Original subtitles

This Cyclo business, my son,

we owe it a lot.

We work hard, day and night

Eating and sleeping in the street. Pedalling all the time

Sometimes, your back aches so much, you don't want to get up.

Walking around in a daze, your bones and muscles aching.

I don't know what will become of the Cyclo profession.

That's life, son.

When I die,

I won't have anything valuable to leave you.

If you find a good profession, go for it,

so you can hold your head up high.

You're late!

Read this to me and see if it's correct.

"The ward People's Committee will implement a capital program for loans to the poor"

"in order to create favorable conditions for individuals"

"poor families have a direction according to the policy of poverty reduction."

Let me see.

How old are you?

Eighteen.

What's your parents' situation?

My family is very poor, sir.

No, tell me about your parents.

My mother died in childbirth.

My father had a Cyclo accident and died a year ago.

How did it happen?

My father's Cyclo was hit by a truck,

and my father and two passengers died on the spot.

That accident at the Hang Xanh intersection last year?

Yes, sir.

And who's left at home?

My grandfather is old, and my sister and younger sister

go to school in the morning and work in the afternoon to earn money.

What do your sisters do?

The eldest delivers water to the market, the youngest shines shoes.

Can your grandfather still work?

My grandfather fixes bicycles on the street.

Who do you rent the Cyclo from?

From the owner at the Cay Xoai intersection in Cho Lon.

What's her name?

I don't know, sir.

How much is the daily rent?

5000 dong

Do you have to make a deposit?

Yes, she asked for 200,000.

Okay, your application will be considered like everyone else's.

We will let you know the results.

Yes, sir.

For the past few days, every time I pee it hurts.

Do you guys have the same problem?

Yeah, me too. It burns a little.

You should drink more water, it'll hurt less.

It makes you sweat, wears you out

When I was getting my shoulder joint treated, the doctor told me:

don't blame me if you take random drugs and end up sterile.

What are you talking about? None of us can afford to see a doctor.

Go see the butcher instead!

Sir, get a shoeshine.

Sir, get a shoeshine.

Are you free?

Yes, yes.

Cyclo!

Drop me off at number 8 Le Loi street.

How dare you steal our clients?

I pick up passengers when they call...

Do you know where you are? If you know what's good for you, you'll leave!

Get lost, this is our territory!

You're my little fish.

So, how much did you make today?

Yes, I had a passenger today, I made 26 thousand.

I gave 5 thousand to you, so I have 21 thousand left.

What's wrong?

This afternoon, the pockmarked guys stopped my Cyclo and robbed a passenger.

You have to be careful, every area has its own gang.

It's time to eat, are you hungry?

Do you want to eat?

Give the boy a bath and feed him,

Go with him

He was born that way, he's probably the same age as you.

You should get your tooth fixed.

See, I told you so.

Okay, that's enough, go.

Grandpa, let me take you home, it's almost dark.

Yes, let's go.

- Bring tobacco for grandfather - Yes

Grandpa, is your shoulder feeling better?

No, it's getting worse.

Do you have any more balm?

Almost out.

I'll go buy some for you later.

Grandpa, they sent the wrong scale to our house over a month ago.

No one has come to get it.

You should switch to weighing scales, it's less tiring than fixing bicycles.

Do you know how people do that job?

When you see someone coming,

wipe the scale with a rag and invite them to weigh themselves.

500 dong for children, 1000 dong for adults.

No, I can't. It's not ours, we can't just use it.

We've waited long enough.

No one has come to get it.

You should change jobs tomorrow, your shoulder is always hurting.

You can't keep pumping tires

Let's wait a little longer

On the old riverbanks Leaves and flowers fade

leaves and flowers wither

The sun is dying,

frozen, swaying

With an uncertain step

I walk through the hamlet

My childhood, I remember you

I remember your graceful silhouette

Gently looking at me with your sparkling eyes.

I remember,

the sun was setting

Your ivory-colored cheeks,

your long hair gently flowing.

Put him in his bed

Tomorrow I'll come to see if you're alive.

Get up, little brother

Go wash your face.

If I, the Heron, die by boiling

May it be in clear water

To ease my children's suffering

Go with these people

Don't let anyone know this address, not even your family.

Bom has a fan made of palm leaves

The rich man says I'll trade you

Three cows and nine buffaloes

Bờm said Bờm won't take the buffaloes.

I'll give you a pond full of fish

Bờm said Bờm won't take the carp.

I'll give you...

a raft of precious wood

Bờm said Bờm won't take the ironwood.

I'll give you...

a bird...

Tomorrow, come to the ice house

I'll tell you what to do then.

Okay, go now, remember don't let anyone know.

What's wrong with you?

Who was that?

Why are you asking?

He's in the gang that stole my Cyclo.

Come on, he's the boss's man, how could he steal from her?

Go!

Stay here and wait.

Don't go anywhere.

If you're hungry, go downstairs to eat and then come back up.

Don't lock the door.

Close your mouth, it stinks

- Do you have any money? - No

We stayed up all night again

My village is green with bamboo.

Each sound of the evening bell.

The sound of the church bell ringing.

Life is happy...

The areca nut tree with my child...

Let's go home and rest.

- Can I sleep here? - Another time

I don't want to do it

I came...

because you want me to

I called, no one answered.

Can I come in?

Don't touch her

It's her first time

Do you need to pee?

You want to piss?

Pee-pee, get it?

Understand?

Pee!

Drink... drink!

Drink so you can pee.

Pee, please!

Drink more so you can pee!

Drink!

That's enough! Piss!

And do it standing up!

I brought you two friends

People are singing your praises

You're a Samaritan

You tried to save a drowning man?

The boss is very pleased.

She told me to bring this to reward you.

Damn, you're disgusting

She wants to see you, for another job

What? What did you say?

I don't dare.

I told you to go, I didn't ask you!

Do you dare to refuse?

What, what does it want?

What do you want?

Open your mouth!

Open up!

This time, you get a taste.

Next time it'll be straight

Criminal sabotage!

Two hundred tons of rice have gone moldy.

Do you know who did this?

You want your picture in the newspaper, don't you?

That's a life sentence, son.

'Nameless river'

I was born sobbing

Blue sky, vast earth

Black stream water

I grow with the months, the years

With no one to watch over me

Nameless is man

Nameless is the river

Colourless the flower

Fragrance

cannot be expressed in words

That river

The flow of people

How many years

the river of life flows around

I can't forget my debt to my roots

And I wander, Through worlds

Towards my land...

Dad doesn't let me do anything because he's afraid I'll suffer.

It's boring to do nothing.

Just going out and coming in

I ask to be allowed to do these small tasks.

Grind soybeans, peel lotus seeds.

Is Dad well?

Dad has only been home for a week.

Every time he goes away like this, I am home alone

You've lost some weight lately.

When he was little, he often had nosebleeds.

Do you still get them now?

Yes. I had one earlier.

Let me get a picture of you when you were little.

What are you looking for?

Hasn't he left yet?

He's our son.

Go and talk to him.

Did he come here with his whore?

Don't say that.

What are you looking for?

He was only 5 years old then.

Stay and eat with us

- Mom, take this... - No! He won't let me spend it.

That year there was a famine...

a shortage of rice...

people died...

We loved each other deeply

16, 17 years old.

Drinking alcohol like water.

Drinking to stave off hunger.

Always going to the market to buy a bag of shrimp paste...

Passing around a glass to drink it with...

drinking...

A year later...

the little one was born

He came out backwards

He was late... we thought he was dead.

The doctor said "He won't be normal"

Cowardly. Extremely cowardly.

His father left.

How can I call him cowardly?

At that time, he was only 17 years old.

Younger than the little one is now.

After that...

How much for a bottle of gasoline?

5,000.

And this?

10,000.

Not bad! And all alone! You're a real pro!

I'm telling you, no cop can outrun me.

I know every street like the back of my hand.

Of course, you're a Cyclo driver, so you know the streets well.

Do you like wearing women's clothes?

Are there any girls' panties in there?

Are you naked?

Are you sure you're a man? Let us see.

This is from me. Take it.

Really.

Let me join your gang.

What did he just say?

- What did you just say? - I got a shock, too

No, what gang did you say?

I want to be like you guys.

Let him go see Mr. Lullaby work!

Look at my two hands here? What do you see?

In 1956

When I was 17 years old,

I was hit by a bullet and my tendon was severed.

So it didn't grow normally like the other hand.

And look at this...

A bullet, went through my neck.

It almost hit my bone and then went out the back.

Guess which hole is bigger, the one it went in or the one it went out?

And here,

this place.

In 57, a bullet

shattered my shin bone.

Do you know why

I'm telling you all this?

Because I want you to understand that,

I know very well what you're thinking about when you're near death.

I understand you very well

Autumn wind blows

Sleep my child, sleep

The night is long

I watch over you

Until the end of the night

I watch over you

Listen carefully to the art of syncopation

Go to sleep,

go to sleep, child

my precious child...

my precious child...

child.

Keep it as a souvenir

Take it!

A glass of iced tea would be great!

Give me a glass of iced tea!

Why don't you love me as much as them?

Hey!

Stay here. He'll be back

Come in!

Sit down.

I'm just dropping by.

They were just talking about you,

wondering why you weren't home to meet them.

I've had it for a long time.

Now I have to sell it.

Do you know what this is?

This is an AK-47.

A famous singer

Have you heard her songs?

No, I haven't.

Then listen to this.

This is the basic note.

And this is the song.

My dear,

Hanoi streets

I still have you, the scent of magnolia

I still have you, the scent of milk flower

The empty street whispers with a light rain

someone is waiting for someone,

hair loose over soft shoulders.

I still have you,

the bare banyan tree in winter.

I still have you,

the deserted street corner in winter.

The lonely moon in winter.

The sound of the piano in the ruined house,

Late into the night a bell chimes

You're all that's left me, colour of time

The evening fades, your hair flutters

Evanescent

The poet wanders in vain through the streets

Suddenly realizing he has lost his way

You're all that's left me, old streets covered in moss

Every creaky old roof top

In my topsy-turvy memory

Floating over the waves of West Lake

Suddenly twilight has fallen... When it fell, I don't know

I still have you, the bare banyan tree in winter.

Stop or I'll break the vase

I think I'm pregnant

Who's the father?

Is that a betel palm flower?

What's inside it?

I don't know.

This is the first time

You've been looking for it all day and you don't know?

When will you take me back to my home town?

What are you carrying?

Pork.

Take that off

Where did you get this from?

It's from Slaughterhouse 43

Listen carefully. I'm going to pierce the skin of these pieces of meat.

If there's nothing we'll make a certificate, you can take it to the owner.

Dad!

Last night I dreamt of your death.

You died a second time to save me.

This morning, my heart is unusually calm.

I feel like I'm living in your body.

From your posture to the way you walk,

stand, eat.

These hands have calluses from driving a Cyclo.

Are these fingers yours or mine?

I feel your muscles flex in my arms

This skin color of yours,

sun and rain have weathered it.

Impervious to cold or heat,

firm with days and months.

This vein that's protruding, you used to call it the life line.

Now I understand.

Auntie, I came to ask you about my situation.

Since the other day, I've done everything you asked me to do,

but now I'm really scared.

I'd like to repay the money I owe you.

If you think I haven't paid off my debt yet,

I'd like to ask you to let me drive a Cyclo again.

I'll pay you back, bit by bit.

Where's the old man?

What did I say about the paint?

Do you remember, old man?

This is a pistol.

Here's the safety catch

This is how you shoot.

This is how you don't shoot.

Hold it tight, pull it back hard, and release it to shoot!

If you shoot from behind,

you have to do it like this.

If you shoot from the side, you have to do it like this.

Always two shots. Understand?

After you shoot, don't drop the gun, no one will dare to come near you...

Just walk out slowly, and only start running once you're out the door.

Just run towards the side where the gun is being held.

After a short distance, you'll reach the bridge.

Throw it into the stream.

Disappear into the crowd at the market.

Do you understand?

Don't worry, shooting a gun is easier than playing with a knife.

If you're nervous, take these pills.

I'll give you two pills. Take one to see what it's like.

It's great! When you take it, you won't be afraid of anything.

Take the other pill before you go to work.

Remember not to take both pills, or you'll blow a fuse. Understand?

Every morning falls upon my soul

A little bit of sunshine for every home

A little bit of light for everyone

A young leaf trembles in front of the porch

A drop of dew remembers the white clouds

The breath of the earth becomes a gust of wind

This life is bustling, bustling

The kite of my childhood I let loose in the sky

Small aspirations fly up into the sky

The hearts of people welcome it like a warm home

Flying into a life that belongs to no one

No, don't break it!

When you were here before

Couldn't look you in the eye

You're just like an angel

Your skin makes me cry

You float like a feather

In a beautiful world

I wish I was special

You're so fuckin' special

But I'm a creep

I'm a weirdo

What the hell am I doin' here?

I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts

I wanna have control

I want a perfect body

I want a perfect soul

I want you to notice

When I'm not around

So fuckin' special

I wish I was special

But I'm a creep

I'm a weirdo

What the hell am I doin' here?

I don't belong here

She's running out the door

She's running out

She run...

Run...

Run

Whatever makes you happy

Whatever you want

You're so fuckin' special

I wish I was special

But I'm a creep

I'm a weirdo

What the hell am I doin' here?

I don't belong here

I don't belong here

Bastard! She was a virgin!

He says he didn't know

He asks that we forget about it.

He shelled out 600 dollars.

That's more than the going rate for a virgin.

As for the injuries, he says it wasn't him

The ladder is made of pumpkin and squash

The pillar is over the beam and the beam is over the pillar

The oil seller fell over the bridge

Why did the frog seller stay

The le le bird beats the drum and blows the trumpet

The bìm bịp bird blows the flute

The ladder is made of pumpkin and squash

The pillar is over the beam and the beam is over the pillar

The oil seller fell over the bridge

Why did the frog seller stay

The le le bird beats the drum and blows the trumpet

The bìm bịp bird blows the flute

Taste of dust

Longan peel

Stealing

Hand

Warmth

My face

Stepfather

Green color

Raw shrimp

Market

Mother's return

Cold rice

Eating at night...

Betrayal

Mother's feeding

Sultry sun

On the field

Rotten mussels

Bathing in the rain

Shivering

Fried fish

Hot porridge

Lemon leaves

Grapefruit peel

Ivory water

Brown skin

Fish face!

What did your mother tell you?

Why do you like to play with paint?

Where did you find this colour?

No one in our family uses this paint.

Come and eat, son.

Invite the lady to eat with us

Wake up, man! Are you awake?

Listen carefully.

Last night, you were really crazy.

According to the law, Mr. Lullaby will come to judge you.

Luckily, there was an order from above to save you.

You got paint on you, let me help you.

The Year of the Pig begins today

I wish you a peaceful new year.

Get well soon.

And live a normal life like everyone else.

I guess we won't see each other again.

When you go, leave the door open

My little one... he's dead

Oh, God!

Why?

Yesterday, the cat came back.

The whole family thought it had been dead for a long time.

Everyone in the house thought it was more beautiful than before.

So handsome, nobody recognized him.

I remember my father...

just before his death.

It was a Sunday

I remember because it was the only day of the week my father took a nap at home.

The cat was sleeping on the floor, curled up in a spot out of the sun.

On the cat's face was a fresh, diagonal scar.

As usual, my father slept with one leg bent

his knee facing the sky, his foot swinging back and forth.

I remember when I was little

I used to look at my father's knee for a long time.