There is a whale named Alice
She does not have any companion, friends or family
The frequency of the sounds she makes
is much higher than other whales
Maybe Alice does not even know herself
that she is going through the wrong path
When she sings, no-one can hear her
When she is upset, no-one comes to her
I really want to try and look for her
On 31 October 2014
MSN Messenger
officially ceased operations worldwide
A decade ago
it was the first program I installed
when I got my laptop
What it stands out from others
when you log in
the two icons spinning together
gave me the feeling that, no matter how far apart
we would always be connected
And I had found a space there
to upload my feelings and thoughts
My name is Anthony
Soon, I'll be leaving Dalian
where I was born and raised
to go study overseas
Before that, I did three things
Number one: take photos
I took photos of Dalian, the city where I grew up
My favourite mode of transport is the tram
I'd sit in the very left seat at the back
Dozing off from the rhythm of the tram's movements
I feel like crossing the city in a split second
Excuse me, sir
Sir
We're at the terminus
I'm sorry
I took photos of my family
Here comes the sneaky monkey
Here
Take a bite
It's still warm, one bite
How many times have I told you
not to buy snacks from the street
before dinner
But don't you like them?
You better enjoy that while I'm still living...
Say that again? What did you say?
What you're talking about?
Talking nonsense again?
You're not a kid anymore
Please take a bite
One bite
Oh, you silly child!
Com'on you!
Mum
I'll miss your cooking so much
Once you're away from home
you have only yourself to depend on to
You'll miss me and my cooking
Son
Yeah
Come, see
Now with item no.12, your luggage is all done
Oh well, but you've lost
your other sock
Dad, when I get to Australia
they'll all get mixed up anyway
You know, my boy
One of the greatest joys in life
is finding your own order
amidst the chaos
Got it
I found it!
I'm sure we'll be together again some day
Go get yourself a bigger suitcase
Pack your things
It's dinner time!
Let's eat!
Want some chilli?
- Yes - It's your favorite
- Go on - And this
Dalian menzi
- Here - Have more
Number two: meet with my buddies
Sometimes I think every McDonald's is the same
Serving the same purpose at different cities
It's a place you can always chill out
Enjoy a little break from life
Why are we having the farewell party here?
They got McDonald's in Australia
Right, Anthony?
It's my idea cos I know Andy's paying
There aren't fries this cheap
in Australia, okay?
There ain't cheap Chinese food as well
You only left one line on MSN
"5pm at our usual spot"
I know we always come here
but some of us would've gone to school instead?
Damn! Ying's not here yet
She would've gone to school, right?
What should we do Tony?
You think Ying is as dumb as you?
Who did you call dumb?
My buddies all have different nicknames for me
Some call me by my name
Right, Anthony?
Others call me Andy
It's just becos Andy...
Some others call me Tony
What should we do Tony?
Sorry!
Sorry I'm late! The visa for Japan took a while
Thanks Toto
Only she calls me Toto
My high school literature teacher said
the repetition of words stresses the tone
It's delicate, affectionate and profound
I wish you guys didn't have to go!
Get online more often then!
MSN, QQ and all that
We know you won't go online when you're busy
At least let us know what you're up to
Alright, I'll put my entire schedule online
School, work and all that, ok?
Great!
Our schedule right now
would be stuffing ourselves
and to go watch the fireworks!
Ying had decided a long time ago
that she'd go study sound design in Japan
I admire how she made herself the lead actor
in the screenplay she's written for her life
As for me
apart from knowing I got to work hard
I see no role I must play
Watching fireworks can be a lonely experience
You're alone in the act, even in a crowd
Where's everybody?
In the crowds over there
It's a pretty view from here
Yeah
Hey, what you doing?
Don't tell me you can identify the type of fireworks
with your ears
just like the anime superheroes?
I made a wish
A wish?
See how fireworks look so much alike shooting stars
when they're coming down?
I heard that
shooting stars have traveled
thousands of years before they reach our eyes
So I think
they're more precious than fireworks
And both of them
make us feel blessed and loved
So when you wish upon the fireworks
your dream will come true
It's your turn
Com'on!
Close your eyes
Alright
I'm not gonna recognize who this is
when I turn into an old man
I'll take...
some more of your
nose
and ears
and patch all these photos together
If you can recognize someone
just by a detail of their face
that particular person would mean
the world to you
Such an insensitive fool I was
that I didn't realize what warmed my heart
until I recalled it later
Number three: buy a suitcase
What's your budget?
Around 200, I guess
Same here
Do you like it?
It's big enough
If I can't find a place to stay over there
I'd live in this
Let's see if it'll close
Stop kicking me, com'on
- Try! - Get in!
Hi, we're looking for suitcases
How many? 20% off for two
This one, two please
Please wait
I'll take away this one
Take away
Get in here
Lately, rumour of renowned singer
Faye Wong's retirement has spread widely
Today, Faye's manager admitted that
the singer will be taking a break
and will not release any albums or films
As for how long this break will last
she said Faye has no plans at the moment
My favorite singer once said
if the day came for her to quit singing
she'd hope everyone would forget her
But how can one forget
those who are most important to you?
It's almost time for me to leave
There's nothing cool or special about me
so I can't make a cool speech
All I wanna say is
please don't forget me
Anthony
Are you Mrs.Wong, the landlady?
Yes, I am
When we spoke on the phone earlier
I had an image of you in my mind
and I painted it. It's for you
You look more or less like how I imagined
Thank you
Oh, yes
I've brought the things
you asked for
They're not for me
Come with me. Com'on in
Okay
Anthony's here
Hi
What's this?
Chin...Chinese...Drugs
- Drugs? - No! No! No!
No...no drugs...
Medicine...
Babe I'll get your herbal bath ready!
Xiaohei, majors in Veterinarian, is a pretty cool gal
Her passion only shines bright
when she's with animals
Thanks
Jiaming, in acturial science, loves spicy food
I'm from Chengdu. I like things hot
How much chilli can you eat?
Numbers are cold, and chillies are hot
I guess
by adding up the two together
he can find the balance of life
Thank you
Just one box?
Custom regulations only allows one
Could've asked others to help
Pierre was originally called Peter
He thinks that's too ordinary
so he took on the French version
He claimed he's studied Geography
Anthropology and Cognitive Science
but he failed in all of them
Memories for Sale
On weekends, he sells bric-a-brac at vintage markets
I've always wondered
how a China man
managed to gather so many Western antiques
Waste not your youth
Capture the best memories
Mister, would ya like to buy or sell?
That'd work too
It's a gift from Mrs.Wong
I'm looking for something to frame it
Let's see
Look how great the old ones were
And now
the one you've got
it ain't no bon-ton!
No
It's Anton
I like it
I didn't feel anything has changed
until I woke up next morning
I glanced at my watch
8 a.m.
Then I checked the clock on my bedstand
11 a.m.
The 3 hours that had slipped away
make me accept that I'm far from home
This is the western campus
You'll find bars, restaurants n' all that here
And the lecture theatres?
Not sure
Did you ever go to class?
Not much these 2 years
I want a burger, and one beer
Do ya want somethin'?
Drinking in broad daylight seems a bit...
Make that two
Thank you
Soon
I found my first job
If you're late, I'll deduct your pay
If you smoke, I'll deduct your pay
If you talk on the phone, I'll deduct your pay
May I ask
under what condition you won't deduct the pay?
Sure
only when you work overtime
Our wage is
AUS$10 an hour
All clear?
Nelson! Watch out
You'll break all the stock!
Mum?
It's getting crinkled
Mum
- Hey, I can hear him - Mum, stand back a bit
There he is!
- Son! - Move back a bit
You're...You're blocking it
What? Where am I...?
Who am I blocking?
Dad
It's my nose. Allergies
Dad
Your dad's gibbering
He's talking nonsense
Just now he brags about how he can hook this up
Fiddling around here and there
Then I saw this window pop out
and another popped out
I couldn't bear it
I almost called the computer technician
Alright, alright
How are you?
Have you been eating properly?
Everything's quite expensive here
Whatever you do, don't save on food
If you run out of money, just give us a call
Your dad will send it
Don't worry about me
I found a job here
And I'll work hard
I'll do my best to earn a living
Don't burn yourself out
Remember
the most important thing is your studies
I know, don't worry about it
Don't stay up too late
Bye
Hello, Anton
Alright students, welcome to class
Books out, let's go!
Now picking up from last lecture...
Okay, during my lecture I expect complete silence
That gentleman talking
thinks he's Ned Kelly
trying to hold up the rest of the gang
What are you doing?
The customers will think you're a burglar!
Take it off, or I'll deduct your pay!
Hey bro
Would you mind? It's been there for a week
Work is pretty exhausting
But when I figure
I'm making one renminbi a minute
that gives me the strength to carry on
Anthony
This is yours
Thank you boss!
Anton
The novelty in this city amazes me
I think I'll be meeting lots of friends
having one adventure after another
I always believe that
when you've done something right
it'll solidify the ground you stand
on this planet
You'll feel at ease
assured
Honestly, I'm not feeling assured
Is that because I haven't done the right thing
making right choices all along?
My friends on the other side of the world
are you feeling the same?
Will we meet the ones who we loved again?
Will we reminisce the moments that once touched our hearts?
Now I understand
why we're having our farewell dinner at this place
You can find this chain anywhere
I just need to go into one
and it'll bring back all the memories
of our sweet moments together
Friends forever, for better or for worse!
I do!
You free?
Sure, what's up?
Wanna try working in a kitchen?
The pay is great!
Twenty-five bucks!
Deal! Where?
Great
See ya
Here you go
Oh! Bless you!
- Please take this - Oh, don't worry about it. It's okay
Have a nice day
You too. Thank you
What?
Sorry, I beg your pardon?
serena.L@hospitalitymelbourne.edu.au
It's a long email address I know
But now you owe me 20 cents
How are you gonna pay me back?
Right
Could you say it again?
Relax!
Don't bother about the 20 cents
I'm glad I can help you out
This is for you
Take this instead
I want this!
An orange has 70 calories
This one made me run 5 min for it
I've burnt 38 kcal
That means if I eat it
I'll only gain 32 kcal
That's the healthiest orange ever!
It's true that girls are experts on counting calories
Hey I have to run
Bye
Oh sorry
Sorry
- Sorry - Bye
Bye
Hey Anthony
You're here
The manager asked me to give you a briefing
Go and get changed first
This kitchen looks so cool
And the food here is super cool
There're really strict rules in the kitchen
Sourcing ingredients, cleaning
the sides and garnishes, the cooking, the plating
and the dishwashing
everything has its place
Why are the chopping boards and knives in different colours?
Hygiene is the first priority in here
Green for vegetables
Blue for seafood
Red is for meat
Basically just do as they say
and watch out for yourself
So I'll leave you to it
How many times did I tell you
this is supposed to be as thin as angel's hair
Like this
Okay?
Thank you, chef!
I want a virgin tongue!
Him!
You? Come over here!
Yeah, yeah you...come, come
I want you to taste that
It's good!
It's so good!
This beef is so tender!
This is amazing!
Anton
Perhaps it has something to do with how the earth rotates
when the water goes down the drain
it goes clockwise
but in China it goes anti-clockwise
How about kids living at the equator?
Do they have whirlpools to play with?
And for myself
I seem to find a motivation to march forward
in the whirlpool of inverse direction
I dunno what to do
My folks are gonna be so disappointed
about me switching majors
What does cooking mean to you?
How should I put it
I think everyone in uni
they all look so carefree
having a bright future and all
but not for me
I've been quite confused
Then I started to learn about Western cuisine
and I have a feeling that's what I wanna do
Whenever I have time now
I'll go and try different restaurants
I don't feel lonely dining alone
The food here
is fresh and delicious
It's also very creative
I want to create such wonderful dishes
I hope culinary arts
can become my way to connect with
other people and the world
I think that
if I'm able to express myself through my dish
I'd be on top of the world
I'm sorry
I have no idea, I'm just bubbling
Do you know which country
that was supposed to rule Australia?
Huh?
You're supposed to learn French instead
Once upon a time
British and French navy set off
towards the untouched lands of Australia
The French ship arrived first
The crew got off excitedly
That vast piece of land beneath their feet will soon be theirs
As the French captain setting up their camp
he discovered a species of butterfly
that he'd never seen before
As an ecologist, he was captivated
It was right then
that the British ship arrived
thinking they'd be returning home empty handed
To their surprise, there're no sign of occupation
The British were ecstatic
and immediately claimed the land for themselves
So
when the French captain returned the coast with his butterfly
the land that was meant to be theirs
had slipped from his very fingers
You're trying to tell me
to hold on to what matters to me
However silly it might seem to others?
If that's how you're interpreting the story
you've made your decision
Right
Thank you, Ying
Toto
I believe
you'd
look really nice with a big white toque
on your head
Thank you
Dad, mum
I've changed my major
I'm studying Western cuisine
I wanna become a chef
What?
You foolish child
You've gone wild huh?
Why would we spend so much effort
sending you abroad to become a chef?
Your mother here is the best cook
I could've teach you myself!
Mum
That's completely different
Have you think twice about it?
Stop it
What's with you?
Sit down first...
Come, sit down
He's gone mad!
What's wrong with him?
Let's hear him out
Mum, dad
This is what I want
I'm not interested in working with numbers
Besides
I can hardly imagine putting on
a suit and tie everyday in the future
I've decided
I wanna become a great chef
Well...
Son, look
We don't support the idea of
you changing major
You see
You've been in Australia 127 days
In 528 days, you'd graduate
with a degree in finance
And during this time
you've already spent this much
Well
Whatever
Live your life the way you want to
Have you lost your mind?
Have you lost your mind too?
Listen to me, listen
- You're both nuts! - Alright, alright
Son
I think that
being able
to pursue what you're passionate about
it's a blessing
As long as
you must pursue this passion
with perseverance and positive attitude
Give it all you've got
Some day
it'll return your embrace
I'll do my best
I don't like this
You don't need make-up in your food
Take it off
I...
I haven't gone a day
without make-up since I was 13
I've never had to expel a student
becos they wouldn't take their make-up off
You wanna be the first?
No, no, I'm sorry
I don't like this
Tie your hair up
and take the bracelet off
I'm sorry, sorry
Can you please change into the right hat?
You
You're much taller than the gentleman behind you
Move to your left
I'm your instructor, John
I'll be teaching you different skills every class
so you gotta bring in all your tools
Your full attendance is expected
or else there is no way you can complete this course
and if you are late...
Sorry, I'm late
like this
You have 10 seconds to do
what you think you should do
to the onion in front of you
Begin
Do you understand...
Time's up! Stop
Describe your onion please
I...I lost my contact lens
when I removed my make-up
so
I cannot see anything
I'm sorry, I'm sorry
It's fragile
It collapsed with just one cut
There are always onions in Indian food
I don't see anything wrong about it at all
No
I can't see the veins in it
It looks
Go on
It looks like
the ones we would throw away at the supermarket
That's what I want to hear
Anthony is right
These onions are about to go bad
When onions rot, they let off an unpleasant smell
and lose their lustre
which is easy to detect
As a chef
you need to realize right away
when ingredients aren't fresh
No matter how skillful you are
if you don't use ingredients at their prime
you'll never be able to create a great dish
Now, Serena will start by showing you
how to dice an onion
Hi, everyone
Two steps
One, cut along the grain
Two, cut against the grain
It's better for releasing the flavors
and gives a great texture
Quiet!
You just need to finish cutting
before your eyes start to water
Start practicing!
You need to be at least
half as fast as Serena
What?
Hi!
Hi
Do you need swimming goggles?
I know a great shop
Thanks
But I gotta go
I've found a part-time kitchen job
It's my first day
It's like every time we meet, you're in a hurry
Why are you keeping yourself so busy?
You gotta enjoy life!
Serena
Do you wanna go to the movies together?
Sure!
You're such a nice guy, Anthony
If you said yes earlier
he would've gone to the movies alone
Bye!
Alright, bye!
Bye!
Let's go
Whatever we're cooking in class
Becomes our meal that day
That's not acceptable
You need to really beat air into the eggs, hmm?
- Understand? - Yeah
Why can't we use electric beaters too?
Did you lose some brain cells too
When you cut your fingers?
What's going on?
Continue!
I've eaten nothing
Been waiting for you all day
I know, that's why I made a trip
before going to work
Good man!
My best buddy!
You two vultures
Here are our herbs
We have basil, chillies
mint, sage...
Herbs add that last little bit of magic
to really complete the dish
Hi, kids!
Hi!
This is Phoebe
You can pat her like this!
There is a Chinese saying "jie di qi"
I never get what it means
until I met Serena
She has come to Melbourne for 3 years
and completely integrated into life in the city
Every move she makes is full of energy
Her every smile is so bright and genuine
How about me?
Have I...
connected with the spirit of this land?
- See you! - Bye
Hi, Serena
Hi!
Just then John took us through the herbs garden
There're plenty of signs saying
"Planted by Serena"
Yeah
I'll be here on every weekend
Let you in on a secret
My herbs are super popular
I actually think you're gonna succeed in everything
Really?
I believe so too
My biggest dream
is to become a great chef
and open a restaurant that carries my style
How about you?
Have you thought of having your own restaurant
and what kinda food you'll serve?
Yeah
If I have a chance
I hope
I'd open a bistro in somewhere
that's nice and quiet
The kind where there's a blackboard menu
I'd sell coffee
and do fine dining as well
probably sandwiches and cheesecakes too
If it isn't too busy in the afternoon
I can take a nap
or polish wine glasses
In fact
I've thought of a name for it
Wouldn't it be the name of your dream girl, no?
Okay!
It's for you
I hope your dreams come true
To chef!
Chicken is a very dangerous creature
It marinates in its own filth from the time it dies
to the time you put it in the oven
It is a haven for bacteria
It's been chewin' nonstop for 3 hours
Nothin' else but eating
Looks like we won't record much today
Let's come back another day okay?
It's my friend's birthday tomorrow
It's a present for her
Oh
Your friend's a girl?
Huh? Yes
Oh
Well...you must really like her
Hey, he's asleep
I'm a koala
- What you doing? - I wanna sleep now
- What's with you? - You guys should leave
Didn't you sleep much already?
Happy birthday!
Thank you
Any birthday wish?
Oh!
Part of it has already come true
The university I wanna get into in Japan
they've accepted my application!
I still need to submit a sound design project
before they confirm my acceptance
It's a shame my voice doesn't sound good
otherwise I would've been able to help
Silly!
I'd need to record all sorta different sounds
and edit them
into a narrative
Oh I see
Then I can be your assistant
Yes sure
Hey, bye
Hey, see you tomorrow
Hello?
Hello? Ying
Hello?
Can you hear me?
Toto! Hold on a sec!
Okay
It's okay now
Ying, happy birthday!
Thank you
It's not midnight here yet
Oh right
I forgot there's one hour difference
It's alright
It's not like I was born at midnight anyway
Hey
It sounds pretty lively over there
Are you celebrating with friends?
Nah, no-one here knows it's my birthday
I'm actually at work
Oh? I won't bother you then
Alright, talk later
Okay, bye
Have some
Okay
These chestnuts are so nicely roasted
Hear the cracking sound of it
It's so imaginative
Sounds like it's bursting in joy?
It's the sound of a heart breaking
But you're right about how I feel now
It's done. Wanna listen to it?
Sure
Hi, Ying
I'm about to go offline
Oh...Uh...
Is something wrong?
Uh...no, um...
Cooking
There're tons of terms to memorize
I got your present
Thank you
Koalas look so cute, I can't believe
how awful they sound
Yeah
I'm quite jealous of their lives
They spend twenty hours sleeping
two for eating
two for daydreaming
and call it a day
I prefer striving for what I love
while I'm young and able
and slow down to enjoy life when I'm old
Are you working today? It's your birthday
You've worked really late last night
I have to work extra hard
for my birthday present
I wanna get more recording equipment
Let's live our lives to the fullest
while we're young and energetic!
Yeah!
What's with you today?
Bye bye
Anton
I'm so young and curious of this world
I don't mind pushing the limit
And if everyone thinks I'm living the life
I guess I actually am
or maybe it'll get even better
Christmas in Australia is in summer
Santa's beard must be a real torture
That's why I think
he's probably topless while giving out presents
Anthony!
Merry Christmas, Serena
Merry Christmas!
Thank you
Looking good
but I wonder how it'll taste
Well
How can I live up to your standard?
You're the top student
Not really
Few months ago
we have to prepare a dish for creative cooking
I thought for days
but I couldn't come up with anything
Then that I realized I'm seriously lacking
in creativity and imagination
I was pretty upset with myself
Oh yes, I gotta show you
Voila!
Remember the first time we met?
At that time, we're both
chasing after an orange
My mind was completely blank
You're running for it
and then I was pulled along
My eyes have never left that orange
When I picked it up
a sudden wave of relief
washed over me
like I've taken some kinda pill
Later while I was holding the orange again
my inspiration flowed
and I created this starter
"That Orange Moment"
I've used crab, my favorite
and mixed it with orange
Given that you're one of the creators
You get to try first
How is it?
Delicious
Really?
Really
You know
You're the one who inspired me
Thank you
Ladies and Gentlemen
I present to you, the finest of wines
You're drenched!
You know
Us young'uns
need no umbrellas
Embrace the rain!
I'm told young'uns don't get hungry either
I suppose I can skip your share then
Please don't!
Cheers!
Yeah! Merry Christmas!
It's kinda funny
wearing t-shirts and shorts on Christmas day
Pour the wine
It's no crime!
You're off key!
Your wish is my command!
Wow, look at the light
Reflecting off my bum!
- What ya doin'? - A bit warm, are ya?
Take that long sleeves shirt off! I'll help!
Come on, take it off!
Off! Off! Off!
Off! Off!
Don't! No!
Off! Off! Off!
Don't! Don't do it!
What's that sound?
I'll go check it out
Quick, come back in
My husband's paintings, I must bring them in!
Don't you worry, I'll go!
We...we'll go! Stay inside!
The paintings
Don't worry, they'll get 'em
Pierre, Jiaming! Let's go!
- They're all wet - They'll get them
Oh young'uns
Quit looking, go!
Careful!
My husband's paintings are all there
You're freezing
There's still so many
They're all here now
Come on
Dry yourself off, come here
Excuse me, miss
Can I have a towel, please?
Oh, sorry
Here you go
The two of you can continue
Why you're taking so long? Where have you been?
This one
got blown far away
And based on my regular pace
if I ran over 300 metres
my energy level will certainly drop
Thank god it didn't go further than 300m
Go take a hot shower
Okay
"JIA"?
Darling, do you think that ship is bound for China?
(JIA)
Actually, I know nothing about painting
After my husband passed away
I just felt like it
whenever I thought of him
And that's become my way of recording life
"JIA"
I found it
It doesn't say where it's heading
Too bad we don't know the destination
I only know
wherever I'm with you
that's our "JIA" (home)
I'm grateful the storm
didn't blow my memories away
I remember every moment
I watched him paint
My husband once told me here
to live in the present
I'd say I'm a pretty obedient wife!
Thank you my dears
- Not at all - Yeah it's nothing
Oh right
We actually haven't started
- Our Christmas feast yet! - Yeah! Yeah!
Let's go home and eat, Mrs.Wong
- Let's go then! - Come on, let's go!
Mrs.Wong
You'll get to try everyone's cooking tonight
My hometown specialty, menzi from Dalian
I particularly asked my mum for her recipe
Mrs.Wong
This is my signature dish, I'm real proud of it
Luncheon meat and frankfurters with instant noodles
Thank you
Mrs.Landlady
These are dumplings from my hometown
I made them myself
And you must serve dumplings with chilli sauce
I'm from Sichuan
I made Chongqing spicy hotpot with Christmas ham
Bon appetit! I'm starving!
Bon appetit!
It's the best meal I've had
since I've come to Melbourne
It's served and saturated in love and friendship
1-2 -3, say Melbourne!
That's the taste I'll never forget
Breathing the air of Melbourne in late summer time
it's already been a year and 8 months
During this period of time
I've changed my major
and in my second year now
I've watched a movie
saw a theatre production
went to two art shows
Haven't been particularly homesick
but I do think of you sometimes
Preserve our youth in memories
It's everlasting
A new semester
I moved into the student dormitory
When I first came to Australia
I had in my suitcase a duvet
bedsheets
a ricecooker
a dictionary
and well wishes from family and friends
And this time
it's packed full with photos
recipes
knives
and memories that are too good to be true
You're fucking fired mate
Did you even notice that?
Piss off
And go collect your soccer bet winnings
I can find a job anywhere!
We're in a sticky situation here
What're you gonna do about that media night next week?
I cook, you do the hiring
Excuse me
Who's this kid?
Sorry
Such a beautiful place here
Yes
This was the residence of an English earl
It's now a heritage listed building
We host events, weddings
Can I help you with anything?
My name is Anthony
Are you looking for help in the kitchen?
What do you know?
I'm only in my second year at cooking school
but I really like cooking
Okay, kid!
You've got one hour to make me
one entree, one main and one dessert
The kitchen's all yours
If you don't finish everything in time
You can show yourself out
Roast duck in French style
Avocado and smoked salmon salad
Flourless orange cake
I've learnt them all, it shouldn't be too hard
But the duck takes time, the salad needs to stay fresh
and the cake needs to cool down
No, this isn't easy at all
I gotta prepare all other ingredients
while I'm roasting
in a reverse order
Let's do it
Done
Oh, no!
You have twenty minutes left
Twenty minutes then outta my fucking kitchen
Yes
Five minutes left!
You can do it
You're doing a great job
Take it easy. Stop the bleeding first
Thank you
- Yes - Okay
Time's up
Take your bloody hands off
That looks very nice
These three dishes look attractive
But you can forget about being a real chef
if you can't make them properly
The roast duck is too intense
The cake is too soft and
the flower will fall apart with the slightest touch
Sorry
I'm sorry I failed you
Oh, no. Don't be silly
Hey, I haven't finished
Sorry
You're hired
Really?
A great chef needs to believe in their own ideas
but is concerned about the people that they're cooking for
These three courses would've normally
taken 1-2 hours to complete
And if you hadn't have sought the help of others
you wouldn't have completed them in time
Cooking is all about mastering teamwork
and building relationships with other people
Do you wanna be my assistant to the big dinner next week?
I'll try...
No! I'll do my best!
Let's go Kandagawa together
Ying
How many frames per second in a film?
24 fps
What did you record it as?
- 25 fps - What?
25 fps
We all know that movie camera runs at 24 fps
Why on earth did you record it at 25 fps?
Where's your attention to detail?
How could you possibly mess it up?
I'm sorry
I'll contact the actors to do dubbing
and record the ambience you need
Then what's the point of shooting sync sound?
Why did we bother huh?
Are you aware of what we're making here?
It's a film
A film!
What does it mean to you?
It's an art, it's sacred!
Not many students have the chance to shoot in celluloid
Do you know how precious that is?
Every exposure, every shot
will last forever
I'm sorry. I'll try to make amends for it
How? What can you do?
Some moments can never be rewound nor edited
I understand
I'm sorry
You hardly understand how that one single frame
could mean so much
It's raining outside
Sorry. The number you have dialled is currently unavailable
Please leave a message...
Anthony!
- Come! - Coming
Come on guys
This is it!
This is the big fucking night
If we fuck up tonight, we are doomed
Alright
It's time, time for service
Bring it on, baby!
Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
Your chicken roulade, madam
Thank you
It's tender
It must be locally grown
It's dessert time people!
Yes! Chef!
No! What the fuck is wrong with you people
This is not set! Fix it!
- What the hell? - What's goin' on?
What the fuck?
Someone please tell me what the fuck is goin' on in here?
Power outage!
The council just called
Fuck! When will it be fixed?
Hopefully tomorrow
Fuck!
That's it, we're screwed
I can't...I can't serve in the dark
It's not dinner in the fucking dark!
Chef!
We can make it a candlelight dinner
We have around 30 boxes of candles back there
And I think there's a few hundred
The wholesale company, they made a mistake
And they never came to pick 'em up
Shuuu...
Okay
Let's do this
All the floor staff go n' get the candles
Light 'em in the kitchen first n' then the restaurant
Just tell the guests that it's all part of the surprise
And we're changing the menu
Same ingredients, but something that'll suit this fucking situation
We're doing...
Bombe Alaska!
I can't make it all by myself!
Fuck, who knows how to make Bombe Alaska?
I do, chef!
Good!
Great!
Ladies and Gentlemen
It's now the long awaited dessert time
Tony, our executive chef
has specially arranged them for you
So, enjoy
Oh, this looks interesting. Thank you
Amazing!
Sorry
The number you have dialed is currently unavailable
Please leave your name and message
after the tone
(How are you?)
(Send to: Ying)
The loneliest whale in the world
Her name is Alice
In this world
there are many Alices
among us
Anton
She once said that
when you try hard to think of someone's face
that someone must mean a lot to you
But what if I can always think of hers
without even trying?
There's a whale named Alice
She doesn't have any companion, friends or family
The frequency of the sounds she makes
is much higher than other whales
So
no other whales can ever hear Alice?
Can she change her frequency?
I don't know
Maybe Alice doesn't even know herself
that she's going through the wrong path
When she sings, no-one can hear her
When she's upset, no-one comes to her
How about humans?
Can we hear Alice at all?
Yes, we can
I really wanna try and look for her
You must think this is ridiculous
Anthony
Are you going to do a recording?
Yes
Thanks for driving me all this way
Oh well, that's how it goes when you don't have a license!
How will you get back later?
If it's too late
I might stay a night here
You should head back first
Anthony
I don't think it's ridiculous
Thank you, Serena
Drive safe
Bye
Welcome abroad to the best whale-watching tour
Hey, what's your name?
Anthony
Okay, great
Take the flyer. See you on board
Welcome to the best...
Hello everyone
Thank you for joining us on the whale-watching tour
Whales are the world's largest mammals
They live in groups and mostly communicate through sounds
Clap together to a beat
and watch them appear
Anton
I didn't find Alice
I didn't see a single whale
But
I've found where my heart lies
Ying!
I miss you!
Hi!
Hi
How's everything?
Good
Isn't this your creation?
Yes, I gave the recipe
to the owner here
You know each other?
Yes
Actually, he's about to retire
He offered to sell the restaurant to me
in a very good price
Opening your own place huh
But John said
he would refer me
to work in a starred restaurant in Sydney
That's great!
Which one would you choose?
I'd choose you
As for the name of the restaurant
I can leave for you to decide
My English isn't good enough
Let's run the restaurant together
What do you think?
I can't, I haven't even graduated yet
Anthony
I love you
Sorry
Don't say you're sorry
I just...
I just want you to know
Are you
going to see her?
So are you really
in love with her?
I thought I simply think of her
but now I realized that
I miss her a lot, and that's different
When I think of a person
my mind...
is clear and straight
But missing her
it's like I'd make space for her
and push away every other thought
She's engraved in my mind
I can't think of anything but her
Well since
you won't
be missing me
Could you at least
promise to
think of me sometimes?
Yes
Anthony
I hope you will remember that
Toto, your suitcase's broken?
It doesn't sound right
Ying, you didn't even open your eyes
and you can tell it's me. You're great
Can we drop by the courier desk first?
I gotta give them the package
Brought something over?
Yeah, for free air tickets
But I can only stay for 2 days
Did you bring a kangaroo?
Let's go
Here we are
Can the suitcase come through alright?
Yours could make it through
then it shouldn't be a problem
Right
Here, let me
I'm home!
Welcome home!
Is there someone else?
Nah, just a custom in Japan
You get home, you'd say "I'm home"
Whoever's home calls back "Welcome home"
I'm just saying it to myself
Same thing in Australia
even when we see a stranger
we don't say "Hi" but "How are you?"
It's obvious you've fit in then
Cause every time you text me, you're like
"How are you?"
Make yourself at home
Sorry, it's a bit of a mess in here
No, it's fine
I have something like this in my dorm too
but my photos are normal ones
Can you find yourself there?
You have a photo of me?
Of course
That's me?
Yep
You look different now?
I've been cutting my hair now
Barbers in Australia are so expensive
Let me see
Turn around
Not bad huh
Your hair looks shiny too!
If a person can recognize you
just by looking at your hair
I guess
you must mean something to them
I'll take you to get a nice haircut!
I suggest you take the JR line
to see Tokyo Tower
Or you may get off half way in Asakusa
and visit the temple
I'm working on a project
and I gotta go check on it
I'll meet up with you later
Can I join you?
Really? That's boring though
There's not much to do in Australia. Don't worry
I won't be bored
Then let's go
Wow it's so pretty
It almost feels surreal
It's not at its best moment yet
It's the prettiest when the petals fall
Isn't it interesting
Chinese enjoy seeing flowers blossom
While people here love to see flowers fall
It's a part of the installation
Once all the components are ready
we'll send them to the coast for display
Excuse me
Good job everyone
Hello
Good morning, sir
Hello
Thank you very much
Oh, good job
This project looks impressive
We have students from other faculties
coming in to help too
You're like a leader here
The academic hierarchy is taken very seriously here
There's no chance a foreign student could be the leader
It's my first time participating
in a sound installation exhibition
It's really exciting
It's like a whole new aspect
to what we've learnt in class
And I got paid!
You know, working with people
who share the same vision
and being able to make a living
it's so good
so I've been working really hard
- Hello - Hello
This is ready
Thank you
This is my piece in the project
Can you tell the shape of it?
It's a heart!
Is this okay?
- Okay - Okay
- Thank you - Welcome
The wind blows through this whistle
and it'll make a sound?
That's right
Pigeon whistle produces lovely sound
Hello
- Hello - Hello
Hold on to this for a sec
How's it?
Not happy about it
Listen
Did you feel it?
The whole thing is...
The metallic pieces aren't interacting
It's monotonous
It doesn't sound good
Kataoka said
there's no time to fix it
Each one has 750 grams
Do you think they'll help?
Putting these two together
that works perfectly well
Then we won't have to change anything!
Two become one
A match made in heaven!
Yeah!
Great job everyone
Oh!
Anthony
Toto, Fang Jie
Hi, I've heard a lot about you from Ying
I'm from Dalian too
We went to the same high school
I was here a few years earlier
Majored in film studies
You guys are all so awesome
Not really
I couldn't find a proper job after graduating
Doing odd jobs here and there
trying to make a living
Take a break everybody
Yeah! Let's have a break
- Take a break - Thank you
Good job
Thank you
Come. Good job everyone
Thank you
Good job
This is...?
Hi, I'm Anthony
Anthony?
Oh
You're Ying's boyfriend from Australia?
He told me that
I'm so sorry, Ying
I misheard "good friend" as "boyfriend"
It's okay
You guys can't really blame me
Ying's such a beauty
I can't believe she doesn't have a boyfriend
Anthony
If your girlfriend know about this
I'm sure she'll go mad
Huh?
I...
I'm still single
Seriously?
A guy who can cook is every girl's dream
WeiWei
Anthony
What's your plan after graduating?
Work your way up to become a chef there?
I'm not sure yet
I believe you just need to follow your passion
The future will take care of itself
As long as you're happy
Here
Cheers, Anthony
And a toast for happiness
Welcome, Anthony!
And wish me a safe journey home
You're going home?
But you told me you want to stay here
to become a film director
I...
I've decided to work for Wei's father
What do you mean?
Her father is getting old
It's tough for him to run the company all by himself
I'd be able to help him out
Though I'm not a professional in that field
I did at least study abroad
How about your dream in filmmaking?
You don't care anymore?
To be honest, Fang feels responsible for me
We'd rather go back to China
instead of staying here
chasing after something unrealistic
There's no way we can achieve anything
Besides
my dad knows a lot of film producers
He can introduce Fang to them
Right?
Yeah
The Mainland market is booming
Many financiers are keen on producing films
Maybe someone will recognize my talent
I'll have a chance to be a director
and make my own movie
That's right
Filmmaking ain't the same as cooking a dish
It's not something you can achieve overnight
Right, Anthony?
Someone once encouraged me
to hold on to what I'm passionate about
Regardless of how silly it seemed
But probably
only those who really care about me
won't think it's silly
Congrats Director Fang
I'll stay here
and make my dreams come true
I also had someone who told me
that you can't rewind or edit the past
It really seems that way now
Anyway I won't allow my present
to be a mere shadow of my past
Com'on, we're gonna miss the last train
You know what?
When you're shooting a movie
both the camera and the sound recorder
have to operate at 24 frames per second
Otherwise the visuals won't synchronize with the sound
One frame off and it's ruined
I reckon filmmaking is like living out our lives
Every shot is a lost opportunity
Every frame has its own regrets
24 fps, 25 fps
One frame more and it's out of sync
Do you know why
I came to study in Japan?
I told everyone that it's my dream
Honestly I just wanna get close to the person I love
To breathe the same air
To wake up in the same timezone
To feel the rain pouring from the same storm
To see the rainbow shining in the same sky
If it went well
we'd live the same dream
That's all I asked for
Now he's leaving
You said you admire how I take charge of my life
and make myself the lead actor in it
But the truth is
I'm just a nameless dispensable extra
I used to think that
I'd be happy with whatever role I was given
as long as I was in it
But now I know
it hurts like hell
I used to think
it will be painful to see the person I love
falling for someone else
It never occured to me
it will be much worse
to see the person I love
losing that someone
Tonight
I am not drunk
But my heart
is broken
Ying
Why did you quit school?
We've talked about it right?
Going overseas at the end of second year?
Don't be so surprised
I can't change my mind now?
I just don't get it
You always plan ahead
Why do you make such a rash decision?
I got it all planned that's why
I've waited long enough
I'm gonna live my life on my terms
starting tomorrow
Dear Ying
This city is so inspiring
I can feel my pursuit of filmmaking
is coming alive here
I'm into visual
You're into audio
I wish you were here with me
Together we'd make this dream come true
Fang Jie
Sounds like it's bursting in joy?
It's the sound of a heart breaking
Good morning!
- Did you sleep well? - Yeah
I'm gonna go to Osaka after this
There's a project recruiting
I wanna be a part of it
I'll go for two months
Then what about this apartment?
Well, not much I can do about it
But it's quite nice to think that
there's a city waiting for me
I'm leaving tonight
I'll make time to see you off
It's alright
You go do your thing
Work is important
Toto
You don't have to worry about me
I'll be fine
Oh, wait
When I arrived in Japan
I saw this scarf in a boutique
and I thought of you
I never sent it over
It's cold here today
Put it on
Nice
I'm here for you
"Although we're in different timezones"
"There's no distance between us"
"Our intimacy brings warmth"
"To the lifeless monitor"
"Living our lives on our own"
"Chasing the dreams we won't abandon"
"It's summer here and winter there"
"Because of you it becomes enchanting"
"Will our love be in sync"
"I choose you but you fall for him"
"I can only hope"
"Fate will bring you to me one day"
"Our love is not in sync"
"You've already told me in our secret language"
"Our hand sign has spoken"
"We are best friends forever"
"You love the stories that sounds tell"
"I love the passion that flavors bring"
"Alice the whale sings"
"At the frequency of our loneliness"
"Falling into the whirlpool of memories"
"You've always filled my heart"
"Even in my thoughts"
"I'm hoplessly thinking about you"
"Will our love be in sync"
"Or will it end the way like"
"The sound of opening chestnuts"
"A breaking heart"
"Our love will not be in sync"
"This will be my last gift to you"
"The sound of falling blossoms"
"Lightly"
"Beautifully"
"But silently"
I wish
I'd graduate successfully
I wish
I'd get used to life abroad
I wish
the person would love me back
The wind blows through this whistle
and it'll make a sound?
That's right
Pigeon whistle produces lovely sound
Pigeons have a language of their own
that we don't understand
But attached this little whistle on its tail
the way she spins, dives and weaves through the air
the wind can speak for them
I wish I'd given everything in this world
that doesn't have a voice
a channel to express themselves
Even the wind has secrets it yearns to express
Please take care of yourself
I wish you well
I hope that your every dream
will come true
Someone said
When leaves scatter
We learn to treasure our time together
When petals fall
We understand the frailty of our youth
Friends forever, for better or for worse!
Cheers!
It's the people we meet define our lives
The buddies who've accompanied me
everyone of you
has left a mark on me
You guys have shaped me
into who I am today
Be still!
Happy birthday to you
Dad, mum, let's take a photo
1, 2, 3
My name is Anthony
I left hometown in the spring of 2005
I brought with me my clothes
my jackets
toothpaste made in Yunnan
Head n' Shoulders shampoo
My laptop is in Chinese operating system
novels written in Chinese
an electric blanket
and even
a Chinese cleaver
At that time
wandering in the city
I didn't feel I belong
yet I'd keep my head up
I feel obligated to make my people proud
To keep my spirits soaring high
Well done, Anthony
You are welcome
Hey, Henry!
(Your blog has a unique voice)
(We'd like to discuss the possibility of publishing it)
(Please contact us if you're interested. -ZUI BOOK)
My dearest Anton
It's amazing to think that
anyone would be interested in reading
my silly ramblings
But now that I have this chance
I don't know who
I should share it with
Anton
I've finally found Alice