How can we pay school fees?
Here comes the electricity!
There'll be power tonight.
Sit down.
No need for the oil lamp now.
It gets so dark in here.
- Big or small? - Small, it saves electricity.
Know what this is?
They shit here.
Is Mingliang's cousin dumb?
Didn't you hear him say hello to Mingliang?
Then why doesn't he say anything?
It's so nice to see the mountains.
You like mountains?
- You should marry here, then. - Why not?
Better than marrying you!
Okay, I'll find you some sex-starved old man.
I feel like shouting!
Go ahead.
People of Jinjiazhuang!
It's a few minutes to eight.
At eight, we'll have electricity!
From now on we can eat at home.
Our children will be able to study...
...and we can grind flour!
Thanks to the Communist Party,
we have this wonderful facility!
Forever following the Party's lead...
Forever loyal to the Party...
Always grateful to the Party...
From now on, we must use our electricity with care.
Our homeland...
...is built on our prosperous fields.
Smoking chimneys atop new houses...
Sanming!
Stop the truck.
Sanming, get on!
No need, I'll go this way.
- This is quicker. - It's okay, it's not far.
Hongxi!
Where the fuck are you?
Never here when I need you.
What are you doing?
If you don't like it, quit!
Fingerprint here.
Over there... Next!
Get a move on, over there.
Fingerprint!
Get changed, quickly.
I can't read, I'll get help.
Quick, don't fuck around.
Read this to me, I can't read.
"Contract.
"1: Life and death are questions of fate.
"I am willing to work in Gao's Mine.
"Management accepts no blame for accidents.
"2: In cases of death or accident, the Mine offers...
"...500 Yuan compensation to families.
"3: Daily wage is 10 Yuan."
Get it?
- Is it clear? - Yes.
Don't come to me with any problems.
We're not responsible for anything.
It's clearly stated.
That old hat is useless, go and get changed.
Cousin, I'm going.
Where are you from? Lin County?
That's Xiaoyi over there.
You can see the lights from here.
It seems close by...
...but it's quite far.
- Your schoolmate? - No, I never went to school.
Who is she?
Quite pretty.
The country is in my dreams
My homeland may be far away...
But that will never change...
...my Chinese heart
Cui Mingliang, it's your cousin.
Sanming, what is it?
Please give this 5 Yuan to Wenying.
Tell her to get to university, never come back here.
I'm going.
The long and empty platform
The wait seems never-ending
The long wagons are carrying...
...my short-lived love
The long and empty platform
Lonely, we can only wait
All my love is out-bound
Nothing on the in-bound train
There's a train coming!
My heart waits, waits forever...
...waits forever...
Oh, always Yin Ruijuan!
You don't understand her.
She's quite self-important,
even tried to enter the provincial dance troupe.
Why didn't you?
I preferred to stay with you.
Song asked me about you just now.
- Asked what? - Where you'd been.
What did you say?
I said you were seeing the world.
Smart of you.
I'm going.
Do you have to?
They would make a good couple.
You think so?
But it won't happen... Unlikely.
Don't make fun of them.
I'm not, you'll see.
Tired?
A bit hot.
This is nice, no-one knows us here.
So no supervision!
Let's just stay here, not go back.
- No. - Why not?
I'd like to be your wife.
- Don't want you. - Can't accept that.
Wretch!
Just want to be your wife.
Come here...
Why carry a knife?
I just bought it.
Where?
At the hotel.
Are you husband and wife?
Didn't bring the certificate.
No proof?
You can't stay together without it.
Are you having an affair?
Are you really married? Tell me.
No.
No?
We know everything, so admit it.
Think it over.
Your work unit?
Cultural Team.
How are you related to him?
He's my husband.
Husband?
How did you meet?
As kids.
How long ago?
At least ten years!
More than ten years?
We're in the same Cultural Team, so we got married.
You got married?
Why don't you admit the truth?
The man has confessed.
You want us to go on with this?
- Admit what? - What?
That you're not married!
So we're not.
Thanks, Song, here's to you.
Not like that, link arms!
The couple's way.
Who here is from Fenyang?
What's wrong?
- Song Yongping? - That's me.
We have some questions for you.
Mingliang, take over from me.
I'll be back.
Hang on, Jiao, just a moment.
Boss, the shop's out of Energiser drinks...
Just one bottle?
Yeah, I'm so thirsty.
Put it on my tab.
HANCHENG - FENYANG
Why blow your money on a restaurant?
It's just this once.
I've never eaten out before, and it's my son's treat.
Eat up.
Try the meat.
Shall we order more, Brother?
Boss, give us some braised meat.
Wenying...
Here's 10 Yuan from Sanming.
Your brother's earning money now.
You have to study hard.
Ignore the pressure, concentrate.
You'll pass this time.
Eat!
Come on, eat up!
Wenying, eat up.
What's up with Zhong Ping?
Zhang Jun, what's up with her?
It's too much!
No discipline at all!
Who does she think she is?
We're sinking in quicksand here! We're not even on tour yet.
I'll find her.
She's supposed to be the lead!
Aren't we all equal in art?
I'll find her.
Zhang Jun!
- Mr Zhong, where's Zhong Ping? - Don't know.
You're her father.
I just don't know.
She's gone, and I'm worried.
Who knows where she is?
These days, she goes where she likes.
I can't stop her, I can't follow her.
She goes wherever she likes.
- Aren't you worried? - What's the point?
It scares me to think of it.
She didn't tell me anything.
What can I do?
Gen... Genghis Khan
Every beautiful girl wants to marry him
Genghis Khan
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Every beautiful girl wants to marry him
Let's go...
The next song is dedicated to...
...the guards in the provincial prison from their colleague.
Is it true...
...I am leaving you?
Is it true no more tears will fall?
Is it true...
...I have a one-way ticket?
Leaving on a road with no end?
Is it true I am leaving you?
Is it true no more tears will fall?
Is it true, as I said before...
...that lovers must be lonely?
How many times must I feel this pain?
Telling myself to go back
Holding back my tears
Telling myself I don't care
The long and empty platform
The wait seems never-ending
The long wagons are carrying...
...my short-lived love
The wait seems never-ending
My heart waits, waits forever
Zhang Jun!
- What the hell? - I'm hungry.
You're kidding me.
Get to fucking work!
Dear people of Jia County!
Today we present, from Shenzhen...
The All-Stars Rock'n'Breakdance Electronic Band!
They've come here...
...on a tour of our province.
Comrades, give them a big round of applause to welcome them.
Our brother is two years older.
Three of us, we're twins.
Dad's always angry with Mum.
After a fight, he just lies there saying nothing.
Then Mum gets worried.
She asks me to talk to him.
We sisters have to mediate for them.
I think I have the best mother in the world...
...compared with other mothers.
A girl in our last troupe...
...visited our home for a festival.
She thought Mum was great! I asked her why.
It's because Mum's a doctor.
She looks after me when I'm ill,
gives me hot-water bottles till I'm feeling better.
Most peasant mothers aren't so caring.
But Mum is so considerate.
That's why this girl was so impressed.
You're good daughter too!
When we're with her, she doesn't need medicine!
You know, when I go home...
I could send you by mail!
- A medical package! - It's true!
She'd love to see us, but we can't go.
We have to perform.
We used to get only 100 Yuan a month.
Just enough to buy her some food.
Now I can send her cash.
We need the money.
What brings you back to us?
I was restless at home.
Why?
How's my stitching?
I was just fed up.
Very delicate!
Your mother taught you?
No I taught myself!
It's my talent.
You're a genius!
I felt stuck in Fenyang, that's why I came.
- It's boring being alone. - Terrible.
Get up!
- What time is it? - See for yourself.
Quick, get up.
Time to rehearse!
Sanlin, get up!
Juan, get up!
Hongli...
Come on!
Eryong, come on, it's late.
- Ready yet? - Nearly.
Get a damn move on!
You lazy scumbags!
PRIVATE MARKET FOR CLOTHES AND SMALL GOODS
- Stop fighting! - Help!
You think you can beat them?
You must be out of your mind.
You think you're that good?
What are you doing?
Come on!
It's natural to change position.
When two people are in love...
...any position is natural.
They can try in any way...
...to heighten their love.
Most prefer it with the man on top, the natural way.
The woman lies passively, face-up.
The man on top taking control.
He takes the active role.
JIASHEN - WUBAO
You're the station master?
- What is it? - Listen...
We're the All-Stars Band from Shenzhen.
Rock'n'Breakdance Band.
We like this place...
...so we'd like to put up a stage and do two shows here.
Got a permit?
From Shenzhen?
We'll have to approve the show.
Of course.
Sure, we'll show you.
Would you prefer...
...the songs or the go-go dance?
The hot stuff!
Do "Boy Under the Streetlamp".
It's "Girl", not "Boy".
- How was it? - Pretty good!
So we can put up our stage?
The station master isn't here.
- He's not here. - You're not in charge?
No I'm not, he's at home.
- So why ask to approve us? - You can go see him.
What's up, girls?
Come along now...
These things happen.
It hasn't cost you anything.
Cheer up!
Under the street-lamp
...a girl is crying
Where did she come from?
Crying so bitterly...
Who has jilted her?
Where can she go?
...and is expected to form an area of low pressure...
...in the vicinity of Ulan Bator.
The Inner Mongolian authorities...
...have issued a warrant for Shen Zhimin, 22, male,
born in East Beijing,
1.8m tall.
He wears glasses.
He can drive and...
...wears green army clothes.
And for Yu Lik-Wai, 24, male,
born in Guangdong Province,
1.7m tall.
He has a strong Cantonese accent.
TAIYUAN - FENYANG
Where's Dad?
He's opened a shop by the highway.
He lives there, rarely comes home.
He's that busy?
No, he just doesn't want to come home.
Let's forget about him.
He doesn't treat this as home.
I'm past caring about it.
Those timbers are useless, sell them.
Who says?
- Where's it from? - The mine.
Useless bloody mine.
We could make money with cement, what about that?
Zhang Jun!
Ah, the tax collector!
- I can give you a rebate. - How kind!
Maybe I should break my leg.
Me too... disability allowance!
Eryong, how's business?
- So so. - Quite good?
Cui Mingliang, you're back!
- Treating me to dinner? - Why should I?
Just kidding! But they won't charge you.
- Couldn't take the risk. - Who'd dare report you?
Zhang Jun, let's take her to dinner.
Jinyun Restaurant.
Okay, I'll host, Eryong can pay!
Thief!
How's the big wide world?
I kept moving.
How's your new job?
Not bad.
Why haven't you locked me up?
- Where? - At my place.
What's this roadwork?
Fenyang is always like this now.
It never ends.
You haven't changed.
I'm alright.
Mum,
why don't you divorce him?
Where's your fish?
You know my fish?
No, it's my first time here.
I didn't like them.
Is it still snowing?
Yes.
- What's funny? - Nothing.
Cigarette?
No thanks.
Given up?
- Have you? - No.
Help yourself.
- Are they a bribe? - I can afford them myself.
When did you start smoking?
Ages ago.
- With whom? - Zhong Ping.
Have you heard from her?
She's impossible!
She left without a word.
And no-one's heard from her.
Anyone here?
Want to buy something?
Is Cui Wanlin around?
He's out.
- Ask him to visit his home. - Okay, I'll tell him.
I want to move to the seaside
I'd love to see the sky there
And hear the sound of waves
Get your bags packed
I'll wait for you
English subtitles: Tony Rayns
Processed by: B.B. COM - Paris