The Red Phallus

It's time to wake up.

Wake up, Sangay. You're getting late for school.

Sangay, wake up, you're getting late for school.

Sangay?

- Is that Sangay? - Yes.

Why are you late again?

How many times do I have to tell you to come straight home?

Anyway, Aum Zam's new house is being consecrated tomorrow.

Go and reach the phalluses, she wants to hang them down early tomorrow.

Take them right away.

Tell her I couldn't come as a client has come to get the thangka

and that I'll attend the ceremony tomorrow.

And come straight home. Don't loaf around like a stray dog.

Is your mother home?

What's that stupid grin for?

Why are you making that face? Haven't you seen me before?

Where is your mother? - She is inside.

Give these phalluses to your mother. They're my father's gift.

They'll ward off the evil spirits.

Tell her he couldn't come, as our cat died last night.

He went to the riverside to bury it.

Sangay, wait for a moment.

Why couldn't Ap Atsara come?

Come in for a while.

It's inauspicious to leave without coming in...

have a cup of tea.

It's late, I have to go.

It's not that late.

At least have some tea.

I can't.

Ok then, tell him to come tomorrow by any means, and you should come too.

Of course, Aum Zam, we will.

It's your new house.

You should come tomorrow.

Ok, sure.

Oh, I left your things with your son.

Ok.

These fucking phalluses!

Sangay, you'll end up breaking everything in the house.

For once, can you be a little bit careful?

Soon we might have to eat from the floor.

I always tell you to wash your hands straight after dropping things,

it might rinse off your bad habits.

Try it for once.

Sangay, wake up.

You're getting late for school.

I have to wake you up every morning.

I wonder where those monks are going?

Monks?

Are you crazy?

You've started to hallucinate again.

I see only the river and the valley.

Couldn't you find any other paper to make your plane?

You're planning not to do your exams again.

Why don't you do the exams for me?

Don't lecture me.

Why did you keep me waiting here for hours?

Fuck!

I doubt anyone can get out of this paradise.

I'm tired of watching these mountains.

I'm fed up of driving this old tractor and hearing its noise.

Before I get fed up of you, shouldn't we leave this godforsaken place?

I'm also sick of coming to this spot.

We should leave this place and go to Thimphu city.

I'm sure I could find a decent job there.

Even If I don't get a job I could always drive a taxi.

You know I'm just a girl.

I don't think I can.

How can I leave my father alone?

You always say,

"I'm just a girl, I'm just a girl."

I thought we could start a new life.

Do you understand?

But I wonder when you're going to start making your own decisions.

The only thing you know is how to say, "I'm just a girl."

Do you want to hold on to your father's apron your whole life?

How can I leave just because you say so?

I have to finish weaving the kishuthara.

What?

I have to finish it, it's my mother's kishuthara.

That piece of cloth won't be of any use to anyone. Do you know what I mean?

It won't make your life any better.

Ap Atsara is not a child.

He can live by himself.

So where will you dump your two kids and your alcoholic wife?

That's my problem.

I am a man. I know how to solve it.

I'm not like you who's got nothing to say except "I'm not strong enough."

You don't have to worry about it.

I'll find a way. I know my responsibilities.

Why are you asking me then?

Just because you asked me, do I have to go?

Fuck you.

It's easier to start a fistfight with a man than to discuss things with you.

What's the time?

I have to go home.

Let's go.

You may not be aware of this, but she didn't come to the school yesterday.

Ap Atsara, only you can talk some sense into her.

The fire and the enemy must be tamed when small.

From today onwards, if she misses one more day

we'll have no choice but to suspend her from the school.

To be honest,

most girls of her age

are in class X.

She is still in Class VI.

Look, she's four years behind.

Four years behind.

Look at her half-yearly marks.

Look at the Dzongkha marks.

Sangay,

don't you feel ashamed?

Do you even think about your future?

The least you can do is preserve your father's honour.

He has earned himself a name

as one of the best atsaras in the country.

Ap Atsara, do you know she has been seen going around with Passa?

I can't even pretend not to know.

Everyone is talking about it.

I don't know what to say.

I can't imagine, at this age what is she trying to do?

Look Sangay, do you have any aspirations in your life?

I hope not a butcher's wife?

You can leave.

I want to talk to your father alone.

I'm asking you as a friend.

Please, talk to her in earnest.

How many times should I let her go scot-free?

Do you know Passa?

He is the son of the infamous butcher.

They come from a family of butchers.

They have slaughtered hundreds of yaks.

Look at Passa.

He looks like a murderer.

Do you know where they kill the yaks?

Up below the pass,

they tie them to a tree.

The tree is bent double, touching the ground,

I believe because it can't take the weight of the pain.

How can one escape such atrocities?

That's the legacy of Passa's family.

But, what to do?

That is his karma.

Sangay, let's go home.

Passa.

Passa.

Hey kid, call your father.

Mother, there's someone at the door.

Oh, I want to talk to Passa.

Passa, Ap Atsara is here.

Alright.

What is it?

Go inside.

Take them inside.

Go inside.

Let's go there.

I've come to talk. I'm sure you know it.

It's not about you or me, it's about Sangay.

So?

So, I came to tell you

to leave my daughter alone.

Ap Atsara,

what do you mean?

Where did I take your daughter?

What have I done?

And I don't think anyone harmed your daughter.

Are you serious? Don't play innocent.

She's still in school.

Besides, she is just 16.

She's much younger than you.

Ap Atsara,

how is her age an issue? I have nothing to do with it.

What have I done to your daughter?

Don't talk nonsense, don't digress.

You're destroying her life.

How can I destroy it? Her life is not a material object.

How can I destroy it?

You're the one who is acting virtuous and playing naive.

Are you trying to insult me?

Ap Atsara,

I am a proud man. I don't get involved in petty slandering.

So far, I have never even made fun of a little boy.

You're the one who is deceiving everyone with that facade of yours.

I've no reason to ridicule you.

I'm warning you. You'd better listen to me.

Fuck you!

Go find some weakling to warn.

You can't deceive me with your artifice and your mask.

I am a man.

What do you see?

I am what I am.

Yes, I see a pathetic morsel from a family of butchers.

How many yaks have your family killed?

How many did your father slaughter? A thousand?