A Tale of Three Cities (2015) - full transcript
A Hong Kong war romantic film set in World War II based on the real-life story of Jackie Chan's parents, Charles and Lee-Lee Chan.
Air-raid siren!
Mama, mama
Excuse me!
Give way please
Watch out, let me pass
Hong Kong 1951 The Consulate General of
the United States
Don't just stand there! Go to work!
Get me some pineapples
Where's the turkey?
Quick!
Take the dishes out
What's the matter, Shanghai man?
Are you OK, Shanghai man?
Cramp in my leg!
Fuck! Standing for 20 hours with no break
Chopping turkeys non-stop!
What's going on here?
Come on guys, go back to work
Are you alright, man?
OK! OK!
Take a break now
Take care to see if he needs a doctor
OK
So much blood
The phoenix is stained, dump it
Stained phoenix, stranded dragon, so what?
What did you say?
Nothing, you won't understand anyway
Your Shanghainese hurts my ear
I told you I'm not Shanghainese
I am from Shandong, went to Anhui...
then Shanghai, then back to Anhui!
There was a war! Nothing but chaos!
People were in worse chaos, understand?
Yes, yes, yes!
There was a war! The world was in chaos!
You need to see a doctor now?
No, I won't die
Innkeeper, here's my buff horse
The Consul's son sings beautiful Peking Opera
So-so, I'd say passable
Don't you show off, Shanghai man
Innkeeper...
See? Out of tune!
Please take away my buff horse
Sounds like the cook sings better than me
Really?
Come and join us
Please come in
Please come in
Hey!
Let's sing together
Please
The innkeeper takes away my beloved horse
Bravo!
I can no longer hold back my bitter tears
Yuerong,
thanks to your boss in Shanghai
I found a job
at the US consulate here
I am making do now
Good day, Head Comrade!
Whose letter?
Chen Yuerong's
From where?
Hong Kong
From Hong Kong
Comrade Chen
Head Comrade
A letter for your Yuerong
Thanks
From Hong Kong again!
Hong Kong... she has a man there
Some of my former staff don't only beg
but beg without a bowl
They use a newspaper
Begging with it, eating on it...
and even wiping their asses with it!
Many committed suicide!
Sir, we don't write foul language
She's my wife, what does it matter?
Wife?
Without foul language,
she'd even think it's not me!
OK, up to you then
I've got your travel expenses to Hong Kong
Have you decided? Don't linger anymore
No use staying in Shanghai with the girls
But you must be careful
Keep your whereabouts secret
The bastards who looked for me before...
may now fucking look for you!
Letter from Daolong again?
Yes
Mom
I have decided
It's good that you have
If I still don't go to Hong Kong...
there may not be another chance
Daolong has found me a job there
Once I make some money, I'll send it to you
And the two girls can go to school
Mom
We'll come home once we earn enough money
Mom understands
You should've gone with him long ago
In fact mom misjudged Daolong back then
He really loves you whole-heartedly
Yuerong, there's not much food at home
Here are 10 eggs that I've cooked for you
Take them with you
I have asked around
There're 10 stations from Shanghai to Canton
Shell one egg at each station
Eat it and you won't be hungry
After eating all 10, it's time to get off
This way, you won't miss the station either
Mom
Mom
Yulan, Guilan, come here
Mama gives you 50 cents each
Spend it slowly
And when it's spent...
mama will be back
Really?
Really
Good girls
Yuerong, time to go
Yuerong, quickly
Look!
Let me see your packet
Daolong, I'll take a smuggling boat
to Hong Kong
Finally, we can meet
Looking back on my life...
I was forced to marry at teenage...
and gave birth to 2 girls in a fog
Then I bumped into you when I was most lost
War made everything seem so unreal
I threw caution to the wind this time...
but will it be just another dream?
Mama!
Yulan!
Ma!
I want papa!
Where is papa?
I don't know
Where's your papa?
I brought lunch to papa, then...
he let me play outside and
suddenly the station was gone!
How come? Go look for papa now!
I did
I crawled like everyone else
Where did you go?
Ah Qiang! Ah Qiang!
Ah Qiang!
1, 2, 3
Ah Qiang!
Mama, I found him!
We only have time for those still alive
This one is dead already
Japanese Bombs Wuhu, Anhui
Snowflakes!
Wow, it's snowing!
Just when I sloppily buried my man...
my mother-in-law turned against me
She said I was so inauspicious that
his son died...
and I gave birth to 2 good-for-nothings
She decided to sell us all for money
This is ridiculous! Totally outrageous!
I took my 2 daughters and
fled with the refugees
We went back to my hometown
My arm hurts
Yulan, we are almost home
Mom
Yuerong
Our family's women have such sad lives
I've never seen my parents
Yuerong's dad died before she's born
Now you two are so young...
and your dad's dead already
Yuerong!
You've all come back!
Sister Qiu
Auntite
You really can eat!
Yulan, Guilan, greet Auntie Qiu
Auntie Qiu
I bought your favorite tea eggs
Auntie, this is for you
Look!
Here
And lots of tasty biscuits too!
You're too kind!
Yuerong
The thing you asked me about...
I've checked around for you
Mom, excuse us
Sure, go ahead
Trust me
Don't do this
I have to, there's no other choice
Even my big brother doesn't traffic this now
That's great, the price gets higher
If it's lucrative,
wouldn't he be still doing it?
Lately the checkpoints are very vigilant
No one would suspect a housewife
They don't want them?
No
Why not?
With a war going on,
the Mr Shanghai contest has been cancelled
Big brother, don't be upset,
the war will soon be over
And the contest will resume right after
Officer!
You!
Sir?
What do you do?
Solo trade
What is this?
Crystal sugar rice cake
I'm selling it on the opposite shore
Crystal sugar rice cake?
No wonder the flies swarm about it
Yes, it's sweet! Flies like it
But isn't it strange?
Why is only the upper layer swarmed?
The lower layer isn't sweet?
Open it!
Let me do it
You over-steamed! The cakes are dark
Right! The cakes are dark, so is my fate
A woman with a kid trafficking in opium?
How dare you!
You can be jailed for this, understand?
A home without food is worse than jail
If I get jailed, at least there's food
You've got a nerve and not simple either
Come with me!
Jail me if you want
But please jail my daughter too
One less kid for my mom to take care of
Mama, where are we going?
Who else do you have at home?
A younger daughter and a mom
You're the only provider?
Who else is there?
Where's your husband?
Dead
Recently?
What's the difference? Dead is dead
Go
I said "go"
Anyway,
I can't even tell right from wrong these days
Let's go
Wait
What?
Your crystal sugar rice cake
Are you hungry?
Don't be afraid, go get some food
Come
Come on
Yulan
Come
Yulan
Don't be afraid, go!
No, don't take them
Go pick some
Take whatever you want
Yulan, let's go
Just let her take it
Go!
Let's go, Yulan
Don't be afraid, take more
Yulan, let's go!
Quick!
Yulan, go!
Go, go!
Forget it
This opium doesn't work any more
Just let me go
It's really too painful
You should...
rest well
Don't think too much
Understand?
But opium is too expensive
You spent all the money on my illness
There's a war, keep the money for the kids
Don't worry, I have loads of money!
Twist your fists!
Again, twist your fists!
Taut fist!
Kick!
Firecracker fist!
Dad
You're home
Papa
Assume the horse stance!
What's up?
I have to leave on business tomorrow
Please take care of the family for a few days
Again! Why so many business trips?
What job are you doing anyway?
The rebels are at the red dot of this map...
hiding in a bamboo grove by the river
The intelligence said just 3 or 4 men
You have 5 men, 5 guns and 50 bullets
Kill them all, a piece of cake!
You remember the location clearly?
Good, check your time
OK, time check
It's now 11:17 am
We'll set off at 12 sharp!
Yes
Yes
What's up with you?
I ran out of money last month
I pawned my watch to pay rent
And you?
My senior never gave me a watch
Then forget about time check! Set off!
A spy without even a watch! Shame!
River...
Bamboo grove...
The target should be nearby
Get ready
Some wine, please
Get them!
Run! Run!
Run!
Get them!
You call these 3 or 4 men?
Don't let them flee!
Go!
Up the hill!
We'll outflank them there
They should still be inside the grove
Where are they?
Don't make a sound
They can't go anywhere!
Search again!
They should have left already
Let's wait awhile, then split
(Japanese) Some are hiding in the grove!
(Japanese) Smoke them out!
(Japanese) Tell them that they can go nowhere
Shit! The Japs are here!
What's this all about?
Get out, you communists! You can't run!
The Japs are here for the underground! Damn!
(Japanese) I'll blow you away
if you don't get out!
I'll blow you away if you don't get out!
(Japanese) Get out or I'll shoot!
Let's surrender to keep our lives
OK!
(Japanese) Get out now! Quick!
Let's go!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
We're not commies!
(Japanese) Who are you?
Don't shoot!
Who are you? What are you doing here?
(Japanese) Don't move!
Speak now!
(Japanese) Kneel down!
If you don't speak today,
you won't be able to speak tomorrow
Speak! Quickly!
By then...
you can keep your mouth shut,
but your head will be gone!
Kowtow!
Enough!
Stop fooling around!
What do kids know?
Crystal sugar rice cake?
They're innocent and naive
But how long can these happy days last?
How come you are here?
Officer Fang
I have known your wife 20 years
earlier than you have
I'm just as surprised to know
you're her husband
Third cousin?
So you have come back!
Grand uncle!
You two come over here
Greet your third aunt
Third aunt!
Third aunt!
Good boys
Ah Yu
I've always said I would see you...
when I have the time
Now I have the time, but you are gone
People...
what are they waiting for?
Guns... all gone
Bullets all used up, missions all failed!
5 of you went, 3 returned
How can I explain to my boss?
Just fire me!
Blame it all on me!
What?
You are telling me you quit?
Yes!
I don't wanna be a spy anymore!
Quit?
In our trade, there is no quitting
Says who? Now I am quitting!
Alright
Do it if you have the guts
Of course I have
How about the wage arrears owed to
the brothers?
When we get money from above,
we'll pay them
Besides, we've already spent a lot
to rescue you
Rescue us?
Of course
If we haven't paid the Japs...
would you just accompany decapitation?
You'd have been fucking beheaded!
If your intelligence wasn't such a mess...
all 5 men would've returned instead of 3!
And one of us was scared to death!
Hush up!
Let's do this
But remember...
once you get out of this door...
no matter who does what to you...
be they the rebels or the Japs...
we'll not bear responsibility
What responsibility can your lot bear?
Not even responsibility for your willy
Yuerong, I'll wait for you by
the Hong Kong shore
Don't think too much
The best thing about
these troubled times is...
everything passes quickly
There are always chances to start afresh
Down with the Great Powers!
Wipe out the warlords!
Strive for national revolution!
Let's fight together!
Papa, papa
Here they come!
Papa, here they are!
Welcome!
Come greet Officer Fang
Sorry we're late
I spent too much time cooking
What did you cook?
My dad says we're both bereaved families
Other families would turn their back on us
Our two families should meet more
You are right
But I should really thank you...
for what happened at the pier
Don't mention it
Allow me
That's OK
What is this?
Crystal sugar rice cake
It's the winter solstice
The kids should eat dessert
Right
Come sit down
Come, dinnertime
Kids, come!
Daolong, you sit down, or third sister won't
Sit down
Come, cheers!
OK
Yes, cheers!
Your cheers is bottoms up, awesome!
You are even more awesome
Come!
You know, my grandpa ran a winery in Shandong
Yes
One day when I was 4...
I fell into a big brewing barrel
I was almost drowned
You've the nerve to mention it
What happened then?
I climbed out, unconscious for days
And after I awoke, I loved drinking
I haven't stopped drinking ever since
Such a bum
Really?
Really, and you?
How did you start drinking?
My father had died before I was born
They thought I would be a boy
So they named me Yuerong, a boy's name
But I turned out to be a girl
Everyone was disappointed
Most of all, my mother
She raised me as if I were a boy
So you see, I have a man's life
My life is rough, and I'm ill-fated
Fate?
What fate?
Don't believe in fate, but in yourself
Come on, cheers!
Little bastards, look!
This is sorghum wine, Pegasus brand
Good Shandong wine!
Let's add some chili
Hot and strong!
Come, take a sip
Come
How's it like?
You try it too
So hot!
They're only kids
Why do you give them wine?
You want them to grow up like you...
full of bad habits?
There are 2 types of bad habits:
good bad habits and bad bad habits
Men should learn good bad habits young
Understand?
Come, girls, take a sip
Come, Yulan
Just a little dip with a chopstick
Yuerong
It may be OK for boys to drink young
But they are girls
You shouldn't teach them to drink
Girls should learn too
So they can tell a bad bad man...
from a good bad man
Bravo!
Well put!
Come
Let's see...
who drinks faster, OK?
Ready?
Yes
Ready?
Go!
Come on!
You've put so much chili in it!
I quitted my job!
I wanna go to Shanghai to start all over
Good for you!
If you're a dragon...
you should swim out to the sea
In these troubled times, men are only worms
But it doesn't matter
I barely survived the beheading anyway
Hold the gun tight
Stand firm
Shoot instantly
I always shoot instantly
Try it
Sure
I shoot even faster than "instantly"
You shoot so fast
Let me give you this fast gun
Then how about you?
I still have another one
Look
These 2 guns...
are a pair
Woe to the heroes trapped in
this wasteland...
not knowing when they can return home
It'll only be known if he's got a name
Bravo!
The innkeeper takes away my beloved horse
Bravo!
I can no longer hold back my bitter tears
Come, kids!
Daolong
Daolong, I'm taking the kids home first
Daolong
Come with grandpa now
There's someone in my heart
with a smiling face
He brings me warm spring even in chilly fall
My sweetheart, don't be sad
You bring me sunshine even
in the darkest night
I won't let anyone snatch my only spring
I won't let anyone blow out my only sun
There's someone in my heart
with loving treasures
Don't let that smile fade away
Have a great day!
Really, Mr Fang?
Yes, Mrs Chen
Why do you have such a thought?
I think...
My wife and Yuerong's husband are both gone
I have 2 sons, she has 2 daughters
If our 2 families live together...
we can take care of each other
Mrs Chen, please take a look
My family treasure,
handed down for generations
Now I give it to you as a token of proposal
I've also brought you rice, oil...
Sichuan chili sauce...
and a pheasant I just hunted
Look! Isn't it beautiful?
Mr Fang
Can you tell me the words on the couplet?
You can't read, can you?
I can, I can read
Really?
How many characters do you know?
Six
One, two, three, big, small
mouth!
My Yuerong is well educated
She can read long classics
Well...
I was a naughty kid and didn't study much
But I am smart
I am good at music, workmanship and kung fu
I know
I have asked around
You work at the checkpoint in the daytime
It's said: good men would not be soldiers
That's OK, but I also heard...
that you're not engaged in honest work
Your whereabouts are mysterious...
and you always fight with men for no reason
How are you going to feed my daughter...
and my 2 grand daughters?
What'll happen to your family of 6?
Mrs Chen
Mr Fang
Please go home
Before Yuerong finishes frying her fish...
please leave with your gifts
Alright
But this jade pendant is my gift for Yuerong
Please...
give it to her
Thanks
Mom, why are you so stubborn?
You made me marry a stranger, I did
Now I've found one I like, and you disapprove
What do you want?
Oh, not 6 characters!
I can read 9 characters
9 characters!
I can read Fang Daolong too!
Fang Daolong!
Fang Daolong!
He can tell right from wrong
And he treats me well!
You understand, mom? He treats me well!
Done!
Go report it, let's split the reward
Chili Sauce
Quickly, find grandpa!
Dad
Daolong, what happened? Who did it?
Must be our own men!
Your own men?
Why do they want to kill you?
I know too much! They don't wanna pay me!
They fear I'd expose their dirty work!
Damn, who knows?
What do you do exactly?
Dad
Take this
Bring the 2 boys to uncle's place
How about you?
When it's over, I'll go find you
Dad, if I disappear, don't look for me
If I die...
please take care of...
the 2 boys for me
It's that serious?
Yes, it is
Dad, I'm going now
Don't tell Yuerong what happened to me
Just tell her...
I'll go find her once I finish my work
Ask her to wait for me!
Remember, ask her to wait for me
Wait for me!
I'll remember
Little bastards
Don't cry
You are men, you have no fear
Understand? Understand?
Trading and bartering!
Trading and bartering
Trading and bartering
Trading and bartering
Hey, brother
Hello, there
Say, which road leads to Nanking?
This is the road
I thought this one leads to Shanghai
No, no
This one goes to Shanghai
I know Shanghai well
I often do business there
I'm lucky to bump into you...
or I'd have taken the wrong way
Brother
What's wrong with your leg?
Just a scrape, it's nothing
Your leg is bleeding bad
Wait, I'll get you some medicine
There's no need, brother
No problem
I've got everything on my cart
It's just messy
No need really, I have no money anyway
What money! I'll give it to you
It's really a mess
But there is order in the mess
Knife wound medicine, nope
Momordica cochinchinensis, too slow
May be some herbal medicine?
Right...
I bought in a lot of it last week
Is your physique dry or what?
Brother?
Brother!
Strange, where has he gone?
Brother, aren't you going to Nanking?
Little brother,
I didn't mean to hide from you
Oh, never mind
Your leg injury is serious
My leg was shot
I'll take you to hospital
No, never!
I can't go to hospital
OK, understood
The bullet is still inside, right?
Damn it, I think so
Do you believe in me?
What do you mean?
I've read many books
I know how to find a bullet...
and how to pull it out
Really?
But I've never tried it
Then you go ahead and try
I believe in you
OK, please wait
Scissors...
What is it?
A magnet
To find the bullet's position
I found it, I found it!
Want some wine first?
Sure
Ready?
OK, do it
I'll do it now?
Now!
Daolong!
Daolong!
Daolong!
Grand uncle!
Daolong, after you had left...
the Japs invaded our village
Everyone covers their windows
with black cloths
Girls smear their faces when going out
Where there's light, there's danger
Yuerong
You'd better go to Shanghai with me
It's getting really unsafe here
Is it worth waiting for him?
It is
Yuerong, smile a little
You know...
It'll get you more tips
Here comes Sister Qiu!
Place your bet now!
Hands off after betting!
Turn!
1, 2, 3, small!
Everyone knows Daolong has lots of women
You are just one of them
That's before, now I'm the only one
Every woman thinks she can change her man
Every man thinks he'll win this time
Come
How's business today?
Times are bad
The poor don't have anything to sell
And the rich don't need to sell anything
Huge wealth gap, unstable society!
I need to change profession!
Have one, here
We're strangers meeting by chance
I have nothing to repay your kindness
Come, take one
No need to thank a stranger
Keep the scorpion for yourself
Open up!
Who's this? Coming!
Who are you looking for?
Your Miss High and Mighty
Why are you looking for Yuerong?
We came to marry her!
Marry her?
My brother fancies her, her blessing!
Impossible!
Yuerong's married with 2 daughters!
Her husband kicked the bucket!
What do you want?
According to village custom...
this sort of woman
can be dragged home by anyone as mistress!
Yuerong!
Damn your custom!
I'll never be the mistress of you pig!
Brother,
is this the lass we saw the other night?
How come she's become a shrew?
Yuerong!
Men don't like women who aren't ferocious
This one is fun!
Don't you dare come up!
Good, Little Chili...
Your new groom is coming up
You fucking bitch!
He hadn't even done anything and you shot!
I always shoot faster than "instantly"!
This is not settled, you just wait
Yuerong
Yuerong?
They're gone, how are you?
Yuerong
Put the gun down
Yuerong
Put it down
Put the gun down
Yuerong
You put it down first
This home...
You can't stay here anymore
Nor should I ask you to stay
Give the girls to me
When the day breaks...
take a boat to Shanghai
OK?
Mom
Have you found out anything?
Daolong, listen to me
What? Something happened to my kids?
My dad?
No, your dad and kids are fine
They're hiding at their uncle's home
How about my woman?
Is your woman's name Chen Yuerong?
Right, what happened to her?
Some local tyrants tried to kidnap her
as bride
Kidnap her as bride?
God damn it!
The government presses me, so do the bandits!
Where are you going?
Kill the bandits!
But I also learned that she has fled
to Shanghai
Shanghai?
I'll go to Shanghai then!
Shanghai is very big and populous!
I know Shanghai well, let me take you there
Slow down!
You!
Short-tempered!
You're too short-tempered!
Shanghai during Japanese Occupation
International Settlement, Shanghai
Missing: Crystal Sugar Rice Cake
Starved to death
How do you know?
I've seen more corpses than you have
The eyes of the starved are matt
The ears of the frozen are withdrawn
For those scared to death,
there are bite marks inside the mouth cavity
And for the beheaded...
his neck would clam up...
without a drop of blood
But when the executioner kicks him down...
the fucking blood would gush out!
I have killed people of
different political parties
Perhaps one day,
any one of them would appear before me...
or from behind
Chief
When a man like Daolong goes crazy...
he is a daredevil that money can't buy
Sparing his life will mean trouble
Daolong, I couldn't wait for you any longer
I took a boat to Shanghai overnight
I fear water so much
I was seasick and puked badly onboard
Qiu and I are working for
an expatriate family in Shanghai now
We adopted English names too
I am Lily, Qiu is Rose
You like it?
Yuerong
Master Zhou, here you come
Sister Qiu, you look so busy
Yuerong
Delivering cheongsam to Mrs Barr?
Yes, on the road everyday, tough life
I have some oil and rice here
I live alone and can't eat them all
Let me give you some
No, thanks
Take them
Master Zhou's giving them to you, take them
Yes, take them
Perhaps I'll keep them for her first
Sure, they are for you both
Qiu!
Thank you then
Stop it now, shut up, you!
With you barking like this,
how can Yuerong and Master Zhou talk?
You, move faster!
Don't goof off!
Quick!
Ah Hua, no matter how I look at you...
you don't look like a used goods dealer
You are an intellectual, aren't you?
Life is a sojourn,
more so with the war waging on
Fate buys me in, I buy in used goods
You sound so damn artsy-fartsy!
What artsy-fartsy?
And you?
How did you become a...?
Fate buys me in, I buy in...
Damn, I haven't bought anything
in my entire life!
You laugh!
Now even my woman disappears!
Relax, you'll find her
You haven't written to her mother
this week yet
Anything you want me to tell her?
You put: Auntie Chen...
You probably won't tell me where Yuerong is
I can only take different buses everyday,
hoping to bump into her
I used to play around
But now I just wanna be with Yuerong...
and start anew
I'll take good care of her
Auntie, I am a boor
But in turbulent times, boors survive better
Yuerong
It's been a long time
I think you shouldn't wait anymore
You are still young
You have wings, and you should fly
There's someone in my heart
with a smiling face
He brings me warm spring even in chilly fall
No wonder they say wings don't mean swan
There are birdy fools like you
My sweetheart...
Daolong
I asked around for your whereabouts in Anhui
but in vain
Some said you've disappeared
Some said you always come and go
like a shadow
Some even said you're dead...
and I should forget you
Should I keep waiting for you?
Or should I give up?
Where are you, Daolong?
Are you...
still alive?
After the attack on Pearl Harbour,
Japan abolished
the International Settlement...
and forced foreign nationals into
concentration camps
Bye, Emma
Bye, Lily
Goodbye, Mrs Barr
Bye, Rose
Hot water, please
33 Rong Hua Road, 4/F
OK, thank you
Deliver water!
Coming!
What a waste
Address?
33 Rong Hua Road, 4/F
Master Zhou, wait
Don't, no need
Thanks, Yuerong
Your must be tired, Master Zhou
33 Rong Hua Road, 4/F...
Victory crutch, come buy Victory crutch!
Victory stick!
Victory stick!
Victory melon seeds, come and try!
I'll never smoke cigarette butts again!
I want...
I just want...
to go home!
Yuerong!
Give me some cigarettes
Yuerong!
Yuerong!
Yuerong!
God damm you!
Just kill me!
If you still wanna kill me, kill!
Killers! Call the police!
Go on
Do it!
Get him a doctor
Someone must have hit him on his head
Poor guy
Doctor, you must save him!
Only some 30 beats per minute?
He needs blood transfusion
How do you comrades handle such cases?
Buy black blood
Black blood?
Black market blood, but very expensive
2 million, or go somewhere else
Adding this, it should be enough
One glass toy, some scrap metal...
and 9 pieces of rags... 6 million
Brother
This clock is my heirloom,
it's been working for decades...
from Qing Dynasty to the Republic to now
Always punctual
It's witnessed history
Right!
Such a historical clock...
should worth at least 4 eggs
One clock, 2 eggs
2 eggs?
Look carefully! It's a clock, not a watch
What's the use of a clock in such times?
I told you, it's not a clock, it's history
History!
That's even more useless
Why are you such a pain today?
You wanna watch me starve to death?
You'll never starve to death
Come on
OK, OK
Here
I say 4, it's 4
Let's go
All the men here have been bought in by you
Who can be better than you at buying in?
Yuerong!
Yes, Master Zhou
Try this cheongsam on, see if it fits
This material is so special
It's the quilt cover my mother sewed
I know you pawned all your cheongsams
So I thought...
I should make this for you
Look, do you like the style?
Try it on
Master Zhou
You'd better keep this cheongsam
Perhaps one day,
you can sell it for a good price
Yuerong
I am an understanding person
No matter how you decide...
I can take it
Please accept...
this cheongsam
Take it as a souvenir
I'll leave you to your work
Time to deliver water
2 barrels for Mrs Wang
You know the address
Yes
I'll go now
Sister Qiu
Some water, please
OK
Come here
Water, right?
Yuerong
From now on, I'll quit smoking,
drinking and sleeping late
Are you OK? What for?
I hear that these habits...
age people
We just survived a war
Everyone aged
Come here
Let me ask you
Am I older or is he older?
He?
Who?
He!
Which he?
Ah Hua
Oh, Ah Hua!
Of course you're younger
You're like a little girl now
Be serious
I am serious
Qiu, it's so hard these days...
to meet someone you like who likes you too
And you still want to pull
his sleeve and ask:
Mr, how old are you?
Am I right?
Qiu...
Qiu, I can't believe it
So it's finally your turn
Who used to call me a stubborn crow?
Wasn't it you?
It's different
How different?
He's my first love
Different?
Daolong...
is my first love too
Don't move! Get in!
Help! Help!
We must grab more
Why?
If we don't grab more...
they'll know we pawned those things
You intellectual!
You're smarter even as a thief
This is thieves' best revenge on robbers!
Let's celebrate the return of our assets
We'll go dancing!
Saville Hotel, here we come!
Come here, everyone!
Come, Sister Qiu!
Come, bottoms up!
Bottoms up!
No, no, no
Today we should say "cheers"!
Bottoms up!
Cheers!
Why is it here?
It's alway been yours
I thought...
I'd never see it again
I didn't expect that it would take so long...
from Shandong to Anhui...
from Anhui to Shanghai...
before I can finally put it on you
Thanks
I didn't realize you speak English
How else can I muddle along in Shanghai?
Can you teach me?
I often buy in English books...
but I can't read them
Of course
I know you like reading
Thank you
My pleasure
Do you know how to say "thanks"?
No
Thanks
Sh...sh...
Thanks
When you say this word...
there are 3 steps
First,
put your tongue between your teeth
The next step is...
to blow and then withdraw your tongue
Thanks
Fank?
Thanks
Shanks
Thanks
Thanks
Th...
Do you understand?
Understand?
Understand?
15, 14...
Daolong
12, 11...
Yuerong, come!
9, 8, 7, 6...
5, 4...
3, 2, 1...
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
New Year, new life!
Everything starts anew!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
It must be very warm inside
I'll take you in when we get rich
Are your tired?
Freeze! Or will shoot!
Move
The Communists are closing in
The Nationalists are purging the party
before leaving
Let's go
I didn't expect them to be so unrelenting
We must flee before their mass action
Where do we go?
Tomorrow we'll go to Anhui for the kids
Then escape to Hong Kong
Hong Kong?
Now we are many, we need a car
How can we afford a car?
When the thieves took revenge on
the robbers...
I also took some gold coins
Officer Fang, you're really something!
Grandma, Grandma
Mama is back, look at her gifts
Look!
Mom
Mrs Chen
We can go now
Ah Hua
You're packed so fast?
Don't know how long we'll be away,
let's travel light
What are you doing?
Nothing
What on earth are you doing?
Ah Hua, between the two of us...
Is there anything you can't tell me?
OK, I'll tell you,
but you mustn't leak a word
In particular, don't tell Daolong and Yuerong
Dad
Little bastards!
Get out!
Get the hell out!
Daolong, don't be sad
We'll find them, OK?
I promise
No, not in the mood
There's a train to Canton at 6 am tomorrow
You should be able to catch it
What "you"? Not "we"?
Aren't you going to Hong Kong with us?
Ah Hua
What is it?
I am not going
Why not?
I need to stay, I have things to do
Ah Hua
Big brother, yes?
Do what you need to do
When you are done, we'll have a drink
Deal!
Sister Qiu
Don't tell me you're not going either
Why is the road blocked?
Looks like we can't arrive before 6
Get off here
Follow the crowd, it'll be faster
No, let's go together
I don't feel right
The Nationalists are retreating,
there's a block
Ah Hua is right, we'd better walk
I'll stay for you then
No, you help them carry the luggage
If you miss this train,
you have to wait for a week...
or even a month
Ah Hua
Take care
I'll see you at the station entrance
Sure
Ah Hua, station entrance!
Be careful!
Stop! Engine off for inspection!
He's on the list, take him away!
What? It's not me!
Let go! Not me!
Stop!
Get off
Wanted
Go!
Go!
Move faster!
Stop!
Stop, engine off for inspection!
Sir, good day
Go
Wait, wait!
Turn off the engine!
Quiet!
Keep quiet!
Keep quiet, damn it!
Ah Hua, what are these watches for?
Transporting for my communist friends
What?
Remember the black blood doctor?
He is a communist
They need to check time before actions
But they lack watches
I support them
Time bomb!
That's Ah Hua!
Qiu, come back!
It's Ah Hua's car!
Go!
Go!
Let me go back, that's Ah Hua!
Ah Hua!
Trading and bartering!
Ah Hua! Don't you hear Ah Hua?
Go!
Go quickly!
Don't you hear Ah Hua?
Let go of me!
Ah Hua!
Ah Hua!
Let go of me!
Yuerong
Qiu, what is it?
Ah Hua is meeting us at the station entrance,
right?
Right?
Yuerong
You go with Daolong first
I'll stay for her
Mom!
And the girls stay too
Anyway, mom has decided not to leave
Mom, what do you want?
What will mom do in Hong Kong?
Mom I don't want go anywhere
Mom
Mom, what do you want now?
Mom is old
I've been fleeing all my life,
I don't want flee anymore
And I can't run, understand?
I'll take good care of them
We'll be fine, go!
Go, there's no time
They're coming, go quickly
Go, there's no time
Quick!
Auntie, I'm taking her with me
You take care
Go
Mama
Mama
Mama
What is it?
Daolong
What?
You go first
Daolong
Rest assured...
that I'll settle them, then join you
in Hong Kong
One week, at most one month
Don't lie to me
You must come
You must come!
OK? I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you,
I'll wait for you in Hong Kong, OK?
We'll start anew
We'll get married...
and have babies, and be together forever
Go
Go
Go
I will wait for you!
Be careful!
I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you!
Yuerong, I know you fear water
But however rough the sea is, be brave
Just think of me, I'll be waiting for you
I'll be waiting for you on the other shore
You must come
Hurry, move it!
Hurry! The boat is leaving
Quick!
My girl, where are you?
I'm here, mom
Hurry up!
Attention! Attention, the boat ahead!
We are Hong Kong Marine Police!
Stop, or we'll take action!
Shit, police
Gotta lose weight, throw out the dying ones!
What are you doing?
Stop the boat, or we'll take action!
That way! That way's shorter!
That way! That...
Thank you
Thank you, Daolong!
I ain't Daolong, you've mistaken
That way's shorter!
Dump them all, quick!
Yuerong!
Yuerong!
There's someone in my heart
with a smiling face
He brings me warm spring even in chilly fall
Yuerong!
There's someone in my heart
with loving treasures
He gives me sunlight even in
the darkest night
I won't let anyone snatch my only spring
I won't let anyone blow out my only sun
My sweetheart, don't be sad
Don't let that smile fade away
Daolong and Yuerong finally got married
in Hong Kong
Daolong changed his identity
by taking Yuerong's surname Chen
In 1954, they gave birth to a boy...
and named him Gangsheng,
which means 'Born in Hong Kong'
Qiu waited outside
the railway station for 3 years
She finally came to her senses
and left the sorrowful place
She ended up in Hong Kong
where she spent the rest of her life alone
How much is the egg?
3 for 10 cents
4!
No way!
Come on!
Alright, I'll give you 4
Trading and bartering!
Trading and bartering!
Every time a train passed by...
the missing children of Daolong and Yuerong
would hope it was their parents coming home
And every time they were disappointed
During these turbulent times,
many families were torn apart
After many desperate searches,
Daolong and Yuerong
finally managed to find
their long lost children,
but that was 38 years later
Mama, mama
Excuse me!
Give way please
Watch out, let me pass
Hong Kong 1951 The Consulate General of
the United States
Don't just stand there! Go to work!
Get me some pineapples
Where's the turkey?
Quick!
Take the dishes out
What's the matter, Shanghai man?
Are you OK, Shanghai man?
Cramp in my leg!
Fuck! Standing for 20 hours with no break
Chopping turkeys non-stop!
What's going on here?
Come on guys, go back to work
Are you alright, man?
OK! OK!
Take a break now
Take care to see if he needs a doctor
OK
So much blood
The phoenix is stained, dump it
Stained phoenix, stranded dragon, so what?
What did you say?
Nothing, you won't understand anyway
Your Shanghainese hurts my ear
I told you I'm not Shanghainese
I am from Shandong, went to Anhui...
then Shanghai, then back to Anhui!
There was a war! Nothing but chaos!
People were in worse chaos, understand?
Yes, yes, yes!
There was a war! The world was in chaos!
You need to see a doctor now?
No, I won't die
Innkeeper, here's my buff horse
The Consul's son sings beautiful Peking Opera
So-so, I'd say passable
Don't you show off, Shanghai man
Innkeeper...
See? Out of tune!
Please take away my buff horse
Sounds like the cook sings better than me
Really?
Come and join us
Please come in
Please come in
Hey!
Let's sing together
Please
The innkeeper takes away my beloved horse
Bravo!
I can no longer hold back my bitter tears
Yuerong,
thanks to your boss in Shanghai
I found a job
at the US consulate here
I am making do now
Good day, Head Comrade!
Whose letter?
Chen Yuerong's
From where?
Hong Kong
From Hong Kong
Comrade Chen
Head Comrade
A letter for your Yuerong
Thanks
From Hong Kong again!
Hong Kong... she has a man there
Some of my former staff don't only beg
but beg without a bowl
They use a newspaper
Begging with it, eating on it...
and even wiping their asses with it!
Many committed suicide!
Sir, we don't write foul language
She's my wife, what does it matter?
Wife?
Without foul language,
she'd even think it's not me!
OK, up to you then
I've got your travel expenses to Hong Kong
Have you decided? Don't linger anymore
No use staying in Shanghai with the girls
But you must be careful
Keep your whereabouts secret
The bastards who looked for me before...
may now fucking look for you!
Letter from Daolong again?
Yes
Mom
I have decided
It's good that you have
If I still don't go to Hong Kong...
there may not be another chance
Daolong has found me a job there
Once I make some money, I'll send it to you
And the two girls can go to school
Mom
We'll come home once we earn enough money
Mom understands
You should've gone with him long ago
In fact mom misjudged Daolong back then
He really loves you whole-heartedly
Yuerong, there's not much food at home
Here are 10 eggs that I've cooked for you
Take them with you
I have asked around
There're 10 stations from Shanghai to Canton
Shell one egg at each station
Eat it and you won't be hungry
After eating all 10, it's time to get off
This way, you won't miss the station either
Mom
Mom
Yulan, Guilan, come here
Mama gives you 50 cents each
Spend it slowly
And when it's spent...
mama will be back
Really?
Really
Good girls
Yuerong, time to go
Yuerong, quickly
Look!
Let me see your packet
Daolong, I'll take a smuggling boat
to Hong Kong
Finally, we can meet
Looking back on my life...
I was forced to marry at teenage...
and gave birth to 2 girls in a fog
Then I bumped into you when I was most lost
War made everything seem so unreal
I threw caution to the wind this time...
but will it be just another dream?
Mama!
Yulan!
Ma!
I want papa!
Where is papa?
I don't know
Where's your papa?
I brought lunch to papa, then...
he let me play outside and
suddenly the station was gone!
How come? Go look for papa now!
I did
I crawled like everyone else
Where did you go?
Ah Qiang! Ah Qiang!
Ah Qiang!
1, 2, 3
Ah Qiang!
Mama, I found him!
We only have time for those still alive
This one is dead already
Japanese Bombs Wuhu, Anhui
Snowflakes!
Wow, it's snowing!
Just when I sloppily buried my man...
my mother-in-law turned against me
She said I was so inauspicious that
his son died...
and I gave birth to 2 good-for-nothings
She decided to sell us all for money
This is ridiculous! Totally outrageous!
I took my 2 daughters and
fled with the refugees
We went back to my hometown
My arm hurts
Yulan, we are almost home
Mom
Yuerong
Our family's women have such sad lives
I've never seen my parents
Yuerong's dad died before she's born
Now you two are so young...
and your dad's dead already
Yuerong!
You've all come back!
Sister Qiu
Auntite
You really can eat!
Yulan, Guilan, greet Auntie Qiu
Auntie Qiu
I bought your favorite tea eggs
Auntie, this is for you
Look!
Here
And lots of tasty biscuits too!
You're too kind!
Yuerong
The thing you asked me about...
I've checked around for you
Mom, excuse us
Sure, go ahead
Trust me
Don't do this
I have to, there's no other choice
Even my big brother doesn't traffic this now
That's great, the price gets higher
If it's lucrative,
wouldn't he be still doing it?
Lately the checkpoints are very vigilant
No one would suspect a housewife
They don't want them?
No
Why not?
With a war going on,
the Mr Shanghai contest has been cancelled
Big brother, don't be upset,
the war will soon be over
And the contest will resume right after
Officer!
You!
Sir?
What do you do?
Solo trade
What is this?
Crystal sugar rice cake
I'm selling it on the opposite shore
Crystal sugar rice cake?
No wonder the flies swarm about it
Yes, it's sweet! Flies like it
But isn't it strange?
Why is only the upper layer swarmed?
The lower layer isn't sweet?
Open it!
Let me do it
You over-steamed! The cakes are dark
Right! The cakes are dark, so is my fate
A woman with a kid trafficking in opium?
How dare you!
You can be jailed for this, understand?
A home without food is worse than jail
If I get jailed, at least there's food
You've got a nerve and not simple either
Come with me!
Jail me if you want
But please jail my daughter too
One less kid for my mom to take care of
Mama, where are we going?
Who else do you have at home?
A younger daughter and a mom
You're the only provider?
Who else is there?
Where's your husband?
Dead
Recently?
What's the difference? Dead is dead
Go
I said "go"
Anyway,
I can't even tell right from wrong these days
Let's go
Wait
What?
Your crystal sugar rice cake
Are you hungry?
Don't be afraid, go get some food
Come
Come on
Yulan
Come
Yulan
Don't be afraid, go!
No, don't take them
Go pick some
Take whatever you want
Yulan, let's go
Just let her take it
Go!
Let's go, Yulan
Don't be afraid, take more
Yulan, let's go!
Quick!
Yulan, go!
Go, go!
Forget it
This opium doesn't work any more
Just let me go
It's really too painful
You should...
rest well
Don't think too much
Understand?
But opium is too expensive
You spent all the money on my illness
There's a war, keep the money for the kids
Don't worry, I have loads of money!
Twist your fists!
Again, twist your fists!
Taut fist!
Kick!
Firecracker fist!
Dad
You're home
Papa
Assume the horse stance!
What's up?
I have to leave on business tomorrow
Please take care of the family for a few days
Again! Why so many business trips?
What job are you doing anyway?
The rebels are at the red dot of this map...
hiding in a bamboo grove by the river
The intelligence said just 3 or 4 men
You have 5 men, 5 guns and 50 bullets
Kill them all, a piece of cake!
You remember the location clearly?
Good, check your time
OK, time check
It's now 11:17 am
We'll set off at 12 sharp!
Yes
Yes
What's up with you?
I ran out of money last month
I pawned my watch to pay rent
And you?
My senior never gave me a watch
Then forget about time check! Set off!
A spy without even a watch! Shame!
River...
Bamboo grove...
The target should be nearby
Get ready
Some wine, please
Get them!
Run! Run!
Run!
Get them!
You call these 3 or 4 men?
Don't let them flee!
Go!
Up the hill!
We'll outflank them there
They should still be inside the grove
Where are they?
Don't make a sound
They can't go anywhere!
Search again!
They should have left already
Let's wait awhile, then split
(Japanese) Some are hiding in the grove!
(Japanese) Smoke them out!
(Japanese) Tell them that they can go nowhere
Shit! The Japs are here!
What's this all about?
Get out, you communists! You can't run!
The Japs are here for the underground! Damn!
(Japanese) I'll blow you away
if you don't get out!
I'll blow you away if you don't get out!
(Japanese) Get out or I'll shoot!
Let's surrender to keep our lives
OK!
(Japanese) Get out now! Quick!
Let's go!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
We're not commies!
(Japanese) Who are you?
Don't shoot!
Who are you? What are you doing here?
(Japanese) Don't move!
Speak now!
(Japanese) Kneel down!
If you don't speak today,
you won't be able to speak tomorrow
Speak! Quickly!
By then...
you can keep your mouth shut,
but your head will be gone!
Kowtow!
Enough!
Stop fooling around!
What do kids know?
Crystal sugar rice cake?
They're innocent and naive
But how long can these happy days last?
How come you are here?
Officer Fang
I have known your wife 20 years
earlier than you have
I'm just as surprised to know
you're her husband
Third cousin?
So you have come back!
Grand uncle!
You two come over here
Greet your third aunt
Third aunt!
Third aunt!
Good boys
Ah Yu
I've always said I would see you...
when I have the time
Now I have the time, but you are gone
People...
what are they waiting for?
Guns... all gone
Bullets all used up, missions all failed!
5 of you went, 3 returned
How can I explain to my boss?
Just fire me!
Blame it all on me!
What?
You are telling me you quit?
Yes!
I don't wanna be a spy anymore!
Quit?
In our trade, there is no quitting
Says who? Now I am quitting!
Alright
Do it if you have the guts
Of course I have
How about the wage arrears owed to
the brothers?
When we get money from above,
we'll pay them
Besides, we've already spent a lot
to rescue you
Rescue us?
Of course
If we haven't paid the Japs...
would you just accompany decapitation?
You'd have been fucking beheaded!
If your intelligence wasn't such a mess...
all 5 men would've returned instead of 3!
And one of us was scared to death!
Hush up!
Let's do this
But remember...
once you get out of this door...
no matter who does what to you...
be they the rebels or the Japs...
we'll not bear responsibility
What responsibility can your lot bear?
Not even responsibility for your willy
Yuerong, I'll wait for you by
the Hong Kong shore
Don't think too much
The best thing about
these troubled times is...
everything passes quickly
There are always chances to start afresh
Down with the Great Powers!
Wipe out the warlords!
Strive for national revolution!
Let's fight together!
Papa, papa
Here they come!
Papa, here they are!
Welcome!
Come greet Officer Fang
Sorry we're late
I spent too much time cooking
What did you cook?
My dad says we're both bereaved families
Other families would turn their back on us
Our two families should meet more
You are right
But I should really thank you...
for what happened at the pier
Don't mention it
Allow me
That's OK
What is this?
Crystal sugar rice cake
It's the winter solstice
The kids should eat dessert
Right
Come sit down
Come, dinnertime
Kids, come!
Daolong, you sit down, or third sister won't
Sit down
Come, cheers!
OK
Yes, cheers!
Your cheers is bottoms up, awesome!
You are even more awesome
Come!
You know, my grandpa ran a winery in Shandong
Yes
One day when I was 4...
I fell into a big brewing barrel
I was almost drowned
You've the nerve to mention it
What happened then?
I climbed out, unconscious for days
And after I awoke, I loved drinking
I haven't stopped drinking ever since
Such a bum
Really?
Really, and you?
How did you start drinking?
My father had died before I was born
They thought I would be a boy
So they named me Yuerong, a boy's name
But I turned out to be a girl
Everyone was disappointed
Most of all, my mother
She raised me as if I were a boy
So you see, I have a man's life
My life is rough, and I'm ill-fated
Fate?
What fate?
Don't believe in fate, but in yourself
Come on, cheers!
Little bastards, look!
This is sorghum wine, Pegasus brand
Good Shandong wine!
Let's add some chili
Hot and strong!
Come, take a sip
Come
How's it like?
You try it too
So hot!
They're only kids
Why do you give them wine?
You want them to grow up like you...
full of bad habits?
There are 2 types of bad habits:
good bad habits and bad bad habits
Men should learn good bad habits young
Understand?
Come, girls, take a sip
Come, Yulan
Just a little dip with a chopstick
Yuerong
It may be OK for boys to drink young
But they are girls
You shouldn't teach them to drink
Girls should learn too
So they can tell a bad bad man...
from a good bad man
Bravo!
Well put!
Come
Let's see...
who drinks faster, OK?
Ready?
Yes
Ready?
Go!
Come on!
You've put so much chili in it!
I quitted my job!
I wanna go to Shanghai to start all over
Good for you!
If you're a dragon...
you should swim out to the sea
In these troubled times, men are only worms
But it doesn't matter
I barely survived the beheading anyway
Hold the gun tight
Stand firm
Shoot instantly
I always shoot instantly
Try it
Sure
I shoot even faster than "instantly"
You shoot so fast
Let me give you this fast gun
Then how about you?
I still have another one
Look
These 2 guns...
are a pair
Woe to the heroes trapped in
this wasteland...
not knowing when they can return home
It'll only be known if he's got a name
Bravo!
The innkeeper takes away my beloved horse
Bravo!
I can no longer hold back my bitter tears
Come, kids!
Daolong
Daolong, I'm taking the kids home first
Daolong
Come with grandpa now
There's someone in my heart
with a smiling face
He brings me warm spring even in chilly fall
My sweetheart, don't be sad
You bring me sunshine even
in the darkest night
I won't let anyone snatch my only spring
I won't let anyone blow out my only sun
There's someone in my heart
with loving treasures
Don't let that smile fade away
Have a great day!
Really, Mr Fang?
Yes, Mrs Chen
Why do you have such a thought?
I think...
My wife and Yuerong's husband are both gone
I have 2 sons, she has 2 daughters
If our 2 families live together...
we can take care of each other
Mrs Chen, please take a look
My family treasure,
handed down for generations
Now I give it to you as a token of proposal
I've also brought you rice, oil...
Sichuan chili sauce...
and a pheasant I just hunted
Look! Isn't it beautiful?
Mr Fang
Can you tell me the words on the couplet?
You can't read, can you?
I can, I can read
Really?
How many characters do you know?
Six
One, two, three, big, small
mouth!
My Yuerong is well educated
She can read long classics
Well...
I was a naughty kid and didn't study much
But I am smart
I am good at music, workmanship and kung fu
I know
I have asked around
You work at the checkpoint in the daytime
It's said: good men would not be soldiers
That's OK, but I also heard...
that you're not engaged in honest work
Your whereabouts are mysterious...
and you always fight with men for no reason
How are you going to feed my daughter...
and my 2 grand daughters?
What'll happen to your family of 6?
Mrs Chen
Mr Fang
Please go home
Before Yuerong finishes frying her fish...
please leave with your gifts
Alright
But this jade pendant is my gift for Yuerong
Please...
give it to her
Thanks
Mom, why are you so stubborn?
You made me marry a stranger, I did
Now I've found one I like, and you disapprove
What do you want?
Oh, not 6 characters!
I can read 9 characters
9 characters!
I can read Fang Daolong too!
Fang Daolong!
Fang Daolong!
He can tell right from wrong
And he treats me well!
You understand, mom? He treats me well!
Done!
Go report it, let's split the reward
Chili Sauce
Quickly, find grandpa!
Dad
Daolong, what happened? Who did it?
Must be our own men!
Your own men?
Why do they want to kill you?
I know too much! They don't wanna pay me!
They fear I'd expose their dirty work!
Damn, who knows?
What do you do exactly?
Dad
Take this
Bring the 2 boys to uncle's place
How about you?
When it's over, I'll go find you
Dad, if I disappear, don't look for me
If I die...
please take care of...
the 2 boys for me
It's that serious?
Yes, it is
Dad, I'm going now
Don't tell Yuerong what happened to me
Just tell her...
I'll go find her once I finish my work
Ask her to wait for me!
Remember, ask her to wait for me
Wait for me!
I'll remember
Little bastards
Don't cry
You are men, you have no fear
Understand? Understand?
Trading and bartering!
Trading and bartering
Trading and bartering
Trading and bartering
Hey, brother
Hello, there
Say, which road leads to Nanking?
This is the road
I thought this one leads to Shanghai
No, no
This one goes to Shanghai
I know Shanghai well
I often do business there
I'm lucky to bump into you...
or I'd have taken the wrong way
Brother
What's wrong with your leg?
Just a scrape, it's nothing
Your leg is bleeding bad
Wait, I'll get you some medicine
There's no need, brother
No problem
I've got everything on my cart
It's just messy
No need really, I have no money anyway
What money! I'll give it to you
It's really a mess
But there is order in the mess
Knife wound medicine, nope
Momordica cochinchinensis, too slow
May be some herbal medicine?
Right...
I bought in a lot of it last week
Is your physique dry or what?
Brother?
Brother!
Strange, where has he gone?
Brother, aren't you going to Nanking?
Little brother,
I didn't mean to hide from you
Oh, never mind
Your leg injury is serious
My leg was shot
I'll take you to hospital
No, never!
I can't go to hospital
OK, understood
The bullet is still inside, right?
Damn it, I think so
Do you believe in me?
What do you mean?
I've read many books
I know how to find a bullet...
and how to pull it out
Really?
But I've never tried it
Then you go ahead and try
I believe in you
OK, please wait
Scissors...
What is it?
A magnet
To find the bullet's position
I found it, I found it!
Want some wine first?
Sure
Ready?
OK, do it
I'll do it now?
Now!
Daolong!
Daolong!
Daolong!
Grand uncle!
Daolong, after you had left...
the Japs invaded our village
Everyone covers their windows
with black cloths
Girls smear their faces when going out
Where there's light, there's danger
Yuerong
You'd better go to Shanghai with me
It's getting really unsafe here
Is it worth waiting for him?
It is
Yuerong, smile a little
You know...
It'll get you more tips
Here comes Sister Qiu!
Place your bet now!
Hands off after betting!
Turn!
1, 2, 3, small!
Everyone knows Daolong has lots of women
You are just one of them
That's before, now I'm the only one
Every woman thinks she can change her man
Every man thinks he'll win this time
Come
How's business today?
Times are bad
The poor don't have anything to sell
And the rich don't need to sell anything
Huge wealth gap, unstable society!
I need to change profession!
Have one, here
We're strangers meeting by chance
I have nothing to repay your kindness
Come, take one
No need to thank a stranger
Keep the scorpion for yourself
Open up!
Who's this? Coming!
Who are you looking for?
Your Miss High and Mighty
Why are you looking for Yuerong?
We came to marry her!
Marry her?
My brother fancies her, her blessing!
Impossible!
Yuerong's married with 2 daughters!
Her husband kicked the bucket!
What do you want?
According to village custom...
this sort of woman
can be dragged home by anyone as mistress!
Yuerong!
Damn your custom!
I'll never be the mistress of you pig!
Brother,
is this the lass we saw the other night?
How come she's become a shrew?
Yuerong!
Men don't like women who aren't ferocious
This one is fun!
Don't you dare come up!
Good, Little Chili...
Your new groom is coming up
You fucking bitch!
He hadn't even done anything and you shot!
I always shoot faster than "instantly"!
This is not settled, you just wait
Yuerong
Yuerong?
They're gone, how are you?
Yuerong
Put the gun down
Yuerong
Put it down
Put the gun down
Yuerong
You put it down first
This home...
You can't stay here anymore
Nor should I ask you to stay
Give the girls to me
When the day breaks...
take a boat to Shanghai
OK?
Mom
Have you found out anything?
Daolong, listen to me
What? Something happened to my kids?
My dad?
No, your dad and kids are fine
They're hiding at their uncle's home
How about my woman?
Is your woman's name Chen Yuerong?
Right, what happened to her?
Some local tyrants tried to kidnap her
as bride
Kidnap her as bride?
God damn it!
The government presses me, so do the bandits!
Where are you going?
Kill the bandits!
But I also learned that she has fled
to Shanghai
Shanghai?
I'll go to Shanghai then!
Shanghai is very big and populous!
I know Shanghai well, let me take you there
Slow down!
You!
Short-tempered!
You're too short-tempered!
Shanghai during Japanese Occupation
International Settlement, Shanghai
Missing: Crystal Sugar Rice Cake
Starved to death
How do you know?
I've seen more corpses than you have
The eyes of the starved are matt
The ears of the frozen are withdrawn
For those scared to death,
there are bite marks inside the mouth cavity
And for the beheaded...
his neck would clam up...
without a drop of blood
But when the executioner kicks him down...
the fucking blood would gush out!
I have killed people of
different political parties
Perhaps one day,
any one of them would appear before me...
or from behind
Chief
When a man like Daolong goes crazy...
he is a daredevil that money can't buy
Sparing his life will mean trouble
Daolong, I couldn't wait for you any longer
I took a boat to Shanghai overnight
I fear water so much
I was seasick and puked badly onboard
Qiu and I are working for
an expatriate family in Shanghai now
We adopted English names too
I am Lily, Qiu is Rose
You like it?
Yuerong
Master Zhou, here you come
Sister Qiu, you look so busy
Yuerong
Delivering cheongsam to Mrs Barr?
Yes, on the road everyday, tough life
I have some oil and rice here
I live alone and can't eat them all
Let me give you some
No, thanks
Take them
Master Zhou's giving them to you, take them
Yes, take them
Perhaps I'll keep them for her first
Sure, they are for you both
Qiu!
Thank you then
Stop it now, shut up, you!
With you barking like this,
how can Yuerong and Master Zhou talk?
You, move faster!
Don't goof off!
Quick!
Ah Hua, no matter how I look at you...
you don't look like a used goods dealer
You are an intellectual, aren't you?
Life is a sojourn,
more so with the war waging on
Fate buys me in, I buy in used goods
You sound so damn artsy-fartsy!
What artsy-fartsy?
And you?
How did you become a...?
Fate buys me in, I buy in...
Damn, I haven't bought anything
in my entire life!
You laugh!
Now even my woman disappears!
Relax, you'll find her
You haven't written to her mother
this week yet
Anything you want me to tell her?
You put: Auntie Chen...
You probably won't tell me where Yuerong is
I can only take different buses everyday,
hoping to bump into her
I used to play around
But now I just wanna be with Yuerong...
and start anew
I'll take good care of her
Auntie, I am a boor
But in turbulent times, boors survive better
Yuerong
It's been a long time
I think you shouldn't wait anymore
You are still young
You have wings, and you should fly
There's someone in my heart
with a smiling face
He brings me warm spring even in chilly fall
No wonder they say wings don't mean swan
There are birdy fools like you
My sweetheart...
Daolong
I asked around for your whereabouts in Anhui
but in vain
Some said you've disappeared
Some said you always come and go
like a shadow
Some even said you're dead...
and I should forget you
Should I keep waiting for you?
Or should I give up?
Where are you, Daolong?
Are you...
still alive?
After the attack on Pearl Harbour,
Japan abolished
the International Settlement...
and forced foreign nationals into
concentration camps
Bye, Emma
Bye, Lily
Goodbye, Mrs Barr
Bye, Rose
Hot water, please
33 Rong Hua Road, 4/F
OK, thank you
Deliver water!
Coming!
What a waste
Address?
33 Rong Hua Road, 4/F
Master Zhou, wait
Don't, no need
Thanks, Yuerong
Your must be tired, Master Zhou
33 Rong Hua Road, 4/F...
Victory crutch, come buy Victory crutch!
Victory stick!
Victory stick!
Victory melon seeds, come and try!
I'll never smoke cigarette butts again!
I want...
I just want...
to go home!
Yuerong!
Give me some cigarettes
Yuerong!
Yuerong!
Yuerong!
God damm you!
Just kill me!
If you still wanna kill me, kill!
Killers! Call the police!
Go on
Do it!
Get him a doctor
Someone must have hit him on his head
Poor guy
Doctor, you must save him!
Only some 30 beats per minute?
He needs blood transfusion
How do you comrades handle such cases?
Buy black blood
Black blood?
Black market blood, but very expensive
2 million, or go somewhere else
Adding this, it should be enough
One glass toy, some scrap metal...
and 9 pieces of rags... 6 million
Brother
This clock is my heirloom,
it's been working for decades...
from Qing Dynasty to the Republic to now
Always punctual
It's witnessed history
Right!
Such a historical clock...
should worth at least 4 eggs
One clock, 2 eggs
2 eggs?
Look carefully! It's a clock, not a watch
What's the use of a clock in such times?
I told you, it's not a clock, it's history
History!
That's even more useless
Why are you such a pain today?
You wanna watch me starve to death?
You'll never starve to death
Come on
OK, OK
Here
I say 4, it's 4
Let's go
All the men here have been bought in by you
Who can be better than you at buying in?
Yuerong!
Yes, Master Zhou
Try this cheongsam on, see if it fits
This material is so special
It's the quilt cover my mother sewed
I know you pawned all your cheongsams
So I thought...
I should make this for you
Look, do you like the style?
Try it on
Master Zhou
You'd better keep this cheongsam
Perhaps one day,
you can sell it for a good price
Yuerong
I am an understanding person
No matter how you decide...
I can take it
Please accept...
this cheongsam
Take it as a souvenir
I'll leave you to your work
Time to deliver water
2 barrels for Mrs Wang
You know the address
Yes
I'll go now
Sister Qiu
Some water, please
OK
Come here
Water, right?
Yuerong
From now on, I'll quit smoking,
drinking and sleeping late
Are you OK? What for?
I hear that these habits...
age people
We just survived a war
Everyone aged
Come here
Let me ask you
Am I older or is he older?
He?
Who?
He!
Which he?
Ah Hua
Oh, Ah Hua!
Of course you're younger
You're like a little girl now
Be serious
I am serious
Qiu, it's so hard these days...
to meet someone you like who likes you too
And you still want to pull
his sleeve and ask:
Mr, how old are you?
Am I right?
Qiu...
Qiu, I can't believe it
So it's finally your turn
Who used to call me a stubborn crow?
Wasn't it you?
It's different
How different?
He's my first love
Different?
Daolong...
is my first love too
Don't move! Get in!
Help! Help!
We must grab more
Why?
If we don't grab more...
they'll know we pawned those things
You intellectual!
You're smarter even as a thief
This is thieves' best revenge on robbers!
Let's celebrate the return of our assets
We'll go dancing!
Saville Hotel, here we come!
Come here, everyone!
Come, Sister Qiu!
Come, bottoms up!
Bottoms up!
No, no, no
Today we should say "cheers"!
Bottoms up!
Cheers!
Why is it here?
It's alway been yours
I thought...
I'd never see it again
I didn't expect that it would take so long...
from Shandong to Anhui...
from Anhui to Shanghai...
before I can finally put it on you
Thanks
I didn't realize you speak English
How else can I muddle along in Shanghai?
Can you teach me?
I often buy in English books...
but I can't read them
Of course
I know you like reading
Thank you
My pleasure
Do you know how to say "thanks"?
No
Thanks
Sh...sh...
Thanks
When you say this word...
there are 3 steps
First,
put your tongue between your teeth
The next step is...
to blow and then withdraw your tongue
Thanks
Fank?
Thanks
Shanks
Thanks
Thanks
Th...
Do you understand?
Understand?
Understand?
15, 14...
Daolong
12, 11...
Yuerong, come!
9, 8, 7, 6...
5, 4...
3, 2, 1...
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
New Year, new life!
Everything starts anew!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
It must be very warm inside
I'll take you in when we get rich
Are your tired?
Freeze! Or will shoot!
Move
The Communists are closing in
The Nationalists are purging the party
before leaving
Let's go
I didn't expect them to be so unrelenting
We must flee before their mass action
Where do we go?
Tomorrow we'll go to Anhui for the kids
Then escape to Hong Kong
Hong Kong?
Now we are many, we need a car
How can we afford a car?
When the thieves took revenge on
the robbers...
I also took some gold coins
Officer Fang, you're really something!
Grandma, Grandma
Mama is back, look at her gifts
Look!
Mom
Mrs Chen
We can go now
Ah Hua
You're packed so fast?
Don't know how long we'll be away,
let's travel light
What are you doing?
Nothing
What on earth are you doing?
Ah Hua, between the two of us...
Is there anything you can't tell me?
OK, I'll tell you,
but you mustn't leak a word
In particular, don't tell Daolong and Yuerong
Dad
Little bastards!
Get out!
Get the hell out!
Daolong, don't be sad
We'll find them, OK?
I promise
No, not in the mood
There's a train to Canton at 6 am tomorrow
You should be able to catch it
What "you"? Not "we"?
Aren't you going to Hong Kong with us?
Ah Hua
What is it?
I am not going
Why not?
I need to stay, I have things to do
Ah Hua
Big brother, yes?
Do what you need to do
When you are done, we'll have a drink
Deal!
Sister Qiu
Don't tell me you're not going either
Why is the road blocked?
Looks like we can't arrive before 6
Get off here
Follow the crowd, it'll be faster
No, let's go together
I don't feel right
The Nationalists are retreating,
there's a block
Ah Hua is right, we'd better walk
I'll stay for you then
No, you help them carry the luggage
If you miss this train,
you have to wait for a week...
or even a month
Ah Hua
Take care
I'll see you at the station entrance
Sure
Ah Hua, station entrance!
Be careful!
Stop! Engine off for inspection!
He's on the list, take him away!
What? It's not me!
Let go! Not me!
Stop!
Get off
Wanted
Go!
Go!
Move faster!
Stop!
Stop, engine off for inspection!
Sir, good day
Go
Wait, wait!
Turn off the engine!
Quiet!
Keep quiet!
Keep quiet, damn it!
Ah Hua, what are these watches for?
Transporting for my communist friends
What?
Remember the black blood doctor?
He is a communist
They need to check time before actions
But they lack watches
I support them
Time bomb!
That's Ah Hua!
Qiu, come back!
It's Ah Hua's car!
Go!
Go!
Let me go back, that's Ah Hua!
Ah Hua!
Trading and bartering!
Ah Hua! Don't you hear Ah Hua?
Go!
Go quickly!
Don't you hear Ah Hua?
Let go of me!
Ah Hua!
Ah Hua!
Let go of me!
Yuerong
Qiu, what is it?
Ah Hua is meeting us at the station entrance,
right?
Right?
Yuerong
You go with Daolong first
I'll stay for her
Mom!
And the girls stay too
Anyway, mom has decided not to leave
Mom, what do you want?
What will mom do in Hong Kong?
Mom I don't want go anywhere
Mom
Mom, what do you want now?
Mom is old
I've been fleeing all my life,
I don't want flee anymore
And I can't run, understand?
I'll take good care of them
We'll be fine, go!
Go, there's no time
They're coming, go quickly
Go, there's no time
Quick!
Auntie, I'm taking her with me
You take care
Go
Mama
Mama
Mama
What is it?
Daolong
What?
You go first
Daolong
Rest assured...
that I'll settle them, then join you
in Hong Kong
One week, at most one month
Don't lie to me
You must come
You must come!
OK? I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you,
I'll wait for you in Hong Kong, OK?
We'll start anew
We'll get married...
and have babies, and be together forever
Go
Go
Go
I will wait for you!
Be careful!
I'll wait for you
I'll wait for you!
Yuerong, I know you fear water
But however rough the sea is, be brave
Just think of me, I'll be waiting for you
I'll be waiting for you on the other shore
You must come
Hurry, move it!
Hurry! The boat is leaving
Quick!
My girl, where are you?
I'm here, mom
Hurry up!
Attention! Attention, the boat ahead!
We are Hong Kong Marine Police!
Stop, or we'll take action!
Shit, police
Gotta lose weight, throw out the dying ones!
What are you doing?
Stop the boat, or we'll take action!
That way! That way's shorter!
That way! That...
Thank you
Thank you, Daolong!
I ain't Daolong, you've mistaken
That way's shorter!
Dump them all, quick!
Yuerong!
Yuerong!
There's someone in my heart
with a smiling face
He brings me warm spring even in chilly fall
Yuerong!
There's someone in my heart
with loving treasures
He gives me sunlight even in
the darkest night
I won't let anyone snatch my only spring
I won't let anyone blow out my only sun
My sweetheart, don't be sad
Don't let that smile fade away
Daolong and Yuerong finally got married
in Hong Kong
Daolong changed his identity
by taking Yuerong's surname Chen
In 1954, they gave birth to a boy...
and named him Gangsheng,
which means 'Born in Hong Kong'
Qiu waited outside
the railway station for 3 years
She finally came to her senses
and left the sorrowful place
She ended up in Hong Kong
where she spent the rest of her life alone
How much is the egg?
3 for 10 cents
4!
No way!
Come on!
Alright, I'll give you 4
Trading and bartering!
Trading and bartering!
Every time a train passed by...
the missing children of Daolong and Yuerong
would hope it was their parents coming home
And every time they were disappointed
During these turbulent times,
many families were torn apart
After many desperate searches,
Daolong and Yuerong
finally managed to find
their long lost children,
but that was 38 years later