Original subtitles

Thanks for coming.

You've come a long way.

How's the work coming?

It's getting there.

Suburban Kyoto

Working?

Oh, you're here?

You're actually painting, huh?

I pained too much...

It looks great to me.

The whole village.

Here's where I caught my first crawfish.

You've put in everything, huh?

It's like a scroll painting.

I put in that rich man's place too.

The guy in back is my brother Yukihiko.

The guy is front is me, Seizo.

We're both painters. We make picture books.

He was born first, but we're twins... identical.

Even now poeple can't tell us apart.

TASHIMA Yukihiko TASHIMA Seizo

Shall we have some tea?

We live apart - Tokyo and Kyoto.

But as kids we lived in a village in Kochi Prefecture.

The experience was, and still is, a spiritual prop for us.

So we decided to work together on a picture book.

What about the deadline...

We're all right, we'll make it.

Well, good luck!

The year we spent in that village...

to us, they're more than fond memories.

They are days of irreplaceable value.

We're past 50 now, but those times...

we still hold them dear.

VILLAGE OF DREAMS

MATSUYAMA Keiko as Seizo (as a child)

Directed by HIGASHI Yoichi

Oh, shit.

Hurry!

1948-Kochi

It's cold, isn't it?

Get dressed, or the thunder god will steal your penis.

Thunder will steal my penis?

No, thunder steals your navel.

She doesn't have a penis.

He only stole hers!

Silly!

Yukiko and Seizo.

The thunder god didn't take her penis.

She has a sack that will give birth to kids like you.

She has no use for a penis.

Understand?

If you tease her again, you'll regret it.

You hear me?

Yes, yes.

Someone left a bucket in my shed!

Your twin brats, huh?

The fish in it stinks.

Take it away!

He scared us.

I wish father was here.

He'll be home this summer.

He's a scary old man. We call him "Jimma."

Why do we have to live here?

We can't help it. He adopted us.

Land reform, damn it!

They took my adopted kids'land too,

And they call that democracy!

May I clear the table?

General MacArthur's to blame for it.

Just pickled plums for breakfast again?

Oh, if we'd only had it for supper...

See you later

Have a fun time

Hurry, mother!

I will.

Good morning.

Get your ass out of the way!

Sorry.

Shinsuke's and Kazumi's are OK.

But the twins' are awful.

No way! They draw better than I.

I don't understand a thing they draw.

I get Kazumi's drawings.

Teacher's pets!!

Good morning.

Come here.

Meet Nakai Senji, a new boy.

Be nice to him.

Greet them.

Take a seat in back.

We'll start Japanese language.

Before we begin,

I heard some of you talking about "teacher's pets."

I'm not being unfair.

I chose their drawings, yes.

Not because they are my son's, but because they're good.

Understand?

Open to Page 15.

Ikuko's brothers!

Can't tell which is which.

You're cute.

This is Seizo, right?

Then this is Yukihiko?

They're exactly alike.

They're cute twins.

I envy lkuko. She has such cute brother.

Goodbye.

See you later.

Are you OK? Didn't wet your pants?

Who's that?

Senji, a new boy.

Senji? I think I heard that name.

Did you hear. Nakai's adopted son is home?

Back from reform school?

He's called Senji.

He pushed his own mother and hurt her.

He's an imp, like a shibaten.

The Tashima twins are coming home.

Those twins are impossible.

The sister's a nice girl.

They didn't cut grass for the goat this morning.

Jimma will give them hell.

Who's the other one?

Nakai's adopted son.

Senji, huh?

His house isn't this way.

He must be up to something.

Do you live around here?

So, where are you going?

The goat's hungry.

You didn't cut greens this morning. Go do it now!

Don't do that!

Here I come!

We'll get yelled at. Stop!

I'll get you! I'll get you!

Stop it! Stop!

Stop!

What do you think you're doing?

Stop!

Hold it right there!

I'm sorry.

It's too late. The taros are ruined.

Nothing I can do would express my regret. Please take this.

Rice? You don't have to do this.

I wanted to give you money, but...

You think you can settle this with money?

Well, no...

You outsiders don't know how hard it is live here.

Aren't you a teacher?

And you can't even raise your own kids right!

I'll give them a good scolding.

People are saying you play favorite at school.

You're spoiling your kids.

You can't tell'em apart.

They sneak around all over, like little monsters.

They're little imps, those twins!

Close the door, Kazuya.

Hey, mind the fire!

The water's lukewarm!

We will.

Mother.

It's nothing. I'm all right.

Yukihiko, Seizo, come here.

What have you boys done?

You chop somebody's taro down...

Was it fun?

Sure.

I know it was.

I'd like to do it myself.

Did you send your son's pictures to the district exhibition?

And you sent only their pictures. It doesn't look good.

Is that so?

Some of the parents have been talking.

They say you're partial to your children.

How do you argue with that?

I chose their pictures

solely because they're good pictures.

You don't understand.

You just can't do that out here in the country.

Think so?

That's all for today. Senji!

Answer! Can't you hear me?

Where's your math text?

Did your goat eat it?

What's funny? Stop laughing!

I asked if your goat ate your textbook.

I Know. You have no goat, huh?

Yukihiko! Senji!

Stay and study multiplication.

Oh, Senji, you can go.

You don't have a textbook.

Yukihiko, work on multiplication for one hour.

The problems on Page 15. That's all.

Seizo.

Good trick!

Yukihiko!

Didn't the principal tell you to stay?

That's Yukihiko.

That's you, right?

I'm Seizo.

What?

Goodbye.

Yukihiko! Why aren't you doing multiplication?

Sir, I'm Seizo.

What?

I'm Seizo. Goodbye.

Those twins sure beat me.

That won't do.

You're using too many worms. We'll run short.

I got one!

Hurry! Shinsuke's already got two.

Shut up! You're only slowing us down.

The line's too long.

No, it's just right.

I'm going home.

They're tangled.

Keep away from me.

Let me do it!

You're the one who tangled it!

Let me do it!

What'll you do?

Fool! Ass!

Ass! Stupid!

Hand it over!

Ass!

What do you think you're doing?

You can't catch me!

That's what you're thinking!

You don't give up easy, do you?

Shit.

But I've still got tricks up my sleeve.

Let's go. Mom'll ben worried.

Help me.

Goby?

Yeah.

It's in this hole, see?

Don't let it get away.

Argh! Shit!

We did it!

We made it!

It's big!

It sure is!

We did it!

Senji.

Want eels?

Those eels?

I caught them.

With your bare hands?

Those big eels? Barehanded?

Want them?

You caught them?

We got a goby.

Hey, that's a big one.

It's for supper.

Eat them yourself.

I'm gonna sell these.

Seizo.

It's just Jimma's... underwear.

Looks like it's alive.

How strange.

Never mind. Let's go.

Can't find it?

No. Two are missing.

Somebody swiped them. Who?

Let me do it.

Another cup teacher.

No, thank you.

It's a festival. Have another.

I can't drink anymore.

Are you refusing me?

No. I don't drink much.

Don't pretend. Have some more.

Teachers! They're always around kids...

so they think they're the boss.

They lose touch with the world.

See, teacher...

you gotta learn how to get along.

Let me pour for you.

C'mon, don't say no.

Hey, teacher...

What's your husband up to? He hasn't been around.

Maybe he found another woman in Kochi.

I doubt it.

When he's got such a pretty wife as her?

What a waste, to let this beauty sleep alone.

When you come to the country,

you've got to get along with us locals.

What? These twins...

Protecting your ma?

Good boys!

I adopted them all, but they're useless.

They can't weed the fields. They don't get along.

They're disgracing me.

Hatsumi's watching us.

She saw our penises.

She's working even in this heat.

Some taro fields were ruined.

Wild boars already?

It's early for boars.

The taros weren't ripe.

Shoichi said...

somebody swiped eels from his traps.

Who did it?

It's obvious, isn't it?

Senji did.

Seems the twins' mother got transferred.

The principal hates her.

She's partial to her own kids.

But I hear their pictures won prizes.

Prizes? That's not bad.

Where's their father?

He's back. I saw him a while ago.

What does he do?

He works for the school board.

What's a "school board"?

It's something new.

They're supposed to think about textbooks and things.

So he's a bureaucrat.

This sure does stink.

Quit complaining.

Whale innards are good gor tou.

Father,

Praise the boys. They won prizes.

They won best picture prizes.

That's good news.

But don't get any ideas about becoming artists.

Wey not?

Because painting won't put good on the table.

But they both like to paint.

They're good at it, too. I wonder why.

Father was, once...

Enough!

Will you stay here during the summer?

Officials are busy even in summer.

Why don't you commute?

I couldn't do that.

I can, t write here.

I'll sleep with the boys tonight, mother.

Sure. Do as you wish.

Where are you going?

Fishing.

Hurry back!

Let's wrestle.

Let's wrestle.

Help!

Help!

It's shallow there.

Yukihiko!

Not a bite.

Did you hear a strange voice in the water?

A strange voice?

It said, "Let's wrestle."

I didn't hear it.

It said, "Let's wrestle."

A shibaten!

I'm scared. Let's go.

Who's there?

Shibaten!

Seizo! Yukihiko!

Senji!

Catch anything?

Not a thing.

Did you see...

Did you see anybody?

No, nobody here.

Good luck. Plenty of fish here.

It's the river.

Yukihiko has a sore throat.

What about you?

I'm all right.

Not everything is the same with the two of you.

Rest now. We'll see the doctor tomorrow.

Open your mouth wide.

Swollen tonsils.

The ice bag?

It's nearly ready.

It's the shibaten.

But I saw it, too.

But you didn't hear its voice, I did.

That's why I have a fever.

Think so?

What in the world gave you this fever?

Go to sleep.

They're very swollen.

Take your medicine.

Stay in bed for a faw days.

His tonsils swell easily. Why not take them out?

Probably a good idea.

After the swelling goes down.

He'll have to stay a week.

This is far enough, Seizo.

I'll be back this evening.

Let's go.

Does it hurt?

You can't talk. You don't have to.

If you get bored, read this.

Are you Yukihiko or Seizo?

Seizo.

So Yukihiko's in the hospital?

You kids like to paint?

Sure.

Leave it as it is.

I'll go now. Bye.

What are you doing!

Is that a conch?

Will you give it to me?

Then, lend it to me.

Try. It'll sound the third time.

Seizo.

Hatsumi.

Still drawing?

Yeah, I am.

I like how the two of you draw. Especially you.

What's that?

A conch.

Want me to blow it for you?

Hatsumi!

See you.

Are you an artist? Show me.

You're good!

Are you a twin?

Who's your brother?

Se-i-zo.

Seizo.

Who's younger?

Does he like to draw?

Twins like the same things, I guess.

Seizo.

You think a woman's body is strange?

Take a good look at me.

Take a look. I have no penis.

Men and women are mostly the same.

But they're different.

Lhave an important hole instead of a penis.

You kids came out of it.

Your sister's a woman. Her body's like mine.

Understand?

What are you doing?

What's wrong?

You hurt?

I was trying to make an eel trap.

Don't cry. You weren't crying just now!

Cry loudly, or don't cry at all.

Be a big boy. Where's the peroxide?

The peroxide!

In the upper drawer of the chest.

Hold it up.

This'll sting.

Keep it raised.

This'll do.

It'll heal in a few days.

Go, get an eel.

Seizo!

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

What happened?

I got a cut.

Who bandaged it?

Father.

He did?

Let me know if there's any change.

Thank you.

Toshie.

For you...

Oh, it's nothing.

What did Jimma leave to Toshie?

He was stingy. Probably nothing.

I'm sure he left something.

Maybe he left something intangible.

Didn't you hear?

He already gave his house to Toshie.

The twins' folks won't be happy.

They knew. He left them his forest land.

Jimma was more gallant than he looked.

Look over there! His spirit is rising.

Hey, get out of the way!

He's coming!

Who was it?

Who did this?

It's a cowardly prank! Unforgivable!

Who did it? Front and center!

Seizo!

Yukihiko!

Was it you twins?

Senji. Stand up!

It must've been you.

Who else?

Don't glare at me.

Your attitude is affecting the whole school.

I'll set you straight.

You punk!

We're going to start fractions.

Open your books to page 20.

If you have no book, don't bother.

Senji, you don't. Forget this class.

Go on home.

Why do you bother to come?

Pages 10 to 20 were your homework, right?

I assume you all did your homework.

Yes, we did it.

Quiet!

It was out fault.

But the other kids kept quiet, too.

Hatsumi was staring at me.

Poor Senji!

Let's go pick berries.

It's too early.

Let's go and see.

Go by yourself.

Come on. No point staying here.

Hey! What're you doing?

Who would do such a thing?

Now I can't walk in my fields.

No, no. You must do it so you can tell.

Who's faster than whom.

You come here.

You go in back.

Tomozo, go in back.

Yukihiko, go there.

You know how it'll end.

He's gonna lose.

OK. Now you're set. Go ahead.

On your mark!

Yukihiko! Why don't you try harder?

Stop that!

Fools!

Stupid!

Fools!

Idiots!

Stop!

Stop it!

Stop, I said!

I'm back.

Ushibamba's grandson is missing his shoe?

So you gave her money?

...instead of rice this time?

Yes.

I'll give it to the principal!

Don't do that!

He may be a veteran, but he's gone too far.

They didn't have to throw shoes.

Seizo, why did you join Yukihiko in throwing shoes?

It wasn't your fight.

Well...

Tell me.

Before I knew...

Speak clearly!

I don't know why!

I just did it with Yukihiko!

Give our shoes back!

Out of the way, Senji!

Want to fight!

Can I come over?

Come today.

Some other day.

How about next Sunday?

You sure?

We'll be waiting.

See you then.

Seizo, Yukihiko.

I came as you said.

Come around to the front gate.

Seizo, come here.

We can't have that boy. Ask him to leave.

Why?

Don't question. Just tell him to go.

It's all right. I expected it.

Why can't Senji come over?

Usually you like all the kids.

Why not Senji?

Where's Senji?

Hasn't he come yet?

Yeah, but mother...

Mother?

What did she say?

Not let him in.

Why not?

I don't know.

Blow it, will you?

Senji never came to school again.

No one knew where or how he was.

The nandin berries.

Put in the other ones, too.

Let's check yesterday's trap.

Where is it?

Over there.

Who was it? Who did this?

That's terrible!

It got away by itself!

It wasn't stolen.

A bamboo pheasant!

We're lost, aren't we?

Where are we?

Let's go down.

They're boiling paper mulberry.

Hatsumi.

That's Hatsumi.

Eat these. Sweet potatoes.

Thanks.

Is that your home?

Yeah.

What are you doing?

See you later.

Excuse me.

I cooked this. I hope you like it.

Why, thank you very much.

I made lots of dustcloths. Use them.

Thanks again.

So, Hatsumi gave you sweet potatoes?

Where are they?

We ate them.

Next time, you'll catch lots of birds.

We'll eat them, huh?

Sure, we will.

See you later.

Take care.

Keep away from her. She has lice.

She's crying. Her feet hurt.

She has chapped feet?

Her last name's Goat. So she cries like a goat.

Meh, meh. Like a goat!

She's bleating.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Let's sing, let's play music.

Let's enjoy these summer days.

You're right.

Why don't we rest?

Yes, let's.

They got together around a table.

Tea was ready on the table.

A plate of fruit too.

They ate it happily.

A plate of fruit too.

They ate it happily.

Nice grapes, shiny apples.

Grasshoppers live happily.

They gladly accepted such words.

Three ants entered slowly.

Each carried a big load.

Senji...

You have a fever.

Is your throat sore?

Yeah.

How about your eyes?

They're OK.

Maybe you should have your tonsils out, too.

I'll take him to the doctor.

I'll go by myself.

I'll go with him, okay?

We aimed at his eyes, but...

We missed the target.

We got his throat instead.

Are we over the hill?

Only you are.

I'm losing my power.

No sense griping.

It's about time. Let's go.

That winter...

I had my tonsils removed, too.

Spring came, then another hot summer.

Is that Senji?

Think so?

Senji!

We never saw Senji again.

He was never spoken of.

He was like never existed.

It looks good.

What's keeping you, Yukihiko?

Hurry up, Seizo!

A while after that,

Yukihiko and I had trouble with our eyes.

We took to wearing glasses.

We've both worn glasses ever since then.

Suppose I were a tree.

My roots spread through the village.

They absorb nourishment for my leaves and branches.

But now, the village exists

only in our drawings.

How many years has it been?

Almost fifty.

Those bad twins turned out OK.

There's no place for us anymore.

Where on earth do we do now?

This isn't our turf anymore. We've got to go.

Someone's waiting for us.

Who could be waiting for us?

Don't ask me.

Shall we go?

Where to?

Our place.

Hurry! Quick!

Don't pull! You'll tear my kimono.

Quit griping. Ride the wind.