The Buried Forest (埋もれ木)

A Buried Forest Production Committee Presents

A Kohei OGURI Film

THE BURIED FOREST

"Won't you dance with me?"

That's what I asked you,

First we danced apart,

Then we started crying,

Our bodies and faces drew closer,

And we tasted each other's tears,

Beats me.

What's so interesting?

It's only a story, just fiction.

But the pictures are good.

Mmm...

Machi, you were talking about the pet shop...

That funny pet shop.

I'd hardly call it a shop.

Hey...

Shall we make a story?

Huh!

What?

With lots of fiction.

Story?

About the pet shop owner.

He got a camel.

A camel?

You can't be serious...

In this town?

And why not?

It's just a story.

Mind you, it was hard.

There was nowhere to walk it.

So...

he dug up the road...

filled it with earth...

and made a path for the camel.

After that,

everyone preferred the dirt road...

and they dug up all the roads in the town.

Huhhh!

You continue, Tokie!

Eh...?

I can't!

Jin!

Jin!

Machi, then.

I'm no good.

Don't be so negative.

Do camels have eyelids?

I've never checked, but I'm sure they do.

It was three years before they closed the bus station,

when I took over the business.

I asked my dad:

"Why didn't they make a railroad?"

Some people thought they would.

That's not what I mean.

My granddad was from old Tokyo.

He was dead against a railway.

So he said.

People had a different take on things in the past.

If the railway had come here...

our little market wouldn't be here now.

That's true, now you mention it.

Akio, has the delivery gone?

Hey, Akio!

Akio!

That grandma from Sanda just called.

She wants a big bucket.

A bucket?

Do we have one?

Oh, I'll look for one.

Ouch...

Hey, Tahbo!

Stop that!

Ah, here's San-chan.

Yo!

What's up, Machi?

What is it with your hair?

Thanks for the CD.

It was okay.

You like vocals, right, San-chan?

I suppose.

Summer vacation already?

Yep.

Would you like a lift?

No thanks. - You don't.

Ride Tomo's motorbike?

I'll walk.

I like walking.

Good for you.

Be careful.

What are you doing?

Sailing a boat.

What kind of boat?

A bamboo leaf boat.

It's tiny, isn't it?

But it's carrying very important things.

Yeah?

Yuko, how come Machi is so moody these days?

It's probably her age.

Were you like that, when you were 15 or 16?

Maybe I was.

Scary!

I bet you were awful!

I happened to be very cute.

Oh, yeah?

I feel sorry for you.

You never knew me when I was cute.

Really?

Say...

Is it true that Marui the joiner quit?

He has so much skill.

And now he's driving a taxi.

A taxi?

Yeah.

Marui is a cab driver?

Why a cab driver?

He couldn't bear working alone, they say.

Maybe he brooded too much over his daughter's death.

What a waste.

How will he live?

That's a bit callous.

Yes...

What?

A vehicle?

Yes, a story is a vehicle,

We get on and ride, and that's our life,

I wonder.

Do you think we can choose our vehicle?

Well,,,

A story is only words,,,

I'll call you.

See you,

That was the news, and now it's back to the music,

This song is "Morning Haze",

Hang on! Take this miso to go with it.

You shouldn't... - Here.

Thank you.

Take care.

Where's the fishmonger?

At the hospital, his wife's rheumatism is playing up,

What's this?

It's the egg... of the "Elephant Bird"... so I'm told.

They can pick up an elephant and fly off.

They're massive, or so it says in the letter.

So he sent this, did he?

I love Jugem's jokes like this.

He's never changed.

All the way from Brazil.

Do you think it's a fake?

You never know.

They say they shoot butterflies with pistols in Brazil.

I've never met granddad so I don't know.

In the fields...

there was a man who was watching the sunset...

he suddenly got the urge to follow the sun.

So he dropped the plow...

and walked off, never to return.

Maybe Jugem is like that.

Ah! It still works.

Don't want people to think we're breaking in.

It's bigger than I thought. - Certainly is.

It's been 5 years since he closed.

Amazing.

What photo is it?

Don't know.

I wonder where it is.

They're relatives, but I was scared of my uncle.

So I don't really know.

Uncle!

Take our picture!

Who are you talking to? - The dead!

Move that pram and bring a chair.

Be a good girl.

Sit down.

Wimp!

You're really pretty.

It's bright.

I like portrait photos.

Everyone looking in the same direction.

It's not often that happens.

I hate photos.

I always shut my eyes.

I wonder why.

It's a talent. - What do you mean?

The instant the shutter opens you wave goodbye...

with your eyelids, I mean.

That's a talent.

That's a compliment?

Yes, it is.

Tomo!

What? - Leave the ball there.

Huh!

What are you doing?

Bet you can't guess.

There, it's the last one.

Come here, Tomo!

Quick!

Very interesting.

It means "dream" in Tonpa characters.