Angry?
Don't be. really...
it's not good to take girls' photos.
Come over here.
I've got something for you.
Come here.
Here.
It's got three colours.
I saw her practically every day.
To make myself look good...
I'd claim credit for things other people had done...
exaggerating and padding...
out the stories with abandon.
My alleged evil deeds...
matched neither my actual age or experience.
She encouraged me, never looking shocked at anything I said.
I told her how I'd learned how to make keys...
and pick locks....
and broken into her house...
and seen her photo...
and all she siad was, "Really"?
Sometimes she'd fall asleep,
and I'd try my hardest not to stare at her body,
and keep my thoughts under control.
But wait...
My memory plays tricks.
I've confused reality and dreams.
Maybe she never fell asleep in front of me.
She may never have stared at me like that.
Heavens! If not, Why is her gaze...
and her sleeping figure so deeply etched in my brain?
I passed my last exam...
and holidays were beginning in two days.
You shop for groceries? Like a little housewife.
A housewife I am then.
How else am I supposed to eat?
We go on vacation day after tomorrow.
How wonderful to be a student.
Two holidays a year.
But if I don't go to school, I might not be able to come every day.
Come on up.
No, I have to go.
I've been here all afternoon.
Really? What's up?
Uh, when are you coming to visit me?
I'm not.
I've no desire to meet that gang of bad kids.
You haven't met them, how do you know they're bad?
Really,
they're a lot of fun.
Some other time.
That's no good.
how will we get in touch?
Let's set a day now.
All right, then. What day's good?
Monday. Fewer adults around.
OK.
This is a map.
Just follow the arrow and you'll find it.
I'll be at the gate.
OK.
Give me a cigarette.
Why don't you buy it yourself?
Just one, please.
Go play.
Smoke at the gate...
just like a heavy smoker.
Don't smoke here.
Is she really coming or is this a trick?
Yeah, Monkey, you've been had.
Maybe she's not even Mi Lan.
Why don't you wait inside
and stop clogging up the view?
OK, we'll be behind the hill.
Let's go. Gu Lunmu!
Ouba!
Can I stay here with you, Monkey?
If you behave.
What's she look like? Pretty?
Why don't you just go with the others?
No, tell me, I can help you look out for her.
Hey!
That her? Yes.
Why'd you come from that direction?
I got lost cause of your dumb map.
This way.
They're waiting by the pavillion.
I've seen you before.
You work at the same farm as Yu Beipei.
Yes.
We're good friends with Yu Beipei.
Really?
She knows a lot of people.
This is Liu Yiku, whom I've told you about.
This is his brother Liu Sitian.
This is Big Ant,
you've just met.
Where's Yang Gao?
Buying ice-pops.
They're all my pals.
Not a bad place you live in.
Give me a hand, Ant.
This is Yang Gao.
What took you so long?
This is Mi Lan. Hi.
Have an ice-pop.
Thanks, I was dying of thirst.
It's dangerous to come this way?
It's a short cut.
Know which film's on tonight?
Which?
"Lenin in 1918".
Really?
Great. Vasily......!
Quick, take this.
Quick go tell Kerenshy......
Bukharin
Trotsky
are traitors.
They want to assassinate Lenin.
It's all right. BANG BANG!
Bastrad, die already. BANG!
That girl really looks an old trooper,
her ass is round from too much fucking.
I'll kill you!
Do you think she's good looking?
You bet.
Have you made a move yet?
What d'ya reckon?
Get one for me, too, please.
Please? One for me too?
Get up!
Shit, hold it right there!
If only you could play violin.
My dad's cultural troupe needs a violinist.
Can't you play violin if you play pipa?
They're different.
You pluck one and use a bow on the other.
Mi Lan!
Don't join his dad's troupe whatever you do.
His father would ravage you first off.
Monkey. sure you're not thinking of your dad?
He's the one who got demoted for bad .....haviour.
Your dad! It was yours!
He has two wives.
one in the country, and one here.
That's why you're Sitian - "thinking sweetness" and he's Yiku - "recalling bittenrness".
Monkey's insulting your dad -- shall we beat him up?
Forget it, let's give him a bit of face today.
Enough, already, no need for panic.
I'm not going to join the troupe today.
So do you really want to join the army? Yes.
Try out for "The Soldiers' Friends" troupe.
I'm aiming for "Political Headquarters".
Mi Lan, if you play the pipa, you can play guitar, can't you?
More or less.
We've got a guitar. I'll go get it.
Keep your pants on.
I want to fly!
I want to fly into the skies all way to the Kremlin.
To Leningrad.
Fly! Fly!
Why sit down?
I want to ascend the heights and revel in the view.
Monkey seems a bit different today.
He's talking all poetic.
Really?
Stop scaring us like that.
Didn't he say he wanted to ascend the heights?
This isn't a "height"!
Isn't there anyplace higher in this compound?
Yes, the smokestack over there.
That's a height!
Yang Gao, don't stir him up.
Unless you want to try.
You go and we'll watch.
I didn't say I wanted to ascend the heights.
Has anyway ever climbed to the top?
I have!
Really!
You're really something!
Show us!
Forget it.
Come on, show her!
We'll give you two packs of cigarettes.
Get lost. Just two?
Plus two packs of filters.
There were four last time.
But I've been up there before.
A here doesn't bring up past glories.
Don't rest on your laurels, make new contributions!
Why don't you do us?
How about this --
four packs of filtertips,
plus two of Cathay.
Your serious?
Ma xiaojun!......
He's really going to do it!
No way. He doesn't know how to get up there.
Rolls of barbed wire are blocking the ladder.
He's just trying to scare us. Don't worry.
He'll be back in no time.
Vasily!
There he is!
Vasily! Vasily! Ha Ha!
Get down from there, now!
Vasily!
Don't be stupid! Monkey!
Get down from there, now!
Coming!
Shit!
Here's another!
Come down, Monkey!
You mad?
We're all excellent shots
and each bullet takes down an enemy.
Ma Xiaojun, where are you?
Go buy my cigarettes!
My cigarettes!
Mi Lan, don't go away.
Stay for the film tonight.
Everyone said I was charmed.
No one talked about supermatural powers then......
otherwise I'd have been famous.
Later I figured out that it was the upward draft
and years of accumulated ashes that saved my life.
You scared us to death.
You're not even scratched!
Amazing!
Cat got your tongue?
What a temper!
If you won't talk to me. I'll be off.
What temper?
So you really like talking with strange boys?
What do you think?
Dunno.
I think you're jealous.
Come on, what sort of girl do you think I am?
Who's jealous?
What were you talking about with Liu Yiku, anyway?
Nothing!
About joining the army, he said he'd help.
You never told me you wanted to join the army.
You meet him once and tell him everything.
Fast mover.
What was I supposed to do?
Just site there?
You ask me here,
and then you ignore me.
You just play heros of "Lenin in October" with Big Ant.
That's "Lenin in 1918".
Whatever, "Lenin in 1918".
But that's no excuse for ignoring me.
Oh, Dad?......
Uh, this is my father.
This...... this is......
Hello, Uncle.
Our teacher.
Oh, how do you do?
I'll be off then.
Bye, Ma Xiaojun, Uncle.
Bye.
Oh, little comrade,
What is your name again?
Mi Lan.
Is there anything else, sir?
Uh, no, that'll be all.
Then I'll be going. Bye!
Ok, bye.
Get my overcoat.
Why do you need that on such a hot day?
I said get my overcoat.
Here it is, Dad.
Sit down.
So where does this teacher of yours really work?
She works...... at our school.
New, is she?
Yes.
Where's she from?
Somewhere in the west city,
er, Xidan,
yeah, Xidan.
What does she teach?
Uh, a bit of everything.
She's making home visits,
probably seeing the others now.
Teacher my ass!
What teacher calls me "uncle"?
You'd lie to your old man?
You've get gall.
Take off that uniform.
Liar. I saw through you right away.
You're a bad student, disobedient,
and now you've got a girlfriend.
Girlfriend?
She just came to wash her face.
Wash her face?
You think I couldn't see her blushing?
Don't forget I'm your father.
I know everything.
If she's not your girlfriend, what is she?
Puppy love!
That's not allowed.
Where's she from?
Forget it. I've no time for this.
Tell your mother I've been sent to lnner Mongolia.
Urgent mission. War games.
When'll you be back?
In a month.
Don't get into mischief while I'm away.
Political Commissar Ma! Time to go!
Coming!
This is this month's salary.
Give it to your mother.
Don't upset her.
I'll say that once more.
Take two Yuan for yourself,
spend it carefully.
Don't go bringing girls back here.
Never lie to me again.
All right, I'm off.
Yang Gao! Yang Gao! Yang Gao!
Comradess, comrades, quiet down!
There's been a technical problem,
so we'll move to the second film "Lenin in 1918".
Liu Yi Ku! Liu Sitian!
Wasily! Vasily!
Quick, go save Lenin!
Yang Gao! Yang Gao!
Careful, it's poison!
Shit, where were you bastards?
Where the hell did you go?
Been looking all over for you.
Never mind, follow me.
Comrades! Some children have snuck into the theatre......
so we've had to turn off the projector.
Where are the kids?
Everywhere.
I didn't see them.
Stand up,
stand up all of you.
How's this happen?
Who was watching the door?
Not one came through the door!
This film is under criticism,
it is extremely poisonous......
children could be let astray by it to commit major crimes.
That's it for the film.
Just let their parents take them home.
The moonlight stirs my heart on this eachanted evening.
With my sweetheart by my side.
Only the wind softly singing......
The moonlight stirs my heart on this eachanted evening.
The long night is quickly receding under the misty dawn
I wish you well, girl, with all my heart
and hope that neither of us will ever forget
this evening on the outskirts of Moscow.
You sleeping?
No.
Why haven't you said anything?
You haven't either.
Why don't you try to sleep?
I'd fall off.
Hold on to my waist.
You don't mind?
No.
That was the most perfect day of my life.
The morning breeze raised goosebumps on my skin......
and I remember the dellcious smell of burning-off.
But who'd be burining dead grass in summer?
Whatever the truth is......
everything that happened that summer had the scent of burning grass.
Here it is.
That's our farm.
Thanks for carrying me all that way!
I can take you further if you like.
No need, I can cut through this orchard.
Go home and get some sleep. Bye!
Bye!
I saw Mi Lan again in my dreams last night.
Dad!
Mom's father died.
They said Grandpa 'committed suicide to escape punishment'.
A 'landloar', 'capilalist', KMT member and 'counterrevolutionary'......
his home was searched for gold and documents he didn't have.
Tortured physlcally and mentally,
he died in anger.
Later I learned my father's superiors
hadn't approved of my mother
because of grandpa,
and it hurt dad's career prospects.
Ma also lost her teaching job
and became an army dependent.
And her temper got worse and worse.
Before school, I lived with Grandpa and Grandma,
I couldn't understand
how he could have been a class enemy.
After Grandpa's death,
Ma became sullen.
I went back to my wicked old ways.
The first thing I did after my return
was to look for Mi Lan.
Mi Lan! Mi Lan!
Who's there?
Don't run!
Don't cry!
Gooloomoo
Oo-ba!
Oh, Monkey!
Where'd you come from?
Haven't seen you for days! We missed you.
I missed you guys too.
Someting happened at my grandparents,
and I went back to Tangshan with my folks.
I wanted to see you.
I've a great idea.
What?
You have a great idea?!
When'd you get so full of yourself?
You've just noticed, have you?
Just.
But how'd you hide it from me?
I hid it deep inside.
What else are you hiding?
So, you want to know, do you?
Yes, right now.
Then, I'll tell you......
Go on.
You really want to know?
Oh, Ma Xiaojun! Come over tonight!
Do you think I'm awkward and fat?
You're fat cow. What?
I said, you're fatter now.
Can't get ivory from the mouth of a dog!
Can't get ivory from a person, either.
Can you produce ivory from your mouth?
Mi Lan.
He wants you to watch him dive.
Yeah? I don't want to watch.
Actually, I'm just a bit thick-waisted.
Not just your waist.
Look at those legs, that tummy,
and here!
Export quality!
I am a bit fat.
Do you think I should be wearing a bathing suit?
Does it expose too much of me?
Nothing I can't see when you're not wearing one.
What?
What do you mean?
Never mind, you'd be angry.
Tell me! I won't be angry.
It's like you've just had a baby.
Ma Xiaojun! I'm not speaking to you.
Mi Lan, come on in!
No, you come here.
Ma xiaojun, you're a beast.
Fuck off.
Hey, kid, come here.
You Liu Yiku?
Yes.
Biaoge, don't you know each other?
Let me introduce you.
This is the famous Biaoge.
It's no big deal.
Just asking.
If that's the case,
see you around.
See you around, pal!
Mi Lan!
Who's that Biaoge guy?
You really want to know?
Forget it.
Every time I asked about him, she told me to drop it.
Later I heard they were once very close......
and that he lost his eye on her account.
From then on,
Liu Yiku openly took Mi Lan as his chic.
Auguest 23 was Romanian Liberation Day......
and my and Liu Yiku's birthday.
We were born the same day, different year.
We had a party at the Moscow Restaurant.
Hello!
Hi! You're looking gorgeous!
I feel about you like the Masses about the Party.
Like the Masses about the Party!
Look what I've brought the birthday boys.
Hands clean?
Check them out.
OK.
Wow! Pushkin's poetry!
Won't you look sharp skating in that!
Really sharp.
No chick will be able to resist his advances.
Wrong - they'll surround him. No need to advance.
No good, no good, that's too dangerous.
If they surround him the ice will crack......
......give that to me, it's safer.
Thank you.
Look at you. You're just going to say 'thank you'?
What should I do?
Think about it.
Open yours, Ma Xiaojun.
She looks after you like the Party itself.
For once you've said something clever.
Try it on.
The waist looks right.
Then it'll fit, won't it?
Not necessarily. Try it on.
Try it on! Try it on!
Gutter-heads!
Ignore them. Just practice your swimming.
I'm still counting on you to save me.
Well, then no need to thank you.
It's only so I can save you, after all.
Conslder Liu Yiku's deeply felt thanks from both of us.
You're a jerk.
That's right.
Comrade, could you bring us our food?
Or at least some water first?
Bitch! She's ignoring us.
Never mind. Let's have some fun.
How? Whats
Think! You're always got lots of ideas!
Let's play 'find the hanky'.
We can use Ma Xiaojun's red undies.
Then that's 'find the undies'.
I've got a game.
You're not allowed to ruin your gift!
Relax, we don't need it.
Who's got a coin?
How do you play?
One enough? Gambling?
No, it's a test of your honesty and courage,
and whether you are a virgin!
OK! Let's do it!
I'm putting the coin here.
Each time I ask a question......
you have to answer truthfully while pulling out the coin.
No dirty tricks, all right?
First question:
how old are you?
No good, can't tell you.
Older than you.
I'll let you pass on that one.
But when's your birthday?
Pull out the coin first.
Right. Big Ant knows.
Right. What's the date?
January 1, sanme as the year itself.
That's more cool than Romanian Liberation Day.
Second question. Give me back the coin.
How old were you when you had your first boyfriend?
Uh... 16.
That's young!
Third question.
What did your boyfriend say to you on the first date?
Said what?
What?
That's so tight! I can't pull it out!
Monkey, you are a beast.
You are so bad!
What are you hitting my head for?
I'm not your son.
I was dumb to begin with, but it gets worse with every hit.
What's wrong, Ma Xiaojun?
Mao Xiaojun?
What's going on? Don't touch me!
Ma Xiaojun.
You're angry.
No...
why should I be angry?
So why are you so upset?
Who's upset? Not me!
What did I ever do...
to make you behave like this to me?
Nothing, you've been great.
Ma Xiaojun,
everyone was having a good time,
you can dish it out...
but you can't take it in.
I use my wit, not my hands.
Why don't you use yours?
You're not being very nice.
I'm not a nice person.
I mean, you're not like you were before.
I am too.
No, you're not.
Well, you're not either.
Are you sick of me?
So what if I were?
What if I were not?
If you're not, I'll stay for your birthday.
If you are, I'll go.
Comrade Waitress!
Can't you bring us our food?
We're so hungry we are getting cranky.
Then go.
Can I ask why?
No reason.
Calm down, Ma Xiaojun.
Drop it.
No. Let her go!
Monkey, drop it. Hunger's put us on edge.
You still haven't left?
Didn't you say you'd go? Fuck off!
I'd better go then.
Sit down.
Ma Xiaojun? Give me a litter face and let her stay, all right?
No way.
I'll take on anyone who's on her side.
Fuck you, it's you I'm pissed off at!
I'll kill you!
I'll get you! You're dead!
Ha ha! don't believe any of it.
I never did anything so "heroic" in my life.
I keep reminding my self to tell the truth.
But no matter how I try,
something keeps interfering.
and the facts slip away.
My memory plays with and betrays me.
I don't know what the truth is myself.
I even suspect I didn't meet Mi Lan for the first time...
on the street but when she visited.
That afternoon, Liu Yiku asked her over, and Big Ant and I...
waited at the gate for her...
that's the first time we met...
and that's why Big Ant and I played Vasily.
and didn't talk a lot to her.
I hardly knew her.
In fact, I never really knew her.
Heavens!
Is Mi Lan the girl in the photograph?
And whatever happened to Yu Beipei?
Maybe...
she and Mi Lan were the same person?
I really don't dare think about it.
I started telling this story in all sincerity and...
then forced it to turn into a lie.
Is that a reason to give it up?
No, no.
and you wouldn't want me to, either...
How hard it is to keep your promises!
True honesty is impossible.
Listen,
sometimes a sound or a smell...
takes you right back to the past.
My head is as clear as the moon.
So I'll continue our story.
Never mind whether it's the truth.
Nothing bad happened...
on my birthday.
Liu Yiku and I had a great time...
taking turns toasting Mi Lan.
Yu Beipei was there too.
I almost forgot.
There were stacks of gifts.
Mi Lan was really affectionate,
fixing me with that gimlet gaze of hers.
We all got very drunk.
Mi Lan!
Ma Xiaojun?
What is it?
What's wrong?
Tell me, what's wrong?
I really like you.
What?
What are you saying?
I... my bike... my bike fell in the ditch.
Afterwards...
it seemed that nothing had happened.
I tried to remind her of that,
but she didn't react at all.
She still treated me nicely.
Is it possible that what happened that night wasn't real?
But the part where I was injured still hurts!
Ma Xiaojun.
What are you doing?
Let me go!
This is how you get your kicks?
You bet!
Mi Lan and I were no longer friends.
Soon.
the others began to stay away from me as well.
I passed my days in bitterness and pain.
Two months later. Mi Lan stopped hanging out with us.
At the end of the year, Liu Yiku went back to the army...
and found a proper girlfriend.
Later, we all went into the army.
I heared that Liu Yiku went mad...
in the border war with Vietnam.
We all lost touch after awhile.
What now? What's going on?
Who's that?
Oo! Oo-ba!
What do you mean "Oo-ba"? It's " Gooloomoo"!
Gooloomoo!
Hey! Gooloomoo!
Gooloomoo!
Cretin.