NUAN
translated by Vanesa Rubio Toxtle
Translator’s Notes:
Nuan(暖) is a 2003 Chinese film directed by Huo Jianqi and written by his wife, Qui Shi.
It won the Grand Prix, the grand award at the Tokyo International Film Festival, and received a Golden Rooster for best picture. Huo Jianqi is known for his “poetic style” of movie making and has directed many other award winning films. This film is an adaptation of Mo Yan’s short story, The White Dog and the Swing. The film is set in a small village known as Maoyuan during the 1980s.
Jing He, played by chinese actor Guo Xiaodong and narrator, returns back to his home village 10 years after leaving for college in the city. There he reencounters his first love, Nuan played by Guan Xiaotong, whom he promised to come back and marry. Jing He, who now has a family of his own back in the city, feels guilty for not having fulfilled his promise. Nuan, who is now married and with a child, feels conflicted when she sees Jing He again.
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Jing He: Since I left to attend university, I have not been back for 10 Years. It seems like there hasn’t been much change in my hometown, but I feel like a stranger. Every road is still paved the same way from when I left, as if they had been waiting for me to step on them. This made my heart fill with guilt. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t been back in such a long time or because I came in such a hurry.
Jing He shares a meal with the village’s mayor, teacher Cao, and Village members.
Jing He: “Mayor, a toast to you.”
Village member: “Jing He, drink.”
Village member: “Bottoms up.”
Jing He: “Please eat.”
Jing He gives teacher Cao a ride on his bicycle.
Jing He: “Teacher Cao, my son’s foot is as long as my fingers.”
Teacher Cao: “When are you headed back?”
Jing He: “I didn’t expect this project to go this smooth. I’m returning to town tonight and catching the first train out tomorrow.”
Teacher Cao: “Go back early. I feel bad to have caused you to come a great distance and waste money.”
Jing He: “You see, here you go again.” (Jing He feels as if he is being treated like an outsider.) Teacher Cao, do you still remember when you gave me a ride on the back of your bicycle to take the entrance exam? You bought 15 stuffed steamed buns and I gobbled down 11 in one bite. Do you remember?”
Teacher Cao: “I do.”
Jing He and teacher Cao get off the bike to cross the bridge. Jing He recognizes the lady walking towards the opposite direction.
Jing He: “Nuan! Nuan! It’s me, I’m Jing He.”
Nuan: “Do you think I wouldn’t recognize you? Who would have forgotten you?”
Jing He: “I never thought I would have seen you again here. I arrived this morning. My presence was needed in helping teacher Cao build a duck shed.”
Nuan: “I heard. Teacher Cao’s 2 year grievance was put to rest by a few words of your mouth. The mayor and you drank together. All the villagers praise your good conscience.”
Nuan walks toward the lake and splashes water on herself to cool down.
Nuan: “This damn weather, it will not stop until it cooks everyone up. It has already been a couple of days since Li Qiu.”
Jing He: “I had assumed you wouldn’t be living in the countryside anymore. Are you ok?”
Nuan: “Good? What’s good? I have food, clothes, children, and a husband. Other then my crippled leg, there is nothing else I lack. Nowhere hurts. Does this count as good? I don’t know what you city people count as good.”
Jing He: “Nuan, do you hate me?”
Nuan: “Hate you? Only god is hateful. This damn god is holding back the rain. Fuck. It’s terribly hot! Come, give me a hand.”
Jing He: “I can give you a ride in my bicycle.”
Nuan: “This place is no bigger than your ass.”(Nuan is referring to the size of the seat.)
Jing He: “Wait up.”
Nuan: “Go bike away. If you don’t, come to my house.”
Jing He: At once I understood why, for one reason or another, I had not returned to my village for so many years. I did not dare. I was afraid of seeing her, but even more afraid of not seeing her. I still remember when Nuan asked me why the swing was called the swing. This is the only recreational activity men and women, young and small have in the village. I don’t know for how long it has been that we have been swinging this swing. Its seems no one has concerned themselves with this question, including myself. But Nuan often raises ideas others wouldn’t. After attending college, our hometown’s swing was gradually forgotten. Even today, I don’t understand why the swing is named the swing. Now come to think of it, what happened between Nuan and I revolved around the swing.
Jing He arrives at teacher Cao’s home.
Teacher Cao: “You’re back, Jing He. The ride from here to the train station takes 20 minutes. I’ll take you by bike.”
Teacher Cao’s Wife: “When you go see your mother at your older brother’s place, remember to give them my regards.”
Jing He: “Teacher Cao, today I will not be going.”
Teacher Cao: “Ok. Not going is also good. Mother of my child, put more fire to make food. Midday drinking, I didn’t enjoy.”
As Jing He washes his face, we get a flashback of him and Nuan swinging on the swing.
Nuan: “Jing He, what can you see?”
Jing He: “I see the top of the haystacks. Ya Ba is at work. Nuan, what can you see?”
Nuan: “I, I see Beijing and tiananmen square.”
Jing He recalls another memory. Nuan and him walking home from school together.
Jing He: At that time Nuan and I attended the village’s school. I was older than her by many years. My family was poor, so as a result, I attended school late. I loved being with Nuan. Every time on our way back home, I sang in my heart. Strangely, after a while Nuan began humming the same songs I sang in my heart. That phenomenon never ceased to surprise me. This miracle gave me endless confidence. So much so that I viewed her as my ideal lover, as she was beautiful, autistically inclined, and well known throughout the village.
Jing He and teacher Cao converse while cleaning eggs.
Jing He: “Tacher cao, how come you never mentioned Nuan’s and Ya Ba’s marriage in your letters?”
Teacher Cao: “Im old, I couldn’t remember clearly. They have been married for 6 or 7 years. It was while Ya Ba’s dad was still around.”
Jing He: “That year my brother came back to pick up my mother. He said Nuan had gone to the county to find a mate. I thought she was bound to marry someone from there.”
Teacher Cao: “Jing He, give Nuan some of the candies you gave me tomorrow. Her daughter should almost be 5 or 6 years old.
Jing He walks to visit Nuan at her home.
Jing He: When you meet a person, all your feelings about reality suddenly change. Suddenly, you get caught up in sentiments like the air surrounding you. The air is so thick, that even if those sentiments were to kill you, you would not be able to run away.
Jing He arrives at Nuan’s home and asks for her.
Jing He: “Is Nuan home? Is Nuan home?”
Nuan: “We all are here. Ya quickly, tell your dad he’s here.”
YaYa: “Someone is here.
Jing He offers the candy he brought to YaYa.
Jing He: “Come. Take them.”
Nuan: “Come sit inside.”
We get a flashback of Nuan talking with her performing partners.
Nuan: “If our performance can win a prize, maybe we might even go to competitions further away in the county.”
Female member of Nuan’s group: “Yes, lets go to the county by car. I really want to take a car.”
Nuan: “Maybe, we can ride a car to compete somewhere farther.”
Female member of Nuan’s group: “Come. 1, 2, 3. Nuan, teacher Cao said that if we participate in the county’s show, you have the best chance of being selected by the county theater company.”
Nuan: If I really were elected, it would be beautiful.
Female member of Nuan’s group: “Yes. Maybe you’ll be like Deng Lijun.”
Female member of Nuan’s group: “Yes. Don’t forget about us when that happens.”
Nuan: “Come on, stop dreaming.”
Female member of Nuan’s group: “Ya Ba is coming.”
Ya Ba sneaks behind the girls and throws hay in Nuan’s hair.
Nuan: “Damn Ya Ba, may you die a horrible death. I hope your ducks run out tomorrow and you can’t find them.”
Jing He, who has witnessed Ya Ba bullying Nuan, helps Nuan pull out the hay from her hair.
Jing He: “Don’t move.”
Nuan: “Be gentle. You saw Ya Ba bullying me and you didn’t help. Help me beat Ya Ba. Did you hear me?”
Jing He: “I know.”
We are back in the present, where Jing He is watching YaYa play with a toy.
YaYa: “Chicks, chicks eat sugar. Chicks, chicks eat sugar. You also eat, and I eat as well. The sugar is very sweet.”
Nuan: “I told him that you came back to help Mr. Cao resolve disputes. I told him you became a cadre in Beijing and that I can ask you for help in the future. I also told him you found a wife in beijing. What does your wife do?”
Jing He: “Teacher. She is a classmate. She stayed at school.”
Nuan: “That’s great. How old is your child?”
Jing He: “Just a month old.”
Nuan: “Boy?”
Jing He: “Boy.”
Nuan: “You city people get married too late.”
Jing He: “I knew you would definitely get married, but I didn’t expect you two would get married. You haven’t you heard of the saying that two halves make a whole? (By this, Nuan means that because they both have problems, it cancels out and they work well together.)
Jing He scares off half of the ducks Ya Ba was guiding. A villager sees him.
Villager: “Send them back.”(referring to to the ducks.)
Jing He is back at Nuan’s home and is helping them with chores.
Jing He: “Nuan, do you still sing now?”
Nuan: “Sing? I don’t. He(Ya Ba) doesn’t speak; the girl has been with him for a long time, she also doesn’t like talking. I’m busy all day outside and at the house, how could I want to sing?”
Jing He: “You don’t have a TV at home either, even though I see that many of the village families’ homes have TVs.”
Nuan: “It’s not that I can’t afford a couple of hundred dollars. I’m just afraid he won’t be able to hear it and smash it. YaYa also keeps asking about it. Let’s talk later.”
We get a flash back to the day the troupe arrived to the village.
Jing He: The troupe is like a giant magnet that attracts the young and old in the village. Just like the swing in the past. The problem is that once some things are sucked, it is difficult to get them back and put them back in place. Nuan was like that. Her eyes were stuck on the handsome martial art warrior. Nuan had never seen me in that way.
Jing He: “lets go lets go, it’s late. Lets go, its late.”
Nuan: “You go first. Help me, say that I was sick.”
Jing He: “Then I’ll go.”
Back to the present, Nuan is at home and has prepared a meal for her family and guest.
Nuan: “Let’s eat. Don’t expect much. Before she knew how to speak, she could make gestures. She is good with her dad.”
Jing He: “You always quarreled with your father when you were a kid.”
After leaving, Ya Ba returns with a bottle of alcohol. He offers Jing He drinks.
Nuan: “Don’t try so hard. You are not his match. Let him have the upper hand.”
Flash back to Nuan stealing some beans to give to the troupe.
Nuan: “Come, help me.”
Nuan’s younger sister: “older sister, what are you doing.”
Nuan: “I’m bringing it to the troupe.”
Nuan’s younger sister: “Ok.”
Nuan: “Don’t tell mom.”
Nuan’s younger sister: “Yes.”
Nuan comes across Ya Ba and runs away. Ya Ba follows her. Nuan runs and hides behind the martial artist.
Nuan: Ya Ba is chasing me. Ya Ba is here! Ya Ba is chasing me.
Ya Ba pushes Jing He on the swing to show him that Nuan and the martial artist walked together.
Jing He: Although it was an expected event, I was reluctant to accept it. It wasn’t really my taste at the time.(Jing He was in denial and devastated.)
As Nuan fixes dinner she burns herself.
Jing He: “Is it hot?”
Nuan: “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. Ya, stop playing and eat.”
YaYa: “Uncle, trains. I saw trains on the TV.”
Jing He: “Uncle came here by train.”
YaYa: “Really. Uncle came by train(YaYa signs this to Ya Ba.). Is the train fast?”
Jing He: “Fast, its fast. One day, uncle will take you to ride the train.”
YaYa: “Mom, uncles is going to take me to ride the train. Uncle is going to take me on the train(YaYa signs this to Ya Ba.).”
Flashback to when Nuan reacted to the makeup the martial artist did to her.
Nuan: “Really interesting.”
Martial artist: “You are talented. You should study in the city.”
Nuan: “Can I?”
Martial artist: “I’ll talk to the boss.”
Nuan: “Can I really do it?”
Martial artist: “Yes. You are beautiful. You were born to be an opera troupe.”
Nuan runs to her father to tell him some news.
Nuan: “Dad! Dad! Teacher Cao said that my voice is the best in the commune. Our show will participate in the commune competition. If we win the prize, we will go to the county. He asked you to buy me a pair of leather shoes. Did you hear? Teacher Cao said..”
Nuan’s father slaps her.
Nuan’s father: “You don’t come home after school. You do whatever you want to do and you expect me to buy you a pair of shoes?”
Jing He comes to Nuan and tries to make her feel better.
Jing He: “Nuan, Nuan. My mother hits me too. Is it a pair of leather shoes you need? If I have the money, I will buy them for you. Yeah.”
Nuan’s father talks to the troupe manager regarding Nuan.
Nuan’s father: “My daughter spent all night last night begging me to talk to you. You say this kid has potential, take with her. You don’t have to give her money, just give her food.”
Troupe manager: “your daughter is indeed very talented and you should have her in better study conditions. But it’s not in my power to make decisions. When we next recruit students…”
Nuan walks to the martial artist after finding out she won’t be able to go with the troupe.
Jing He: I really wished that Nuan would had been able to go with the troupe. I could not stand watching her in disappointment. If I were the martial artist, I would die trying to take her with me. But I’m not him nor he I. Nuan made me understand the meaning of love. Both Nuan and I experienced love loss and pain.
Nuan and Jing He have a meal.
Nuan: “Eat more.”
Jing He: “No thanks, I’m full.”
Nuan: “Is it cold in the city?”
Jing He: “Fortunately, no.”
Nuan: “The weather here is not the same as it used to be. It’s not so cold during the winter.”
Jing He: “Nuan, do you remember the year of the spring festival, it was snowing. It seldom snows here, we played at the ancestral temple all day.”
Nuan: “yes, yes yes yes. I remember, we played until late. I also wet the cotton shoes my mother had made for me.”
Jing He: “Yes, later we went to grandma Zhang’s house to dry out our shoes.”
Nuan: “I asked you to dry my shoes at the time. I didn’t expect you to burn a hole into my shoe. I was scared to go home.”
Jing He: “you went kicking and screaming asking me to compensate the shoes. I had to take my shoes off for you.”
Nuan: “Now that you mention it, they stank.”
YaYa comes downstairs wearing the shoes Jing He gave to Nuan.
YaYa: “ Wearing new shoes! Mom’s new shoes. Mom’s new shoes.”
Nuan: “How can you be so troublesome. Give mom back the shoes.”
flashback Nuan and other female villagers are arranging the silkworm cocoons.
Female Villager1: “Older sister, all the silkworms are making cocoons.”
Female Villager2: “Yes, these are the last batch.”
Female Villager1: “After selling these cocoons, you should go on a blind date.”
Female Villager2: “Go! What are you talking about?”
Female Villager2: “After selling out the silkworm cocoons, we should go out to town and have fun.”
Female Villager3: “ok. Don’t forget to call me.”
Female Villager1: “Big Li doesn’t look at the board all the time in class, he’s always turning around to look at you.”
Female Villager2: “He will get nothing out of looking at me. I’m not looking to marry anyone from the village. A person marries once, I’ll marry someone far away from here.”
Female Villager3: “She is not happy. The opera singer won’t come back for her.”
Female Villager1: “ How could he fancy people like us?”
Female Villager3: “Nuan said they were all..”
Female Villager1: “So what?”
After hearing the village girls talk, Nuan runs away. Jing He rushes to find Nuan and tell her that the troupe are back.
Jing He: “Nuan! Nuan! I’m looking for you. Coming! Coming! Here comes the recruit. Teacher Cao said you should hurry. I will take you to them. Sit down.”
Nuan gets disappointed after realizing they aren’t there to recruit for the opera troupe and leaves.
Jing He: “Nuan, why don’t you just try?”
Nuan: “They aren’t here to recruit for the opera troupe.”
Jing He: “If You can pass the test, you can go to the county to work. Isn’t that good?”
Nuan: “I just want to join the provincial troupe.”
Jing He: “ It’s been over a year since he’s left, he most likely forgot about you.”
Nuan: “It can’t be.”
Jing He: “So why haven’t you heard any news from him?”
Nuan: “Because there is no new quota for students.”
Jing He: “Then what if there never is new recruits?”
Nuan: “No.”
Jing He: “You don’t understand. They won’t come back.”
Nuan: “Yes. He personally told me he would come pick me up.”
Jing He: “He lied to you.”
Nuan: “No.”
Jing He: “Don’t be stupid. He can see us.”
Nuan and Jing He are at the swing. Jing He has something to give her.
Jinge He: “Nuan.”
Nuan: “Yes.”
Jinge He: “I want to give you something.”
Nuan: “What?”
Jinge He: “You guess.”
Nuan: “I don’t know.”
Jinge He: “Look.”
Nuan: “It’s beautiful.”
Jinge He: “I entrusted my brother to buy it for my mother in the city. My mother said it was too beautiful and couldn’t bear to wear it. She gave it to me when I asked her for it. She understood my reasoning. I want to give it to you.”
Nuan: “Jing He, push me.”
Jing He: “Come. I’m going to take you to the sky.”
As the village celebrates a wedding, Nuan gets teary eyed and leaves.
Villagers: “A toast to the groom. Eat. Eat.”
Jing He catches up with Nuan at the swing.
Jing He: “Everyone’s happy except for you.”
Nuan: “Why should it matter to you?”
Jing He: “Don’t be silly. Showing a long face all day only makes others look down upon you.”
Nuan: “If you don’t like to see this long face, get out of here. How do I bother you?”
Jing He: “Don’t wait for him. He forgot about us a long time ago.”
Nuan: “He said he would never forget me.”
Jing He: “Then why didn’t he come back?”
Nuan: “If he didn’t come this year, he’ll come next year or the year after next year. If he comes back for me, I’ll marry him.”
Jing He:“Stop dreaming. Even if you bribe him with 200 kilos of meat, he still won’t come for you. What’s so great about a kiss? I can also do it and am willing to do it. Are you waiting for him? Nuan, talk to your dad and finish high school. Then we can take the college entrance exam, so we can leave the village. Why wait for him? What if he doesn’t come?”
Nuan:“If he doesn’t come, I will marry you.”
Jing He:“I won’t want to.”
Nuan:“You are delirious then.”
Jing He attempts to kiss Nuan, but she backs up. They begin to swing on the swing together and Jing He confesses his feelings.
Jing He:“Nuan, I like you. I’ll treat you well. I won’t go back on my words.”
Nuan:“Didn’t I tell you, if he doesn’t come back for me, I’ll marry you. But you have to attend college.”
Nuan rests her head on Jing He’s shoulder as they swing.
Jing He: That was the first and only time I came into physical contact with nuan. At that time I did not want to fight with her about that incident. There was no other way to let her understand how I felt. I knew I needed courage, the courage to hug her, otherwise I would never be able to take the place of the martial artist in her heart. The swing gave me the courage, eased my panic, and gave me strength. I wanted the swing to continue swinging like that forever. That was my first real flight.
As Nuan and Jing He continue to swing the swing snaps and breaks, causing Nuan to injure her foot. Flashback to where we see Jing He running to Nuan.
Jing He: I finally got accepted into the college. The very moment I got the acceptance letter, The first thing that came to mind was Nuan. After so many years of being unable to let go, today i finally have an explanation.
Jing He offers to carry Nuan on his back.
Nuan:“I can walk, I got used to it. People will see us!”
Nuan:“Jing He, how is college?”
Jing He:“I also don’t know. It’s in the city, very different from here.”
Jing He: I have described the day I left the village to go to college to others several times. The whole village came to send me off. But an important detail that I always omitted was that Nuan was also there. After the incident, our relationship seemed to have become public. I madly prepared for the entrance exam. If I was admitted to the college, I would have made her dream come true. I had self confidence and Nuan believed in me.
Jing He has a conversation with Nuan’s father before he leaves for college.
Jing He: “Uncle, I’m bound to come back for Nuan.”
Nuan’s Father: “Don’t say silly things.
Jing He: “Uncle, I..”
Nuan’s Father: “Work hard in college, for yourself and Nuan. ”
Jing He walks to Nuan and hands her envelopes.
Jing He: “Nuan, have these envelopes. I have put stationary inside of them. I have no money to buy stamps for you. Make sure to write back to me. Come come. ”
Nuan: “Jing He, I don’t deserve you.”
Jing He: “Do you regret what you said to me?”
Nuan: “I’m afraid you will regret it in the future.”
Jing He: “You don’t believe me.”
Nuan: “If…I dont reply back to you after the 3rd letter you send, forget about me.”
Jing He: “Nuan, write me back.”
Back to the present. Jing He prepares to leave back to the city.
Jing He: “Nuan, it’s time for me to go. If there is something you ever need, be sure to contact me. The two of you will do well. Don’t let him treat you rude again. I am going.”
Nuan: “Ok. Ya, come.”
Jing He: “I’m leaving.”
Jing He gives his umbrella to YaYa as a parting gift. He leaves.
Nuan: “Jing He, wait. I don’t know how to use the umbrella. Take it back.”
Jing He: “Nuan…Nuan…when I see you, I miss the time we spent together.
Nuan: “I am content that you came to visit us.
Jing He: “In this world, I am most sorry to you.”
Nuan: “Nonsense. I’m really fine. There is nothing better than having a baby.”
Jing He: “Nuan, I … forgot you.”
Nuan: “You didn’t. The longer you are away, the harder it is for you to forget.”
Jing He: “Nuan.”
Nuan: “Jing He, take your umbrella. I must go as well.”
We get a flashback of during the time Jing He was off to college.
Jing He: It didn’t seem too difficult to imagine what happened later. Nuan repeated the wait of longing again. The difference was that she was waiting for me this time.
Back to the present, Jing He prepares to leave teacher Cao’s home.
Teacher Cao: “Jing He, Don’t be so sad.”
Jing He: “Teacher Cao….”
Teacher Cao:“Even if you had come back for her, it’s hard to say how things would have turned out now.”
Jing He: Slowly, I got accustomed to the city life. There were more things I thought as more important. It affected my thoughts about Nuan waiting for me. Later, I did not receive any replies, and I knew that she was afraid of being rejected. Maybe, deep down I hoped she did not write back to me again. As time passed, I became relaxed and did not want to hear about her anymore. Reality changed me, leaving Nuan to wait and wait again without any result. I promised to go back for her, but I didn’t. Time has passed and it has been 10 years since then.
Ya Ba and Nuan argue.
Nuan: “How could you not tell me? I don’t blame you. What’s the point of you telling me why?”
Jing He comes back and gives YaYa the umbrella.
Jing He: “Ya, come. Where is your mother.”
YaYa: “Quarreling(with Ya Ba).”
Nuan: “It’s time for you to go. Come, Ya, return the umbrella to uncle.”
Jing He: “I specifically came here to give it to her and also to say goodbye to you.
Nuan: “Then… then I’ll see you off.”
Jing He: “No need. Is he also in the house?”
Nuan: “Oh, I’ll call him.”
Jing He: “No need. Is he alright?”
Nuan: “He’s fine.”
Jing He:“Whatever happens in the future, contact me. Nuan, I am still the same Jing He.”
Nuan: “Bring your child whenever you have time.”
Jing He: “Yes.”
As Nuan walks Jing He out, Ya Ba shows up with YaYa.
Jing He: “Tell him that when I come back next time, I’ll bring him some beer from Beijing.”
Ya Ba pushes YaYa towards Jing He indicating he should take her with him to the city. Nuan and Ya Ba argue.
YaYa: “My dad asked for you to take me and my mom with you. My dad asked for you to take me and my mom with you.”
Jing He: “When you grow up, uncle will come to take you to study in the city. Uncle will definitely come back for you.”
Jing He: My promise is my repentance. I make mistakes, but not everyone has the opportunity to make up for oneself. I’m am lucky. My neglect is my memory. Even if I never returned home, I could never escape my first love. So Ya Ba is lucky. My worry is my comfort. Ya Ba gives Nuan what I don’t have. Nuan is lucky.