Sunflower (Xiang ri kui)

I was born in this courtyard in 1967.

Sunflowers were blooming outside, so ...

my father named me "facing the sun":

Zhang Xiangyang.

Come here, Xiangyang.

Xiangyang.

Over here, come on.

So, which one are you going to pick?

From that day on...

that decision destined me to be a painter.

My father is a painter too,

so he was probably happy that I chose the paintbrush.

Get down!

Who did that?

So annoying!

Come on, let's go.

This is no fun.

Hey, Xiangyang, someone's coming!

What the hell? Where are you running to?

What were you doing up there?

Was it you just now, throwing stones?

Don't know what you mean.

Listen. I'll tell my dad!

Go ahead.

- How did your trousers get ripped? - It's no big deal.

They were on the roof again!

I've told you a hundred times! You could get hurt up there!

I'll teach you!

I'll beat you.

Xiuqing...

Gengnian...

Xiangyang...

Come here.

Quick, over here, Xiangyang.

This is your father.

Call him "Dad"!

Say it!

What happened to your head?

Nothing... Bumped it by accident.

Let's go home.

Come on!

- Dad! - Do your homework.

Old Zhang ...? You're back!

Um, my hands are dirty, don't...

- When did you come back? - I just got back.

- You were gone... - Six years.

It must have been hard.

- Is your problem all sorted out? - Not yet.

The important thing is that you're back.

I'll let you go. You'd better get your "welcome home" meal!

- Let me do it. - No, let me...

- No need both to get our hands dirty. - I can't allow you to do that!

Xiangyang, your dad is back.

Don't just eat. Call him "Dad".

Come on!

It's all right. I just got home.

He'll soon get used to it.

Why are you hurting my mother?

He wasn't hurting me.

We were just playing around.

Go back to bed.

Go on, go back to bed.

Do your homework as soon as you finish eating, OK?

I won't be back for lunch.

You two make something for yourselves.

One, two, three... go!

I'm the highest...

Stop, enough...

OK, enough!

Go back home.

- Chicken! - You're chicken!

- Come here and get some more! - You come here!

Oh, look at the chicken!

Say that to my face! You're a chicken!

Give him a washboard to wash his underwear!

Go home!

Get your hands off me!

Let's play.

Mum.

What are you doing?

I'm going to plant some sunflowers.

Didn't you do enough farming at the work camp?

Off you go and play, Xiangyang.

It hurts the most when it rains.

Sometimes my hands shake so much I can't control them...

Can you still paint?

I haven't painted since I went to the camp.

I can do heavy work.

So many years at the camp,

I learned how to plough, and do some carpentry.

I'll make us a sofa.

Whose damn child did this?

Who taught you to do that?

What kind of parents raise a child this way?

- What's going on here? - Someone needs to take care of this.

I'm telling you - if no one takes responsibility,

I'll make them sorry! Look at his eye!

They almost blinded him.

Don't beat him, he'll be OK.

- This is OK? - What's wrong?

What's wrong?! Look at his eye!

- Was it you who did it? - No.

- What's in your pockets? - Nothing.

Empty them!

- Anything else? - Nothing else.

I said everything!

I'll teach Xiangyang how to paint.

Teach him to paint? You're a painter, what good has it done you?

It's better than letting him get into trouble.

Come on, son.

Take the pencil and draw a picture for Dad.

What should I draw?

Whatever you like - an aeroplane, a cannon, a train, a car...

Move over. Let me see what you've drawn.

Hey, son, really not too bad!

Wait a second... Let Dad get a piece of paper for you.

Draw something else.

Take your time.

Hey...

Hey.

- Are you talking to me? - Mm.

I need to go to the loo.

Go on then.

Paper, rock, scissors!

What should I draw?

Draw a picture of me.

I've got to go to the loo, diarrhoea!

One, two, three...

You just can't sit still for a minute!

All you can do is play! Play, and run away!

Give them to me.

All of them!

Are you going to give them to me or not?

No? I'll take them.

Stand still!

Watch.

From now on, these things...

No more games! Got it?!

Understand?!

You're not going anywhere! You'll stay at home and draw!

My stomach hurts... I think I have diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea? You stay right where you are!

I really can't hold it!

Sit back down!

I'll do it in my trousers!

Go on then.

Really! I can't hold it...

- Wash your trousers. - No! You made me do it.

I made you do it??

But when I try to make you draw, why won't you draw?

- Are you going to wash them or not? - No!

- Say that again? - I won't do it!

- Will you wash them? - No!

- You won't? - No!

If you won't wash ...

- How about now?? - No!

I won't. I won't. I won't.

Still so stubborn!

You're so stubborn.

I hate you. I wish you never came back!

You hate me!

Xiangyang!

Xiangyang!

Xiangyang!

Xiangyang!

- Not here. - Xiangyang!

This kid...

Where could he have gone?

I really don't know.

Xiangyang!

Xiangyang!

The little tearaway wants to take me on.

From the day I came back...

I could see it in his eyes... He doesn't see me as his father.

He's just a child. What does he know?

He's just not used to you yet.

This child... is so stubborn.

Where do you think he could be?

Mum! Mum!

Earthquake!

Xiangyang!

- Mum! - Xiangyang!

Jump off! Jump!

- I'm scared! - Xiangyang!

Quick, jump into my arms!

- I'm afraid... - I'll catch you!

Xiangyang, jump!

Jump, jump, jump!

Look out! The wall!

According to the National Earthquake Research Centre...

an unprecedented 7.5-magnitude earthquake

struck the Tangshan region, strongly affecting Beijing.

Strong after-shocks are expected.

Where's Xiangyang?

Kitty...

Kitty...

Xiangyang, it's too dangerous here.

Come with me. Let's go back into the tent.

Kitty!

Kitty?