Dong-Seo Film Production Company.
A Hometown in Heart.
Executive Producer Lee Gang-su.
Screenplay Gwak Il-byeong.
Line Producer Kang Shin-won Recording Yang Ju-namMusic Park Hye-il Lighting Go Hae-jin.
Assistant Director Im Yeon-su Assistant Director of Photography Park Kyeong-Won Assistant Lighting Director Lee Han-chan Still Photography Im In-sik.
Film Development Choi Kyu-sun Film Printing Jo Woo-ki Effects Lee Sang-man Script Supervisor Kwon Yeong-hyang.
Director of Photography Han Hyung-mo.
Cast.
Head Priest Byun Ki-jong Temple Worker Oh Heon-yong Temple Cook Nam Seung-min Do-seong Yu Min.
Widow Choi Eun-hee Widow's Mother Seok Geum-seong Hwang Seon-dal Choe Un-bong Jin-su Cha Geun-su Do-Seong's Mother Kim Seon-yeong.
Director Yun Yong-gyu.
- Jin-su! - Jin-su!
- Aren't you going to catch birds with us? - What?
It won't be fun without you. Come!
- Yeah, let's go! - You have to come!
- Yeah! - Jin-su.
Boy, don't hunt birds around the temple. You'll be in trouble if the priest sees you.
Are you really that afraid of the head priest?
Stop with your nonsense!
Listen when I tell you not to do it. Don't carp on about it.
I won't, I won't.
- Come on, let's go! - Yeah, let's go!
Do-seong.
What are you looking at so absentmindedly?
- Prepare the rice to Buddah. - Yes, sir.
- Why did you call me? - I need you, that's why.
What for?
I need firewood from Pung-ryu Valley.
Is it already time for the Ahn family's 49th day rites?
What do you mean already? Only 5 days left.
Then why the hurry?
The head priest says to get it today.
- I'll do it in a couple days. - No, it must be done today.
How can someone be so inflexible?
How dare you catch birds here?
What if I do?
If the priest finds out, you'll be in big trouble.
Maybe a monk kid like you would get in trouble, but not me!
Monk, monk, bald monk lick beneath the plate, monk.
Crack your head in the brook, monk.
Kid, what are you measuring your height night and day for?
You're a liar.
- A liar? - What else, then?
You said if I reach this mark, she'd come.
Then this mark. All you did is lie to me.
What would I lie to you for? It's your mother that didn't come.
You said, this New Year, next spring... I believed you.
Do-seong.
As long as your mother is alive...
why wouldn't she come?
She'll come sometime to find you.
- How do I wait for that sometime? - This New Year for certain.
- For real, you think? - For real.
Believe it from your heart and wait.
August, September, October November, December...
Still five more months left...
You've waited all this time.
5 months will pass in a blink.
- Mister? - Yes?
My mother is really pretty, isn't she?
Not just regular pretty, either!
Mister.
They say over those mountains is Seoul?
Yes, they say over that mountain about 40 more kilometers.
Let us go down now.
Must be busy with the Ahn's memorial rites. Shouldn't you go run errands, too?
Aren't they the ones who built the Shrine of the Seven Stars?
The young Lady of the house donated it for her son's health and longevity.
Family like that must've taken good care of him. Wonder why he died.
Maybe he didn't create the right karma in his past life.
They'll be here soon. Clean up quick.
Is it just her Ladyship?
- The young Lady will come, too. - Yes, sir.
- This is her first time, isn't it? - That's right.
Had you been born into such a family you'd be happy with your mother now.
Well, when I do meet my mother...
Don't you wish Lady Ahn was your mother?
We're almost there. Isn't it so refreshing?
It feels like a different world.
If Jong-cheol had lived he would have liked it here.
What good are children...
- Welcome. - How have you been, Father?
Such a long journey, you must have had a hard time.
Especially for the Lady it being her first trip.
- It was more difficult for the young one. - Let us all go inside.
Such an unexpected loss. How grief-stricken you must be.
It's due to my lack of devotion to the Buddha.
I believe the Buddha will guide him to nirvana.
I sincerely believe in Amit...
- Welcome. - Welcome.
You've grown quite a bit.
Please have a seat up here. You must be hot.
It sure is hot.
Traveling through the mountain path, you must be exhausted.
I'm alright.
Do-seong, go get some water from the spring.
Where did the boy go?
Take it to them quickly.
What a good child.
Have you heard news of his mother?
What good is news? Better to make him a monk.
How he must miss his mother.
- Sir! - Yes?
- I saw her! - Who?
- I saw the Lady from Seoul. - Is that it?
- She's beautiful. - Well, she's from Seoul.
- Are all ladies from Seoul pretty? - That's why they say Seoul's good.
My mother is in Seoul. She must be just as pretty?
Yes, she's pretty.
She's supposed to come this New Year. It's a lie, isn't it?
- Who said that? - Jin-su's father.
Yes, if she's meant to come, she will.
He was born the Year of the Hare, so he is six years old.
She was widowed so young.
She gave birth to her son after his father died and she raised him like treasure.
Then for him to die of measles! Think how her heart must ache.
Please don't be too distressed. It is all because of karma.
- Just pray for his peaceful departure. - Yes.
If only her husband were alive, I wouldn't worry so much.
Mother.
- Who is that? - It must be that boy.
You've read enough. You can recite it now.
Jae-deok - Yes.
Recite from Mahaprajnaparamita to Prajnaparamita sutra.
Kwan jajae Bosal haeng shim ban ya ba ra mil da shi joh gyeon oh ohn gae gohng doh il chae goh aek
sa ri ja saek bul yi gong gong bul yi saek.
Do-seong, recite the next part.
Saek jeuk shi gohng gohng jeuk shi saek su... su... sang haeng shik
yeok bu... yeok bu... yeok bu yo shi.
Look at this boy! How many times did you read it today?
I read it 30 times.
30 times? Then why can't you recite it?
Distracted by other thoughts again.
Make sure you memorize it all by tomorrow.
Yes, sir.
- Gang-bok! - Yes, sir.
Saek jeuk shi gohng gohng jeuk shi saek su... su... sang haeng shik.
Ever since the Lady from Seoul arrived, Do-seong's been acting strange.
Seems like seeing her makes him think of his mother more.
I wonder what she is doing and where.
I've heard rumors she's doing well in Seoul.
She abandoned Do-seong at the temple when he was three.
How well could she be doing after that?
The damn world.
One mother throws away her child like an old shoe.
Another can't forget her dead child...
and travels hundreds of kilometers to make offerings.
The world is so unfair and that boy's is an unlucky lot.
- Mister? - Yes?
You were talking about me just now, weren't you?
Talking about you?
I know you talked about my mother behind my back.
No, goodness.
We said the Lady from Seoul is like your mother.
Is my mother really that pretty?
Yes, of course she is.
Is it true the prayer beads she has are special?
Yes, if you look through the big bead like this...
Usually, you can see a Buddha, right?
But in your mother's, you can see a red lotus flower.
There is such a thing? I wish I could see it, too.
When your mother comes, you can ask her for it.
The Lady from Seoul, wouldn't she have one like it?
Because she looks like your mom?
- Hey, where are you going? - Let him be.
What is it?
Nothing.
- Why don't you eat this? - No.
Go ahead, it's very tasty.
Here.
Sit over here.
- How old are you? - 12 years old, ma'am.
- Your name is Do-seong? - Yes, maam.
And your mother and father?
Why aren't you answering?
Don't know about my father, but they say my mother is in Seoul.
Seoul? And?
Everyone says my mother is pretty like you.
- I'm not pretty. - Of course, you are.
Eat it here, alright?
- Look at that? - What?
I've never seen a feathered fan like that before.
- You even do the ironing? - Yes, maam.
We do everything in a temple.
- Laundry also? - Of course.
We wash all the laundry for all the priests.
Could I give you a hand? Give that to me.
It's alright.
The flowers in my room, did you put them there?
Yes, For you to look at.
What a good child.
How can you fan an iron fire with that nice fan?
- Do you like it that much? - I never saw one like that before.
Do all ladies in Seoul carry feathered fans like that?
I wonder if my mother has a feathered fan like that.
Who knows.
If the Lady were my mother...
If my mother comes this New Year, what should I do for her?
- Hm? Could make rice cake. - That's all?
- How do you make a feathered fan? - Well...
Probably with the feathers of a turtle dove.
- Yes, a turtle dove would do. - There are lots in the back mountain, right?
Why? Do you want to catch one to make a fan?
No.
Feathered fan... feathered fan...
Do-seong! Do-seong!
Do-seong, it's your mother. I've come for you.
- Mother, what took you so long? - Do-seong.
Mother, why don't you have a white feathered fan?
- I will if you make one for me. - Yes, I'll be sure to, alright?
What a good child. Let's go.
Mother! Mommy!
Mommy!
Do-seong, Do-seong! You're talking in your sleep.
Can you catch a big bird with that slingshot?
- Of course you can. - Can I borrow that?
If you bow to me once, you can.
- I'll give you cookies instead. - What? Cookies?
Here, try it. It's really good.
Wow, it's good.
- Here, take it all. - Okay.
Here.
What are you doing?
- You're trying to catch a bird. - No, I'm not.
What will you do if the Father finds out?
I have to use the feathers of a turtle dove for something.
For what?
- I had a dream. - A dream?
That my mother was like the Lady from Seoul and she came for me.
- Really? And was she pretty? - Yes.
But my mother didn't have a fan like the Lady from Seoul.
You think you can catch a pigeon with that slingshot?
But I have to catch one so I can make a feathered fan.
Don't worry. I'll give you my pheasant trap.
A pheasant trap?
A pheasant trap will surely catch a pigeon.
It could even catch deer easily.
Really? When can you get it to me?
What an impatient boy. Things take time.
I'll get it to you soon.
- Please, I'll be waiting. - Alright.
Doesn't Do-seong remind you of Jong-cheol?
I don't know.
I realized it yesterday in front of the shrine.
- Mother? - Yes.
What do think of me adopting Do-seong?
- What talk! - Why not?
You have to let go of Jong-cheol now.
And think of making a nice match again.
I'm not interested right not.
You mean you'll spend your life as a woman widowed so young?
If I just had a child like Jong-cheol...
When you set this up you have to be careful.
If you aren't you could hurt your hand.
When a pigeon comes to eat this bean...
Alright, you got it? Let's bury it now.
- Mister? - Yes?
- Will my mother really come? - Of course.
You're taking such pains as you wait why wouldn't she come?
If only she really came...
There, it's all set.
Come see tomorrow. There'll be one this big.
- Mister? - Yes?
You're a really good person.
Why, the little fellow!
After the ceremony tomorrow come to the kitchen!
- I'll give you lots of rice cake! - Alright!
- You must be bored. - Yes.
- I think I'll go for a picnic. - Yes, do.
Where is Do-seong?
Do-seong. Do-seong.
- Where has the boy got to? - Leave him.
Here's the rascal.
Where are you always running off to?
I told you not to play with the village kids and still you go.
You're always late.
What does he know? He's only a child.
Accompany the Lady to the mountain.
You're still upset.
A little scolding like that is nothing to cry over.
Here, smile for me.
Stop crying.
The Father loves you. That's why he's hard on you.
My mother wouldn't be that way to me.
There, be a man and stop crying.
That's beautiful.
After the ceremony, you'll go right back to Seoul, won't you?
Should I stay here?
What would you do here?
You're here and I can pray.
- I want to go to Seoul. - Seoul?
Yes.
Do-seong, shall we go to Seoul together?
- But I can't. - Why not?
The Father won't even let me go down to the village.
I'll get his consent.
Really?
Do-seong, will you call me mother?
Try calling me mother.
When we're in Seoul, I'll let you do whatever you want.
I'll buy you a suit and send you to school.
College is the highest school, isn't it?
I can send you to college and more.
Do-seong, would you call me mother?
So lovely.
Do you think the Father will give his consent?
She insists on adopting Do-seong as her son.
If you agree, I'll raise him as if he were Jong-cheol.
It's something I had never considered...
Of course there'd be nothing to worry about if I sent him to your house but...
Are you worried Do-seong's mother will come looking for him?
Even if she did, do you think I would let her take him?
- Where is she? - I don't know.
Actually, Do-seong's mother is a close relative.
She lost her parents early.
So, we took her in.
I see.
I looked after her like my own daughter.
But one day, she ran away with a hunter.
Oh my goodness.
I can forgive her for that.
But she abandoned Do-seong here when he was three.
And she got married again. It was unforgivable.
But she must have missed her son. She came 5 years ago.
How could I let a boy with so many sins go out into the world?
I absolutely cannot.
That's more reason he needs a mother's love, don't you think?
No, I don't.
Do-seong needs to practice more virtue than others.
I don't know what karma it is, but he follows me...
- And I feel attached to him. - Please, don't.
Father, I'd like to spend the rest of my life caring for Do-seong.
You're putting me in a very difficult position.
I know it's difficult but please give your consent.
I'll have to think about it some more.
- Do-seong's mother is here. - What?
Why have you returned?
Father, please forgive me.
What are you doing back?
Don't you remember abandoning your three year old child?
I couldn't take care of two children at the time.
So how well did you do after you abandoned Do-seong?
I've lived a lie.
I don't want to hear it!
After splitting with my husband...
Do-seong's younger sibling that I was raising died...
Since last year, I've been living alone.
But I couldn't come back to be a nun...
What nonsense!
Father...
I know that I have many sins.
But what can I do?
I haven't been much of a mother but I still miss my son.
Father...
I was hoping I could take Do-seong.
How dare you even speak of it?
- Father! - No!
I can't live without Do-seong.
Don't talk nonsense.
I understand your suffering.
But I will educate Do-seong well, so don't worry.
And don't ever think of coming back to this temple.
Now go.
Could you just let me see him one last time?
What for? You'll just be miserable.
- Mister? - Yes?
- Here. - What's this?
- Rice cake. - Right.
- Mister? - Yes?
- I have another concern. - What concern?
- How do you make a feathered fan? - Come on, help clear the table.
Don't worry. I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Get to work for now.
- Why, aren't you Do-seong's mother? - How have you been?
Am I dreaming?
I guess you didn't get to see Do-seong. Here, wait.
- No, don't. - What do you mean, don't?
I'm sorry. I have something to ask you.
Do you mind coming with me?
But Do-seong, he's been waiting for his mother day and night...
Won't you come with me, please?
Alright.
Have you seen Do-seong?
- I haven't. - Go find him.
- Where's Do-seong? - I haven't seen him.
When you do, send him to the residence of the superior.
The child does have a mother. What are you thinking of?
So what if he does? How would she dare return for him?
I don't know, but...
- Father, hello. - You must be tired, ladies.
I'm sure it is you who must be really tired.
Not at all. Please sit down.
When do you plan on leaving?
We should go tomorrow, but she...
Father, what are you going to do with Do-seong?
Please, let me take him.
- If you absolutely feel that way, take him. - What?
Thank you.
Do-seong.
Where have you been?
The Father's been looking for you. Hurry, go to the residence.
He takes after his mother and has a warm heart.
Please take good care of him.
Of course.
I will not disappoint you. I'll raise him well.
You must be so relieved now.
Where have you been? Come close.
We'll be offering farewell incense to the Buddha later.
The Father has given his consent.
We'll offer incense to Buddha and leave tomorrow, alright?
You must mind the Lady and study hard.
- Yes, Father. - Go for now.
Brother! The Father said yes! I'm going.
- Brother Ilyup! Brother! - Yes? What is it?
- He said I can go! - Where?
- To Seoul! - Seoul?
Yes! To Seoul!
- Brother! - What's all the fuss?
- Mister! I'm going to Seoul! - Seoul?
- She's taking me as her adopted son. - Her adopted son? Really?
Yes! The Father has just consented.
She'll buy me a suit and even send me to college.
Do-seong just got very lucky.
Now I don't have to lug water down the mountain roads anymore.
I don't have to memorize those hard Buddhist scriptures either.
- That's right. When do you leave? - Tomorrow.
Once I'm in Seoul, won't I meet my mother sooner, too?
Sure.
- Hello. - Are you leaving already?
- No point in me staying longer. - Still...
I wanted to see his face just once before leaving.
But I guess I'm being selfish.
- Ma'am? - Yes?
- Do-seong is going to Seoul, too. - What?
- The Ahn family is adopting him. - Adopting him?
He'll live in comfort in a home like that.
But it wouldn't be the same as his real mother.
The Buddha.
The Dharma (the teachings)
The Sangha (the community)
Though you're going out into the world you're still not free of your Karma.
So, you mustn't forget the Buddha's teachings.
Yes, Father.
- Do you know what a lay Buddhist is? - Yes, Father.
Though the body may be immersed in a worldly existence...
The spirit must always be cloistered with the Buddha.
Yes, Father.
Remember this mindset night and day.
Could I trouble you, ma'am?
Who are you?
- I have something to ask you. - Please come in.
Have a seat.
- Did you come to pray? - No.
Then?
- I... Do-seong... - What? Do-seong?
- Are you Do-seong's mother? - I'm ashamed.
So you are.
I heard you are taking Do-seong to Seoul.
So I came to see you.
- You came for him. - Yes.
Not being able to be a proper mother can become a great regret.
I know I should be ashamed to try to claim him.
But I think about him in sleeping and in waking.
Then why did you leave him when he was three?
I feel terrible that you ask that.
It's my fault for being poor.
Ma'am.
If he is to leave the temple please let me take him.
I understand how you feel as a mother.
But, I was going to raise him well, give him an education...
see him get married, and depend on him till the day I died.
But how could I stop his real mother from taking him?
I'll have to let him go.
But since I was going to adopt him anyway...
Let me support him financially after he's with you.
What?
Mother!
Come here.
Mother! The priest gave me this.
Really?
- Please hold onto it for me, mother. - Alright.
Once we're in Seoul could I start school right away?
Of course.
- We leave on a train tomorrow? - That's right.
I'm so happy. I wish tomorrow would come quick.
- We're leaving tomorrow! - Yes, we are.
Do-seong.
You must be so happy to be going to Seoul.
- Are those your prayer beads? - Yes, not so nice.
A person going to Seoul should take nice ones.
Shall we trade?
It's a gift from a guest, you should take it.
When you're in Seoul, you must do well in your studies, alright?
I must get going.
- Where are you going? - I'm not sure.
Do-seong's become an adopted son of a distinguished Seoul family overnight.
Just like a dream.
Don't think about anything else but work hard in Seoul.
- Yes. - Write when you get there, too.
Of course.
Sir. Come and visit me in Seoul.
I'll treat you to a grand table there.
Yes, alright.
You, too. Please come visit.
When would I find the time?
You're quite the young master already.
To redo the dancheong paintings, would be a great undertaking.
But we'd like to express our gratitude somehow.
It's a small token but please accept our donation.
You've done so much for us already.
- I don't know what to say. - Please, don't mention it.
What?
You're catching birds again?
How dare you do that here!
You come in here carrying so many dead animals?
I didn't catch them inside the temple.
It doesn't matter where, it's still taking a life!
Promise him you won't do it again.
You are a terrible influence on Do-seong.
Don't ever come inside this temple again.
Why are you scolding just me?
- Then who else? - Do-seong catches birds, too.
What? Do-seong?
He only catches big turtle doves, too.
Turtle doves?
Look inside the closet behind the sanctuary and see if I'm lying.
Do-seong.
What is that turtle dove behind the sanctuary?
Did you do such a thing?
Do-seong, it wasn't you, was it?
He's not answering, he must be guilty.
Why aren't you answering?
It wasn't you that caught it, was it?
It was me.
Oh my goodness.
We gave prayers and offerings with a killed animal behind the sanctuary.
Has an evil spirit taken hold of you?
The Lady's feathered fan was so pretty and nice...
I wanted to make one for my mother if she came.
Enough with this talk about your mother.
Thinking of your mother full of sins, you sin on top of that?
Jong-cheol must have been expelled from the gates of paradise.
I'm too ashamed to look at you, ma'am.
Quick, go and clean up the back of the sanctuary.
Yes, Father.
I don't know what sin he will commit if let out into the world.
- You'll have to relinquish him. - What?
- Ma'am! Please take me with you. - Don't worry.
You can't.
What are you going to do with a boy who goes around taking lives?
How he must have missed his mother to do something like that.
To lead him to the right path...
I will have to raise him close to my heart. There's no other way.
Until he builds up extraordinarily good karma...
He won't be able to wash off the sins of his mother.
Why do you always speak ill of my mother?
Didn't you say the Goddess of Mercy...
is as good at heart as she is beautiful?
They say my mother is pretty, too, so why would she be so sinful?
We say that about the Buddha.
Your mother is like a she-devil.
- That can't be true! - I don't want to hear it.
- Get cleaned up and to the sanctuary. - No, I don't want to!
I don't want to be buried here in these mountain woods all the time.
What churlishness! Get going.
Father, I don't want to be at this temple.
Listen to the boy go on. There's nothing he won't say now.
Father please forgive everything and leave him to me.
What he needs more than anything is a mother's warm love.
If you truly love him...
You shouldn't try to take him as a plaything to hold close.
Please try to think of it from a bigger perspective.
I'm not adopting him as a plaything.
I want him to grow up with a little more love and freedom.
Father, I want to go out into the world. Please let me go.
Even if it means falling into frightening hell in the afterlife?
Even if it means going to hell after I die, I want to go with her.
I don't want to hear it. I told you you can't go.
Please don't bring up the matter ever again.
Hurry and get cleaned up.
Ma'am, please, I really can't stay here.
I will even run away with you.
I can't do that. I'll come back next year.
No, please, no.
There isn't anything I can do.
- This all must be fate. - No, no!
Do-seong.
Be good and next year, I'll come back to get you, alright?
Don't cry.
Here.
We can't do anything about our fates.
We have to live and die according to our lot.
He could hardly contain himself he was so happy to be going to Seoul.
- You mean Do-seong? - Yes.
He didn't get to meet his mother either after fretting so to see her.
She was looking right at him, too.
But she couldn't say he was her son. Such a sad business.
- That's her fate. - Quiet.
You were talking about my mother, weren't you?
What? We never talked about your mother. What do you mean?
You always act that way.
You know how she is and you won't tell me.
Why wouldn't we tell you?
Do-seong, don't fret so much.
I guess my mother must have come.
Didn't you say it was sad she was looking right at me but couldn't say I was her son?
We were talking about someone else. From a long time ago.
Really, we were talking about a long time ago.
No, tell me the truth. My mother came, didn't she?
I told you, she didn't.
I don't believe you. I saw someone like her myself.
What do you mean? Where?
In the Seoul lady's room... Wait, the beads!
You said you can see a red lotus in my mother's prayer beads, didn't you?
So?
Right.
Mom!
Do-seong.
He must have gone out.
Do-seong!
- Do-seong is not here. - What? Do-seong?
I can't find him anywhere.
- Hurry, ring the bell. - Yes, Father.
The End
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