LATE SPRING
I'll take it from here. Bring Mr. Kim his medicines
He never takes them anyway
Just do as you're told
Mrs. Gyeongsan, Mr. Kim is leaving the house
What?
Go after him
Yes, ma'am
Thank you
Next person
Name?
My name is Min-gyeong Lee
Didn't you get your ration already?
Me? You must be mistaken
It is you...I saw you earlier
What a shameless thief!
You're accusing the wrong person
Have some conscience
Hey. What's holding up the line?
You can't do this, ma'am
Don't be too hard
Sure
Come to church on Sunday morning
Mrs. Kim
What is it?
Do you know her?
No
So selfish...when there aren't enough around for everyone
It's okay, Miss Kim
I'm home
Did you have a good day, ma'am?
Did Mr. Kim take his afternoon medicines?
Well, actually...
God bless our brave sons who have served
and returned home from Vietnam
Citizens are greeting them
in the streets waving welcome flags
Can you get rid of the car in the backyard?
I saw a young mother this afternoon...
She's almost a span taller than others and has long lean limbs
I thought you might consider to work...
What could I possibly do with these hands?
- But darling, if you'd just... - You're wasting your time
I can't believe this
How can you still be doing the dishes?
When will you finish this?
Hurry up, girl
Hello?
Please come in
This model job you're talking about...
Have you heard of a sculptor called Kim Jun-gu?
I heard a famous professor moved here from Seoul
Mr. Kim is that professor
I see
So, you'll pay me for standing still?
How much do you get paid here a month?
About 500 won
What if I paid you 5,0007?
Did you say 5,0007
"Kim Jun Ku's Solo Exhibition in 1962"
Oh...
Good God...They're all naked
She won't come, would she?
The model that I told you about
I thought we were done talking about that
Will you just give it a thought?
Just see her once, please
I'll bring her over in a few days
Just look at her and if it won't do
I won't bring this up again
Gosh, let's clean up the dust
What's the point of cleaning if he'll never use it?
Mrs. Kim must have something in mind
Dust will gather again in a few days
It's none of your business
Mrs. Kim wants to pay her a visit
Let's go
Who is this woman anyway?
Mr. Kim won't live long like that
At least, Mrs. Kim believes that
Hey, you came
It's 5,000 won
And...about the thing I mentioned ealier...
Don't worry, People know you as our new maid
Thank you
Give me your arm
Poor thing, your hands are all cracked
How did it go?
Why are you so interested?
It's not like anybody can be a model
Will you shut your mouth?
Take off your clothes
Excuse me?
Take off your clothes
Yes, sir
Turn around
Put your arm down
Lift your head
Don't look at me
Turn to the side
The other way
Lift your arms
Over your head
Higher
Bring one foot forward
Bend backwards
Here
What's this smell?
It's beef stew
And polished rice, too? Where did you get the money?
Do you know the professor who moved from Seoul?
The one with palsy?
Not exactly palsy...
Anyway, I got a job at his house
And you got paid in advance?
No
I gotta pay the back rent and settle your tap, too
What the hell? All in crisp new bills?
All this for doing household chores?
You can't take that money
Back off, bitch
How dare you stash money from me?
Think of it as a ritual for becoming a model
No need to feel uncomfortable
I'm counting on you
I'll do my best, ma'am
"Kim Jun-gu Sculpture Research Laboratory”
When did you get here?
Pardon? I just...
Come back tomorrow
Damn. I'm bust
Damn right you are
I'll be happy to wipe you out
Hey, coffee delivery
What is this place?
They have curfews but not police visits here
I haven't seen you before. Where are you from?
From Jeomchon
Where is that?
Don't you know, dumbass? It's next to Samcheonpo
What an ignorant bunch!
It's close to Mungyeong
A remote village with no electricity
We have electricity. Just no plumbing
Did you hear that? No plumbing
You're chubby and cute like an actress
Oh, yeah?
Didn't you already lose 1,200 won at the other game?
- 1,200 won? - You better stop here.
You lost the day before, too
Where are you getting all that money?
It wasn't 1,200
Whatever. Move over
I'll play this round
Bring your knee higher
No
Don't just listen with your ears
Feel it with your heart
This time, you're not hearing it
but just feeling it
Relax your body
Try to make a comfortable pose
That's it...
I haven't see you around before
That looks heavy
Hey sweety, you want a ride?
No, thanks
Fine then
Couldn't you ask once more?
Don't move
Shall we take a break?
Mr. Kim
I have a question
Go on
All the rice field around here used to belong to your family
until the Japanese took them away. Is that true?
That's what you wanted to know?
My father used to believe that land should belong to the farmers
He distributed it to his tenants
before the Japanese forfeited it in WW2
I see
It's all in the past
Give me that
Thank you
Be careful
Let's go
- You like that? - That's it
What the...
You crazy bitch
How dare you glare at me with raised eyes?
How dare...
Oh my...
Darling...
Mrs. Gyeongsan visited Min-gyeong today
She was in quite a terrible shape
Is she?
Is it cold? Did she get medicines?
If she doesn't get better
I'll take her to doctor's office
Mr. Kim
I don't think she's coming today, either
Will you have your lunch at the residence again?
No, just leave it there
Yes
Am I not good enough to be a model, sir?
Stuck in your room all evening
and didn't even touch the food
How else may I serve you, miss?
So it wasn't cold
Does it hurt?
You know II...
I'm used to getting beaten up
Oh, is it too hard?
How it is, sir?
It's the wrong clay?
The damned old man said it was the best of his batch
No
It's good. It's fine
That's a relief
He did say it's the finest quality
She must be the new model
Mr. Oh
Why don't you let her be your assistant today?
Assistant?
Take off your shoes and hop in
The final kneading cannot be done with a shovel
You gotta do it with your feet
What happened to your face?
Face isn't important in sculpture anyway
For sculpture of body, most important is the shape of the body
It's okay if you're a little ugly
Don't lie
Have you been lied to all your life?
You've got legs like chopsticks
- What? - Keep treading
Did you wash your feet?
Come on, do it properly. You'll fall like that
You're making a mess
Mr. Kim...Can I ask you a question?
What is it?
Why do I have to take the clothes off?
Why does it have to be nude?
What should you be wearing then?
Pardon?
I am searching for a certain value through the human body
If not the essence of beauty,
it could just be beauty
Clothes are nothing but a shell
I need to find a pose for a body piece,
but it's not easy
Wait
Lean forward
That's it
Turn your head
More. There
Can you remember this pose?
I feel good
Fucking great
Why are you so late? I've been waiting so long
What brings you here?
I dropped by on the way from the market
On such a hot day
Let me get you a glass of water
There's a good girl
Now that I've had my water. I'd better be heading back
So soon?
Shall I sleep over then?
No but, Mrs. Gyeongsan
You forgot this
- That's for you - Pardon?
Mrs. Kim told me to shop for you from now
when I go shopping
I should be going then
- Bye bye - Bye dear
See you later
How are you, Mr. Kim?
Are you going to the studio?
Mrs. Gyeongsan
Mr. Kim has changed a lot recently
He is vigorous as in the old days
You're right, he got his vigor back
I wonder how the work's coming along
Why don't you visit the studio?
I owe everything to Min-gyeong
Ma'am
How come you're knitting in this weather?
I want it ready for the winter
Hey!
Not bad
You know the right size
I asked and learned from Mr. Oh
How did you know?
Thank you
Aren't you pushing yourself too hard these days?
I'm not
I won't be a nagging old man
Don't make the condition worse
You've been a great artist and you still are
Can't you take it easy and enjoy it as a hobby now?
Doctor...
I'll give you a vitamin shot while I'm here
Like you said he gained a lot of energy
Mostly because he started working again
But I didn't tell Jun-gu that
I'm worried he'll push himself too hard
You did the right thing
You have to be careful
It's not about art you need to take care You know that
Still, he's never been so well ever since we moved out here
So, I thought...
Well, I took a blood sample today
We'll know better when we get the results back
All good now
I'll be going then
How is it working for you?
I'm happy these days
What I do may not be important
but it feels as if I'm doing something worthy
Thanks to you and Mrs. Kim, I want to live better
It's a marvelous thing to hear
How is your husband?
Does he still drink a lot?
Yes
The truth is...
About a month after I got notice that my husband was killed in action,
he came by introducing himself as my late husband's comrade in battle
He said that my husband's dying wish...
was for him to take care of us
What brings you here again?
Well, I...missed the last train
Oh?
No rooms at the motel in downtown
Oh dear
I'm sorry but there is only one room in this house
I'll stay in the kitchen,
and wait for the first train
He asked me to look after you
Don't shout!
We ended up living together
Come and sit here
Can you borrow some money?
What?
I hear there's a decent general store out on sale for 30,000
If we put down 10,000 as down payment,
we can pay the rest in installment
No
I got all the advances that I can get
What did you say?
Did you just say 'no' to me?
What I meant was...
What is it that you do at this professor's house?
What are you insinuating? I do cleaning and laundry
And yet, they pay you so generously
There's a lot of work
Do you want me to ask them myself?
No...I'll ask
That's not right
Do you need a break?
No, I'm fine
Turn your body to 3 o'clock
Hold the pose
That's right
And contract your leg muscles
More!
Yes, that's it
It's amazing how time flies
Can't believe that...
big master's eldest is getting married
Don't worry about here Have a safe trip, ma'am
Oh dear. Have a good trip
Mrs. Gyeongsan
Yes?
Can you bring Min-gyeong
the money she asked for, please?
As you please, ma'am
You're pretty good now
You leave the face like this?
Most of the time, yes
Doesn't look like me
It doesn't have to be anyone specific
Oh it's okay. Thank you.
Her eyes are closed
Is she sleeping?
Imagine that her eyes are open and wearing an expression
Who would look at the body? They'll just look at the face
The face...
Mr. Kim
The car in the backyard...
is that really working?
I have to look at the person's face
to know whether he is angry or sad or happy
So, you can express all that emotion just through the body?
That's incredible
Man, you chickened out?
You're the best
Why don't you just fold?
Wait
Jeez! You scared me
Think it over, man
You won some today. Let this one go
He looks like a bluff
Show him what you've got
But, man...
What the heck? Life is just a big gamble
Flip them
You should've been more careful
He had 'professional’ written all over
But you told me to do it
Bastard!
Where's the oil mill moved to?
Across the bridge
Thank you
That stupid girl asks the same thing every time
Who is she? Look at her swaying ass
Isn't she the youngest of the mill owner who moved to Seoul?
She was taken in by that professor
as a surrogate wife
A surrogate wife?
They have no kids?
No
She just looks like a servant girl
But they already have a housemaid
Why would they need another one?
- Mom - Yes, dear
I like that he's not around I wish he never comes back
You shouldn't wish for something like that
Alright?
Okay
Don't even think that
Go in, watch your brother carefully
Wait.
Put your clothes back on
Sit on the chair
I'm thinking maybe I'll do a bust
Really?
But I need to see the muscle of your neck,
can you pull down the shirt a little?
What the fuck is this?
It's not what you think. I'll explain
You filthy whore
Stop!
Get off!
No
Don't touch him
No, not that!
No, not that! Kill me if you have to
Have you lost your mind?
What the fuck...
What the fuck is all this?
Get up, you shameless whore
Mr. Kim is okay. Yes, ma'am...
Mrs. Gyeongsan
Oh god...
Look at you, what a mess!
Don't worry about the kids They're sound asleep
Bring more water
I'm worried about you
You're up?
I'm sorry I slept in
Mr. Kim said to take the day off
He did?
Mrs. Kim, you're early
I know nothing about art and I don't care
Fine
Just leave her alone until the work is done
It'll only be another few days
I took care of him
I never threaten anyone before,
I feel a little awkward
Okay well done, thank you.
Is the family in Seoul well?
Your wife sent me
What is art for?
Life is short but art is long
Hippocrates
You know only one thing
Giacometti chose a cat's life over art
You shouldn't be making a sculpture of a woman
Look at what art has done to you
Think about your wife
Take a seat
This'll look good on you
Such a fair face...How much it must've hurt
We took care of your husband problem
You can stay here until the piece is finished
Don't cry
It's Okay
Thank you
I have the results from the blood test
I'm sorry
The improvement he showed,
was only temporary
By the time the wind gets chilly,
he may not be able to move
Brace yourself
Mr. Kim is late
It's okay. He used to stay up all night
Things must be going well
You forgot to look at the time
You're right
Why didn't you come to the studio if you were so worried?
When did I ever?
Is that right?
That's true
Do you remember?
I think it was when we only just got married
We didn't have telephone back then so,
if you stay up all night working
I would come out to the embankment and wait for you from the break of dawn
I would think to myself, We're only just married,
how can he just think about work all the time?
Looking back, those were the happiest days
I talked too much today, didn't 1?
You look tired. Have a good sleep
I owe you
and I'm sorry
It was a blessing that I met you
Darling, I...
I'm happier than I can ever ask for
And...
I love you
Mr. Kim asked you to come today?
I thought I would stop by anyway
Hello?
What brings you here?
Is Mrs. Min-gyeong Lee here?
Where is she?
Come on
Lift the cover
Is this your husband?
What happened?
At first, we thought he slipped and fell
but actually he was shot
We'll know better after an autopsy
You can go home for now
Mr. Kim?
All this time,
I've been searching for beauty only in the human body
But thanks to you, I've come to understand the true beauty
How beautiful the trace of life engraved in a person's face is
Only now am I able to look back at myself
You have taught me the greatest lesson
Your husband won't ever come back
Unfortunately, it seemed like...
the only thing that I could do for you
I sincerely hope that you'll find happiness
Thank you from the bottom of my heart
Come on...We have work to do, Mr. Kim
Don't go
We've got to let him go
I've known that I only had little time left
I didn't want my perishing body to be a burden on you
Although my body is facing the winter,
my art has finally reached spring
I decided to call this piece Spring
As some sculptor said,
life is more precious than art
I know that now
On this face, my life is engraved
and you are reflected in my life
I've never been good enough for you
So, I only confess now
that I've always loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you