Original subtitles

In the beginning, there was nothing.

Nothing except God.

How long had God been around?

No one's old enough to say.

Anyway, the universe was rather empty, as you can see.

But that was fine, 'cause God didn't look at anything

or want anything.

God wasn't interested in anything.

God didn't even care about being God.

It might be best to think of God as a tube.

Yes, a tube.

Allow me to explain.

All God ever did was swallow, digest, and eject.

God's divine sustenance came in and went out.

But God retained nothing.

Just like a tube.

The eyes of living beings

possess the most remarkable properties.

The gaze.

Hmm, hmm.

We don't say that the ears have a listener...

...or that the nose has a smeller or a sniffer,

but the eyes have a gaze.

What's the difference between the eyes that have a gaze

and eyes that don't?

There's a word for it:

life.

God did not have a gaze.

Hmm.

I'm afraid your child is a vegetable.

Alarming, wouldn't you think?

But the child's parents were the optimistic sort.

And to be honest, as things stood,

they didn't seem to mind this development.

You see, they already had two children,

two children who were very, very much alive.

So a quiet, little plant like this one

was a gift, really.

That was God's greatest power.

God was unflappable.

Not all the pilgrims who came to pay homage,

not all the tickling, not volcanoes,

not even the most ecstatic music.

Nothing could faze God.

I know humans who would pay dearly

for such a power,

the power of serenity.

Still, everyone wanted God to show signs of life,

of movement,

of anything at all, really.

But all God did was keep on doing nothing.

So little by little, people lost interest in God

until God was almost forgotten about completely.

Days, weeks, centuries passed.

Stop! That's it.

What happened that day remains a mystery.

Some people deny the role of accidents

in evolution.

They want a reason for everything,

but sometimes all it takes is a speck of dust.

Just the tiniest, little speck of dust...

...to change everything.

♪ Happy Birthday, dear Amélie ♪

I'll blow out the candles.

No, it's my turn.

What's happening?

Mama, I'm scared.

Don't panic.

It's only a little earthquake, they happen a lot

here in Japan.

Papa!

Quick, kids, under the table!

God was finally endowed with gaze

and a body too.

What could God do now?

Was this a good thing?

Are you okay, baby?

Baby?

Who was this baby?

God wasn't a baby.

God immediately spoke up to set the record straight,

declaring, in God's celestial tone...

Ah! That's right.

It's a miracle.

That was wonderful, sweetie.

No, it wasn't.

It wasn't wonderful at all.

- Bravo, sweetheart! - Their lips move

and words come out.

- She talks like a baby! - When God's lips move,

only noise comes out.

Uh, what do we do?

Oh, uh...oh, wait, I got it, I'll call my mom.

What? Patrick!

It wasn't for lack of trying,

but all God could do was scream in despair.

God's body was a prison.

Mom, she's throwing her toys again!

It went right through the window!

Andre! Stop it!

I'll stop it when she stops it!

Mom, she took my things again!

Juliette, please.

I'm sick and tired of this!

Ohayo, gozaimasu.

- Andre! - I'm gonna get you!

Give it back!

Arigato, Kashima-san.

Care to come in?

Sorry, we're in a little over our heads today.

No! That's mine!

I can't take it anymore, this is impossible.

I can't rehearse for my concert, and what about you?

You don't even resemble a diplomat.

Guess who brought this back?

Oh, no.

Oh yes, our dear landlady.

She scared me half to death.

It's like she was lurking out there waiting for me.

She saw the window?

What's she going to think of us?

She knows a girl who could help us out.

The girl's family served hers before the war.

I'm so embarrassed.

That's a good idea, give her a call.

Can you see who that is?

Yeah, yeah, I've got it.

Ohayo, Nish--

Mother?

That's right.

It's good to see you.

But, wha--what are you--

Though I think you were really expecting this young woman.

Oh, Nishio-san.

- Granny! - Oh, my little darlings,

how big you've grown.

My tooth is loose, look.

Ugh!

What a killer smile.

Who is that lady?

Mother, kids, this is Nishio-san.

She's gonna help us out around here.

Please, come in.

Dozo, dozo, this way.

Oh, I'll take care of those.

Granny, did you bring us any chocolates?

- Yes, I did. - Ooh, thanks.

- And comic books? - Why, of course.

You don't look so well, sweetie.

We'd given up expecting you.

-It's been so long. -There was so much to do

getting ready for the visit.

Just look at this suit. Isn't it perfect?

- It's been six months. - Wow.

Oh, hi there, I'm Danièle.

I really appreciate you helping us out.

Your mother's here?

Hello, my de--

You look a little frazzled as well.

Ah, is that my little treasure?

Come on.

More like a little monster.

Nishio-san, let me show you around.

It's changed a lot since you were young.

In here.

- Ready? - Ready.

Look in the bed.

You wait right here, children, let me handle this.

Hello there.

Mmm. I'm your grandmother.

It's nice to finally meet--

Oh, aren't you crabby?

Wait, I know just what you need.

I always carry one of these

in my bag.

A little pick me up.

This is white chocolate from Belgium,

where you come from.

Go on, try it.

A miracle transpired.

- Mama, Papa! - Come and see!

What's happened?

The joy of white chocolate

showed me that God was me.

Meet my good friend Amélie.

And that's how I was born

at the age of two and a half

in the heart of the Konsai Mountains,

under the gaze of my paternal grandmother,

and by the grace of white chocolate.

This calls for champagne, don't you think?

I had become joy.

Wherever joy was to be found,

there you would find me too.

Joy had finally brought my body to life.

Chocolate awakened all my senses.

In mere days, I made up for all the lost time,

though I didn't really think of that time

as having been lost.

Apparently humans should know how to walk by two and a half.

Walking wasn't all that complicated.

You fall forward, catch yourself, and repeat.

But then there was running.

Running is escape.

It's the verb of bandits and superheroes.

Whoa!

But it's more exhausting.

Most importantly, by age two and a half,

humans are supposed to know how to talk.

Ah--

What was this strange, long-necked creature?

And how was it able to do what it did,

to take something and leave nothing?

Only a God could perform such a miracle.

What could be more divine

than this pure and simple annihilation?

I knew then that I had a brother.

Come away, Amélie, Nishio-san needs to use that--

Vacuum cleaner.

- Snack time. - Wait for me.

Patrick, Patrick!

Amélie just said her first word!

That's wonderful, what was it?

Vacuum cleaner.

Vacuum cleaner?

What a lovely word!

Bravo, Amélie.

Try another word, Amélie.

Try saying Ma-ma.

Well, clearly this meant a lot to them.

Mama.

Very good, Amélie!

That's me, Mama!

It's my turn now, my turn.

Pa...pa!

-Papa. -That's right, sweetie.

Bravo! Papa!

What a strange reaction.

It was as if

they needed me to say their names

to prove they existed.

Oh, cut it out!

Juliette.

She said my name. She said Juliette.

- Granny. - Oh, my little angel.

You're so clever.

My brother loved to torture me.

He'd spend whole afternoons reading comics...

...on top of me.

-She isn't gonna say your name. -Oh, like I care anyway.

Just give her time.

She only knows a few words.

Not true, I can say a lot of words.

You...you know how to talk?

Yes, I've always known how.

She speaks like an empress.

What a remarkable child.

She chooses her words.

Stop sulking, young man.

This calls for more champagne.

Good thing you were there, Granny.

You were the only one...

...who could see the real me.

I'll miss you, Granny.

You'll come back soon?

Of course.

But next time you'll be so big, I'll hardly recognize you.

Now look after your parents because they need it.

Where is Amélie?

Oh, yeah.

I want to say goodbye.

I'll get her, but hop in the car.

We don't want to be late.

Good heavens!

What are you doing here, you little minx?

Where are you going?

The land of white chocolate.

Oh, I'm going to miss you.

I don't know where she-- oh, there you are.

Come on, Granny's gonna be late for her plane.

Take me away, driver.

Mama, will she be back soon?

Well, not very soon.

She's going to Belgium, that's far away.

Across the world.

Across the world?

I don't want that.

It's not fair.

Why doesn't she stay here?

Because she has to go home.

What do you think? Don't be such a baby.

Andre, stop fighting.

You too, Amélie.

She almost broke my camera.

-Hey! -She's just a little kid.

She doesn't know what that is.

Whatever, I didn't ask you.

That's enough.

Both of you go to your rooms.

They didn't understand.

This coarse Belgium may have given me white chocolate,

but now it was taking away my grandmother.

The only one who didn't treat me like a baby.

It was intolerable!

I'm a ykai!

Look at this.

This guy is Otoroshi,

he's a ykai whose job is to protect the gods.

He's usually found in shrines that are very remote

and isolated.

When someone does something bad there, or misbehaves,

he makes the loudest noise you ever heard!

And he punishes the evildoers

by falling on them from a great height

and crushing them.

His job is to teach humans a lesson.

More, read more.

There are lots more ykai...

...but we'll save them for next time.

Wanna help?

Arigato, Amé-chan.

Nishio-san!

Open up.

Open up, everyone!

It was my first springtime ever.

Nature and I awoke together.

At my command, I saw the plants rejoice!

Nishio-san, Nishio-san!

Why are you out here on your own so early?

I wanted you to read about more monsters,

but I left the book in the kitchen.

Then let's go get it.

Hello, Kashima-san, it's good to see you again.

I wanted to thank you for this job.

Hello, Nishio-san.

What's that girl doing in the garden?

Amélie came looking for me and found me by the pond.

You don't have time to waste on her.

Just keep my property in order

by performing the duties my tenants aren't able to.

That is your job.

Yes ma'am, you're right.

But I'm helping them out by watching Amélie here.

She looked so sad, this lady.

Go on home. I'll be right there.

What was her problem?

Those tight lips and sinister eyes.

The only way to explain it

was that she was refusing to love me.

She only had to look at Nishio-san,

who was radiating happiness,

to see that it was good to love me.

Poor Kashima-san.

I think she suffered from the disease

of holding back too much.

Ah, Amélie, where were you?

Papa, what is that?

It's a carp.

It's the symbol of boys, and May is their month.

Why the month of May?

Hmm, I don't know.

Why a month for boys?

Good question.

Which month is for girls?

I, uh, don't think there is one.

Well, then why is it a carp?

Why do babies always have to ask why?

Okay, Papa, I'm done.

All right. Come on sweetie, let's go.

It was so unfair.

Why a month for boys and not girls?

Not even a day for girls.

Not even a symbol.

And again, why a carp?

I want to see a real carp!

I'm sure we can arrange that.

Oh, why don't we ask Nishio-san where to find some.

I didn't really wanna leave my sanctuary,

but I had to.

I needed to see a carp

to find out why they symbolized my brother.

It's so beautiful.

Almost there.

So this was it?

The house of carp?

Come on, Juliette, come on!

- So where are the carp? - Papa, come on,

-let's go. -Hold on. I don't know, sweetie.

Look! Look up there.

They're this way, Amé-chan, over here.

Thanks Nishio-san, we'll be right there.

Just you wait, some of the carp are over 100 years old.

Are you all right?

Bleh!

Carp are really ugly, aren't they?

I can't say I ever found them very cute.

That's why they're the symbol of boys

because you're the worst fish.

It also might be because they have long whiskers.

The Japanese definitely picked

the right fish to symbolize the uglier gender.

Mmnn!

Bah, bah. Bah.

Amélie, Nishio-san, let's go.

It's starting to rain!

We'll be right there.

Hurry up, Amélie, or you'll melt!

Aw, can't we stay?

I wanna stand in the rain.

Of course you do, you are the rain.

The first part of your name, Amé,

means rain in Japanese.

My name fit me perfectly.

Like the rain, I was both precious and perilous.

Benign and deadly.

Silent and tempestuous.

But above all, I felt invincible.

When we get home, I'll show you how to write your name.

I was the rain.

Last one to the kitchen is a rotten egg!

Woah! Take off those wet socks!

He's the rotten egg.

Nuh-uh, you are. I beat you!

No you didn't, you cheated!

Show me, Nishio-san.

You said you'd show me how to write my name in Japanese.

Maybe we change first?

When we got home is what you said.

You're right, I did say that.

Now stick your finger up.

-Like that? -Yes, very good.

Now come close to the window and let me guide you.

First draw a horizontal line like this for the sky.

Then you draw half of a square,

then a vertical line from the sky to the earth,

and last of all, four little drops.

And that's how you draw amé, the character for rain.

I can't really see it.

Hold on.

How about now?

Okay, time to go get changed.

I think I'd always known it,

but now there wasn't any doubt about it.

I was Japanese.

That was the first time

I'd ever seen my father cry.

He looks like a giant baby.

Why are you crying, Papa?

Are you scared of the storm?

No, sweetie.

Papa's crying because...

because his mother, Granny, is gone.

Yeah, she went to Belgium.

No, Amélie, it's different this time.

Granny will never be coming back.

She's dead, Amélie.

I'm really sorry.

Dead?

Yes, my angel.

You're too young to understand.

Go play with your brother and sister, I'll be right there.

Death, I knew what it was.

Oh, honey.

But that didn't mean I understood it.

My granny had saved me from death,

and then in no time at all, it was her turn.

Like it was a trade off or something.

But why?

What is this?

A koma, that's Japanese for a top.

Try to make yours do that.

Okay, watch.

Like this.

Nishio-san, why do we die?

Why do we die?

Um, maybe because... 'cause it's God's will?

God?

I didn't want my grandmother to die.

What?

Your grandmother's dead?

Yeah, my mama told me.

Oh, that's terrible.

I had no idea, Amélie, I'm so sorry.

Why do we die?

Uh, because when you've lived a good long life,

like your grandmother did, you get tired.

So you sleep and that's a good thing.

But don't young people die too?

Yes, well...

During the war, I saw a lot of death.

Tell me about the war.

Oh, that's ancient history.

You don't wanna hear about that.

I do.

Tell me about it, please.

Okay, then I'll try.

It was long ago.

I was a kid.

I was having breakfast with my parents and my older sister

when the bombs started raining down.

It wasn't the first time for Kobe,

but that day I felt the bombs were meant for us.

And I wasn't wrong.

Right next to me, there was a huge explosion.

I couldn't believe I was still alive.

I tried to move my arms and legs,

but something was stopping me.

It took me a while to realize I was buried.

Strangely enough, I felt safe,

but I began to run out of air.

So I started digging, digging, digging,

not knowing where I was going.

Then I pricked up my ears.

I told myself that wherever there was noise,

there would be life.

But I was wrong.

There was only death.

I lost my whole family that day.

I hope I'm not scaring you too much with this story.

Were you sad then?

Like my papa?

Yes, but time heals many things,

and the memory of my loved ones is still fresh with me

and continues to guide me through life.

Do you still see them?

Not the way you see me now.

They walk a different path now,

perhaps becoming something else altogether.

I picture them and talk to them sometimes.

It soothes me.

There's a special occasion coming up.

It's a major event in Japan.

We light candles and float them down the river,

like for a birthday.

We do it to honor those we've lost

and to help them on their way.

Can I come and see it?

Maybe.

We'll have to ask your mom.

You can help me get ready for it.

How long will Papa be in Belgium for?

Two months. They'll go by fast, don't worry.

Come on, try and get it.

- Pass it to me! To me! - You have to get it.

- Here, here! - Juliette!

Over here!

Arigato.

Woo!

Mmm!

Hey!

You'll bring us some chocolates, right?

-Hey! -No, nougat!

Stop!

Don't worry.

Okay, let me talk to Papa.

I didn't even

get to talk to him, thanks a lot, Andre!

Where's Amélie, is she not there?

Afraid not, Nishio-san took her down to the river.

You just missed her.

They're setting their candles on the water.

Ah, that's right.

It's the last day of the festival.

Amélie so lucky to get to see that.

Be sure to thank Nishio-san for taking her.

They love spending time together.

They're practically inseparable.

So you're back tomorrow?

Yes, and I can't wait.

I've been miserable without you.

When I get back, we'll have a day at the beach, promise.

When are we leaving?

Yeah, let's get going.

-Where's Papa and Amélie? -Patience, ever heard of it?

I wanna stay here with you.

No, you're going to have a wonderful time.

And besides, your father just got back from Belgium.

He wants to see you.

But why aren't you coming with us?

Well, because I've been there.

I went to that beach with my family.

It was beautiful.

I was a little girl too, about your age.

I wouldn't want you to miss

standing on the edge of the world.

There's my big girl, I've missed you so much.

I'll be right here waiting.

Have a good day, Nishio-san.

See you later.

Itterasshai!

The sun is out, the skies are clear,

and conditions are perfect

for a day at Tottori beach...

...if you happen to be out that way.

And now, to keep things sizzling...

Don't go anywhere, Papa!

...is the summer's biggest hit.

I wish Nishio-san had come with us.

Mama, can I take this jar?

Jar?

Oh, sure sweetie.

Was that the edge of the world?

Maybe that's where my grandmother was.

Mama!

Papa!

Everything's okay now, Amélie.

It was Andre who spotted your jar abandoned by the water.

If it hadn't been for him...

Thank you, Andre.

She said Andre.

I looked at my brother

like a mathematical equation.

Without him there would be no me.

Would I have liked that?

Well, I wouldn't have been around to find out.

Hi, Nishio-san.

Welcome back.

Do you need help, sir?

Sure, if you could bring Amélie in for us,

that would be great.

-She's had a rough day. -Of course.

That's a nice jar.

It's for you.

You can open it if you want.

Thank you.

Nishio-san! Oide!

Hayaku oide!

Arigato, Amé-chan.

Juliette, Juliette, wake up, it's my birthday!

I'm three today!

Good evening, Kashima-san.

Thank you for having me.

It's a little late for explanations.

Please forgive me, Kashima-san,

but Amélie takes up so much of my time.

That's the problem.

She's clouded your judgment.

No, ma'am.

It's just that their family lost a loved one,

so she was talking to me about that.

It's not your concern.

Our cultures should not mingle.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I meant no disrespect.

You showed disrespect to our ancestors,

taking that girl to the river.

All I've done is care for a child.

Don't you understand?

Befriending them means betraying your own.

Have you forgotten what they did to us?

These people had nothing to do with that.

I'm only trying to help them and I love that girl.

How dare you say that in front of me.

Don't you remember what they did to us after the war?

They took everything from us.

Everything!

Amélie, what are you doing here?

Um...

Today's my birthday.

Please forgive her, Kashima-san.

I'll take her back home now.

Come to your senses.

You're too attached to that child.

The war's over, Kashima-san.

That was 30 years ago.

Her parents were children themselves then.

My husband!

And my son!

Have you forgotten about them?

Your mother, your father, your little sister.

That's enough. You're scaring her.

I shouldn't have asked you to come.

Get out of here.

I never want to see you again.

The child will grow up one day and forget you.

Just as you have forgotten.

Forgotten everything!

Think carefully whose side you're on!

Your pathetic attachment to that girl will come to nothing!

I'm sorry, Amélie.

Nishio-san.

Nishio-san!

Nishio-san!

No!

-Nishio-san, wait! -Come back!

Please, Nishio-san.

Nishio-san, come back!

Nishio-san!

These are grown up problems.

It has nothing to do with you.

It's Kashima-san's fault.

She was mean to Nishio-san.

They've had to go through a lot of hardship.

You're too young to understand yet,

but it doesn't have anything to do with you, okay?

I am sorry, Amélie. I couldn't make her stay.

Happy birthday, Amélie!

- Easy, easy, Juliette. - Mwah!

Yeah, that's right.

We have some candles to blow out today.

You only turn three once.

We've gotta hurry up,

because we still have to bake you a cake.

Race you to the kitchen!

Move! I wanna take a picture.

Lemme light the candles.

Knock it off, Andre.

You're so cute.

Papa, Papa!

Happy birthday, honey.

Can I do it?

Happy birthday! Smile!

Happy birthday!

It's time for your surprise now, sweetie.

Here, chéri.

Go on, open it.

Surprise!

We saw how much fun you had feeding the carp

at that temple we visited.

So we got you three of them.

One for each year.

But now you're responsible for feeding them

every day for the rest of their lives.

Stop, Patrick,

they can live for hundreds of years.

Well, until we go back to Belgium then.

Back to Belgium?

Uh, yeah.

We're Belgian, sweetie, you know that.

No, I'm Japanese.

Sometimes things aren't the way we want them to be.

Your father works for Belgium,

and if Belgium says that we have to leave Japan,

then we have to leave.

He doesn't have to listen to Belgium.

It's so far away!

This is my home, I wanna stay.

No, Belgium's our home, Amélie.

We have to go back.

We belong there, you'll see.

On that day,

my third birthday,

everything changed.

I was about to lose all that I loved.

We're not going right away.

You'll still have time to enjoy it while we pack up

and get ready to leave.

Had I done something wrong?

Was I being punished?

Or can things just go away forever without any warning?

Would I forget everything?

Nishio-san, my kingdom,

Japan, the flowers, everything?

Is this life?

One great chomping mouth that spares nothing?

Carpe diem.

The day of the carp.

Kashima-san, I began to understand your sadness.

The sadness of having lost everything.

I'd never feed the carp again.

I'd never leave Japan.

At the age of three, I went back to the beginning,

to when there was nothing.

What are you doing here, you little minx?

I think I'm dead.

Not quite yet.

Then I'm almost dead if I'm seeing you.

That's right.

But this is no place for you.

It's so boring here, and the world is so big.

The world is so sad, everything goes away.

While I may be gone,

you can still see me in your memories.

If I can't live in Japan forever,

if I have to lose Nishio-san

and the mountains.

If I have to leave the garden,

if what was given gets taken away,

I have no choice but to remember.

When we got home is what you said.

I did say that, you're right.

Okay, stick your finger up.

Like that?

Draw a horizontal line like this for the sky.

Then you draw...

Amé.

...and last of all, four little drops.

Amélie, come back.

Sweetie, she's awake. She's awake.

Hey, Amélie.

You okay?

You've gotta quit scaring us like that.

What's wrong with her head?

Is she hurt bad?

Yeah, is she?

Take it easy, kids.

That's where you bumped your head in the pond.

Is there a hole?

Yes, they had to stitch you up.

Like with a needle and thread?

Yes.

Now be careful, sweetie.

Don't touch that, let it heal.

Someone very special is here to see you.

You happy to see her, sweetie?

It was Kashima-san who saved you.

Kashima-san?

She called Nishio-san,

who came to the hospital right away.

Amé-chan,

thanks for coming back.

You came back too.

Are you gonna stay a while?

I'll stay with you for as long as you're here.

Ah!

I'm not ready yet!

Hold on, give me a minute!

Well, I'm ready!

Come on, hurry up!

Come on, Amélie!

Andre! No!

Andre, stop! Don't hit Mom!

Hey, you okay?

When you are three, you see everything

and understand nothing.

How many swallows does it take to make a springtime?

Do scars eventually melt away like snow in the sun?

My dear Nishio-san, my sunshine, wherever I go,

I'll always remember the precious years

I spent by your side.

I wanna see and feel everything

as much as one can in a lifetime...

...and write every page of my life with passion

and with eyes wide open.

So it turns out I'm not God,

but believe me, it's a lot more fun this way.