The Harmonium in My Memory
Boiled eggs, dried squids
How much?
5 wons
There you go, Thank you.
Boiled eggs.
Pumpkin candy. I collect empty bottles.
I take rubber moccasins. Ullungdo pumpkin candy.
Hey you! Stop!
I said stop!
Dare you! You're messing me up!
Rock-a-bye baby on the tree top
Stop crying!
Hey! You can play like that with the baby crying?
Get away! Come to mama. Come sweetie.
You done boiled the laundry, girl?
I've...
Hey! Where ya going?
Ouch!
Get off!
Oh my lord!
Oh no!
Wretched girl! I'll be sure to break your legs!
Sir, we're here.
Thank you, sir.
Pardon me, Miss!
May I ask you something?
I'm trying to find Sanri Elementary School...
Pardon me, Miss... Pardon me...
Damn girl! What cha looking at?
Talk about nerves!
Get up and hold onto this!
You act like you've never been fed!
When was I ever fed right?
How dare you complain like that?
Oh, my back!
Ma, you ok?
You trying to kill me girl?
Get up and eat your dinner!
Here, here. Drink some water.
Ay, you wretched girl.
This is Mr. Choi, he's in charge of 6-2 class.
Nice to meet ya!
You're gonna break some hearts in Sanri, ain'tcha?
Meet Mr. Cho, Myungkoo,
He's in charge of moral training.
How're ya! Nice to finally meet a fellow bachelor.
And this is Sanri's one and only, Miss Yoo, Haeri.
She's in charge of the 4th grade 4-1 class.
A bachelor worthy of the title. Welcome to Sanri!
Mr. Yang, Poongjoo, in charge of General Affairs.
Ay, nice to meet you. Please fill out these forms...
I need a copy of your birth certificate, diploma...
huh?
Here, let me...
Thanks.
My name's Yang, Eunhee, Nice to meet you.
K-Kang, Suha. Good to meet you.
Have you two found places to stay?
Quiet, bright, the best room in this house.
This is the only room you've got.
Great! I'll take it.
Wonderful. You must be starving!
Go on and wash up!
First job after Teaching School, so how old are you?
Twenty-one.
Why do you ask?
It's like seeing me, only ten years younger.
Living in this poor village...
It's boring a single old man like me to death here
Why are you still single?
It takes two to tie the knot.
I'm sure you'll meet someone...
What?
What's the use? You don't have a turntable!
I've got some root wine, let's have a drink.
Good morning.
What's with you two? Go on, get going...
Good morning.
Kangjoo, please walk Nanhee to school.
The most important thing is to respect your elders.
Respecting your parents and following the rules...
Who the hell!
So happy I'm not your class teacher anymore, huh?
We'll see about that next year. What you laughing at?
Fuck! You little punks!
Attention! Bow!
Good Morning!
Listen, students.
She still thinks I'm her class teacher.
Go over there and have a seat.
Before we begin...
Quiet.
Quiet!
Who's baby is that?
Young lady, I'm speaking to you?
It's my baby brother, we don't have a babysitter.
Before we begin everyone...
Kangjoo!
Granddaddy's got your lunch box.
Where'd she go?
Sir, I'm Kangjoo's class teacher.
Oh, teacher sir. What a fine job you're doing here.
She quarrel with her mama and didn't have breakfast.
Granpa, I ain't hungry! Go home!
Kangjoo! Get over here and take it.
Scholastic achievement is not everything.
You all have different features and different talents.
Scholastic success is only one of thousands of gifts.
What I want from you is to value your...
You bastard.
Fuck you asshole.
Hey, let go of me, dickwad!
Hey you two! Stop that this instant!
You son-of-a-bitch! Let go!
Ooh, look!
You had to go poop now!
You guys stop it! He's got the stick!
Stop it, stop it, stop it!
Jesus, Christ!
Damn lowlifes! This isn't your living room!
You spare the rod and the kid goes rotten.
You have to kick some asses if you want peace.
Treat them like people. Force may not be necessary.
That's theoretically correct, theoretically.
You have to punish one and show them what you can do.
They won't mess with you after that. Isn't that right?
Hey, they're getting away.
Stop right there!
Hongyeon! Let's play!
I'm too old for you runny nose babies!
A belated welcome. I'm Dootae's dad.
Please come on in!
Thank you. Here you go. How's my Dootae?
I hate to brag, but he's a winner.
Yeah.
If I can be of any assistance. Please let me know.
Talk about needing assistance. Such an ancient Auditorium,
this an age for reconstruction, right?
There isn't much, but please help yourself!
Mr. Chung, huh, huh?
What in God's name are you doing? Got your monthlies?
Ow.
An official welcome song to the new teachers of Sanri!
"The young girl by blossom pond has run away to Seoul.
She done thrown away her bucket and hoe..."
Hongyeon, mama's going to town for work.
Wretched girl.
What in heavens is going on here?
I wanted to teach them that school is a fun place.
A place worth coming to...
The classroom is not a playground.
What about next month's provincial placement exams?
I understand your intentions.
But you mustn't disturb neighboring classes.
Oh, were we that loud?
No. I, I thought you were having class outdoors.
I thought it was a chorus.
What? I thought it was an earthquake!
Uh oh, look who walked in.
Ouch!
Are your their class teacher?
Yes? Please have a seat.
Aren't you Hong... dan? Oh, right.
Uh, hmm, uh...
Huh?
My name's Hongyeon, not Hongdan.
Yoon, Hongyeon.
Oh right! Sorry, I haven't learned all your names yet.
That's all right. I understand.
Good.
What are you still doing here?
Ah, I left my lunchbox here.
I see. Well, go home now.
Oh, Mr. Kang!
Please, let me.
Oh, that's Ok
It's Saturday. Why are you still here?
What about you?
I wanted to correct some compositions with the kids.
These 5th graders have the grammar skills of 1st graders.
Many of their parents are illiterate themselves.
I heard most of these kids end their studies after 6th grade.
To be practically illiterate would be a shame.
It doesn't seem like the rain's going to stop.
Mr. Kang, do you have an umbrella?
I wanted to major in music, but my parents disagree.
So, I settled for just listening to a lot of it.
Have I been babbling on about me?
No, I like music too.
But here is far from town. It's hard to buy new records.
I have some LPs. We could swap from time to time.
Mr. Kang, you're twenty-one, right?
Yeah...
What an age to be.
Why do you think you're too old?
Not yet but I'm already twenty-five.
Twenty-five is a ripe age for a woman.
We're already here.
My place is this way.
I'll walk you home.
No, that's Ok It's just right here.
It's raining too hard. You'll catch something...
Miss Yang, here take this umbrella...
No just share it with me next time.
Of course... yeah! The LP... the LP?
Hey, stop fooling around. Hurry up!
Where has she gone?
Hi ya.
Sir, does this work?
Everything I fix works like a charm.
More like a scream!
Teacher!
Nanhee! You live here?
Uh huh.
Ooh... how pretty.
Now, where's the newspaper...
Oh, Mr. Cho
Yes...
Could you please help me here?
Yes, ma'am...
Oh, Mr. Cho.
Hold on a sec.
Journal Time
Class, I got a look at your compositions.
Everyone works hard but still have many mistakes.
So I got this idea.
You will have a chance to write in your journals everyday.
Aahh, come on!
Do you want to be someone who can't even write a decent letter?
No-o-o!
Then, you must listen to what I say.
Now, now, settle down. You must write in your journals everyday.
Don't wait until the last minute. OK?
Yes, teacher!
If you do this well,
I will tell you stories about Seoul and other fairy tales.
Tell us now!
OK, I'll tell you about the young man that got married...
Once upon a time...
I experienced a dramatic story in Seoul...
The full moon always makes me so sad.
I wonder if teacher's looking at the same moon?
What's with you girl? Actually doing homework!
Ay, Suha just put your laundry in the hamper!
No, that's OK, I've got it.
Oh no. What if your students see you? Go on in.
It's all right. I can do it.
For heaven's sake, go for a walk to town or something.
Let me help you for this
Teacher told a really good story today.
He's such a good storyteller...
Our teacher is so generous.
Other classes are jealous as their teachers are monsters.
I can't wait until tomorrow, the night is too long.
Good morning.
Hello.
Hello, Miss Yang.
Good morning.
"They drift like snowflakes... smell the scent of flowers
look at each other and smile"
Teacher pinched my arm today. I was surprised to red.
I felt so strange walking home. Why did he pinch me?
What does it mean? I can't understand.
"Three times eight is twenty-four, three times nine is twenty-seven..."
Excuse me.
Mr. Kang! Have you seen Miss Yang's class?
Miss Yang! Come over here! Miss Yang!
All the other students are busy cleaning,
Why's your class getting haircuts?
We've finished our spring cleaning, sir.
You haven't waxed the floors, they must shine!
It's clean. Why does it need to shine?
The school inspector will be here tomorrow!
Is he coming to inspect the floors?
No, that's just common courtesy.
Mr. Choi, I'll take full responsibility with regards to the floor.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got hair to cut.
Wait a second! Miss Yang!
That pigheaded little...
Mr. Kang! Mr. Kang!
Are you waiting for someone?
Teacher, why did you pinch me? I can't forget it.
I think about it when I study, when I walk home.
teacher, what did it mean? Please tell me.
I think and I think and I can't figure it out.
Mommy, mommy!
Why you despicable girl!
Subtract twenty-three wons, add ninety-four wons...
Hongyeon, are you feeling all right?
I'm fine.
It's fine for a boy to pee from the living room.
Why do boys get all the break. I hate boys.
I really do.
But ma only takes his side because he's a boy.
Anyhow, I feel better now that I pinched him real hard.
I hate our rooster.
The hen lays the egg and he crows like he did all the work.
I hate him...
School's no fun. I'm sick of my friends.
What's the point with school or graduating?
Mongdol, didn't you bring any lunch?
Here have mine.
Something I ate for breakfast... I'm not very hungry.
Here have it.
Yoon, Hongyeon!
Answer me when I call you!
Yes
Why aren't you eating?
I'm not hungry
You should eat something.
I'm all right.
Hongyeon
Mr. Kang!
Here you are! I've been looking for you.
Go on home...
Aren't you sick of boardinghouse food?
I brought some side dishes, please try some.
No, I'm fine.
The kids are cleaning themselves before physical exams!
When I think of Mongdol last year, I still lose my appetite.
Raise your head. Come on kid, go.
Clean under your fingernails! What are these, your toenails?
You eat 3 times a day not even a toothbrushing?
Mongdol! When was your last shower?
Where's Hongyeon?
Hongyeon?
You're maturing into a woman!
Yes, just a minute.
Miss Yang!
What is it?
Uhh...
We're here to take the class' stool samples!
Go ahead!
I listened to the LP you lent me.
Connie Francis, "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" is good.
I asked a friend of mine to send it to me.
He is helpful. Well, I'll lend it to you when I get it.
Thanks.
No, I should thank you. Hahaha.
"elp"..."elp"...
I can't do it. It's not coming out!
Try harder. Or else, a week of bathroom cleaning!
What about you?
It's not coming out because I went this morning.
Does anyone live near Hongyeon?
Did Hongyeon tell you she would miss school today?
Oh, did everyone bring a stool sample?
What's going on?
Teacher, it's Nanhee!
What's wrong?
Hongyeon's absent again!
Teacher, Hongyeon's not coming to school ever.
Why, what's wrong with her?
I don't know. She just doesn't want to she said.
What's she doing then?
Just laying on her stomach all day.
Why, is she sick? What's she doing?
Nothin'. She just lies there like a frog.
She's just playing hooky.
How much further?
We're almost there.
Yoon, Hongyeon, Teacher's here!
Ay, Teacher! What brings you all the way here.
I don't know what's got into that girl.
Why won't she go to school. She drove me crazy!
Ma'am, where is she?
She was here. Where is this wretched girl?
She's hiding in the back.
What are you doing there?
Hongyeon, why've you been absent?
Why're you behaving like that?
OK, kids. Go on home now.
Ma'am, could I talk to her alone, please?
Sure, sure!
Mr. Kang, if she don't listen to you, just beat her...
Hongyeon!
Hongyeon
Hongyeon, look at me.
I came all the way here and you won't talk to me.
Didn't you hear your mother telling me to beat you?
But I would never hit you... Hongyeon?
But you must come to school. I was worried about you.
I thought you were sick. Even in an accident.
Well, I'll expect you in school tomorrow.
It's not the same without...
Wow, these cherries sure are ripe.
"My heart is beating, you're the one who knows"
Some girl student of yours left them here
I asked her name and her grade but she didn't answer.
A big girl I might add. "Come closer..."