Children of the Mist (Những đứa trẻ trong sương)

I used to come here with friends to find food for the pigs.

I miss those days.

We also stole beans, remember?

Of course! And little cucumbers.

We stole a huge one!

Right in that field over there.

Every time we passed that field, we'd take a few cucumbers.

We got food for ourselves and for the pigs.

It was so much fun!

This is the tallest rock around here.

Qi, you said you never regret being born Hmong.

Even though it's hard being a Hmong girl.

When I met you,

I was surprised that a little girl like you

understood the dangers young women face.

I could see your childhood slipping away quietly.

Does time pass faster in the North Vietnamese mountains?

Is the pressure of life greater for the Hmong?

For centuries,

your reclusive existence has been protected.

At first, it was like I was seeing flowers through fog.

We grew up in different cultures.

We even speak different languages.

Yet we miraculously became good friends.

Like sisters.

After three years of filming, I've always been afraid of the ending.

Afraid I would lose you.

【Children of the Mist】

It fell down... Found it!

Give it to me.

There are more over there.

Two more!

One is up there.

Just pick the big ones.

Both are big.

As big as this one?

Let's take them home to cook.

It looks like a real flower.

Happy New Year!

This is a peach tree!

Dear ancestors, please enjoy.

Let's drink!

Jian, how much have you drunk?

1...2...3...

7 cups!

Let's go catch a bride!

I'll play the bride's older sister.

Go away.

Go away!

What game are you playing?

We're pretending it's Lunar New Year and we're kidnapping a bride.

How dare you kidnap my sister right in front of me?

Please forgive me.

I will never forgive you!

Goodbye, child, take care, be happy.

We'll visit your new family soon.

It was just eating our eggs.

Seriously? That's insane.

I caught it red-handed when I went to get the eggs.

Your dad just caught a big snake.

Where?

He traded it for a bottle of liquor.

A whole snake for just one bottle?

That's such a bad deal!

My brother could sell it for five dollars.

The clothes are all dyed, right?

I should cut my hair while I'm at it.

You don't need to cut it.

Where's my helmet?

Don't know.

Need to pick the pumpkins, or the pigs will eat them.

If men get drunk, they might want to kidnap you.

I'll run away.

Anyway, you're not Hmong, they can't force you.

You should let Nai kidnap you, just to try it.

Just to try?

No, a real bride kidnapping.

If you don't like him, then run away.

And if *that* is too small, run away too!

You'd better check the size first.

Just one cup, come on!

Sorry, my wife can't drink.

Her religion doesn't allow it.

He should be punished!

Now that you're married, you can't flirt with other girls.

You have to make do with your wife.

Drink!

Mom and Dad, I'm writing these lines

to let you know I'm suffering.

Being poor,

life is so hard.

No clothes to wear, nothing to eat.

But I will keep studying.

I'm now far from home.

My loved ones are all far away.

My heart is cold, I feel lost.

I think of you every second of every day.

I thought no one was home.

Why is my wife drunk as a pig?

Why did you close the door?

- The door wasn't closed. - That door?

Yeah.

I'll get up and make a fire...

I have to go to the People's Committee.

You're too drunk, go to the fields.

What are you talking about?

You're too drunk and you talk to me with that tone?

Stop messing around, or you'll have to finish the work yourself.

Aim for the adults!

Look, a camera!

Behave!

I can't hear clearly anymore.

Class, starting next week,

I'll teach you History, not Civics.

- Can we start class? - Yes.

Everyone, take out your textbooks.

"One must have a strong mind to"

"overcome danger and not be tempted."

Good, please sit.

Let's think, this boy starts hanging out,

drinking beer and smoking.

Then he starts skipping school, can't get into high school.

He's depressed, so he starts smoking weed.

- Do you know what marijuana is? - No.

No? Really?

Do you know what opium is?

Yes.

- Does anyone's family grow poppies? - No.

Sure?

Raise your hand if your family grows poppies.

Our family does, but I won't raise my hand.

Why? Because it's illegal, right?

The police might catch you.

If your family has it, keep it secret, but give me some!

- Don't you want to be rich? - Yes!

Making money is good, but don't break the law.

What's the point of having money if you end up in jail?

Good! Let's look at the next case...

Mom, our indigo plants are bigger than last year's.

Are you only taking two bundles?

Don't play with the lime, we still need to use it later.

I'm making blue dye for my daughters, Qi and La.

Because they don't know how.

La is married, but she can't make it herself?

No, I have to do it for her.

Can I trade a chicken for this white one?

Which one do you want to trade?

The red one.

You're so silly! Give them a white one.

Our chickens are much bigger.

Trade your rooster for this little thing!

It's too small, it doesn't lay eggs yet.

It's not that small.

- What's your name? - Guess.

- Tell me. - I'm shy.

- Tell me. - You first.

- I told you my name... - I forgot.

So?

My name is Pong.

That's different from what you said last time!

Tell me your name first.

- My name is Bao. - Bao?

- So what's your name? - My name is Qi.

- Hello, La. - Hi, Jian.

Hey! You came to see Grandma.

Don't hold her so tight, you bastard.

My sister La left school in 2015.

Was she still in high school when she got married?

Yeah, 10th grade.

She was kidnapped by her husband during the New Year celebrations.

That night, my mom was drunk.

She realized she hadn't seen La for a while.

She asked me where she was.

I thought she went back to boarding school.

After feeding the pigs, I saw my mom crying on the phone.

A neighbor told me my sister had been kidnapped.

I was speechless.

She just wanted to play, but her childhood ended right there.

- She was taken by her husband? - Yeah.

I won't be that naive.

What if it happens to you?

- I'm not afraid! - You should be.

How can I work on such a steep slope?

This type of rice has very short panicles.

Then the rice won't be enough for us to eat.

If you don't work, you don't eat.

You think kids will take care of you? They hate you!

You get drunk and sleep, you don't care about them.

You blame everything on us, insult us.

And you yourself are too drunk to work.

This man has no conscience.

Even our son-in-law hates him.

No one respects him, yet he thinks he's the king.

Never makes a fire, never feeds the pigs...

Can you talk about something else?

Stop arguing, you two!

So I should shut up when she sleeps with others?

I know you're fooling around outside.

How many people are in your class today?

37.