Courthouse on Horseback (2006) - full transcript
The film follows three characters on a tour of the remote Yunman province of China where they travel with a horse to deal with legal disputes in mountain villages. Government policy is ...
You have to retire earlier
because judges are supposed to be professional
We believe you understand that well
We hope you perform your last duty properly
Feel better now?
Buddy, gonna leave now
The road is too bad
When you returned my horse last time,
I had to
take the horse to the vet's
you must feed it well this time
Don't worry
I can starve my self, but not your horse
Hey!
What are you doing?
young fellow
We gonna walk in the mountains
No more car sickness
but the feet will suffer.
Hey!
What're you doing?
It's my own money
Wanna pay more for carrying also my TV
Save your money!
We'll hire his horse for years
If you give him ten Yuan more
What about next trip?
And the trip after the next
Can you afford it?
Yang
Say something...
Hi
It's the horse caravan
Wait a moment
you're back?
Emm, I'm back
Going home!
Welcome
Good to see you!
Drink later!
Hi, Judge Feng!
How are you?
Come to see me!
See you later
Going home?
Time to eat!
That's good
How are you?
Fine
A little bit to the left
Yeah
A bit more
Too much. Back to the right a bit
Still a bit to the left
Good. That's better.
Much better
Left again, Give it a push
Good
DEFENDANT
COMPLAINANT
Stand up
Zhang Long's pig dug up my Pot Mound...
my family tomb
you must do something about it!
I've got the pig here
Everything is gone!
you must do something to it
My ancestors are all gone!
How come you bring the pig here?
Look, Nothing left! Everything is gone
All my ancestors are gone
Can we talk about this case later?
No. you must deal with it now!
I won't leave if you don't do it now!
I understand what you mean.
But wait for a moment...
No! Deal with it now!
The pig dug up my ancestors!
Ah-Luo, you take care of this
leave the court now!
We must follow the court procedure
We'll deal with it later.
Take the pig a way
I won't leave if you don't hear my case
Get the pig out of here
Get the pig out of here
Take it a way!
I would never leave if you don't hear the case
I see. I will deal with it later
you must deal with it well!
I promise we will
Go home now
Wait for a moment!
How can you do that?
you go home first.
you gotta be fair when dealing with it!
Ok, I will
If not, I'll kill your pig
The People's Court is now in session
Sit down
What do you want,
a ruling at the court
or settling it between yourselves
you 've been quarreling for half
a year for the family property.
Now you're coming to the
court merely for a pickle jar
Do you think it is proper?
After all, you're sisters-in-law
my Pot was dug out
What should I do?
The bones of my ancestors were all in it
They're all gone
It's bad luck for my family
What can I do about it?
How did it come to that?
So it's your ancestors' ashes inside?
Both of you live in the same village
you meet each other everyday
you have a quarrel today
Can you a void seeing each other forever?
It's unreasonable to fight
over such a tiny thing
If you keep quarreling every day
It may fester into something worse
Yang, how's it going?
So
you two should forget and forgive!
you both should get along
well with each other
Show some consideration
Be generous to each other
Now shake hands,
ok?
Yes, don't be so stubborn
you should be considerate
And set a good example for your kids...
Well, you're the elder one
So you show some generosity
Then how about you?
What's the problem?
What's this all about?
Come on
you are the younger one
you give up the jar
Shake hands with her
Or the elder one
elder sister-in-law
What's the problem with you two?
Be an elder sister!
Be good sisters-in-law!
you just won't listen
Seems that I've been wasting my time
Here is 5 Yuan
for the jar
Half each!
give it to them
Take it
Take it
Take the money and buy two jars
Well done! Well done!!
So, you two just shake hands and make up
you should get along well later
It was so smart of you
I never know how to deal with women
Now the case is closed
They will never talk to each other
I'm also a woman!
What are you looking at?
Fine
Had lunch?
Yeah
Feng
Yeah
I've settled the pig case
Yeah
How did you handle it?
It makes no sense
It's not our business
It doesn't even make a case
What do you mean?
Do you know What a "Pot" is?
Of course I know
But the pig doesn't
Pigs just run on the hill
They are not human
How can they know what the "Pot" means
It's just a Pot
Not a big loss!
But the complainant claims a pig
and a Buddhist service as compensation
It's so ridiculous
So how did you deal with it?
I..
I told him that the laws do not
support the superstitious activitie
and rejected their requests.
So, you didn't deal with it at all?
It is not even a case
Do you know
how many descendents are involved in it?
If you are unable to handle it properly,
it may lead to a mass fight
There's a law against fighting
Bullshit!
What bullshit!
you know what
someone has got killed
while fighting over a chicken!
It's a big matter that the pig dug up the tomb
It may lead to big trouble
If you don't do anything to it now,
someone might get killed
The court will have to deal with it then!
And even worse thing might happen
the police might come,
and someone would be arrested!
Look
Now it comes
Zhang Long, come out!
your pig
had dug up my Pot Mound
We didn't do it! It was the pig!
We are not responsible for it!
Stop! Sop!
Why didn't you accept my case?
Nobody said that
Am I dealing with it right now?
Zhang Long
Get inside
Come along with me!
I'll see how you deal with it
The court must deal with it!
Come along with me!
What's the death of the pig
related to your ancestors?
I got a dream last night
my ancestors will punish us
So ancestors appeared in your dream
But dreams can't be taken so seriously
I had a dream last night too
I married a pretty woman in
the dream. Where is she now?
How about
they give you a pig
and hold a Buddhist service as compensation?
No, two pigs
No way. at least two pigs!
Why two pigs?
you
Do you have pigs at home?
Yeah
Drive a pig out
and dig up the Pot Mound
of Zhong Long's family!
What are you doing, Judge?
What?
Let's go
Will show you what I'm going to do!
I haven't finished my words yet
Who asked you to drive the pig out?
you did
you asked me to take a pig
and dig up his Pot Mound
I'll fight till death if
any one dares to do it!
Zhang Long
So you said you would fight
till death for it!
Yes, I said so!
Good
Now, try to put yourself in his shoes
Just like his pig cannot
dig up your Pot Mound
your pig cannot dig up his.
Understand what I mean?
Do you get it?
Now it's settled
One pig
and a Buddhist service as compensation.
Please wait
The court cannot support
The second request!
Right, Right
The court can't support it
No
If there's no Buddhist service
Our ancestors won't agree with it!
No more argument!
Judges are human
They got to eat also
Let's go for lunch now!
Let's go
Are you stupid?
Do you need the court's support
to find a Lama?
Well
What have you
learnt from university?
you can't always leave a mess
for others to clear up
What a good solution,
you even asked the guy
to dig up the Pot Mound
It's better having college education
If you allow them to hold the service
it will be a mistake
you thought I'd never been to college?
Yang
I heard our salaries would be raised
It's only your business,
but nothing to do with me
That's good news
I can get more dowry for my daughter
I should have cared for her more
But they don't care about you
I don't blame them
It's not easy for them to do business at Lijiang
If I were you, I would spend all the money
I'll leave nothing to them
Zhang Long refused to give me the pig
Look
I knew it would go wrong
Why did you change your mind?
my ancestors said
we could give the pig,
but they could not take it
Why's that?
Just can't
Shut up
you just can't take the pig
you shut up too
Shut up
Who can?
Grandpa can take it a way
Where's Grandpa?
He got angry and went home
So, Grandpa has left?
Yeah
you would obey the court's decision
As the judge, is that ok I take the pig a way?
We won the case!
Take it!
Ouch
my back!
you deserve it!
What?
you are a judge,
on behalf of the government
Do you think it's proper for you
running with a pig around the village?
Was it funny?
What's wrong with that?
If you don't deserve respect
the badge on your uniform should do.
I felt ashamed for you
Shut up your mouth!
In 1975, I had my first duty trip here
I started with the Village of Chicken Head
Then the Chicken Neck, and Chicken Belly
And my trip ended at Chicken Tail
It felt like, you know
a load of chicken shit dumping out
Sorry
Go ahead
Keep on eating
Need a hand?
Don't bother me!
Ah-Luo
Ah-Luo
Look, a photo of my daughter
Doing business at Lijiang,
much better than me
Show me the photo of your bride
Let me have a look!
So pretty!
What does she do?
She works in a CD store
my daughter has a big CD
store at Lijiang too
It's your wife's!
your daughter is still a student
All right. Time to sleep
Got to hear the cases tomorrow morning
Do you want Ah-Luo to go with you?
Feng
you're so afraid of Auntie Yang
I read that fear is a sign of love
Is that right?
Nonsense!
She's going to retire
I'm just being considerate
When arguing with her
I would be very nasty
This is her last duty trip
I'll have the trip by my self later
It'll be really hard without her
I'll be here to help you I promise
your parents haven't come yet?
Never told them
What?
How can you have the
wedding without them?
It's OK
I can tell them later
When my parents got married
They didn't tell me either
you were not made yet!
How could they tell you?
Cut it out
Ah-Luo
Are you clear with that case?
Almost
But a bit confused about
the case at Chicken Tail
Why does the one asking for divorce
have to give everything to the other?
It's not fair
It's the custom. you should've known that!
I find the custom quite good
Not like people in the city
Divorce is as easy as throwing a way old shoes
Take this
It's cold at night
What about you?
Should I sleep somewhere else?
Bullshit
Did I talk in sleep last night?
you did
What did I say?
Can't remember
Leaving now?
Yeah, see you
Take care
Is he dozing off
Who said that?
Even if I'm dozing off,
the horse knows the route
If the horse fell asleep as well
I will take off my shoes
my shoes will lead you
to Chicken Head Village
It's Feng's colleague
He slipped off here on a duty trip
It was some 20 years ago
What's wrong?
Let's get Auntie Yang to ride the horse
It's fine
We're almost home
Whose home?
Yang's home, of course
She grew up at Chicken Belly Village
So I don't have to eat potato
you'll eat pig shit
Unload all the stuffs
Every bit of it
I've got to unload the stuffs
before drinking
Hi
I'll come and drink later
I gonna unload the stuffs first
I must get the stuffs
Just sit down, Ah-Luo can take care of them
Fine
Please be seated
Be slowly
Oh, I'm old now
How are you?
have a drink
Is this a TV set
Yongmu, Come over here, a TV set here!
It costs a lot
Show us the TV set!
Sister wants to build a house for the girl
I will not leave this time
OK, you take this
Put it a way somewhere
What's that?
It's a car
What are you looking at?
you'll get married soon!
It's not against the law for just looking
Yang, what did she say?
Don't ask
I was asking you
when you would come for a visiting marriage
Sister's daughter has grown up
She's got her partner now
It's time to build her a separate house
Each time I went home
I thought about an early retirement
But now...
Feng
Are you Auntie Yang's partner?
Nonsense!
All her life
Yang has been decent
If I were you...?
you shut up!
Feng
I heard that Auntie Yang does have a partner
Who?
you do care, don't you?
you little buster!
Yang's been very decent
We're just colleagues
Don't even go there
She's had a hard life
It was many years ago
In the late 1970s
The government recruited some officials
among the ethnic minority people
And she was selected
to work in the court
Moso people have the
custom of visiting marriage
But it can't be practiced in the city
As a result
She never got married
Now it's the 21st century
a new policy
came into force,
All government officials
must have college diplomas
She doesn't have any diploma
She has to make room for
a college graduate like you
She's only 46 years old.
The new policy was not made by me
And I am sorry about it...
Sleep well!
Feng
Feng
A burglar
That's the signal
It's the partner visiting his woman
Feng! The horse was stolen
Really? Where did you tie it?
Just outside.
Ah-Luo!
Ah-Luo!
Did you take everything in last night?
I forgot...
Even the national emblem!
Feng!
Who stole our horse?
The horse carries the national emblem
It's crime to steal the national
emblem. you know that?
Who stole our horse?
The horse carries the national emblem
It's crime to steal the national emblem
Don't you know that?
Please
Our horse was stolen
along with everything else. What can we do?
What are they chanting?
Something in honor of ancestors
Anything to do with our lost horse?
Of course
Ancestors forbid stealing
No one took our horse?
But we lost the horse indeed
She said she'd sworn before Buddha
If the horse got lost in the village
she'd surely help with finding it
Wedding, wedding, can you
think of something else?
To hell with your wedding!
Watch your language
I can buy another horse
But where can I find a national emblem
It hasn't happened for decades
Hardly had you left the courthouse
when the emblem was stolen
Don't exaggerate it
Fine. It's all my fault
It's my problem!
I should never have asked a kid
to handle such an important stuff.
Wipe your face
my face!
How can I care about my face when
the national emblem is stolen?
Where are you, my horse?
Where are you, my horse?
Where are you, my horse?
Look
What's this
Joker!
The symbol of power and authority
It's a good omen
We're sure to find the national emblem
Nuts!
The complainant said
the defendant owed her 150 Yuan
The defendant said
she didn't have any money
but she's got some stuff at home.
The complainant could take
a way whatever they want
But the complainant said the
stuffs did not worth 150 Yuan
The defendant said she had a piglet
The complainant said the piglet's too small
you quit that
Order, order!
Defendant
I'll buy your piglet
Here's 150 Yuan
I'll report it to the police
Well, I will take the responsibility my self
It's Ah-Luo's first business trip,
and it's the last one for Yang
How could I involve you two?
We're all responsible for it
Look at his attitude!
Yang, Ah-Luo, hurry up
Where is it?
Take this for me
It's a swamp. you may get drowned into it
Are you crazy?
you know people had got
drowned in the swamp
and you're still rushing into it
Are you out of your mind?
So many young people here
Please help to get it out!
Please help!
hey wonder what it's made of
They asked whether it's bronze or iron
you Moso people worship
Buddha, don't you?
The national emblem is like Buddha for us
We got the national emblem
We got it
Thanks
The rules of the village are out of
date. We have to abide by the law
Mother didn't want to call the
police for finding the horse
She said she'd lend us a horse
She said although she's old
She's still able to find the lost horse
Quiet, quiet...
Good!
Feng
Feng
Mom gives this to you.
Mind your steps
Just for these eggs
the girl has ran for miles
Hi
Ah-Luo
Listen to me
We hear cases before your wedding, ok?
Here we are!
Welcome!
Thank you
Put this on
you should've known the custom
This way, please
I've been feeding her for so many years
She's such a big girl now
Now she marries a guy from the courthouse
but I only get a color TV and a piglet
Ah-Luo is a nice boy
The TV costs over 1,000 Yuan
He's carried it all the way
from the town to your home
it took day son the way
The piglet is mine
I paid 150 yuan for it.
Nothing to do with Ah-Luo
I carried it here from Chicken Belly Village
And the mountain path is so bumpy
Fine
That's it
Judge Feng gave me a piglet as a gift
It's my great hono
Yao Ge
Let's get ready for the wedding now!
Yao Ge Hold it!
We've got to hear the
cases before the wedding
What's that?
We must hear cases first
Don't forget to pay me back for the piglet
He is shy
Quiet, be quiet
Don't talk. Don't interrupt
Claimant, you go first
We've been divorced for over a year
But her relatives still live in my house
And they've driven my Dad and me out
We don't have a single room
We had to live at friends' and relatives'
It is the truth!
They ever lived at every one's
house in the village
Yeah, we all know it!
Be quiet. Don't talk
Defendant. Is what he said true?
Yes
Why's that?
No reason
The court knows that, doesn't it?
The court said so. Just tell what's important
Ha! Today is your last day.
Do you know it?
Get the Village Code
and read it to them
We're killing them for reasons
Then how about the mutton?
I'll buy the mutton
Today is a big day to my family
Tell all the villagers
I'll offer wine and mutton
to every one tonight!
I'm not going to live...
On your feet
The court won't tolerate this
It's not working like this
Stand up
and talk to us
my sister married him when she was 13
It's been over 30 years
He cannot leave her alone just like that
And the kid is dead
It's not my sister's fault
If the court seized the
house, she will be homeless
We couldn't work it out
Where shall I live?
you 're tired, eh?
Now we can talk
Everything goes to you after the divorce
But the house belongs to
the father of your husband
This is trespassing, you know that?
Where shall I live then?
you must leave the house
I have nowhere to stay
I've nowhere to stay
I've nowhere to live
you can't rob me of my house
Where shall I live then?
How can I live?
Why don't you kill me?
The problem can't be solved
even if you keep doing like this.
The house is not yours
you've got to move out sooner or later
I'm not gonna live
Go and get her sister
Stand up!
Stand up!
Who gives you the right to act like this?
you 're a citizen and you
should be reasonable.
Are you threatening us?
Ah-Luo
Quit that
Get down
Get down
What on earth do you want?
The house is not yours. Don't hurt yourself
We won't get divorced
Don't cry...
So you won't get divorced?
No, we can't get divorced
That's what you said
Yeah
Then it's not our business any more.
Fine
Ah-Luo, ask them to sign their names
Drink it even if you don't like it
Drink it if you like it
Drink it even if you don't like it
Drink it whether you like it or not
you 're Ah-Luo's wife
Do you know me?
I'm Ah-Luo's colleague
I'm Feng
Drink it up!
Is this for me?
Well, please stop talking
Yeah, be quiet
don't talk
I have something to say
Just one word
Be a good wife
It's not easy...
...not easy to be a judge like us
The wife suffers most
When you have a baby...
Don't talk about that
Why do you stop me?
Let him finish it!
Don't say it!
Nothing. I forgot it
Feng. Let me toast this to you
Great
Come on
Drink it up!
That's enough
Whatever I achieve
Half of the credit goes to you
My dear wife
Is Yao Ge in?
Here come the guests. Get them the wine
We are not here for the wine
We are here to find the reason
Why you killed our goats?
your goats got caught while eating our crops
So they are our goats
We'll kill the goats as many as we catch
How could you kill our goats like that?
It's not reasonable!
Not reasonable?
Judge Feng is here. He's most reasonable.
Let him judge who's right
Is that OK?
Who is calling me?
Our goats got into their farmland
and were killed by them.
Is that right, Judge Feng?
So you mean that
they killed your goats?
Do you have any evidence?
Of course, what you are eating is our goat
It's ours
What you're holding is the evidence
So this is the evidence?
you 're eating our goats!
They ate our crops, so they are ours!
Sit down if you want to drink
or you get out of here right now!
Do you call this your Village Code?
Our Village Code
was passed with the vote by the
villagers at the village assembly
This is democracy
What kind of democracy it is!
It's unjust
Don't you know the law?
What democracy!
your...
your Village Code
infringes on others' rights. you know that?
It's illegal to kill their goats
Don't you know that?
Ah-Luo
Tell him whether it's legal or not
Ah-Luo
Tell him
Ah-Luo
Tell him now!
Ah-Luo
your first role is a judge,
then you're his son-in-law!
Tell him
Tell him now!
It's against the law
Louder!
It's against the law
Yeah
you get inside
Don't come out without my permission
Who are you shouting at?
my daughter
Get inside
Move
Get in
Get in
I'll break your legs if you come out
Get in
Right now!
Yao Ge, what're you doing?
leave me alone
you 're the head of the court,
but I'm the head of my family
It's me who brought up the girl
I've been feeding her all these years
What's wrong with marrying
a government servant?
He's standing on the opposite side
He turns my home into a court
and brings me to a trial
my daughter can't marry him!
Yao Ge
Yao Ge
you 've made two mistakes
First, you killed the others' goats
Second, you interfered with their marriage
Yao Ge
you don't deserve to be the village head
you know nothing about the law
To hell with your Village Code
Sit down and drink
All of you
Drink
Hey!
What's up?
Ah-Luo and his bride are gone
What?
Ah-Luo and his bride are gone?
you must find the girl for me!
They went a way on their own feet
Why ask me to find them
What I know is that my girl
ran a way with a man in uniform like you
you 're the one to get them back
you guys in uniform
Are more superior than us?
Be reasonable!
They're married legally
you approved it as the village head
you signed the approval
Was it here that
your goats crossed the boundary yesterday?
Answer to me!
If you don't make it clear
how can the court hear the case?
you court folks shouldn't have done that
you violated the custom of our Yi people
We won't let you hear the case
until you get Yao Ge's daughter back
Let's go
Okay, okay
Chicken Ass village, I'll
remember you forever!
Welcome back
Good to see you! you found the horse.
When was it found?
The day that you left
Who stole it?
Ah-Luo and his bride are here
Ah-Luo!
Judge Feng
Hi, Auntie
See you later
Auntie Yang
How's the case?
Have you no shame?
you ran a way with the girl
you know what negative impact it has
They said they would not go to court
They would never go to court
What does it mean?
It means they refuse the
jurisdiction of the court
and the national emblem!
It has nothing to do with me
We're lawfully married
I didn't do anything wrong!
you are from the Yi group.
you should know the custom
your father-in-law was angry
Couldn't you wait for a while
till he got calming down?
He would soon calm down.
you 've got the marriage certification
you 're a legal couple anyway
you'll have your woman sooner or later
Can't you just leave your woman for a while?
A woman is more important
than the image of a judge?
What is the image of a judge?
Wearing the uniform and the badge
run with a pig across the village?
Do you call that the image of a judge?
Buying a piglet with 150 Yuan
Is that the image of a Judge in your mind?
I was glad to do so!
Of course you were!
you're just trying to
improve your own image!
If your image is good
Why did your wife and daughter leave you?
Ah-Luo!
Who told you that?
Every one at the courthouse knows that
Aren't you sorry about it?
Bullshit!
you do not deserve to be a judge!
you 've no right to give comment on it,
Judge Feng
Get out!
Go to hell!
Mother
Where is the guy?
Which guy?
The guy who stole the horse
Why are you asking?
Hand him over to the police
They've already punished him
We can't do that again
Then
I'll have to call the police
She said we couldn't do
that and it's unkind
She said they'd never tell
us who stole the horse
that we would never catch the thief
What're you looking at?
you look different now
Remember to wash your clothes often
I will
Not only wash clothes,
but also yourself
I will.
you're retiring in a couple of years
When you go to see your
wife and daughter at Lijiang
How can they take to you
if you're so messy?
I will come to see you
after retirement
What for?
I say it to you seriously that
your wife and daughter
are having hard lives.
Yes, indeed!
Ah-Luo is quite like you
when you were young
But I never caused so many troubles as he did
Really?
you made such a scene
when Chang Tui fell to his death
Really?
I'm getting old, I forget it
Getting old, drink less!
you are old enough
to smile a way with things
you don't need to get drunk
Eh.
have a talk with Ah-Luo
when the trip is over
I will
What else?
What else?
That's all about life?
Yes
Nothing left to say
even before you finish
washing your clothes
Yes, it's!
Well, you know
there's one thing that
I should have told you
and I regret I didn't
What's that?
I forgot
Write to me when you remember what it is!
Time to get up
I'm going to see you off after breakfast
Look
I lost a tooth
What's that?
my tooth
Tooth should stay where it falls off
Hold this for me!
Hi there
Come over
I'll come for the meat next year
Let's go!
Go home
I'm seeing you leave
you go first
Let me see you off.
Bye!
Feng, don't doze off while walking!
Ah....
Chang Tui
Are you still there?
I miss you!
I'm getting old
When I got up this morning
I found one tooth missing
I'm old
But you're still so young
I often think of you these days
you never get old
Chang Tui!
Do you hear me?
If you hear me
Answer me!
Chang Tui!
I will still walk on this road
I will walk on it forever!
Can you hear me?
Answer me!
because judges are supposed to be professional
We believe you understand that well
We hope you perform your last duty properly
Feel better now?
Buddy, gonna leave now
The road is too bad
When you returned my horse last time,
I had to
take the horse to the vet's
you must feed it well this time
Don't worry
I can starve my self, but not your horse
Hey!
What are you doing?
young fellow
We gonna walk in the mountains
No more car sickness
but the feet will suffer.
Hey!
What're you doing?
It's my own money
Wanna pay more for carrying also my TV
Save your money!
We'll hire his horse for years
If you give him ten Yuan more
What about next trip?
And the trip after the next
Can you afford it?
Yang
Say something...
Hi
It's the horse caravan
Wait a moment
you're back?
Emm, I'm back
Going home!
Welcome
Good to see you!
Drink later!
Hi, Judge Feng!
How are you?
Come to see me!
See you later
Going home?
Time to eat!
That's good
How are you?
Fine
A little bit to the left
Yeah
A bit more
Too much. Back to the right a bit
Still a bit to the left
Good. That's better.
Much better
Left again, Give it a push
Good
DEFENDANT
COMPLAINANT
Stand up
Zhang Long's pig dug up my Pot Mound...
my family tomb
you must do something about it!
I've got the pig here
Everything is gone!
you must do something to it
My ancestors are all gone!
How come you bring the pig here?
Look, Nothing left! Everything is gone
All my ancestors are gone
Can we talk about this case later?
No. you must deal with it now!
I won't leave if you don't do it now!
I understand what you mean.
But wait for a moment...
No! Deal with it now!
The pig dug up my ancestors!
Ah-Luo, you take care of this
leave the court now!
We must follow the court procedure
We'll deal with it later.
Take the pig a way
I won't leave if you don't hear my case
Get the pig out of here
Get the pig out of here
Take it a way!
I would never leave if you don't hear the case
I see. I will deal with it later
you must deal with it well!
I promise we will
Go home now
Wait for a moment!
How can you do that?
you go home first.
you gotta be fair when dealing with it!
Ok, I will
If not, I'll kill your pig
The People's Court is now in session
Sit down
What do you want,
a ruling at the court
or settling it between yourselves
you 've been quarreling for half
a year for the family property.
Now you're coming to the
court merely for a pickle jar
Do you think it is proper?
After all, you're sisters-in-law
my Pot was dug out
What should I do?
The bones of my ancestors were all in it
They're all gone
It's bad luck for my family
What can I do about it?
How did it come to that?
So it's your ancestors' ashes inside?
Both of you live in the same village
you meet each other everyday
you have a quarrel today
Can you a void seeing each other forever?
It's unreasonable to fight
over such a tiny thing
If you keep quarreling every day
It may fester into something worse
Yang, how's it going?
So
you two should forget and forgive!
you both should get along
well with each other
Show some consideration
Be generous to each other
Now shake hands,
ok?
Yes, don't be so stubborn
you should be considerate
And set a good example for your kids...
Well, you're the elder one
So you show some generosity
Then how about you?
What's the problem?
What's this all about?
Come on
you are the younger one
you give up the jar
Shake hands with her
Or the elder one
elder sister-in-law
What's the problem with you two?
Be an elder sister!
Be good sisters-in-law!
you just won't listen
Seems that I've been wasting my time
Here is 5 Yuan
for the jar
Half each!
give it to them
Take it
Take it
Take the money and buy two jars
Well done! Well done!!
So, you two just shake hands and make up
you should get along well later
It was so smart of you
I never know how to deal with women
Now the case is closed
They will never talk to each other
I'm also a woman!
What are you looking at?
Fine
Had lunch?
Yeah
Feng
Yeah
I've settled the pig case
Yeah
How did you handle it?
It makes no sense
It's not our business
It doesn't even make a case
What do you mean?
Do you know What a "Pot" is?
Of course I know
But the pig doesn't
Pigs just run on the hill
They are not human
How can they know what the "Pot" means
It's just a Pot
Not a big loss!
But the complainant claims a pig
and a Buddhist service as compensation
It's so ridiculous
So how did you deal with it?
I..
I told him that the laws do not
support the superstitious activitie
and rejected their requests.
So, you didn't deal with it at all?
It is not even a case
Do you know
how many descendents are involved in it?
If you are unable to handle it properly,
it may lead to a mass fight
There's a law against fighting
Bullshit!
What bullshit!
you know what
someone has got killed
while fighting over a chicken!
It's a big matter that the pig dug up the tomb
It may lead to big trouble
If you don't do anything to it now,
someone might get killed
The court will have to deal with it then!
And even worse thing might happen
the police might come,
and someone would be arrested!
Look
Now it comes
Zhang Long, come out!
your pig
had dug up my Pot Mound
We didn't do it! It was the pig!
We are not responsible for it!
Stop! Sop!
Why didn't you accept my case?
Nobody said that
Am I dealing with it right now?
Zhang Long
Get inside
Come along with me!
I'll see how you deal with it
The court must deal with it!
Come along with me!
What's the death of the pig
related to your ancestors?
I got a dream last night
my ancestors will punish us
So ancestors appeared in your dream
But dreams can't be taken so seriously
I had a dream last night too
I married a pretty woman in
the dream. Where is she now?
How about
they give you a pig
and hold a Buddhist service as compensation?
No, two pigs
No way. at least two pigs!
Why two pigs?
you
Do you have pigs at home?
Yeah
Drive a pig out
and dig up the Pot Mound
of Zhong Long's family!
What are you doing, Judge?
What?
Let's go
Will show you what I'm going to do!
I haven't finished my words yet
Who asked you to drive the pig out?
you did
you asked me to take a pig
and dig up his Pot Mound
I'll fight till death if
any one dares to do it!
Zhang Long
So you said you would fight
till death for it!
Yes, I said so!
Good
Now, try to put yourself in his shoes
Just like his pig cannot
dig up your Pot Mound
your pig cannot dig up his.
Understand what I mean?
Do you get it?
Now it's settled
One pig
and a Buddhist service as compensation.
Please wait
The court cannot support
The second request!
Right, Right
The court can't support it
No
If there's no Buddhist service
Our ancestors won't agree with it!
No more argument!
Judges are human
They got to eat also
Let's go for lunch now!
Let's go
Are you stupid?
Do you need the court's support
to find a Lama?
Well
What have you
learnt from university?
you can't always leave a mess
for others to clear up
What a good solution,
you even asked the guy
to dig up the Pot Mound
It's better having college education
If you allow them to hold the service
it will be a mistake
you thought I'd never been to college?
Yang
I heard our salaries would be raised
It's only your business,
but nothing to do with me
That's good news
I can get more dowry for my daughter
I should have cared for her more
But they don't care about you
I don't blame them
It's not easy for them to do business at Lijiang
If I were you, I would spend all the money
I'll leave nothing to them
Zhang Long refused to give me the pig
Look
I knew it would go wrong
Why did you change your mind?
my ancestors said
we could give the pig,
but they could not take it
Why's that?
Just can't
Shut up
you just can't take the pig
you shut up too
Shut up
Who can?
Grandpa can take it a way
Where's Grandpa?
He got angry and went home
So, Grandpa has left?
Yeah
you would obey the court's decision
As the judge, is that ok I take the pig a way?
We won the case!
Take it!
Ouch
my back!
you deserve it!
What?
you are a judge,
on behalf of the government
Do you think it's proper for you
running with a pig around the village?
Was it funny?
What's wrong with that?
If you don't deserve respect
the badge on your uniform should do.
I felt ashamed for you
Shut up your mouth!
In 1975, I had my first duty trip here
I started with the Village of Chicken Head
Then the Chicken Neck, and Chicken Belly
And my trip ended at Chicken Tail
It felt like, you know
a load of chicken shit dumping out
Sorry
Go ahead
Keep on eating
Need a hand?
Don't bother me!
Ah-Luo
Ah-Luo
Look, a photo of my daughter
Doing business at Lijiang,
much better than me
Show me the photo of your bride
Let me have a look!
So pretty!
What does she do?
She works in a CD store
my daughter has a big CD
store at Lijiang too
It's your wife's!
your daughter is still a student
All right. Time to sleep
Got to hear the cases tomorrow morning
Do you want Ah-Luo to go with you?
Feng
you're so afraid of Auntie Yang
I read that fear is a sign of love
Is that right?
Nonsense!
She's going to retire
I'm just being considerate
When arguing with her
I would be very nasty
This is her last duty trip
I'll have the trip by my self later
It'll be really hard without her
I'll be here to help you I promise
your parents haven't come yet?
Never told them
What?
How can you have the
wedding without them?
It's OK
I can tell them later
When my parents got married
They didn't tell me either
you were not made yet!
How could they tell you?
Cut it out
Ah-Luo
Are you clear with that case?
Almost
But a bit confused about
the case at Chicken Tail
Why does the one asking for divorce
have to give everything to the other?
It's not fair
It's the custom. you should've known that!
I find the custom quite good
Not like people in the city
Divorce is as easy as throwing a way old shoes
Take this
It's cold at night
What about you?
Should I sleep somewhere else?
Bullshit
Did I talk in sleep last night?
you did
What did I say?
Can't remember
Leaving now?
Yeah, see you
Take care
Is he dozing off
Who said that?
Even if I'm dozing off,
the horse knows the route
If the horse fell asleep as well
I will take off my shoes
my shoes will lead you
to Chicken Head Village
It's Feng's colleague
He slipped off here on a duty trip
It was some 20 years ago
What's wrong?
Let's get Auntie Yang to ride the horse
It's fine
We're almost home
Whose home?
Yang's home, of course
She grew up at Chicken Belly Village
So I don't have to eat potato
you'll eat pig shit
Unload all the stuffs
Every bit of it
I've got to unload the stuffs
before drinking
Hi
I'll come and drink later
I gonna unload the stuffs first
I must get the stuffs
Just sit down, Ah-Luo can take care of them
Fine
Please be seated
Be slowly
Oh, I'm old now
How are you?
have a drink
Is this a TV set
Yongmu, Come over here, a TV set here!
It costs a lot
Show us the TV set!
Sister wants to build a house for the girl
I will not leave this time
OK, you take this
Put it a way somewhere
What's that?
It's a car
What are you looking at?
you'll get married soon!
It's not against the law for just looking
Yang, what did she say?
Don't ask
I was asking you
when you would come for a visiting marriage
Sister's daughter has grown up
She's got her partner now
It's time to build her a separate house
Each time I went home
I thought about an early retirement
But now...
Feng
Are you Auntie Yang's partner?
Nonsense!
All her life
Yang has been decent
If I were you...?
you shut up!
Feng
I heard that Auntie Yang does have a partner
Who?
you do care, don't you?
you little buster!
Yang's been very decent
We're just colleagues
Don't even go there
She's had a hard life
It was many years ago
In the late 1970s
The government recruited some officials
among the ethnic minority people
And she was selected
to work in the court
Moso people have the
custom of visiting marriage
But it can't be practiced in the city
As a result
She never got married
Now it's the 21st century
a new policy
came into force,
All government officials
must have college diplomas
She doesn't have any diploma
She has to make room for
a college graduate like you
She's only 46 years old.
The new policy was not made by me
And I am sorry about it...
Sleep well!
Feng
Feng
A burglar
That's the signal
It's the partner visiting his woman
Feng! The horse was stolen
Really? Where did you tie it?
Just outside.
Ah-Luo!
Ah-Luo!
Did you take everything in last night?
I forgot...
Even the national emblem!
Feng!
Who stole our horse?
The horse carries the national emblem
It's crime to steal the national
emblem. you know that?
Who stole our horse?
The horse carries the national emblem
It's crime to steal the national emblem
Don't you know that?
Please
Our horse was stolen
along with everything else. What can we do?
What are they chanting?
Something in honor of ancestors
Anything to do with our lost horse?
Of course
Ancestors forbid stealing
No one took our horse?
But we lost the horse indeed
She said she'd sworn before Buddha
If the horse got lost in the village
she'd surely help with finding it
Wedding, wedding, can you
think of something else?
To hell with your wedding!
Watch your language
I can buy another horse
But where can I find a national emblem
It hasn't happened for decades
Hardly had you left the courthouse
when the emblem was stolen
Don't exaggerate it
Fine. It's all my fault
It's my problem!
I should never have asked a kid
to handle such an important stuff.
Wipe your face
my face!
How can I care about my face when
the national emblem is stolen?
Where are you, my horse?
Where are you, my horse?
Where are you, my horse?
Look
What's this
Joker!
The symbol of power and authority
It's a good omen
We're sure to find the national emblem
Nuts!
The complainant said
the defendant owed her 150 Yuan
The defendant said
she didn't have any money
but she's got some stuff at home.
The complainant could take
a way whatever they want
But the complainant said the
stuffs did not worth 150 Yuan
The defendant said she had a piglet
The complainant said the piglet's too small
you quit that
Order, order!
Defendant
I'll buy your piglet
Here's 150 Yuan
I'll report it to the police
Well, I will take the responsibility my self
It's Ah-Luo's first business trip,
and it's the last one for Yang
How could I involve you two?
We're all responsible for it
Look at his attitude!
Yang, Ah-Luo, hurry up
Where is it?
Take this for me
It's a swamp. you may get drowned into it
Are you crazy?
you know people had got
drowned in the swamp
and you're still rushing into it
Are you out of your mind?
So many young people here
Please help to get it out!
Please help!
hey wonder what it's made of
They asked whether it's bronze or iron
you Moso people worship
Buddha, don't you?
The national emblem is like Buddha for us
We got the national emblem
We got it
Thanks
The rules of the village are out of
date. We have to abide by the law
Mother didn't want to call the
police for finding the horse
She said she'd lend us a horse
She said although she's old
She's still able to find the lost horse
Quiet, quiet...
Good!
Feng
Feng
Mom gives this to you.
Mind your steps
Just for these eggs
the girl has ran for miles
Hi
Ah-Luo
Listen to me
We hear cases before your wedding, ok?
Here we are!
Welcome!
Thank you
Put this on
you should've known the custom
This way, please
I've been feeding her for so many years
She's such a big girl now
Now she marries a guy from the courthouse
but I only get a color TV and a piglet
Ah-Luo is a nice boy
The TV costs over 1,000 Yuan
He's carried it all the way
from the town to your home
it took day son the way
The piglet is mine
I paid 150 yuan for it.
Nothing to do with Ah-Luo
I carried it here from Chicken Belly Village
And the mountain path is so bumpy
Fine
That's it
Judge Feng gave me a piglet as a gift
It's my great hono
Yao Ge
Let's get ready for the wedding now!
Yao Ge Hold it!
We've got to hear the
cases before the wedding
What's that?
We must hear cases first
Don't forget to pay me back for the piglet
He is shy
Quiet, be quiet
Don't talk. Don't interrupt
Claimant, you go first
We've been divorced for over a year
But her relatives still live in my house
And they've driven my Dad and me out
We don't have a single room
We had to live at friends' and relatives'
It is the truth!
They ever lived at every one's
house in the village
Yeah, we all know it!
Be quiet. Don't talk
Defendant. Is what he said true?
Yes
Why's that?
No reason
The court knows that, doesn't it?
The court said so. Just tell what's important
Ha! Today is your last day.
Do you know it?
Get the Village Code
and read it to them
We're killing them for reasons
Then how about the mutton?
I'll buy the mutton
Today is a big day to my family
Tell all the villagers
I'll offer wine and mutton
to every one tonight!
I'm not going to live...
On your feet
The court won't tolerate this
It's not working like this
Stand up
and talk to us
my sister married him when she was 13
It's been over 30 years
He cannot leave her alone just like that
And the kid is dead
It's not my sister's fault
If the court seized the
house, she will be homeless
We couldn't work it out
Where shall I live?
you 're tired, eh?
Now we can talk
Everything goes to you after the divorce
But the house belongs to
the father of your husband
This is trespassing, you know that?
Where shall I live then?
you must leave the house
I have nowhere to stay
I've nowhere to stay
I've nowhere to live
you can't rob me of my house
Where shall I live then?
How can I live?
Why don't you kill me?
The problem can't be solved
even if you keep doing like this.
The house is not yours
you've got to move out sooner or later
I'm not gonna live
Go and get her sister
Stand up!
Stand up!
Who gives you the right to act like this?
you 're a citizen and you
should be reasonable.
Are you threatening us?
Ah-Luo
Quit that
Get down
Get down
What on earth do you want?
The house is not yours. Don't hurt yourself
We won't get divorced
Don't cry...
So you won't get divorced?
No, we can't get divorced
That's what you said
Yeah
Then it's not our business any more.
Fine
Ah-Luo, ask them to sign their names
Drink it even if you don't like it
Drink it if you like it
Drink it even if you don't like it
Drink it whether you like it or not
you 're Ah-Luo's wife
Do you know me?
I'm Ah-Luo's colleague
I'm Feng
Drink it up!
Is this for me?
Well, please stop talking
Yeah, be quiet
don't talk
I have something to say
Just one word
Be a good wife
It's not easy...
...not easy to be a judge like us
The wife suffers most
When you have a baby...
Don't talk about that
Why do you stop me?
Let him finish it!
Don't say it!
Nothing. I forgot it
Feng. Let me toast this to you
Great
Come on
Drink it up!
That's enough
Whatever I achieve
Half of the credit goes to you
My dear wife
Is Yao Ge in?
Here come the guests. Get them the wine
We are not here for the wine
We are here to find the reason
Why you killed our goats?
your goats got caught while eating our crops
So they are our goats
We'll kill the goats as many as we catch
How could you kill our goats like that?
It's not reasonable!
Not reasonable?
Judge Feng is here. He's most reasonable.
Let him judge who's right
Is that OK?
Who is calling me?
Our goats got into their farmland
and were killed by them.
Is that right, Judge Feng?
So you mean that
they killed your goats?
Do you have any evidence?
Of course, what you are eating is our goat
It's ours
What you're holding is the evidence
So this is the evidence?
you 're eating our goats!
They ate our crops, so they are ours!
Sit down if you want to drink
or you get out of here right now!
Do you call this your Village Code?
Our Village Code
was passed with the vote by the
villagers at the village assembly
This is democracy
What kind of democracy it is!
It's unjust
Don't you know the law?
What democracy!
your...
your Village Code
infringes on others' rights. you know that?
It's illegal to kill their goats
Don't you know that?
Ah-Luo
Tell him whether it's legal or not
Ah-Luo
Tell him
Ah-Luo
Tell him now!
Ah-Luo
your first role is a judge,
then you're his son-in-law!
Tell him
Tell him now!
It's against the law
Louder!
It's against the law
Yeah
you get inside
Don't come out without my permission
Who are you shouting at?
my daughter
Get inside
Move
Get in
Get in
I'll break your legs if you come out
Get in
Right now!
Yao Ge, what're you doing?
leave me alone
you 're the head of the court,
but I'm the head of my family
It's me who brought up the girl
I've been feeding her all these years
What's wrong with marrying
a government servant?
He's standing on the opposite side
He turns my home into a court
and brings me to a trial
my daughter can't marry him!
Yao Ge
Yao Ge
you 've made two mistakes
First, you killed the others' goats
Second, you interfered with their marriage
Yao Ge
you don't deserve to be the village head
you know nothing about the law
To hell with your Village Code
Sit down and drink
All of you
Drink
Hey!
What's up?
Ah-Luo and his bride are gone
What?
Ah-Luo and his bride are gone?
you must find the girl for me!
They went a way on their own feet
Why ask me to find them
What I know is that my girl
ran a way with a man in uniform like you
you 're the one to get them back
you guys in uniform
Are more superior than us?
Be reasonable!
They're married legally
you approved it as the village head
you signed the approval
Was it here that
your goats crossed the boundary yesterday?
Answer to me!
If you don't make it clear
how can the court hear the case?
you court folks shouldn't have done that
you violated the custom of our Yi people
We won't let you hear the case
until you get Yao Ge's daughter back
Let's go
Okay, okay
Chicken Ass village, I'll
remember you forever!
Welcome back
Good to see you! you found the horse.
When was it found?
The day that you left
Who stole it?
Ah-Luo and his bride are here
Ah-Luo!
Judge Feng
Hi, Auntie
See you later
Auntie Yang
How's the case?
Have you no shame?
you ran a way with the girl
you know what negative impact it has
They said they would not go to court
They would never go to court
What does it mean?
It means they refuse the
jurisdiction of the court
and the national emblem!
It has nothing to do with me
We're lawfully married
I didn't do anything wrong!
you are from the Yi group.
you should know the custom
your father-in-law was angry
Couldn't you wait for a while
till he got calming down?
He would soon calm down.
you 've got the marriage certification
you 're a legal couple anyway
you'll have your woman sooner or later
Can't you just leave your woman for a while?
A woman is more important
than the image of a judge?
What is the image of a judge?
Wearing the uniform and the badge
run with a pig across the village?
Do you call that the image of a judge?
Buying a piglet with 150 Yuan
Is that the image of a Judge in your mind?
I was glad to do so!
Of course you were!
you're just trying to
improve your own image!
If your image is good
Why did your wife and daughter leave you?
Ah-Luo!
Who told you that?
Every one at the courthouse knows that
Aren't you sorry about it?
Bullshit!
you do not deserve to be a judge!
you 've no right to give comment on it,
Judge Feng
Get out!
Go to hell!
Mother
Where is the guy?
Which guy?
The guy who stole the horse
Why are you asking?
Hand him over to the police
They've already punished him
We can't do that again
Then
I'll have to call the police
She said we couldn't do
that and it's unkind
She said they'd never tell
us who stole the horse
that we would never catch the thief
What're you looking at?
you look different now
Remember to wash your clothes often
I will
Not only wash clothes,
but also yourself
I will.
you're retiring in a couple of years
When you go to see your
wife and daughter at Lijiang
How can they take to you
if you're so messy?
I will come to see you
after retirement
What for?
I say it to you seriously that
your wife and daughter
are having hard lives.
Yes, indeed!
Ah-Luo is quite like you
when you were young
But I never caused so many troubles as he did
Really?
you made such a scene
when Chang Tui fell to his death
Really?
I'm getting old, I forget it
Getting old, drink less!
you are old enough
to smile a way with things
you don't need to get drunk
Eh.
have a talk with Ah-Luo
when the trip is over
I will
What else?
What else?
That's all about life?
Yes
Nothing left to say
even before you finish
washing your clothes
Yes, it's!
Well, you know
there's one thing that
I should have told you
and I regret I didn't
What's that?
I forgot
Write to me when you remember what it is!
Time to get up
I'm going to see you off after breakfast
Look
I lost a tooth
What's that?
my tooth
Tooth should stay where it falls off
Hold this for me!
Hi there
Come over
I'll come for the meat next year
Let's go!
Go home
I'm seeing you leave
you go first
Let me see you off.
Bye!
Feng, don't doze off while walking!
Ah....
Chang Tui
Are you still there?
I miss you!
I'm getting old
When I got up this morning
I found one tooth missing
I'm old
But you're still so young
I often think of you these days
you never get old
Chang Tui!
Do you hear me?
If you hear me
Answer me!
Chang Tui!
I will still walk on this road
I will walk on it forever!
Can you hear me?
Answer me!