Dooman River (2010)

Chang-ho?
Three people was found dead being
frozen on a bank of the Dooman River
The Dooman river is dangerous
you shoudn't play around there
I understand
- Chol-bu, where are you going?
- I'm going to play with my friends
- Don't come back too late!
- Ok.
- Who's that girl?
- She's my uncle's daughter.
- Where does she come from?
- She's from Domoon
Both of her parents passed away.
How?
They worked in South Korea
were trapped in a fire
My mother was sick and didn't
go to work that day.
Turn it off
If you're here to die, I can do it.
Gwang-chun, step back!
- What's your name?
- Jeong-jin. And you?
Chang-ho
we didn't eat for a day.
Do you have some food?
Dummass, you're so stupid
why should we give you some food?
They look pathetic, let's help
Asshole, which side do you belong to?
Wait a second, I'll go and
get something to eat
Let's go.
- On one condition.
- What condition?
Tomorrow we'll play soccer together
Ok.
Thank you.
You can escape that way.
Thank you.
- Uncle?
- How are you
yes
He doesn't breath
- He's dead
- let's go
Grandmother, where are you going?
I'm trying to cross the river
what for?
When I was a young girl, I crossed it from
the other side. Now I want to go back.
North-Koreans are starving to death,
why would you go back?
How can you say that? There is plenty
of food over there I know better.
No here
fuck!
Chang-ho
- the others?
- Gone
- you?
- We promise
He plays quite well
where are others?
They all went to Inner China to spend
winter there
- what's your plan?
- As long as I don't starve, it's fine with me.
I want you to join us when we play
a soccer game
why?
We soon have to play
the other village team.
For last two years, we've been defeated
what are you doing today?
I have to bring back some food to my sister
You're sure you have to go back?
She's becoming swollen, she's sick
Stop!
What?
- You're Chang-ho, right?
- So what?
I've been told you were cute.
I'm not sure I agree.
What does that suppose to mean?
- By the way, who's he?
- Why would you care?
He's from North Korea, right?
I heard you're a stamp collector too.
Come and visit me when you have time.
Chang-ho, the girls in this village
aren't shy at all.
She likes you, right?
Grandfather
- here is my friend Jeong-Jin
- Hello
Hello, Mayor speaking.
I have an anouncement to make.
Lee Jae-hee passed away last night.
He had lived alone
The memorial service for him will be
held in the community center
Let's cherish his memory.
We shouldn't leave him alone
Please come and attend
It's a kindly request.
You have a lot of stamps.
They are my father's collection
This is South-Korean
This is Japanese
But this North-Korean one is greater
South-Korean ones are too small
Could you bring back
a North Korean one to me?
I've never seen my country's stamp before
In my country, stamps are rationed.
I didn't get any for three years
- This is my sister
- Hello.
Who's he?
He's not from here, right?
Where is he from?
Hello? Mom?
Yes, we're fine.
It's winter vacation.
Only sister and I are at home
Mother is asking if you're ok?
Mom, she's said don't worry about us and
take care of yourself
Ok.
Where is she gone?
She's been working in South Korea.
Living in South Korea,
she must have seen Americans, right?
Well, probably
where is your father?
He passed away.
No. He is live.
When she was a young girl,
there was a flood.
My father tried to save her
when she fell in the water.
He was swept away down the river.
She still believes our father is alive
She can't talk but she can hear.
So watch out.
Could you give me two pieces of tofu?
How does a dead boy eat tofu?
Jeong-jin, have some.
My sister is wondering why you don't eat.
Yong-ran, what news about your
South Korean visa application?
There's no answer yet.
I'm anxious about the
interest of the loan getting bigger.
Here you are, Grand-father
This memorial service was
prepared by the Mayor alone
You did the good job. We appreciate it.
It's what I'm supposed to do.
If Yong-ran makes it to South Korea
where will we buy tofu then?
If you really want to eat my tofu
I'll send you some from there.
I would prefer to go there to eat some.
Grand-father, even if I make money there
I will come back to run the store again.
That'll be great
I have a vivid memory of you.
I will sing your favourite song. Listen.
Climbing up the hometown mountains
Evergreen pinetrees welcome me
I can hear a pleasant song.
Oh my beautiful mountains!
Oh my lovely hometown!
Oh my lovely hometown!
Soon-hee, thank you for all that food.
My sister says you should be carefull
when you'll go back.
Chang-ho, if I die, I want to be buried here.
- Why here?
- Just in front of the Domman river.
Dad, is it true
North Korean are starving to death?
Children like you don't need to
worry about that.
Hello, Mayor speaking
I have good news.
Mr. Park brought a truck full of fish.
If you don't have any cash
you can buy on credit.
If you get the fish dried, we will buy the
dried fish back at a higher price next spring
- Chang-ho
- yes?
- Let's go downtown tomorrow.
- What for?
To send medicine to your mother
in South Korea.
Who are you?
Who are you?
Save me, I'm from North Korea.
Please help me
Save me. North-Korean soldiers
are following me.
Please!
Please!
Stand-up.
Sir, can I sleep one night in the warehouse?
Soon-hee, bring him one blanket.
Thank you very much.
What are you doing out here? It's so cold.
Why don't you drink inside?
We can't pay for it, it's ok.
You are still young
what are you doing here?
There is no work for me
mind your own business
Swallow! Let me ask you something.
Why did you come back?
Cause I missed my hometown so much
- who is this boy?
- He's my grand-son.
- What's your name?
- My name is Kim Kwang-ho.
Show me you ID card!
You, what's your name
where are you going?
Please come inside.
Thank you.
Sir, who are you sending this medicine?
To my daughter-in-law in South Korea.
- Is she his mother?
- Yes
I heard the price for medicine is
much higher in South-Korea.
Yes, really expensive.
I worked for a couple of years there but it was
so hard and expensive that I came back.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
I'd like to have some drink.
With endless yearning
for our country and people,
Crossing the Dooman river,
General Kim Jung-il...
He wanted to
meet his people and soldiers
so badly that he didn't
care about being tired
General Kim always misses his people
and wants to be with them forever
His people always admire him and praise him.
This is what our proud country is like.
Our pride and happyness
come from the perfect cohesion
between our great leader and people
We believe general Kim is everything
about our country, destiny, and future.
- Grand-father, I had a dream.
- What about?
My sister could speak in my dream.
We were talking a lot to each other.
Mayor Lee.
Mayor Lee.
Mother, where did you go again?
Sorry to bother you again.
I'm worried about your mother.
She crossed the river without any fear.
She's lucky.
North-Koreans send her back safely.
My mother is suffering from dementia.
Let's go and drink inside.
I don't have time.
Please watch over your mother.
If she does that again, it will lead to troubles.
Ok, bye.
Thank you and goodbye.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Yong-ran, it's cold outside, let's get in.
Ok.
Let's start drinking.
No alcohol anymore on credit.
When I have some money, I'll pay.
No, you have to pay for it now!
If you sing, I will pay.
- Really?
- Of course.
When my mother was smiling,
The sun behind the clouds was also smiling.
When my mother was smiling,
Beautiful flowers blossomed.
- What are you doing?
- They don't pay for the drinks.
- Stop, that's enough.
- You, you're a grown-up.
They didn't pay because you're too nice.
Chang-ho, let's go inside.
Hey, you!
I used to drink standing. Today is weird.
Drink slowly and eat
more food at the same time.
Stop, that's enough. Go to bed now.
Thanks to you, I'm having a great evening.
Have a drink!
You know for sure I don't drink.
- You really don't want to drink?
- No.
So sing a song then...
A sailor rowed a boat on the Dooman River
My love was on the boat.
Where is the boat now?
Stop. This song makes me sad.
I will sing cheerful one.
Jang-bak Mountains stained with blood.
Ab-lok River stained with blood.
The blood was for our freedom.
Oh our great general.
General Kim ll-seong.
Chang-ho
chang-ho
chang-ho
If thers is anything you want to eat
help yourself.
Hey, you guys are dating each other, right?
Girl, You have a lot of stamps.
- You can have one.
- Can I, really?
You'll give me back one when you can.
Take off your pants
Grand-father, if she doesn't want to
I can't do anything
I'm sorry.
How come you're
getting out of the warehouse?
I came here a couple of minutes ago
but there's nobody there.
So I took some rice from
your warehouse. Sorry.
Come with me inside.
My sister is waiting. I should hurry up.
Goodbye then.
Grand-father, I took some
rice from the warehouse
- why?
- I gave it to a starving friend.
What are you doing here?
Who do you think the Mayor married?
Why are you saying that?
He's my husband, right?
Why are you saying that?
Do you really love my husband?
How many times did you fuck him?
If you do it again
i'll tear your legs wide open.
Chang-ho, Soon-hee
what happened?
I don't know. I didn't do that.
- Who did this then?
- I have no idea.
Chang-ho
could you count my lambs for me?
I did it already but two are still missing.
Hello.
Is this Soon-hee? It's Mom.
Chang-ho is probably out.
Soon-hee, You miss me a lot?
I miss you very much.
I'm sorry but there is no other way.
I want to live together but I have
to make more money for the whole family.
You must have hard time
Let's get it over
when I will make more money
we will live well like the others.
I know it snowed a lot over there.
Take care of yourself
Tell me
- I shouldn't tell you...
- what's wrong?
I saw your sister having sex with
a North Korean guy.
Hello, Mayor speaking.
I have an important announcement to make.
More and more North Koreans are crossing
the river and harm our people
They stole the bean, the dried fish
the cow and the lambs
The Chinese government
promised a reward for catching refugees
If you find one, you should inform the police.
Change your clothes.
When I was a young girl,
I crossed the Dooman river
while holding my mother's hand.
There was a bridge here back then.
Uncle...
Uncle...
Here comes the Tofu lady...
- How can you live without your father?
- My aunt is coming to take care of us.
All this happened because of North Koreans.
Nothing (bad) happened in our village before
North Koreans are troubling our people.
If a man is really starving
he can sell even his parents;
That concerns definitely North Koreans.
Have some.
This is my friend Chang-ho.
Stop, asshole
Stop beating him!
He's the one who stole your lambs.
Even if he's a thief
you shouldn't beat him that hard.
How could you eat in my house?
Don't beat him. Why did you do it?
Thank you. I have to go.
My sister said you should bring
back some food to your sister.
I don't need it anymore
she's already dead
Chang-ho, I'm leaving but
I should keep my promise.
Which promise?
You said a soccer game was planned
I'll come back for that.
Jeong-jin brought you a present today
He failed to find a stamp so he brought
this missile. It's difficult to get this too.
What happened between you two?
What should we do for the soccer game?
I'm afraid we might lose again.
We can win.
How?
How is my grand-daughter?
- Who?
- The deaf girl.
Surgery will be very simple
don't worry.
- Take good care of her.
- Yes, I will.
Soccer game is scheduled for this afternoon.
We should win. We can win.
Jeong-jin, play with us.
Hey, Kwang-chun
pass me the ball!
You are not the only player,
you, bastard! Hurry up!
Pass me the ball!
Hurry up!
You, son of bitch! I'll kill you!
Let him go.
- Come down to us.
- Come down quickly, my boy.
Chang-ho!
Why did you say she was deaf?
- What do you mean?
- Why did you lie?
Chang-ho!
Chang-ho!
Chang-ho!