And with Mom coming and going, lots of things were going on.
And In my case...
This Is me.
Just like Bruce Lee, right?
Let's go.
I should never have let her have that movie.
That day Sakurai said we should try-
- walking on the white llne as far as we could.
How many girls have you dated?
- One. - Just one?
- What about you? - Just one, too.
- I left a college guy six months ago. - You're an adult.
I used to like confident guys.
- It's only been six months. - Girls have a phase like that.
Do you want to know how far I got with him?
I'd rather not know.
- What's that? - What's what?
- Brothers and sisters? - An only child.
I have an older sister.
What's your hometown?
I don't have a hometown.
My dad's from Yokohama and my mom's from Kyushu.
What?
I was told to call them "mom and dad"...
...but I didn't, even if I got hit.
Your dad hits you?
- Sometimes. - Really?
- Put your shoes on. - It feels better this way.
Keep going, straight ahead.
Stop.
- Whose house is this? - My house.
- We have an appointment. - Appointment?
- For Sugihara. - Thanks.
It was my first dinner In a Japanese home.
- Would you prefer beer? - No thanks.
- Do you like this country? - What?
My boyfriend heard this one before.
Not too many countries without policy like Japan.
I'm almost embarrassed to be Japanese. I don't even vote.
But...
...do you know what "Japan" means?
The land of the rising sun.
Some people think so, but there are some other theories-
- like it coming from ancient poetry.
- Not taught at school? - Yeah.
My point is that no one really knows what it means.
There aren't too many countries like that.
- So? - So...
That's the point.
- What does "Japan" mean? - The land of the rising sun.
But I thought that wasn't true.
- Let's go. - Thank you.
- Some cantaloupe? - Later.
This? It's my dad's hobby room.
Over here.
First name.
- No one said it down there. - I told them.
Look?
Lick?
Love... you.
After that, we always met at Sakurai's place.
We got closer together.
We did a lot of stuff I can't tell you...
...but we didn't go all the way.
Yes!
Dad sent me.
Thanks.
Enjoy.
That scared me.
Oh yeah...
Do you want to go to the opera next Saturday?
- Opera? - Cavalleria Rusticana.
I wanted to see La Traviata, but it's not on.
Opera...
I'm going to the opera.
I have to save some money.
- Is opera expensive? - Maybe.
By the way, does she know?
- Know what? - About you... Everything about you.
I'll tell her soon.
I'll tell her after the opera.
Do you remember the "Super Great Chicken Race"?
- Why would you bring that up? - You looked so cool back then.
You were there?
I've been thinking about how you were like then.
Do you remember Tawake? The really fast guy.
- He made it, too. - What's he up to now?
- Stupid, I... - Yeah.
...gave my fingerprints.
This was when foreigners still had to glve their fingerprints.
I thought I'd give them a good beating, but...
The shapely girl had a bruise on her face.
When I pressed with my finger, she covered it up like this.
I couldn't touch them.
I said I was sorry and kowtowed like never before.
I finally got caught.
Authority's scary.
If you don't run fast enough, you can't get away.
Stupid, you're my successor.
Get it.
I heard that after that incident-
- Tawake quit school and became a South Korean.
Really...
I wonder what he's up to.
He's probably running down some street.
For sure.
Get it.
I'm just imitating Tawake.
See you.
- Stupid? - Jong-il. What's up?
Are you free tomorrow? I have something to tell you. Big thing.
- Tell me now. - No, not over the phone.
You'll understand why.
You're dirt if you can't pick up the Korean.
- More like shit. - A pussy.
- 500 yen says you strike out. - For good luck.
Go.
Excuse me.
- What is it? - No, I didn't mean...
What the hell are you doing?
Ambulance!
Call an ambulance!
Please! Somebody call an ambulance!
Jong-il ended up taking his "big thing" to heaven.
Jong-il really thought highly of you.
Thank you so much...
...for being his friend.
Mom.
Hey.
Skip school tomorrow.
- Why? - You know why.
- Those bastards have to pay. - What's the point?
I'm asking you: Are you in or out?
Jong-il wouldn't like it.
Jong-il's dead, Stupid.
He left some unfinished business for us.
He would have wanted you to do it.
What do you know about Jong-il?
You hardly knew him. You just want to get violent.
You're just looking for a victim. I don't need your excuses.
You've sold your soul.
If I had a soul like that, I'd gladly trade it in for 20 yen.
Do you want to buy it?
What's in a name? That which we call a rose-
- by any other name would smell as sweet.
Do you want me to stay the night?
I'll stay with you until you wake up.
Why?
I don't know...
...but that's what I'd want if I were you.
I love you.
What is it?
I want to tell you something.
I don't think it's important-
- but I need to tell you now.
- What is it? - I'll tell you.
I'm...
I'm not Japanese.
- What do you mean? - Just what I said.
I have a different nationality.
- What are you? - South Korean.
I was North Korean until junior high.
Might be Japanese six months later.
- What are you saying? - That it doesn't matter.
Were you born and raised in Japan?
Yes, but my education was different.
I went to North Korean school until junior high, so I learned Korean.
I'm bilingual.
I can cheer for both Korea and Japan.
Cool, huh?
That's it.
Why?
What's the matter?
Dad told me when I was little...
...that I couldn't date Koreans or Chinese.
Is there...
...a reason for that?
I don't know.
My dad said...
...that Korean and Chinese blood...
...is dirty.
What's so funny?
- I'm sorry. - About what?
I understand...
...but it's no use.
My body...
Having you inside of me...
...scares me.
You said it wasn't a big deal.
How could you bring this up...
...and ruin everything?
My first time.
I was already scared.
Say something.
My first name...
...is Tsubaki.
Like the Japonica flower.
Sakurai Tsubaki.
It's so Japanese that I didn't want to tell you.
My name is Lee Jong-ho.
Like in Bruce Lee.
A totally foreign name.
I was afraid to tell you.
Hey!
Come here.
- Can you spare 120 yen? - Sure.
I want some coffee, but I don't have any change.
What are you doing out this late?
Nothing much.
- Where have you been? - Over there.
Your name and address?
What's the matter?
No way.
I can't believe it.
You got a smoke?
I'm not cut out to be a cop.
I'm no good at sports-
- I have a weak body and I look stupid in a uniform.
I don't think so.
I faint at the sight of blood.
- I'm sorry. - Yeah.
I just wanted 120 yen.
I thought I'd be arrested for not having my alien card.
I'm South Korean.
From South Korea?
No, I'm a Japanese resident.
Do residents have to carry alien cards?
- Imprisonment or a 200,000 yen fine. - Really?
Then I have to arrest you.
You didn't even know.
I dated a Korean girl once.
- Really? - She couldn't cook.
She made horrible kimchi. You had to wash it first.
But she was really cute.
I had a Japanese girlfriend until now.
Until now?
She worried about stupid things-
- like the way I pronounced Jean-Claude Van Damme.
- I could always see her panties. - Awesome!
She's really cute.
- What actress does she look like? - I can't think of one.
Maybe the actress who came to our parade.
- I've forgotten her name. - Whatever.
I got it.
I really loved her.
I didn't mind discrimination before-
- but I got scared after I met her.
I've never been in love with a Japanese girl before.
Always got tripped up.
I told her I was a Japanese-born Korean.
So?
- She got scared. - Ouch.
Sometimes I wish my skin was green.
Then I'd always know I'm Korean.
They'd stay away from the "scary" guy.
I sometimes wish I had a more stupid uniform-
- like a sailor suit or leotards. Then people wouldn't ask for directions.
I have to go.
Yeah.
Good luck.
If you're a good guy, they'll come. Don't worry.
Get some chicks sometime. Stationed over there.
- Hello. - Could you please...
...come and pick me up?
I haven't seen you this drunk in a while.
I'm sorry.
- Lucky night? - The opposite.
What happened?
I got two phone calls in a row.
First...
...another exchange counter went under.
And then...
...I got a call from North Korea.
And?
Tae-hyun died.
Tae- hyun was my dad's brother. In other words, my uncle.
He went back to North Korea In the 50s.
I never met him.
The letters stopped coming after my dad became a South Korean.
He was a good painter.
When we were kids, he painted sunrises...
...on the bow of a fishing boat.
Three days later, the ship got caught in a storm.
Everybody had given up hope...
...when it returned the next day.
After that, he became a famous painter.
He'd paint on the boat and get food for it.
Yeah...
We ate crab for the first time.
It was so delicious that we cried.
Yeah...
I should have sent him crabs.
I wonder if he ever ate crab up north.
Bullshit! Enough with the poverty stories.
Why not a revolution to eat crab? Nobody's crying anymore.
Get a fucking grip!
Your generation never did anything!
- He's your father! - He's no father of mine.
- Sir, can I hit him? - Now, now...
Can you go over to that park?
It won't take more than three minutes.
He may have lost his brother and his business-
- but he shouldn't whlne.
I'll be the first to knock him down.
Kids these days carry weapons.
We need a bell.
The champion!
You let your guard down, fool.
- You cheated. - Cheated?
I've always found a way to win...
...and that won't change. - Bastard!
What you say may be true.
It's not our time anymore.
Talking about Zainichi and Japanese-
- is just bullshit, as you like to say.
You guys should be open-minded.
I'll wipe out borders.
Remember that our ancestors have been liars-
- since the Lee Dynasty.
I found it.
I found it. Look.
- Will the business be okay? - Yeah.
I've saved up enough for Mom and I to get by.
If we go back to zero, that's okay-
- but we can't take care of you, though.
Mom.
I'll kill you if you touch Dad again.
I'm the one who's hurt.
Look, the love of a wife for her husband.
- Shut up, you stupid man! - Why are you hitting me?
I'm sorry.
Why the stupid picture In our entrance?
Why the change In their nationallty?
It wasn't to go to Hawaii. It was for me.
My father tried to remove the shackles from my legs.
I'm going to college.
- Really? - Jong-il wanted me to.
As you like.
I'm not Korean or Japanese.
I'm grass without roots.
Six months later
Quick.
Hey.
Stop singing and get it.
The power's out.
Hello.
It's been a long tlme.
How are you?
I'm fine.
Do you remember the school where we met?
Go there.
I'll be walting...
...until you come.
I heard you need a false tooth.
Shut up.
What am I?
What am I, goddamn it?!
Answer me! What am I?!
Japanese-born Korean!
How can you call me a Korean?
If I'm a Korean-
- that means I'm a stranger who should leave the country.
Is that what you want?
Sometimes I want to kill you, fucking Japanese!
I scare you, don't I?
You need to call me something!
Right? Okay, I'm a lion.
But lions have no idea that they're lions.
You fucking gave them that name!
If you come near me, I'll rip your head off.
Call me anything. Viper, scorpion-
- or why not an alien?
But I don't think I'm a fucking alien!
I'm not a Korean and I'm not an alien!
I'm just me!
No, I'll give up being me.
I'm a fucking question mark, something unknown!
Does that scare you?
Say something! Dammit!
You don't like this? I don't give a shit!
Those eyes...
I loved those eyes.
The other day, I was depressed by bad test grades.
Somehow, I was really lmpressed.
You were so cool when you kicked that guy.
When I saw you In there, I forgot about my own problems.
You were so cool that I couldn't stop laughing.
I realized how funny "cool" could be for the first tlme.
Stop Sugihara!
Sugihara.
That's when I knew your name.
You know what you did, don't you? Come along.
This is like then.
I'm sorry I'm not psychic.
When you stared at me, I got the shivers.
I don't care what you are.
Now I know.
I may have known from the first moment I saw you.
Are you crying?
There's lots of tough guys out there.
Have to break through.
No way!
And it's Christmas Eve!
So embarrassing. This can't be!
Let's go someplace warm.
We can think about where we'll stay.
I just want to say...
...that your toothless grin is so cute.
Shut up.
Come on.
Let's go.
Translation: Broadcast Text Stockholm, 2004