The Flower Girl (꽃파는 처녀)

A film of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea

This is the film version of "The Flower Girl" a revolutionary play

written and Staged at Wujiazi in 1930.

# Buy my flowers

These lovely red flowers

THE FLOWER GIRL

Their perfume is as exquisite as their colour

To buy medicine for my sick mother

I have tended them with all my heart

Buy my flowers

These beautiful red flowers

Beautiful azaleas

that flower in the valley

Pink apricot flowers

that bloom on the mountain

Buy my flowers

If you kindly buy them

Your sorrows will disappear

and Spring will come even to your aching heart.

Sit down.

In July or August you will receive good, long awaited news

Yes.

In September or October you will find the man you have been looking for.

Like a sparrow freed from its cage

happiness will come to you.

Really?

Good fortune, indeed.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Well...

Your father is dead,

your brother is in prison.

What's more, your mother is sick.

I am so sorry for you.

To top it all, isn't your little sister is blind?

Tell me, has she been blind since birth?

No.

Because of illness?

Not that either.

Well?

I see.

A noble man will come to help you.

I'm sure of it.

You mother also, will be healed.

Don't be dispirited.

Are you staying a bit longer?

# When the sun sets in the west

Rising now, the wind

A young, blind girl

Stands alone on the hill

She awaits her sister

Who has left to sell flowers

To buy medicine for their mother

Young girl alone on the hill

Sun Hui.

Sun Hui.

Sun Hui.

You should be at home with mother.

She's gone to Mr. Bae's.

But she's ill.

Landlord Bae scolded her

for not sending you as a housemaid.

But Madame Kim...

You shouldn't have.

Are you here to work as well?

I was told to help the kitchen maid.

You're working day and night.

What can I do. I'm a slave in debt.

We've no land of our own.

Gan-nan, what are you doing in there?

How slow you are!

When will you finish that washing?

How tiresome.

If you send Kotpun here, you'd have fewer mouth to feed.

I'll do anything you want.

But leave my daughter alone.

Do you spare her heavy work to turn her into courtesan?

If you send Kotpun here

you'd have fewer mouth to feed.

Do you spare her heavy work to turn her into courtesan?

I mustn't die.

If I die, she'll take my place here.

and be treated like a slave.

No!

Madame Kim.

You've not even eaten and still you're working.

You should stop.

Mrs. Kim.

Come, try this.

Where did you get it?

The cook gave it to me.

- You take it. - I've had some.

Sun Hui, you must be hungry?

No.

What if Mum doesn't bring any rice?

She will.

Can't we buy some with the money you got from selling flowers?

Sun Hui,

be brave until we've bought the medicine for mother.

I'll boil some water.

Sis, Mum's coming.

Listen, I can hear her footsteps.

Sorry I'm late, Sun Hui?

Mother.

You're sick, you shouldn't be working.

Don't worry.

Mum, did you bring rice?

Sister's boiled water.

Sun Hui, eat this. Here.

It's crispy rice!

Kotpun, take it. You've had no lunch.

I'm not hungry, give it to Sun Hui.

Mum, take it. Big sister, you too.

I nibbled a little. You can eat it all.

Kotpun,

I'll go to the neighbours to borrow some corn.

Meantime, darn Sun Hui's socks.

Show me your foot.

That tickles.

Mother, what does it mean "a noble man"?

Why ask me, like this?

Please.

People say

someone noble

helps and makes happy poor people like us.

If someone like that would come to help you,

like in the old tales,

I could...

leave this world without fear.

I was told

someone noble will appear soon.

If your brother were here, you wouldn't suffer so much.

But I'm sure

he no longer belongs to this world.

I was told that he would return and you would be healed.

Really, Big Sis?

Kotpun,

whatever happens, take good care of Sun Hui.

The poor thing's lost her father, brother, and even her sight.

I worry so much for you

I can't even die.

To think Sun Hui would be motherless too.

Mum, don't say such things.

# Every year when spring comes

On the hill, in the fields

Thousands of beautiful buds

Finally open

But for us who have no country

Spring will never come

When shall we have flowers

blooming in our hearts?

Up there, on the hill path

Where they dragged our brother away

With the coming of spring

Beautiful flowers bloom

But dear brother

We wait hopefully

Years go by of endless waiting

When will he return?

Big Brother, it's as big as me?

Yes, it will grow with you.

We'll plant other flowers here.

We'll plant the magnolias mother loves so much.

and touch-me-not as well.

Well, what's your favourite flower, Sun Hui?

I love that one.

What are you doing here? Mr. Bae's looking for you.

Hurry up.

Kotpun.

Let me have it.

Kotpun!

Why are you standing idle?

Hurry to the back yard and gut the fishes.

Quick!

Come.

Kotpun, go ahead.

Play here.

I'm foolish to entertain guests relying on them.

Chol-Ryong, have you finished?

I've one more round trip to make.

Don't you dare touch it, you little pest?

Ginseng!

Sun Hui!

Wild ginseng from my husband!

What, my ginseng?

It's your fault, brat!

Heavens! What a mishap!

She only brings bad luck!

Sun Hui, lift your hands.

We'll put soybean paste on it.

Move your hands.

Let me see, please.

Don't cry, big brother is here.

- Sun Hui! - Where are you?

- I can't see anything! - Sun Hui, I'm here.

- Your big brother is here. - Bring a light.

Sun Hui, he's here.

Where is he? I can't see him.

How could such a thing happen to her? Life is so cruel.

How could heaven take her sight?