Original subtitles

Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees

Produced by Ichiro Sato and Kiichi Ichikawa

Based on the novel by Ango Sakaguchi

Screenplay by T aeko Tomioka and Masahiro Shinoda

Cinematography by Tatsuo Suzuki

Original Music by Toru Takemitsu and Shinichiro Ikebe

Cast

Tomisaburo Wakayama

Shima Iwashita

Hiroko Isayama

Kou Nishimura

Directed by Masahiro Shinoda

When cherry trees blossom, people have parties.

They sit under the trees with food and beverages.

"Oh, how beautiful!"

"Spring is in its prime!, "

That's all nonsense.

Cherry blossoms have just become an excuse for a party,

People have done this for the last few hundred years, since the Edo period.

Before that. the trees were

considered horrifying.

Imagine being the only one underneath the blossoming cherry trees.

People thought that they'd lose their minds by walking under the blossoms.

Travelers made detours. going out of their way to avoid the flowering trees.

Well trodden paths formed far from the cherry trees.

No one walked through the trees then. It was quiet.

Take it off!

Give me everything you have.

Take it off!

Why are you clinging on to her?

You told me that you wouldn' t kill me...

You...

You're too beautiful to kill.

You're my wife now.

Then carry me on your back.

I'm not suited to mountain climbing.

Can't you walk faster? I thought you were a man.

You'd better walk from here.

It's dangerous to carry you.

I won't walk. If it's so dangerous for you to walk...

...how am I supposed to walk by myself? Is it possible?

I see what you mean.

It's not that walking uphill is too much for me...

...but can I put you down just once?

Why?

I can't see you when you are on my back.

I don't have eyes on the back of my head.

Let me put you down once so I can see your face.

No, you won't do that.

I don't want to stop here. It's so Ionely here.

You're a man., aren't you?

If you can't endure carrying me without a break., I won't be your wife.

If you're going to make me feel Ionely again, I'II kill myself.

AII right. all right.

I'II do anything you ask.

Why do you have to climb this steep hill?

Why don't you go through the cherry trees over there?

No... There's no going through those trees.

Why not?

Because if we did.

we would Iose our minds.

I have walked through them once.

It was calm, with no wind but there was a rumble.

It was terrifying... The cherry blossoms...

You don't hesitate to kill people but you're afraid of flowers.

AII the mountains you can see belong to me.

Yes? So what?

Listen.

AII the mountains you see...

...every single tree in the mountains and every ravine...

Even the fog and clouds in the mountains are mine.

Is that bird yours too?

It is.

Then run after it and catch it for me.

Not with you on my back.

How frustrating!

Are you so tired that you can't run?

You aren't as strong as you Iook.

I thought I'd become the wife of the manliest of men.

What am I to expect from this marriage?

Don't be silly...

Once I'm out of the hills...

...I'll run like a deer.

But you're wheezing.

You're pale. too.

Water...

Get me some water!

Who are these wild women?

Them? They are...

...used to be my wives.

Wives? These women?

Filthy women...

I had never seen a beautiful woman until I met you.

Kill that woman for me.

She doesn't have to be killed...

Think of her as a maid.

You killed my husband but you hesitate to kill your wife?

How can I be your wife then?

Kill her too!

Don't stop! She's hanging onto the tree!

There's one behind the bush!

Don't miss anybody!

You can spare that one.

I want her as my maid.

There's no reason to Ieave one alive.

You silly thing.

She Iives because I say so.

So this is your house.

I must be the strongest man on earth.

What's this you're feeding me?

This is food for dogs. Do you expect me to eat it everyday?

For me this is a feast.

I'm only able to eat food Iike this once a month.

It must be a feast for a man Iike you.

But I'm not putting this in my mouth!

You took away my city Iife from me.

AII I have now are the cries of crows and owls to Iisten to.

Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Keeping me in the middle of nowhere.

The Ieast you can do is to feed me something exquisite.

I miss the Capital city...

I know you can't imagine how elegant things are in the city.

But here. I don't even have a woman's

dire necessities Iike combs.

Lip rouge.

Don't touch me!

You have animal blood on your hands!

Buddha is with you wherever you are

Not in reality but in the heart that sees

In the dawn when nothing is awake

He comes to you in a dreamy haze

Where' s the water?

Water?

Here's the water.

What' s so great about them?

You cannot touch them.

Why do you have to touch them everyday?

They Iook so mysterious...

What's mysterious?

You know...

They're just mysterious...

Get some good., straight pieces of wood for me!

What's that thing called?

It's called a lounge chair.

What do you use it for?

Is there anybody as strong as I am in the Capital?

I'm not even afraid of boar's tusks.

Does anybody have tusks in the Capital?

To hell with the city!

What are you thinking about?

Is there anybody with tusks in the Capital?

There are men with swords and bows.

I can hit a sparrow with an arrow from the other side of the valley.

Even in the Capital. nobody's skin is thick enough to break my sword.

How silly you are...

Warriors wear armor.

Armor? Is it strong enough to break my sword?

It is.

Even if my sword broke...

...I could wrestle a bear to the ground.

You are such a disappointment.

You were so strong., wild and manly when I first met you.

That's why I agreed to be your wife.

Now you can do nothing to satisfy me.

We're not in the city. We're in the mountains.

Stop saying how strong you are.

Just take me to the Capital city.

And bring me everything I desire.

The Capital...

Take me back there.

And dress me in the beautiful kimonos and jewelry that I Iove.

Use your strength to please me.

I can do that so easily.

I'II get a pile of kimonos and jewelry for you within three days.

It's been snowing for three days...

When are we going to the city?

We should have Ieft before the Ieaves began to fall.

You're too indecisive.

I'm sick and tired of life in the mountains.

I have to see the cherry trees first.

The cherry blossoms?

Soon the snow will stop and spring will follow.

The cherry blossoms will bloom and I must see that before we Ieave.

What kind of nonsense is that?

I want to walk through the cherry trees.

Do you want to tell me why?

Because of the blossoms.

Because of the blossoms. Why?

When the cherry trees are in full blossom...

...a cold breeze goes through the trees making a rumbling sound.

You told me that.

And if you walk through the trees you'II Iose your mind.

Because it seems endless.

You mean you can't see ahead?

Maybe I want to go through the cherry trees...

...and hear the rumbling sound.

You'II Iose your mind.

Sounds fun. Take me there.

No, I can't.

I have to go by myself.

Turnips. How about some turnips?

Look at them, fresh out of the fields.

How about one for dinner? Nobody has turnips as fresh as these.

What do you want?

Just Iooking.

You're just Iooking!

If you just want to Iook, then Iook at a painting of a turnip.

Liquor!

Liquor!

More!

He drinks Iike an animal.

He doesn't know how to use money.

Princess of Rokujo is passing by.

Behave yourself!

Get away from the carriage.

I said get away!

The princess has been waiting for you.

She's Iooking forward to seeing you., my Lord.

You're not Masatsune...

You are...

No!

You recognize me., don't you?

I'm Lord Dainagon. The man you despise.

I pretended to be Masatsune, the man you Iove and desire...

...to consummate my Iustful desires.

I Iove you so much, I almost hate you.

How dare you deceive me Iike this?

I've been violated. I can never meet Masatsune again...

I'll begin a religious life. I'll become a nun.

Become a nun if you want to.

But I'II follow you all the way to hell if I have to.

Lord Dainagon.

Eat the princess's cheek.

Oh, it's delicious.

Let's eat the princess's throat. too.

How about a bite of an eye ball?

This is too good to believe.

Go ahead. bite and chew on it!

I didn't know that you'd returned.

They're all no good...

I want a fat, villainous character.

Someone who Iooks Iike he would kill the princess.

Hey! Did you move the head of an official?

You poor miserable man! You're in Iove with this girl!

It wasn't me.

The maid, then... I told her not to touch anything!

The Kitayama family is here. Over there are the official's men.

Where did she move them? She's good for nothing...

The princess of Rokujo...

She couldn't hate Lord Dainagon more if she tried...

She accepts her tragic fate though...

...and becomes a nun.

But Lord Dainagon visits her at the monastery...

...and rapes her head.

The princess decides to take her own Iife but the Lord stops her...

Oh. I can't stand women Iike you!

And you are too heavy for me to carry!

Lord Dainagon...

You Iook Iike such a Iecherous man.

Hello, there!

You idiot! Don't stick around here Iike a cow!

Out of my way!

What's your problem., idiot?

Torimaru! Torimaru!

Somebody. help my child!

Come any closer and I'II kill him!

Come out quietly.

If you don't come out, we'II kill you.

Go in and catch him!

Who are those men in white?

They are the Pardoned ones,

The Pardoned ones?

What' s that mean?

They are criminals. Thieves. Murderers.

Horrible bunch, those men.

In exchange for being pardoned they catch other criminals.

They are scum. Lower than dogs.

What is it?

I'II Iet the boy go. Then give me a pardon.

There are too many people in the city.

I Iike you dogs.

You don't talk.

Buddha is with you wherever you are

In the dawn when nothing is awake

He comes to you in a dreamy haze

You' re in a good mood.

The city' s so boring...

Aren' t you bored with it?

Not really.

Do you Iike it here?

Y es. I do. The food's better here

than in the mountains.

Pretty kimonos.

And Iots of people. I never get bored talking to them.

The more I talk., the more bored I get.

That's not true. You don't talk.

It's so aggravating having so many people around.

I don't feel Iike talking.

Just talk. You'll be fine.

What is there to talk about?

Anything you want to say.

I have nothing to talk about.

She was upset about the monk's head.

She wants a meaner Iooking monk.

You better get one if you want to sleep with her.

Buddha is with you wherever you are

Not in reality but in the heart that sees

Come on., young one.

Suck on it.

The taste of a woman's nipple is quite exquisite too.

Have you ever had anybody besides young boys?

How do you find the taste?

Suck harder.

Harder. Good...

I'II take you to nirvana.

Another day ends. Soon night falls...

I'II get more heads.

Another day begins.

The sun rises again.

The sun sets and night falls...

Not in reality but in the heart that sees

In the dawn when nothing is awake

He comes to you in a dreamy haze

Buddha is with you wherever you are

Not in reality but in the heart that sees

Don't you have enough heads?

Can you get me a dancer' s head tonight?

I want a pretty one. I'm going to make her dance.

I'll make her dance to my songs.

I want more than one girl.

5 or 6 of them to make the party interesting.

I don't want to go any more.

What's got into you?

Night after night, you brought me so many heads...

Now you've become a coward.

That's right.

You're nothing but a coward.

I'm not a coward.

What then!?

It's never ending...

What a funny thing to say.

Nothing ever ends. Anything's endless.

We eat until we die. We sleep until we die. It's the same thing.

It's not the same as beheading people.

Explain to me how different it is.

Girl dancers. understand?

Five dancers' heads all together!

Everyone, we'II drink the night away.

Come with me.

What's wrong?

Are you afraid of her?

No.

What's wrong then?

I don't know...

But I...

I can't make Iove to you any more.

Do you still Iike it in the city?

I do.

I want to get out of here.

I hate city Iife.

Are you going to Ieave her?

Could you really do it?

Where have you been?

Fix me something to eat now.

Can you spare anything to eat?

What's funny?

Who in the hell...

...begs from the beggars?

Thief! Catch him!

What do you want?

What have I done?

Just get him.

Why hasn't he come back yet?

We can't start the party without the dancers.

Am I right?

Don't you want to start drinking?

Don't you want to Iisten to my songs?

He may not be coming back.

He told me that he'd had enough of this place.

Or maybe he's found somebody even more beautiful than you.

Stop that nonsense!

How do you figure he can Iive without me?

I don't know...

He's tired of chopping off heads.

He's never stayed out before, has he?

Shut up!

You must be associated with the Head Chopper...

...who's been terrorizing the Capital.

Associated with?

I'm not some underling!

You mean. you're the Head Chopper?

You're a thief and a beggar! How can you be the Head Chopper?

Confess! Speak up!

If you don't, you'II be beaten to death.

Tell us where the Head Chopper is...

...then you'II be pardoned.

If you're pardoned...

...you'II be one of us...

...beating somebody else with a stick.

I don't know.

I'm not an underling.

The cherry trees are blossoming...

The cherry trees in the mountains...

...must be in flower now...

Put that on if you want to live.

If you don't put it on., you'II be beheaded tomorrow morning.

We know about your crime.

Where's the golden Iion you smuggled out of China?

Where is it?

It's here!

Out of the way!

Oh., I see... I see. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you...

It's hot. Let's have a swim.

We are on duty.

That's why we want to swim.

Once back at headquarters, we'II have to behave ourselves.

I say you should swim with us too.

No, thank you.

If you don't swim with us, we might get in trouble Iater...

You have to swim with us.

I'II help you.

You call us scumbags but...

...you're not so different from us after all.

He's running away!

Get him., hurry!

I did you a favor and had you pardoned...

I'II show you what you get if you humiliate an official.

Let me remind you who I am.

You think I'm just the Head Chopper's underling.

You can't see what's in front of you!

Listen well.

I'm the Head Chopper, the terror of the Capital!

And I've been humiliated!

I'II show you...

...how I chop off heads!

Where have you been?

How could you Ieave me for almost one week?

But you've come back to me...

How could I have asked you for the heads of five dancers?

I'm sorry. Such an impossible request.

You have to forgive me.

I've been so Ionely without you.

You have to understand. So Ionesome...

Care for anything more to eat?

I...

I'm...

I'm going back to the mountains.

Are you going to Ieave me here?

How dare you do such a cruel thing to me?

You're going back to the mountains alone.

You have no mercy, no compassion!

I'm a fish out of water in the city.

Even if you're with me?

I'm exhausted from Iiving here.

But I'm here! I'm the one you Iove.

If you don't want to be where I am...

...you probably don't Iove me any more.

It's just so boring here.

While I was waiting for your return...

...all I was thinking about was you.

But you're Ieaving me...

Because you Iove it here.

This is the only place you can Iive.

On the other hand...

...I can only relax in the mountains.

You don't understand me at all, do you?

This is how things are. I can't Iive without you.

And I can't Iive in the city.

You really are dense., aren't you!

Don't you know what I'm saying to you?

If you're going back., I'm coming with you.

I can't Iast even a single day without you.

I don't know how it's possible.

Are you sure you can Iive in the mountains?

I can Iive wherever you are.

There are no heads to bring you in the mountains.

If I have to choose between you and heads...

...I'll choose you.

Are you sure?

I can easily give up the heads for you. I just want you.

Let's go back then.

Back to the mountains.

To the mountains.

Back to my mountains.

We'II come back soon anyway.

There's no way I'm staying up there forever.

I will persuade him to come back. Do you understand?

So you wait for us.

Take care of the house., okay?

The Pardoned.

The Pardoned!

Die!

Are people supposed to walk along here?

I can't see any path.

This is a shortcut.

A shortcut that nobody uses.

It was sunny just Iike this on the first day I met you.

I was thinking about that too.

The first time I saw your face...

I couldn't believe such a beautiful woman existed on earth...

Would you carry me on your back Iike you did then?

I can't walk here. There's no path.

I'II carry you.

I must be dreaming. I'm back in the mountains with you.

This isn't a dream.

I'm your wife. I'II go wherever you go.

But hold on a minute...

This isn't the same way we took to your house.

This way we can see the cherry blossoms.

Are you sure?

Won't we Iose our minds if we walk through the flowering cherry trees?

Don't worry.

You're so gentle to me.

And we're going back together. Nothing can scare me now.

No! She's not the demon! Where's the demon?

Why are you dead?

Why?

My woman...

My wife...

She's dead...

Don't touch me,