Em and Trinh (Em và Trịnh)

[This story is based on actual people and events]

[but they have been dramatized for artistic purposes.]

[When you are young, you think it is easy to give up a love.]

[For you think the happiest and the newest would come in the future.]

[May be that is the case. But what you do not know is that]

[what we want and need the most only comes once in life.]

Ladies and gentlemen,

In this life

there is the human condition

and love.

Human condition is finite.

Love is infinite.

Music

have been with me through all my relationships and have saved my life.

Our next singer comes from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Hello.

Hello.

My name is Michiko.

Yoshii Michiko.

Thank you for singing "Diễm Xưa".

What a surprise to find a young Japanese lady in France

with that record, it's been a while since I've seen it.

I apologize, but I only know a bit of Vietnamese, I can't speak much.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I want to ask something of you.

Do you have time?

I'm doing a masters paper on your anti-war music

I need your help.

could I interview you?

Michiko,

I don't doubt

your seriousness or abilities.

But truthfully,

my advice is that

you should change to another subject.

Unless you live in Việt Nam

breathes its air

eats its food

and speaks its language.

I'm afraid it will be difficult,

for someone from the outside

to understand Vietnamese music

Michiko?

Happy birthday!

When did you arrive?

Why didn't you tell me?

I want to surprise you.

This is for you.

Thank you.

Come in.

Let me introduce everyone.

This is Michiko.

Hello.

It's nice to meet you all.

Mom

Who is this, Sơn?

Mom

This is Michiko.

I met her in France last year.

Oh.

- Hello. - Hello.

You are so beautiful!

Thank you, Michiko.

Are you planning on vacationing here long?

I'm...

I'm not here on vacation.

I'm here on a researching trip.

Oh really?

What are you researching?

I'm trying to convince your son

to research his music.

Oh, how wonderful!

oh yes.

Music is alive.

To understand the music

you must first understand the person.

Right, Sơn?

Would you like a tour of the house?

- Yes. - Shall we then?

Are you here by yourself?

Yes, I am.

Do you have a Husband? Kids?

- No not yet. - Oh good.

You were beautiful when you're young!

Oh thank you, thank you.

This is a picture of Sơn when he was young.

He's very handsome.

Where are you staying?

I'm staying at a hotel.

Why don't you come stay here?

It would help your research too.

Thank you, but I must decline.

Sơn's friends

and his sisters when they come visit

will stay in this room.

His sisters

they all have families.

Only Sơn is by himself.

Back in the days, his songs

were his love letters.

Từ khi trăng là nguyệt

Is about Minh Nguyệt, in Huế.

Trời cao níu bước Sơn Khê

Is about Tôn Nữ Bích Khê, in Quy Nhơn.

Here, here, here.

Cây sẽ cho lộc

Và cây sẽ cho hoa

Miss Lộc.

Tôn Thất Văn's neighbour

lives Làng Báo chí.

That's not true, you made that up.

Sơn

In my opinion

That Japanese girl's paper

shouldn't be just about the music.

It should also be about your muses.

Yes, yes.

Everyone.

There are so many paintings of women here.

Sơn usually paints his friends

his sisters

and especially all the girls he loves.

Everyone, everyone.

I would like to tell you all a secret.

A juicy secret.

Michiko is a terrific singer and guitarist.

Oh no that's not true.

Why don't you sing us a song, Michiko?

Yes.

Michiko, Michiko, Michiko!

Michiko, sing.

I will sing

on one condition.

What condition?

If Sơn agrees

to help me finish my Masters paper.

Oui.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

I will sing

"Diễm Xưa"

in Japanese.

Sơn!

Where are you going?

Kha!

I...

I...

Come to Tuyệt Tình Cốc!

Come on!

How’s your mom and sisters these days?

Vĩnh Thuý

Must be busy huh?

And Thúy

Must have a lot of admirers?

Thúy’s still young.

She only thinks of school.

Kha.

Have you written anything new?

Of course!

There are ideals worth dying for,

but none worth killing for.

Right, Sơn?

I just wrote a new poem.

But when the fighting starts where can you hide?

That’s why Satre said:

Hell is other people.

Well said Bửu Ý.

I agree.

I!

A madman.

In a maddening age.

Where you go, please lend a mirror shine a light on this lonely life.

I’m a shadow,

a mirage on the outside.

I too

Have written a new poem.

Oh so you’re leaving,

afternoon, monsoon looming.

Now I am happy

Two hungry hands

Now I am happy

Two tired legs

This time, this place

Pretty, right?

Who’s that?

Bích Diễm!

Bích Diễm?

How come you never mention her before?

Ngô Vũ Bích Diễm

Is she Bích Diễm

Mr. Đốc Khánh’s daughter? Famously difficult?

- So about my poem... - How did you know...

Hey!

This is Tuyệt Tình Cốc.

When you're here,

you don’t talk about love.

Right?

Bửu Ý, Ngô Kha?

How can this guy stop Sơn.

He wants to get with his sister!