All language subtitles for Nostalgia.for.Countryland.1995_eng

NOSTALGIA FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE

Hurry up!
We have to start the fire soon.

Bring some coal here.

May the earth and the sky
and the gods watch over us.

Let's sit down and take a break.

Nham, Nham... come down here.

We've started the fire. Come down.

Stoke the fire.

Here's your pay.

Give it to my sister.

Here are both your wages.

You go home first.
I'll check the fields.

Here's your wage.

Written and Directed by
DANG NHAT MINH

Director of photography
NGUYEN HUU TUAN

Art Director
PHAM QUOC TRUNG

Music
HOANG LUONG

Sound
HUY CAN

Editor
TRAN ANH HOA

My name is Nham.

I was born in this village.

At 15 I quit school to work in the fields.

From the main road,
you can hardly see my village.

Ba Vi mountain is in the distance.

It seems close, but it takes a day
by bicycle to get there.

My father was in the navy.

He died in a battle at sea
when my sister Minh was still a baby.

Minh only knows him from photographs.

My mother keeps to herself
since father died.

In her whole life she has never
ventured outside our village.

Ngu is married to my older brother Ky.

My brother works in a coal mine Cao Bang.

They've been married 5 years.

In all that time he's been home only twice.
Three days each time.

I know Ngu is very sad
and she misses him.

Finished your work at the brick kiln?

Yes, Mother. The fire is started.

When do you think we should
start the rice harvest?

Tomorrow.
I'll ask Uncle Phung to help us.

- Is Ngu home?
- Yes.

Come, you have a letter.

Sorry, that's not it.
Here it is.

From your husband, right?
Lucky girl.

Thanks. I've been waiting for this.

Times are tough up here.
Many of us got laid off from work.

Now I'm trading at the border
to make some money.

Please don't send me any letters.

I'll come home when I've made enough money.

The only way to make money
these days is trading.

I can't come home empty-handed.

- Who's the letter from?
- Just a note from my father.

Cheer up. You don't know anything for sure yet.

When you're a wife
you have to bare things like this.

Keep this to yourself,
or you'll be a laughing stock.

The rumors aren't wrong.

Where there's smoke there's fire.
He's abandoned me.

He told you he'd return when
he made enough money.

I don't want money.
He's just deceiving me.

He must be with someone else.

Nonsense. You'd better go home now.

Is that Ngu?

- Was that our daughter?
- Yes.

She should've stayed to eat.

She was in a hurry.

Is something wrong?

Not at all.
She came to get some fruit.

Someone was taking photos at your house.

Yes, we did some shots to send
to my wife's brother in Germany.

He left his factory job to set up
his own business. Very successful now.

Have you bought a new TV?

Sure did. He sent us the money

King of the village, huh?

Hardly. It's just black-and-white.

Everyone in the city has color now.
Second hand black and whites are cheap.

Put the TV on, Dad!

There's nothing on during the day.
Take it easy.

The radio says the rains will soon start.
Can you help us begin harvesting tomorrow?

- You'll owe me one, okay?
- Okay.

When are you cutting your rice?

Just joking. I can manage our small field.
I'll help you tomorrow.

See you then.

Hey, Nham. Come and watch TV tonight.
Invite Minh too.

That's Uncle Phung, my father's brother.

He once went gold prospecting.

We heard nothing from him for one year.

One day he returned very ill,
as thin as a rod.

Fortunately, his brother-in-law sent some money,
so now he's pretty well off.

You dirty old man!

Why is it flickering?

I'll be the model now.

Nham... turn the antenna for me!

Great. That's better.
It's fixed.

Sit down.

So much fooling around...

I hear that Ky's gone off
with some other woman.

And he's making good money now.

Stop talking nonsense.

I'm just happy for him, that's all.

My brother led a poor life.
Same with me.

Sounds like Ky's doing pretty well.

Soon, he'll show up with a car
and take you off to the city!

I'm not going anywhere.
Too many people in the city.

It's not just people you have to worry about.
There are good and bad spirits everywhere.

I've traveled. I know.

Minh, come clean the yard so I can
spread the rice out.

Okay. I'm coming.

Move, move... or I'll get Nham to
lock you in the pig sty.

Remember to take some food
to the field for mother

I'm heating it now.
It'll be ready soon

Why is the pig loose?

I let it out.

It always wants to be free
when it sees me.

My school is having a beauty contest soon.
Do you think I should join?

What do you have to do?

Sing a song, recite poetry, do a quiz.
You've got to look good too.

Know a poem I can recite?

A poem?

Don't worry.
I'll find one for you.

Guess what, pig.
I'm going to join a beauty contest.

Now be good and eat up.

What does this say?

Quyen?

Quyen? You mean Miss Hai's daughter?

Mom... Quyen is coming home!

I heard a rumour she was dead.

Well, I guess not.

Nham, Mother needs your help for something.

What's that you have?

It's a telegram from Quyen.

I have to go now.

See you later.

Nham, will you do me a favour?

Would you fetch Quyen from the station?
She's my niece. Remember her?

I'm busy with the cutting now.

Please take a break and help me.
There's no one else I can ask.

If Buu was alive,
I wouldn't need to bother you.

Thoa wouldn't recognize her.

Okay. I'll do some more cutting now
and go to the station after lunch.

Do you remember Quyen?

Not really. But I'm sure I'll recognize her.

Here's some money for you.

Are you hiring me?

Please take it.

I'll just take 2,000.
That's already a kilo of rice.

Nham, would you make me a basket
for picking guavas?

I'll need some straw.

I have some.

I'll make you one.

Make it now.

Not now. I'm busy.

Aunt Luu is a neighbor of ours.
She has a paralyzed leg.

Her brother went to Hanoi
after his wife died.

His daughter Quyen lived with Aunt Luu
when she was little,

but later she left the village too.

Rumour had it she fled the country
and was raped and killed by pirates.

Strange that she should be returning now
to our village.

Nham, shouldn't you be off soon?

There's a new shirt for you in the wardrobe.

Minh, I need the bike.

What about me?

You'll have to get a lift.

I'm a dreamer.

I write poetry.
My thoughts often wander.

I think of life's many hardships.

Of how strange destiny is.

So many days pass.
So many lives pass.

Who is going to recognize

the anticipations of my youth,

my mother's graying hair,

my sister's broken dreams,

the sadness within my village?

- Where are you going?
- Meeting someone.

Wait outside

Stand aside.

Hello, Teacher

Where are you going?

Just picking up a relative.
Where have you been?

To buy books for the school.
Have to get them in Hanoi.

You should tell Minh to come to school.
She's been absent a lot lately.

We've been harvesting.

Tell her to return when you're finished.

She's a good student.
I don't want her to quit like you did.

I still feel sorry for you.
I remember you were good at literature.

I'll take my bike now.

Did Aunt Luu ask you to meet me?

Yes.

Thank you.

What your name?

I am Nham.

You're from my Aunt's village?

Yes.

I lived here when I was little.

I left so long ago
I don't recognize anyone.

Is my aunt well?

One of her legs is paralyzed.

Oh dear. Who looks after her?

Thoa does.

Thoa? Who's Thoa?

She's Buu's wife.

When I left, he wasn't married yet.

Buu is dead.

How did he die?

During the war.

I've never ridden with a lady
on my bike.

Mother and Ngu don't go out much.

Minh rides with me,
but she's very light.

I hope the bike holds up.

This is the road to the village.

Be careful.

Hello, ladies.

Did you see that?
Luu's niece is home from America.

Nham had her on his bike,

Really? Let's go and see.

Did you know?
Luu's niece is home from America.

Really?

You mean Quyen?

That's right.

The little girl who used to live with Luu?

Auntie! Auntie!

Auntie!

Quyen!

I thought I'd never see you again.

Dear Auntie, you look so pale.

Father can't come, but he sends some money
for the festival of the ancestors.

I don't need money.
I'm just so happy to see you.

Where's little Mee?

There you are. So big!
I have a present for you.

Try it on and see if it fits.

Isn't it beautiful?

Very beautiful.

Hello.

Is that Buu's wife?

Hello... hello!
Is Quyen back?

Hello.

Do you remember me?

Yes, I remember you.

You were just little then.
Now you're so grown up.

Hello, everyone.

You probably don't remember me.

It was so long ago.

Please have some sweets.

Here, return this money to your mom.

What's it for?

Just give it to her. I have to go.

Thank you, Nham!

Did you meet her?

Yes.

Pretty?

Pretty.

Mee... Mee... Come here.

Open your mouth.

It's from Quyen.

Sticky like jack-fruit juice!

It's just for chewing. Don't swallow it.
It will stick to your stomach.

I... I already swallowed!

Open your mouth.

It's your fault!

Don't tell anyone I gave it to you!

Help yourself.

Is Uncle working far away?

He's a carpenter in the city.
He'll come to the festival tomorrow.

So, how did you get away?

A friend found me an agent
and I sailed out from Hai Phong.

After drifting at sea one month,
I reached a refugee camp in Hong Kong.

You had a tough time.

There was a rumor that you died at sea.

I shake just thinking about it.

I don't know how I managed
to get back here alive.

Our ancestors must have been
protecting me.

So why didn't they protect my son Buu?

The day I heard that he'd died...

I felt like I died with him.

I left the pot on the fire. It'll burn.

Eat up, dear.

So many leaks.

I'd better get Nham to fix the roof.

I'm going to catch frogs.
There'll be plenty of them in the rain.

Aren't you afraid of the thunder?

Course not. I'm not a kid any more.

Better go home now.
Here's a dry shirt.

The rain has stopped. You go on ahead.

Who's there?

It's just me. Go to sleep.

Why are you up so early, Thoa?

I have to get ready to go to town.

Do you always get up this early?

No, only on market days.

It's a long way,
and I have to cross the river.

What do you sell?

Just knick-knacks.
I usually make 2-3,000.

I have to save so I can visit Buu's grave.

Where is his grave?

In Tay Ninh. Far away.

I had a dream once...

He was complaining that I never visit his grave.

Thoa, I can help you.

Take this watch.
Sell it and add it to your savings.

Then what will you use?

I don't need a watch here.

Thank you.

Is that you, Thoa? Where are you going?

It's market day. Where were you?

Catching frogs.

Frogs? All night?

I couldn't sleep.

Thoa.

How old was Buu
when he fell in love with you?

Why do you ask, Nham?

No reason. I just wanted to know.

He was 17 then.

How old were you?

I'd just turned 15.

You were so young.

I'm already 17.

- The boat is coming. I have to go.
- Okay.

It's Uncle Phung.

And Nhung.

Nham!

Catch lots of frogs?

What's wrong with you? Are you deaf?

Rude boy!

Out all night for so few frogs?

How many?

Six.

He probably dozed off.

I know where Nham was.
But I'm not telling.

Get washed and take
the frogs to Teacher Quy.

You don't know anything, little imp.

I know where you went, but I won't tell.

Move away, or you'll get wet.

Hey, you....

My name is Nham.

We didn't notice that you'd left yesterday.
I wanted to thank you.

What do you have there?

Are you selling frogs?

I'm taking them to Teacher Quy.

Who's Teacher Quy?

My sister-in-law Ngu's father.

I don't remember him.
Can I come with you?

Uncle Quy used to be a teacher.

Once, when he was on a school trip,
he met an orphaned prostitute.

He took her home to become his mistress.

His wife said nothing
and even gave her a house.

Everyone thinks he is eccentric,
but he isn't.

He just takes pity on others.

Hello, sir.

Hello, son.

Mother sent these frogs to you.

Thanks, son. Leave them by the well.

Hello, sir.

Ah, you must be Luu's niece.
Please have a seat.

Have some tea.

Oh, those are big ones.

I caught them last night.
They're for Uncle.

Did you go to school over there
or did you work?

School is compulsory over there.
But I had to work for my tuition.

Was it worth it?

I'll profit later, I guess.

Profit isn't the important thing.

You go to school to gain knowledge.

You gain knowledge
so you can lead a meaningful life.

Isn't that right?

Let me help you.

Nham, do you know where your brother is?

He's at the factory.

I heard he quit, and is now
trading at the border.

I heard he's with another woman.

Ngu came over last night and cried a lot.

Dear, do we have anything for our guest?

Yes, I'm coming.

Here, please offer our guest some cakes.

- How do you do, Ma'am
- How do you do.

My wife made them.
You can't get these where you live.

They have everything over there,
but not these cakes.

They're sweet rice cakes.

Please have some. Help yourself.

It's a specialty of our village.

What do you do over there?

I'm an accountant at a department store.

I use a calculator all day.
I feel like I've turned into one.

Calculating is tough.
That's why they invented machines.

But we shouldn't become like machines.

Machines can't understand
exceptions to the rules.

A 9 is a 9 and a 10 is a 10.
An accountant can't make exceptions.

In life, a 9 can be just as good as a 10.
Think about it.

My husband doesn't know. If he asks,
you pretend your brother is still at the factory.

Leave that. I'll do the rest.
Wash your hands.

I have to go.

Good bye, Sir. I'm going to the fields.

You can stay.

Can I go with you?

She's a lady.
You can't refuse a lady, right?

Good bye, sir

- Hello, Ma'am
- Hello, Miss.

Are you picking peanuts?

Let me give you a hand.

Thank you, Miss.

It's pleasant work.

That's because you don't work here every day.

From planting the seeds to harvest,
our work is hard and dirty.

A bowl of rice requires endless toil
for each fragrant grain.

Endless toil.

Sister Ngu...

Did you get a letter from Ky?

I remember our village was near a river.
Which way is it?

Do you want to go?
I'll take you.

A nest of crickets!

Where? Move aside.

There... there.

Be careful.

So many of them.

That's a good sign.

We'll all be happy. We'll all be rich.

We'll be the richest family
in the village.

Mother... isn't it good luck
to find a crickets nest?

Let's go.

You know, when I was far away,
I dreamed about swimming in this river.

Wasn't there a river where you were?

There was, but it was very cold.

Why did you leave Vietnam?

It was the only way of escaping from my husband.

Who are you living with now?

I married an American so I could
get out of the refugee camp.

But now...

I live alone.

It's a sensitive plant.

It's as shy as a girl.

Be careful. It has lots of thorns.

Sometimes I wish I was a child again.

Like Minh or Mee?

They remind me of myself as a child.

How old are you now?

I'm 17.

It's the most beautiful time in your life.

Nham, do you have any dreams?

I have lots of dreams.

Should I talk about my dreams?

She wouldn't understand.

I don't have any dreams.

Wait for me here.

Don't eat them yet.

Is everything ready?

Everything's ready.

Take them to the temple later.

Wait!

Hello.

Did Nham come home?

I don't know.

Brother Nham...

What are you doing there?

I don't know why Nham isn't back.

I know where he is. But I'm not telling.

I'm leaving now.

Good bye, Miss.

It's number 6 today.

"Whoever draws this lot
has a lonely destiny.

Children late in life too.

If you want wealth,
you must jump into life boldly."

Does it say anything about my husband?

Let me see...

It says, "You have a husband,
but you don't have a companion.

That's why you must take care of yourself.

In your middle years
your fate will be difficult.

But much good fortune will
improve your fate later".

It's so difficult.

Here, Sir.

You're early today.

The whole village went to see the puppet show.

Did anyone see you the other day?

Only Nham.

That wasn't good.

He'll keep quiet. He's my nephew.

Have a drink.

You know how rumours are.

If teacher Quy found out,
I'd feel sorry for him.

He took pity on you,
but what does he do for you?

He just ignores you.

Wait awhile.

What does Nham like to do
in his free time?

He writes poetry.

- Poetry?
- Yes.

Have you read any?

No, he says they're private.

Today Nham was writing
like crazy, all afternoon.

How come?

I know why, but I'm not telling.

When you come here,
you must introduce yourself.

That's "Uncle Teu"

Ah, oh, oh, allow me to introduce myself.

I'm Teu and I've come from
Heaven to pick a peach.

The human world is complicated.

And so full of toil and hardship.

Have some.

Hello, teacher.
You came to see the puppets?

Yes.

- Hello, sir.
- Hello, ma'am.

I think I saw you on the train the other day.

Yes. Were you returning to your village too?

I'm just teaching here.
May I walk with you awhile?

Sure.

You two go on ahead.

Okay. Bye.

Are you staying here long?

A few days.

Then I'll go to Hanoi to visit some friends.

Then back to Hong Kong.

Do you find life pleasant here?

The puppets tonight were very amusing.

Do you know the history
of those puppets?

It must be very long.

Yes. More than a thousand years.

Have you noticed any changes
in village life here?

Water buffalos still plow the fields.

But humans still do most of the work.

Science hasn't benefited us very much.

But many farm houses have electricity.

Yes, but it's so expensive that
people can't use it very much.

The price of farm produce
is extremely low.

Farmers are forced to buy seeds
and fertilizer at high prices.

They are often sold imitations
by crooked city merchants.

During the war,
mainly peasants went to the front.

And mainly peasants were sacrificed.

Every home has an alter to their war dead.

The war is over now,
but they still toil and struggle to survive.

But I hear the country has a big surplus of rice.

Yes, but who can live on just rice?

You can sell it and buy other things.

Do you know the price of one kilo of rice?

Two thousand.
Not enough to buy a can of beer in town.

Want to hear another example?

10 turnips will buy about one cigarette.

Being from the city,
of course you wouldn't know.

I was born in this village
and lived here as a child.

You're here to recapture those
happy childhood memories.

So, I shouldn't upset you
with these unpleasant facts.

No, please go on. I want to hear.

We city people are to blame.

Our material greed is destroying the country.

We exploit peasants, irresponsibly.

They bear the hardships
so we can enjoy a good life.

You think differently.

People think I'm eccentric.

I've taught in this village 14 years.
I haven't moved back to the city.

I cannot leave these children.

Only when we all accept
responsibility for the peasants,

and their lot is really improved,
can we speak of progress.

Nham... Nham!

Mother.

Please go and help her.
She's been working all evening.

Let me help you.

Let's stop now. Finish tomorrow.

Ngu, it's late. Go and rest.

Ngu, what's wrong?

Put my mind to rest.

Have you heard any rumors
about your brother Ky?

Ignore the rumors.

I've suffered so much since we married.

Ky left and hasn't returned.

I'm losing my womanhood.

I'm so afraid.

I'll get some water for you.

Ngu...

Go wash up.

Nham, do you feel sorry for me?

Yes.

Don't leave me alone.

I do feel sorry for you.

How could this happen?

From that night on, I felt like a man.

Come on, let's go.

Ice cream! Ice cream!

Oh, a bird's nest.

Careful!

You know I almost cut you?

Then I would have a scar like To Thi.

I don't know why Ngu
mentioned To Thi's old tale.

It's about an orphan
and his little sister, To Thi.

One day he wounds her head by accident
and runs away in fear.

Years later he takes a wife
who he later discovers is his sister

because of the scar.

He leaves her again, and
To Thi turns to stone waiting for him.

Many women in my village
are waiting like To Thi.

But no one's turned to stone yet.

Everyone listen to me!

The whore is sneaking around...
seducing my husband!

Quy, do you hear what's going on?

Listen... Someone is insulting you out there!

Are you satisfied now?

You always take pity on others, and now
they're throwing mud in your face.

It's so embarrassing.

Listen to me, everyone!

If you take a mistress, at least
teach her some decency!

If you can't teach her, I'll give her a lesson!
I'll cut her into pieces!

Don't pay any attention to this nonsense.

I'm not supporting her.
I'm not responsible for her.

How's business?

Not bad.

Hello, teacher.

Out for a walk, teacher?

I don't care if I'm a laughing stock.

But I advise you...
if you sleep with someone, do it for money.

And if he has no money, do it for rice.

Don't sleep with him for free.

People don't always need money.

My life is as good as over.

You took pity on me, and saved me.
You brought me here to live.

I'll never forget your kindness.

Nham! Where's Nham?

You betrayed me. Exposed me to shame!

What are you talking about?

I've been like a father to you.
Would you slander your father?

Uncle...Please!

Uncle, I didn't say anything!

Why are the villages slandering me then?

You have no reason to suspect him.

Everyone's saying bad things about me.

It's because I'm poor.
I'm just a country hick.

Uncle.

Uncle, have a rest over here.

I feel really sad.

About Uncle Phung,
about Nhung and Uncle Quy,

and about myself.

My mother planted these beans.
They have cute shoots.

I go see them everyday.
Birds come to steal them.

Sparrows, baibuls and starlings
Hurry and fly away,

But magpies remain,
Here, here and here.

Fly away magpies, fly away.
Hey, little birds, fly away.

Here.

Count it.

Should be more. You used to pay more.

Are you selling or not? Go to town
if you think you can get more.

Hello, Ma'am.

Please come in.

Where did Nham go?

He went to cut sugarcane.

Why did you sell the pig
before it's full-grown?

Taxes are due.
I have a lot of fees to pay.

Have some tea.

Is this Ngu's husband?

Yes it is.

So, where is he now?

I don't know. He doesn't write to us.

He's my eldest son,
but we can't rely on him.

Fortunately, I have Nham at home.

- Some tea?
- Yes, thanks.

Why did Nham quit school so early?

It was for my sake. I needed help.

Besides, it costs lots of money
to go to school.

Nham said it was better to keep Minh in school.

"Without schooling, girls get cheated
and lead a hard life," he said.

My rural rice fields.

Rice fields are
in my flesh and blood.

From here, the fields are
totally boundless.

I will never forget this place where I was born.

My mother tied my umbilical cord with a thread,

Bathed me with water
from a pond in the field.

I cried in vain.

From January until December I roam the fields.

I plant and I harvest in these fields.

Nham wrote that poem.

Sometimes the harvest is good,
Sometimes we lose everything.

The day advances,
And dusk settles silently.

The stars, like candles in the sky.

As I lie in bed, I smell the fields.

So maybe, my dear friend,
You will understand...

My love for this countryside.

Buy some?

I already did.
If I eat any more I'll be stuffed.

Better stuffed than starving!

Please buy some, Miss.

Pay the bill. We have to go.

Hey, how much?

No... the other side.

Nham! Nham!

Mother!

What's the matter?

Minh...accident...

Nham, where are you going?

What happened?

Minh and Mee got hit by a truck
coming home from school.

There's been an accident!

Step aside.
Stand back, so we can do our job.

Come on.
You too... Come on.

Where is he? Where's the driver?

Where'd he go? I'll kill him!

It's our job to find out what happened.

Gently, gently we push the boat out.

Gently, gently the nymphs
float on the water.

Gently, gently welcoming the boat
to the pure land.

Gently, gently we push the boat out.

Gently, gently the nymphs
float on the water.

Gently, gently...

The pain of Minh and Mee's deaths
drew the village together.

Their passing made everyday
difficulties seem trivial.

Following custom, mother and
Mee's aunt did not attend the funeral.

Minh, my darling.
Let me see her one last time!

Go home, Mother.

Please take Mother home.

I never thought I'd see
such heartbreak here.

Living so long so far away,
I forgot where I was from.

But now, wherever I go, wherever I live,
I can never forget.

I've looked for happiness all my life,
but I never found it.

Will you come back?

I don't know.

Here's my address. Please write to me.
I'll look forward to that.

I have to go now. Thank you, Nham.

Please burn incense for them on my behalf.

Are you feeling any better?

A letter came from the village council.
It's on the table.

Ngu hasn't come back all morning.

Thoa. Have you seen Ngu?

I saw her crossing the river.
She must have had errands in town.

Motorbike taxi? Need a ride?

No, I'm taking the bus.

All aboard for Thai Nguyen.

Where's the bus to Cao Bang?

I don't know. Try over there.

Hey, check her out. Looks like a country girl.

Over there. Better hurry.

Where's the bus to Cao Bang?

Over there.

Hey. Wait up.

Want to come with me?

You deserve a better life.

With your looks, it won't take long.

Stop it!

All aboard for beautiful Cao Bang!
Enjoy the ride, folks!

- Is this the bus to Cao Bang?
- Yes, Ma'am.

- One ticket please.
- Here you are. Enjoy the ride, gal!

Air, please.

There's another bus. Check it out.

CALL TO MILITARY SERVICE

- Nguyen Van Can, son of Mr. Nguyen Van Loi
- Yes.

- Do Van Minh, son of Mr. Do Van Sang.
- Yes.

- Phan Van Hai, son of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nam.
- Yes.

That's my son.

- Pham Quoc Tran, son of Mr. Pham Van Cau.
- Yes.

- Tran Thanh Phong, son of Mr. Tran Thanh Suu.
- Yes.

- Nguyen Truong Son, son of Nguyen Van Tuat.
- Yes.

- Pham Tran Anh, son of Mr. Pham Van Tuan.
- Yes.

- Tran Van Nham, son of Mr. Tran Van Han.
- Yes.

You're on bus No. 1

- Phan Huu Thang, son of Mr. Phan Van Thanh.
- Yes.

- Nguyen Tien Dung, son of Mr. Nguyen Tien Loi.
- Yes.

- Pham Van Nam, son of Mr. Pham Van Trung.
- Yes.

- Nham, Nham, where are you?
- I'm here.

Your father and I were both in the Army.

Remember, you must always follow orders.

Don't worry about your mother.
I'll take good care of her.

- Do you understand?
- Yes

Hey, do you hear me?

Ngu!

Where are you going?
Get back on. Quickly! It's leaving.

Nham! Nham!

Nham, where are you?

Ngu. Over here.

I'm glad I made it.
I didn't think I'd see you.

Did you find your husband?

No, I didn't. Remember to write to me.

I've been so worried about you.

Nham, take this pen and notebook.

There's money inside.

It's for you. Take it.

Dear Minh...
My 17th year has passed.

Some say it's the most beautiful
time of your life.

That may be true, or maybe not.

You'll never see 17,
so you don't know, Minh.

"I know, but I'm not telling".

My name is Nham.

I miss my little village.

One day I'll return.