Festival of Arts 1961
A SHOCHIKU production
The Aso Volcano
IMMORTAL LOVE
Producers: TSUKIMORI Sennosuke
and KINOSHITA Keisuke
Cinematography: KUSUDA Hiroyuki
Music: KINOSHITA Chuji
Set Decoration: UM EDA Chiyoo
Sound: ONO Hisao
Lighting: TO YOSHIMA Ryozo
Flamenco guitar: Jos
Flamenco singer: UI Akira
Assistant director: YOSHIDA Yoshishige
With
Sadako: TAKAMINE Hideko
Takashi, the lover: SADA Keiji
Heibei, the husband: NAKADAI Tatsuya
Tomoko, Takashi's wife: OTOWA Nobuko
Yutaka, her son: ISHIHAMA Akira
Rikizo, Takashi's brother: NONOMURA Kiyoshi
Sojiro, Sadako's father: KATO Yoshi
Screenplay and Direction: KINOSHITA Keisuke
CHAPTER I
*1932
Be careful! His leg is hurt.
I'm sorry.
This road is all broken up. I'll have it fixed
in order to celebrate your return.
I also paid for this band, to welcome you back.
It's their first parade.
A war injury is an honor.
Don't be sad.
Long may you live!
Come on. Help him out!
Welcome back.
Take care of the horse.
More beautiful than ever!
It's the freshness of her youth.
And she's flirtatious too!
Dad!
Quit lingering!
We have a banquet.
- Let's get going. - All right.
Long may you live!
Enough with the music!
Let's have a drink! And thank you!
We couldn't hear each other!
We can drink at ease now.
Little Sada, pour me something to drink.
You're getting more beautiful by the day.
As a punishment, I'll stop.
No! Fill my cup!
I'm going to bed.
You're not forced to stay here.
Young master, please honor me...
By the way, Sadako...
when is your Takashi coming back?
I don't know, Mr. Chairman.
You must be worried.
He's your boyfriend, after all.
Excuse me.
No need to run away!
Everybody knows you love Takashi.
Look how she's blushing!
Is it true she loves Takashi?
Well, you know... I don't know anything about young people.
Let her pour me something to drink.
Sadako, come and pour something for the young master.
Please.
I met Takashi.
Where?
In Shanghai.
When?
Early February.
Before my return, he came to visit me at the hospital.
Really?
He told me he could die at any moment.
The war has gotten worse.
Nobody knows if he's still alive.
- You want some? - No.
Pour some for me, then.
Do you love Takashi so much?
He was always first in his class.
The model student in the whole village.
Since I was very young, my parents used to tell me
that I had to be like him.
He really grated on my nerves.
I hate him.
Sadako!
Wimp!
We, the Koshimizus, have been heads of the village for many generations.
And you let a farmer's girl humiliate you?
Keep your rank!
Sadako!
Wait!
You're going to make things worse!
I refuse. I'm going to tell them.
I'd better go myself. Stay here.
This is going too far. They know that...
It's Takashi I love.
Why did they summon you?
They want to take back half of my lands from me.
Why?
They'd like to plant some fruit trees.
To bring them luck.
They want to plant more?
It's just an excuse.
Actually, they hate my younger brother Takashi.
Because Sadako is in love with him.
She came to see me. In tears.
It seems Heibei wants to marry her.
Did you give an answer?
If I refuse, they'll take all my land.
I'd become an outcast.
If Takashi comes back, it's going to get worse.
Maybe it'd be better if he died at the front.
We only hear bad things regarding the Koshimizus.
They boast of living on "The Mound of the Thousand".
It must be the 1000 dead people,
whose blood has wet the ground on which they live.
You pervert! Get out of here!
Don't you love me?
No. You know I love Takashi...
You are the evil one! You despise a cripple.
It has nothing to do with that!
Even if Takashi came back crippled...
Would you love him anyway?
No!
Dad!
It seems you don't like drinking.
Don't be sad.
Yes.
What an idiot you are!
You should be happy!
Your worthless daughter is entering our family as a wife!
She should be proud of it!
My son has come back crippled from the war.
I can't refuse anything to him.
Come on, drink gratefully!
Drink and be happy!
Would you rather be sad?
Hand me your cup.
Dear father-in-law...
Drink!
Allow me to go.
Sadako!
Rikizo!
Look uphill, I'll go downhill.
Sadako!
Idiot! Everybody's waiting for you back home.
They've come for you.
Come with me. Do as you're told!
No! I want to see Sadako!
- It's useless! - Useless?
I want to hear it from her.
Takashi!
Don't be an idiot! You are a glorious Japanese soldier!
Don't make us look foolish just for a girl!
Darn it!
Take your uniform off, at least!
No!
I want her to see me in my uniform.
I've been dreaming of this moment for a long time.
During my return, I could think of nothing else but her.
And she's not here.
You must understand. She can do nothing about it.
The day of the marriage has already been fixed.
You can do nothing about it.
You, my elder brother,
couldn't you prevent it?
Impossible. I'm sorry.
Now, I have to tell you something I wanted to hide from you.
You'll soon come to know it anyway, maybe from little Sadako.
What?
Little Sada...
isn't a little girl any more.
What do you mean?
The young master...
took her by force.
She feels so miserable. Don't talk to her about it!
She felt unworthy of you,
and threw herself into the river. I saved her.
I want to see her.
I don't care if they'll make fun of me.
I don't give a damn!
My Sada,
you see, I've come back.
You too have suffered a great deal.
My Sada!
We're finally together again!
But I... I'm dishonored.
What are you saying?
I won't leave you to that useless cripple!
Let's run away! Let's run away together!
But you know what happened to me...
You are mine. For life.
He stole you from me. Now, it's my turn.
Let's leave with the first train.
Tomorrow, wait for me at the foot of the hill.
Just before dawn.
Get ready before your father's return.
See you tomorrow.
Dad!
Sadako, Takashi won't come.
Rikizo gave me this letter for you.
Takashi left it before going away.
"I've been thinking all night.
"Instead of running away with me,
"be happy in a rich family.
"I'm leaving alone.
"Be happy. Be happy."
Once upon a time lived
A young girl in love
But then, but then
In her little village
Her love was so frail
Frail as a flower
And then, and then
CHAPTER II
*1944
The horses trampled on this love
Life is so cruel
Ho, elder!
There! I've been drafted!
You've been drafted, at your age!
I'm saying my round of goodbyes.
I'll join the Army tomorrow.
They even requisitioned the cripple's horse.
The country must be in danger.
Goodbye.
Is anyone there?
Madam, I came to say goodbye.
Where are you going all of a sudden?
I have received my conscription call.
I'm taking the train tonight.
Really?
My husband never tells me anything about the village.
Please, take good care of my family.
You take care. Come back safe and sound.
Thank you.
Actually, besides my family...
Takashi's wife and their son have been living with us for a week already.
Reallly? Anyway, have a safe trip.
Don't worry about them.
Even if I can't do much...
Wait a moment.
Some money for a departure.
You have the means to pay.
For him, it's not the same.
2 or 3 yen are not enough.
You always do as you please!
Did Takashi send you his family?
He was drafted into the army last December.
Really?
Conscription twice! He has no luck at all!
And his wife and son have sought refuge in your home.
I have seen your declaration at the town hall.
Yes.
How does his wife look? Is she better-looking than Sadako?
No, not really...
She'll be a burden during your absence.
Takashi's wife could do the cleaning at our house.
We need some help.
Very well.
Go tell her. She can start tomorrow.
Yes.
So? Did you hear?
Yes. It's a good idea.
Really? A good idea?
Why are you laughing?
It's a little ridiculous, isn't it?
I'm thinking of Takashi's face.
It's funny, isn't it? I'm going to support
both his old love and his wife.
You're the most despicable of men!
Tell Takashi's wife
that I will treat her well
and that I'll be waiting for her.
Very well. I'm going.
Stop your tinkling.
Go see what he wants.
What is it?
You must come as soon as I call you.
Yes.
- Sit me up. - Yes.
I'm hungry. Give me something to eat.
If you cry, grandpa will scold you.
Naoko, what's going on?
It's Eiichi's fault.
I'm going to scold him. Come.
Eiichi, Come here!
Eiichi, do you hear me?
I hate you!
Eiichi!
Sadako, can't you hear the bell?
Morito, go look for your brother.
Eiichi is so stubborn. He won't come.
Tell him I want to see him.
He will come, if I tell him to.
You really don't love Eiichi.
What are you saying? He's my son.
He's my favorite.
Quit it. Don't say that in front of the kids.
The kids know it well.
You can't love Eiichi,
because of that night.
Stop! That's old history.
But you can't forget it!
There are things you can forget
and other things you can't.
Really? If you don't want to forget, remember it forever!
But it's not Eiichi's fault!
Take these clothes
and do what you want with them.
Thank you.
These trousers are too tight for Eiichi now.
Maybe they could fit your son, mightn't they?
What about the shoes I gave you the other day?
Yutaka is two years younger; were they too big for him?
What is it?
Have I offended you?
I don't want anything belonging to your son.
Do you think Takashi would like
his son to wear Eiichi's clothes?
I gave the shoes to my nephew.
So, you know everything?
I've been told about it.
By who?
Your husband.
I'm back.
Good evening, Sir.
You must be tired, it's been so hot!
Tomoko.
Make dinner.
Very well.
My father must be in the fields. Ask him for some beans.
You could massage my leg.
You never did.
Once was enough.
Your father's leg is already enough.
Both father and son crippled.
People in town laugh when they talk about the Mound.
They say it's cursed.
I don't give a damn.
Why did you tell Tomoko everything?
Aren't you ashamed?
It's not for me to be ashamed. You should be.
Unbelievable!
Go see what he wants!
I've never seen such impudence!
Have a nice day.
Take this.
Madam, you've never asked me how my husband is...
He can't write to you at this time.
You can't forget him, can you?
Listen. There are questions that are better not asked.
And my son...
You never asked me to see him.
Is it because I'm his mother?
Go back home.
And don't come back tomorrow.
Your husband wants me to come.
My husband never loved me.
He couldn't forget your wife.
And you are really going to visit him
at the hospital in Hiroshima?
He wrote me this letter as if I was his only hope.
You should leave tomorrow.
He's your husband, after all.
I understand how you feel.
You're suffering as much as I am.
Sadako is not suffering.
The two losers
make us suffer like hell.
Sir!
Takashi stole my wife.
I'm stealing his.
No! Sir! No!
You're married to Takashi, aren't you?
You're a beast!
Are you jealous?
I don't want Takashi to suffer even more.
- Because of you. - Shut up! Bitch...
Your father's calling.
Listen! If you still love Takashi,
leave this house!
I'll never leave it. Until I die.
It's your father
that chose me as wife for this house.
After what you did to me,
he called my father
and offered him a treat, in this very place.
Even though he knew my feelings,
my father was forced to drink until he felt disgusted.
Look carefully.
Your dead father's pale face
has neither trace of pain
nor trace of humanity.
I belong to this house.
Tomoko!
I managed to catch up with you.
Your husband's letter.
Besides, even if it's too little, I owe you this money,
to thank you for your work.
Take it.
Please.
Many things have happened.
Forget everything.
You know everything now.
Well, let's talk about it frankly.
What I can't forget,
it's not your husband.
It's what I had to go through.
I can't do anything about it, can I?
Everybody has his own past.
Goodbye. And have a nice trip.
Goodbye, Yutaka.
And come back to us.
No, we won't come back.
Takashi wouldn't approve.
What are you going to do?
I'll stay with my parents.
Thank you for everything.
Once upon a time there was
A young bride
But then, but then
Goodbye!
She married a cripple
The son of a landowner
Full of himself
And then, and then
The young lady's heart
Broken and scattered
Like volcano smoke
CHAPTER III
*1949
Her husband quarreled with her
She gazed at the sky
It was like hell
Dad!
I want a camera. Like my schoolmates.
Go home and ask your mother.
She'll say no.
You know it. She's terrible.
I just bought a watch for you.
That was yesterday. I'm talking about today.
See you later.
Good evening.
Apologize!
- You're just a good-for-nothing! - Idiot!
What did he do?
You're spoiling him too much. He's impossible.
So, what did he do?
The school called me.
He's hurt a schoolmate again.
Eiichi, come with me.
At least he's not injured.
I'm powerless with him.
Take care of the school.
And I was thinking of buying a camera for you!
Why do you fight like that?
I don't know.
Go and play with him.
You still refuse
to accept Eiichi's birth?
I forgot. I tried to forget.
You could be nicer to him, then.
He has a twisted spirit.
Exactly, and it's your fault.
I'm sorry.
Apologize to him. To him!
And you?
I asked him to forgive me.
And I asked you, too!
Well. Takashi's come back to the village.
You don't mind, do you?
Nothing's going to happen, unlike with his wife, is it?
I could meet him like an old friend.
You won't forbid it, will you?
When did he come back?
Yesterday. Dad met him.
His wife's dead. You won't have to feel ashamed.
Why do you want to see him?
What can I say that would reassure you?
Idiot!
Have you ever thought about reassuring me?
And you, have you ever thought about my feelings for Eiichi?
We are husband and wife, after all!
We spent 17 years together!
My new schoolmate!
Kawanami!
Yutaka!
Dad, stop. Let him get on.
You're mean.
Rikizo!
Madam! What a surprise!
Where are you going?
To Eiichi's school.
Really? What grade is he in?
He's in First grade.
Sure. How fast time goes!
Does it really go fast?
Or maybe slowly?
Everything becomes like a dream.
Has Takashi really come back?
Is he doing better?
His health has deteriorated.
He spent a long time at the hospital.
Is he suffering because of his lungs?
It seems...
Is it serious?
Nobody knows much about this disease.
I just bought some medicine for him.
It seems there are some excellent treatments.
Tell me if I can do anything.
Yes.
Come and talk to me without hesitation.
Thank you very much.
Young man!
What are you doing here?
KOSHIMIZU
Morito!
Big brother! Are you taking me home?
I'm sorry. I'm going somewhere else.
Take my schoolbag.
What else? Why me?
I'll give you my watch, for your trouble.
- Shall I put it on for you? - Dad is going to scold you!
He'll buy me another one.
Are you sure? Isn't he going to scold you?
Don't worry. He does everything I ask him.
Mom!
- It's me. - Hi.
You didn't buy anything for me, mom?
Come here. I have something for you.
How did it go at school?
It was quite hard.
Eiichi is unbearable.
What do you mean?
He already had a fight with quite a few schoolmates.
It means he has character.
There was an embarassing situation.
The principal asked me
if there are problems in our family.
As if he didn't know!
Everybody knows about it!
So?
Naoko, go play outside.
I had to apologize.
According to them,
Eiichi has fights with the others because people tell him about us.
The parents of the kid that was attacked
are threatening to tell the police.
What did Eiichi say?
He didn't come; he was afraid of being punished.
Did he skip school?
You must punish him severely.
Stop spoiling him.
Even when I scold him, he doesn't listen to me.
Poor kid!
It's not his fault, though!
It's true. It's not his fault.
Why are you so hard on him, then?
You ask me why...
Instead of blaming me,
you could apologize to him.
As if this was all my fault?
It's me!
Why are you carrying that schoolbag?
Eiichi asked me to...
- Where did you meet him? - Near the bridge.
Didn't he come back with you?
He had to go somewhere else.
Didn't he say anything else?
Well... he gave me his watch.
His watch!
He even forced me to wear it.
Sadako!
He said you would buy him another one.
And then he left?
He pinched my cheek
and said you always do anything he wants.
Where did he go?
Was he riding his bike?
It's weird.
A watch I just bought for him.
Dad, go look for him. Call the people in the village.
Morito, you go too.
Idiot! Help me!
"Dad, I know how I was born.
"But I love you anyway.
"I feel sorry for mom.
"It's better if I disappear.
"Goodbye".
Bitch!
We'll be tied by eternal hate from now on.
You can hate me as much as you like!
When everything is over,
what will be left?
I have suffered through the pains of hell.
I should have died that night.
I gave birth to this unhappy child, instead!
Eiichi!
You must not die!
Maybe...
Sadako!
Takashi!
Eiichi...
I saw him a while ago. Near the river.
That was my premonition ...
Let's go there.
Sadako...
Who'd have thought that I would meet you on such an occasion!
Eiichi is the child whose birth caused
our separation.
I've always prayed
for your happiness.
I'm going ahead.
There was a young girl
Who became a mother. But then, but then
She felt a great grief
Deep in her heart
That was consuming her
And then, and then
She had a boyfriend
That she had to leave
She was on fire because of that
A smoking volcano
Can explode someday
And birds all around
Are terrified of that
How tragic this is
CHAPTER IV
*1960
It seems like yesterday...
but 28 years have already passed since that day.
So long?
I counted the years, one by one.
It feels like yesterday, though.
And then, today,
this road that goes to the hill, where I waited in vain,
was taken by Naoko with Takashi's son.
Dad, you know,
for the first time in 28 years
I feel completely untroubled.
What's your husband going to say?
Never mind,
we're going to fight after ten years of peace.
Dad, you can open the shutters.
They need to be changed.
You can never rest when you have your own house.
When something gets broken, all the rest follows.
You have to build it all again.
Heibei,
are you going to get up?
Why?
I need to talk to you.
What is it?
Anyway, coming from you,
it must be something stupid.
Don't kid yourself. You're going to get mad.
Don't play the tamed wife!
Naoko has left home.
Forgive her.
She left?
Yes.
Where did she go?
I let her get married.
Get married?
What does it mean?
Silence!
Leave the shutters alone!
Even if I had told you, you wouldn't have listened.
I gave her my permission.
Who did she get married to?
Yutaka, Takashi's son.
They'd been dating for a long time.
I thought the situation was embarrassing,
but I didn't know how to tell you.
So,
you gave them your permission?
It couldn't be helped.
A power plant worker,
Takashi's son!
He quit his job; he's going to work in Osaka.
They took the train this morning. Together.
You're telling me this on purpose,
before the altar of my ancestors?
I asked them to forgive me.
That'd be a surprise.
You rather defied them.
Like you always do.
You can say whatever you want.
What for?
Nothing can affect your heart of stone.
You're not embarrassed at all, you're making fun of me.
You do whatever hurts me the most
and it calms you.
Sojiro!
Call Takashi.
At once.
But...
Obey without arguing!
Very well.
Thinking that
he's taking care of himself, thanks to his deflowered fianc閑!
I wonder what kind of face he'll make!
I'm looking forward to it!
Dad, go get him.
I haven't seen him since Eiichi's death.
Whenever I cross paths with him, we avoid each other.
I apologized to Eiichi.
Now, I'm going to meet with him
and I'm going to ask him to take good care of Naoko.
I refuse this marriage! Absolutely!
You can't help it.
Although...
I understand how you feel.
She's your wife, isn't she?
She died a long time ago. Let's go.
I'm sorry.
What are you doing here?
I did something really wrong.
I'm sorry.
I told everybody you were dead.
You're humiliating us both, Yutaka and me,
by coming here.
Go away!
I'll leave, if you want me to...
Shut up.
I'll leave, but I want to see Yutaka once more.
Idiot! What a nerve!
I was sick and you went away, leaving me alone with the child.
How dare you come back?
Did your lover send you away?
Do you really think Yutaka wishes to see you again?
I beg you.
Shut up. Anyway, Yutaka doesn't live here any more.
Where is he, then?
I won't tell you.
You could ruin his respectability.
I beg you.
Tell me where he is.
Please.
Go away, I said!
I was wrong. I'm sorry.
Takashi, she's apologizing. Don't be so cruel.
What's going on, Takashi? What is it?
Sadako!
Takashi started spitting blood on his way here.
Spitting blood?
I brought him back home and put him to bed.
So he won't come?
It's impossible in his state.
Furthermore,
his wife, who had left him, has suddenly come back.
So... she's alive?
The story seems quite complicated.
He argued with her
and this was bad for him.
Anyway, he's still alive because of the money
that Sadako gives him.
What are you talking about?
He lives thanks to you, that wretch.
I never did anything unfair to this family,
I never gave our money away...
Where does the money come from, then?
Sir...
it's my money.
I sold the land that your father gave me.
I received that land
in exchange for my daughter.
I'm sure you remember
the night when your father forced me to drink
and you handed me your cup of sake,
calling me father-in-law?
Stop!
I never talked about it.
But I don't have much time to live.
I want my daughter to know
how painful that night was.
When I think of that pain,
I don't regret the money I spent for Takashi.
To let him live again.
And it was very hard
to make him accept that money.
I saw Rikizo
and I had to make up a story.
I told him that the money came from me, from my father,
and from you too.
I told him that the three of us wanted to help Takashi
to recover.
You dared talk about me?
You're really dumb.
Really?
Yes, absolutely.
You often treated me like an idiot.
But when I think that actually you were the idiot,
I get so mad.
What a nice family quarrel!
Anyway, I'm going to tell the police about Naoko and Takashi's son.
I want him to be arrested for kidnapping.
I'm going to the police station.
Go if you want to. Everybody will laugh at you.
When they're twenty, the kids can get married
without the parents' approval.
Idiot!
You are really the dumbest woman around.
Sure, I know all this.
But you don't even understand how important Naoko was to me.
Eiichi is dead because of you.
And also because of you,
Morito joined leftist groups at his university in Tokyo.
Naoko was the only one left!
Who's going to take care of me?
You have a heart of stone and you're full of venom.
Naoko was my only hope.
They took our lands after the war,
but we are still the Koshimizus of the Mound.
I still own forests, and I'm wealthy.
Who am I going to leave all this to?
Takashi's son? I don't think so.
What were you saying this morning, before the altar of my ancestors?
Nobody wants your wealth.
Naoko has chosen a young employee of a power plant.
That's all.
When I was 28,
I didn't have any interest in your family's wealth either!
Don't start again!
Excuse me!
There's no need for you to go.
The police are here.
Excuse me. I guess I'm intruding.
Actually, I've come to bring you some news.
- May I have a seat? - Please do.
My husband was about to come and visit you.
So, you know?
What?
I'm talking about Morito and the Students Union.
If you knew how unpleasant this task is!
What has Morito done?
So, I'm the first to tell you?
Yes.
He demonstrated against the Parliament.
I'd like a glass of water.
We are talking to the police at this moment.
I'll go as soon as I can.
Anyway, these are the facts.
There's an arrest warrant out on him.
So, should he ever come back,
you're still the Elder in this village,
and you shouldn't allow your name to be sullied...
I think you'll know the best thing to do.
I have to go now.
Believe me, I regret all this.
What an idiot!
It was Morito on the phone.
Where is he?
He wants to see me. He needs money.
Where did he call from?
You're best off knowing nothing about it.
I'll take all responsibility.
Madam, it's been a long time...
Indeed! Tomoko?
I didn't dare come in. I hesitated.
I really have to leave now,
but my husband is here.
It's out of the question.
I came here to ask you something.
About what?
Yutaka. Where is he now?
Takashi didn't tell you anything?
He doesn't want to speak to me.
I understand him.
I behaved badly.
But I want to see my child, at least.
I'm alone now.
I've worked in all kinds of places,
but my condition has gotten worse
and I feel like I'm going to die soon.
If you know where he is, tell me.
He went to Osaka. This morning.
This morning?
With my daughter, who's become his wife. They were very happy.
Your daughter?
Go to Osaka.
Takashi is going to be mad at me,
but I'm going to give you their address.
And this is for your train ticket.
Thank you, with all my heart.
When children are involved,
mothers are all the same.
Goodbye. Take care.
To Aso
You're making me worry a lot!
Do you have what I asked you for?
I don't have a choice.
Here. 50,000 yen.
I need it for an injured man.
Thanks.
You can't even come back home!
That's what I regret the most.
Is dad well?
He's always mad.
Do you still argue? At your age!
It's going to end only when one of us dies.
Today, he accused me
of being responsible for your political activities.
Do you know the legend of "The Mound of the Thousand"?
In our family there's talk of a treasure of a thousand coins hidden underground.
In the village, they talk of a thousand men.
I did some research. It's not a legend.
It's real history.
Before the fall of Osaka's castle, there was a rebellion of the peasants.
Our ancestors betrayed the peasants,
and the rebels were all exterminated.
The corpses formed a mound,
on which our forests flourished.
That's the blood that runs through my veins.
My commitment is a sort of atonement,
that I offer to the 1000 victims.
I'm the son of a landowner, I know the horror of it all.
I was a victim of this myself.
Besides...
The crater is clear. It's smoking without any noise.
You know I hate this place.
But you made me come here anyway!
For the last ten years, at any hour,
I've been suffering the pains of hell looking at that smoke.
You can't help seeing it.
Are you forcing me to look at it today
just to punish me?
This mountain makes me feel so nostalgic.
My only elder brother died here.
I will never forget that day.
My cheek keeps the memory of my brother's despair.
Stop it!
That's why.
There's an arrest warrant out on me. Don't come with me.
You can think whatever you want,
but I'll always worry about you.
Take good care of yourself.
If you forgive dad,
I'll forgive you.
Goodbye.
Once upon a time there was a woman
Who became a demon
And then, and then
She married an evil man
An evil man
She had children by him
But then, but then
CHAPTER V
*1961
In the small village
Thistles blossomed
They even blossomed
on pigs' tails.
What an extraordinary show!
They'll be here soon.
Don't let them
bring the baby close to me.
Everything will be fine. Don't worry.
There they are!
Dad!
How are you?
Dad, here we are.
Look at your nephew, Akira.
Not too close.
Don't worry. Take him.
They've arrived just in time.
The doctor was pessimistic.
But Takashi wanted to see them so badly.
It's me, Sadako.
You're here too?
I'm sorry.
I've never come to visit you.
Don't worry. I'm so happy
to see you all here.
Look closely at our young couple's baby.
He's so cute and in such good health.
It's like he was our baby, yours and mine.
Thirty years later,
we've had a baby...
All this thanks to you.
Yutaka's had the chance to marry the woman he loved.
Naoko is happy too.
Yutaka is very nice to her.
I'm happy too.
I have no regrets.
Just one thing...
I think
I've hurt your husband's feelings.
What are you saying? You've done nothing...
Tell him...
I apologize.
I've been told that my wife
died last January.
Finally,
I didn't have the chance to tell her that I had forgiven her.
Now I regret it.
She had a miserable fate too.
It's my fault.
I never showed her any affection.
I should have apologized to her.
I should have done it.
When she came back to the village last year,
she was already eroded by cancer.
You gave her the money for her train ticket,
and you gave her Yutaka's address.
Thanks to you,
Yutaka and Naoko have been able to take care of her
and she died in peace.
That's the most important thing.
I'm glad everything worked out fine.
When you're close to death,
you want everything to happen smoothly.
What are you saying?
You must not get weak now,
Takashi!
It felt like I was dreaming.
I heard my name,
and here you are, close to me.
Sure, I'm here.
Do you remember what I wrote,
when I left?
Yes.
I told you that you had to
be happy.
It's true and it's not too late.
I'll do everything I can to be happy.
I'm going home and then I'll come back. Wait for me.
Do you hear me? I'll come back right away.
Please, forgive me.
I was wrong. I apologize.
I hated you and argued with you,
because of past events that I couldn't forget.
I'm sorry.
If you think it's too late to apologize,
at least forgive Naoko for her marriage.
Accept this marriage. Takashi is dying.
It's a matter of hours.
I beg you.
Make his wish come true before he dies.
Forgive Naoko and accept her marriage.
Takashi is apologizing too.
He thinks he harmed you.
He's asking you to forgive him.
Are you listening? A dying man is apologizing to you!
Those who are dying should just die.
Look at me.
I'm asking you humbly,
forgive him.
Humbly?
That's perfect.
You've been hurting me for the past thirty years
and you think that saying: "I'm sorry"
will be enough?
So, Naoko and your nephew are nothing to you?
Who are they to me? Naoko breached my trust.
Don't say that!
I'm sure the baby looks just like Takashi,
he's already making me sick.
Takashi is about to die.
Please.
Speak before he dies.
Say the words that will bring him peace.
I'm so sorry for him.
Just tell him whatever pleases you.
Since he's dying, just tell him anything.
I'm not going to forgive him.
It's unbelievable!
You'll regret it when you die.
Do you think I'll die first?
You or me, the one that dies last
will have the chance to spit on the other's grave.
Really?
You won't forgive Naoko?
I'm going to leave this house too, then.
I'll go live with her.
Actually, I should have left a long time ago.
Sadako,
actually...
your heart has always belonged to Takashi.
You've always accused me of having ruined your life,
of being the cause of your unhappiness.
And you decided to ruin my life.
Sure...
I forced you to become my wife.
I recognize we had a bad start.
But for all these years,
even now,
when I get mad and I shout,
the only thing I'm asking for
is you and only you.
I've longed for your love, so much.
You don't know how much I've suffered.
That night, it wasn't only a physical matter.
I was crazy in love.
I came back from the war as a cripple,
and I felt so lonely.
I hated Takashi, whom you loved.
I was jealous of him.
You had to be mine.
What I did was inhuman.
But I was just a man.
You're lying.
You just came up with this nice story.
You're getting weak because of your age.
So what?
Because of my weakness,
I finally speak the truth, confessing my love.
You're really pathetic.
I already pitied you when the land reforms
took your land away from you.
As a small farmer's daughter,
I felt joy over that reform.
But I couldn't help but sympathize with you.
You're finally showing your real feelings.
You've never left this house,
because you were afraid of becoming poor once more.
You have a petty mind, like all small farmers.
It's possible.
My ancestors have been exploited so much
that it helped build my character.
Maybe I was avenging their humiliations
by torturing you.
Did you need Takashi for this?
I don't know. Maybe...
My whole life
has been ruined by this Takashi, who you wouldn't forget.
His son married our daughter Naoko.
And you want me to forgive him?
My favorite, Eiichi, is dead.
Naoko isn't my daughter any more.
Morito will never come back home.
You love Takashi more than anything else.
I'm all alone.
All alone.
When Morito came back last year,
he deeply hurt me by saying
that he would never forgive me,
unless I forgave you.
Morito is really your son.
I'll go.
Too bad, I'll have to lie.
I'm sorry about Eiichi.
Sadako!
What is it?
I'm coming with you.
You?
What will you say when you get there?
If you forgive me,
I'll forgive Naoko.
Really?
We will argue
until one of us dies.
It's our destiny.
But I hope that you will massage my leg from now on.
Very well.
We must get there in time. Let's hurry.
Yes.