That summer vacation in 1999
opened up a whole new world for me
It was the hatching out of the shell of my ignorance
It still lives in my memory that summer vacation
as if it were only yesterday
SUMMER VACATION 1999
They've all gone back home
Except for the three of us
We've got no homes
What's so nice about homes
No fun being alone
Lonely?
You're always like that
Like what?
Like a grown-up... cold
He's older than you
Kazuhiko, it was you who made Yu
Stop it!
I'm going back
Stop it!
But
Come on!
I know it you'll come back someday
Who is it? Help!
Naoto!
You scared me
Shouldn't come here alone
I wanted you to come with me, but you were with Kazuhiko
I asked him
He refused, didn't he? He should have come here first
He will
You always take his side That's because you like him
No, stupid
Let's pray together
Look, do you believe he's dead?
Three months now
His body hasn't been found
He chose the lake to sleep in forever
You think it was suicide?
Three for Naoto
Two for me
Two for Kazuhiko
Funny. Static?
Morning
Another dream?
I forgot
Already
I'm sweaty
A shower
Hurry. Norio won't wait
I made it
The pan was big and heavy, but I did my best
He doesn't feel good today
I'm sorry
I know you don't like eggs
But it was my turn to cook, and all I can cook is eggs
It's good
You don't have to eat
A wasp!
Don't move, or it'll sting you
I'm scared
Poor wasp! How could you do that?
But you were scared
You didn't have to kill it
You could have let it go
Right. I should have
But you were scared
Don't blame me
That's enough
But, that poor wasp
It was alive
You killed it. You did it
Stop!
I'll go clean my shoes
You're mean
I meant it
It wasn't like you. Cruel!
Then you think so, too?
That he killed Yu?
No!
Nice clouds
That one looks just like you
I'm always thinking of you
Because, I...
I don't understand, but
Maybe I shouldn't have such feelings
I don't know
It hurts me
It's hard to explain
It hurts
We should not talk to each other so much
Wait. Don't say that, please!
Yu, here's my answer!
No!
I'm not a ghost
Do I look that bad?
You're alive, Yu!
Yu? Who's that?
We're going to be schoolmates
I'm new here
Something wrong?
It's vacation
I know that
But my parents wanted to get rid of me
So they sent me away to school here
What's your name?
Why are you asking me that?
You look like him
Who?
He's dead
He looked like me?
You know Yu?
No. This is creepy
I'm Kaoru
I'm going to the school
Kazuhiko
I'm back
Yu!
My name is Kaoru
Why do you know my name?
You told me yourself
You're creepy
Not again!
What?
You're surprised to see me
Where...?
My room
Who are you?
Here. Keep it, if you're in charge
I heard we'd have a new student
That's me
Are you and Yu...
Yu again! I don't know anyone named that
It's all right, my coming so early?
I have to let you in
My room?
Any room. It's vacation time...
Anyone I like?
This one
Why?
The other rooms smell like they're lived in
Not this one, like no one'd been here
Who was here?
Nice quiet boy
And?
He fell off a cliff and died three months ago
Body's still missing
That boy who killed himself
Killed himself? Who said so?
Kazuhiko
Kazuhiko? He looks serious, but he tells too many jokes
Not a suicide?
An accident
Really? Strange
Come on in
I'm not a ghost
Yu's back
No. Stop
He's the new boy?
No. I mean Yu
He's not Yu
He's in Yu's room
He likes it
Why did you do that without asking us?
It doesn't matter
You're really carrying on
Yu gave me a record before he went away
He said
We're really birds. We're being hatched
We're struggling to get out
Our egg is a world
But if you want to be born you must break that world
The birds fly to the god
That's Hesse's Demian!
He said that
Then?
I break the egg and I flap my wings
Then I fly toward him
Who?
Listen to this
The same music Yu gave me. He is back!
What?
Stop!
Did I do something wrong?
Why hit me like that?
Stupid!
Sorry
All done
I'll be going
Not yet
Why not?
We have rules about this
That's stupid
We live together, so we need rules
I don't
You going to hit me again?
He's gone
Let him
Don't fight
Let him alone
Yu, stop!
Did you kill him? Did you push that boy named Yu?
No!
Kazuhiko
What is it?
A bad dream
You were groaning
What's the time?
Three. Most people die at three
Who is it?
Standing there
You're imagining
Outside the door
It's him
He's there. It's Yu!
There's no one
What's the matter?
Get off my chest!
Stop!
No!
Let go!
Don't die
Can you hear me?
Are you Kaoru?
Of course. Who else?
Why're you up?
You, too
Maybe you're a sleepwalker
No
I couldn't sleep, so I went to Naoto's room
And?
Nothing
They wouldn't let you in?
Come on in
Tell me about Yu
Yu liked Kazuhiko
He's no good
But Kazuhiko didn't like Yu that way
Is that why Yu died?
Who knows?
Everybody likes Kazuhiko
He's no good, but everyone likes him
That's why I hate him
You okay?
Forget about him
I want to go away
Why?
Sometimes I suffocate
I hate being cooped up here
This is like a safety zone
So I hate it
I want to knock down the walls
You'd only find more walls
All we can do is to find better walls
I'm fine, Mom
Let me tell you something about the school
It's vacation time. Only three students are left in the dorm
No, we're all right
They're named Kazuhiko, Naoto and Norio
Two seniors and one junior
Naoto is serious
Kazuhiko is real temperamental. Norio is still a kid
Mom, what are you doing?
I'm still sad about your getting remarried
I still love you best in the whole world
So I can't live in the new house you're going to build
And I can't call that man my father
I want to put my clock forward so I can grow up faster
And I'll stop your clock so it won't go at all until I become an adult
You'll be like the Sleeping Beauty
and only wake up when I kiss you
You know this one?
No
It's called horsemint
You know a lot
Here too
Funny
Static?
Here
No, here
Is this all?
Ham and vegetables?
Yes
And bread, milk and an egg
Not enough for a meal
They deliver food only once a week
We have rations for three
You're an extra
Stopping?
Changing. Let Kaoru do it
You play
Yu was a good pianist
Kaoru is better
Yu wanted to be like Kaoru
He was honest enough, but
he wanted to be more selfish, free
Did he?
I think Yu is inside Kaoru
Don't bother me
I won't
You are
But it's fun
This is no game
You're bothering me
I liked Yu better than Kaoru
So what
Yu was honest, true to himself
He looked at Kazuhiko with love
But Kaoru is selfish, gets in the way
I wish Yu was like before
I've told you I'm not Yu!
Don't keep saying it
I see. Yu's dead after all
Don't cry
You cry so easily, I don't like it
Stop crying
Watching Kaoru?
He's not Yu
He isn't timid like Yu was
Your type?
He's okay
I didn't like Yu
He made me feel funny
But when I see Kaoru I'm
relieved
What did you dream the other night?
About Yu
- Naoto - What?
When I got a prize for that recitation
Yu gave me a bouquet
But
Congratulations
White flowers? For a funeral?
Cut it out
I tried to make him hate me
But
He just couldn't hate people
I've been bad enough to go straight to hell
You've got to forget it
But I can't forgive him
He should have hit me like Kaoru
Then maybe I'd have liked him
Sorry, you don't have to listen
The problem's mine
No. Let me share it
Go get it before it gets dark
And in the forest flowers are blooming
I got up early to pick some
The same flowers you and I picked
You painted a picture of them
I liked it
No, nobody's here
I thought somebody was coming
Who would come?
It's midnight
I played the piano today
They were surprised how good I was
Do you play sometimes?
Just painting?
As I played, I remembered how you sang with me
I heard you sing
The clock in my room shows 11:57 The hands don't move
I won't let them move because you gave it to me
I wished this vacation would last forever
All I wanted was
being near Kazuhiko. I wanted to stop time
But then Kaoru came and everything changed
I got it!
It's dead
Of course. It's the acid
No!
What?
You're not Yu. He was nice
He'd never just kill a butterfly. He couldn't
I can. I'm not Yu
Get that butterfly
I didn't ask you to break it!
Sorry, I didn't mean to
I wanted to kill it without hurting its beauty
Hurt or not, death is death
No sympathy for that life you destroyed?
I don't like insects
I wouldn't care if they all died
If Yu died either?
What do you know?
The boy who looked like me lost his lover and died
His friends say it was an accident
Say it for your sake
Friendship!
I don't know why Yu felt that way
I don't like myself
I don't like you either
But Naoto does, and Yu did
Yet you refuse everybody. Your heart's so hard
Why? What for?
Maybe because I'm weak
A coward
I'm afraid of showing what I am
I've been living this way, only myself
So you hated Yu
You can accept Naoto's love He is like a big brother
But if his love had been stronger
you'd be afraid, and you'd have fought to keep him away
Yet Yu dared to touch you, though hurt, bleeding
You couldn't stand it
He's dead now. You must forgive him
When Yu wrote that way to me
I told him I didn't like it
But he wrote again
"I love you in my heart"
I wouldn't allow him to
I told him that I can only love myself
More letters came
But I didn't read them
After the last letter
he fell off the cliff
It was selfish of him to die
He won't let me forget him
He went and put himself right in my heart
He walked all over it. With his boots on
No, barefoot and naked
He would never have done this
How do you know? You never met him
He's not a stranger to me anymore
If you treated me that cold
I would have felt like Yu did
I understand him
I can hear him whispering to me
He offered himself. He was refused. So he died
And his death is heavy on your heart
I'm sorry, but you can't kill anyone already dead
You can't run away from the love Yu left behind
Yu! Just go away!
I'm Kaoru, not Yu
Yu, get out of Kaoru
Yu's gone
I know he didn't want you to forget him but
But I'm not Yu
He's dead
You can't find him
Kazuhiko, aren't you lonely?
Always alone
Why not kill him? It's Yu
Yu liked Kazuhiko
Naoto likes him, too
Then Kaoru came
This is me, left alone
I'm always left out. Nobody likes me
Only Yu was nice to me
But he's...
dead
They've gone. Why?
Kaoru's mother died
He went home last night. Kazuhiko went after him
Was there a call last night?
Kaoru took it
I was up late last night. The phone didn't ring
You're hiding something
Why?
You lied. You wanted to get rid of him
Not him -- you
Why?
You're always complaining that nobody likes you
It's disgusting
Surprised? I was worried so much I had to come
This studio's going to be sold
So will all my mother's paintings
This was where she worked?
I loved my mother best in the world
There was always plenty of sun
We were alone with each other here
Lots of memories then
Tell me some
I'm happy you feel this way
How about your mother?
I don't remember my parents
They were killed in a power plant accident
Then you grew up by yourself?
But it didn't make me sad
I don't have any memories
So tell me about your mother I want to know how you feel
Will you stay here with me?
Why not? Let's talk all night
Talk and cry. You'll always remember her
Kazuhiko, no! He's
A dream
What's the matter?
Norio's gone
I was bad to him. He ran away
We're through though
Got to find him
He can't be far away
Maybe I've hurt him so much
Maybe it's too late
No
Let's go! Hurry!
Here he is!
What's the matter?
We've been looking for you
Hurt?
No. But he has one of his legs broken
Norio
Are you all right?
Yes
He's so warm
He's cute!
I heard your mother died
But I'm not alone anymore
I'm sorry I was bad to you
That's all right. I found the rabbit limping
So I stayed here with him all night
I fell asleep. He was like me
All alone like an outcast
You're not an outcast!
Kazuhiko, you're nice now
Stupid
He's always been nice
I got something good
We'll do it tonight
Summer will be over soon
and autumn will come and go
At the end of winter, all of them will leave
They'll graduate
I'll be here alone next summer
I don't think you'll read this letter
You'll tear it and throw it away
Still I can't help writing
It's my last letter
I don't want anyone to read it
I just want to talk to somebody
I don't think my feelings about you are worth anything
But I know they're true, sincere and
they won't change
If you'll always remember me
if I can find a place in your heart
I don't mind losing my life
So I'm going to leap towards you
And if, by any chance, you read this letter
can you somehow forgive me?
Crying?
For Yu
Why now?
Why...?
You died
And came back
As if you wanted Kazuhiko to love you
But only as Kaoru could you make him
That trick worked really well
Right, Kaoru? I mean, Yu
You're Yu. Yu's mother was an artist, too
You led Kazuhiko to her place, but she'd died long ago
Kaoru, where are you going?
Where are you going?
Naoto hates Kaoru
They're going to the cliff where Yu killed himself
You did it here
When I heard about it, I was more glad than sorry
While he was alive he tried to make Kazuhiko like him
He was always standing around wanting Kazuhiko...
to look at him
You wanted Kazuhiko for yourself?
Yes
After Yu died he turned to me
He began to rely on me. It made me really happy
But later I realized something
He was possessed by Yu
By dying Yu won a place in Kazuhiko's heart
Stop!
I couldn't make Kazuhiko forget Yu, then you came here
Jump!
I'll watch
I'll see to it. You won't come back
Now jump!
Don't!
Don't do it!
Everybody's dying
Everybody!
What's happening?
I didn't think you'd come
But you did
Ask Kaoru... I mean, Yu
What happened?
He's sick. He's crazy
He almost killed me
What for?
He loves you. You know that?
No
You're blind
Go to him. He's suffering
Only you can help him
Just like Yu
I love you, Kaoru
I'm in love with you
How much?
I'd never been in love
I was always on the safe side, like being locked up
I was never in love. I was afraid
I was afraid of being loved
So I refused Yu, and he died
But when I watched you I knew how he felt. I fell in love
with you
It was like a door opening
I asked. How much do you love me?
Kazuhiko
I'm Yu
I'm just getting even
I came back as the new boy and managed to win your love
Now it's my turn to refuse you
You never forgave?
There's one way to forgiveness
Tell me
To die with me
Die with me. The best time of your life is when you're little
Let's die and get born again, together
Enjoy being kids over and over
Die and get born
Always as little kids
All right. Let's die
No!
Just like you said. I'm Yu
And like you said, I'll die here
But not alone. With Kazuhiko
Kazuhiko! Kaoru!
Don't die!
No. I didn't expect an ending like this
I had a dream
About Yu
He forgave me
I feel as if I were reborn
We could only save you
Yu? Kaoru?
He's gone
He really died this time
When I was a child, I cried looking at the sunset
I went catching cicadas. My friends left me
I was alone under that burning sky
So terribly alone
As if I were the only living being on earth
All alone!
The sunset was so beautiful
Everything was glowing, all red and gold
But there was no one to share this beauty with me
I was so scared
and so lonely
I was helpless
All I could do was cry
I still dream about that sunset
It was just like this one
Forgive me, Kaoru
Are you Yu or Kaoru?
Neither
But I know you
That summer vacation in 1999
Opened up a whole new world for me
It still lives in my memory as if it were only yesterday
Eri Miyajima as Yu and Kaoru
Tomoko Otakara as Kazuhiko
Miyuki Nakano as Naoto
Rie Mizuhara as Norio
Produced by Yutaka Okada and Eiji Kishida
Written by Rio Kishida
Photographed by Kenji Takama
Art design by Shu Yamaguchi
Music by Yuriko Nakamura
English titles by Tadashi Shishido and Donald Richie
Directed by Shusuke Kaneko