Ju Dou (菊豆)

China Film Co-Production Corporation

China Film Export and Import Corp.

Tokuma Shoten Publishing Co, Ltd.

Tokuma Communications Co., Ltd.

Xi An Film Studio

Producers: Zhang Wenze Yasuyoshi Tokuma, Hu Jian

Executive Producers: Zhao Hangao Shigeru Mori, Hiroyuki Kato

Production Directors: Fen Yitin, Michio Yokoo

JU DOU

A small village somewhere in China in the 1920s.

Story by Liu Heng

Starring: Gong Li, Li Baotian, Li Wei

Directors: Zhang Yimou, Yang Fengliang.

The Yang Family's Dye Mill

Uncle!

You took long enough!

There were bandits...

How come they didn't kill you?

How much money is there?

Count it yourself.

Hey, boy!

Tianqing, you're back!

Don't bother to come back tomorrow.

With only that boy for help, I turned down many orders.

The horse looks much thinner.

Go, now. We start work early in the morning.

What took you so long?

I was doing all your work.

I did my best, but those bandits...

Look at my hands... They're as black as coal.

For all that work your uncle paid me only two dollars.

The miser!

Your uncle bought himself another wife. Did you see her?

I just saw the wedding decorations.

Her name is Ju Dou.

A good-looker...and expensive.

Your uncle is cheap.

Did you know he tortured your first two aunts to death?

They didn't give him any children.

It served him right.

Listen how your new aunt... screams at night.

I'll kill you!

Let me rest a while.

Let you rest?

You'll never make an heir for the Yang family!

You're not good for nothing!

Go, call your aunt.

Aunt...

My uncle wants you to come downstairs.

You realize what time it is, dear lady?

You're very late.

I didn't buy a freeloader!

Hey...Master Yang!

Master Yang!

Master Liu wants these in a hurry.

He wants two in bright red, and...

...five in golden yellow.

Sure.

26 pounds, 7 ounces.

Master Yang...

...with so much work...

...why not hire someone?

That would add to my expenses.

Tianqing is enough.

Tianqing is in his forties.

He ought to get married.

That would be one more mouth to feed.

It might help you.

We'll wait and see.

She wouldn't cost much.

Tianqing is almost like a son.

A son? Bullshit!

He doesn't have my blood.

That orphan wouldn't have survived if I hadn't adopted him...

...after his parents died.

My son wouldn't be as dumb as he is.

Careful, huh!

If you ruin that, you'd better watch out!

Tianqing...

Don't waste any pigment while you measure it.

I bought you, now obey me.

When I buy an animal, I treat it as I wish.

And you're no better than an animal.

You love that, eh?

Obey me. Give me a son, and I'll be your slave.

Otherwise, watch out!

Tianqing!

What are you doing?

Hurry up!

I'm coming.

It's already very late.

I'm coming!

Hurry!

All you're learned is how to be lazy.

You could at least answer.

These are delicate dye jobs. Ask for higher prices.

Learn how to bargain.

Don't sell at a loss.

Choose inexpensive inns.

Don't spend more than you earn.

I'll go to the stable.

Jinshan, you bought lanterns?

Go, make children...

It brings good luck.

You've come back?

Aunt... what happened to your face?

I was careless and fell down.

Your uncle is killing the pig.

It's an offering for the Moon Festival.

Aunt...

You've hurt your arm?

Yes, when I fell down. I'm so clumsy.

Let's go home.

You're so skinny.

Tonight we'll eat pork.

Listen to the pig screaming for its life!

Are you satisfied?

I can't stand it any more!

Who's there?

Who?

It's me.

It's you, Tianqing?

Yes.

Did you feed the horse?

Yes.

Is my aunt sick?

It's nothing.

It's a little indigestion... something she ate.

Is it serious?

I'll go get Li, the healer.

It's not necessary.

She's already feeling better.

I'll go to bed.

What was that noise?

It scared me.

It was too dark.

Who knows?

Aunt...

What's wrong?

Tianqing, I want to tell you...

Your uncle will kill me sooner or later. I can't go on.

Let him kill me. Don't stop him. I don't want to live any more.

He does have a bad temper.

He's not human. He's not a man.

Tianqing, I'll tell you the truth.

The old man's sick. He can't do it! All he does is torture me.

I really can't go on.

I can't take it any more.

Did you feed him during the trip?

Three times a day, and once at night.

He may have colic.

Zhang wants his light blue...

...and Tsui wants his pink. Here's the cloth. Don't waste any fuel.

I know.

Go back.

Rest easy, Tianqing.

His horse is sick.

That old jerk won't be back tonight.

Aunt...

Wake me up tomorrow. I'll start working early.

I sleep like a log.

Really? Since when?

He's not here. What are you afraid of?

You're really a log!

Tianqing... are you afraid?

Me? Afraid?

Then why did you latch your door?

You're a grown man...

Am I a wolf?

You think I'll eat you?

My uncle...

He can go to hell!

If someone comes by...

That didn't stop you from looking through the hole...

Why didn't you plug it up?

Tianqing...

...I've kept my body for you.

My prescription worked well.

She's pregnant.

Really?

Is it a boy or a girl?

With some luck, a boy.

Ancestors...

...grant me a son!

Let the Yang family line continue forever, Ancestors.

I'll be forever grateful to you.

I'll shower you with gifts if it's a boy.

Ju Dou.

Tianqing!

Are you pregnant?

Yes.

And that old bastard thinks it's his.

Tianqing, I counted the days: the child is yours.

Ju Dou...

Eat well, sleep well, and make us a fat boy!

I'll leave now. The old man mustn't see me.

Jinshan!

Jinshan!!

It's a really fat baby with a watering spout between his legs.

Ju Dou really did well for you.