All language subtitles for Muddy River English

MUDDY RIVER

This isn't your toilet,
you know.

Manure gramps,
Shit grandpa,

Got no paper,
so he wipes with his hands.

Don 't wanna waste it,
so he just eats it.

Give me some crushed ice, too.

It's too hot
for bean cakes!

Don't have any, then.

I'll give you half of mine.

Making bean cakes
is your dad's hobby,

regardless of the season.

Eat!

I'm buying a truck
next month!

- Shall I give you that horse?
- Really?

Do you really mean it?

- He's giving me the horse!
- That's great.

Kids don't understand jokes.

He's had three crows
run away already.

And now a horse!

And he'd really give it
to him, you know.

You're the one who doesn't
understand jokes.

The war's been over
ten years.

Carts are things of the past.

So you are getting a truck?

It's second-hand.
I can't afford a new one.

I've got a heavy load today.

I see.

Second-hand or not,
a truck is a truck.

You've worked hard for it.

The horse did.

- Thank you.
- It was good.

Uncle...

The horse-cart man is dead!

It's true! He was crushed
under the cart.

Uncle! Uncle!

Mr. Shioda!

Stay here!

Call an ambulance!

Come back here, Nobuo!

His child is still young...

His poor wife.

He was our first customer.

I was pregnant with Nobuo.

He gave me a charm
for easy births.

It's been ten years already.

This area was still
a burnt-out ruin.

We never know when or how
we'll die, do we?

As the war had already
killed him, he used to say,

he'd never die again.

Rather than die
such a horrible death,

he should have died at war.

It would have been better
for his family, too.

There must be
lots of people out there

who wish now
that they'd died in the war.

Do you feel that way too?

What about all our hard work?

Our shop is doing well now.

Although manual labour
was all he was good at,

he went at it with such
determination and patience.

I admired him.

If Nobuo hadn't
been born,

I'd be selling bean cakes.

Darling...
are you regretting it all?

For too long, I saw people
dying all around me.

And then, from nowhere,
Nobuo appeared.

My first child, with me
already in my forties.

He's my only achievement.

That woman in Maizuru...

she must still hate me.

You left your house
and everything behind

to live in poverty with me
in burnt-out Osaka.

I'm always grateful
to you for that.

- I'm going.
- Where to?

Where else?
To see the dead man's family.

At this time of night?

I've got to see them.

How much money have we got?

Give me all of it.

Please.

What are you doing?

This should fetch a fair bit.

It belongs to someone.
You can't sell it.

I know that.
I wouldn't sell it.

The monster! The monster!
It's him.

It's the monster carp!

Look over there.

Can you see a big carp
moving around?

This is the third time
I've seen him.

He's about as big as me.

Isn't he huge, like a monster?

Don't tell anyone about him.
It's our secret, all right?

- That's my house.
- Where?

You see that boat?
That's it.

We moved here yesterday.

You live in a boat?

- Are you cold?
- No.

That shop is my house.

Oh, I see.
A noodle shop.

Go on, eat up
and go to school.

He'd better stay home today.

Summer colds are serious.

Not like your hangovers?

Go into your room
and stay in bed.

Where's you manners?

My head hurts.

Look...

- There's a strange boat there.
- It's been there for a day.

- How do you know?
- I can see it from here, too.

It's a houseboat.

Life on that must be hard.

What's a houseboat?

Unlike the barges that go
up and down a river,

a houseboat stays still
and people live in it.

Go to school!

Have you come to play?

You have, haven't you?

I wondered if that monster
carp was still around.

Don't say it so loud.

That monster is our secret.

I'm sorry.

Will you come to my place?

Come on in.

Ouch!

Are you all right?

You have to be careful.

- Who is he?
- He's from the noodle shop.

There's mud on your shoes.

Wash them for him.

What's your name?

- Nobuo Itakura.
- What grade are you in?

- Third grade.
- Same as Kiichan, then.

- Is your name Kiichan?
- It's Kiichi Matsumoto.

Which school do you go to?

I don't go to school.

- You're clean now.
- Thank you.

Come inside while they dry.
It's cooler inside.

Did you get some water?

The park's water is cut off
until the afternoon.

I see...

We must have some left.
I'm very thirsty.

- Is there someone here?
- It's Kiichan's friend.

Friend?

- Where's he from?
- He's from the noodle shop.

Give him some of those
raw sugar pieces,

and tell him
not to come here very often.

Nobuo!

Wake up!

Don't let go yet!

- Good morning, Granny!
- Good morning.

Granny, Would last year's
horoscope be all right?

That'll do.

He went to the toilet
late last night,

so I thought
he'd be all right.

They say that an old parent

produces defective children.

Please take these home,
Granny.

They're wonderful.
Thank you.

You know what?
You're remarkable.

A little plot of land,
and you can grow anything.

Although we run a restaurant,

I can't forget the time
when food was scarce.

People make much of
our ''new prosperity.''

They're in for a rude shock
one of these days.

If it wasn't for that
post-war black market,

we wouldn't be together now.

You and your romantic
nonsense!

I've got it!

Well? What does it say?

Never mind his bedwetting.

What do you mean, never mind?
I do mind.

But Nobuo is going to be
a great man.

He's a tree that grows
in water.

As a child, he'll be
washed away by the current.

But once he puts down roots
in the water,

he'll be nourished by it
and grow into a big tree.

Perhaps we should have him
tied up until then.

So Nobuo is a tree
that grows in water...

It's my turn!

Hurry up!

Give him some of those
raw sugar pieces

and tell him
not to come here very often.

The old boatman is gone!

- He's not there!
- Who's not there?

The old boatman!
He disappeared!

You're right.
He's not there.

He's fallen in!

What is it?

I'll ask you again.
Try to remember.

The old man was definitely
on the boat?

Good.

The next bit is important.

Did the old man fall in?

Or did he jump?

- I don't know.
- But that doesn't help us!

I wasn't watching then.

But you saw him
catching worms, didn't you?

Why didn't you see him fall?

He looked away when he fell.
Isn't that plausible?

I'm talking to your son!

We don't know
where he lived.

What if your son only saw
his boat drifting by?

That's for you to check
and find out.

The old man was eaten.

What?

He was eaten by a gigantic
monster carp.

They won't find him.

Two meters of mud
line the riverbed.

You know that boat that has
been here a few days?

That boat? Sure.

Perhaps the old man lived
on a houseboat too.

No. He lived on land.
He wasn't a river dweller.

I heard that boat
used to do good business

when it was moored
at Nakanoshima Park.

What sort of business?

Giving pleasure to the men
of the district.

The husband was supposed
to have been a good bargeman.

His company forced him
to work during a storm

and he died.

I see...

You daring little brat!
Who are you?

I am Suzunosuke Akado!

He's the greatest swordsman
in the whole of Japan,

the young samurai
filled with dreams.

His parents are gone,
but his smile is brave...

Stop fidgeting.
Come here and eat.

Can I bring Kiichan here
one day?

- Who's Kiichan?
- My friend.

You can bring as many
friends as you like.

Can his sister come too?

- His sister?
- They're from that boat.

Your friends are
from that boat?

Yes. A boy my age
and his older sister.

I see.

When did you become friends?

Just the other day.

His sister is very kind.

You went to that boat?

Their mother gave me
some brown sugar.

You saw their mother
as well?

I just heard her voice.

Can't I bring them here?

Of course you can.

But don't go to that boat
at night.

Why not?

Are you sure
it'll be all right?

- What?
- Those children...

- They're not part of it.
- I know that, but...

Children have no choice
about being born

or who their parents will be.

You have to say
''Good evening''.

- Good evening.
- Don't say ''Good day''.

I know that!

Good evening.
Good evening...

Good day!

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

Come on in!

I've prepared
a feast for you.

You two can sit here.

You sit here, Nobuo.

Please start eating.

- Bless this meal.
- Bless this meal.

You're all
so well mannered.

Please eat your fill.

I'll get your soup.

Is it good?

I've never had a feast
like this before.

Ouch!

Not the same spot again.

What are your names?

- I'm Ginko Matsumoto.
- I'm Kiichi Matsumoto.

You're beautiful, aren't you?

Who does the cooking at home?
Your mother?

- I do.
- You do?

She does the washing,
the cleaning, everything.

There's nothing for
your mother to do, then.

Say...

- How old are you. Ginko?
- I'm eleven.

Is that right?

I'd love to have
a daughter myself.

A daughter like you
would be wonderful.

I can go out
and collect water

and sing lots of songs.

That's wonderful.
Will you sing one for me?

For me, too.

- Finish your meal first.
- I'm full now.

We are hundreds of miles
away from home,

in the far and distant
land of Manchuria.

The red sun blazes
down upon us,

and our friends lie buried
under rocks in the fields.

It was only yesterday...
sad yesterday...

that they charged bravely
against the enemy

and gave them
their just deserts.

Now these brave warriors
lie buried here.

You're a good singer Kiichan.
Such a beautiful voice.

Son...

Look, son...

Do you know
the second verse?

I know every verse.

Every verse?
I'm impressed.

Will you sing a bit more?

Please.

When the battle was over
and the sun was down,

I prayed in my heart
as I looked for my friend:

Please be alive,
I beg you, please.

And when I found him,
I begged him to speak

but his body, alas,
was already cold .

And as his soul flew home,
the watch in his pocket

ticked on alone
in the silence.

How sad it was,
the sound of his watch.

You're good.
You're very good.

I've never heard anyone
sing that song so well.

Who taught you that song?

My dad... He always sang it
when he got drunk.

I see.

I've heard he was
a very skilful sailor.

You know that dress
we bought for Tomoko?

Let's try it on Ginko.

I'm sure you'd look
great in it.

We can always buy Tomoko
another one.

Hello!

We've closed the shop
early tonight.

- Don't be mean!
- We've got a long way to go.

- We'll have leftovers.
- I don't feel like cooking.

- Have some of this.
- We can't. We're working.

What can I say?
How about some noodles, then?

We'd eat cooked sticks
if you served them.

Don't be silly.

You had a hard time
the other day, Nobuo.

The old sailor was
never found, you know.

He's from that boat.
You know the Kuruwa.

A nice name, Kuruwa.

Hold it. Not in front
of the kids.

Don't be so green.

I've heard he pimps
for his mother sometimes.

I want you two out.

Get out.

You heard me.

I heard you, but...

Why are you suddenly angry?

Customers?

- I refused them.
- But why?

Well, why not?

Come on in.

Have a good look
at her.

She is beautiful.

Isn't she?
It fits her perfectly.

Girls are so nice.

You look like
a beautiful doll.

What's wrong?

Right.

I'll show you
an incredible magic trick.

You'll like Dad's
magic trick, Kiichan.

Gather round this table,
everyone!

Stretch this cloth
tightly over the table.

Good.

That's fine.

Let me arrange the cups
like this...

and I'll put this bean
right here.

Are you ready?
Watch carefully now.

This one's empty.
And so is this one.

This one's empty, too.

Now I'll put this bean
under this cup,

and you tell me
where it goes.

Nothing up my sleeve,
all right?

Ready?

Here.

There.

This way
and that way.

Which one is it in?

- This one.
- Are you sure? Lift it.

What?

It's in this one.

Try again?

One more time?
Sure.

Ready?
This one's empty.

So's this one,
and this one as well.

The bean goes in here.
Nothing up my sleeve.

Here I go.
Watch carefully.

This one goes here...

and these go here and here.

- All right, where is it?
- Let me see...

Could it be in this one?

No, no!

- This one!
- Open it, then.

- It's not there.
- Isn't it strange?

Here it is.

Will you do it again?
Please?

I'll do it as many times
as you like.

The toilet is at the back.

Let him guess it right
for a change.

I want him to,
but it's impossible.

Which one?

Well?

You try it, Nobuo.

I've never guessed it right.

Did you use to be
a magician before?

A magician?

This is the only trick
he can do.

He tricked me with it.

Don't start that now,
you hear?

So, which one is it?
Well?

What's this?

I've given the dress
to you, Ginko.

Did we offend you
in some way?

I had a great time.
And thank you for dinner.

Let's go home.

Can I come again?

Of course you can.

And you too, Ginko.

I'll see them off.

Their father was a survivor
of the war, too...

No more war talk, please.

His singing made me think
of Manchuria again.

I almost died there
so many times.

I was determined
to get back to Japan,

and somehow I managed
to make it back.

But look at the horse-cart
man and Kiichan's father.

They were left to die,
like so much garbage.

''No more war,''
people say...

but they're making money
out of the Korean War.

Everyone around us
is getting rich.

Perhaps us survivors
can only live like garbage.

She smells of soap...

... your mother.

Do you understand,
Ginko and Kiichi?

Your fathers and mothers,

who work in the harbours
and rivers of Osaka,

transport goods that are vital
to people's lives.

They're very important people,
doing important jobs.

If they're too busy at times
to return home,

try not to miss them,
and keep studying.

Nobuo!

You gave me a fright.

Hiroshi is going to let us
watch television.

- Really?
- Just for one hour.

This is my friend Kiichan.
Can he come too?

No.

Why not?
He's my friend.

No.

I'm not going either, then.

I'll never invite you again.
Let's go.

Ouch!

Here they are.

We found it.

- I can't see.
- Get on my back.

Thank you so much
for your kindness.

- When did you get back?
- Now.

So she's...
I had no idea.

No hope of recovery...

I'll go.

But why does she want
to see Nobuo?

He and she are not related
by blood.

How far are we going?

We're going to Kyoto.

Where in Kyoto?

People who are badly ill

are taken to big
university hospitals.

We don't have to be there
for very long.

After the visit, we could
do some sightseeing.

Who is she?

She's someone
you've never met before.

She's...
a friend of mine.

Why do I have to go?

Well, this lady friend
of mine...

when I was living
in Maizuru years ago,

she was very kind to me.

She's not going to get
any better.

She says that
while she's still alive,

she'd like to have one look
at my child.

Will you see her for me?

Thanks.

Listen to me, Sadako.

She's not doing this
because she hates you.

I wonder...

Then why is she saying
she wants to see Nobuo?

I gave birth to that child.
He's mine.

A child doesn't
really belong to anyone.

Would you hate her child
if she'd had one?

Well?
Of course you wouldn't.

Right?

Why are the eyes of a child,
any child, so beautiful?

People close to death
think of things like that.

Fundamentally, there's not
one human being

who grew up
with nobody's help.

Everyone was raised
by someone.

Think very hard
about this fact.

Remember this, Sadako...

You become very lonely for
people when you're dying.

But I'm not going there.

I can't.

So you're...
Nobuo.

He's mine now.

So it's already been
ten years...

May your father
take good care of you.

Thank you for coming
to see me.

Thank you.

Mum...

THE POST-WAR PERIOD
IS OVER

Your mother is asleep.

Don't wet your pants tonight.

It's eleven more years
before you become an adult.

I wonder if
I'll still be alive then.

Is that you, Kiichan?

No... it's me.

You must be Nobuo.

Kiichan has gone
to get some water.

Come around to this side,
Nobuo.

Did your mother
forbid you to see me?

No.

Come, then.

I'd like to have
a look at you.

Nobuo?

You're a handsome man.

Thanks for looking after
my son.

I'm very grateful
to your father and mother.

Have they had that shop
for a long time?

I, too, while my husband
was still alive,

wanted to live on land

and own a shop
like that one.

But ever since he died,

I haven't felt like
living on land.

Unless I am being rocked
by the waves.

I don't feel
as if I am alive.

But I did want my children
to be able to live on land.

I even worked in a factory
at one time.

Nobuo?

Your mother...

she must be a kind,
beautiful person.

You're more beautiful.

Please visit my house
one day, too.

Thank you.

You're a very clever boy.

Ginko is back.

Come visit us soon.

My mother wants you to.

Ready?

This way
and that way...

This is important now.
One, two, and...

Which one is it?

- This one!
- This one?

Are you sure?
This is your last chance.

That's too bad.
Well, that's it, folks.

The Tenjin Festival
will be on soon.

Can Kiichan come with us
this year?

Sure. Would you like to
come with us?

There'll be lots of stalls.

I haven't seen your marks
from the first semester yet.

How about I take you
if the marks are good?

That's unfair! Besides,
Kiichan doesn't go to school.

I see. Well, I'll have to
take you both then.

Is it a promise?
Man to man?

Is it a deal?
Man to man?

It is.

It is.

You two... grow up
to be good men.

Thank you.

Do you wash your mother's
back like this?

No.

I've never been to the baths
with Mum.

Really?

This is the second time
I've been in a house bath.

The first time
was a long time ago.

It was when I started
middle school.

Do you know how we pee
from the boat?

I've no idea.

Say this is the edge of
the deck and here's the river.

You face this way like this.

Your hands get so cold
in winter.

I once tried to warm them
by blowing on them,

but I slipped and fell.

I yelled to Mum,
but she was in the galley.

What's a galley?

It's the kitchen in a boat.

It's a small room under
the deck. We lived in it.

A man from the next boat
yelled to Dad

and Dad jumped in.

But he'd been drinking
at the time

and couldn't swim properly.

Everyone panicked,
and they fished us out.

They put us in a house bath.
That was the first time.

My sister...
she's laughing.

She really is.

I'd like to live
in a normal house.

Look! It's your mum!

She looks ridiculous.

Have you seen Dad anywhere?

- No, I haven't.
- He just went out.

He's still not back,
and we're really busy.

Come back
and help me out!

Go and give her a hand,
Ginko.

It's hot today, isn't it?

Noodles coming up!

- It'll be a hot festival.
- Are you going?

It'll be packed.

Are those my noodles?

Isn't she beautiful?

Where's the man?

He's... out.

I wonder where
Dad's gone.

I won't talk to him
when he comes back.

He's a liar... my dad.

He'd promised us.
Man to man.

He's not reliable.

Do we have to go with him?

Let's go without him.

Boys!

Catch this!

- Did you get it, boys?
- Thank you.

- It didn't break?
- It cracked a little.

It tastes best with a little
crack, just like her here.

What are you doing?

Rice feels warm.

Even in the middle of winter,
rice stays warm.

It's cold.

It feels warm to me.

Warming her hands in a bin
filled with rice

used to make Mum happy...

I can understand now
why she felt that way.

We need some money
to go to the festival.

Just the two of you?

Yes... it's Dad's fault.

- And you?
- I'm not going.

The main shrine is too far.

You can go to the local one.

Some money for Kiichan too.

Here's 50 yen each.

What is it?

It's the first time I've gone
to a festival with money.

Let's go.

- How much?
- 5 yen. Do you want some?

I want some boiled squid,

some fairy floss and
some grilled corn as well.

All you want is food...

Let's check it all out first.

If we pooled our money,
we could buy more things.

You're right.

You hold it.

I'm thirsty as well, so let's
share a toffee apple.

All right.

- One toffee apple.
- Coming up!

What now?

We should have bought
something to eat first.

Forget about it.

I'm hungry.
Let's go home.

My Mum, she...

when we had the big boat...

she used to mend our clothes
all the time.

Do you want to see
my treasure?

It's a crabs' nest.

- A crab's nest?
- I made it.

Crabs!

There are a lot more inside.

You can have all of them.

- I'm going home.
- I'll show you something.

It'll die in there.

Watch this.

Isn't it fun?

It's cruel. Stop it!

It's dangerous, too.
Stop it!

Nobuo, I'm sorry.

You'd already gone
by the time I came back.

Did you have a good time?

Stop sulking.
You're a boy, aren't you?

What happened?

What's this?
You're crying?

- I'm not crying.
- I see...

Let's go inside.

Come.

I'm sorry.

Sit down.

I suddenly felt like seeing
the sea at Maizuru.

That's why I broke
my promise.

Will you forgive me?

Maizuru is Dad's home.

He landed there too, when
he returned from Siberia.

Maizuru must have changed.

I saw a ship sail for China
from that harbour

to collect
the ashes of the dead.

We've never been
to this Maizuru, have we?

We'll get there one day.

It's my treat tonight.
Drink up.

And our friends lie buried
under rocks in the fields.

It was only yesterday...
sad yesterday...

that they charged bravely
against the enemy

and gave them
their just deserts.

Now these brave warriors
lie buried here.

Why aren't you out playing?

Listen... let's go
and see a play tonight.

- What's the occasion?
- It's just an idea.

What would you like
to see, Nobuo?

A comedy?

I don't want to see a play.

Kiichan's boat is
moving away!

Did you two have a fight?

It wasn't that.

Then why is he leaving
without a word?

Kiichan...

Subtitles: Susumu Hirayanagi
Keren Lavelle
ADC