Original subtitles

Presented by Nikatsu Ltd.

~ AISURU ~ ( To Love )

Producer Masaya NAKAMURA

Producer Tomozo YAMAGUCHI

From the novel by Shusaku ENDO "The Woman I Abandoned"

Cinematography Lighting Masao TOCHIZAWA Tadaki SHIMADA

Music Artwork Teizo MATSUMURA Isao KIMURA

Sound Recording Editing Sachio KUBOTA Osamu INOUE

Location Manager Assistant Director TADAO UTAKA Masatsugu TAKEYASU

- CAST -

Miki SAKAI .

Miki SAKAI Atsuro WATABE

. Atsuro WATABE

Jo SHISHIDO Masumi OKADA . . Chieko MATSUBARA

Miki SANJO Tadahiko KAMIJO . Takeru NISHIDA

Kyoko KISHIDA .

Kyoko KISHIDA Keiki KOBAYASHI

. Keiki KOBAYASHI

Directed and screenplay by Kei KUMAI

I'm cold.

I'm starving.

I'd really like to eat something nice.

What's that?

He's selling bentos. ( bento = boxed lunch )

We can do better than bentos. ( bento = boxed lunch )

No, their nice.

One?

I'll take the rest of them.

Just a minute! You're really taking all of them?

I need lots of 'em... Here you go.

What can we do? - Nothing we can do. Bad luck.

Wait a minute. I'll take you downtown.

Don't be shy. Let's go.

Flags... - Okay!

Can you drop me just here?

Thanks for the lift.

Mi-chan, why don't you keep going. - You can't just leave me, Yo-chan.

I've got things to do.

A date, eh?

Sort of... Bye-bye. - Yo-chan!

What a mess. - What is?

You've never got a ride from a boy?

What do you mean?

You want to eat don't you?

Well...

I'm starving. Come on.

It's only having lunch.

Wow... It was delicious!

Do you sell bentos there everyday? - Yes.

Your a good salesman.

It's only a temporary job... I don't make much.

Don't you wan't a permanent job?

I'm looking for a good employer.

I'm sure you'll find a good one.

Why?

Why...?

I don't know but... I just feel like that.

You're strange. What's your name?

MORITA Mitsu Yours...?

YOSHIOKA Tsutomu

That's a cool name... like an movie star's.

Do you like movies?

I go every week.

Today... how 'bout with me?

Well...

Why not?

It's no fun to go alone, is it?

How was it?

It was great.

I'm thirsty. Wanna drink?

Long time no see... - Hey there.

(Okinawan slang)

Sit here. - Later.

Okinawan folk song

First time in a place like this? - Yes.

It's a club for people from Okinawa.

You come here alot?

Every other day. - So often!

I also a waiter.

Really.

It's hard making a living.

What's that?

You paid for the movie.

So let me pay my share. - Don't be silly.

But... later you'll be short won't you?

No way... put it away.

Oh... I should phone Yo-chan. Where is it?

Just over there.

Hey there man! You two look hot! - What?

You're going to get lucky tonight.

You should buy her a 'special' cocktail.

It'll grease the wheels, as they say.

So, bring one. - At your service, fine sir.

Cheers. - Cheers.

It's fun here, eh?

I should bring Yo-chan.

She'd really like it.

Hey... where's that cocktail? - Coming right up.

I never tasted one like this before.

Drink up then! Knock it back!

Is the station this way? - No... somewhere else.

But I should go home.

It's okay, it's okay... It's still early.

Let's go in..

What? - What's the matter?

I like you. Let's go. - I'm afraid.

I like you... I like you. - No... no way!

You really don't like me, eh?

I like you. - If you do, show it. Don't just say it.

Then let's go.

Go back.. I wanna go back.

Go back?

Okay then... I'll go back alone!

Are you angry? - Of course I am?!

You don't want to see me any more?

Course not! This is crazy. You must be joking!

I've had enough of this crap!

What happened?

It hurts.

I had polio as a kid.

My shoulder is deformed.

My leg's bad too.

So... I'm not popular with girls. I'm kind of a loner.

Really?

I'm so sorry.

Don't start pitying me!

Do you go to the Love Hotel often?

I'm not like that.

Today... I just thought you really liked me.

This is my first time doing this.

Is that so?

Then... then take me there.

Are you sure?

I like you.

So...

Was this your first time?

Yah.

Still a loner?

Let's go.

Please be generous.

God bless you.

Please give me one more. - Yes.

Thank you. - Thank you.

Here.

I got one for you too. - I don't want that crap.

Just keep it.

It'll bring you good luck.

I'll take the train back.

Okay then. - When will I see you again.

I'll call you.

I'll wait. You'll call? - Yes.

"Cotton Mill"

Did Yoshioka call you? - No.

It's ten days already.

When I call, no one answers.

That's strange.

Why don't you go there.

You know the address, right? - Yah.

3.9 kgs.

Excuse me.

What can I do for you?

I came to see Mr. Yoshioka.

You know him? - Yes.

He's not here.

After he found work he suddenly disappeared.

Now it's my problem... I need to know what to do.

I'm sorry.

Then, where did he go?

I was going to ask you!

How can young people behave like this.

They're so inconsiderate to others!

Excuse me.

Well, you can be sure you'll always get the best here.

Would you like some more?

The car's here.

Well then...

Please... do come again. - Thank you.

Thank you very much. - Thank you. You're always welcome.

See you again. - Yah.

Mr. Yoshioka?

I'd like a word.

Who are you?

Yoshiko.

Mi-chan's friend.

Mi-chan... just a sec.

What?

Outside.

He's here. - What?

It's been awhile.

I was worried something had happened. I didn't hear anything.

I've been working night after night till midnight.

I was too afraid... to ask for time off.

Working hard...?

I was thinking about you too.

I'm sorry.

I called but couldn't get through. What happened?

The cotton mill shut down.

Then I got a chance, and started working at the bar.

Why didn't you go back to your family.

It's better I don't go back.

Why not?

Because my father remarried.

And my step-mother has three children.

It would be awkward for me to stay with them.

So I came to Tokyo.

You're from Okinawa, right?

Yah.

You've lived alone for a long time, haven't you?

How can you tell?

From the beginning... somehow I knew you were...

a loner.

Because I'm a bit odd.

Odd...?

Well, not as straight as you.

I'm not...

You're Mother... she's okay?

After my father died, she left me alone.

She remarried... and went to the States.

I was still a kid.

So...

That's tough.

That's when... you came to Tokyo?

No. An older friend helped me go... to Kobe.

And after that... Osaka.

I roamed around on foot.

It must have been hard.

No big deal. Hurry up.

Your shoulder... is it still sore?

Sometimes.

I'm sorry.

And your leg... it's okay?

No big deal.

I'm so happy.

But, I was sad...

Now I'm glad.

You're a head case... you know.

I don't care.

Just hold me.

Hold me tighter.

Don't leave me again.

Don't abandon me.

Look at this... Come and see!

Hurry!

What?

Look...

Look... It flowered in the middle of winter.

Isn't it lovely?

What's this?

It's nothing... It's been there a month now.

Did you show a doctor? - No, it doesn't hurt or itch.

Show a doctor right away! - Okay.

When's...

our next time?

Sunday... if that's okay?

Would you come to... my place?

Really? - Yes.

This disease used to be very common...

but these days... we only see about 10 cases a year.

And half of those... are in Okinawa.

Fortunately now it's pretty rare.

Look at this.

'anuular erythema'...

that is... ring shaped cell necrosis.

It displays a reddish pigmentation... clearing from the center.

The dark red rings... are caused by congestion.

You should all look carefully. - Yes.

So Doctor... can it be cured?

We need to know more yet. That's why I'm examining you.

I'm sorry.

Thank you for waiting.

These are the test results.

And so... the reaction? - There wasn't one.

Nothing...?

Strange...

You did the test as I told you? - Yes.

Well, however...

sometimes it presents a nil reaction.

This patient... is yours now. - Wha...?

Yes Sir. Thank you, Sir.

Intern... doctor's bag. - Yes.

Thank you for waiting.

Actually we'd like to do some more tests.

Take these requisitions and go here. They can do more detailed tests.

I'll call them so you'll be admitted right away.

Doctor... - Yes.

I have to be admitted? - Yes, that would be best.

Doctor... there's a patient.

Yes, yes... one sec.

Then... is it very serious? - No, no...

You're still fine.

What's wrong with me?

It's just that... we can't be sure yet.

Go to the hospital in the memo as soon as you can... right away.

You should take care.

Why is it so busy today?

They've been waiting a long time. - Well... they'll just have to wait...

What's up with you?

I'm sorry.

When I call... you're never there.

Yesterday I went to the bar... you were away a long time.

What's going on?

Truthfully.. am I still your boyfriend?

Don't you like me anymore?

Is that it?

You're wrong.

I like you. - Then what?!

Because...

I'm sick.

Sick...??

I'm to be admitted imediately.

For what sickness?

They didn't tell me.

"Shinkaidai" ?

You get there on the Oita line. Then it's about an hour by road.

It's a long way.

What hospital's way out there?

Don't tell me...!

It isn't AIDS!

What?

What kind of men are you sleeping with?

What are you saying?

Since you started that job...

What kind of men go there?

I didn't sleep with anyone!

Don't lie to me.

That's how you got this!

No way... You're the only one I've slept with.

Please tell me the truth!

Truly! You're the only one, for sure.

Enough already.

I'm sorry.

I've caused you a lot of trouble.

It's all my fault.

If I hadn't gotten sick, we wouldn't be...

It's not your fault.

I...

didn't do anything bad.

Why...?

It's okay...

Get well soon.

I'm sorry I made you come.

Come on... don't feel down.

You'll get better!

There must be good medicine?

So...

Be well.

You too.

Good buy.

SHIN AI EN (TRUE LOVE INSTITUTE) Entrance

Shall we go?

Morita-san...?

I'm... Sister Yamagata.

We've been waiting for you.

Well... come in.

Don't worry. You'll be fine.

This is Head Nurse Inamura.

Pleased to meet you.

This... is from the doctor at University Hospital.

Thanks.

Make yourself at home. Please... drink it while it's hot.

Here... we are all like family.

There's no need to be formal.

The music... tells the blind ones what time it is.

Your room... is here.

Your roommate is Miss Kano. She'll fill you in on the schedule.

I'll see you later.

Morita-san, no? - Yes.

I'm... Taeko Kano.

I'm plesed to meet you.

If there's anything you need, please ask me.

Yes.

Mi-chan... some tea?

Feeling a bit better?

Today is so clear!

It was the same for me.

I was afraid to meet people. I didn't want to see anyone.

I kept thinking of when I'd been well.

You're feeling like that now.

I wanted to be a pianist.

I practiced so hard back then.

I was at the piano all day long.

For my first recital...

I was planning to wear an evening gown.

But just before that my mother noticed a red spot on my left arm.

Worried, she took me to Kyoto University Hospital.

And it turned out...

to be leprosy.

'leprosy'...?

My mother and the doctor talked for a long time in the corridor.

When my mother came back in...

she was very pale.

I came here...

eventually...

my mother passed away.

I recovered from the disease, but...

these fingers...

are paralysed.

Although...

the worst part...

wasn't physical...

but...

knowing that no one...

would ever love me.

One endures it alone.

Were you in love with someone?

We were even engaged.

But there was no way.

At that time no one...

would ever marry someone...

with this desease.

I have no right to blame anyone, or complain.

But don't worry, you'll surely recover.

What's going on?

The local Sunday school children have come to sing for us... Coming?

I found a coconut which came all the way from...

some unknown southern island far, far away.

It's been a long, long time, many months and more...

since it left the shore of the island where it grew.

This coconut's mother tree must be growing thicker daily...

it's leaves giving comforting shade for all it's sibling trees.

Mine's also a wandering life like this lonely coconut...

searching the shores each night for a pillow to rest my head.

Lately I've begun worrying about my wandering life...

whenever I pick up this fruit and hold it in my hands.

Tears well up in my eyes and my heart fills with nostalgia...

every time I see the sun setting along the coast.

I hope one day I'll find myself back at home...

imagining the sea waves breaking over and over...

on the shore.

Everyone... I have an introduction...

This is Miss Mitsu Morita.

Today she finally came out of her room.

That's good.

You cried in your room for two weeks when you arrived!

That's right! - You were one month.

You came out quicky.

See, see... Mi-chan's happy now. - It's good, good.

Now you're okay. - You're fine.

Now you've settled in here...

you should go to the examination room for a check-up.

Taeko-san... will you come with me?

You're really are spoiled!

It was cold last night.

Getting used to it?

Yes.

So... let me have a little look.

What illnesses have you had in the last few years.

Nothing exceptional...

only a cold about a month ago.

Oh, your quite healthy. - Yes.

I took some medicine and it went away.

They told you about this illness at the university hospital.

Don't worry about a thing.

Then... what do I have?

What?

They didn't tell you what you have?

No.

Ah well...

The university hospital report says Hansen's disease.

At one time... Hansen's disease... was incurable.

But now we have very good medicines.

After regular treatment you'll surely recover.

No need to worry.

Yes.

But, why send her to a sanitorium.

Actually...

there are less than twenty specialists treating Hansen's in Japan.

Of course, our doctor is one of the best...

Then... why not cure her right here.

The sanitorium has a better environment than here.

The doctors can concentrate on the treatment.

There she'll be more comfortable than here.

She won't feel ashamed in front of other patients.

It's better for her.

What do you mean... in front of other patients?

What? That is to say...

That's to say... what do you mean?

Doctor... here. - Okay.

Please wait a minute.

You... really don't know anything about this disease?

That's difficult.

If you want to know more... ask your father or mother.

Okay? Right.

So... are you continuing with your medicine?

Please hold me.

Hold me tighter.

Don't let me go.

Don't leave me!

Hey... You all right?

Girl trouble?

Yah.

She's sick.

Hey...

What is it? What's wrong with her?

Hansen's disease.

Mr. Kamijo...

Mr. Kamijo!

You're looking well.

This man's... been here 80 years.

He's the seniormost patient here now.

He's been here ever since he was...

a little boy.

On the five o'clock train?

No...

The seven o'clock frieght.

Freight...?

I'm sorry... Good-bye.

Let's go.

Come on...

Masao..!

Masa...!

Sicko!

Dirty sicko!

Stop it!

LEPROSY ISOLATION CARRIAGE

Thanks.

Until recently... people with this disease...

were called lepers.

By law, like Mr. Kamijo, they were forceably taken away.

Some people resisted..

If they escaped, they'd be caught...

sent to internment camps and locked up.

Many of them... died there.

Even now...

they keep about six thousand people...

on Okinawa and small islands in the Setonai Sea.

Some are in about 15 sanatoriums across Japan.

If people knew that I had this disease...

my family would never be able to marry or find work.

So I changed my registration to the sanitorium.

Some of us have changed our names.

You also.

Everyone gets cured and wants to go back home.

The circumstances vary...

but no one gets welcomed back nicely.

There's no way back... so they stay here.

That's terrible.

Although now we all... have the common bonds...

of our sadness and suffering.

We share each others pain.

A few days ago when you first left your room...

do you notice how they welcomed you?

They're all hoping... that you will blend into the community...

as soon as possible.

In the normal world... that wouldn't happen.

Yes...

Here...

there's a different way of thinking.

We have to find a different happiness...

even something to live for.

These are the graves of the ones...

whose relatives didn't claim them.

Many have relatives... but they don't want to take them back.

They want to return home... but can't.

They die and become smoke... only then they can go home.

Their stories are remembered... and passed on...

among the residents here.

They are all good people. Why do they have to suffer?

Why... do they have to face such hardship?

For what reason? They haven't done anything wrong.

Long ago even on my island...

they used to keep many people with this disease.

Okinawa had 200 times more cases than the main islands.

People believed that the disease was contagious.

So they isolated them.

That's right...

one of my classmates... came down with it.

In front of all his classmates...

"From now on, don't come to school. You're forbidden."

That's what the teacher said.

So he was... put in a sanitorium... with the others.

But later he escaped.

Now, when they have recovered, people are accepted back...

and can even get work.

For all that...

people still look at them differently.

They leave the small islands...

and go to Okinawa... there are lots of them.

I think... I should go see her.

You'd be better not to bother her too soon.

To see you just now...

could be painful for her.

When she's cured and ready...

she'll definitely let you know.

How's this?

It's good. Do the cream next. - Okay.

Come right away.

Another check-up?

No... all the same, come now.

Mi-chan.

Have a seat.

Please sit.

Just now... we received your test results.

Actually...

they were completely unexpected.

You don't have Hansen's disease.

They re-did the test three times to be sure.

The reaction was consistently zero.

You must have suffered a lot.

The University Hospital made an unforgivable error.

My deepest apologies for them.

Yoshioka...

Congratulations. I'm so happy.

I feel bad. - What for?

I don't know but... I feel bad.

Don't worry. Hurry and get ready.

Mi-chan...

What...?

I'd like... to give you this.

For me...? - Yes.

For me... why?

It's a souvenir of my first recital.

My mother gave it to me. She got it from her mother.

But... I don't need it any more.

My ring finger is paralysed.

I have no child to pass it on to.

If you don't mind, please take it.

Why should I mind?

I... it's too valuable.

I want you to have it... Mi-chan.

Going.

Yes.

Thanks for all your kindness.

You'll be late.

Yes.

Good bye.

Good bye.

I'm... a bad woman.

Mi-chan... surely not!

You missed your train? - No.

What happened?

I'm sorry. - What happened really?

I... came back.

Why?

Why not?

Here... we don't keep people who aren't patients.

Why not? You're here aren't you? - I'm ...

We're sisters... It's our work to care for and give them companionship.

I can also care for them.

Aren't I allowed to work here too? - Don't be silly!

It's not a question of mood or feelings.

You shouldn't say such things!

I'm sorry.

But... if you say I'm not allowed to stay, I'll go back.

It's not that it's not allowed, but...

It's a problem.

Then...

stay one night. Take your time and think about it carefully.

In time you'll realize that this is just a temporary feeling.

Tomorrow... you go back to Tokyo.

Understood?

What about Ms. Taeko? - What?

Ms. Taeko... where is she?

After you left... she went for a walk in the woods.

I'm back!

Mi-chan... - Mi-chan...

I've come back... Wish me well.

Wish me well. Wish me well.

What happened? - Mi-chan...

Hey... what's up, Mi-chan? - I'm back.

You're fine, no? Wish - me - well!

Miss Taeko...

Miss Taeko...!

Mi-chan...?

What happened? What brings you back?

Go back.

You shouldn't be here. You're not sick.

I pray from my heart...

that you are getting well.

I am replying to the New Year's card...

you sent to Mitsu Morita... some time ago.

I'm sincerely sorry to be so late.

It seems from your New Year's card...

that you are unaware... of Mi-chan's final diagnosis.

After thorough testing... they discovered that Mi-chan...

didn't have Hansen's disease.

This kind of diagnostic error... is very rare.

Truly... the whole experience...

was very upsetting for her.

However... Mi-chan... decided she would stay on.

It was her deeply felt wish...

to work for the community.

Legally, someone with this disease...

faced mandatory quarantine.

They could not leave until completely cured.

In the spring of last year... this bad law...

which had denied us our fundamental human rights...

was finally removed from the law.

But... even once cured... renewing family ties isn't so easy.

And friendships... so firm before our changed circumstances...

have long dried up.

Even now... many of us are completely isolated...

from former family and friends.

And so...

We are free to leave, but... on our own...

we don't have the courage or will to do so.

Mi-chan... became our guide...

to wherever we wanted to go.

Ninety-two year old Mr. Kamijo...

wanted to see the ocean where he grew up, one more time before he died.

But... Mi-chan...

had a deep pain... she never spoke of to any of us.

On the afternoon of December 20th...

We asked Mi-chan to do something for the community. TRUE LOVE CHICKEN HATCHERY

TRUE LOVE CHICKEN HATCHERY

we asked her to go to town... TRUE LOVE CHICKEN HATCHERY

to sell eggs to the shops to earn some cash.

It was our way of earning pocket money at Christmas.

Mi-chan... be sure you get a good price. - Okay, okay!

Be careful you don't break any. - Don't worry. You can trust me.

Good luck.

All aboard!... Let 'er roll!

At five thirty...

we received a phone call... from the police.

Mi-chan...

had been in a traffic accident.

Mi-chan... was carrying a crate of eggs very carefully across the road...

when a truck came speeding up.

If only... she hadn't been carrying the eggs...

she might have been able to run and save herself.

But...

she was holding the eggs with both hands...

and couldn't run... the truck...

Eggs...

Eggs...

In the last minutes... before she lost consciousness...

Mi-chan... kept asking about the eggs.

However... while unconscious...

she opened her eyes just once... for a few seconds...

and spoke.

If I hadn't heard her then...

I wouldn't have written about all this to you.

Good bye...

Yoshioka.

If...

god asked me... what I value the most in this world...

I would answer without the least hesitation...

a person like Mi-chan.

Mi-chan...

I'll come again.

English subtitles: salmond Translation: Keiko Mima with help from Yuko W. and Kazue Y.

THE END