A NETFLIX ORIGINAL FILM
Some fish can never be trapped
because they belong to the sky.
IN THE NORTHERN OCEAN, THERE IS A FISH THAT GOES BY THE NAME OF KUN.
THOUSANDS OF MILES IN LENGTH, ITS SIZE IS TOO LARGE TO MEASURE.
Who are we?
Where do we come from?
And where are we going?
No one thinks about these questions.
Day in and day out, we go to work.
Day in and day out, we laugh.
We complain.
We buy things.
We eat.
We sleep.
A century has gone by.
And I am already 117 years old.
As I always tell people,
every living human
is an enormous fish from the ocean.
Our lives are a journey
across the ocean.
No one believes my story,
calling me an old fool.
But I see clearly in my dreams
schools of giant fish
swimming down from the sky.
I can hear them calling out to me.
And their lovely sound awakens my memories.
Four and a half billion years ago,
nothing existed on this planet but a vast ocean
and schools of giant primordial fish.
The fish are the souls of human beings.
And the truth is, from the moment someone is born,
they never forget that fact.
My name is Chun.
I come from a world beneath the ocean.
The sky of our world
meets the human world at the bottom of the sea.
After prolonged drifting in the human world,
the souls finally reach the sky of ours.
We're in charge of the human souls
as well as the natural laws of everything in their world.
We are not men,
nor are we gods.
We are The Others.
The human world's starry sky is so pretty around now.
The Rite of Passage starts soon.
You two hurry up.
OK. Thanks, Brother Song Zi.
Sister Lei-zu.
We're going to the ceremony.
May we get two horses?
Sure, help yourselves.
I pick you!
Wow, what a handsome horse!
Taller than me!
Chun, come look!
-Giddy-up! -Giddy-up!
Wait for me!
Hurry up!
Giddy-up!
is the human world fun?
Yes! I almost didn't want to come back.
You shouldn't have then!
Then who'd send you off?
I didn't ask you to. You wanted to come yourself!
Go!
-Go! -Go!
The ceremony is starting! Come quickly!
-Ting Mu, be careful in the human world. -Don't worry, Granny.
Chun.
Come on up.
OK. Coming!
Granny!
You got this!
Up there in the human world, you'll be on your own.
Here, have some more.
Mom, I'm really full.
Brother.
When will you come back?
You be good. Okay? I'll be back in seven days.
The sun above shines on the earth below.
The gods listen and bestow their blessings to all.
You'll roam the human world for seven days
to observe the natural laws we govern.
You mustn't have any contact with mankind.
This is Heaven's law that you shall never break.
Gate of Sea and Sky. Open now!
When you return safely, you'll have become an adult.
-You must be careful around humans. OK? -Got it.
-Remember. Avoid them completely. -Relax. She's smart and will be fine.
Fine? Last year, Ah King's daughter never returned!
What are you waiting for?
Don't be late!
Remember, the whirlpool is the only passage between the two worlds.
-Be there on the 7th day. -You've said this a lot.
-Or else you can't get back. -I know.
Soup is here!
My little girl is finally growing up.
Time to go.
Chun!
Be careful.
I will.
Make sure to come back in time.
Don't worry about us. Bye now.
Please don't worry. I shall go now.
Chun! Come back here!
Remember, it's a dangerous world up there.
Don't ever let humans approach you.
Chun!
Be careful up there!
We'll be waiting for your return!
Every child that turned 16 during the past year
was sent to the human world
on the day of the Rite of Passage.
They got to see with their own eyes how we governed the natural laws there.
The human world we saw for the very first time
looked different from what the grownups described.
We'd never been so happy.
The human world was so beautiful.
Brother, look!
The red dolphins are here again.
They come every year.
Hey, let's say hi to them!
Hello!
-Good to see you again! -Good to see you again!
I roamed the human world by myself.
I encountered huge sailboats.
I saw city lights that looked like stars.
I also saw people lighting vigil candles
on countless paper boats
to escort the souls of the deceased,
allowing the souls to float down the rivers and return to the sea.
On the sixth day,
I followed the floating candles downstream
to a waterfall, and I swam back to the sea.
Wow!
Watch this!
Wow!
-You like it? -Yes!
-I have something even better. -OK!
What are you doing, Brother?
Give me a hand. Get the fish food all over my back.
OK.
Naughty girl.
-Wait for me here. -OK.
Wow, so many fish!
What took you so long, Brother?
I was chasing a red dolphin.
Look, there she is.
Wow, she's been following us.
She's different from the others.
-Very intelligent. -I think she likes you.
-What's happening? -Something at the whirlpool maybe.
A dolphin.
It's the red one from before.
She's caught in the net!
Go get my knife. I will go rescue her.
-There's a whirlpool down there. -Don't worry. I'll be careful.
Quick!
Be careful, Brother!
Brother!
I'm here to rescue you.
Brother, come back!
I want my brother back!
Brother, come back!
Brother!
Chun.
Thank goodness you're back.
What's wrong?
Are you OK?
-I'm fine. -Hey, let's wait till we get home.
Glad you're back. I'll cook something nice. OK?
Morning, Granny.
Is Grandpa awake?
Grandpa, where do people go when they die?
The body will turn into soil.
What about the soul?
The soul will drift towards the Ascendance Manor in the far north
and turn into a tiny fish
guarded by the Soul Keeper.
Will we die, too?
That's for sure.
Life and death is just nature's way.
My time is almost up.
Grandpa, I don't want you to die.
Don't be silly, sweetie.
Such is the law of nature.
For us, death is the gateway to immortality.
What's the matter, little girl?
Who is it?
The flute sounded like it belongs to another world.
It's not mine.
It sounded beautiful.
Whose flute is it?
It belonged to a boy from the human world.
He died.
Because of me.
A human boy.
Since he was a human,
I might be able to help you.
Tonight, at midnight,
come back here with it.
Ring it,
and someone will fetch you.
If you come,
I'll be here waiting.
Sorry. That wasn't intentional.
Where are you going at this hour?
Sometimes, you can just feel things.
The moment I boarded that little boat, I knew
that my destiny was changed.
Did you come alone?
Yes.
Come with me.
Take a seat.
It's fine. I prefer standing.
When did he die?
April 18th, two days before the Grain Rain.
You'd better be sure.
More people die every day than there are fleas on a cat's neck.
I'm sure about the date. It was my birthday.
Everything follows the laws of nature, yet you're blatantly defying them.
I don't care.
I have to save him.
You don't care?
All who defy nature will be punished severely.
No exceptions!
I owe him my life.
I have to repay him.
Well, aren't you something?
My 800 years of spiritual practice here
have not made up for the wrong I did.
-That's because you-- -Be quiet!
Let me tell you what's truly tragic.
You meet someone and make a mistake.
You want to make amends,
only to realize in the end how powerless you are,
and that you can never make up for the wrong you did.
We can never make up for the wrong we did.
-Then why did you offer to help me -I pity you.
Do you have any idea what it takes to bring the dead back to life?
What?
You'll have to trade me your most beautiful part for it.
Your...
eyes.
Now you're scared, huh?
Can't part with your pretty little eyes?
Alternatively, you can give me half your life span.
For his life,
I'll do it.
BING YIN YEAR
Oh geez. There you pooped again.
Give me a break already.
Why do you have so many cats?
They're the only ones around here
that'll keep an old fart like me company.
All living humans
are giant fish from the ocean.
From the moment of birth,
they set off from one side of the ocean toward the other.
Each life
is like a journey across the ocean.
Sometimes people meet.
Sometimes people leave.
When people die,
they reach the other side of the ocean.
Then each swims off to their own world.
This is the Chamber of Heaven,
where all human souls are kept after death.
Among the countless souls,
can you find his?
I remember what he looked like.
Though I don't know his name,
I remember the way he looked at me
and the scar on his forehead.
I searched for six hours.
An entire night.
I'll give you his soul.
Infusing your soul into his is the only way to bring him back.
Your lives will from now on be bound together.
You must always protect him
through all hardships,
until he is big enough
to return to the human world.
Only then will he come back to life.
Once you start,
there is no turning back.
Or else, his soul will vanish, never to be found.
Do you understand?
Oh, sleepy boy.
What were you up to last night?
Do you remember me?
I was the red dolphin by the sea.
Do you remember your own name?
What about a new name?
My mom named me Chun,
hoping I'd one day take over her role to manage the begonias.
I hope you will one day...
grow big!
Outgrow the fishbowl!
Bigger than the mirror,
the table,
and even the bed!
Even this room won't fit you,
not even the whole building!
What are you doing? What's all that noise?
I'll name you after the biggest fish there is.
You can't keep fish here.
None of your business, you jerk!
Wait! I'll keep it a secret.
Why are you so mean?
Hey!
I know a good name.
What?
Open the window first.
"In the Northern Ocean, there is a fish named Kun.
No one knows how many miles he spans.
His wings are like great clouds as he soars."
It's from a classic.
In other words, Kun, the fish
is ginormous,
as big as the sky.
And it flies,
wings the size of clouds.
Are you done?
-Yep. -Bye then.
From now on,
your name will be...
Kun!
Kun.
Rainstorms are unusual for this time of the year.
The rain's getting salty.
You've grown!
Kun, you want to play with me?
Do you remember
a red dolphin playing with you like this in the sea?
You do!
Here, come with me.
You can fly!
You can fly in the rain!
How magical!
They're calling for you.
Your family is waiting for you.
Grow fast, Kun.
I'll get you home.
I swear.
Kun?
Mom, were you in my room?
Yeah. So what?
Where did you put him?
I threw it away.
You are out of your mind.
You what?
Mom, he's a person!
What?
-Get back here and explain! -Hey!
-Please stop following me. -Slow down.
What's wrong?
My mom threw Kun away.
Don't worry. I know where to find him.
Watch out!
This way. Come.
Don't worry. We'll find him.
Oh?
Kun?
It's Kun!
Hold on to me. I'll go look.
What? You go?
Nah, let me do it.
I don't want you to go missing like Kun.
Qiu!
Careful!
This must be the stinkiest place ever.
Qiu.
Thank you.
Kun!
Whoa! So many rats!
What should we do? They will eat Kun!
You bet they will.
They'll devour him in the blink of an eye.
-Hmm. What's the enchanting smell? -Ugh. Stinky as hell!
Aha. It's the smell of love.
How may I serve you, handsome?
I'm looking for a fish.
A fish? I have seen one.
Really? Could you help me find him?
It wasn't just any fish.
You got it from the Soul Keeper, right?
Good people turned fish are in his charge.
Bad people turned rats are in my purview.
My little rats are much cuter than those little fish of his.
Can you really help me find Kun?
Mmm, no.
Unless...
-I dance with your handsome boy! -Go ahead!
Come here, sweet baby boy. Music!
Chun.
TREASURE
Boys should learn not only how to dance,
but also how to control their rats.
The human world is a wonderful place.
You've been there, too?
Look. That's him, right?
Kun!
You alright?
Kun!
Welcome back.
How is he?
He's not responding.
He's awake!
What a pure soul.
For sure he'll grow into a big fish.
I can see you!
I will find you!
Where are they?
Ah!
Grandpa Houtu!
There's a fish!
Right here. In the well.
How come it's gone?
I definitely saw a fish in here.
The recent downpours and seawater backflow
are bad omens.
Everyone must be most vigilant.
Yes.
Glad I acted fast. They almost caught him!
Kun, this is your new home now.
Come here.
Chun, look!
It's so much fun.
Ah! Look out!
Qiu.
Stay...stay away!
It has two heads!
Qiu!
Qiu! Be careful!
Qiu!
Chun.
I'm exhausted.
So drowsy.
You OK? Stay awake.
You must not fall asleep!
I'll sing.
I'll sing to you.
The moon and stars hanging above the sea.
-The breeze and drizzle-- -You are terrible at this.
So that you won't fall asleep!
Chun, where are we?
We're almost there.
Don't fall asleep.
Grandpa!
Please save Qiu!
Qiu was attacked by a poisonous double-headed snake.
For its venom,
there's no cure.
Grandpa, please save Qiu.
Chun.
This is for you.
There might be a last resort.
Chun, step outside.
I'll give it a try.
Hey! You're getting me all wet!
Qiu, you recovered?
Yeah, your grandpa is awesome.
I'm completely healed.
He sure is! Grandpa is a master in medicinal herbs.
Hey, my love.
Do you still remember where we first met?
-Grandpa. -Chun, come here.
Grandpa.
It's time for me to leave.
Grandpa, this is all my fault.
Don't blame yourself, dear.
It's just the natural order of things.
No one can escape it.
I know,
you are doing something very dangerous.
Something everyone else disapproves of.
But as long as you keep your heart kind,
it doesn't matter how they may judge you.
Just follow your heart.
When I turn into a begonia tree
and reunite with your grandma, we'll always be there for you.
Grandma was the master of all birds.
When she died, she turned into a phoenix and kept Grandpa company.
Two days after she died, Grandpa joined her.
All the birds came that day,
as if Grandma had come back.
Snow in mid-summer. The seasons have gone haywire.
Something very bad is coming.
How can it be snowing now?
Snowy days are my favorite!
Do you think God exists?
No.
I do.
No one's ever seen him.
Nor have humans seen us.
Yet we exist.
If there is a God, he'll definitely punish me.
Qiu, I'm afraid when my parents get old,
I can't take care of them.
What are you saying?
-My life span is cut in half. -What?
Why?
A deal with the Soul Keeper for Kun.
Chun? Where are you?
Chun, get down here!
-Coming! -My daughter wouldn't do such a thing!
Doesn't matter. We will demand her explanation.
The Elders are beginning to suspect her.
Kun is in great danger.
Who are you?
You don't remember me now, handsome?
Go hide Kun in the frozen river by the cave.
Chun will be punished if someone finds out.
Now!
You'll be big trouble for Chun.
Come with me.
Chun's in danger with you near her.
If you don't want her to get hurt,
then go.
Where's Kun?
I let him go.
Go? To where?
I set him free... into the river.
Chun!
It's for your safety!
Oh darling. Finally you're mine.
Now that I have you, I can go to the human world.
Kun.
I thought I'd never see you again.
We need to find a way out.
Let's follow them.
QUEEN MOTHER OF THE IMMORTALS
I have no parents.
My grandma raised me.
No one cared for me. I'm a daredevil.
But what I'm most afraid of in this world
is you suffering.
I didn't expect this.
That he'd mean this much to you.
I'm so scared
that they'll hurt you.
Wake up, OK?
Kun.
Kun, I'm awake because of you, right?
You've grown so much.
Let's never be apart.
Your turn.
What a bad hand!
Since you're here, you might as well come in.
Sorry to bother you.
Triple!
I have a question.
Yeah? What?
Why did you give the human soul to Chun?
We made a deal.
If you're willing to pay the price,
anything under the sun can be traded.
With half of a lifetime?
You figured it out.
So...
may I trade you half of my life span for Chun's?
Of course you can.
However, the price has gone up.
You'll have to give us your whole life.
Fine.
I should warn you...
even that won't save her.
That little girl's life is tied to that big fish of hers.
When it dies, so does she.
What if it's sent away?
If it's sent away,
-the day it leaves -is the day she dies.
How can I save her then?
Mahjong!
Flush!
Play a round with me. I will tell you if you win.
But the table's full.
There.
We need one more.
Looks like I got lucky. I won.
Let's see.
There's no such thing as luck.
Good or bad, luck is all just fate.
The answer is in your hands.
My hands?
The answer is in your hands.
In your hands.
Sorry for bothering you. Thank you.
Little brats like you
treat life like a rock you find on the road.
Only we old farts are racking our brains to figure out how to live longer.
Without happiness,
what's the point of longevity?
There's something I want to forget, but I can't.
Then stop trying.
Real forgetting should take no effort.
But it hurts.
Pain can sometimes be a good thing.
Do you have anything that'll make it go away?
There's something that'll make you forget all your sorrows as well as happiness.
It's called... Meng Po potion.
I'll just get some wine then.
Do you have a hangover cure?
It'll be my first drink.
Do you even know who loves you?
You are loved by a god!
He defies all other gods to love you!
He endures all hardship and pain just to make you happy!
The sea is flowing backward. Heaven is enraged!
We must get rid of the inauspicious creature!
I know where the big fish is.
But you'll have to first set me free and let me see the sun again.
Things are getting awfully messy.
Time for a big cleanup.
Are you ready, my baby?
When the big fish comes, we all gotta go.
One family moves away after another.
Everyone is moving up to the mountain.
Where will my home be?
The wind is strong and the rain heavy.
The flood swallowed every home.
Need a new house after the old one's gone.
Where will my home be?
Madam! Terrible news! The Mask of the Dragon is gone!
What?
Chun!
I've been looking for you like crazy!
Listen to me. Turn that monster over to us!
He's not a monster. I won't let you hurt him!
You ingrate!
Mom, I'm sorry.
Feng, why'd you stop?
Go get it!
-Let me do it! -Go away!
Kun, let's run!
Don't let it escape!
Kun, fly!
Chun!
Now's your chance!
I'll help you get Kun home!
Heavens no!
Chun, you must leave with Kun!
-Go! -Qiu.
Qiu, don't be foolish!
You're not strong enough to open the Gate!
Oh my goodness. Go get his grandma!
Kun, fly up! I can't hold on much longer!
Come on!
Kun, fly higher!
Here I come, human world!
All thanks to you, handsome!
I'll think of you from up there.
What a transgression to Heaven!
Without a token from the human world, one can't pass the Gate of Sea and Sky.
Grandpa saved us.
Kun!
Kun, be strong.
From the day we met to when our fates came together,
I've never regretted a single second.
Song Zi, how come Zhu Rong is not here today?
We'll go find him.
Granny?
-Someone's in the water! -Go save them!
Help!
Please help us!
Save the girl first!
-Little sister! -Brother!
Have you seen Qiu?
Ting Mu's still there. I'll go get him.
I'll go with you.
Ting Mu!
Kun, we can't give up!
You must fly to the Gate of Sea and Sky!
Don't worry. I'll be fine.
Grandpa's protecting me.
Silly, don't stay here.
Fly!
The monster!
We must catch it!
Let's find and save Ting Mu first.
Don't let it escape! It'll only bring more disaster.
Kun!
Grandpa.
Grandpa, what should I do?
What should I do?
Grandpa.
Grandma!
Kun!
Please let him go. He's done nothing wrong!
Why are you doing this?
He died saving me. I need to repay him!
His sister's waiting for him!
Do you know the flood swept away Ting Mu?
He also has a sister waiting.
Everybody run!
Build a bridge! Run to the mountaintop!
Feng, give me a hand!
Oh no! They're in danger!
Let's go back!
I can't stay with you till the end.
I need to go help my family.
-Ting Mu! -Brother!
-Did you find him? -Brother?
We couldn't find him.
-What? -I'm sorry.
I want my brother back!
Mom.
Mom! I'll come help you!
We don't need you!
My child, pease just go.
Give me my Ting Mu back!
Hurry up! Don't fall behind!
Feng!
This is all my fault.
I don't want to make them suffer.
But Kun,
you must do your best and fly.
You must get out.
I want you to live a beautiful life,
just like before.
I have faith in you.
Grandpa, here I come.
Mom!
I'm here!
Brother!
I have been waiting for you.
Why haven't you left?
Lei-zu made this for you.
Try it on and see if it fits.
Thanks.
Why am I here?
I thought I died.
I saved you.
But you've lost your powers
and no longer belong here.
And everyone else?
Don't worry. You saved everyone.
The flood has connected the water and the land.
All the way south is the Southern Heaven Lake.
You can send him all the way home.
However, once he returns to the human world,
he'll forget all about you.
That's fine.
Please tell my mom I'm alive.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
No need.
It's just a business deal.
Instead, thank the fellow who traded his life for yours.
Chun!
Chun! Wait for me!
I'm coming with you!
Help! I can't swim!
Penny for your thoughts?
So many stars.
Whenever I look up at the sky,
I hear something calling.
When someone dies,
they'll never see the pretty sky again.
Do you believe love can be eternal, just like the stars?
I do.
After we send Kun off, shall we go home together?
I've lost my powers and can't go back.
The human world is nice.
Do you want to live there?
With Kun?
That's not possible.
Our worlds are different.
I asked whether you want to, not whether you can.
I like watching you eat.
You're cute when you eat.
I've seen all of you.
When you're stubborn,
angry,
sad,
or even embarrassed... you still look beautiful.
You're like a brother to me.
Ah.
You awake?
Yep.
You cold?
-No. -Good night, then.
OK.
-Qiu. -Yes?
Thanks for always being there for me.
No one treats me better than you in the whole world.
Will we meet again?
Recognize each other?
We will reunite.
No matter how our looks may change,
we'll definitely recognize each other.
Kun!
Time to leave.
Go home now.
-Qiu! -Come here!
Hold my hand!
Quick! We're out of time!
What's happening, Qiu?
I'll get you out of here!
So that you can be with Kun!
Aren't we going home together?
I got your life back from the Soul Keeper.
I'll send you to the human world!
No!
-No! -Chun!
Listen to me!
Chun!
-Promise me. Hold on to my hand. -Qiu!
Don't let go!
I must get you there.
We'll meet again. Trust me!
How I regret I didn't hold you close in our last night together.
You'll be happy with Kun.
Come with me.
On the count of three, jump!
Trust me!
One!
Two!
Three!
I'll stay in the human world with you as wind and rain.
Qiu!
Goodbye.
Qiu.
Do you believe in miracles?
Life is a journey.
How many cycles of life have we waited
for the opportunity to enjoy this journey?
Life is short, and we all have to go one day.
We might as well be a little bolder.
Fall in love.
Climb up a mountain.
Chase a dream.
Yes, it doesn't hurt to be a little bolder.
There are many things I don't understand.
There are many questions I can't answer.
But I believe
Heaven gave us life
for us to create miracles.
Subtitle translation by:
It's time.
From now on,
you'll take over my role.
IN ANCIENT TIMES, THERE WAS A GIANT TREE NAMED CHUN.
ONE SPRINGTIME IN ITS WORLD LASTED EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS,
AND SO DID ONE AUTUMN.