Original subtitles

LATE SPRING

I'll take it from here. Bring Mr. Kim his medicines

He never takes them anyway

Just do as you're told

Mrs. Gyeongsan, Mr. Kim is leaving the house

What?

Go after him

Yes, ma'am

Thank you

Next person

Name?

My name is Min-gyeong Lee

Didn't you get your ration already?

Me? You must be mistaken

It is you...I saw you earlier

What a shameless thief!

You're accusing the wrong person

Have some conscience

Hey. What's holding up the line?

You can't do this, ma'am

Don't be too hard

Sure

Come to church on Sunday morning

Mrs. Kim

What is it?

Do you know her?

No

So selfish...when there aren't enough around for everyone

It's okay, Miss Kim

I'm home

Did you have a good day, ma'am?

Did Mr. Kim take his afternoon medicines?

Well, actually...

God bless our brave sons who have served

and returned home from Vietnam

Citizens are greeting them

in the streets waving welcome flags

Can you get rid of the car in the backyard?

I saw a young mother this afternoon...

She's almost a span taller than others and has long lean limbs

I thought you might consider to work...

What could I possibly do with these hands?

- But darling, if you'd just... - You're wasting your time

I can't believe this

How can you still be doing the dishes?

When will you finish this?

Hurry up, girl

Hello?

Please come in

This model job you're talking about...

Have you heard of a sculptor called Kim Jun-gu?

I heard a famous professor moved here from Seoul

Mr. Kim is that professor

I see

So, you'll pay me for standing still?

How much do you get paid here a month?

About 500 won

What if I paid you 5,0007?

Did you say 5,0007

"Kim Jun Ku's Solo Exhibition in 1962"

Oh...

Good God...They're all naked

She won't come, would she?

The model that I told you about

I thought we were done talking about that

Will you just give it a thought?

Just see her once, please

I'll bring her over in a few days

Just look at her and if it won't do

I won't bring this up again

Gosh, let's clean up the dust

What's the point of cleaning if he'll never use it?

Mrs. Kim must have something in mind

Dust will gather again in a few days

It's none of your business

Mrs. Kim wants to pay her a visit

Let's go

Who is this woman anyway?

Mr. Kim won't live long like that

At least, Mrs. Kim believes that

Hey, you came

It's 5,000 won

And...about the thing I mentioned ealier...

Don't worry, People know you as our new maid

Thank you

Give me your arm

Poor thing, your hands are all cracked

How did it go?

Why are you so interested?

It's not like anybody can be a model

Will you shut your mouth?

Take off your clothes

Excuse me?

Take off your clothes

Yes, sir

Turn around

Put your arm down

Lift your head

Don't look at me

Turn to the side

The other way

Lift your arms

Over your head

Higher

Higher

Bring one foot forward

Bend backwards

Here

What's this smell?

It's beef stew

And polished rice, too? Where did you get the money?

Do you know the professor who moved from Seoul?

The one with palsy?

Not exactly palsy...

Anyway, I got a job at his house

And you got paid in advance?

No

I gotta pay the back rent and settle your tap, too

What the hell? All in crisp new bills?

All this for doing household chores?

You can't take that money

Back off, bitch

How dare you stash money from me?

Think of it as a ritual for becoming a model

No need to feel uncomfortable

I'm counting on you

I'll do my best, ma'am

"Kim Jun-gu Sculpture Research Laboratory”

When did you get here?

Pardon? I just...

Come back tomorrow

Damn. I'm bust

Damn right you are

I'll be happy to wipe you out

Hey, coffee delivery

What is this place?

They have curfews but not police visits here

I haven't seen you before. Where are you from?

From Jeomchon

Where is that?

Don't you know, dumbass? It's next to Samcheonpo

What an ignorant bunch!

It's close to Mungyeong

A remote village with no electricity

We have electricity. Just no plumbing

Did you hear that? No plumbing

You're chubby and cute like an actress

Oh, yeah?

Didn't you already lose 1,200 won at the other game?

- 1,200 won? - You better stop here.

You lost the day before, too

Where are you getting all that money?

It wasn't 1,200

Whatever. Move over

I'll play this round

Bring your knee higher

No

Don't just listen with your ears

Feel it with your heart

This time, you're not hearing it

but just feeling it

Relax your body

Try to make a comfortable pose

That's it...

I haven't see you around before

That looks heavy

Hey sweety, you want a ride?

No, thanks

Fine then

Couldn't you ask once more?

Don't move

Shall we take a break?

Mr. Kim

I have a question

Go on

All the rice field around here used to belong to your family

until the Japanese took them away. Is that true?

That's what you wanted to know?

My father used to believe that land should belong to the farmers

He distributed it to his tenants

before the Japanese forfeited it in WW2

I see

It's all in the past

Give me that

Thank you

Be careful

Let's go

- You like that? - That's it

What the...

You crazy bitch

How dare you glare at me with raised eyes?

How dare...

Oh my...

Darling...

Mrs. Gyeongsan visited Min-gyeong today

She was in quite a terrible shape

Is she?

Is it cold? Did she get medicines?

If she doesn't get better

I'll take her to doctor's office

Mr. Kim

I don't think she's coming today, either

Will you have your lunch at the residence again?

No, just leave it there

Yes

Am I not good enough to be a model, sir?

Stuck in your room all evening

and didn't even touch the food

How else may I serve you, miss?

So it wasn't cold

Does it hurt?

You know II...

I'm used to getting beaten up

Oh, is it too hard?

How it is, sir?

It's the wrong clay?

The damned old man said it was the best of his batch

No

It's good. It's fine

That's a relief

He did say it's the finest quality

She must be the new model

Mr. Oh

Why don't you let her be your assistant today?

Assistant?

Take off your shoes and hop in

The final kneading cannot be done with a shovel

You gotta do it with your feet

What happened to your face?

Face isn't important in sculpture anyway

For sculpture of body, most important is the shape of the body

It's okay if you're a little ugly

Don't lie

Have you been lied to all your life?

You've got legs like chopsticks

- What? - Keep treading

Did you wash your feet?

Come on, do it properly. You'll fall like that

You're making a mess

Mr. Kim...Can I ask you a question?

What is it?

Why do I have to take the clothes off?

Why does it have to be nude?

What should you be wearing then?

Pardon?

I am searching for a certain value through the human body

If not the essence of beauty,

it could just be beauty

Clothes are nothing but a shell

I need to find a pose for a body piece,

but it's not easy

Wait

Lean forward

That's it

Turn your head

More. There

Can you remember this pose?

I feel good

Fucking great

Why are you so late? I've been waiting so long

What brings you here?

I dropped by on the way from the market

On such a hot day

Let me get you a glass of water

There's a good girl

Now that I've had my water. I'd better be heading back

So soon?

Shall I sleep over then?

No but, Mrs. Gyeongsan

You forgot this

- That's for you - Pardon?

Mrs. Kim told me to shop for you from now

when I go shopping

I should be going then

- Bye bye - Bye dear

See you later

How are you, Mr. Kim?

Are you going to the studio?

Mrs. Gyeongsan

Mr. Kim has changed a lot recently

He is vigorous as in the old days

You're right, he got his vigor back

I wonder how the work's coming along

Why don't you visit the studio?

I owe everything to Min-gyeong

Ma'am

How come you're knitting in this weather?

I want it ready for the winter

Hey!

Not bad

You know the right size

I asked and learned from Mr. Oh

How did you know?

Thank you

Aren't you pushing yourself too hard these days?

I'm not

I won't be a nagging old man

Don't make the condition worse

You've been a great artist and you still are

Can't you take it easy and enjoy it as a hobby now?

Doctor...

I'll give you a vitamin shot while I'm here

Like you said he gained a lot of energy

Mostly because he started working again

But I didn't tell Jun-gu that

I'm worried he'll push himself too hard

You did the right thing

You have to be careful

It's not about art you need to take care You know that

Still, he's never been so well ever since we moved out here

So, I thought...

Well, I took a blood sample today

We'll know better when we get the results back

All good now

I'll be going then

How is it working for you?

I'm happy these days

What I do may not be important

but it feels as if I'm doing something worthy

Thanks to you and Mrs. Kim, I want to live better

It's a marvelous thing to hear

How is your husband?

Does he still drink a lot?

Yes

The truth is...

About a month after I got notice that my husband was killed in action,

he came by introducing himself as my late husband's comrade in battle

He said that my husband's dying wish...

was for him to take care of us

What brings you here again?

Well, I...missed the last train

Oh?

No rooms at the motel in downtown

Oh dear

I'm sorry but there is only one room in this house

I'll stay in the kitchen,

and wait for the first train

He asked me to look after you

Don't shout!

We ended up living together

Come and sit here

Can you borrow some money?

What?

I hear there's a decent general store out on sale for 30,000

If we put down 10,000 as down payment,

we can pay the rest in installment

No

I got all the advances that I can get

What did you say?

Did you just say 'no' to me?

What I meant was...

What is it that you do at this professor's house?

What are you insinuating? I do cleaning and laundry

And yet, they pay you so generously

There's a lot of work

Do you want me to ask them myself?

No...I'll ask

That's not right

Do you need a break?

No, I'm fine

Turn your body to 3 o'clock

Hold the pose

That's right

And contract your leg muscles

More!

Yes, that's it

It's amazing how time flies

Can't believe that...

big master's eldest is getting married

Don't worry about here Have a safe trip, ma'am

Oh dear. Have a good trip

Mrs. Gyeongsan

Yes?

Can you bring Min-gyeong

the money she asked for, please?

As you please, ma'am

You're pretty good now

You leave the face like this?

Most of the time, yes

Doesn't look like me

It doesn't have to be anyone specific

Oh it's okay. Thank you.

Her eyes are closed

Is she sleeping?

Imagine that her eyes are open and wearing an expression

Who would look at the body? They'll just look at the face

The face...

Mr. Kim

The car in the backyard...

is that really working?

I have to look at the person's face

to know whether he is angry or sad or happy

So, you can express all that emotion just through the body?

That's incredible

Man, you chickened out?

You're the best

Why don't you just fold?

Wait

Jeez! You scared me

Think it over, man

You won some today. Let this one go

He looks like a bluff

Show him what you've got

But, man...

What the heck? Life is just a big gamble

Flip them

You should've been more careful

He had 'professional’ written all over

But you told me to do it

Bastard!

Where's the oil mill moved to?

Across the bridge

Thank you

That stupid girl asks the same thing every time

Who is she? Look at her swaying ass

Isn't she the youngest of the mill owner who moved to Seoul?

She was taken in by that professor

as a surrogate wife

A surrogate wife?

They have no kids?

No

She just looks like a servant girl

But they already have a housemaid

Why would they need another one?

- Mom - Yes, dear

I like that he's not around I wish he never comes back

You shouldn't wish for something like that

Alright?

Okay

Don't even think that

Go in, watch your brother carefully

Wait.

Put your clothes back on

Sit on the chair

I'm thinking maybe I'll do a bust

Really?

But I need to see the muscle of your neck,

can you pull down the shirt a little?

What the fuck is this?

It's not what you think. I'll explain

You filthy whore

Stop!

Stop!

Stop!

Get off!

No

Don't touch him

No, not that!

No, not that! Kill me if you have to

Have you lost your mind?

What the fuck...

What the fuck is all this?

Get up, you shameless whore

Mr. Kim is okay. Yes, ma'am...

Mrs. Gyeongsan

Oh god...

Look at you, what a mess!

Don't worry about the kids They're sound asleep

Bring more water

I'm worried about you

You're up?

I'm sorry I slept in

Mr. Kim said to take the day off

He did?

Mrs. Kim, you're early

I know nothing about art and I don't care

Fine

Just leave her alone until the work is done

It'll only be another few days

I took care of him

I never threaten anyone before,

I feel a little awkward

Okay well done, thank you.

Is the family in Seoul well?

Your wife sent me

What is art for?

Life is short but art is long

Hippocrates

You know only one thing

Giacometti chose a cat's life over art

You shouldn't be making a sculpture of a woman

Look at what art has done to you

Think about your wife

Take a seat

This'll look good on you

Such a fair face...How much it must've hurt

We took care of your husband problem

You can stay here until the piece is finished

Don't cry

It's Okay

Thank you

I have the results from the blood test

I'm sorry

The improvement he showed,

was only temporary

By the time the wind gets chilly,

he may not be able to move

Brace yourself

Mr. Kim is late

It's okay. He used to stay up all night

Things must be going well

You forgot to look at the time

You're right

Why didn't you come to the studio if you were so worried?

When did I ever?

Is that right?

That's true

Do you remember?

I think it was when we only just got married

We didn't have telephone back then so,

if you stay up all night working

I would come out to the embankment and wait for you from the break of dawn

I would think to myself, We're only just married,

how can he just think about work all the time?

Looking back, those were the happiest days

I talked too much today, didn't 1?

You look tired. Have a good sleep

I owe you

and I'm sorry

It was a blessing that I met you

Darling, I...

I'm happier than I can ever ask for

And...

I love you

Mr. Kim asked you to come today?

I thought I would stop by anyway

Hello?

What brings you here?

Is Mrs. Min-gyeong Lee here?

Where is she?

Come on

Lift the cover

Is this your husband?

What happened?

At first, we thought he slipped and fell

but actually he was shot

We'll know better after an autopsy

You can go home for now

Mr. Kim?

All this time,

I've been searching for beauty only in the human body

But thanks to you, I've come to understand the true beauty

How beautiful the trace of life engraved in a person's face is

Only now am I able to look back at myself

You have taught me the greatest lesson

Your husband won't ever come back

Unfortunately, it seemed like...

the only thing that I could do for you

I sincerely hope that you'll find happiness

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

Come on...We have work to do, Mr. Kim

Don't go

We've got to let him go

I've known that I only had little time left

I didn't want my perishing body to be a burden on you

Although my body is facing the winter,

my art has finally reached spring

I decided to call this piece Spring

As some sculptor said,

life is more precious than art

I know that now

On this face, my life is engraved

and you are reflected in my life

I've never been good enough for you

So, I only confess now

that I've always loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you