Whispering Sands (2001) - full transcript

Berlian and her daughter Daya are on the run from political violence. They are forced to move inland from their seaside home to a desert of constantly shifting sands. Finally, Daya sees a vaguely familiar face from across the wasteland.

Step right up!
Herbal medicine for sale.

Aphrodisiacs, herbal medicine,
strength for the men.

Step right up!

My father left us
when I was young.

I woke up one day
and he was gone.

All that was left
was his voice.

One day the wind will
bring us together again.

As far as I remember
there was only the two of us.

Mother and I, Berlian (Diamond).
The hardest stone.

One... two... three...

Mother always
knows where I am.



Why are you always
late fetching water?

I was just about to.

Child, come here!

It's very hot outside.

How many times
have I told you -

not to go near
that grassy mound?

There's nothing there, Mother.
It's nice and shady.

People say that young girls
should not go there.

It's not good!

You always go there.

Go and dry this!

Child...

I'm going to
Midwife Suri's place.

Here, drink this,
so you'll sleep well.



I am Sinta.
Where can you be, Rama?

One... two... three...

Come back tomorrow!

Now, right now,
please!

I'm not feeling well.
Come back tomorrow.

No. It must
be done now.

My mother will know
something's wrong.

Berlian, wait!

Let me bury it tomorrow.

This is for Daya.

There will be
two more tomorrow.

Come on, go in!

Corpses!
There are corpses on the beach!

More of them every day.

Mother, why are there
so many dead people?

Because there is no rain.

Why, Mother?

When people are hot,
they get angry easily.

They do strange things
and have strange thoughts.

When will it rain?

Can I have the
herbal sleeping drink?

I'm having trouble
sleeping these days.

Make that two!

Quickly!

Thank you.
Ahh, that's better!

Daya is growing up,
isn't she?

That husband of yours,
when is he coming back?

Where does he work?

Far away, he says.

Far away... tell him to
come back soon,

or who knows what will become
of his wife and daughter.

As long as they don’t turn out
like those pretty ones.

Hey, Daya, come here
and I'll teach you

to put on make-up properly.

You look like you are
wearing a mask. It's ugly.

Child!

Child!

I've told you again

not to go
near those women.

Don't talk to them at all.

Don't even talk
if you are spoken to.

Round and around and around...
- Child!

Round and around and around...

Auntie!

Daya,
you’ve grown so much.

How are you?
How's your mother?

Since when
don't you eat vegetables?

Have you forgotten?
I've never liked vegetables.

No, you always finished
the vegetables

that I prepared for you
when you were small.

Sister -

there are a lot of
people murdered in town.

It's happening here
as well.

It has reached here?

Yes.

I heard a hut
was burnt last week.

Yes. Midwife Suri said
that many people have moved.

The roads here are
becoming dangerous.

They say that the safest route
is through Pasir Putih.

Isn't it time for you
to move as well?

What for?
This is our home.

Their home is here too,
and they left.

Just because they left doesn't
mean we also have to leave.

I am not like you,
always running away from problems.

Sister -

I did not run!
I left!

Mother is at the food stall
looking at us.

You have to
take care of your mother.

Mother...

Mother takes care of
herself very well.

Don't say that,

she loves you.

When Father comes,

we'll go away together...
carried by the wind.

But he's been gone for
quite a while now.

Do you even remember
what he looks like?

When he comes...

I'll know...
I'll know.

What are they
whispering this time?

Burn! Burn everything!

Mother, what's wrong?
What's happening?

Hurry!

Come on!

Mother,
where are we going?

Somewhere else.

Where, mother?

Somewhere safe.

Does Auntie Delima
know where we're going?

Does father know
where we'll be?

Does Mrs. Suri know
where we're going, mother?

How will they know
where we'll be, mother?

He will not look for us.

He will look for me.

He will look for me...

He will look for me...

Sir - which way
is Pasir Putih?

To the east,
behind the hills.

Which road do we follow?

Road?
There are no roads here.

No roads?

There was a road once
but now it's closed.

Closed by who?

By the sand.

Wait a minute.
Here's some food for you.

Thank you, sir.
Thank you.

Mother -

it's going to rain.

There is no rain here.

That’s not rain?
- That's sand.

Seems like we are
not alone here.

Where are you going?

Nowadays it isn't advisable
to walk alone without a man.

Which way is it?

Pasir Putih?

A place of refuge.

It's over there.

This is for you, sweet miss.
You will need it.

It's obvious that you are not
aware of the legend in this area.

Once upon a time
there was a country thriving

on these sands but
because the king and his sons

were unjust and
cruel to the people,

the gods in the sky said,
"teach them a lesson."

And with one mighty
blow of the winds,

the land was overturned
under the sands without light.

Which is why
you must be careful.

Because this is no
ordinary mask.

You must wear it
behind your head

so that the desert ghosts
cannot take you

to their land
beneath the earth.

What about mother?
She needs a mask as well.

Don't worry.
She doesn't need a mask.

She already has eyes
in the back of her head.

Goodbye, the winds will
bring us together again one day.

Mother -

listen.

What?

The desert ghosts!

Child, what's the use
of the mask,

if you continuously
look behind?

Is this hut empty?
- Yes.

That small hut
is a strange one...

built in the
direction of the wind...

as if in defiance.

Every morning
the sand covers it.

It used to be a
food stall for travelers.

No one stays
here for long.

Child!

How much is this?

There's no need to pay,
just take them.

Child, I'm going out for a while.
Take care.

What song is that?

A song that my grandmother
used to sing to me.

You have a strange name.

How do you know my name?

I know that your
name is Child.

My name is Daya.

Then why does your
mother call you Child?

You know my name
but I don’t know yours.

My name is Sukma.

I live here with my grandfather
near where you live.

My grandfather
teaches several children

from around here.

Oh no. My mother mustn't
know about this.

Why not?

She will definitely
make me go there.

We always know
when new people arrive.

How do you know?

From the smell of the sand.

Every new person will
always bring new sand.

What does it smell like?

Well, there is no smell.

Smell it. There is no smell.

Where are you off to so early
in the morning? Do drop by.

Child, some hot water.

What's wrong with your leg?

It aches. What should I use,
do you think?

This might work.
Would you like to try it?

It's a poultice
for sprains or aches.

Come again
if you need more.

Pay me later, if I can
exchange it for some sugar.

Of course, thank you.

If you have anything to trade
or sell I can take it to the market.

Yes. I know I will
go there later.

If you need medicinal drinks,
don't hesitate to come here.

Who's he, mother?

They say that he often
helps people around here.

Can my daughter
come here to study?

Of course, she can
study with Sukma.

Thank you.

Child.

Come in.

Now it's time to count.

Nine divided by three is...

who knows the answer?

What is wrong with you two?
So slow.

Look at me.

Nine divided by three...
is three!

I am this old but
I think very fast.

During the Japanese period
I was the assistant

to a Japanese general.

Servant, a servant, you were.

A servant
to a Japanese general.

Yes, well an assistant
is a servant, but a servant

to whom...
Major General Fumio-San.

Mount Fuji, Truly
White and Majestic

As a shield to guard
a strong heart

Child, what are you doing?
Come here.

What did you learn today?

A Japanese song.

A Japanese song?

Weren't you supposed
to learn how to read?

Mount Fuji, Truly
White and Majestic

As a shield to guard
a strong heart.

When is father coming?

Maybe soon.

He will come during
the rainy season,

because everything good
happens during the rainy season.

Mother always says that.

Isn't that right, mother?

What season is it
now, mother?

It's the dry season.

Until when, mother?

Forever.

But there has to
be a rainy season.

The rains will come.

Where were you?

Nowhere.

Both of you must have
gone those rocks.

Go take a bath.

Sukma’s grandfather said
that you learnt how to count.

I'd like to hear you.

Nine times one is nine.

Nine times two is eighteen.

Nine times nine is...
two hundred.

Nine times one hundred
is twenty-two.

Nine times five...

Daya, look.

There are carvings
here as well.

What carvings?

It looks like a mountain.

This is my picture.

This is me.

Auntie!

Auntie!

Auntie!

Auntie!

Daya!
- Auntie!

Here.

What is it, auntie?

Open it.

Try it.

You look pretty.

Thank you, auntie.

Child!

Go to bed otherwise
you'll oversleep tomorrow.

I'll sleep in the hut.

Can I see you perform
tomorrow night?

It's better that
you don't, Daya.

But you'll leave soon,

and I haven't seen you
dance before.

Yes, I know. But your mother
will never allow you

to be out so late.

Nothing is allowed.

I want my father to come
and take me away.

Auntie, tell me again about father.
What is he like?

He must be a brave man.

I wonder where
he has traveled.

Child!

Child!

Child...
go inside.

My name is Daya, Mother,

not Child.

Child,
inside!

Not Child, Mother.
My name is Daya.

I have a name.
Why can't you call me by my name?

If you continue this way,
you will lose her.

You will lose her

the way you lost
Mother, Father and me.

You will lose her!

Maybe, but not today.

Auntie, take me with you.

Please, auntie.

Mother, it's getting
cold outside.

Mother.

No.

I don't know
where else to go.

You should have thought
of that when you left.

That was then,

a long time ago.

Yes, but now I don't
need you anymore.

Child, what's wrong?

A beautiful girl, my love, follow me.

In love, so desperately in love.

The princely Gatotkoco
Pinggodani looks on.

Princess Roro Pergiwo,
so fair and lovely.

What a beautiful girl,
a beautiful girl.

One day soon I will
take you to the city.

In the city you will
see the real world.

Everything is fast,
everything is available.

It's nice here as well.

In the city you can see
a lot of things,

buy a lot of things.

I will buy a dress for you
and for your mother.

A red kebaya?

What?
- A red kebaya.

Listen,
but don't tell your mother -

One day soon your father here
will be a famous person.

And when that time comes...

I will buy
everything for you.

I will buy things
for your mother.

Soon there will be a way,
you'll see.

Food does not just
appear on its own.

There has to be someone
to peel, to cut, to cook.

It's almost finished,
you know.

Daya, this tobacco
is from Sumatra.

It's so special that
the Sumatran monkey,

they'll eat it,
they'll chew on it.

Child, fetch some water,

the fog is setting.

Tell me more later, father.

The sun god
changes into night.

In the beauty of the night,
a story unfolds

about the moon goddess
who rises from the earth,

wanting to unite
with the powerful Earth

to merge with the Sun God.

For there is a knight
bearing news

About the coming of chaos.

Ladies and gentlemen...

if we are healthy
in form and spirit...

an Indonesian healthy
in form and spirit...

is the essence of life!

And because I frequently travel
and I meet with a lot of people,

among them my friend
who is a driver in an embassy,

who says that 'healthy
in form and spirit' means

mens sana in corpore sano.

Now, health is important.

My medicine, if you
give it to a child,

the child will be able
to read in three days...

to teenagers, they'll ask
to marry in two months...

to husbands -
now this is important for you ladies.

Daya, that is the way to
attract an audience:

focus the attention to one point.
I'm Agus, Daya's father!

Just slowly, carefully,
this way is good...

And the car as well.

Uh... I am breathless.

Sukma, catch me.

Wait for me.
Daya, wait.

Daya, where are you?

Daya!

Daya!

Sukma!

Sukma.

Sukma!

Where is she?

Sukma, you left your cane!

Mount Fuji, Truly
White and Majestic

As a shield to guard
a strong heart.

I've forgotten the lyrics.

She is safe.

She doesn't have to think
about this heat.

She doesn't have to think
about what to eat tomorrow.

Come for a walk with me.

Sit, sit.

The place looks cramped,
doesn't it?

I moved in here hastily.

Would you like some candy?

Mother, the sand
is whispering.

It's like the sand
near the sea.

Child, come on.
Let's go home.

Sukma, are you in there?

Where are you?

Come in. It's getting
more cramped, isn't it?

Sit here.

In a situation like this
people need money.

So they come here and leave
their things,

and if they can't redeem them,
their things stay here.

If you want to smoke

do go outside.

Here, have some
American cigarettes.

I want to talk
to your daughter for a while.

Yes. Of course.

Stay in here for a while.

Don't be shy around Uncle Suwito.
He wants to talk to you.

I'll be outside smoking.

You can see me from here.

Your father is a clever man.

I've tried his ointment.

Its very good.

Your father loves
your mother and you.

He wants to make
you both happy.

You love your father,
don't you?

Do you understand, Daya?

Mr. Suwito has helped
a lot of people around here.

He is a good man.

His house in the city
is huge.

Come along.
Walk faster.

But he talks a lot.

He really talks a lot.

It's hot.

It's hot, isn't it?

Now, pull your blouse
out a little bit.

There. That's better,
isn't it?

Do you remember
what uncle said the last time?

If you love your father
you must do what I say.

Put your hand
inside your blouse.

You are a good child.
You love your father, am I right?

Now, just like what
I told you last time.

Just like what
I told you last time.

Touch your left nipple.

The left one.
Rub it gently, yes rub it.

Now your other hand,
place it on your thigh.

Slowly put it
inside your skirt.

Good girl.

Your father just
looked this way.

He would like to know
that his daughter loves him.

Your father is
a good man.

He wants everything
for the both of you.

Now rub your
nipples slowly.

Place your hand inside of you.
Now rub slowly, so slowly.

Drink this for warmth.

Round and round and round...

Let me stay here, mother.

Just let me stay
here with you.

I will always be with you.

Go. There's nothing left here
that is good.

There is nothing left here
for you, Daya.

One... two... three...

Four... Five... Six... Seven...

Eight... Nine... Ten...