Original subtitles

He looks, he observes...

- He sees, doesn't he? - Yes.

- He really sees? - Of course.

In the beginning, they usually see clear colors.

- Clear colors? - Exactly.

It's the light...

He opens his eyes so large? His glance is limpid?

It's like he distinguishes everything.

- Look, I reflect myself. - But no, it's me!

The first thing a boy should see in this world

is the image of his father.

He looks at me.

He opens his eyes wide.

- He sees, doesn't he? - Yes, he sees.

FLAME AND WOMAN

A GENDAl EIGASHA film

Production: Akira ODA Script: Masahiro YAMADA

Tsutomu TAMURA Kiju YOSHIDA

Image: Yuji OKUMURA Decor: Kiminobu SATO

Music: Teizo MATSUMURA

Light: Yoshio UNNO

Montage: Kazuo OTA Son: Yukio KUBOTA

Mariko OKADA

Isao KIMURA

Mayumi OGAWA Takeshi KUSAKA

Kazuo KITAMURA Toshiyuki HOSOKAWA

Misao HAYASE Sachiko MATSUSHITA

Kikuo KANAUCHI Kyoko AIDA

A film of Kiju YOSHIDA

You were sleeping deeply. Mr. Sakaguchi has arrived.

The butterfly, there, on the on the branch. If you do not remove it, the tree will die.

Would you like that I play the gardener?

Seen that the plants don't speak...

I dreamed that you embraced someone under this tree.

- Takashi didn't cry? - Non. He was asleep.

He did frighten me! He is strange, this dad, hm?

He says strange things.

Come, come see dad.

What an opportunity! You have the impression in front of a scene of this kind?

that all happiness is here.

You speak as if you must carry all the misfortunes of the world.

That's right. I don't have what you might call a family.

You deserve to be struck down on the spot! You have an adorable woman,

and a splendid hospital.

Well, that's exactly what's wrong.

His father bought me in exchange for his daughter and a hospital.

You ask her too much.

She does not understand what kind of family a man needs.

It is because you don't have any children.

A hearth without children is like a boat without veil.

And a boat that does not advance is not a boat!

You too, hurry up to create one!

- To "create" one? - Pardi!

But it is ridiculous to say that to a gynaecologist!

There are magpies in the wood!

In this season, they begin to come down from the mountains!

What a pity! I just missed a marvellous photograph!

They are not just like other birds.

When the winter falls, they go down to the plain

but the males and the females have their own territory.

What a tie, Mr. director!

When did you buy it?

That's how she calls her husband...

Why do males and females live separately?

I guess because during winter the food is sparser

And they fight for it

And the females occupy a bigger territory then the males.

According to me, that's not because the female is dominant,

but because she has to be strong to assure the survival of the species.

How cute he is, Takashi. Luckily, it's a boy!

Smile!

Fascinating how well you resemble him!

You are just a copy of your father!

Don't run away this time!

- Who is the real father of Takashi? - What will you do when you know?

I would try to meet him.

- And then? - Nothing.

Well, I will tell you.

It is Ibuki. It is your husband.

Takashi has no other father.

I don't know why, but coming to you reassures me.

Stop! On rest days, you must deal with Shina.

But she prefers that I leave her alone so that she can devote herself to her birds.

I wonder why you reassure me like that.

A year and seven months.

Takashi fully now.

It's really what you think?

You know better than me, since you are a specialist.

No. The obstetrics and pediatrics have nothing to do with it.

The consciousness of the newborn appears to form around three years.

Yet, I have a remembrance of the age of one.

What kind of memory?

The face of my mother crying.

Without doubt at the time of death my father.

You've heard about the scandal Of the maternity of Kotobuki?

No.

That was in the post-war when there was nothing.

The maternity had many children for who the parents could not take care.

To feed them, they were sending milk and sugar.

But instead of giving it to the children, they sold it on the black market.

Of course, the children almost all died of hunger.

The director of the maternity was a woman.

She saw life as an object.

Consider life as an object...

This was the first and the last scandal of this kind.

Why did you tell me that suddenly?

Whenever I wonder why I became a doctor,

this story comes to mind.

When the maternity was unmasked, some children were still alive.

Were you one of them?

I was seven years old.

Do not come back here. Never.

Nonsense!

It is absolutely impossible!

I'm sorry, but I think it is useless to lie.

This is the result of analysis.

You might be a man, But you can not become a father.

Are you going to tell your wife?

Do you really want one?

- Yes... - Then there is a possibility...

Artificial insemination.

I am not forcing you. But it is the only solution.

Cheers!

- What is it according to you? - A whiskey with water?

No! It is a white liquid and viscous...

Look, you see?

Stop!

We are doctors in a clinic.

Neither pedigree nor money: No way of starting a business.

We will finally die in the clinic.

Do you know doctors of 50 years?

Tell me! What is in this glass?

Sperm! I've sold it.

Cream! I might eat cream.

- Enough! - But! You're disgusting!

This is the band of doctors...

I do not believe in the results Of the analysis.

Do not be silly! I checked myself to be sure.

- Do you remember Akane Egawa? - Akane?

The girl with whom you were at the university?

- I heard she was in the art business... - That's right.

- Do you still see her? - Do not mistrust me.

That's ancient history.

She was pregnant.

- Akane! - Let her rest.

She had a miscarriage.

You can bring her with you tonight.

Why didn't you tell me?

That was our child, is not it?

Don't you think he looks like you?

Good! Since you do not answer, I will embrace the raven.

Stop! It's disgusting!

Not more

then thinking of another's wife. Isn't it, my crow?

Very good. I think about what your father Said to me before our marriage.

Dad?

Since this is my father, it is also yours.

- No. Your father is your father. - What did he say?

What difference could it make?

Stop, the raven is watching us.

Two birds have said:

"Living is a beautiful thing.

"Since life is wonderful

"Living is wonderful.

"Live!"

You are finally returned, despite my ban.

Yesterday, Ibuki called me, asking me to pass by.

Ibuki?

He knew however that he should host A foreign delegation this morning.

Me too, in my job I sometimes forget things.

- And Takashi? - He does not.

A child...

A child saves a couple by mobilizing all the attention.

At least that is what they say.

Me in my work, I always say to young mothers:

"Do not worry too much about your children, do not forget your husband."

But myself not having any children

I can not know what it really is.

Why did you decide to have a child?

At least ten children per day are born in my clinic.

I am responsible for all of them.

The great days, we get almost thirty births.

But I've never been the father of these children.

I sometimes have a strange feeling.

Madam?

What is it?

Nothing. I had the impression someone looked at me.

This is my imagination. My husband does not come back...

That day someone looked at me.

A stranger.

You are now asking me to carry the child of another?

- The child that you will wear will be mine. - That's wrong!

When the teacher Fujikida advised it to you in the beginning,

you laughed about it. - Possibly.

I have not forgotten. You were drunk when you came back,

and you treated Fujikida badly.

Perhaps...

I could never forget your voice, that day.

Well, forget it, even if you can not!

You will bear the child!

- Whose child? - Our Children!

But if I wear it,

it will be only mine.

This man looks again.

- Who's that guy? - I do not know.

I do not want this child.

I will not go back on my decision.

Your decision? What decision?

I will not carry that child.

I would if it were your son.

But this disgusts me! If only it were your son...

Stop with your nonsense...

I am like that. I don't need children.

Me, I need it!

For both of us.

A woman can not not wanting children.

You were making fun of artificial insemination.

Why have you changed your mind suddenly?

Why?

You think I did not think about it...

I was thinking all the time.

And then...

Yesterday, when I saw...

Vu?

Sometimes, I can not understand it myself.

Why do I want to have a child?

That's why I need it!

If you ask me to carry the child of an unknown

or that of the man

constantly hovering around the house.

Stop talking nonsense!

Perfectly! I would prefer that it be him rather than a stranger!

He, at least, I see!

I do not understand what you saying.

Or...

You do not want to wear the child of a man

with whom you did not have physical relations?

It was the end of the summer. I was in your summer house.

Just one week before our marriage.

You remember, don't you?

You came with the Fujikidas,

but you returned earlier to Tokyo.

I wanted to spend there

the last week of my life as a young girl.

Yet,

the third day I was bored already.

I wandered to kill time.

I had always dreamed to spend a few days

alone, quiet, without parents, without anyone.

Thanks to you, just before our marriage,

this dream had finally been fulfilled.

But my hopes were dryly disappointed.

"Was that the loneliness that I was dreaming of since I was little? "

I whispered to myself while walking.

At that moment, I met him.

He acted as if he had not seen me.

He saw me without seeing me.

But suddenly I realized

that this man ignored me voluntarily.

I felt an incomprehensible shame.

I realized that I cried out in spite of myself:

"I live in this house!"

A few hours had passed. I was nervous. I lyed down.

At that time,

someone knocked on the door.

I was embarrassed.

I did not think he would come.

He slowly approached me.

Unconsciously, I tried to scream.

Is it him?

The man who prowls around here every day, is it him?

I do not know. I do not know his name.

- I even do not remember his face. - Enough!

The child of that man can not be my child!

You really think I'm going to believe this story?

It was you, isn't it? That summer...

that I met in a coppice in the middle of a field.

Enter. Close the door.

It was you in that field. You were covered with sweat,

you drove a tractor. and you watched me.

No, you did not return once.

- No, it was not me. - Yes, it was you!

Why didn't you look at me, Not even once?

- Why? - It's not that.

I... I wanted to see if you were happy.

Happy?

No... You are not the same as before!

I did not think your wife would accept.

Anyway, the biggest remains to be done.

Assuming that the operation was successful, he will be born in 10 months.

- Take care of her. - What is the percentage of success?

20 to 60%.

It means that we do not know.

It will succeed, I am sure.

I will return.

Weren't you watching him? Takashi is 1 year and 7 months.

He can not be gone too far!

I searched inside the house, outside, wherever he could go!

Ah yes...? Seeing you as calm as this,

it is obvious that you know where Takashi is.

You have hidden him to test me.

That's right.

- Tell me where he is now. - He is really gone.

He's a baby, he can barely walk!

Where do you want to go?

I do not know.

Who is your accomplice?

Sakaguchi?

It's him, Sakaguchi.

Enough now. You'd be happy to see me so worried.

Tell me where he is.

I am sure that you hate Takashi.

- But he is my child! - Stop it, please!

I'm sorry, but it's really my son.

You may have the same blood, it is my first son!

Stop!

Go look for him, if you like... Go find him.

Very good.

So he is with Sakaguchi.

Why do you want him to be with Sakaguchi?

You see other possibilities?

You're wrong.

Am I wrong?

So who?

If neither you nor Sakaguchi, who is it?

Shina?

Shina?

It's impossible.

She...

What's it to make a child? Were you scared?

- Where were you happy? - Nothing special.

All mothers of the world feel the same.

- And if I would make one too, what then? - Go ahead!

But a baby is a strange beast; it's a little scary.

- Don't you think? - Not at all.

- Is it cute? - Yes.

That is surely what people think when it is their own child.

I make one?

But you know, I am sterile.

I do not do anything not to have children, but nothing happens.

And you, how it was?

Honey? Lunch is ready.

Darling!

It varies from people to people.

Say, Ritsuko! If you make another you give it to me?

Come with mom...

What did you do with your husband when you were pregnant?

What kind of question is this? We are eating!

- But it is important! I want to know. - She is always like that.

- I was in our summer house. - Really?

You did not want him to see you that way with your big belly.

Women are not spoiled, though.

And men, meanwhile, how are they? Hein, Mr. Director?

If I can not have one, Ritsuko promised me

she would give me the next.

- When did you get here? - Just now.

- I bother? - Of course not.

I could read that from your face.

How do you feel?

- Everything okay? - Sometimes it moves a lot.

Ah!

What is it?

You have the right to walk, but the cold is not good for you.

But I told you not to come...

In three months, I would have gone directly to the hospital.

So, I would have come to an end without it being visible.

Everything will be OK.

No! The baby...

The baby... I do not want to lose it...

We had so much trouble!

This is my child, right?

You hate me?

Do not say whatever. Say nothing.

But I will have this child.

I asked you not to touch me during my pregnancy.

You're really horrible...

I should not have made this child.

You'd think I say that because it is not your son.

Why do you say nothing?

The car that drove by on the moment you've lost sight of,

is surely Shina's. Is it not?

No.

If you really think so, why did you introduce the Sakaguchi in our home?

- Why? - They are friends.

Wrong. Whenever there is a problem,

you invite them to the house on purpose.

- Every time... Why? - Stop with your affabulations!

If they would not come here,

we would be more quiet.

Still...

If you had really paid attention to him, none of this would have happened!

We have already suffered enough To get him! Yes, suffered!

Nobody suffered.

I did not think it was so easy to make a child...

Easy?

It's a lease? We were very young...

We had no money.

Not even a room big enough to live with two,

but it seemed we could do everything.

It was just before the start of the Korean War.

You were speaking about yourself by saying "we".

Stop please, will you...

Stir the past can only Jurt us today.

True, all this is old.

So, tell me what you became.

I told you there was nothing very interesting to say.

Men, men, men!

- We never saw each other since... - No.

If he were born, he would be16 years old...

- He could not rise. - But sometimes?

But sometimes I tell myself that with the life I lead, I would have wanted him to be born.

But he was not born...

Would you have lead a normal life with the father of this child?

Exactly! Our child!

Today, you'd be a father as we see them everywhere and I...

Stop!

From who was this child?

You!

- I want to know the truth! - But it was yours, truly!

Anyway, nothing can be done about it now... That's ancient history.

It's old... It's far...

The doctor told me that I am sterile from birth.

Yesterday, at the hospital.

Men, men, men! Father of 3 children, you speak!

You lied, that's right. Yes.

- That's why you come to find me. - Answer me.

Whose child was it?

I go looking for him!

Where?

I do not know... There where he is!

As if you knew it! Who took him and where?

It's my son I am looking for. Not something invisible.

He is my son, I will find him. We have the same blood.

If he calls me, I...

In the north, south, east, west?

So? In the north, south, east, west?

1, 10, 100 km?

If you know, tell me!

Since Takashi is not my son, since it is your son,

because you are her real mother because you sense where he is,

tell me where he is! Immediately!

It is Shina.

Takashi...

You knew it... You knew it and you did not say anything!

It is true that Shina took Takashi?

Impossible!

I have no idea what she does.

- Neither where she could have gone. - I do not know...

A place where you often go... You are a couple, right?

A couple?

Yes, surely. Why? It is supposed to represent something?

Of course! A woman belongs to her husband.

- So she bares children, raises them... - Stop!

For us, this makes no sense.

We live together. Sexually we are also a couple.

But I never knew what she thought.

From our engagement on, there was an inconsistency.

Our feelings have crossed without ever meeting.

In fact, only our birds unite us.

Lost in the mountains, the small Snipe expressed...

What a wise child... She said:

"I'm so tired, I can not take a step!

"I have to rest!" She saw a light a little further.

It was the light of a house lost in the mountains.

"Knock, knock... Knock, knock. "

"I'm lost, can you Give me shelter for the night? "

"Of course!"

replied the old lady very nice.

This old lady lived alone in this house.

The little Snipe fell asleep.

She woke up suddenly during the night.

"Yum, yum!", she heard.

Below, the old lady seemed to be eating.

"What do you eat, madame?"

"Pickles.

"You want some? Here. "

she says by handing one over.

The little snipe took it and looked...

It was the finger of her dad she had been looking for since the morning.

Startled, she tried to flee, but the door opened suddenly,

and the old lady came in with a kitchen knife.

It was a witch.

You think little Snipe was eaten?

She managed to escape through the window!

It was a bird!

It was not a human being!

End of story.

"I have something on my face?"

For a long time, I dreamed to be able to say this reply.

"I have something on my face?"

Here you are! You're back with your father and your mother.

Here, I give it back to you...

- Takashi! - Don't ever disappear again from Mommy!

You're the baby of your mother.

- You realize what you did? - What do you say, Mr. Director?

Why didn't you say anything?

We only had fun the two of us. What is wrong?

You did not think that his parents would be crazy for concern?

His parents?

Yes.

- I'll tell you what to do. - No thank you, Mr. Director.

You talk as the president of a court!

"Accused Shina Sakaguchi, why have you removed Takashi? "

"I found this child in the middle of the road, and helped him. "

"Then why did you not return him to his parents? Why?

"Because...

"I do not know very well. I can't say.

"I just wanted to do it. "

"His parents were concerned. What do you respond to that?"

"Mr. President... "

The role of the President would suit Mr. Fujikida very well!

Mr. Fujikida has the look of someone who knows everything!

Moreover, he has nothing to do with the case.

"Very well, Mr. President, now it is my turn to ask you a question.

What are the parents?

Parents are the protectors and owners of their child?

I am not qualified to answer this question.

As a physician, I took part in the death of God.

Even if I would be accused, I have not the right to judge anyone.

Can I dispose? I'll let you go.

There is no longer a president. The accused Shina Sakaguchi says that...

Enough!

- The joke has lasted long enough. - The public cries out for me to shut up.

But I am serious.

If my act is guilty

who among you is not guilty?

- Pronounce the sentence! - Enough!

Just ask forgiveness from Ritsuko. You understand...

- But a child is not a bird. - What are you talking about?

Okay, let her speak.

You think I have taken him because I'm jealous of Ritsuko?

It has nothing to do with that.

Oh no?

If Takashi had no right to leave, he must be put in a cage, like a bird.

But as a human being is not a bird, he will finally release himself.

Nobody can stop him.

Not true!

Nobody can go wherever he wants.

We are all tied one way or another.

Ritsuko and I will stay a couple even if we split.

Takashi and I are father and son.

There is a bond of invisible blood.

One cannot escape through the cracks like that.

There is no link.

If there is no link, then...

This is because children can not choose their parents.

Everything is decided before their birth.

Parents also do not choose their children.

There is no link.

None.

Exactly! Ritsuko was right!

Everything is connected!

Enough! I do not want to hear you anymore!

What is this look? If you hate me, say it!

- You are a coward! A coward! - I beg you, shut up!

You did not marry me for who I am, neither to conduct a clinic!

You did it because you did not want To remain in your hospital,

to be a small clinics doctor all your life!

You married me to get away from this hospital!

Fool! What does this have to do with all this?

You do not understand what a woman can feel!

Stop! I've had enough!

Leave. And do not come back here please.

It is normal that Shina is angry.

Yet...

Although Sakaguchi is the father of Takashi...

No...

Sakaguchi has nothing to do with all this!

Ritsuko...

So you knew him?

But Takashi is my son!

You're the baby of your mother! Your mom!

Look good at mom.

Look at the face and the eyes of mom.

Okay. Now listen:

You know, dad is not your father.

Your father does not exist.

You have no father anywhere.

Nobody knows that, not even you.

But the truth is that dad is not your real father.

This is the truth,

as long as the truth exists.

This man says he is your dad, Acts as if he were your dad.

But he is nothing but a hollow and empty shell.

The more he behaves like your father,

the more he departs from what a father is.

You, you are my child to me. And the more I say that you are mine,

the more it becomes clear that you are not his child.

You're the baby of your mother.

You understand what mother says, not?

Mama knows it...

I should not have come.

When I got your phone call, I...

But you're here.

No. I came to take him back.

Give him to me. Give me back to myself.

Takashi is not you.

He is not yours.

So what are we then, the three of us? We are a real family.

- Even if you deny it. - Takashi...

is neither yours, nor Ibuki's.

He is mine.

Even if he comes from you, he is not yours.

Do you know why I started to attend your home?

Although I felt a danger as a child by the river,

irremediably attracted by the other side...

It was a warm spring day,

I went to Shina, we were just engaged.

While I waited, I've heard them talk, she and her father.

Her father said:

"For an occasion, it's a little expensive.

"But since my daughter says so, I will accept the price. "

He spoke about me.

At that moment, I saw the dead children Kotobuki again.

I was going to be purchased as an object, as these children.

Until then, I sold my children without particular grief.

No, they were not children. I sold a liquid, without remorse,

because we had buried the children of Kotobuki as one buries objects.

I was engaged to Shina to escape that life.

But the result was the same.

I was an object, and for me as an object,

children could not be only objects.

Just like I consider Takashi like my son.

You understand what I ask to give me back?

You understand?

I can give you nothing, no water or anything.

You resemble him a lot.

I made them listen to the voice of the wind.

Wild birds need The sounds of nature.

Where is Ritsuko?

It was not true. I pulled your leg.

There is nobody.

You realize what you are doing?

So what? There are no alternatives.

You're not a man!

Stop...

It's just that I do not want...

You think that's how You are taking revenge on them?

That's why she sleeps with another.

Takashi is the child of Sakaguchi.

You did not know? You knew and did not say anything?

Because you're not a man?

You do not understand.

I am not a man.

But not because I can not make love to a woman.

You understand what that means, not?

At the beginning, the father of this child

was supposed to have neither name nor face.

Except for mine.

Because this child is born from the hand of a doctor.

I thought you fooled me.

I thought I could forgive you

even if it had been a serious story. Forgive you...

But that, no! I could never forgive you!

It's you, is not it? The man who gave me Takashi.

It's you...

You're the man.

I do not know.

What am I at the end?

Who?

You are the father of this child.

I'm his mother.

Yet I was not your husband.

Now that's what I do.

Now, you're his father.

And you'll be my husband.

Now. Now.

It's impossible, you do not have...

What, "Impossible"?

I lucky as I was.

I did not need children.

I was satisfied with the quiet life.

I lived quietly until our wedding. Up to 28 years.

My father was a physician for 40 years in the same rural town.

It is in this kind of family that I grew up.

If at that time you would have understood me,

if we had not had Takashi in this way,

you and me, just the two of us, we would have been quiet. Quiet.

I'm going home.

What will you do?

Yes, if you want to come back please...

I will be happy...

You know what happened last night, not?

Why don't you insult me?

Why don't you hit me?

Because nothing has changed: Takashi is still my son.

Hmm... Who's that?

It's dad... Dad.

Yes, it's dad... It's your dad...

Mom, it's someone else. That's mom.

Don't fool me... Who's that?

- Dad. - And that?

That's mom.

No! It's a dead leaf.

No, that's a tree.

No, that's a bird.

No, this is heaven! No, that's the sun!

END