Big Fish & Begonia (大鱼海棠)

Some fish aren't meant to be caged

because they belong to the sky.

IN THE NORTHERN OCEAN THERE IS A FISH THAT GOES BY THE NAME OF KUN.

ITS SIZE IS TOO LARGE TO MEASURE.

Who we are?

Where do we come from?

And where are we going?

Nobody cares about these questions.

Every day, people just go to work,

smile at each other,

bicker,

buy things,

eat and sleep.

One hundred years have passed.

I am already 117 years old.

Many times I have told them

that each living human being

is a giant fish in the sea,

and that human life is just like swimming across the sea.

But they never listened to me,

saying that I've gone senile.

However, every time I dream,

I can see very clearly many big fish falling from the sky

and hear them calling to each other.

Their beautiful voices remind me of my past.

Four and a half billion years ago,

on this planet, there was nothing but water

and some big old fish

that were the souls of human beings.

In fact, since their birth,

they have never forgotten their origins.

My name is Chun.

I come from the undersea world.

The sky of my abode

is connected to the sea of the human world.

Human souls wander in their world for a long time

before they reach the end of the sea and the sky of this world.

We are guardians of human souls

and the laws of nature in the world.

We are neither human beings nor gods,

but the Others.

What a beautiful starry night!

The rite of passage is about to start. Hurry up.

Thank you, Brother Songzi.

Sister Leizu!

We are attending the rite of passage. Can we borrow two horses?

Of course.

I'll pick you.

How awesome,

you're taller than me.

Chun!Look!

Wait for me!

Faster!

Qiu, is the human world fun?

Of course. Last year I almost decided to stay there.

Then you should've!

If I did, who would see you off this year?

You don't need to. I didn't ask you to follow me.

It's starting. Hurry, hurry!

It's all your fault!

Tingmu, take care of yourself in the human world.

Don't worry, Grandma.

Chun! Get over here!

Sure. Coming!

Give it to me!

Hey!

Grandma, good luck!

When you reach the human world, you will be by yourself.

Here. Have some more.

Ma, I'm full now.

Brother, brother, when will you come back?

Be a good girl. I'll be back in seven days.

Watching over all living souls is the bright heaven.

Heed my prayer, and bestow blessings upon thee!

You shall explore the human world for seven days

to observe the laws of nature that are under our control.

But you must avoid all contact with humans.

That is the absolute rule of the heavens.

The Gate of Sea and Sky,

open!

By the time you return safely, you will be an adult

- You must be cautious of the humans. - I know.

- Remember, stay far away from them. - Relax.

- Chun is smart. She'll be fine. - Nonsense.

Jin's daughter didn't return last year.

What are you waiting for?

Now is the time!

Remember, only the maelstrom links the two worlds.

You must get back to it by the seventh day,

Ma, I already know that.

- Or you won't return. - I know.

Soup's here! Soup's here!

My daughter is an adult now.

I'm going.

Chun...

take care of yourself!

Yes, I will.

We will wait for your safe return.

Leave us. Just go.

Don't worry. I'm leaving.

Chun!

Come here.

Remember,

it's dangerous out there.

Don't let the humans come close to you.

Chun,

have a safe journey!

I'll be waiting for you!

Every child that reaches the age of 16

is sent to the human world for their rite of passage...

to get a closer look

at the functioning of the laws of nature.

That was the first time that we saw the scenery of the human world,

which was completely unlike what we had been told.

We had never been happier.

The human world was a spectacular place.

Brother, look!

The red dolphins have come back

like every year!

Here, let's give our greetings.

Hello!

You all come again!

Traveling in the human world alone,

I came across giant ships,

I saw lights that looked like stars,

and also,

many paper boats with burning candles

that carried

the souls of the deceased on rivers to the great sea.

On the sixth day,

together with the floating lanterns,

I returned to the sea along a waterfall.

Watch closely!

- Is it fun? - Yeah!

I'll show you something even more fun.

What are you doing, big brother?

Here, help me.

Smear it on my back.

Naughty girl.

- Stay right here. - OK.

So many fish!

What took you so long, big brother?

I was chasing a red dolphin.

Look, it's here.

Wow. It's been following us.

It is different from the other dolphins.

Much smarter.

I think it likes you.

- Where's it from? - Near the maelstrom.

A dolphin.

It's the red one.

It's trapped.

Bring me the dagger.

I'll help it.

- But there's a maelstrom down there. - Don't worry. I'll be careful.

Now go.

Brother, take care!

Brother!

I'm here to help you.

Brother! Come back!

Gimme my brother! Gimme my brother!

Brother, come back!

Brother!

Chun!

You've returned!

What's wrong?

- Are you alright? - I'm fine.

No more questions. Let's go home.

I'll make you delicious food for your return.

Morning, Grandma.

Is Grandpa awake?

Grandpa, where do humans go when they die?

Their body will turn into dirt.

What about their soul?

Their soul will swim to the northernmost House of Rusheng,

where it is transformed into small fish

and watched over by the Soul Keeper.

- Will we die, too? - Of course.

Where there's life, there's death.

My own destiny is drawing near, too.

Grandpa, I don't want you to die.

Silly girl. But it is the law of nature.

For us,

death is nothing but the gate to eternity.

What troubles you, little girl?

I don't think the flute belongs to this world.

It is not mine.

Yet lovely.

Who is its owner?

A boy from the human world,

but he is already dead now.

I killed him.

A human boy.

If we are talking about deceased human beings,

perhaps I can help you.

Today at midnight,

bring the bell back here.

Ring it, and somebody will pick you up.

If you dare to come,

I will be waiting for you.