Atarashiki tsuchi (1937) Movie Script

The Daughter

of the Samurai

Mama, did brother ride

on a big boat like this?

Yes, that's right.

It was a long time ago.

When you were

still in my tummy.

Telegram!

I don't like telegrams.

-There are good ones, too.

Teruo is coming home.

He is?

I bet he's

become a great man.

I'll have to go meet him.

It's an earthquake.

Emiko, you're a

good girl so not afraid.

To be strong...

to this end the nature of this

country has educated the Japanese.

Because of the many earthquakes?

Earthquakes...

volcanos and typhoons.

A tough nature and not

much land for so many people.

Are these the two most essential

attributes of Japanese character?

At least the most important.

And the famous love

of a Japanese for his country

Why don't you mention that?

That's taken for granted.

No need to talk much about it.

Look, those rocks over there!

Fabulous

the wild shores of Japan.

Yes.

Here the storms of two

millennia have been repelled.

And these storms

always came from the West?

Always from the interior of Asia?

The dangerous? Yes.

And from Europe?

Till now they were only winds.

In most cases, even tempting.

At least useful.

Such a

marvelous machine, isn't it?

Such a marvelous machine!

We built that!

And woe to our old Nippon,

if we had not

learned that from you...

there would probably

be no free Japan now.

What is it?

-My brother's coming home.

My brother's coming home.

West Wind

Go on?

What's that dreamy look again?

May I not look at that

with which I'm pleased?

You may not. There.

Look rather at that chimney!

Up there the wind

blows from the west as well.

Come on

now stop all your nonsense.

We're almost

there and I still don't have

my first

interview with a famous Japanese.

Sit down

here and answer my questions.

Ah, you journalists!

Well, dear,

how was it again?

Your father's a rice

farmer at the foot of Mount Fuji

the descendant

of an old samurai family.

Your older sister

is as merry as you.

But better educated!

-I hope so!

You don't know your youngest sister

as you left before she was born.

So that was eight years ago.

How old are you anyway?

-Secret!

Then under 30.

You've studied natural science

and practiced at the

University for Agriculture.

What you want to

do with it you don't yet know.

But you hope

to be of use to your country.

An enormously

interesting interview!

Just wait. It

will become interesting yet.

Once more about your adoption.

At that time,

before you went to Europe,

you were adopted by an old,

wealthy family, right? -Yes.

What was

the name of the adoptive father?

Iwao Yamato.

-Iwao Yamato.

What I don't understand is

why one adopts a son

from another family in Japan?

To avoid the

severance of the ancestral line.

The blood must be preserved.

That would still be

preserved with a daughter.

But not the family name.

Nice custom!

We overlook that.

Yes, but tell me...

You actually must marry the

daughter of your adoptive father?

And even adopt her name.

Of course.

Then you've been

engaged since your youth?

Yes, unfortunately.

Look. Now the wind's blowing...

from the east again.

Well, east wind and west wind...

will always

blow from different directions.

What's her name anyway?

Mitsuko.

Mi-tsu-ko...

a beautiful name!

Young mistress!

What is it?

Don't. Stop it.

Really?

-Brother Teruo?

I'm so happy.

Brother Teruo is coming home.

Father. Father.

So...

when are you getting married?

Stop it, father.

Brother arrives

in Yokohama tomorrow.

Tonight, let's

go by express to Tokyo.

Really?

I wonder what I should wear?

European of course!

Excuse me

for breaking in.

Never mind.

Thanks for coming.

But it is time

for the German hour.

Lesson time?

But I think she's too excited.

I doubt she'll learn anything.

Right, Mitsuko?

What?

Is she to wear Western clothes?

Yes.

-Oh well. Better she didn't.

Why would I have advised you...

to wear a European dress?

I will better... please him.

No...:

I will please him,

you will please him...

He will please me...

And I hope:

She will please him.

Who... she?

Now tell me.

Are we in Japan or in Berlin?

Yes!

We have two faces -

one old and one young.

I never

imagined Tokyo being like that!

Welcome.

-Two rooms with baths.

Is there any mail for me?

I'm Yamato Teruo.

-One moment, please.

because of the early arrival

of your ship we unfortunately

cannot come for you

before tomorrow morning

your adoptive father and mitsuko

Bad news?

Tomorrow morning

my adoptive father is coming.

So what?

-He brings Mitsuko with him.

Poor Mitsuko.

I waid

Father. Father.

I should

have studied the piano more.

Girls over

there are usually good at it?

It's all right.

Oh, yes...

I've learned so much!

Now the poor girl

has spent her whole youth

learning for you,

preparing for you,

with the sole intention of

being a good wife for you one day.

And you?

Look, Teruo,

you already knew all about it.

You knew how such a girl

is trained for her service.

You should have realized sooner

what a catastrophe you'd cause

for such a person who's

been waiting 8 years...

in innocent

anticipation of this marriage.

That was her purpose in life.

You've taken this and the

generosity of her father as well.

The expense of 8 years

study in Germany is no small thing.

And now, suddenly,

when you come back to Japan...

where you can

benefit from all that study...

now, all of a sudden...

No, one can't escape so easily

from the morals of one's country.

It's not as easy as you think!

I really never thought

of it as being that easy...

but I just closed my eyes to it.

Then you must

take the consequences as well.

What consequences?

To abandon your individual wishes!

What - my individual freedom?

In this matter, you have no right

to individual freedom any more!

I always have that!

That's just what

I've learned in your Europe!

Then you've

just learned something wrong!

Teruo, do you hear?

How they all march in the same step?

That's what

Japan's power is built upon.

And these are all individualists?

Come!

They'll be here any moment.

Now, in any event,

be nice to her, you hear?

But I just can't.

My God. At least

take a look at the girl first!

In the end, you may even like her!

So... okay?

Well, good.

Why don't Japanese women

realize they look nicer in kimono?

My adoptive father!

Dad!

Ah, Teruo.

It's good you've returned.

Thank you.

The ship arrived sooner than planned.

-Is that so.

But you

needn't have come especially.

I'd like to

introduce my university friend.

I am very pleased to

meet a colleague of my son.

Where did Mitsuko go?

Mitsuko, this is

Teruo's friend, Miss Storm.

My little daughter, Mitsuko.

Your fiance has already

told me so much about you!

I hope that we

will become good friends!

I plan never to forget.

But when you

welcomed me into your family...

I was just a child.

But, because well...

How far must an adopted son...

forget his personal freedom?

I didn't have the

ability to think about it then.

But now I know

that personal freedom is...

something irreplaceable.

In Europe, it's

the important thing I learned.

And so?

In other things,

I'll do as you wish.

But marrying Mitsuko is the one

thing I'd like not to have to do.

It's not possible.

Even if I love her as a sister...

I just can't

love her as a sexual partner.

I can't.

You're a samurai daughter.

Come in.

Oh pardon, excuse me!

Oh - my great pleasure!

Excuse me!

Please!

I came to

inquire how your daughter is.

Please, just speak German!

Mitsuko is very happy...

to find you here.

Aren't you, Mitsuko?

I...

I am very happy.

It's wonderful, isn't it?

Well...?

That almost looks as if

you wanted to go to Europe again!

No, Gerda.

I am Japanese

and want to live for Japan.

But look.

This country, Manchukuo...

is twice as large

as your Germany or my Japan.

There is

still new earth in abundance

that could feed many more people

if it were cultivated properly.

But first order

and peace must be established.

And that is the

mission of the Japanese people.

We must do an immense amount

of development in these countries.

And we will do that.

Now look... such a country

requires not only men,

who are real men,

but also women,

who are real women.

Not pampered

little dolls from rich homes.

Do you understand?

-Yes!

But don't you think

your parents were so wise,

to find you such a woman?

Eh... they don't have a clue...

of what I need.

Father.

I don't

want to be in Tokyo any more.

There's always a way out, Teruo.

In any case, you

should go see your family.

You were so looking

forward to seeing your mother.

There are

two people here to meet you.

My father!

I'll be right there.

But don't talk about it yet.

But I have to talk!

It seems

my son has completely changed.

He seems

not to regard me as his father.

This time I'm shocked.

For his

sake, I've taken the first step

and written to

his uncle, the wise teacher.

I'm sure

it will lead to a good result.

A flood from the west is approaching

That dissolves the bonds of family.

And the sons no longer bow

To their fathers.

East Wind

It'll get better

the longer you're home.

I'm not yet used to Japan.

Maybe I was too long in Europe.

That's not so.

Just look.

Is spring

this beautiful over there?

Why don't we eat here?

Yes, let's do.

Let's sit there.

It's quite a nice place.

Really nice.

Japanese style is good.

Sure, because your Japanese.

Do you understand old songs?

Only a little.

Do you understand them?

Not very well.

But within me, the

blood of my ancestors seems to.

Hearing them,

I feel like I remember the past.

Master.

I always believed some day...

you'd remember your old teacher.

Japanese

never forget an old teacher.

Is that so?

-Even in foreign countries.

Come inside.

My son -

it's been a long time

since you could hear

the voice of your teacher,

and you have since -

in these western countries -

indeed studied much

and gathered much wisdom,

that is named over there

with the word "modern".

And you've been right,

if you have set much hope

into the tone and

the content of this word.

For woe, if our people would want

to deny the forces that lie therein.

These western people seem helpless

in their restless pursuit of progress.

And it is good you've inhaled

a little of the spirit of the West,

for it has become

necessary that our aged Nippon

can persist in the struggle

for the space of the earth.

But if you have ever learned

anything from your old teacher,

then listen once again to his voice.

What our common ancestors once

darkly felt or clearly thought,

this matter of millennia we today

summarize in the short word "shinto".

A small particle of this ancient

knowledge, however, states:

You are, as a sole

individual, not so important,

for you are only a small link in

the long chain of your ancestors.

But even the smallest link

is the bearer of the whole chain,

and thus responsible to

the whole that was before him.

and responsible for that which follows,

which is passed on from his blood.

And again, this blood

is only a drop, flowing by

in the eternal stream

of the life of your people,

whom you owe everything,

and whose source of origin

therefore is the deepest and highest

you can subserviently

bow to in childlike awe.

The bow to

one's own father however

shall be the daily sign

of your love and gratitude

towards the whole,

that for us has the name:

Japan.

Papa, brother's boat sank.

No, the west wind battered it.

Father.

Teruo.

It's you.

Yes. It's okay, father.

It's good you came home.

My cute little Emiko.

Yes. Did you bring a present?

Yes. I did.

That's my house.

Mother.

Is that Teruo?

It's good you've come home.

You've grown so much.

I didn't recognize you.

It's good earth, but it's old.

It's really old earth.

Mr. Yamato is very pleased that

you've accepted his invitation!

And he's very

reassured by your statement.

Oh, it was also of concern to me

to clarify the relationship

between Teruo and me.

You... you are to him...

a real friend.

Yes. And that's why

I understand his conflict.

See... here - one's own person.

There - the strict laws of family.

The family is

the foundation of our state.

The rock on which we have built.

The fullest concept, however,

is "our sacred house".

Thousands of years of

storms have broken before it.

Our Japan is our sacred house.

Our sacred house is Japan.

It is what we

live for and what we die for.

I hear an old samurai speaking.

And a Japanese of today.

Young mistress.

Take it. I don't need it any more.

What a waste.

Mitsuko.

Mitsuko

What's wrong?

Don't you understand?

Gerda Storm is my guest.

Yes, I understand.

You understand now.

Don't let yourself be deceived -

the girl's condition is dangerous.

One can hardly imagine -

with such quiet, gentle beings...

Don't believe that.

In these small Japanese

women lies dormant the same...

volcanic temper as in

the men of this volcanic country,

and once...

either the volcano eruptes, or... -Or...?

or they rush into it.

Ah - there she is.

A letter has come.

Teruo

A letter has come.

My son! You know

that the dissolution of an adoption...

contradicts the old ways of your people

and would exclude you

from the bosom of your family.

I cannot bear the

responsibility for a such a decision

by myself and I therefore ask you

to appear before your family council...

the day after tomorrow at

2 in the afternoon. Your father.

I must leave but will be back.

May I help you?

Yes...

Ah, what a beautiful kimono!

May I take a look?

Oh, please.

Maybe you will like it.

It's really wonderful.

It looks so festive.

Is it for special occasions?

- Yes.

It should become you very well!

One wears it

only once in a lifetime.

And... you...

did you already wear it?

No...

Maybe... tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

What's that?

Just the volcano.

He is wild.

Dear Teruo! When you arrive

here today and do not find me here....

you will later realise it is right.

Take care of your little Mitsuko.

This girl will one day

wear her wedding kimono...

If necessary, even

without you standing by her side.

In the distance I can already

hear the grumble of the volcano!

But I hope both of you can keep in

good memory Your German friend, Gerda

It's really too bad

you're already leaving.

Teruo should be here soon.

When he arrives, would you

first give him this letter?

Yes ... please.

It's for the better if

we do not meet each other here.

Believe me, if...

Oh, but you're very wrong

to let your

daughter wait table herself.

It's part of the education

of our daughters.

Mitsuko, didn't you

offer her a knife and fork?

Knife and fork? But no,

chopsticks are alright with me.

I will show you.

It's not as easy as it may look.

Ah! ... that way?

Hey - keep still...

Splat...

Ah, peas.

Gee... just as round as ours!

- Pardon?

- Oh, how do you have...

side dishes in Germany?

Ah... So, na...

No, it just won't...

That won't work, just won't work...

Well well, even in Japan

one has some inner struggles...

Aahh... Attention Attention!

Keep quiet!

Teruo should have come by now.

Go and look.

You must also learn to drink sake.

Cheers!

This is our national drink.

Ours is beer!

Cheers!

It's really nice here at your place.

Just...

you know...

it's a bit scary.

The volcano is so close...

There blows...

a dangerous storm over the earth.

For you it comes from the east,

for us it's blowing from the west.

Report to your country

that here in the farest east

a people keeps guard

on its rocky islands.

At their walls

this storm will break.

I'm very sorry to trouble you

when you're all so busy.

I asked Teruo to be present today...

but seeing as he's not yet arrived...

I assume

my letter reached him late.

I also admire it.

I agree with

what my elder brother said.

But we must keep

in mind the tide of the times.

It's not easy now to quickly

correct the thinking of the young.

What is it about

Mitsuko that he doesn't like?

You raised her so well

There is no

womanly thing she can't do.

And no matter what is said...

as a good wife all should go well.

I've also labored hard

for Mitsuko's education.

After all, she has no mother.

Of course I could not do enough.

Teruo says that Mitsuko to him

can be no more than a sister.

He seems to

think of her as a hinderance.

I couldn't give

my child to someone like that.

The tender blossoms of the cherry

Fall and float to the ground

To make room

For the thronging fruit.

To our thinking, adoption is...

a particularly serious matter.

It cannot be so easily revoked.

But especially now

Iwao's magnanimous feelings are...

I give my heartfelt appreciation.

And to my father for...

my recent disrespect,

my deepest apologies.

Once again, with my free will...

As a new member of the family...

After hearing your magnanimity...

I'd like to be allowed to join you.

Dear Teruo!

When you arrive here today....

and do not find me here,

you will later realise it is right.

I'd like to speak to Mitsuko.

She's probably in her room.

Teruo... the volcano!

I can hear the volcano...

The volcano is so close!

Where did Mitsuko go?

Her wedding clothes are gone.

Could I climb to the crater?

You must go around the lake

and climb from the other side.

But today it's

too dangerous to climb.

Why?

-The wind's from the west...

The smoke is blown this way.

Okay.

That's not good.

She's there. Mitsuko.

At last

we can talk together alone.

But we can speak German!

What?!

You have learned German?

I will please you -

You will please me -

We will please each other.

Come ahead, auntie.

Thank you.

Gerda Storm, Hotel Europe, Tokyo

I wish you this with all my heart

Your German friend, Gerda Storm

She was a good friend to you.

And you...

will be a good wife to me.

Your grandfather

and great-grandfather...

and ancestors before

that have all worked this land.

Just like me, they diligently

planted and

harvested with perseverance.

For thousands

of years or longer...

our ancestors

have gone in the mud and worked.

Your father

and your father's father

and all our fathers

have worked on this earth.

They all were very often

tired from all the work

as today your old father is tired

from plowing and sowing

and harvesting the rice.

But the rice has to be

sown and harvested,

otherwise there is no Nippon!

Maybe

it's a thousand years, my son,

perhaps

even more, I do not know,

that our

ancestors have bent their backs

stood in the water

and treaded the water wheel.

I do not know

how long it has been this way.

But one

thing your old father knows:

today we are too many

for this little piece of earth.

We are too many, my son Teruo.

Manchuria

Become a child of the earth, too.

German Translation and Subtitles:

Kurosuke @ Karagarga

Japanese Translation and Subtitles:

retroTV @ Karagarga

De->Eng: Kurosuke @ KG

Jp->Eng: retroTV @ KG

Atarashiki tsuchi (1937) - full transcript