River Without Buoys (1984) - full transcript

The film describes the frustrated experience and love of Pan Laowu, who drains off waste water. It reflects the suffering brought about by the ultra-left route,

XinanFiJmMaldngCompany

THE RIVERWITHOUT BUOYS

Suiptwritet Ye WeiJin

Director Wu 'fianming

Photographing:
Liu Changxu Zhu Kongyang

A11: Lu Guangcai
Composer: Xu Youfu

Producer: Mi Baichao

Xiao river,old river

We are living beside it

Just like children
can't depart with mother

It feed suson clean water and earth



tempers ourwillwithwind
rainandburning sun

glfidesuswitholdexperience

The story just happened on this old river

But the story itself is not old

Time has passed before long

Everythingisjustfresh

Don't sing

Do Idisturb you

Zhaonang move to left a little

LeftOk

That’s right

Young man can do more without weariness

Shit when others do all the things,what about you

I



Old guy...

Whom do you curse?

You.only capable of lip-service

Without me,you can't lay down the raft

1000 yuan for one raft
whereby you can get 400

But Zhaoliang and I get 300 each

Whereby’lJust because I am Pan Iaowu

Ridiculous,it’s not done without fairness

Rebellion isn't unusual these years

I won't tolerate it

Get done or get lost

You get lost

Do you want to stir up and battle

Come on

Come on

Shi Gu.why? — you can't do that

Be fine,Iao Pan

ShiGu —Leaveus

You want let off steam on me

Iamnotthatpunchingbag

Shi Gu.days are boring

Everyoneisthesame

Take it easy

Torturing yourself for woman is not worthy

Peoplelayingraftventure
theirlifeinwindandrain

It’s better to be single

Tobesingleistobefree

Nonsense

Nonsense? I am an experienced one

Iwasyoungonce

andhadalovedwoman

But finally...

In the spring,1931

IlaidrafttoShuanghejie

Brother

Couldyouletmewashclothesontheraft

Come

But be quick

OtherwiseIwilltakeyou
awaybyunleashingthecable

Takemeawayeveniftothehorizon

Hecameagainonthenextmorning

Wewerefamiliarinthatway

Her name is Wu Aihua.a good girl

Inthenextspring

IagainstoppedmyraftinShuanghejie

IaoWu

Iao Weitou

Areyou still alive

It’s worse than die

Whatfishdoyouhave

You are lucky

Whoistheinviter,havingalovedonetoo

Iamalreadytoooldtodothat

How much

Why do you say that.just up to you

Take it

Iamsufferingloseinthisway

It’sbetterthan
ifyousellittothemarket

You don't need to hide everywhere
or you will be accused of capitalism

Does fishing offend the law

I heard that Li Jiadong
director of reforming committee

Had a broadcast meeting yesterday

Unanimous action will
be taken to cleanse capitalism

How

IaoWu.whendoyou
cometohaveadrinkwithme

To cleanse capitalism
is tantamount to confiscate private plot

Cutfrlfittreesandcookchiclxenandduck

Shit It’s poorer to get rid of capitalism

Do it,do it
cutthe tailand thenthe throat

Theworldmightseepeace
whenpeoplehavenothingtoeatanddrink

What about later,you and Wu Aihua

My raft took the
ground in Shuanghe jie for days

WuAihuawashedclothes
ontherafteveryday

Iatethadtoleave

IwillbebackafterIgettothecapital

You'd better send
a matchmaker to my home soon

Sure

From Tomb-sweeping Day
to Dragon Boat Festival

Iwillwaitforyouhereeveryday

Aihua

In that spring,water is so torrential
that raftwas sent to Iaohu Tan

but only to meet flood

Raftwas moved away,so was people

Iwasindebt

How could I possibly marry Wu Aihua

Good relations couldn't serve as food

It’s said before

People laying raft
should better not get married

Evenalive,theirwives hadtobewidow

When dead,even the body couldn't be found

Really,Ishouldnotlayraft
inthemiddleofmylife

I've told you

I'venowaybecauseIhaveSinmyfamily

Theyneedtoeatanddress

Those days I overspent my wages

Itwashardtoeamalivingbylayingraft

Wifeandchildrenwereveryworried

Brother,I don't think
that would happen to us

Whatiftheraftisbrokendown

No,this river had
been improved after liberation

Many stones were bombed to trash

Much better than before

What’s more,you can be
relieved with me joining you

You are boasting

Go to thinkofyourwoman

Come,hit him with Shit

You jerk.Pan Iaowu
you will not have offspring

I-Iit him...

Pan Iaowu.you have drunktoo much

Zhao Liang,it’s so cool

Afraid of what? just born by parents

Comfortable,free

I,Pan Iaowu.I am laying raft just
for this for my whole life

Is humanthe mostclever? shit

Human is the most foolish

Not living comfortable life

But only find troubles

Whatonearthhappeninthoseyears

Whyis it so unfair

You are human,so am I

Why could you alone
grind the face ofothers

Bullyingthemasmuchasyoulike

But I have to admit fault hanging aboard

Why

Why?

Ireallydon'twantto thinkofit

Just stay on the raft
without going to the land

ButwheneverIgetontheraft
Iwillmisstheoneontheland

Why

Zhao Liang,tellmewhy

Good wine

Zhaonangdomeafavorbydrinking

Look down upon me

You wife just makes you this dish

Not.there are still four salted duck eggs

Ireallywonderhowcomeyoucanbe so fat

I am serious about nutrition

Weeathalf
kilogramofsoyoilinfarmingdays

Iwouldn't grudge the money
untilthe lastpennyis spent

Come on,have fish andwine

Eat it

Iamfull.Icanhardlyeatanymore

You may enjoy yourself

Savingmakesusgofar

Sfinsy

Povertyistheonlywoefulthing

ShiGu.havegutsandhave
threebowlsofwinewithme

Thisguy

Letmedoit

Takeslowly,d.ri.nkinginthiswayisapity

Pity,drink whenever you have wine

IstillhaveonebottleofShaoYangDaQu

Li Jiadong,youjerkare merciless

Iamworking inhardships

Iearnmy living
by laying raft for the collectivism

Whatdoyoustandtosaythat
Iamacapitalist

Iao Pan
—You really put me in a dreadful situation

Youare notthe cadre ofcommunistparty

Idon'toffendlawinanyway

Ihaveseensuch
andsuchacadreofcommunistparty

Governor Xu Minghe

Oncelearntlayingraftfromme
andsharedthesametrouserwithme

Li Jiadong
he doesn't count for anything at all

He took bribe
selling the country's wood

You become rich by rebellion
you are not Party l-ber

Fault.jerk

Iao Pan,Iao Pan

WhatcanIdo?

Li Jiadong seizes people,help

Help .help

Iwillbuyyou
asilverbraceletinthecity

Whatdo Iget that for

You need it.don't be unhappy

Uptoyou

BrotherShiGu
Iwillwaitforyouhereeveryday

Wearredclothes

Why?

Iwillseeyou
fromfarawayifyou'reinred

Ok,Iwillonlywear
thatredclothes fromnowon

Gai Xiu.Shi Gu brother

Iao Pan,weakup,Iao Pan...

ShiGuwenttothebank
andhadn'treturnedforanight

Leavehim

Hemightgotomaketrouble

What

Hewillkillsomeone

Not sure

Shi Gu

IaoPan,gowithmetofindhim

Shi Gu

Don't you say
thatthegirlhas marriedto someone

Shi Gu.why do you still miss her

Do you lcnow she got married?
She was forced

Who forcedher

I tell you but you shouldn't tell others

IthassomethingtodowithLiJiadong

DirectorLiwasthematchmaker

Thatyoungmanishisnephew

Leader of rebellion. That’s not good

Gai Xiu. Gai Xiu

I am for your sake

You are the director of women

Yes,otherwise who cares about you

Isitmerelyalipservicethatoneisfreeto
choose one's lifepartnerinthenewsociety

No one forces you

I am just waiting
for you to report to the Director Li

Ok,you go

ShiGuandIarealreadyengaged

Shi Gu

Don't be so silly

ShiGumadebigmistake

profiteering the country's wood

Itwas discovered

Nonsense —Wait and see

When he's backhe would be criticized

The mild offenderwillbe supervised
while the serious offender
will be reformed through labor

Iwillaccompanyhimifheisturnedagainst

Iwillbringhimmealsifheisinprison

Wait and see

ShiGuhasgonetolayraft

LiJiadongandhistablefiiends
areonlycapableofplayingtricks

Gai Xiu. It’s time to go

Howcanayeanlingfightagainstawoof

NowonderShiGufeelssohard

WhereisGaiXiumarried

Shuijing production brigade
ofLiyucommune mightbeinthis area

ShigumusthavegonetofindGaiXiu

Hewillkillthatman

It’s good to kill him

Whoareyou

Iayingdowntheraft

Findourguy

Righnalituew

AskShi Gu

Iast night
hehasbeenbusyhereforone night

Hemightbe asleepnow

Wehaveamanillhere

Iastnight.hehadafeverjustlikefire

Hecamewhenwewereworried

Justlike falling from the sky

He said that his sister Gaixiu

Not sister —but cousin

Cousin

How about him

It’s morelikesnappingbride
thanlikemarryingawoman

This girlwas quite a spitfire

Shedidn'tyieldtoherhusband
inthefirsttwomonthsaftermarriage

She suffered a lot for her resistance

Howmiserable shewas

It’s here

Whoisthat

Mr. Xu.former warden

XuMinghe
Youlcnowhim

Whyishehere

Isn't he a capitalist roader

He did not ask for mercy
in face of ferocious torture

Hewas sent
toworkinourvillage lastyear

Miserable

People whoever
has conscience can't bear it

Yesterday when he
was stamping on thresher

hefellintothemachine

Andbled greatly onthe spot

Why are atrocities inflicted
upon you with kind heart

There mush be treacherous
court officials at the court

What’s afraid for

Iaoquantstomakeyoudead

But I must let you alive

You are coming,bring Director Xu away

No hurry,let discuss

What to discuss

Isn'tthatoktobringhimawayjustlikethis

We can't afford that

What if investigated

Just say not lcnow

How can it work

Ok.I will responsible
for it no matter what happen

Just say director Xu has died

AndIthrewhimintotheriver

IaoXu

IaoXu

Pan Iaowu
—It’s me.It’s me. Director Xu

You still r_-ber

Yes

Oldfriend

' t ulayraft
Howmanytlmestha yo

Whenisthelasttime

Boat-racing Day in 1958

Yes,we are eating rice
dumpling in C'henjiaqiao

You curse the servant

Iao Xu.I havebad temper

I want to change but can't

Whenbuilding Huayuan

YouandIcarriedstonesfortwodays

ZhaoLiang

Remember

At that time you told me
that you had five daughters

So you still wanted a son

Now

You have seven daughters

You can't have more

WhenIamback
Iwillletmywifehaveligation

AndeillsaydirectorXutellsmetodoso

Young man.who are you

Director Xu.I lcnowyou.I am Shi Gu

LittleShi Gu

I spent Mid-autumn Day
inyour home in 1956

At that time,he was very young

Isyourdadfine

Hediedofillness theyearbefore lastyear

Why don't I lcnow about that at all

Areyourmother'seyesfine

Blind long ago

Village people burned fire
to cookwith smoke all the year

Therearemanywomenthathaseyeillness

Iwantto changeacooklong ago

But I don't do it in hurry

I am sorry for all of you.for your mother

Director Xu.please don't say that

JustleaveIaoXuontheraft

Staying on the raftwithout
seeing doctor and having medicine

Hehasnowaybutdie

Whattodo

Thewordissobig

It’ssohardtofind
apeacefulplaceforhim

Weshouldsave
himnomatterhowharditis

Ifgoodcadrelike Iaoquas dead

Howcanthe common people live on

Igotaway

We mountain people lcnows good and bad

Returning for kindness

We will give one
who gives us abowl of water

Wewillgiveone
whogivesusahandofearth

Iao Weitou

whats wrong with you

I am over for
abolishing the tail of socialism

Director Xu

Can't you stay for one more day

ItsurgentthatIhavetosaveIaoXu

Don't cut

Iamhungryitstimetocook

Shi Gu.where is my match

Bad,I left it in Iao Wei's home

Nowmatchispreciousandhardtobuy

Young people can't do things well

Who lose the match
should have uncooked rice

I will teach you a lesson for my father

Gai Xiu

Gai Xiu —Shi Gu brother

Gotothebankandgethim

I am afraid its not good,he has married

It doesn't workby force

Manandwomanloveeachother
weshouldletthembetogether

Come on

Maybe I can't deal
with his husband and Li Jiadong

Leavehim,hurry

Someone comes,hide

Come into the tent

You see in the front

I-Iaveyou seen someone has come here

Who

Awoman

Inreddress

Yes

Where does she go?There

Go

ThisisunclePan

uncle Pan,thankyou very much

Nothing serious,its my pleasure

Gai Xiu.how can you come in

I escape

There must be some trouble

GirLyou are hard

Thisnighttheraftisyourhome

Stayhereandrelieve

Say whatever in your bottom of heart

Don't you need to lay the raft tonight

Go on it.its peacefulonthe raft

Don't get founded

Iwilltakeitpleasehavearest

Shi Gu brother,I don't believe in fate

But why are we so hard

Not fate

What's that

I don't lcnow

Its allbecause I come back too late

Iwaswaitingforyoutotheend

ButIhavenoway

I,a girl can't deal with him

Its not your fault

Its them that too arrogant

Gai Xiu.we go to accuse him

Who

Nooneoffendthelawontheface

Iwillbattlewiththem

No,don't do it

Their one thousand lives
are not worth than you life

You bring lcnife

We can't offend the law

Give it to me,quickly

Ican'tbearthat

Whatisthelifemeaninglivinglikethis

No,we should live on

Wehavehopeaslongaswearealive

Wecanhaveagooddayfinally

Shi Gu brother,please believe in me...

GaiXiu.Iamalways
takingthebraceletathand

Really,letme have alook

Marvelous

Letmehelpyouwearit

Not.keep it until that day

Unlessthereisnolongeramooninthesky

Gai Xiu. Gai Xiu

Uncle Zhao Liang,Pan

I will not forget you all my life

Gai Xiu.we must be together
no matter we are alive or dead

Come back Gai Xiu

where are you going

Ihavearelativehere

You can'thide there foralong time

Just stay onthe raft

I can't put you in trouble —What?

I will responsible
for it no matter what happen

Staywithusontheraft

Uncle

Uncle

UncleZhaoliang

Yes,Gai Xiu.manage our family

Therewasalso
someonelayingrafttakingwoman

Andstillhavebabyontheraft

Uncle you are joking

Thebride is shy

Uncle,don't make jokes
please give me the match

Match,don't you see
that I am too poor to smoke

But how to cook
Ask Shi Gu

Shi Gu.you save my life

Today,take your most delicious dishes out

Shallwehaveasaltedegg

Ok

Zhao Liang,take your salted egg out

Ok

Hereyouare

Four people eat one salted egg

Take it slowly

Stingy,take one more

Gai Xiu.sit down
Ala

Wish you love each other forever

For Director Xu healthy for ever

Wishwecanlayrafttothecitysmoothly

Drink Drink

ZhapLiangandeillgotoShuanghestreet

Andbuywhatweneed

Shi Gu.stay onthe raft

Gai Xiu.don't come out often so
that acquaintance will not see you

Don't worry,uncle

Guys,who have money

Ido

Less

ZhaoLiang,doyouhave

Whatareyouhaving so much money for

Don't ask

Take outifyouhave

Pan Iaowu should not stingy

I don't

Guys,you can't lie to me

Uncle Pan and Zhao Liang's money
is for her daughtets dowry

Ok

Iao Pan,lets go

Shesawmeoffjusthere

Who

Wu Aihua

Didn't you see her ever after

Yes,at the time of land reforming

Director Xu is still playing on the stage

He is the parenting official
happy with common people

Wu Aihua

People feel spirited
when having happy thing

She was distributed earth
fruit and she got marriedth now

Iamlate

Not late,the play is just at the beginning

Thelasttimethat
Isawhimwasafterthecollectivism

Justinthe street

MotherIwant it

Mother,give it to me
Don't ask more

You should have some words with her

Notnecessary
Iamrelievedthathecanhavegoodday

Whatdoyouwanttobuy

Its closed so early

Rehearsal play
and everyone should watch it

What do you want to buy,be quick

Takemeabigpackofmatch

Match,its out of sale half a year ago

Its stopped production
for strike in the city

Do youwantotherfiremaker

Letmehavealook

Tryit

You are skilled

I used it when Japanese came

I don't lcnow now...

How much

Cheap. 0.3Rmb

The situation is good but life goes back

Don't talk non-sense

Nonsense

You can't say truth in these years

Body,be careful or you will
be caught for class struggle

To buy two ginsengs

Whichone

Very expensive

Ihavetobuyiteven
if its expensive because IaoXuisweak

He needs ginseng to be stronger

Thenusingmedicinehewillbefine

15yuan

Give it back to you

A plate of pork of pig's head
and a halfbottle of wine

Not wine

Why

Don't you hear the broadcast

Buy noodles only

Do you buy

Four bowls of noodles of meat slice

I don't eat it
I buy for you

Youhave to save money

Iamstillpoorevensaving

I don't eat it

Working comrades

The county's
revolution committee has brought us

Mode play of revolution

Itd the biggest
care of revolution committee

And the most encouragement

Also the biggest strategy

kind brother

Please give me a little hot soup

Aihua.sit down

Why don't you close the door

Iwilldoitrightnow

Hurry up

You see there are not many people going

Wewillleaveafterawhile

Inthatyear
Igaveuplayingraftandhaddebt

I was doing that for your good. Sorry

Whatistheuseforsayingthisnow

Ihaveabad fate

My husband died,so did my son

WhatIamdependingonhasgone

Ihavealotofillness

Theworkingteamtakesmeasaburden

I... You should give me your information

Thesedaysrelationsbetweenpeople
isasthinasthepaper

Bachonehashisowndifficulties

Idearnottoexpect

IamPanIaowu

Ilcnowwhichriverareyouon

Iao Wu.youare kind

WhatdoIreturnyou

IaoPan

Couldyoudomeafavor

Say

Do you still r_-ber Drector Xu before

Yes

I help me when land revolution

Heisgoingtobetorturedtodie

Givethisginsengtohim

Where

Do you lcnow Iao Weitou
who is fishing at Hulqu

Iwillfindhim

Please be quiet

Don't let others lcnow

Ala

Takecareofhim

IwillbebackafterIarriveatthecity

Don't worry

Whoisshe

Wu Aihua

We have seen it

One more revolution
education for on more watching

I don't want to see

What do you say
Whats attitude toward revolution paly

Wewillsee

Is someone onthe raft

Shi Gu.watch the play

WhereisunclePan

Youdon'ttellmethetr'uth
wehaveevidence

Where does she get ginseng

You must see wrong

Its just dried turnip

Its clearly defaming culture revolution

I-Iandintheginseng

Director Shen.take her away

Givetheginsengbackto me
giveitbacktome

Its for saving life

Don't be in disorder. Get seated

Get seated

Now invite Director Li Jiadong
to give us instruction

Uncle Pan,Iao Pan

todaythe channelshould
be builtunderthe light

Iwill join you

DirectorShenasked
eachunittolightthefire

Making the atmosphere of working
in the night

Who

Take the ginseng out

Come

Who

SecretaryC'Ihen

Shi Gu

Iao Wu,Aihua

Iamleaving

Becareful

Hurry up,beside the river

Uncle Pan,Come tent

Come back,quickly,Come back

To the bank,hurry up

Over,over

What are you crying for,come here

Come back soon. No

Tent,tent

Gaixiu.I am here

Iao Pan,take arest

Iaohutanisinthefront

Iwillbecareful

Youhaveyourwifeandsevenchildren

Notimetothinkofthem

What.Iwillthinkofthemifyounot

IaoPan

Uncle Pan,letme do it

Youareyoungandyouhave
alongtimewithGaixiu

But how about you

I've nothing to worry about

Ireallywantto smoke

Whats that The big trunkblock it

Don't worry. Toward left

Hurry up,unc.le.Hurry up,Big tree. Go

Uncle Pan,Iao Pan.Uncle Pan

Uncle Pan.Uncle Pan

IaoPan

Uncle Pan

WhereisourPanIaowu?

C'an'twe see him any longer

No,Pan Iaowu spent most of his life
in the wind and surf

Ventured his life

People have self-respect

Inallkindsofbattle

People don't give up easily

Pan Iaowu might be in front

Come,lets call him again

C'allagain. Uncle Pan,Iao Pan

Uncle Pan...

PanIaowe LiWei

Youg Song Baosen

Wu Aihua Tao Yiling

Young girl C'hen Huifen

ZhaoI-ianeTansQinsming

Gai Xiu Li Shulan

Xu Minghe Yu Wenzhong

Iao Weitou Lv Yulcun

SecretaryC'Ihen PanGong

I.iJiadongC'.'henSenlin

Director of women Jin Puli

Wang Guizhi Mumu

Director Shen,Xiao Yue

Seller MaHuiying

Servant Xu Man