Burying Old Alive (1963) - full transcript
Prior to the adoption of Confucianism, it was the tradition to abandon one's parents on a mountainside if they were over 70 years of age. In the ancient kingdom of Goryeo, now modern Korea, a nobleman defies this tradition when he refuses to leave his mother to starve to death.
Good evening viewers
and studio audience.
Today, we have invited some scholars
for an open discussion on
the serious problems of overpopulation
we face today.
First, a question for
a professor of Biology.
725 rats are born per rat every year.
I guess rats need population control
more than we do.
However, when
there's a shortage of food,
rats will eat each other to
avoid dying out.
Well, maybe people should do that, too!
How about a comment from
a professor of history?
In the past, many populations
faced near annihilation
during times of famine and war.
So it used to be customary for
parents over seventy
years old to be carried up to
top of the mountain to die.
Now, what are your thoughts?
You look over seventy.
If you lived in those days,
you would have been abandoned in
the mountains by now!
Nonsense! I am destined to live
a hundred years. It says so on my palm.
At this rate, we'll never
get the population under control!
Goryeojang
Directed by Kim Ki-young, 1963
Kim Jin-kyu, Kim Bo-ae, Ju Jeung-nyeo
Kim Dong-won, Lee Ye-chun, Park Am
Jeon Ok, Seok Geum-seong
Go Seon-ae, Wang Sook-rang
Choe Sam, Dokgo Seong, Cho Seok-geun
Go Seol-bong, Park Go-san
Kim Sa-seong, Kim Gyeong-tae
Lee Gwang-gi, Ahn Sang-gong
Park Gi-beom, Yu Man-seon, Park Tae-chul
Lee Yong-su, Lee Chun-seok
Jean Yeong-seon, Kim So-mi Nah Jeong-ok
Choe Heung-sook, Jeong Gyeong-hee
Planned by Kim Yeong-cheol, Song Seon-geun
Gaffer Seo Byeong-su
Assistant Directors Han Min, Park Jun-hwal
Director of Photography Kim Deok-jin
Art Director Park Seok-in, Kim Hyun Gyun
Miniature Models Kim Wan-taek, Kim Hak-hyeon
Stills Yang Jae Gu
Script Supervisor Lee Ga-shin
Composer Han Sang-gi, Special Effects Lee Sang-man
Sound Recording Jeong Gi-chhang
Composer Han Sang-gi, Special Effects Lee Sang-man
Sound Recording Jeong Gi-chhang
Yaha, I have arrived at last!
Directed by Kim Ki-young
Yaha, I have arrived at last!
Taesan, the high mountain!
Daehasu, the deep sea!
I drifted tens of millions of miles
in the wind and at last
I have come to answer the call of
the Mountain Spirit and the Earth Spirit.
Leave your offering here
for a good marriage!
This Ancient Tree is the keeper
of this village!
The tree has uncovered every theft,
adultery, and murder
and all the perpetrators
have been hanged here!
Do you remember how much it cost me
when I married you?
The children from your previous marriage
have ruined me! They chased me away!
I am bankrupt after four marriages.
Come along!
You will pay for getting rid of me!
May I be struck down by lightning
if I'm wrong!
Anyone home?
What on earth?
Don't be alarmed.
You are the fifth daughter-in-law.
The others didn't even last
three days in this house.
He has ten children by
his former wives.
Mother, let me bow to you.
You have a new brother now.
Guryong, you are my son now.
Bow to me and call me father.
Father.
Bastard, what gives you the right to
call him father? Beat him up!
Stop it, boys! Stop it, I say!
The soil here has turned into sand.
Many starve to death during famines.
We can't eat to our hearts' content.
That is true everywhere.
It is a sin to be full.
True.
Mama, will they feed us tomorrow?
Mama got married so that
you will not go hungry.
For that, you can't sleep with me
from now on, okay?
Okay.
Idiot, can't even eat
with his own two hands?
He's acting like a retard.
Oh, it is such a big flaw.
I can't possibly tell anyone.
I plan to pass on the housework
to my new daughter-in-law.
I've asked many times and
my fortune-teller keeps predicting
that the ten brothers will die
at the hands of the new son.
Those who harm me will get
what they deserve.
The ten brothers will hang from
the Ancient Tree some day!
I'm scared. I'm scared.
To be a part of the village,
you must follow tradition.
Whoever turns seventy must pass
the rice bowl to the next generation
and be carried up on the son's back
to the Sacred Peak to die.
One can die comfortably up
on the Sacred Peak.
Overnight, your flesh and spirit rise up
to the heavens, leaving just the bones.
I am already seventy. I stayed longer
because there was no daughter-in-law.
The gods must be angry.
When you are seventy,
you must go up the mountain too.
I must ask you for one last favor.
The shaman's prediction worries me...
Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!
Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!
Grandma's probably all bones by now.
They say if you pray really hard
before you die up there,
The Divine Spirit grants you one wish.
Grandma said she'll pray for us
so the bastard won't kill us all.
Shut up!
Mom, can I have a potato?
No. It's unfair to your brothers.
But I lit the fire for you.
All right. Make sure
they don't see you.
Okay.
Here you go.
That bastard!
Her son's the only one with a mouth?
They will let us all starve to death!
Drag him out to the backyard!
Eat quickly, child.
Ah, it's hot.
Your balls will fall off if you play
in the kitchen. Open your mouth.
I smell potato!
Come here. You know what these are?
They are tiger teeth. You want these?
Yes.
If you can catch us,
they're yours. Are you in?
Yes.
Blindfold him.
Now clap!
Here! We're over here!
I'm right here!
Catch me if you can!
We're over here!
Guryong!
Who put that snake there?
It was me.
You rascal!
Grandma went to the shaman and she said
that Guryong was going to kill us all!
What?
Never mind. He's so crazy about that
woman he doesn't care if we live or die!
Cheol handles snakes better than
a snake charmer.
I read his fortune. This one's destined
to kill all his stepbrothers.
Please save my son.
I lost my husband and
five sons in the last famine.
I only managed to save this one.
Let's send the dead spirits
on to the next world.
Rice cakes!
Don't eat it. It's for the ghosts.
Guryong.
Mom, I don't care if we starve.
Let's leave.
Yes, let's leave. If you can stand hunger,
you're not afraid of anything.
The shaman said Guryong's strong chi
will kill off everyone else to survive.
We should go. Give us
a little piece of land to live on.
He's crippled,
and all for a few bowls of rice!
Father! Father!
Go away!
Father! Father!
Get away from me!
Father!
You scoundrels!
Twenty years later
Would you like some water?
Farming must be twice as hard for you.
I may be an invalid, but I've managed
to get a house and some land.
What about a woman?
I need a short one.
A cow gives birth to one calf
at a time, but rats can have ten.
Why don't you marry a hen?
She'll lay you 365 eggs a year.
Meet me later?
And ruin myself?
Guryong.
Yes?
If you're meeting Gannan today, make sure
you wet this towel and bring it back.
Don't let this one go.
No woman will ever want a cripple.
Here.
I have to go. Mama says
Guryong's a poor thing.
Life's hard enough even with
all your limbs working fine.
Don't look at my legs when you talk.
I have nothing against it.
It's not that I don't like it.
Gannan, shh...
Mama says if you do it in the grass
you'll have the child of a snake.
Shh,Gannan.
Mama says if Guryong asks to sleep with
you, tell him it's an unlucky period.
Mama says Guryong's a widow's son
and needs to take care of his mama.
Don't talk about mother.
Guryong's about to get married,
and you're just laying there?
The ten brothers are still bachelors!
I married five times
without anyone's help!
We'll get the provisions for marriage
if we take back the land we gave Guryong.
We lost that land to him
because of a snake bite!
If we lost it, we should get it back!
Brother.
Guryong dug up a ginseng root
at Cloud Rock!
That rascal!
He's found his marriage provisions.
Bow.
The groom bowed first!
For heaven's sake, this is
so embarrassing. He's pathetic!
A man can make mistakes
every once in a while!
But if a bride farts while bowing,
she will never be forgiven!
Quiet! Bow, now.
Just think of a man as a large python.
Even if it's terrifying,
or if it gives you gooseflesh,
or if it tickles,
you have to hold it all in.
Here, look. This is a man.
Feed my son-in-law plenty of pork!
Boars have great stamina!
They can produce ten piglets at a time.
Having lots of children is good,
but I'm worried one of them might be a cripple.
Shut up!
Okay, let's send him
into the bride's room.
If we keep him too long, he might have
a little accident outside the gates.
Here we go.
Here he comes, here he comes.
Here comes the large python.
She's finished!
My daughter is finished!
It is her fate.
Child! Give me the headdress
and the gown.
They were rented.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
I was afraid I couldn't marry off
a son raised by a widow.
This is all thanks to
the Divine Spirit.
My only child marrying a cripple!
The Divine Spirit can be cruel.
Mother is feeling sad about
her daughter's marriage to a crippled man.
Mother is feeling sad about
her daughter's marriage to a crippled man.
In the room for the wedding night. Guryong loosens the bride's
clothes and throws her to the ground, which shocks her.
The wedding guests are dancing in the bride's garden.
Guryong's mother is dancing too.
The wedding guests are dancing in the bride's garden.
Guryong's mother is dancing too.
The wedding guests are dancing in the bride's garden.
Guryong's mother is dancing too.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
What is it?
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
That devil has knocked
her out five times!
Guryonglea ves the room and his mother is
shocked that the bride is a mute.
That shrew!
She must be a mute!
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
Your daughter can't spit out
even a single word!
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
They're both disabled.
They are a match made in heaven.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
On the village road, the wedding parade appears.
As the bride's scream escapes her sedan chair,
Guryong, who is riding on a horse, looks back.
As the bride's scream escapes her sedan chair,
Guryong, who is riding on a horse, looks back.
Oh no, the bride needs to take a piss.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
What on earth is this?
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
Guryong stops eating the potatoes.
He forces the bride to eat some food.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
In Guryong's garden, Bong, one of the ten brothers,
goes into the house and looks around carefully.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's,
Bong lets Guryong's wife loose.
Bong unties the rope from her.
Bong takes her out.
Guryong's wife follows him and spits.
She follows Bong through the garden quietly.
Bong takes her behind some rocks and she smiles.
Bong smiles at her and as he whistles,
brothers Dok and Min in hiding come out.
She falls over in shock and crawls toward
the water's edge. The brothers follow and rape her.
She falls over in shock and crawls toward
the water's edge. The brothers follow and rape her.
She falls over in shock and crawls toward
the water's edge. The brothers follow and rape her.
She lifts her skirt and covers her face with it.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
In the Guryong's garden, the ten brothers storm in.
Father lent you this land.
It's time we got it back.
They demand that Guryong and
his mother to return their land.
They demand that Guryong and
his mother to return their land.
They demand that Guryong and
his mother to return their land.
According to the land document,
it's ours.
Trade in the land document
for your new wife.
Never!
The ten brothers leave.
Guryong leads the village people
to Chilbong's garden.
Did you bring the land deeds?
I heard rumors your brothers
violated the new wife.
She ran away,
and we kept her at our house.
Are you aware that the penalty
for violating another's wife is
hanging on the Ancient Tree
at the shaman's place?
We did no such thing.
I swear on my life.
As the ten brothers take Guryong's wife outside,
Guryong is shocked. She is crying.
You would really risk your life?
Why don't you ask her?
Mutes can't talk, but they can gesture.
Those villains!
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
The shaman was right.
I will have to kill three people.
I've decided to forget
about this incident.
If I'm to forgive and live in
this village, I can't kill three people.
Give me the land deeds instead!
Cheol helplessly hands over the land deeds.
Guryong leaves, holding in his frustration.
You animal! You did it, too,
didn't you? You son of a bitch!
After Guryong leaves, Cheol, who didn't know
his brothers raped her, angrily beats them.
After Guryong leaves, Cheol, who didn't know
his brothers raped her, angrily beats them.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
If you plant buckwheat,
you get buckwheat.
Guryong contemplates this idea.
While Guryong's wife gets a fire going in the kitchen,
Guryong leaves the room and goes to the kitchen.
He takes her to the barn.
She falls down in the barn and Guryong watches it.
Guryong cuddles her and lies down with her
on the ground. The ceiling is seen in her eyes.
Strange. Someone throws
a pebble here every night.
Maybe a virgin from
the village wants to see you.
Look. There are no virgins
in this village.
Huh? Who is it?
Give us the mute!
Where is she?
Give us the mute, or
we'll burn your house down.
Look at this knife!
What can we do?
She can't hear anyone or say anything.
She just has to guess
what's going on.
She left everything to me
and set out for the mountain
She died thinking she deserves it
because she's a mute.
Never bother me again.
Fifteen years later
Three years of drought, and I'll die
of thirst before I die of hunger.
I bought this water from the ten brothers
in exchange for potatoes.
Potatoes.
Potatoes.
We've had three years of famine.
We don't have a single potato left.
Our house is the only one
in the village with a well.
You should share.
No way!
Has anyone in this village ever
given us a sip of water?
Still, have mercy.
Get out of the way!
What's all this?
Quiet, all of you!
She did not fall to her death.
She died of starvation.
Anyone dare argue with me?
Has anyone ever given us
a single potato?
Give her a sip of water
for the last time.
Show everyone
we are good people.
Shit, we can't get money
for water anymore.
Let's get rid of the freeloader
before we starve.
Send father up to the mountain.
You fools, I don't even drink water.
If you go up the mountain
you won't even have to.
If I have to die, I'll die here.
I'm not going up the mountain.
Don't make a mockery of our family.
just give up your rice bowl for us.
How dare you!
Father, you're being unreasonable.
How about this?
We'll toss a coin and
if it's tails you go up the mountain.
Don't worry father.
The Divine Spirit will protect you.
It's heads! Look!
The Divine Spirit is on your side!
Don't put too much faith
in the Divine Spirit.
We'll get tails before ten days pass.
With this many potatoes,
I can buy all the land in the village.
Of course, I'll only save whatever's
leftover after you've had your fill.
You shouldn't take
other people's land for nothing.
These potatoes are expensive!
They were grown by the damned cripple who
worked ten, twenty times harder to produce them.
I can't sell that piece of land
for two sacks of potatoes!
It's better than starving to death!
You could be a little kinder
at times like these!
Forget it! Don't expect kindness from
an invalid! Will you or will you not sell?
Crook.
Grandma! Grandma!
Mother!
What brings you here?
The children are about to starve to
death! I came hoping you could help us.
There's nothing to drink
in our village, let alone food.
Say hello to your grandmother!
Grandma, hello!
Darling, this is my mother.
Mother, the children are starving.
Please give them something to eat.
Grandma, I'm hungry.
Darling.
Where did grandpa hide the potatoes?
Doesn't matter.
My nose will find them.
Quickly! Where is it?
Search over there.
It's not here either.
If I had known we would starve
at my parents' house too,
I wouldn't have brought us all here.
Go borrow some potatoes.
Didn't Guryong have anything for you?
I can't go there.
Our children are about to die.
This is not the time to save face.
What if we can't find them?
Where are they? Quick, find them!
Over here. It's over here.
- Look!
- Potatoes!
Dear, dear...
Children! You rascals!
These are seed potatoes!
If the drought ends, the two of us
will die without the seed potatoes.
Stop! Stop!
Water... Mom, we have water!
Guryong, Gannan is here.
What do you want?
The children are about to die.
She's here to borrow a sack of potatoes.
Where is your shame?
And is there no shame in a cripple
asking for a woman with working limbs?
Guryong!
What? Cripple?
I hear you're buying land with
potatoes. You're beating women now?
I'll loan you the potatoes.
I am also a mother who
starved all her children, except one.
Let's go inside.
You promised you wouldn't come here.
Now that I've had my revenge,
life has become so empty.
We're very lonely people.
We have no relatives,
and we couldn't help anyone either.
I should have said this earlier, but
won't you send me up to the mountain?
Mother.
If I pray up in
the mountain and it rains,
people will say there was once
an old lady whose prayer was granted.
Mother, I live for you.
I know.
What else would a cripple
like me live for?
What's going on?
You've found water in this well?
If everyone digs a well,
we can't sell our water anymore.
You said you wouldn't
bother me anymore!
Get the corpse!
Let's go.
I hate grandma!
Isn't this the last of
the loaned potatoes?
If I die and you become a widow,
no-one will marry you before
the three-year mourning period ends.
You should remarry before I die.
Who'll take a woman with nine children?
Try Guryong.
Convince him to take you in.
Do it before I die.
You can't drink that water.
Why not?
The ten brothers dropped
a corpse in there.
I can stand the hunger,
but I can't stand the thirst.
Do you want some leftover potatoes?
Let's go inside.
Are you sure it'll be okay?
Don't worry about Guryong.
I'm ashamed.
Go on.
A woman is never full.
When a woman is young,
she's afraid of her in-laws.
When she has children,
they eat everything.
When she's old, her stomach shrinks
so she can't eat much.
I wish someone would buy my body.
Will you give us a child?
I would like to raise one.
Send a girl. She'll be
of help around the house.
They're all so young.
The younger the live-in bride,
the better. It's easier to teach her.
Would any of you leave to
become a stepchild?
I'll give you these potatoes. You?
You? You? You?
I'll go.
You all call me pockface and treat me
poorly. I'd rather go live there.
Here she is.
You won't miss home
if you came to live with us?
A woman is not supposed to be
homesick after she marries.
You are bright.
I'm good at housework
and I'm devoted to my husband.
Ok.
I've decided to take in a child.
You're a pockface.
I'm a pockface,
but only a little bit.
He's the master of this house.
Pay your respects.
Please keep me from
going hungry, mister.
Forget it.
They already call this the freak house,
and you brought in a pockface?
Damn.
Look! Mister's a cripple!
Clip clop clip clop!
Here's your meal.
What are you looking at?
Mama always sat beside
father during his meals.
In case he chews on any stone bits.
Try the vegetables.
I made them.
It's a bit bland. Maybe
it's because the pockface made it.
A cripple picking on a pockface?
You're one to talk!
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
She will bring us food without eating any.
Here she comes.
Mom, that stupid man told me not to eat much.
Did he find out?
Don't worry. He can do nothing to me.
Here you are.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
Delicious?
Yeon walks out, feeling sad.
Here...
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
Our father will stop eating from now on
Chilbong is outraged.
Chilbong is outraged.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
Oh, my father...
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
When the rain comes
and the famine is over,
you can't have Gannan. Not even
if you have a mountain of potatoes.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
What kind of a son chooses his wife
over his mother?
Guryong. Guryong!
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
and return to town if
somebody would look after the children.
Guryong enters the room.
Guryong enters the room.
Guryong enters the room.
Mom, whose clothes are these?
I'm making clothes for you to wear
after I've gone up the mountain.
What?
Guryong, give me that
hairpin on your head.
I hear that if women use
men's hairpin, they can
conceive without sleeping with
them. Here you go.
He is surprised.
He is surprised.
You have to drink this water, too.
In fact, he is stunned.
Guryong and his mother go to the barn.
In Gannan's living room, Gannan's emaciated
husband is lying down and sweating.
She puts her hairpin on the back of her head.
She then leaves the room and
exits the house through the garden.
In Guryong's living room, as Guryong's mother
shakes her head, Gannan leaves the room.
Gannan enters the room
where Guryong is sleeping.
Guryong is taken aback and gets up.
What are you doing here?
I have a bellyache.
I have a bellyache when I'm ready to have children.
He feels woozy.
Your mother asked me not to miss
the opportunity. She wanted a grandchild.
He touches his hat.
Gannan gropes him.
Mother! Mother!
Mother!
Mother!
Guryong's mother in the living room strains her ear
to hear the noises coming from the other room.
Guryong's mother in the living room strains her ear
to hear the noises coming from the other room.
Gannan eventually comes back to the living room
and Guryong's mother looks at her.
He's such a good son. He's afraid he'll
have to abandon me if he takes you in.
That's why he's against it.
Being a good son is important,
but it is a great crime against
the ancestors to discontinue the bloodline.
Gannan avoids her.
I might have to secretly
leave for the mountain.
Gannan holds Guryong's mother.
Gannan holds Guryong's mother.
You have to take good care of him.
If you serve him well, he'll soon
get over the sorrow of being a cripple.
Gannan is sadly sobbing.
Gannan is sadly sobbing.
He wasn't born a cripple,
so the child will be fine.
Mother.
Guryong's mother goes out to the garden
to head for the mountain.
Guryong's mother goes out to the garden
to head for the mountain.
Guryong's mother is climbing a hill and panting.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
She said you depend on her
and don't wanna get married.
She left everything to me
and set out for the mountain
to offer her body to the Divine Spirit.
What?
It was your idea, wasn't it?
You talked her into leaving for
my sake, didn't you?
You sent her off to the Divine Spirit!
No, no!
You thought the cripple would be desperate
enough to abandon his mother for a woman?
What kind of an imbecile
deserts his mother
to take care of nine children
who belong to someone else?
Guryong, Guryong.
He pushes and treads on Gannan
as she grabs hold of him.
He pushes and treads on Gannan
as she grabs hold of him.
Mama, mama.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Mongrel! Swine! Die!
Get out. I turned a blind eye
when you stole potatoes from my hut,
and now you chase away
an old woman to the mountain?
Mother.
He dashes out to find his mother.
He dashes out to find his mother.
He dashes out to find his mother.
I can't steal to feed us all anymore.
Yeon, don't tell father that we took
a beating. He'll be heartbroken.
It will kill him if he finds out
we got battered because of hunger.
Mother. Mother...
Now he is looking for his mother
on the mountain path.
Now he is looking for his mother
on the mountain path.
Now he is looking for his mother
on the mountain path.
Mother.
He sees her behind some rocks at a distance
and then gets closer to her.
He sees her behind some rocks at a distance
and then gets closer to her.
He sees her behind some rocks at a distance
and then gets closer to her.
Don't come near me.
Stop thinking about saving your mother.
You should be thinking about having children with Gannan.
Mother, let's return to the village.
Even dogs and swine are slaughtered
after they bear children.
It's a sin for a man
not to have children.
This is absurd. I can't exchange
my own mother for a wife.
He returns with his mother on his back.
He returns with his mother on his back.
He returns with his mother on his back.
We've been praying for three years
and the famine hasn't ended.
The elderly have gone up to
the mountain, but it won't rain.
It is time we summon Saetaenim to
reveal the transgressions.
What's Saetaenim?
It's the spirit of a dead child.
Go buy a sacrificial child.
I'll buy one.
I can buy a child
with a sack of potatoes.
Here.
Mama, I'm hungry.
Here, drink some water.
Soo! Soo!
I've come to buy a sacrificial child.
It's a sin to starve
your children to death.
I hear the pockfaced girl
took a beating from Guryong.
If she becomes Saetaenim,
Guryong will surely be ruined.
Potatoes!
No! No! Shoo! Shoo!
Sell the pockfaced girl.
If you live another day,
you'll find another opportunity
to live on.
Gather up the potatoes.
Lady, this is no time to be mourning
over the dead child.
You should save
what you have left.
You!
Didn't Guryong chase
you from his house?
Pockface will always be taunted.
Pockface deserves to die.
Be a Saetaenim.
Go away, you pigs!
Uncle Guryong is waiting for us
to starve and die.
Mama, I'm going to accept the potatoes
from the shaman's house.
Yeon!
I don't care if I die as long as
I don't starve to death.
Yeon!
I hate Uncle Guryong.
Yeon!
Here she comes.
I've come for the potatoes.
- Bring the potatoes.
- Yes.
Here.
You don't care if the shaman kills you?
Being hungry is worse than death.
I'm worried mother and father
will forget about me
by the time they finish eating
these potatoes.
I hear Gannan sold Yeon
to the shaman
for potatoes rather than
letting the other children starve.
The shaman has no potatoes.
They were the ten brothers'.
What?
I want to buy back Yeon.
I'll give you ten sacks of potatoes.
The lives of the villagers
are depending on Saetaenim.
If you pull her out now,
they'll come after you.
How do you catch
a child's spirit?
If you stab her with a bamboo needle,
the spirit goes into the shaman.
Where will Saetaenim's spirit rest?
Not hell, not heaven,
and not my house.
I want to stretch my legs and rest on
the bull's eye of the shaman's fan.
Saetaenim, where will you go?
I shall visit the underworld,
read the Book of Fortunetelling
and learn about people's fates.
I shall return stolen goods to
the rightful owners.
The spirit crosses over!
Catch her with the fan!
Here she comes.
The offering! Something large to
get her going!
Grandmother Geum, you first.
I am now seventy.
It is time for me to give myself up
at the Sacred Peak,
yet my good son would not let me go.
What should I do?
Saetaenim descends!
I have read the fate hidden
in the Underworld!
If you ascend the Sacred Peak
on your good son's back,
nine spirits will gather rain
and save your people!
Mother, I will not abandon you.
Not even over my dead body.
All it takes is my life
to save many others!
Saetaenim, I will gladly burn in hell
for letting my children die,
but what will become of
the remaining seven?
Your offering!
I can't even afford an offering
for my own dead child!
Saetaenim wants your offering.
I have seen! I have seen!
I have read the fates!
Mother, dry your tears and
hear your child's wishes!
Go to the house on
the east side after midnight
and all your wishes will be granted.
Uncle Guryong, grant
all my mother's wishes!
I shan't eat.
It is a sin for an old,
useless woman like me
to squander the gift of heaven while
the young ones starve.
Yeon is a good girl.
We shouldn't have looked down on
her for being a pockface.
The young child has told her mother
to ask you for a favor.
You can't turn her down.
I was going to buy her back with
some potatoes. Take them.
Take them.
If I take them,
I'll be selling Yeon twice.
Yeon's Saetaenim told me to entrust
my body in your hands.
The starvation is making me dizzy.
I want to eat well from now on.
When you were a virgin, you ran away.
You ran away all those years ago,
calling me a cripple. Look at you now.
Hush. Yeon might give you a child.
I will try to sculpt one
who has your nose and eyes.
Hey, this way
Potatoes! Mine!
Ow, hot!
Stop right there.
Are you just giving up your wife
and children and walking away?
Are you being compassionate?
What!
If Guryong steals someone's wife
and kills the husband,
we can hang
the bitch and the bastard.
We want Guryong!
Look at this poor man.
He had his wife stolen
and lost his life, too.
Guryong killed him!
- I know nothing about this!
- Isn't this your sickle?
This is Guryong's.
If we let this go,
the ten brothers can steal wives
and kill their husbands, too!
Kill him! Kill him!
Hang the bitch and bastard!
Wait!
Hold on a second!
If you let us live, we'll give you
the land documents and potatoes!
Hang them!
If we kill them, the potatoes and
land documents will be ours.
- Pull!
- Guryong! Guryong!
Save my child!
You can't kill an innocent person!
Shut up, hag!
With all these normal people starving to
death, a cripple's death is no big deal.
It was you ten brothers who
turned Guryong into a cripple!
You hag!
Mother! Mother!
Guyrong! My son, Guryong!
I will save you!
You old fox
My son. My son, Guryong.
Will anyone save my son?
Shaman! Didn't Saetaenim tell us
yesterday that it would rain
if this old lady is sent up
the mountain?
A man who committed adultery
with someone else's wife,
and killed her husband must be
punished by death!
If you send this old crone up
the mountain on my son's back,
I'll make it rain and the village
will be prosperous again.
Please? Shaman, please save him.
Whatever it takes for the rain to come.
If you want to save your son, you'll
pray for rain with your sincerest heart.
Yes.
It is not going to rain!
Bring the back rack!
If it doesn't rain, you may kill him!
Bring it over!
Cut him loose.
Mother.
Guyrong.
Mother, please forgive your son.
For sacrificing you for my sin!
I am happy to do anything for you.
When you were born,
I was happy to be in pain and
I was happy to watch you grow.
I am also happy to go up
the mountain on your back.
God, here we go again.
Come on. You must return
before sundown.
We can rest if you're tired.
It's nothing compared to dying.
I was angry then.
I remarried to feed you, but turned
you into a cripple instead.
Perhaps there is no joy in life.
But raising you gave me joy.
I used to stay up at night
watching you sleep.
Because you didn't get married,
I was able to look after
you until I turned seventy.
I am a lucky mother.
Being on your back makes me drowsy,
like a child.
Do you remember the lullaby
you used to sing?
Sing it.
My mother used to sing this to me.
When I die, my mother will disappear
without a trace from this world!
What should I do?
Plod, plod, wanderer.
To where do you plod crying?
To where my mother lies sleeping
Once more to be her suckling.
Hang on tight, mother.
There's no turning back now.
I'm worried that you
won't be able to return.
This is no time to be worrying
about me, mother.
You're my only worry in the world.
Do not go. I'll give you gold.
Do not go. I'll give you silver.
Don't want no gold, Don't want no silver.
I'll go where my mother lies sleeping.
Be careful.
- Uncle!
- Geon! Geon!
Here.
Guryong, let me see
your face one last time.
With your beard grown,
you lookjust like your father.
Your father never had a kind word
for me since the day we met,
and he died without a word.
Be good to Gannan.
A woman has no one to trust
but her husband.
Here. Get up.
Guryong.
Take care of yourself after you marry.
You can't make
several children at a time.
If you try too hard to make up for
lost time, you'll wear yourself out.
Now, go!
Guryong.
Can't you walk properly just this once?
I think your heart is more crippled
than your body.
Walk straight. Go ahead.
Guryong, I got dust in my eye!
Can't you get it out before you go?
There. You're going blind, too.
You don't have a lot of time to live.
Have a good life with Gannan.
There's no reason why a cripple
can't live as well as others.
Go.
Guryong! I am scared! It's cold!
I am scared of dying alone
on a mountain peak!
I want to live.
It seems like only yesterday when
I was six and in my mother's arms!
Guryong! I want to live!
You only live once!
The life my mother gave me,
I want it to go on for a hundred,
two hundred years!
What did I just say?
First the eyes, then the ears,
and now my head. I must be going mad.
I must pray. I must pray to
the Divine Spirit for rain.
Go! The Divine Spirit is coming.
You ungrateful child, go!
Don't look back!
Gu... Gu...
Uncle, the back rack.
It's okay. Let's go.
Get the back rack.
I know the way now,
so I can take you up here
when you're old.
Mother, Geon says
I should get the back rack.
He's going to abandon me
here when I'm old.
You shouldn't come here. You'll end up
resenting your child for deserting you.
Mother!
Go! A mother can't say her
last prayer properly
with her son lingering
before her eyes.
Mother.
What now?
Let me get the dust out of
your eye again.
You got it just now.
Didn't you say you were cold?
Take my coat. Here.
How can a mother's heart warm up
wearing her son's coat?
The Divine Spirit won't even
look at a mother.
Who's wearing her son's coat.
He'll say she's rotten.
Here. Take it with you.
Guryong.
If I see the Divine Spirit later,
I'll ask about your foot
I'll ask him to fix your foot.
Grandma...
Uncle. Uncle. Grandma.
Just a little more, uncle.
I should rot in hell.
If you fall, I fall too!
Divine Spirit! Send us rain!
Let the good and bad all prosper!
Let it rain! Let it rain!
Rain! Grandma made it rain!
You're right!
Rain!
Mother!
Rain! Rain!
Rain!
Don't leave. When Guryong returns,
you will all die.
The Divine Spirit is on his side.
We're the ones who let Guryong go.
He just got lucky.
- You will die!
- Shut up!
He can't pay for adultery with rain.
You will die.
We will fight. Hang Gannan!
Okay!
You will die.
- Uncle.
- Oh, no.
The ten brothers killed her.
Damn
Give me your axe.
I'll put a spell on it.
You will win. The Divine Spirit
will avenge her death.
Quickly, go!
You swine, have you come to die?
You are the ones who'll die.
You'll die stricken with fear
like a bird in front of a snake.
You can't take nine of us!
The shaman has spoken!
You will die at my bare fists,
and you will harm no one
with your swords!
Lies!
For the past thirty years,
you've been living in fear
that I would kill you,
and I have been plotting my revenge!
Well, here's my chance.
Don't kill any more people!
We're not bad people!
We're not bad people!
It's your fate! The shaman said
things will not come to an end.
Until I kill you all!
It was the shaman's idea!
It's the shaman who
has turned us into enemies!
The shaman said things will not come to
an end until I kill you all!
No, No, No.
We're brothers! We used to
live under the same roof!
- My leg...
- The shaman...
- Mother?
- The shaman...
- The mute?
- The shaman...
- Gannan?
- The shaman...
You destroyed everything
that belonged to me!
No, we must call
each other brothers!
Brother!
Brother!
Brother!
Did you take care of them all?
My divination is never wrong.
There are two things
this village must get rid of.
One is the shaman,
and the other is the Ancient Tree.
What? The gods will strike you!
Silence! You've killed too many
at this rotting old tree!
This tree has been
guarding the village!
It killed its own people!
The tree kept evil out!
It kept some small evils out
and let the big ones in!
Aren't you afraid of the Divine Spirit?
The Divine Spirit watches
and does nothing!
When this tree comes down,
the Divine Spirit will also die.
Die! Die!
Die! Die!
Who will call Yeon's Saetaenim?
We don't have to call her.
Yeon's spirit will go free now.
How will we live?
Let's go plant seeds.
If there's someone to teach us,
we can learn to grow anything.
We can live off the things we grow.
Let's go.
Subtitles translation support
Literature Translation Institute of Korea
Subtitles translation: Jamie Chang
Proofreading: Andrew Eungi Kim
The End
and studio audience.
Today, we have invited some scholars
for an open discussion on
the serious problems of overpopulation
we face today.
First, a question for
a professor of Biology.
725 rats are born per rat every year.
I guess rats need population control
more than we do.
However, when
there's a shortage of food,
rats will eat each other to
avoid dying out.
Well, maybe people should do that, too!
How about a comment from
a professor of history?
In the past, many populations
faced near annihilation
during times of famine and war.
So it used to be customary for
parents over seventy
years old to be carried up to
top of the mountain to die.
Now, what are your thoughts?
You look over seventy.
If you lived in those days,
you would have been abandoned in
the mountains by now!
Nonsense! I am destined to live
a hundred years. It says so on my palm.
At this rate, we'll never
get the population under control!
Goryeojang
Directed by Kim Ki-young, 1963
Kim Jin-kyu, Kim Bo-ae, Ju Jeung-nyeo
Kim Dong-won, Lee Ye-chun, Park Am
Jeon Ok, Seok Geum-seong
Go Seon-ae, Wang Sook-rang
Choe Sam, Dokgo Seong, Cho Seok-geun
Go Seol-bong, Park Go-san
Kim Sa-seong, Kim Gyeong-tae
Lee Gwang-gi, Ahn Sang-gong
Park Gi-beom, Yu Man-seon, Park Tae-chul
Lee Yong-su, Lee Chun-seok
Jean Yeong-seon, Kim So-mi Nah Jeong-ok
Choe Heung-sook, Jeong Gyeong-hee
Planned by Kim Yeong-cheol, Song Seon-geun
Gaffer Seo Byeong-su
Assistant Directors Han Min, Park Jun-hwal
Director of Photography Kim Deok-jin
Art Director Park Seok-in, Kim Hyun Gyun
Miniature Models Kim Wan-taek, Kim Hak-hyeon
Stills Yang Jae Gu
Script Supervisor Lee Ga-shin
Composer Han Sang-gi, Special Effects Lee Sang-man
Sound Recording Jeong Gi-chhang
Composer Han Sang-gi, Special Effects Lee Sang-man
Sound Recording Jeong Gi-chhang
Yaha, I have arrived at last!
Directed by Kim Ki-young
Yaha, I have arrived at last!
Taesan, the high mountain!
Daehasu, the deep sea!
I drifted tens of millions of miles
in the wind and at last
I have come to answer the call of
the Mountain Spirit and the Earth Spirit.
Leave your offering here
for a good marriage!
This Ancient Tree is the keeper
of this village!
The tree has uncovered every theft,
adultery, and murder
and all the perpetrators
have been hanged here!
Do you remember how much it cost me
when I married you?
The children from your previous marriage
have ruined me! They chased me away!
I am bankrupt after four marriages.
Come along!
You will pay for getting rid of me!
May I be struck down by lightning
if I'm wrong!
Anyone home?
What on earth?
Don't be alarmed.
You are the fifth daughter-in-law.
The others didn't even last
three days in this house.
He has ten children by
his former wives.
Mother, let me bow to you.
You have a new brother now.
Guryong, you are my son now.
Bow to me and call me father.
Father.
Bastard, what gives you the right to
call him father? Beat him up!
Stop it, boys! Stop it, I say!
The soil here has turned into sand.
Many starve to death during famines.
We can't eat to our hearts' content.
That is true everywhere.
It is a sin to be full.
True.
Mama, will they feed us tomorrow?
Mama got married so that
you will not go hungry.
For that, you can't sleep with me
from now on, okay?
Okay.
Idiot, can't even eat
with his own two hands?
He's acting like a retard.
Oh, it is such a big flaw.
I can't possibly tell anyone.
I plan to pass on the housework
to my new daughter-in-law.
I've asked many times and
my fortune-teller keeps predicting
that the ten brothers will die
at the hands of the new son.
Those who harm me will get
what they deserve.
The ten brothers will hang from
the Ancient Tree some day!
I'm scared. I'm scared.
To be a part of the village,
you must follow tradition.
Whoever turns seventy must pass
the rice bowl to the next generation
and be carried up on the son's back
to the Sacred Peak to die.
One can die comfortably up
on the Sacred Peak.
Overnight, your flesh and spirit rise up
to the heavens, leaving just the bones.
I am already seventy. I stayed longer
because there was no daughter-in-law.
The gods must be angry.
When you are seventy,
you must go up the mountain too.
I must ask you for one last favor.
The shaman's prediction worries me...
Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!
Grandma! Grandma! Grandma!
Grandma's probably all bones by now.
They say if you pray really hard
before you die up there,
The Divine Spirit grants you one wish.
Grandma said she'll pray for us
so the bastard won't kill us all.
Shut up!
Mom, can I have a potato?
No. It's unfair to your brothers.
But I lit the fire for you.
All right. Make sure
they don't see you.
Okay.
Here you go.
That bastard!
Her son's the only one with a mouth?
They will let us all starve to death!
Drag him out to the backyard!
Eat quickly, child.
Ah, it's hot.
Your balls will fall off if you play
in the kitchen. Open your mouth.
I smell potato!
Come here. You know what these are?
They are tiger teeth. You want these?
Yes.
If you can catch us,
they're yours. Are you in?
Yes.
Blindfold him.
Now clap!
Here! We're over here!
I'm right here!
Catch me if you can!
We're over here!
Guryong!
Who put that snake there?
It was me.
You rascal!
Grandma went to the shaman and she said
that Guryong was going to kill us all!
What?
Never mind. He's so crazy about that
woman he doesn't care if we live or die!
Cheol handles snakes better than
a snake charmer.
I read his fortune. This one's destined
to kill all his stepbrothers.
Please save my son.
I lost my husband and
five sons in the last famine.
I only managed to save this one.
Let's send the dead spirits
on to the next world.
Rice cakes!
Don't eat it. It's for the ghosts.
Guryong.
Mom, I don't care if we starve.
Let's leave.
Yes, let's leave. If you can stand hunger,
you're not afraid of anything.
The shaman said Guryong's strong chi
will kill off everyone else to survive.
We should go. Give us
a little piece of land to live on.
He's crippled,
and all for a few bowls of rice!
Father! Father!
Go away!
Father! Father!
Get away from me!
Father!
You scoundrels!
Twenty years later
Would you like some water?
Farming must be twice as hard for you.
I may be an invalid, but I've managed
to get a house and some land.
What about a woman?
I need a short one.
A cow gives birth to one calf
at a time, but rats can have ten.
Why don't you marry a hen?
She'll lay you 365 eggs a year.
Meet me later?
And ruin myself?
Guryong.
Yes?
If you're meeting Gannan today, make sure
you wet this towel and bring it back.
Don't let this one go.
No woman will ever want a cripple.
Here.
I have to go. Mama says
Guryong's a poor thing.
Life's hard enough even with
all your limbs working fine.
Don't look at my legs when you talk.
I have nothing against it.
It's not that I don't like it.
Gannan, shh...
Mama says if you do it in the grass
you'll have the child of a snake.
Shh,Gannan.
Mama says if Guryong asks to sleep with
you, tell him it's an unlucky period.
Mama says Guryong's a widow's son
and needs to take care of his mama.
Don't talk about mother.
Guryong's about to get married,
and you're just laying there?
The ten brothers are still bachelors!
I married five times
without anyone's help!
We'll get the provisions for marriage
if we take back the land we gave Guryong.
We lost that land to him
because of a snake bite!
If we lost it, we should get it back!
Brother.
Guryong dug up a ginseng root
at Cloud Rock!
That rascal!
He's found his marriage provisions.
Bow.
The groom bowed first!
For heaven's sake, this is
so embarrassing. He's pathetic!
A man can make mistakes
every once in a while!
But if a bride farts while bowing,
she will never be forgiven!
Quiet! Bow, now.
Just think of a man as a large python.
Even if it's terrifying,
or if it gives you gooseflesh,
or if it tickles,
you have to hold it all in.
Here, look. This is a man.
Feed my son-in-law plenty of pork!
Boars have great stamina!
They can produce ten piglets at a time.
Having lots of children is good,
but I'm worried one of them might be a cripple.
Shut up!
Okay, let's send him
into the bride's room.
If we keep him too long, he might have
a little accident outside the gates.
Here we go.
Here he comes, here he comes.
Here comes the large python.
She's finished!
My daughter is finished!
It is her fate.
Child! Give me the headdress
and the gown.
They were rented.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
In the garden of the bride's house.
The in-laws are having a chat.
I was afraid I couldn't marry off
a son raised by a widow.
This is all thanks to
the Divine Spirit.
My only child marrying a cripple!
The Divine Spirit can be cruel.
Mother is feeling sad about
her daughter's marriage to a crippled man.
Mother is feeling sad about
her daughter's marriage to a crippled man.
In the room for the wedding night. Guryong loosens the bride's
clothes and throws her to the ground, which shocks her.
The wedding guests are dancing in the bride's garden.
Guryong's mother is dancing too.
The wedding guests are dancing in the bride's garden.
Guryong's mother is dancing too.
The wedding guests are dancing in the bride's garden.
Guryong's mother is dancing too.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
The bride rushes out of the room with a scream.
What is it?
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
The mute bride mutters to her mother,
who relays the whole story to those around her.
That devil has knocked
her out five times!
Guryonglea ves the room and his mother is
shocked that the bride is a mute.
That shrew!
She must be a mute!
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
The in-laws wrangle with each other,
badmouthing each other's children.
Your daughter can't spit out
even a single word!
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
The matchmaker tries to calm
both of them down somehow.
They're both disabled.
They are a match made in heaven.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
The in-laws' badmouthing progresses into a quarrel.
On the village road, the wedding parade appears.
As the bride's scream escapes her sedan chair,
Guryong, who is riding on a horse, looks back.
As the bride's scream escapes her sedan chair,
Guryong, who is riding on a horse, looks back.
Oh no, the bride needs to take a piss.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
While the bridesmaid and matchmaker
are embarrassed, the groom keeps going.
What on earth is this?
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's, the bride is
tied up. Guryong and his mother are worried about her.
Guryong stops eating the potatoes.
He forces the bride to eat some food.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
In the room opposite Chilbong's, the ten brothers
share rumors about Guryong and his wife.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
Cheol the oldest of the ten brothers, and his younger
brothers conspire to trade Guryong's wife for the land deeds.
In Guryong's garden, Bong, one of the ten brothers,
goes into the house and looks around carefully.
In the room opposite Guryong's mother's,
Bong lets Guryong's wife loose.
Bong unties the rope from her.
Bong takes her out.
Guryong's wife follows him and spits.
She follows Bong through the garden quietly.
Bong takes her behind some rocks and she smiles.
Bong smiles at her and as he whistles,
brothers Dok and Min in hiding come out.
She falls over in shock and crawls toward
the water's edge. The brothers follow and rape her.
She falls over in shock and crawls toward
the water's edge. The brothers follow and rape her.
She falls over in shock and crawls toward
the water's edge. The brothers follow and rape her.
She lifts her skirt and covers her face with it.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
Dok and Min argue but Bong watches, smiling.
In the Guryong's garden, the ten brothers storm in.
Father lent you this land.
It's time we got it back.
They demand that Guryong and
his mother to return their land.
They demand that Guryong and
his mother to return their land.
They demand that Guryong and
his mother to return their land.
According to the land document,
it's ours.
Trade in the land document
for your new wife.
Never!
The ten brothers leave.
Guryong leads the village people
to Chilbong's garden.
Did you bring the land deeds?
I heard rumors your brothers
violated the new wife.
She ran away,
and we kept her at our house.
Are you aware that the penalty
for violating another's wife is
hanging on the Ancient Tree
at the shaman's place?
We did no such thing.
I swear on my life.
As the ten brothers take Guryong's wife outside,
Guryong is shocked. She is crying.
You would really risk your life?
Why don't you ask her?
Mutes can't talk, but they can gesture.
Those villains!
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
Guryong urges her to point out
the ones who violated her.
The shaman was right.
I will have to kill three people.
I've decided to forget
about this incident.
If I'm to forgive and live in
this village, I can't kill three people.
Give me the land deeds instead!
Cheol helplessly hands over the land deeds.
Guryong leaves, holding in his frustration.
You animal! You did it, too,
didn't you? You son of a bitch!
After Guryong leaves, Cheol, who didn't know
his brothers raped her, angrily beats them.
After Guryong leaves, Cheol, who didn't know
his brothers raped her, angrily beats them.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
In Guryong's mother's room, Guryong and
his mother discuss what to do with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
She advises him to have children with her.
If you plant buckwheat,
you get buckwheat.
Guryong contemplates this idea.
While Guryong's wife gets a fire going in the kitchen,
Guryong leaves the room and goes to the kitchen.
He takes her to the barn.
She falls down in the barn and Guryong watches it.
Guryong cuddles her and lies down with her
on the ground. The ceiling is seen in her eyes.
Strange. Someone throws
a pebble here every night.
Maybe a virgin from
the village wants to see you.
Look. There are no virgins
in this village.
Huh? Who is it?
Give us the mute!
Where is she?
Give us the mute, or
we'll burn your house down.
Look at this knife!
What can we do?
She can't hear anyone or say anything.
She just has to guess
what's going on.
She left everything to me
and set out for the mountain
She died thinking she deserves it
because she's a mute.
Never bother me again.
Fifteen years later
Three years of drought, and I'll die
of thirst before I die of hunger.
I bought this water from the ten brothers
in exchange for potatoes.
Potatoes.
Potatoes.
We've had three years of famine.
We don't have a single potato left.
Our house is the only one
in the village with a well.
You should share.
No way!
Has anyone in this village ever
given us a sip of water?
Still, have mercy.
Get out of the way!
What's all this?
Quiet, all of you!
She did not fall to her death.
She died of starvation.
Anyone dare argue with me?
Has anyone ever given us
a single potato?
Give her a sip of water
for the last time.
Show everyone
we are good people.
Shit, we can't get money
for water anymore.
Let's get rid of the freeloader
before we starve.
Send father up to the mountain.
You fools, I don't even drink water.
If you go up the mountain
you won't even have to.
If I have to die, I'll die here.
I'm not going up the mountain.
Don't make a mockery of our family.
just give up your rice bowl for us.
How dare you!
Father, you're being unreasonable.
How about this?
We'll toss a coin and
if it's tails you go up the mountain.
Don't worry father.
The Divine Spirit will protect you.
It's heads! Look!
The Divine Spirit is on your side!
Don't put too much faith
in the Divine Spirit.
We'll get tails before ten days pass.
With this many potatoes,
I can buy all the land in the village.
Of course, I'll only save whatever's
leftover after you've had your fill.
You shouldn't take
other people's land for nothing.
These potatoes are expensive!
They were grown by the damned cripple who
worked ten, twenty times harder to produce them.
I can't sell that piece of land
for two sacks of potatoes!
It's better than starving to death!
You could be a little kinder
at times like these!
Forget it! Don't expect kindness from
an invalid! Will you or will you not sell?
Crook.
Grandma! Grandma!
Mother!
What brings you here?
The children are about to starve to
death! I came hoping you could help us.
There's nothing to drink
in our village, let alone food.
Say hello to your grandmother!
Grandma, hello!
Darling, this is my mother.
Mother, the children are starving.
Please give them something to eat.
Grandma, I'm hungry.
Darling.
Where did grandpa hide the potatoes?
Doesn't matter.
My nose will find them.
Quickly! Where is it?
Search over there.
It's not here either.
If I had known we would starve
at my parents' house too,
I wouldn't have brought us all here.
Go borrow some potatoes.
Didn't Guryong have anything for you?
I can't go there.
Our children are about to die.
This is not the time to save face.
What if we can't find them?
Where are they? Quick, find them!
Over here. It's over here.
- Look!
- Potatoes!
Dear, dear...
Children! You rascals!
These are seed potatoes!
If the drought ends, the two of us
will die without the seed potatoes.
Stop! Stop!
Water... Mom, we have water!
Guryong, Gannan is here.
What do you want?
The children are about to die.
She's here to borrow a sack of potatoes.
Where is your shame?
And is there no shame in a cripple
asking for a woman with working limbs?
Guryong!
What? Cripple?
I hear you're buying land with
potatoes. You're beating women now?
I'll loan you the potatoes.
I am also a mother who
starved all her children, except one.
Let's go inside.
You promised you wouldn't come here.
Now that I've had my revenge,
life has become so empty.
We're very lonely people.
We have no relatives,
and we couldn't help anyone either.
I should have said this earlier, but
won't you send me up to the mountain?
Mother.
If I pray up in
the mountain and it rains,
people will say there was once
an old lady whose prayer was granted.
Mother, I live for you.
I know.
What else would a cripple
like me live for?
What's going on?
You've found water in this well?
If everyone digs a well,
we can't sell our water anymore.
You said you wouldn't
bother me anymore!
Get the corpse!
Let's go.
I hate grandma!
Isn't this the last of
the loaned potatoes?
If I die and you become a widow,
no-one will marry you before
the three-year mourning period ends.
You should remarry before I die.
Who'll take a woman with nine children?
Try Guryong.
Convince him to take you in.
Do it before I die.
You can't drink that water.
Why not?
The ten brothers dropped
a corpse in there.
I can stand the hunger,
but I can't stand the thirst.
Do you want some leftover potatoes?
Let's go inside.
Are you sure it'll be okay?
Don't worry about Guryong.
I'm ashamed.
Go on.
A woman is never full.
When a woman is young,
she's afraid of her in-laws.
When she has children,
they eat everything.
When she's old, her stomach shrinks
so she can't eat much.
I wish someone would buy my body.
Will you give us a child?
I would like to raise one.
Send a girl. She'll be
of help around the house.
They're all so young.
The younger the live-in bride,
the better. It's easier to teach her.
Would any of you leave to
become a stepchild?
I'll give you these potatoes. You?
You? You? You?
I'll go.
You all call me pockface and treat me
poorly. I'd rather go live there.
Here she is.
You won't miss home
if you came to live with us?
A woman is not supposed to be
homesick after she marries.
You are bright.
I'm good at housework
and I'm devoted to my husband.
Ok.
I've decided to take in a child.
You're a pockface.
I'm a pockface,
but only a little bit.
He's the master of this house.
Pay your respects.
Please keep me from
going hungry, mister.
Forget it.
They already call this the freak house,
and you brought in a pockface?
Damn.
Look! Mister's a cripple!
Clip clop clip clop!
Here's your meal.
What are you looking at?
Mama always sat beside
father during his meals.
In case he chews on any stone bits.
Try the vegetables.
I made them.
It's a bit bland. Maybe
it's because the pockface made it.
A cripple picking on a pockface?
You're one to talk!
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
In Gannan's garden, while Gannan and
her children are waiting, Yeon arrives.
She will bring us food without eating any.
Here she comes.
Mom, that stupid man told me not to eat much.
Did he find out?
Don't worry. He can do nothing to me.
Here you are.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
The children hungrily devour the potatoes.
Delicious?
Yeon walks out, feeling sad.
Here...
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
In Chilbong's barn, Cheol decides not to give food
to his father Chilbong, when a tossed coin comes up tails.
Our father will stop eating from now on
Chilbong is outraged.
Chilbong is outraged.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
Cheol doesn't care.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
The ten brothers are wailing
in front of their father who is still alive.
Oh, my father...
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
In Guryong's barn, he and his mother
take the potatoes out.
When the rain comes
and the famine is over,
you can't have Gannan. Not even
if you have a mountain of potatoes.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
Guryong's mother urges him to abandon herself
on the mountain and to get Gannan.
What kind of a son chooses his wife
over his mother?
Guryong. Guryong!
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
In the living room of Guryong's house,
Guryong's mother and Gannan are talking.
and return to town if
somebody would look after the children.
Guryong enters the room.
Guryong enters the room.
Guryong enters the room.
Mom, whose clothes are these?
I'm making clothes for you to wear
after I've gone up the mountain.
What?
Guryong, give me that
hairpin on your head.
I hear that if women use
men's hairpin, they can
conceive without sleeping with
them. Here you go.
He is surprised.
He is surprised.
You have to drink this water, too.
In fact, he is stunned.
Guryong and his mother go to the barn.
In Gannan's living room, Gannan's emaciated
husband is lying down and sweating.
She puts her hairpin on the back of her head.
She then leaves the room and
exits the house through the garden.
In Guryong's living room, as Guryong's mother
shakes her head, Gannan leaves the room.
Gannan enters the room
where Guryong is sleeping.
Guryong is taken aback and gets up.
What are you doing here?
I have a bellyache.
I have a bellyache when I'm ready to have children.
He feels woozy.
Your mother asked me not to miss
the opportunity. She wanted a grandchild.
He touches his hat.
Gannan gropes him.
Mother! Mother!
Mother!
Mother!
Guryong's mother in the living room strains her ear
to hear the noises coming from the other room.
Guryong's mother in the living room strains her ear
to hear the noises coming from the other room.
Gannan eventually comes back to the living room
and Guryong's mother looks at her.
He's such a good son. He's afraid he'll
have to abandon me if he takes you in.
That's why he's against it.
Being a good son is important,
but it is a great crime against
the ancestors to discontinue the bloodline.
Gannan avoids her.
I might have to secretly
leave for the mountain.
Gannan holds Guryong's mother.
Gannan holds Guryong's mother.
You have to take good care of him.
If you serve him well, he'll soon
get over the sorrow of being a cripple.
Gannan is sadly sobbing.
Gannan is sadly sobbing.
He wasn't born a cripple,
so the child will be fine.
Mother.
Guryong's mother goes out to the garden
to head for the mountain.
Guryong's mother goes out to the garden
to head for the mountain.
Guryong's mother is climbing a hill and panting.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
Guryong questions Gannan in the living room.
She said you depend on her
and don't wanna get married.
She left everything to me
and set out for the mountain
to offer her body to the Divine Spirit.
What?
It was your idea, wasn't it?
You talked her into leaving for
my sake, didn't you?
You sent her off to the Divine Spirit!
No, no!
You thought the cripple would be desperate
enough to abandon his mother for a woman?
What kind of an imbecile
deserts his mother
to take care of nine children
who belong to someone else?
Guryong, Guryong.
He pushes and treads on Gannan
as she grabs hold of him.
He pushes and treads on Gannan
as she grabs hold of him.
Mama, mama.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Yeon comes in and pulls them apart.
Mongrel! Swine! Die!
Get out. I turned a blind eye
when you stole potatoes from my hut,
and now you chase away
an old woman to the mountain?
Mother.
He dashes out to find his mother.
He dashes out to find his mother.
He dashes out to find his mother.
I can't steal to feed us all anymore.
Yeon, don't tell father that we took
a beating. He'll be heartbroken.
It will kill him if he finds out
we got battered because of hunger.
Mother. Mother...
Now he is looking for his mother
on the mountain path.
Now he is looking for his mother
on the mountain path.
Now he is looking for his mother
on the mountain path.
Mother.
He sees her behind some rocks at a distance
and then gets closer to her.
He sees her behind some rocks at a distance
and then gets closer to her.
He sees her behind some rocks at a distance
and then gets closer to her.
Don't come near me.
Stop thinking about saving your mother.
You should be thinking about having children with Gannan.
Mother, let's return to the village.
Even dogs and swine are slaughtered
after they bear children.
It's a sin for a man
not to have children.
This is absurd. I can't exchange
my own mother for a wife.
He returns with his mother on his back.
He returns with his mother on his back.
He returns with his mother on his back.
We've been praying for three years
and the famine hasn't ended.
The elderly have gone up to
the mountain, but it won't rain.
It is time we summon Saetaenim to
reveal the transgressions.
What's Saetaenim?
It's the spirit of a dead child.
Go buy a sacrificial child.
I'll buy one.
I can buy a child
with a sack of potatoes.
Here.
Mama, I'm hungry.
Here, drink some water.
Soo! Soo!
I've come to buy a sacrificial child.
It's a sin to starve
your children to death.
I hear the pockfaced girl
took a beating from Guryong.
If she becomes Saetaenim,
Guryong will surely be ruined.
Potatoes!
No! No! Shoo! Shoo!
Sell the pockfaced girl.
If you live another day,
you'll find another opportunity
to live on.
Gather up the potatoes.
Lady, this is no time to be mourning
over the dead child.
You should save
what you have left.
You!
Didn't Guryong chase
you from his house?
Pockface will always be taunted.
Pockface deserves to die.
Be a Saetaenim.
Go away, you pigs!
Uncle Guryong is waiting for us
to starve and die.
Mama, I'm going to accept the potatoes
from the shaman's house.
Yeon!
I don't care if I die as long as
I don't starve to death.
Yeon!
I hate Uncle Guryong.
Yeon!
Here she comes.
I've come for the potatoes.
- Bring the potatoes.
- Yes.
Here.
You don't care if the shaman kills you?
Being hungry is worse than death.
I'm worried mother and father
will forget about me
by the time they finish eating
these potatoes.
I hear Gannan sold Yeon
to the shaman
for potatoes rather than
letting the other children starve.
The shaman has no potatoes.
They were the ten brothers'.
What?
I want to buy back Yeon.
I'll give you ten sacks of potatoes.
The lives of the villagers
are depending on Saetaenim.
If you pull her out now,
they'll come after you.
How do you catch
a child's spirit?
If you stab her with a bamboo needle,
the spirit goes into the shaman.
Where will Saetaenim's spirit rest?
Not hell, not heaven,
and not my house.
I want to stretch my legs and rest on
the bull's eye of the shaman's fan.
Saetaenim, where will you go?
I shall visit the underworld,
read the Book of Fortunetelling
and learn about people's fates.
I shall return stolen goods to
the rightful owners.
The spirit crosses over!
Catch her with the fan!
Here she comes.
The offering! Something large to
get her going!
Grandmother Geum, you first.
I am now seventy.
It is time for me to give myself up
at the Sacred Peak,
yet my good son would not let me go.
What should I do?
Saetaenim descends!
I have read the fate hidden
in the Underworld!
If you ascend the Sacred Peak
on your good son's back,
nine spirits will gather rain
and save your people!
Mother, I will not abandon you.
Not even over my dead body.
All it takes is my life
to save many others!
Saetaenim, I will gladly burn in hell
for letting my children die,
but what will become of
the remaining seven?
Your offering!
I can't even afford an offering
for my own dead child!
Saetaenim wants your offering.
I have seen! I have seen!
I have read the fates!
Mother, dry your tears and
hear your child's wishes!
Go to the house on
the east side after midnight
and all your wishes will be granted.
Uncle Guryong, grant
all my mother's wishes!
I shan't eat.
It is a sin for an old,
useless woman like me
to squander the gift of heaven while
the young ones starve.
Yeon is a good girl.
We shouldn't have looked down on
her for being a pockface.
The young child has told her mother
to ask you for a favor.
You can't turn her down.
I was going to buy her back with
some potatoes. Take them.
Take them.
If I take them,
I'll be selling Yeon twice.
Yeon's Saetaenim told me to entrust
my body in your hands.
The starvation is making me dizzy.
I want to eat well from now on.
When you were a virgin, you ran away.
You ran away all those years ago,
calling me a cripple. Look at you now.
Hush. Yeon might give you a child.
I will try to sculpt one
who has your nose and eyes.
Hey, this way
Potatoes! Mine!
Ow, hot!
Stop right there.
Are you just giving up your wife
and children and walking away?
Are you being compassionate?
What!
If Guryong steals someone's wife
and kills the husband,
we can hang
the bitch and the bastard.
We want Guryong!
Look at this poor man.
He had his wife stolen
and lost his life, too.
Guryong killed him!
- I know nothing about this!
- Isn't this your sickle?
This is Guryong's.
If we let this go,
the ten brothers can steal wives
and kill their husbands, too!
Kill him! Kill him!
Hang the bitch and bastard!
Wait!
Hold on a second!
If you let us live, we'll give you
the land documents and potatoes!
Hang them!
If we kill them, the potatoes and
land documents will be ours.
- Pull!
- Guryong! Guryong!
Save my child!
You can't kill an innocent person!
Shut up, hag!
With all these normal people starving to
death, a cripple's death is no big deal.
It was you ten brothers who
turned Guryong into a cripple!
You hag!
Mother! Mother!
Guyrong! My son, Guryong!
I will save you!
You old fox
My son. My son, Guryong.
Will anyone save my son?
Shaman! Didn't Saetaenim tell us
yesterday that it would rain
if this old lady is sent up
the mountain?
A man who committed adultery
with someone else's wife,
and killed her husband must be
punished by death!
If you send this old crone up
the mountain on my son's back,
I'll make it rain and the village
will be prosperous again.
Please? Shaman, please save him.
Whatever it takes for the rain to come.
If you want to save your son, you'll
pray for rain with your sincerest heart.
Yes.
It is not going to rain!
Bring the back rack!
If it doesn't rain, you may kill him!
Bring it over!
Cut him loose.
Mother.
Guyrong.
Mother, please forgive your son.
For sacrificing you for my sin!
I am happy to do anything for you.
When you were born,
I was happy to be in pain and
I was happy to watch you grow.
I am also happy to go up
the mountain on your back.
God, here we go again.
Come on. You must return
before sundown.
We can rest if you're tired.
It's nothing compared to dying.
I was angry then.
I remarried to feed you, but turned
you into a cripple instead.
Perhaps there is no joy in life.
But raising you gave me joy.
I used to stay up at night
watching you sleep.
Because you didn't get married,
I was able to look after
you until I turned seventy.
I am a lucky mother.
Being on your back makes me drowsy,
like a child.
Do you remember the lullaby
you used to sing?
Sing it.
My mother used to sing this to me.
When I die, my mother will disappear
without a trace from this world!
What should I do?
Plod, plod, wanderer.
To where do you plod crying?
To where my mother lies sleeping
Once more to be her suckling.
Hang on tight, mother.
There's no turning back now.
I'm worried that you
won't be able to return.
This is no time to be worrying
about me, mother.
You're my only worry in the world.
Do not go. I'll give you gold.
Do not go. I'll give you silver.
Don't want no gold, Don't want no silver.
I'll go where my mother lies sleeping.
Be careful.
- Uncle!
- Geon! Geon!
Here.
Guryong, let me see
your face one last time.
With your beard grown,
you lookjust like your father.
Your father never had a kind word
for me since the day we met,
and he died without a word.
Be good to Gannan.
A woman has no one to trust
but her husband.
Here. Get up.
Guryong.
Take care of yourself after you marry.
You can't make
several children at a time.
If you try too hard to make up for
lost time, you'll wear yourself out.
Now, go!
Guryong.
Can't you walk properly just this once?
I think your heart is more crippled
than your body.
Walk straight. Go ahead.
Guryong, I got dust in my eye!
Can't you get it out before you go?
There. You're going blind, too.
You don't have a lot of time to live.
Have a good life with Gannan.
There's no reason why a cripple
can't live as well as others.
Go.
Guryong! I am scared! It's cold!
I am scared of dying alone
on a mountain peak!
I want to live.
It seems like only yesterday when
I was six and in my mother's arms!
Guryong! I want to live!
You only live once!
The life my mother gave me,
I want it to go on for a hundred,
two hundred years!
What did I just say?
First the eyes, then the ears,
and now my head. I must be going mad.
I must pray. I must pray to
the Divine Spirit for rain.
Go! The Divine Spirit is coming.
You ungrateful child, go!
Don't look back!
Gu... Gu...
Uncle, the back rack.
It's okay. Let's go.
Get the back rack.
I know the way now,
so I can take you up here
when you're old.
Mother, Geon says
I should get the back rack.
He's going to abandon me
here when I'm old.
You shouldn't come here. You'll end up
resenting your child for deserting you.
Mother!
Go! A mother can't say her
last prayer properly
with her son lingering
before her eyes.
Mother.
What now?
Let me get the dust out of
your eye again.
You got it just now.
Didn't you say you were cold?
Take my coat. Here.
How can a mother's heart warm up
wearing her son's coat?
The Divine Spirit won't even
look at a mother.
Who's wearing her son's coat.
He'll say she's rotten.
Here. Take it with you.
Guryong.
If I see the Divine Spirit later,
I'll ask about your foot
I'll ask him to fix your foot.
Grandma...
Uncle. Uncle. Grandma.
Just a little more, uncle.
I should rot in hell.
If you fall, I fall too!
Divine Spirit! Send us rain!
Let the good and bad all prosper!
Let it rain! Let it rain!
Rain! Grandma made it rain!
You're right!
Rain!
Mother!
Rain! Rain!
Rain!
Don't leave. When Guryong returns,
you will all die.
The Divine Spirit is on his side.
We're the ones who let Guryong go.
He just got lucky.
- You will die!
- Shut up!
He can't pay for adultery with rain.
You will die.
We will fight. Hang Gannan!
Okay!
You will die.
- Uncle.
- Oh, no.
The ten brothers killed her.
Damn
Give me your axe.
I'll put a spell on it.
You will win. The Divine Spirit
will avenge her death.
Quickly, go!
You swine, have you come to die?
You are the ones who'll die.
You'll die stricken with fear
like a bird in front of a snake.
You can't take nine of us!
The shaman has spoken!
You will die at my bare fists,
and you will harm no one
with your swords!
Lies!
For the past thirty years,
you've been living in fear
that I would kill you,
and I have been plotting my revenge!
Well, here's my chance.
Don't kill any more people!
We're not bad people!
We're not bad people!
It's your fate! The shaman said
things will not come to an end.
Until I kill you all!
It was the shaman's idea!
It's the shaman who
has turned us into enemies!
The shaman said things will not come to
an end until I kill you all!
No, No, No.
We're brothers! We used to
live under the same roof!
- My leg...
- The shaman...
- Mother?
- The shaman...
- The mute?
- The shaman...
- Gannan?
- The shaman...
You destroyed everything
that belonged to me!
No, we must call
each other brothers!
Brother!
Brother!
Brother!
Did you take care of them all?
My divination is never wrong.
There are two things
this village must get rid of.
One is the shaman,
and the other is the Ancient Tree.
What? The gods will strike you!
Silence! You've killed too many
at this rotting old tree!
This tree has been
guarding the village!
It killed its own people!
The tree kept evil out!
It kept some small evils out
and let the big ones in!
Aren't you afraid of the Divine Spirit?
The Divine Spirit watches
and does nothing!
When this tree comes down,
the Divine Spirit will also die.
Die! Die!
Die! Die!
Who will call Yeon's Saetaenim?
We don't have to call her.
Yeon's spirit will go free now.
How will we live?
Let's go plant seeds.
If there's someone to teach us,
we can learn to grow anything.
We can live off the things we grow.
Let's go.
Subtitles translation support
Literature Translation Institute of Korea
Subtitles translation: Jamie Chang
Proofreading: Andrew Eungi Kim
The End