking?
On top of the golden hill,
where the sun rises says my granny.
You sure? Perhaps she's lying again.
That's the Tiananmen in Peking. - It looks amazing, doesn't it? - Show me.
Beautiful, isn't it? - Yes.
Do you know what my granny sung at the photographer? - Dunno?
"Beyond Peking's golden hills the sun beams in all directions."
Beyond Peking's golden hills the sun beams in all directions
If Wurina passes the exam, she'll leave for the city.
We can't watch over her forever.
Not me alone.
Where is Bilike?
He's ridden away. Perhaps to the herd. - So early?
Hey, where you going?
To Peking, we must return the national ball.
Where is Peking? - Dunno.
Wurina, did you put on lipstick for the city?
The lipstick is for auditioning with "Red Rag".
Here, for you.
Great, poppy cake! Where did you get it?
It's from the altar at the sacrifice site.
That's forbidden! - My parents will punish me anyway.
Do you have any more?
Catch!
Wait! We can fill up on water here!
There will be even cleaner water coming up soon.
Let's fill our bottles.
In the past, there was a lot of water here. - Is there any more water during our way?
Before us lies the Gobi desert. I've never been here before.
You wouldn't listen to me.
And where is your water now?
The lake before, it's poisoned.
Not true. I've drank there before.
Stop it.
Behind the Gobi desert is Peking.
We won't make it without water.
Shouldn't we better turn back? - At least we could try.
Fuel is getting scarce.
Without water we'll die. Shouldn't we go back for today?
Next time we'll be better prepared.
You're just scared!
I've never heard that one dies of thirst.
And we made it already this far!
Then go it alone, I walk back.
You really don't want to come?
We'll ride on.
Go!
Come on. - We're going.
Bilike! Let's go home!
Next time we'll all be better prepared.
Erguotou won't squeal? - Surely not.
By the way, the lake is really poisoned.
Why is it still veld?
You hungry?
Me neither.
My mother surely thinks I知 hungry and made something to eat.
Peking is really far away.
Guys, my horse is home-bound.
And if we don't make it?
It's getting dark soon.
Let's check if behind the hill the veld stops.
Bilike, my horse can't go on!
Still veld!
Let's go home, Bilike.
I could eat a horse.
It's getting too late. It'll be dark soon and we'll loose our way.
We must find a place to stay before the wolves come out.
Mom will kill me...
So what, my mom will do the same.
Is there anybody out there?
Is there anybody? - Is there anybody?
Nobody.
Is some food left?
No.
Nothing left...
Here I am!
Come here!
Dawa, there's a car out there.
Are they evil?
Don't step outside.
They're coming.
Open the door.
Open!
Bilike, Dawa! I've seen your horses!
Erguotou!
How did you get here? - How did you find us?
Wasn't easy!
We've been looking for you the whole night.
I thought the wolves ate you. - Not us, no way!
Hurry up, get in the car.
Totally crazy: To Peking! Haven't even been there myself.
You've went in the wrong direction.
Or did you want to go to Russia?
It's not that easy.
You need a visa, don't you know? Even I don't have one.
Doesn't a cop work for the nation?
I think so. - Then we could give him the ball.
Right.
You do it. - No, you. - No, you.
Look uncle: The national ball.
Why doesn't he listen? - Ask again.
Look here, uncle: The national ball!
He didn't see it properly. Show it again.
We've found the national ball.
You can keep it for all I care, but stay seated.
We can keep it!
Really keep it? - Yeah, really.
I'll guard him the first few days. - Best I値l keep him.
Where are you going? What a lousy brat!
Where have you been?
You never listen to your parents!
Always ignoring what you're told!
Nothing but trouble with you!
What did I do to deserve such a brat?
When I知 grown up nobody will hit me anymore!
Come on, Bilike. Let's go.
Gimme!
Can't you listen?
Gimme!
Can't you listen?
Give it to me!
We have to give the ball back to the nation - The nation?
You should give it to me! Hurry up?
I'd like to build that,
here, with the wind generator.
A round wind generator?
That's not possible. We can't build that.
That's really difficult to build.
This here could work,
but that we can't do.
We'll need more bricks.
For one more sheep I値l get the fuel.
Can't you see I知 checking the blueprints?
Couldn't you build it anyway? I could pay some more.
No, it's really not possible.
It's hard enough already.
Wurina! Your brother should enter school sometime soon.
Yes, he's seven now.
A letter from the city from the dance troupe. - For me?
Pour me a tea first! - I should pour you tea?
Pour it yourself.
Get the national ball so they can admire it.
Show it. - Come on. - Such a beautiful ball!
What you waiting for? - What's up with you?
Hurry up!
It's broken. - Who did it?
My mom stepped on it.
Why didn't you guard it?
If I壇 seen that coming, I壇 kept it.
Now I知 gonna keep it.
O. K... Give it back after two days.
Fine.
Let me see.
That's what it looks like now.
Before, it was round.
He's measuring and measuring but he still doesn't like it.
Mom, I have to tell you something:
"The Red Rag" wrote: I've arrived. I have to leave.
Pa already knows. He didn't say anything.
Bilike, get granny, tea is ready.
I want one more sheep for it. - Your TV is too old.
Two sheep is a good price.
This is not for sale. It's my catch rod.
Why are you standing there? It's gonna rain, come in.
Pa!
Granny doesn't like the new square house. It's uncomfortable.
Bilike, can you do that?
Look!
Dawa, where is my ball?
Here, try.
I don't want to play. Where is my ball?
I traded it.
It was broken anyway, so I changed it for this.
Don't you wanna try? - I don't want this stupid game!
I want my ball.
Why did you throw that away?
Why did you give my ball away?
I just traded it, what's the matter?
You don't do things like that. - Well, it happened.
But it's my ball.
You don't say!
Your mother broke the ball!
So you hit me.
I don't want to see you again! - Like I care!
Who are you anyway?
Why does school cost money when you have school attendance?
The money is for books and stuff.
Do teachers hit the pupils? - The teachers are nice.
It doesn't work Without beatings.
Somebody at home? Can we come in? - Yes!
Hello.
Some friends you are, beating each other!
Dawa, give Bilike his ball back.
To fight over such a silly thing!
What's keeping you?
You're like brothers.
Such a quarrel is ridiculous.
Brothers of the veld share everything, keep that in mind.
Take it.
An you don't paint that? Don't try to trick me.
Don't you want to go to the city? - No, there are to many people.
Dawas family will move on.
I should give this to you from him.
When will you be back? - When my brother has school holidays.
Where do you ride to? We have to go soon.
Bilike!
And listen to your teacher, always do as he says.
Study hard.
Take care and watch over your brother.
Don't stare, we have to move along.
Next, Assa will recite a poem.
My teacher paints letters on the chalkboard.
Her beautifully black hair
gets white wisps.
Teacher, I need to go to the bathroom. - Go.
We're like a sheet of paper,
that she inscribes.
When we sit still, she teaches us gladly.
She prepares the soil, where our knowledge grows...