Original subtitles

Alright.

Go ahead.

Now smell it.

That’s the scent.

It’s a subtle, fleeting fragrance.

It’s a flower for men.

You have to let them go

in order to smell the scent.

The real scent.

Smell it.

Smell it.

Can you smell it?

Faster!

We know who Hsieh Cheng-chuan is.

He’s the first guy to do a fully nude photo book.

But is he “Tai” (or “local”) enough?

Hard to say how hard-core “Tai” he is.

But the director says

he’s good with the ladies.

Even though he’s only 32 years old

he already has three motorcycles and a sports car.

Pretty awesome, huh?

Let me show you something even better.

And no matter how busy he is

at least one day a week

he takes off on his own

with one of his vehicles

and explores somewhere

he’s never been before.

And one time he brought Director Lee Ming with him.

Hey.

Not like that.

Stand here.

Right now

they are on the road with his “Speed King V-MAX”.

And by “Speed King V-MAX”

I mean it goes from 0 to 100

in three seconds flat.

This “Tai” guy is taking the director on a mission

to find a bowl of daylily soup.

It’s something the director had with his father

during their first trip

to Taroko Gorge.

And our “Tai” guy has a goal too.

He wants to go to Orchid Island

to see the flying fish.

Imagine two young guys in loincloths

in the waters of Orchid Island

swimming with the flying fish.

May, this year you’re planning on

putting out a Taiwan travel book, right?

The market’s pretty bad.

But if they fall in love, it’ll be a big hit.

Hey.

Which way do we go?

Oh man.

I’ve been looking to the right for six hours.

Idiot.

What?

You’re so dramatic.

I can’t even open my legs any more.

Hey look over there.

What?

Oh.

You decide – left or right.

Think about it.

I’m gonna go take a leak.

Have you decided which way yet?

It’s starting again.

What are you afraid of?

Come on! Run!

You’re afraid of losing.

You’re afraid of dying.

You afraid of staying put your whole life.

You’re afraid of being bored.

You’re afraid of running out of money.

Dad, I’m coming.

Dad, I’m here.

Lee Ming.

You’re afraid that when you feel like crying

everyone else is smiling.

Hurry up!

Hello, what name is your reservation under? - What’s the matter?

Lee Ming -One moment, please.

Mr. Lee?

You’re in room 205.

Thank you.

Can I see a form of ID, please? Thank you.

Mr. Lee Le-yu, here’s the key to room 205. Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Can you tell us what time sunrise is tomorrow?

5am.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can I see your ID, please?

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let’s go.

How about a bath before bedtime?

Hey, look.

There’s a thermometer here.

I wasn’t fooling you when I said it wasn’t cold.

Not too cold, right? Let’s go.

What are you looking at?

Hurry up!

Come on!

Oh…

What the…

Did you sleep okay last night?

I slept like a log.

The bed was so big and so comfy.

And the air con

was just right.

So why didn’t you sleep last night?

You.

You have to tell me if you’re a sleepwalker.

I’m not!

You are, aren’t you!

Last night when we watched that documentary

about how the sacred tree came down

you seemed pretty sad.

And when I woke up at about midnight.

I noticed that you were gone

and that your camera was gone too.

So…

I’m guessing you went out to take pictures.

Maybe

you’re afraid of something?

What are you afraid of?

Me?

Wow.

It’s empty!

We’ve got the whole car to ourselves!

Why do you always mail the good photos to China?

We send them to grandma.

How do we know that she gets them?

Good question.

Do you know if she gets the ones

your brother in Canada sends her?

She does.

What are you doing?

We’ll never be able to go to your hometown in China.

Want to say that again to my face?

We’ll never be able to go to your hometown in China.

Do you know what I’m afraid of

more than anything else in the world?

I’m afraid I’ll always be afraid.

Are you afraid?

No, I’m not.

If you’re not afraid to go downhill

then you’ll never be afraid of anything.

Daddy, if somebody put us in a freezer

would it preserve us for a hundred years?

No.

Why not?

What happens if someone

forgets to take us out of the freezer?

That’s okay.

It means we’ll be together forever.

No vacancy?

No vacancy.

Maybe there’s only one room.

Is there anyone here?

Is there anyone here?

Gotcha!

Idiot.

Did you go ask for directions?

Did you ask?

Where is everyone?

Maybe the power’s out.

And everyone’s run to take cover.

Oh shit.

Maybe there’s going to be a landslide.

We better run!

Idiot.

Looks like somebody’s steaming some buns.

Hey someone’s towing your motorcyle!

You better come quick!

City slickers.

I can tell you guys are from Taipei.

What about you?

I can tell you’re from Taipei too.

You know what it’s like to get towed.

We don’t have any rooms.

What are you going to do?

Hey.

Is your name really Goo Chen-ho?

Who told you that?

(Goo Chen-ho)

Did you write your name on this?

So, boss…

do you sell food here?

No.

They smell wonderful.

This guy’s a director.

He can do a TV show on them for you.

Here.

You can have some for free.

It’s getting dark out.

You’d best be on your way.

I don’t like TV people.

I bet you made these buns for someone special. Right?

Wait…

You have to smell it first.

Smell it?

You’re pretty smart

for a kid

to know you have to smell it first.

The buns are made by

blending carrots into a juice

and kneading that into the dough.

And you used top grade pork

not ground pork.

And you didn’t chop the cabbage too finely.

The reason there’s a lot of soup inside

is because you used a special technique.

You took the carrots, cabbage and pork

and froze them together

and then let them thaw halfway before filling the buns.

Garlic chives and scallions, partners in crime!

Alright now.

What’s that mean?

What it means is

they’re partners in crime.

Mr. Goo, I bet you’re a good father.

Nope.

I’m not a good father.

I’m learning how to be one though.

It takes practice.

You know?

It’s not that I don’t cook.

It’s just that Le-yu is really good at it.

I’m not refusing to cook.

Besides, it’s his mother’s birthday today.

No.

It’s because he’s a good son.

He wants to celebrate even though she’s far away in China.

I’ll call you later.

You still can’t find the photo?

Our son has already learned how to steal.

What will we do with him when he gets older?

You can always have another one developed.

Besides, your son is right.

We have no idea when

we’ll be able to visit your hometown in China.

You’re their mother,

how can you say something like that?

No one would steal that photo.

Look, if you can’t go back, you can’t go back.

Don’t forget that your home is here.

I’m going to go make dinner.

Did you really steal that photo?

What do you think?

I bet that you never went with your dad

back to his birthplace in China.

How do you know?

It’s just a hunch.

The intuition of a swim coach.

And besides

you’ve got something on your mind.

Alright, then.

Let me ask you.

What do you think’s on my mind?

I think that you are

trying to make up your mind about something.

Right.

But don’t you think that Goo Chen-ho

makes you feel strangely at ease?

I don’t think he’s very easygoing.

I think this place makes you feel that way.

You’re wrong.

You want to know why

he left the big city to return to his hometown

and open a guesthouse.

You’re not really interested in this guesthouse.

What you’re curious about is

what it means to “return home.”

You want to stay here, don’t you?

And you want to see the suspension bridge.

Big softie.

And that intrigues you.

You just want to stay here

for their big Christmas party.

You guys will love this suspension bridge.

If you walk out halfway

you can see Mount Fuji in the distance.

Mount Fuji?

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

Be careful what you say.

Every suspension bridge has a spirit.

Alright guys

now close your eyes.

I want you to feel what it’s like to be shaken up.

It not only scares you

it makes you want to grab onto something.

The bridge is well known because of

a Japanese military officer named Yamamoto

who fell in love with an aboriginal chief’s daughter

named Safie.

Let’s look together.

I don’t really understand.

But some day

I want to go there with you.

Why don’t you guys stay for a while?

My father once said

this suspension bridge

is a good place for contemplation.

She’s the first person I spent Christmas with.

Who?

Last year

she finally brought me back home with her.

Who?

I had no idea that she lived

in a village in the middle of a forest.

When you’re surrounded in darkness

your senses of sight and smell

are heightened.

Hey! It’s snowing!

It’s snowing!

Marry me!

Marry me!

Have you ever met someone who

only dated you with the intention of getting married?

You know...

very early on, her relatives

treated me like a part of the family.

And they made me feel so much at home

that I thought about marrying her.

So we decided to get married this year at Christmas.

But…

you dumped her?

You left her at the altar and ran off

with me?

I don’t have any experience with this kind of thing.

What kind of thing?

Getting married.

Are you gay?

If you are, then I am too.

I am.

Just kidding!

You’re messing with me.

Gay like this.

Idiot.

Like that.

Like that.

Getting married really forces you

to think about a lot of things.

We have very different schedules

because of our jobs.

She’s a teacher

so she has very regular hours.

But I’m different.

We’re very different.

Don’t they say that opposites attract?

Before we went in search of the daylily soup

he had just one request.

That I would show him Orchid Island

and find him a traditional loincloth

so that he could swim with the flying fish.

So if that’s all he wanted

then what was causing his nightmares?

Was it because he left his fiancee?

Fuck.

Why could I

always sense within him

a familiar fear?

Mr. Lee.

Don’t be afraid, just relax.

Mr. Lee, please calm down.

We need assistance at bed number one.

We’re afraid that you’ll pull out the tubes.

If you move around too much, you’ll pull them out.

And you won’t have any oxygen.

Do you have to tie him up like this?

My dad wants to say something.

Here’s a pen, dad.

My father’s a military officer.

He doesn’t want to be tied up.

Mr. Lee.

Every patient at Veterans General is an officer.

Mr. Lee, it’s for his own good.

Dad, don’t do that.

Mr. Lee.

Look at your son, he’s a fine young man.

And he’s a very good son.

You must be so proud of him.

And look at him.

He really loves you.

How can you allow him

to lose sleep every night

keeping an eye on you?

And Mr. Lee,

you know what your son just did for you?

He made you something to eat.

What was it?

Steamed sweet crystal pears

and daylily soup.

(I’ll do what they say. Please don’t let them tie me down.)

Stop messing around.

I want you to invent a dish

for her to eat.

Because... that’s how you fall in love.

Find out what her favorite ingredients are

and her favorite flavors.

Add some of your own favorite ingredients.

She’ll swallow the flavors you create

and it will pass through her entire body

traveling to places you’ll never go.

The food you cook

will explore her on your behalf.

Yamamoto!

As a Japanese officer how can you

run off with an enemy chief’s daughter?

Have you no shame?

I’m coming after you!

You cannot escape!

Yamamoto!

I’m going to get you.

Father.

Don’t come any closer!

Safie, no!

Yamamoto.

Safie.

Safie.

Where is your sense of shame?

What do you know?

Why did a nobody like me have to become a soldier?

Do you know why?

Because

it’s only by becoming a soldier

that you can live on in history.

But…

my country has lost the war

and I’m living in a history of defeat.

War has only brought about fear.

It is only she

who can make me feel brave.

Don’t come any closer.

Stay where you are and watch.

You must look for yourselves

at the two of us

and the way we want to be remembered.

Safie.

My daughter!

Stop.

Stop this illusion.

If you are not brave enough

then you shouldn’t be on the bridge.

I cannot stand idly by and watch you die.

What are you afraid of?

If you have love in your heart

then there is no need to fear.

Don’t let go!

So letting go is the solution we’re both searching for?

Let go

or we’ll both fall to our deaths!

I want you to let go!

I want you to let go!

Let go.

I want you to let go!

What’s the matter?

Why can’t I even

save the people in my dreams?

Mr. Goo!

He wants your help creating a noodle dish.

Are you guys crazy?

You go for a walk on that bridge

and then suddenly want me to cook for you.

Mr. Goo.

A dish called “Thousand Year Noodles”.

Thousand Year Noodles?

The noodles should be like the ropes on the bridge.

Thick and al dente.

And is it possible

to use two different colors of noodles?

Noodles of two different colors

wrapped together like ropes.

Tightly wrapped together.

Maybe it can be hot and sour noodles.

You want it to be sour?

Sour, but with the sweetness of plums.

Don’t use vinegar.

Simmer it with plums.

But it should only have a little broth.

When you look at this dish

you should be able to see the noodles.

And when you bite the noodles

they should be al dente.

I’m sorry.

I can’t do it.

Mr. Google.

Don’t be like that.

Alright, alright.

Don’t be like that.

Alright!

If you really want to make this

there’s only one person here who can help you.

Who?

Who?

Who is it?

Mr. Goo wouldn’t tell us.

But I know

that Mr. Goo and this person

must have some sort of history.

The people here in Hsinyi Township have

more reason to hate God than anyone in the world.

On Christmas Eve, following the 921 earthquake

I saw the local aborigines

doing the same thing they did when I was little,

they walked through the woods with torches

and climbed to the mountaintop.

And you know what they were doing?

They were worshipping God

and praising his name.

Your father must have taught you

where to look for hope.

Mr. Goo

my father spent every day of his life

trying to bring hope to the people around him.

That’s because he understood the meaning of despair.

It’s in the depths of despair that one can find hope.

Really?

In a couple more minutes

it should be Hsieh Cheng-chuan’s wedding day.

Is he waiting for hope?

Or despair?

He’s intent on showing everyone

that he doesn’t give a damn.

All he cares about is

whether we attend

the Christmas service

that brought Mr. Goo back to his hometown.

Merry Christmas Merry Christmas.

Perhaps tonight

when everyone in the village is there

we can tell from Mr. Goo’s expression

who that person is.

(There is a gift>

(Have you received it?>

(You cannot see it>

(But your heart knows>

(This gift>

(Is waiting for your heart>

(It’s just for you>

(No one else can receive it>

(Life is short>

(And time passes by>

The strange thing is

I realized that

the biggest change

was taking place in Hsieh Cheng-chuan.

Actually...

both of us wish

our soul mate could appear

right before our eyes.

You know?

But both of us are afraid that

there’s nobody in this world

who can fulfill that role.

Merry Christmas.

You know

all of the people surrounding us

have had near-death experiences

as a result of a landslide.

They carry a heavier burden than anyone else.

But tonight

there are only smiles.

(Though the gift is good>

(If you don’t want it>

(You cannot receive it>

(You cannot receive it>

(You cannot receive it>

It’s not like you’re an only child.

You don’t have to do this all alone.

The number you dial is not respond.

Please try again later.

Your call will be transferred to a voice mailbox.

Didn’t you get my message saying

that dad’s critically ill?

Why didn’t you return my calls?

Your dad’s going to be fine.

What do you mean he’s going to be fine?

The doctor said it’s worse than a stroke

and he’s nearing the end.

He’s dying!

What about Lee Nian?

Did you tell him?

Yes.

Well where is he?

He’s sleeping.

Don’t wake him up.

He just got home from work.

He’s tired.

What are you going on about?

You people.

What’s wrong with you?

What the hell are you talking about?

Mind your own damn business.

You’ve never cared about this family.

You’re the one who moved out.

What do you know about this family?

There’s nothing wrong with dad.

He’s just as dramatic as you are.

Always complaining

and pretending to be sick.

I’m going to tell you one last time.

He’s not sick!

He’s just sad that you moved out

and pretending to be sick so you’ll come back.

Don’t be so self-righteous.

Don’t tell us what to do.

The last thing this family needs

is someone directing everyone around.

It’s all my fault.

It’s all my fault.

I’m begging you, just let it go.

I’m begging you.

Do you smell it?

Wow.

It smells amazing!

Why’d you run off like that?

My sister’s husband

uses this to get rid of flies and mosquitos.

It’s natural

and it’s not bad for your health.

I’m sorry.

We can’t help you.

Mr. Tang.

The thing is.

Director Lee loves food.

He can help you turn it into a movie.

Why are you telling him this?

We don’t need him to do that.

But thank you anyway.

Let me get you some soup.

Did we do something wrong?

Not everything is about you.

Every family has its problems.

Here.

Have some soup.

I’m really sorry.

We’re very busy today.

Lee Ming.

Show them what you’re made of.

How about this…

If he can guess

what this soup is made of

would you be willing to help him?

Alright.

This soup

was made by steaming

a whole bitter gourd that was hollowed out.

Aged plums were added

to give the pork ribs and soup

a fresh, light flavor.

He’s right,

isn’t he?

That’s correct.

This one’s on the house.

Wow

Lee Ming’s father recently passed away.

I bet this soup

has conjured up some memories.

Actually, Lee Ming’s biggest wish for this trip

is to have a bowl

of the daylily soup that he had

during his first trip with his father.

Am I really that annoying?

Yep.

But you have the power to change people, too.

Lee Ming!

Lee Ming!

What are you doing?

Hey.

Be careful!

How does someone who lives in the mountains, not by the sea

dream up a ship that can fly?

Wow.

It’s flying!

If we can photograph it

so it looks like it’s flying

then we can win them over.

Yeah.

Slowly…

It’s taking off!

It’s flying!

Miss Goo, look!

Will you make "Thousand Year Noodles" with us?

Your brother’s going to make them with us.

He said the noodles should be the same color

as the ropes on Thousand Year Bridge.

Hsin-Wei.

Have you been to Shenmu Village?

No.

No.

Mr. Tang.

No wonder you wouldn’t let us go by motorcycle.

It’s really bumpy.

Yeah!

This is awesome!

You see that?

That breakfast shop

was the first one in all of Shenmu Village.

Miss Goo’s father was the owner.

When they were little, they got good grades in school

and were the most likely to make it out of the village.

You know what?

“Goo Chen-ho” isn’t really Mr. Goo’s name.

Then whose name is it?

It’s his father’s name.

His father is Goo Chen-ho.

He used his father’s name.

His birth name is “Goo Hsin-yung”.

Did you hear that?

Mr. Goo uses his father’s name

as his own.

What kind of a person

takes his father’s name

and uses it to return to his place of birth?

Have you ever experienced the death of a loved one?

Would you get angry with

a brother who shed no tears in the face of death?

Or would you worry about

a sister who never got over someone’s death?

Actually

not every older sister is cut out for that role.

Or knows how to be an older sister.

I bet if she were a man

she’d want to change her name to “Goo Chen-ho” too.

You’re absolutely right.

Movie directors have a different way of looking at people.

You must be a younger brother.

Younger brother!

That’s almost an insult.

You’re not?

I’m an older brother whose little brother hates him.

Oh, sorry.

I really thought you were a younger brother.

Younger brothers are usually quite conscientious.

Trust me.

Your little brother must be very conscientious too.

When outsiders come to see the sacred trees

they always look at how tall they are

and how large.

But we look at them differently.

What do you see, then?

We see how they view us.

The sacred trees have stood for so long.

The way they view the twists and turns of life

is different from the way we see them.

What they see is a whole lifetime.

You have to take it slow.

Roasting chicken

takes patience.

Do you know how

I had this soup the first time?

How?

When I was little

my father taught me how to make it.

The only difference was

I turned it into a ship.

When I placed it before him.

He must have been surprised.

And very happy, right?

No, he wasn’t.

He began to cry.

And you know what he said?

He could tell by looking at the ship

that he’d held me back

and prevented me from taking flight.

When my father said that

it made me so sad

you know?

Her father

was a very headstrong man.

He couldn’t aept the fact that he was sick

and needed someone to take care of him.

Alright.

Let me finish telling them.

Okay, finish your story.

You do not want me…

to turn up the air?

Are you cold?

No.

Is it four words?

Or is it five words?

It’s five words.

Okay

“U”

It’s “you”.

Okay.

“I do not want you…” to what?

Dad, you don’t want me to come?

“I do not want you…”.

You do not want me to come.

You do not want me to come here.

You want me to go to work?

Right?

“You.”

“You.”

Right ?

You’re saying.

“I do not want you.”

Is that what we spent 30 minutes

trying to say? You don’t want me?

What made me sad

was not because

he didn’t know I’d stayed behind for him

but because he finally admitted

that he had a weakness.

So you know what I did?

I took a spoon

and broke apart the ship

right before his very eyes.

Hey now.

Don’t do that.

And I said to him.

I’m staying here.

I’m not going to fly away again.

I’m staying on my own aord.

And he summoned up his strength again

and he yelled at me

and told me that I’m strong-willed.

I bet your father

went to great lengths to learn

his mother’s recipe for braised pork.

And I bet you learned it from him too.

Right?

What are you doing?

I want to make deep-fried golden eggs for dad.

But he has to eat the hospital food.

Besides, you’ll wear yourself down.

He’ll get better if he has

a home-cooked meal.

You boys were never home.

And your brother was busy at work.

No one’s been cooking in this kitchen.

Dad’s been sick for a long time

but you weren’t able to admit it.

Right?

Your father will get better.

None of us are eating here anyway.

It’s not important.

Just don’t eat it.

It’s not important?

Neither of you care about

what’s important to dad.

If the braising pot isn’t important

and neither is the fact that he’s dying

then what’s important?

If it’s not important we might as well get rid of it.

Mr. Tang.

Your wife’s braising sauce tastes like my dad’s.

It’s because of the pot!

Yeah, right.

The pot.

Does it feel like

your father is still here?

Why do you ask?

Because you still seem like a little kid.

Yes! He is.

No I’m not.

Actually, I think

you’re more like a kid than me.

People who are childlike

had parents who loved them a lot

and were always by their side.

Really?

Yep.

You know we’re really shameless

coming up with excuses for being childish.

So

What’s this about your father freezing?

No, he wasn’t “freezing”.

He had Lou Gherig’s disease.

His body slowly froze up.

Alright

come on now

let’s warm things up a bit

with some hot tea.

I’ll show you.

In simple terms

people who have Lou Gherig’s disease

they have this place on their backs.

I can’t see, where?

Here.

Oh, oh, oh.

Inside the spinal chord

there’s a part that’s not working.

All the muscles in their bodies

stop working

and slowly begin to atrophy.

And they turn into marionettes.

Hsieh Cheng-chuan.

What?

Come here.

No.

Come here!

No.

Please.

Alright.

Unless somebody pulls them up.

Uh-huh.

Pull me up by my collar.

Oh.

Like this?

Wow.

It’s a real puppet.

Wow.

And if you get a mosquito bite on your face

there’s no way for you to scratch it.

You have to use your eyes to tell someone.

Like this?

Right?

If you had a mosquito on your face.

I’d just hit it.

Like this.

But I can’t hit my dad like that.

Sometimes it seems as though

their souls

have been locked up inside their bodies.

Because their vocal chords atrophy first.

So they cannot speak properly.

They can only make noises.

Like this.

Pretty funny, right?

Don’t do that.

You’re going to make me cry.

You know

the most dignified way to deal with it

is to deal with it head-on.

I used a plastic sheet with letters on it

to teach my dad how to talk by blinking.

Let’s try a different kind of massage.

Help me raise his bed up a little bit.

Okay.

You’re still a handsome air force pilot.

And look at your eyebrows.

They’re the same as your son’s.

And the look in your eyes

is exactly the same.

I’ve never been to a dance with your squadron.

They all know how to dance.

What if we don’t do it right?

Don’t be afraid.

I’ll be right by your side.

Trust me.

You haven’t touched yourself in a long time

right?

Here we go.

Lee Ming.

Mr. Lee.

Use your eyes to show your son

what you want to touch.

Okay?

Dad, I’m sorry.

Let’s try it one more time.

What do you want to touch?

Wonderful?

Did you say wonderful, Mr. Lee?

Dad

Lee Nian is here.

Reconcile.

Reconcile!

My father once said

making noodles is

a joyous oasion for the Goo family.

Really, Mr. Google?

Of course.

Are you happy?

Alright, already.

Stop mucking around.

If you aren’t happy

then you can’t make noodles.

If you aren’t happy today

then you can’t enter the Goo family kitchen.

I’m fine.

That’s pretty good.

Fold it into long, thin strips.

Be careful!

It has a lot of “give”.

Pretty...

That’s pretty great.

That’s perfect.

This is called.

“Birds Don’t Tread Here”

“Birds Don’t Tread Here”?

“Birds Don’t Tread Here”.

Idiot. -He said to be careful.

These fine hairs

are actually little thorns.

But

it has this wonderful spicy flavor.

If you want to grow your own tree

you have to aerate the soil regularly

to keep it healthy.

Now

most people till the soil by hand.

But in these parts

we use landslides.

The best “Birds Don’t Tread Here”

in all of Taiwan

can be found right here in Hsinyi Township.

Yes.

I’m using the spiciness of the leaves

cooked together

with plums

to create this bowl of.

“Forget Your Worries” noodles.

“FYW Noodles”.

That smells wonderful.

This is the youngest tree.

Look at that!

This is the oldest one.

This one.

Alright.

Go ahead.

And do what?

Inhale.

They’re flying away!

That’s the scent.

It’s a subtle, fleeting fragrance.

It’s a flower for men.

You have to let them go

in order to smell the scent.

The real scent.

Can you smell it?

Smell it.

Do you smell it?

Do you smell it?

Are you Mr. Lee?

How did you know?

There’s a package here for you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

May, I’m impressed!

I got your package as soon as I arrived.

You’re already getting a lot of buzz from

just a couple posts and pictures of your friend.

Wow, so fast!

And those pictures from Christmas Eve?

No one can believe they were taken in Taiwan.

And they’re waiting for you to come back

and cook noodles for them.

Are you serious?

So what about your mysterious friend?

He hasn’t gone off by himself, has he?

He went to get gas.

I’m back.

Oh, hey.

I listened to what you told me.

I didn’t look at the scenery.

And I never turned back.

You were gone a long time.

It was really frightening.

This gorge is really spooky at night.

Wow.

This place is amazing!

The Liwu River is right below us.

Let’s turn on the heat

and leave the door open.

That way we can listen to the river all night long.

Sound good?

So why do you want to go to Orchid Island?

Because I saw the footage you shot there.

Just watching it gave me this

wonderful feeling of inner peace.

If your dad’s the top gym teacher at your school

you can never come in second place.

The reason I know how to swim

is because my dad tossed me in the water.

And when I surfaced

I could see that he was smiling

and it made me so happy.

That’s how I learned how to kick.

Getting my dad to smile

is no small feat.

Cheng-chuan.

You’re okay.

You’re okay.

Scared the hell out of me.

That felt like it was the first prize

I ever won.

On our way home

I sat in front on my dad’s motorcycle.

It felt like I was the one steering.

That’s probably the closest.

I’ve ever been to my dad.

He never hugged me

or held my hand.

My grandma raised him the way they used to

during the Japanese oupation.

The only things that

give me peace are water and motorcycles.

But that day at the funeral

when I saw the photo of you

with your head resting against

your dad’s

it gave me that same feeling of peace.

So wonderful.

And I knew.

I’d never find that in this lifetime.

(You are the best!>

So aren’t you worried that

we won’t be able to find the soup tomorrow?

Mr. Lee

don’t be afraid.

When you go inside

take a good look at the body.

Make sure it’s him.

Are you Lee Ming?

No, he is.

Sorry, sorry.

Only the oldest son can identify the body.

I’m sorry.

If you want to go in

then go ahead.

You’re the oldest son.

You go.

Closed.

It’s gone.

Really gone.

Thank you.

I wish I could call him.

I wanted to many times,

but I’d always say to myself

forget it, next time.

Otherwise he’d ask me.

“When are you coming home?”

“Have you

had your dinner yet?”

“Are you eating enough?”

And every time I’d respond by saying.

“You’re so annoying!”

But your dad must have loved having you as his kid.

Let’s go.

Okay.

Higher, higher.

Okay!

Okay!

Beware of cats.

Hey Taike.

Come out for a sec.

Do you have to wear one?

You can’t find me a traditional loincloth?

If you haven’t tried on a loincloth

then you haven’t really been to Orchid Island.

It’s not like that, Taike.

The locals are shy about wearing them.

What do you mean “shy”?

That’s nonsense.

We think of loincloths as family heirlooms.

People usually only have one.

Besides, I don’t exactly know how big you are.

If I can’t find one

I won’t be able to keep my promise.

He came here to shoot photos for a book

so I don’t want to get his hopes up

just in case we can’t find one.

That’d be bad.

We’re easy to please.

So don’t stress out about it!

Yeah!

That’s right!

That’s just the way he is.

Don’t worry about it.

He thinks of you as part of the family.

So he doesn’t want to

let you down.

I always wanted to marry an aborigine.

I came to Orchid Island

to get over a relationship.

For real?

I…

Well, there’s a post on the internet that says

if you come to Orchid Island, you’ll meet the right person.

For real?

Don’t you think a lot of people

come here when they discover

that life and love have left them

empty-handed?

Do you believe me when I say

I love him a lot more than he loves me?

You’re so clever.

Keeping me locked up at home

taking care of a child.

Shame on you!

Let me go.

Don’t touch me.

Let me go.

Let me go!

Why do you treat me like a dog?

Dog’s only bark because they’re tied up.

Take your mother to the hospital.

Take your mother to the hospital!

Hey, a rainbow!

A rainbow!

I love chasing rainbows and sunsets.

I like searching for

patches of light in the sky.

Why?

Because when I was little I was afraid of the dark.

I didn’t want it to get dark out

and I never wanted to go home.

What my mom said was pretty spot on, right?

That dogs bark

because you tie them up.

I think there are two other reasons for that.

What?

They bark to protect the family.

So they bark when they see someone.

And they bark when they are afraid.

It’s a preemptive strike.

I think your mom was protecting the family.

And was afraid of losing your dad.

I always thought that

my mom wanted freedom

the same freedom my dad had.

Mulita.

Mulita.

It’s raining to the East.

You guys need to be careful.

Okay.

He’s still out looking for a loincloth for you.

Yeah, I bet.

Hey.

What are you doing?

Hello!

How are you?

No!

Don’t do that!

Don’t do that!

Don’t!

Stop!

Don’t!

Stop!

Don’t stop!

You are the first group of

culturally insensitive “Taike” to arrive this year.

What?

Culturally insensitive?

That’s you.

And me too.

Here on Orchard Island

visitors from Taiwan are called “tacky Taiwanese”.

I’m Sunny.

And my place is called Sungazing.

Sungazing?

Just a moment ago I was “moongazing”!

Do you do hemorrhoid surgeries here?

There’s something you should know about this island.

There’s no keeping secrets here.

You know why you came to Orchid Island?

If I guess why you came, then what’s the prize?

I’ll treat you to breakfast every day

until you leave Orchid Island.

Seriously?

No way.

Three glasses.

One for each of us.

Put both hands on top.

And shake it!

Shake it! -What?

Faster!

It’s okay, let it spill!

It’s spurting everywhere.

What a mess.

Faster!

Okay.

Rub your hands together!

Faster.

Harder.

It’s hot!

It’s hot!

Harder!

Now smell it.

This is the smell of top quality alcohol.

It’s a smell that’s created

with body heat.

The reason you like this place is because

it smells like your favorite alcohol.

Am I right?

Who wants to smell yours?

Smell mine.

You’re different from other people.

Actually, I think you’re quite girly.

Damn.

You’re trying to make a move on her.

Hold on.

Hear me out.

Look at these jars.

These strips of paper must be secrets…

Sorry.

Hey, be careful.

Don’t cut yourself.

Get out of here.

Scram.

These paper strips

are the leftover pieces.

You’ve repurposed other people’s trash.

You do paper cuttings, right?

Sorry.

Was that too private?

Private?

Was it?

Huh?

You guys, come with me!

Mulita.

Sunny isn’t going to fall for you, is she?

Me?

It’s an illusion.

The thing is,

girls who are more forward

tend to be more demure when it comes to love.

You’re the one who likes her.

You like her paper cutting secrets.

Stop talking to me inside your head.

I can’t hear you.

Wow, you really found one!

That’s awesome!

I hope your thing’s not too big for it?

If anything hangs out, don’t blame me.

Come on, get changed.

Wow!

Wow! So hot!

Wow!

Orchid Island warrior!

A fishing spear!

Let’s go.

Let’s go!

World peace!

What?!

Is my wife’s cooking that bad?

What’s the deal?

They say pregnant women shouldn’t go to the beach

but I won’t even leave the house.

And then you guys

bring a fishing gun with you?

And someone almost drowned!

These customs are such a pain.

I’m from here

but I don’t even follow these traditions.

Look this... -And yet my wife follows them religiously.

Like the Bible.

What are you talking about?

Hey!

We haven’t started yet.

Excuse me.

Here on Orchid Island

you have to wait for the whole family

before you can begin.

Hey, I’m here!

Everybody’s here.

Sunny, what are you doing here?

I came to save you guys.

Wow, we can’t get rid of her.

Okay, thank you.

This is seawater.

You see

here in Orchid Island

before the men go out to sea

the women will use a little seawater

as flavoring in a bowl of soup

so that the men

will not be afraid of the ocean.

Drink up!

Drink it.

Seawater and a little soup.

Drink it up.

Hurry up and drink it.

Drink it

and you won’t be afraid of the ocean.

Come on.

Come on.

Drink it.

Hurry up!

Whoa.

How is it?

Does it taste good?

I have something to announce.

Ever since you came here

the flying fish have disappeared.

Not even one flying fish

has come to Orchid Island.

Didn’t you come here to take photos of them?

What if you don’t get any for your book?

You guys never found the daylily soup, right?

What if you don’t see any flying fish either?

What will you tell the publisher?

Daylily soup?

What’s this about daylily soup?

Hey.

Don’t go digging up all our secrets now.

I’m not asking you.

What’s this daylily soup?

Sunny.

My secret is that I’m looking for a bowl of daylily soup.

You like daylily soup?

He’s not the one who likes daylily soup.

Who is it?

Do you have a photo?

Is it a guy or a girl?

A guy.

Alright, that’s enough.

Do you have a photo?

My Dad.

So you want to show it to your dad?

Okay, no more questions.

Yes.

Yes it’s for someone who can never come back.

Director Lee,

you know what?

The fishermen here never catch all of the flying fish.

They let some of them swim away

so they’ll be able to come back again.

Why are you laughing?

That’s not very nice.

Wouldn’t it be great if people were like that too?

They could always come back.

You’re not from Orchid Island.

What do you know?

Director Lee

you know what’s most important

for us Orchid Islanders

when we go fishing?

It isn’t just letting the flying fish go.

It’s knowing how to

find our way back home.

If you don’t make it back home

it doesn’t matter how many fish you catch

you’re not a real warrior.

You’re just a person who died at sea.

You have to return home

to be considered a warrior

and a hunter.

Le-yu.

How lucky you are.

You can decide where you want to go next.

Your father is no longer sick.

You think we’ll see any flying fish?

I don’t know.

I just think it’s ironic

that we’re on this incredibly free island.

But all we can do is wait.

Once we see a flying fish

we’ll know our journey’s come to an end.

Error -That’s weird.

There’s something wrong with my hard drive.

There’s nothing on here.

Are you sure?

Doesn’t it have a warranty?

That doesn’t cover your documents.

All my essays and photos were in there.

If it’s a problem with your hard drive

I know someone who can fix it.

How can they fix it?

Sunny, you used to work in computers, right?

Yeah, but I’m not sure

if we can save everything.

When you open up the the hard drive

you may find that you’ve lost everything.

Did we really upset the gods?

Thanks, guys.

I don’t think we angered the gods.

I think they’re telling us it’s time to go home.

Hey.

I think my dad’s been reincarnated.

He’s probably already back on earth

and leading a happy life.

Or maybe he’s watching over us on our journey.

That’s good.

He probably hasn’t been reincarnated yet.

What are you so afraid of?

You’re constantly afraid

and trying to be so strong.

It’s weird.

Lee Ming.

Actually, your secret is not that you’re looking for that soup.

Your secret is

you stole that picture from Alishan

the one of you and your dad with your eyes open.

Maybe...

we should burn that picture as an offering for your dad

and that way, he can let go.

It’s only by letting go that you can find happiness.

Lee Ming: I didn’t steal that picture.

I hate it when people who lie to themselves pity me.

And pretend to be Mr. Nice Guy, and a great lover.

Why can’t you admit to Sunny that you’re running from a wedding?

Hsieh Cheng-chuan: I pity you?

Lee Ming: Why did you disappear again?

Hsieh Cheng-chuan: Again?

I’m back.

Oh, hey.

Why were you gone for so long?

Aren’t you worried that

we won’t be able to find the soup tomorrow?

Lee Ming: How long are you going to pretend for ?

Don’t you always know what’s going to happen next?

Don’t you?

Who could possibly stop you?

Mulita.

Mulita.

Mulita.

Come back.

Mulita.

Come back here!

What are you going to do?

What are you going to do?

Mulita.

Where is the prayer cave?

Back that way on the right.

Let me borrow your scooter.

Lee Ming.

I don’t know what you guys are fighting about.

But let me just remind you

that you’re both good people.

Hsieh Cheng-chuan come out here.

Hsieh Cheng-chuan!

I went to the soup stand first

to look for the daylily soup.

You’re stronger than I thought!

It turns out

you’re the real macho man!

What were you thinking?

We agreed that we’d go together.

You had no right to go first.

You know how hard it’s been with my dad.

Can’t you respect that?

We don’t need anyone’s sympathy.

And I especially don’t need yours

in order to come on this trip.

What the hell?

What the hell?

Why are you getting so worked up?

You’ve been waiting for a phone call

this whole time, but it never came.

Right?

You were hoping she’d call you

and beg you to come back.

But she never did.

The reason you don’t want this trip to end

is because you’re waiting for that call.

But you think I’m gonna call her for you?

You want my sympathy?

You can’t face up to your own parents

or deal with your relationship.

You used me as an excuse

and came with me to look for the soup

to avoid dealing with your wedding

and with reality.

You know why your brother hit you?

Because you have everyone all figured out

but you never talk about yourself

or let anyone in.

What about you?

And what’s more

only you get to decide who can love you.

You’re always nice to everyone

and people take it to heart.

But when they start having feelings for you

it’s not okay.

Why do you have the right to decide

whose love is real?

How dare you!

You’re more controlling than a director!

You always have to be in charge.

And once someone figures you out

you can’t stand the loss of control.

You have to escape.

So what then?

You think you have all the answers?

You’re such a pain in the ass.

It’s exhausting to be your friend.

Or your brother.

What about your girlfriend?

She didn’t call you because she gets you.

She’s giving you your freedom.

Don’t you get it?

The most ridiculous thing is

none of the people who care about you most

need you to be perfect.

So what do they need then?

They just need you to be with them.

Exactly!

That’s why I didn’t need you

to go look for the soup.

The shop is still here!

Closed.

Is there anyone here?

Open up!

Open up!

Come on, open up!

Open up!

(When I stumble)

(you’re there to catch me)

(you’re there to catch me)

(But this kiss)

(I can not bear.)

(I turn to hide my weakness)

(I turn to hide my weakness)

(I turn to hide my weakness)

(For what I fear most is your pity.)

(For what I fear most is your pity.)

If we can photograph it

so it looks like it’s flying

then we can win them over.

Slowly…

It’s taking off!

It’s flying!

It’s in the depths of despair that one can find hope.

The sacred trees have stood for so long.

The way they view the twists and turns of life

is different from the way we see them.

What they see is a whole lifetime.

Lee Ming.

You have to come back, okay?

This is for you.

He told me about the story of your trip.

Look!

There’s a plum blossom.

And a daylily.

The sacred tree.

The Thousand Year Bridge.

A flying fish.

(But time)

(Waits for no one.)

(It takes time for frozen love to thaw.)

(In the end it’s my limits)

(Which make me turn back.)

(What I long for more than anything)

(Is to see you gazing back at me.)

5/5/2005 Lee Ming Returns to Taiwan.

And recovers the data from his hard drive.

Lee Ming.

It’s funny…

I had a dream about your dad last night.

He said his wish

was not just for you to “reconcile”.

There were two other words.

Those two words were

“with yourself.”

“Reconcile with yourself.”

They’re back!

They’re back!

Daddy, if somebody put us in a freezer

would it preserve us for a hundred years?

You can’t do that!

Why not?

What happens if someone

forgets to take us out of the freezer?

That’s okay.

It means we’ll be together forever.

How did you hide it?

I froze it to keep it in good condition.

Are you looking for daylilies?

There are places

that you’ve never been before.

But they are so familiar that

you know them

like the back of your hand.

Lee Ming, you need to put them in the right place

or Dad won’t be able to find them.

Okay.

He’ll know we were cooking.

Are you the big brother?

Or am I the big brother?

That’s the feeling I had

in my brother’s kitchen.

The way he arranged his kitchen

was exactly the same as my father’s.

And it was identical in the way

it conjured up memories of home.

This film is dedicated to my family, especially to my father