Tales of Seventeen
What are you doing?
That asshole Tuan again.
There's one stalker missing.
Look around.
Oh, yeah. They're all here.
Why's he so bumped up?
- He's upset. - What's up?
He gave me a note
and I said I was busy.
Guys, come on. What are you afraid of?
You pussy. I'll handle her.
Go get her!
Good bye, Hanh.
Our beauty must be taking scenic route.
Alright bros, I've got to go now.
Bye!
See ya!
*people chatting*
Have you prepared for the long trip?
We have. Don't worry.
We are soldiers, Ma'am.
Soldiers?
You don't have to worry, others will do the worrying for you.
*people chatting*
- Sir, could you give me that stamp. - Yeah, take it.
*people chatting*
Sir!
Yeah, hand me the letters.
Doesn't have to be long.
Thank you all.
Now folks, I would like you
to disperse
so that we can start going.
All Staff Sergeant, check your units.
Good bye!
I want a 12-cent stamp.
You must have been there.
You were there too?
Did you receive any letters?
Only one and it's just a prose letter.
Yeah? Let me see.
Here.
Don't worry, mom.
We're carried by Military Transportation, we don't have to march all the way.
When I get to the front, I will write more to you.
Are you in a hurry?
- No. - Would you lend me a hand?
I've got so many letters here.
So, where do you live?
I...
I live in the River Project.
Oh, you live really near my house.
We can go home together.
But I walked here.
Then we can use my bicycle.
Give me that.
That's my son, Thai.
When he's still here
he's always playing with his slingshot.
He's a bit handful.
Just a simple meal.
Would you care to join me?
So this is your "simple"?
That's lavish for me.
Here's your "lavish".
The saddest thing in life is eating alone.
I get used to it.
You can only get used to joy, not sadness.
You sound like a philosopher
Unlike Thai. Eat your food.
Back then
he always asked me
"Do you want to have an eating competition?"
He finished his bowl in a second.
I was eating really slowly.
When I scooped out another bowl
he was lying on the bed, yelling out
"You're cheating! You know I've had enough!"
What are you doing here, Hai?
You said you're busy. Have you finished your business?
I have.
I'm going home.
Is Mr. Binh home?
No...Yes.
Mr. Binh is not going to work today?
Why not?
He is.
An, what are they dyeing the paper for?
Don't you know?
I don't.
Why such a Hanoi boy asks that question?
People would laugh at you.
I just don't know. Why would they laugh at me?
If you don't want to talk to me, then...
It's late, dad.
Oh, right. It's nearly midnight.
Is it 26th of April today?
Yes.
That's nice.
Your mother giỗ is on Sunday. (giỗ: a ceremony to pay respect to the death annually)
Dad, how long was mom waiting for you?
Until our wedding, she had waited for 7 years
minus one month.
After the wedding, I took another tour for 4 years.
11 years?
That's awesome.
Were you two exchanging letters?
No.
Letters were kind of a luxury back then.
Once I asked her
how she could manage to wait for me.
She said
Good things come to those who wait.
It's true now.
Now
there's plenty of waiting going on.
I know.
But, you shouldn't have to wait.
Dad, may I ask you something?
Go on.
Why...
Why didn't you...
I didn't what?
You know what I am trying to ask.
You don't have to pretend.
Thank you.
I'm sure
you don't want your step-mom to wait
like your mother
waiting for me for 11 years.
No, I don't.
Now things are different from the past.
Yes.
But we still have a war going on.
Nguyen Ngoc An!
Where's your mind?
To the board!
Tell me about one of your favorite verse from a poem.
It can be about a Liberation Solider.
*chatting*
Bravo my Liberation Soldier.
Hello, you!
Mrs, may I read out the verse?
On a winter day.
When autumn shone its last light.
I saw a woman in red.
Seeing off her husband.
Her husband was going away.
With his comrades.
The red shirt was burning my eyes.
Burning up for the parting couple.
Do you understand my question?
I do, Mrs.
I understand your question.
It's the most touching verse.
So...
Where's your Liberation Soldier?
- She's head over heels. - Shut up!
Shut up!
My Liberation Soldier
is in this verse.
Elaborate.
The quintessential of this verse
is the love.
This love is burning like a hot coal.
Mrs.
Love is...
It's the love between a woman and her soldier husband.
Liberation Soldier.
Mrs.
It's burning hard when they had to part ways.
An
may become a poet in the future.
Or she may become a critic.
But that's in the future.
Today,
she failed to answer my question
Do you guys remember it?
We do!
I'll give you 3 out of 10.
The garden and the hat
Cannot put out her firing love.
Cannot cover her dropping tears
Tears of glitter, hot, shining
The green acacia was where they stood.
In the shade, they talked about tomorrow.
Tomorrow he would come back.
Shine on those who have beautiful souls.
The sun was shining on the acacia leaves.
And the husband left.
The garden was filled with sun light.
The red petals silently trembled.
The wind whispered in my ears.
When the country needed, they had to part their ways.
But I know that color red.
That color red.
It's on the banana flowers.
High up in the steep, waving.
It's in the kitchen fire.
In a distant village during cold winter nights.
The color red was coming with him.
Like there was no parting ever happened.
- What are you cleaning your house for? - Oh, hello.
I've just received letter fro Thai.
Oh, that explains my sneezing in the class.
Here. That met his father there.
It's been two years
I haven't received any letters from his father.
Sometimes I think
God forbidden, he might have...
He's not really into writing letters.
Don't think like that.
My father was just like that.
He didn't send any letters to my mom.
They're so thoughtless.
I'm used to his long absent.
Every time I hear about him
I feel
that I cannot wait any longer.
You mother experienced this.
I'm experiencing this.
I hope that
you will never have to experience it.
What if he came back now?
Then we would
be cleaning the house to welcome him back.
You have such a beautiful vase.
I'll get some some really nice dahlias.
How could you afford flowers?
You don't have to.
I have plenty of flowers back home.
Maybe
by doing this
we could make him somehow come back soon.
Oh, my little girl.
I need you help me on this.
You mom passed a long time ago.
Why didn't you father...
My father...
I don't know why.
He did once imply that
a step-mom would bring about
troubles to the family.
Well that depends.
Every healing needs love.
It's true that we all have problems.
Thai asked me all the time
why I didn't give him a brother.
I want to have more children.
What could I do?
Where's Thai now?
He's in Front B.
Perhaps his unit has moved to Front C.
Where's Front C?
Front C is in Laos
My husband has been fighting in Laos for years.
Thai said he met his father.
I just take a guess.
I have written back to Thai.
Telling him about you.
Why did you tell him?
He doesn't know who I am.
I will give you his address sometime.
You should write to him.
Talk to him.
He'll be so glad if he gets a letter from you.
Yes.
I will write to him.
But
- What if he laughs at me? - About what?
He laughs all the time.
An!
Have you done the Math exercises?
The Calculus is so fucking hard.
What are you hiding there? Let me see!
- It's nothing! - No! Give it to me!
You should be ashamed!
Well, sorry!
Now I know.
What do you know?
What else should I know?
I was blindly protecting you.
Now you regret it.
Why do you hide from me such a thing.
I do not.
I'm just writing to Thai.
- Who's Thai? - Mrs. Thu's son.
Oh, I thought...
What?
I thought you were with Hai, our classmate.
You're like you were born yesterday.
There's a rumor that you're slutting around.
The Communist Youth Union is about to adjust you.
Hai might be involved in this.
He has nothing to with this.
How should I know?
You're so irresponsible.
An's mistake
is falling in love too soon.
It has deteriorated her study.
I want the CYU to discuss
and draw a lesson from this for everyone.
Opinion, guys!
Mai Huong, our class monitor. I'd like to hear from you.
We all know
love will distract us from study.
We're not old enough to love.
We need to study hard.
Think about it, our class have all signed on 5 hours self-study.
If there's love involved
you all could just hang out at the park, doing nasty stuff.
The there would be no time for study.
An, you should discipline yourself.
That's all.
Hai, please.
How can you associate love with doing nasty stuff?
I disagree.
I think
if it is true love
we, just like everyone else, can benefit from it.
It helps.
Yes.
It helps us moving towards greatness.
Order!
We're not discussing love here.
We're adjusting An.
Where did you take those quotes from, Hai?
Young love is wrong!
Not only that
she has also gossiped around
telling people about her love life.
She has brought shame
let's say
to our Socialist School.
Tuan, please.
I'd like to make a few suggestion to An.
For example,
An has always joked around
so that the boys would follow her
like a tail after school.
That's not good behavior there.
Why did you have to follow her?
You're always that tail, aren't you?
Order! Order!
Teacher, please!
First, I'm disappointed that you cannot maintain order.
The essential factor of every meeting
is listening with both ears.
Moreover, this is a CYU meeting.
Class, student love
is not a good thing.
Pay attention to what Hai have said.
That's not OUR point of view.
An, you should discipline yourself.
Sit down, save your explanation.
Think about what your friends have said.
The class and I
are doing this for your own good.
How can you associate love with doing nasty stuff?
I disagree.
Pay attention to what Hai have said.
That's not OUR point of view.
If it is love
please don't forbid me.
Nobody can forbid love.
I'm just afraid
if there's no love.
If it is true love
it will only help us moving toward greatness.
Why can they attach love to such disgusting behaviors?
Associate with nasty stuff?
Don't vilify love.
You're wrong!
Yes, I love him!
I don't have to hide it from you.
He's fighting on the battlefield
and you're here preaching your hypocrisy.
I don't need adjusting.
Please stop with that hateful term!
Sweetheart.
Quiet!
Come.
If you're willing to share
then tell me everything.
It's not a big deal, dad.
You're not a good liar.
Perhaps, I'm aware of something.
I just want to know.
Who is this "friend" of yours?
He's someone I know.
For along time.
Where's he?
He...
He's in Front B, dad.
I know.
I want to know
about his family.
I think I'm entitled to that information.
If your mom were still alive
then
you would tell her everything.
But I don't think
I'm not in any position
to listen to you in stead of your mother.
He's Thai.
Mrs. Thu's son.
Dad.
So.
No wonder you're so fond of Thu
that I was jealous with her.
But you don't know all about me.
I don't object to your love like you thought.
But I have to know
so that I can help you out.
Don't worry, dad.
I'm not a little girl any more.
You think reaching seventeen
means you're an adult.
You're just a kid living in fairy tales.
We need fairy tales.
But
they are not real life.
I don't see why it has to be so complicated.
Yes, everything to you may seem really simple.
No, we're not as simple as you think we are.
The old men
are always looking down on kids.
Hey, watch your language.
After one or two years,
you will understand.
Introduce me to Mrs. Thu sometime.
Don't worry.
I just want to pay her a visit.
You have had so many meals at hers.
The least I could do is say thanks to her.
Hello, An.
Hello, An!
Took me long enough to find your house.
The numbers are crazy.
35A is on the left
But 35B is on the right.
So messed up.
- What are you doing here? - It's about...
...you.
I have nothing to say to you.
It's just...
I...
I came to apologize.
Apologize?
You apologize?
Everything is all because of you.
Now you dare come here?
Calm down, An.
I made a mistake.
I have tried to fix it.
I came to our teacher.
To rat me out?
To defend you.
I said you don't have any boyfriend.
It was all my speculation.
- You fool! - What?
What if I really have a boyfriend?
I don't need you to defend me.
Who?
I don't have to tell you that. He's not one of you.
So that's it.
Hello.
What's up?
- It's all gone to nothing. - What?
I've just returned from her house.
Hey, I'm telling you
she doesn't care about you.
What are you rambling about?
Well, you can keep your secret love for her.
But her windows are shut completely.
What does that have anything to do with you?
Get off my sight.
Don't startle me!
Don't get mad, my crazy-in-love friend.
So, love
is just a sarcastic joke.
Enough!
Then I'll stop.
I came to tell you.
Our class is having a party in West Lake
before we join the military.
Who comes up with that? That's cool.
I'm the mastermind behind that masterplan.
Stop lying, you. It's the girls' idea, right?
Maybe.
But we have an unsolved mystery here.
Maybe she might find an excuse to break up with ...
...us.
Tuan, I don't believe it.
Perhaps, she really has a boyfriend.
- Do you two hang out like that? - No.
We cannot sit next to each other that close in broad daylight.
We just talk, what's so embarrassing about it?
You just talk in the park?
*students singing and chatting*
*students singing and chatting*
Hey, what are you doing? Disturbing the park?
You'd better behave yourselves.
Park your bikes over there.
Guys!
*students singing and chatting*
Let's go!
*students singing and chatting*
We will take a picture of the whole class.
Have you called the photographer?
I have. He's coming.
*students singing and chatting*
Hello guys! Are you ready?
Sir, we need pictures for the boys who are going to join military.
Oh, is that so?
A picture of future soldiers and those who waits for them.
How do you like your backdrop?
How about this one?
It's not really "Hanoi".
*students chatting*
Guys, listen.
Hai, Tuan, Minh and Trung stand in the center.
*students chatting*
*students singing and chatting*
Why do you want to put us in the center?
We can stand like normal.
*students chatting*
Smile!
Let's splash the water!
*students playing in the water*
You must miss him every time you're in West Lake.
- Yes. - Do you often write to him?
I do. I'll tell him about today, about us rowing on the lake.
He will not believe you.
Why not?
The soldiers
always want their family back home to enjoy their lives.
I think of him all the time.
So why are you hanging out with me now?
Because of missing him, I cannot go out?
I don't know but I feel like you're just joking around.
Joking?
Let's not talk about it.
This time next week you'll be going.
Will you write to your friends
and me?
I cannot promise anything.
I'm just afraid that you would forget about me.
How can I?
How can I forgot those who will leave this May?
An! An!
An!
- Why are you so hyped up? - I am!
Turn up the radio! News about Buon Me Thuot victory.
Hey, plug it in first!
Hai and Tuan have gone too soon.
Nobody will allow newbies to join that front.
The people have gained control of Buon Ma Thuat commune.
Silent!
The enemy force was flushed out swiftly.
The Liberation Flag is now flying up high.
Yes! Liberation! Liberation, An!
We win! An, We win!
It's peace! Finally, peace!
An!
What if?
Enough you. We've been waiting 30 years for this grand victory.
The important question now is "where is your Thai?"
I will give you his address sometime.
Write to him.
Yes.
I will.
But
what if he laughs at me?
About what? He laughs all the time.
Viva the United Vietnam!
Students.
After nearly half of the century of fighting and sacrifice
we have triumphed.
Students.
I believe
the blood of our fallen brothers
and the ultimate sacrifice of our nation
will never be wasted.
We will now enter
an era of freedom and independence.
I have always thought that...
in the eyes of a mother
a girl would be viewd
more objectively.
If that is right
then An, you are an amazing girl.
Thank you, An.
Thank you, mom.
For letting me live in this fairy tale.
But what kind of fairy tale
that doesn't have a figment of truth in it.
Am I right?
For me
what happens in the battlefield cannot be described into words.
Bombshells
and blood.
That's just horrifying.
Victory?
*Sigh*
Poets can write about it
when the guns are silent.
But I...
when the guns are silent
I can only think of mom.
My father died.
That's why I left.
I feel relieved when I face my father's altar
but I feel guilty in front of mom
because I'm not ready to believe that
mom will overcome this pain easily.
I long for the day I can go back
to tell mom everything.
I hope my mother's tears
will not only include pain and suffering.
An!
I'm a little overboard now.
Or maybe I'm just playing a good son these days.
Days of caring, and being more than just yourselves.
Mom! Mom!
I long for the day I can go back.
to tell mom everything
I hope my mother's tears
You have to accept it, sweetheart.
Such a pity that
you have learned about the war
with a price.
Too early.
Well... that's figment of real life
in each of your fairy tales.
Don't cry.
I can't look at her face now, darling.
Ma'am
on behalf of class 10B
where Tran Dinh Thai used to study
five years ago
and where An is studying, we would...
Thank you.
Thank you, guys.
I hope there will be no more war on this land.
Maybe that hope
is too late for you.
Peace is never late to anyone.
Right, guys?
Hello, Mrs. Thu.
- Hello, Teacher. Hello, kids. - Hello, sir.
Ma'am.
We've to go now.
Good bye.
Thank you, thank you all.
Good bye.
Good bye, An.
Join us for lunch, Mr. Binh.
Thank you.
In time like this
I want my daughter to stay here.
In the next few days
I will be going on my business trip.
Where are you going?
A soldier is never free of his duty.
Would you care for some water?
To be honest
I couldn't think
that the victory news
came with my son's death
That's life.
Our independence is paid by blood.
After all, it is paid.
Right?
I only have my husband left.
I've been waiting for him for 20 years.
Mr. Binh.
Have you met An, Hai?
She told me she'd be here
but I haven't seen here.
She must be in a meeting or something.
- Have some water. - Thanks.
Why didn't you write to her? She was waiting on your letters.
She was waiting for my letters?
Mom, I was caught up in a meeting...
When did you come back here?
Yesterday.
You look different.
And you look nothing like when I last saw you.
Enough, you're aldults now.
I will prepare a meal.
- Let me prepare the meal. You should talk to him. - No, don't you do this.
He's about to go. Again.
Then just go.
Like it's my business.
You must be really mad at me.
No.
I'm not.
But, I feel off about you.
What do you mean?
I don't get it.
Maybe, Thai is still...
Don't say that.
Keep it to yourself.
Look, Hai.
It's like a fairy tale.
I just want to make sure so that
I could leave you alone.
I loved him.
Everything that happened
is real
Hai.
Why
are you seeking for another truth?
What happened back then
for me
was so precious.
I was happy.
I had dreams.
And I want to treasure that happiness.
Maybe, that's just a fairy tale.
And fairy tales are a perfect truth
which you can only have by dreaming.
They have been passed on from generation to generation.
Those beautiful dreams
deep in the fairy tales.
I don't get it.
I don't.
I hope
you would find happiness in your fairy tales.
Don't be scared.
I will never try to fix your fairy tales again.
No!
You get it.
Hai!
You idiot!
Hai was right.
Seventeen and fairy tales belong to the past.
Treasure what he can give you.
He's your Thai now.
Love him, for you
and for me.
Seventeen and fairy tales belong to the past.
Treasure what he can give you.
He's your Thai now.
Love him, for you and for me.
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