Spirits' Homecoming (귀향)

Yes, so after your confession,

what was the reaction from people around you?

They all said...that I am brave.

Well I don't think they think all that much of it.

I feel ashamed myself but there is not much of anything.

Not much of any reaction at all.

Do you still feel embarrassed?

No I don't feel embarrassed at all.

Then, how long did you suffer under the brutalities of the Japanese Military?

Taken when I was 17 years old,

I cannot talk about all of it.

Just...can't... Not in such short period of time.

Taken and all the suffering caused by the soldiers...

How can I list everything?

I cannot express in words...

Women are menstruating but they continue to abuse us irregardlessly

They didn't care at all.

They drag you like a piece of luggage, use you as they would like and

when we are broken - sick so to speak, they trash you or kill you.

So that was the situation... what can I say?

So how were the rations? Like food or...

Come out, come out, wherever you are

Are you ready?

1943, Gyeongsangnamdo Province Geohchang

Not yet.

Come out, come out wherever you are.

Hey you guys are too much.

I told you it's no fun if you go too far.

Did you hear?

Uncle Dusik from downtown was taken by the Japanese Policemen.

Really?

My daddy said that he is going to war to become a soldier...

If you become a soldier, does that mean you become Japanese?

Idoit.

Just because a Korean man becomes a solider.

It doesn't mean he becomes Japanese.

Hey watch what you say. Remember what our teacher told us? He said

'We are all Japanese.' Didn't he?

It's no fun playing like this. Do you want to make a bet on the game?

What will you wager?

If you guys win

I will give you this

Wow wicked!

What would you guys give me?

I want that, your charm.

No not this.

Yeah, mom said we should never give this away.

Fine then.

Do you have any idea how rare these taffies are?

Even if you give ten of those charms

you can't even trade them for one of these taffies.

Ok, I will be generous and give you back one. Here.

What about me? Give mine back too.

We were told to never give this away to anyone.

Why not?

That trinket is like a special protection charm

so it's bad luck to give it away.

Who told you that absurd lie?

My mother repeatedly told me!

Well, I don't really care. Bye!

- Sister! - Jungmin!

Ari-ari-rang Suri-suri-rang A-ra-ri-ga-nat-ne.

Daddy!

Daddy!

- Oh it's my dear puppy! - Daddy daddy!

If you hit your head on the carrier, you will get a bump.

Oh Jungmin, you are all grown up.

Look on to me, look on to me, look on to me.

Like you sew a flower blooming in winter, look on to me!

Ari-arirang! Suri-surirang Arariga name.

Dear! Did you wait long?

Jungmin you come here.

What's wrong?

You be quiet.

What did you take from Misun?

I didn't take anything.

I won it on a bet.

Give it to me.

Now!

Take this and give it back to Misun.

Ah hurry and take it to her.

Well, come in already.

What did I tell you about stealing from the others?

Nothing will work out for you and you will never get married!

Oh dear.

Daddy...

At that age, they do reckless things. Don't be too mad.

It's because you're spoiled her that's why shes so wild.

Oh come on.

Don't you know how scary the world is right now?

They say the soldiers are coming up and taking people away.

Rumors say that once they are taken, you never hear from them again

and they all end up dead.

A young child like her should be okay...

But you should be careful.

What if they take you, how can we manage?

The world is so...

Right. You are right.

Jungmin.

All I want for you is to grow up well and marry a good man.

Okay?

No please, it makes no sense!

What is he saying?

How can you just come and take her without any words in advance?

No, please no.

No...

Are you Jungmin?

Yes.

- Take her! - Yes!

No! Please no! Without any words in advance!

- Daddy! Daddy! - Oh dear.

Please spare us. Please spare us.

Hurry there's no time.

Listen to me.

You see these clothes.

Look, look. Stop crying.

I hid some money in these clothes.

Now you learned Japanese at school right?

Use this money in emergency to ask someone to take you to Geohchang. Okay?

Now what did I tell you to do with this money?

To ask someone to take me to Geohchang.

That's right... That's right...

Oh what will happen to a young child like you...

She hasn't even been outside this town...

How will I go on without you...

Listen to me well.

An old parable says

'if you keep your head and don't lose your wits, you will survive through anything'.

Okay?

This. It's not very pretty.

But if you keep this with you, you will be safe.

And all bad omens can't touch you.

Keep it on you.

There's no time. Hurry up.

Don't forget my name, your father's name, where your home is.

Okay?

Jungmin!

Jungmin!

Jungmin!

Jungmin!

Jungmin!

Jungmin!

Jungmin!

1991, Gyeonggido Yangpyeong Dumulmeori

Such a young visitor.

Is that your mother next to you?

Yes.

So, who brought you here?

My husband came here once...

Then what of your husband?

He's no longer here.

An ex-convict, released that day, broke into our house.

And that's when your daughter stopped talking?

My husband was...

He got tangled up in a life about to end.

And how about you?

You should have stayed strong.

I will keep your daughter here.

But...

She was born to be a shaman.

She will only be ridiculed outside of the temple.

Hi.

My name is Aeri.

What's your name?

Mom...

- Aeri. - Yes?

Is everything alright with Eunkyung these days?

Eunkyung?

Yes. ma'am..

Anything difficult?

She often wakes up in the middle of the night, crying, but she seems alright.

- Oh but sometimes. - Yes.

She mumbles to herself sometimes, as if she's talking to someone.

Like a lunatic?

Yes! Like a lunatic!

Hey!

Hey!

We need to clean all these.

Like this!

Um excuse me...

Me? Are you talking to me?

Are you looking for someone?

No it's ok.

I've seen her so I am going now.

Do you know her?

Too well.

But dear, who are you?

Excuse me.

An old man asked me to give you a message.

Are you talking to me?

Yes. An old man in white shirt and gray pants asked.

White shirt?

He told me to tell you that he must leave soon.

Huh'?!

He said he wrote a message for you on the inside of the old wardrobe.

He said to read it before it gets thrown out.

Who?

Who said that to you?

Dear!

Oh father!