In the Heat of the Sun (Yangguang Canlan de Rizi) (阳光灿烂的日子)

Peiking has changed so fast.

In 20 years, it's become a modern city.

Almost nothing is as I remembered.

Change has wiped out my memorize.

I can't tell what's imagined from what's real.

My stories always take place in summer.

People expose more of themselves in the heat.

and find it harder to control their desires.

It seemed like it was always summer then.

The sun always had time to come out and play with us.

The sunlight was so relentless,

so bright,

that our eyes were washed in waves of blackness.

In the Heat of the Sun.

In the raging storms of Revolution.

The soldiers' hearts turn towards the sun.

Oh, Chairman Mao, Chairman Mao.

We want to express our ardor to you.

You launched the Cultural Revolution.

and your military victories are stunning.

Your brilliant thoughts are like dew and sunlight.

After the 9th Party Congress in 1969.

my father was sent to Guizhou as an army rep.

to stop factional battles taking place there.

I longed for a Sino-Soviet war.

I was sure

that in a new world war...

...the PLA's iron fist would smash the Soviets and Americans.

A new war hero would become a legend -

that's me, of course.

Hurry

wild goose hurry on your way.

With a letter from the liberated serfs under your wing.

passing on love to Chairman Mao in Peking.

After Dad left

I was freer than I'd ever been.

I always envied kids whose parents worked out of town.

Now I was one of them.

Let's bet that

who can toss their bag the highest.

What's the wager?

Icepops?

Butter flavor.

Two.

Ok.

let me go first!

No.

We'll start with Big Ant.

See if you can get is as high as the roof.

Ok,

go for it Big Ant.

1, 2, 3

No good.

Your turn Liu Sitian.

1, 2, 3

No good, no good!

Yang Gao, your turn.

1, 2, 3

Oh, look at that stupid thing!

Your turn, Monkey.

1, 2, 3

You are such a lazy bastard...

You even hold on to your bag yourself?

Come on!

Big Ant! Big Ant!

And so I graduated from primary school.

We were all sent to different high schools.

This was a policy of the school...

aimed at breaking up our little gangs.

But several years later...

Our families all moved to the same army compound...

and I was reunited with my mates.

Gooloomoo!

Gooloomoo!

Oo-ba!

Gooloomoo!

Oo-ba!

In the seventies.

Beijing didn't have so many cars or luxury hotels.

or even that many people on the street.

The older kids were in the villages or army.

and the town belonged to us.

Time for class. Attention!

Hello students!

Hello teacher!

Don't laugh.

It's a simple principle of physics.

Sit down.

Who said you could get up?

Take your seat!

I mean, first put that hat back and take your seat.

Yes, Mr. Hu.

Who's class monitor?

She is.

Get back here.

Who's asking you?

I am asking class monitor to identify herself.

After class, get rid of these coals.

Open your books to page 35.

Let's look at the Sino-Russion Treaty of Nerchinsk.

"Sino"

refers to the Qing dynasty.

"Russian"

to czarist Russia.

But Nerchinsk,

what's Nerchinsk?

It's the region east of the Baykal Lake.

Who did this?

What's the meaning of this, huh?

Who?

It wasn't me. My hands are clean.

Hold up your hands, everyone.

Mr. Hu.

Speak up.

Never mind.

Speak up,

don't be afraid.

Maybe it was to keep the hat from flying off again.

It was well-intentioned. So don't be angry.

I'm asking who did it!

Well I don't know.

Sit down.

Don't be angry. Mr. Hu.

Class is adjourned.

I shall get to that bottom of this!

Mr. Hu, Mr. Hu!

Would you mind tossing me my shoe?

Sure, and I'll wipe your ass in the toilet too!

Shall I help you put it on as well?

NO,

Just toss it out here, please.

Get out of here!

You rotten apple!

Mr. Jiao!

Someone

get Mr. Jiao of the Workers Propaganda Team here right now!

Jeez, Hu.

give me a bit of face, OK?

I'm not asking for much.

OK, just you wait!

Wait for what?

What a joke?

What are you going to do?

don't threaten me.

Fine. I don't need that stupid show.

come back here!

Going to have someone beat me?

Puncture my bicycle tires? Stab me in the back?

No one wants your filthy shoe.

Attention! March in time!

Our leaders should rest assured, we will complete our mission.

8-5-1, 8-5-1, this is Yan'an, this is Yan'an.

Fire in my direction! Fire in my direction!

I loved keys.

I learned how to make them.

I practiced on all the locks at home.

peering into my parents' secrets.

Then I began going into other people's homes.

The "click" of a lock popping open.

propelled me into a realm of sheer bliss.

This feeling

This feeling, only the Soviet army attacking Berlin in WWII could have felt what I feel.

I can't hid it.

I got my talent from my father.

In the Korean War.

he worked out how to countless American bombs.

Lots of people lost their lives that way.

but he came out of it without a scratch...

which is why Mom suspects that all his time in Korea

was spent hiding out in the mountains.

I'd check carefully for any cash.

The machines everyone demands today were unknown then.

Work units provided most of the furniture.

I can testify that at the time...

expect for a very few politically suspect cadres.

there was virtually no corruption at all.

In all my exploits...

I only spotted one old Soviet black-n-white TV.

I considered stealing it,

but it was too heavy.

Besides,

I vowed I'd only break in,

I wouldn't be a thief.

When I tired myself out...

I'd take a nap on the bed.

imagining what might have happened there.

I knew I'd never be caught.

'cause no one ever snuck out of their office then.

And I never stole anything,

so I didn't arouse any suspicion.

Of course, I ran into trouble from time to time.

But this didn't dampen my courage.

it only increased the thrill.

Usually, I only went for padlocks, they were safe.

But that day, something moved me to pick a built-in one.

I'll be damned.

I'll be damned.

I'll be damned.

Well, Hu, you've fallen low!

This is Yu Beipei,