Vietnam Featured Film Studio
The Landfill King
Written and directed by Do Minh Tuan
Edited by Nguyen Thi Hong Ngat
Camera
Nguyen Duc Viet
Music by Trong Dai
Sound by Banh Bac Hai
Vo Hoai Nam as Trong
Nguyen Bich Ngoc as Thuy
Cuong Tuc as Xam
Tran Hanh as Hanh
Doan Hoang Kien as Long, the painter
Vice director
Quoc Tuan
Vice cameraman
Nguyen Quang Vu
Secretary
Hoang Kim Oanh
It's her first time. You're lucky.
Hey!
Come here! Take it! Come back and help me sometimes, okay?
Why are you taking that much?
That's enough for her.
Thuy!
- Let me take you home!
- It's not necessary, my home is here.
Was it hurt? Why didn't you tell me I’m your first?
I thought that...
Take it and take care of yourself!
Thuy! Have you borrowed enough money? Why are you standing there?
It's my father. I have to go now.
Why did it take you so long? How much did you borrow?
Hey! Is that guy coming with you?
Stop asking!
Take the money and buy Mom medicine.
Poor us!
- Don't tell Mom about this.
- Of course not!
I would be miserable if she knew.
I don't know if you can afford to buy her enough medicine till she gets well.
Let's go home!
Wait a minute!
Grow up fast! Then I will cut your hair for you.
If I knew where your father was,
- I would shave all his hair off.
- Shaving his hair is not enough, just break that bastard’s neck.
- Once more!
- Hey, let him eat this.
- He couldn’t eat a banana yet.
- Then let him play with it.
So will you be home today?
Let me take you to the train station. People will take more pity on you if you are with a child.
You are being a jerk! If you have any feelings for him, just raise him. Don't treat him as if he is bait.
So do you want Van to stay home today?
The God let Van bring him here. That makes all of us his parents. We all have a responsibility towards him.
- Don't just put the burden in Van's hands.
- It's easy.
We can pool our money to buy him a small cot. Each one of us can take turns caring for him on alternative days.
- You can put him on the back of your bicycle.
- Okay.
You can put him beside your bananas.
It will be much easier for me. I can put him behind my mirror.
Then he will have to suffer with your customer's hair.
Let him go outside often so he can be healthier.
Take it slowly or you will make him sick.
Could you please take care of him today?
Let me sell all my flowers today. Then I will take care of him tomorrow.
Hey! Don't play with the hair!
Good boy!
What's the matter, Dad? I am going to visit Mom after breakfast.
The man coming with you the other day, he wants to meet you. He seems to want to...
- No, it's scary.
- We're already old.
We will be sick often. We only have you to depend on.
It's up to you.
- Hello!
- Hello, Thuy!
Trong is busy today. He will return in an hour.
What about the another one?
He's very gentlemanly too.
- Uhm no.
- You are so picky.
Goodbye!
Thuy!
- Who is it?
- I am Thuy's friend.
Come here!
Hello! Is Thuy home yet?
She will be home soon.
Thuy and her father are going to borrow money.
- You can wait here.
- Okay.
How long have you known her? Why don't I know you?
We just met recently. Thuy told me that you're sick.
I have been lying here for a whole month.
I am a burden on my husband and my daughter.
I don't know if I can make it.
Thuy! Thuy!
What's wrong with you? I'm waiting for you.
I'm busy, so I came here directly.
Take some money to buy medicine for your mother.
- Take it!
- I already have money.
Take it!
- Tell her to hurry up!
- She has a guest now.
- Could you please wait until tomorrow?
- Give me back my money! I lost my mood!
- Please understand us!
You are not a professional. You have wasted my time!
How dare you sell her like that?
Thuy! Wait for me!
I live here.
Come in!
Take a seat!
I don't know what to do.
My mother is sick. My father drinks and gambles heavily.
I don’t earn much money by selling banana flowers.
No one understands me.
Why is my life so miserable?
Stay here with me. You won’t have to sell banana flowers any longer.
I will take care of your mother.
I've taken care of her for so many years.
Now, she's just left without saying anything to me.
Has something happened to her? Why are you so calm?
Why don't you go and find her? Ask the police to find her.
- I've already asked them.
- Don't lie to me.
If you've already asked them, why haven’t they been here to ask for more information?
You're so cold and heartless.
You don't understand my feelings.
- Hey! Hey! Are you new here?
- Yes, I am.
- Do you know who Trong is?
- Yes, I do.
You know him, don't you? So how dare you come here collecting trash without notifying us?
I've told him but he hasn't had time to meet you yet. 
You can go give them money now.
- Go to the security room, okay?
- Yes.
- I told you this morning. We don't allow any trading here.
You guys too! We don't allow any trading here! Go over there!
- What are you doing? Kick them out!
- I am!
Go over there!
- Where did you take Thuy? Where's Thuy?
- Take your hands off me.
Take your hands off me! What do you want?
Don't lie to me! You are making me miserable! Where are you hiding her? Give her back to me! Thuy!
I've raised her up for so many years. Now you’ve come and taken her away just like that? Give her back to me!
Stop there!
You can't get away! I will tell the police!
Let me go! Thuy! Thuy! Let me go!
Let me go! I will tell the police!
Don't blame my father! He can't control himself after he has been drinking.
Hello! I came to pay the money so that I can work here.
Hello!
I've just come here from my hometown. I have something for you.
-  How long have you been here?
- Three days.
- Who told you about this place?
- Some people from my hometown.
Did they tell you that you could just come here and work without telling anyone?
- It's a landfill but that doesn't mean that there isn’t an owner.
- I'm sorry.
- How much should I give you?
- What do you think?
- I thought you had a rule here.
- We don't have a fixed rule here.
You can give us however much you want to.
It's okay if you don't want to give us anything.
We're gangsters, and we don't have fixed rules, it just depends on the situation. Do you understand?
How about 10,000VND?
Are you insane? Have you ever done this job?
I don't need your money anymore. Just get out of here!
Get out of here! Now!
- Stop! Poor man!
- Poor what? They're just pretending!
They all know the rules.
But he gave me 10,000VND? He is looking down on me!
Why don't you sleep?
I don't know why but I just feel so worried. My mother must be missing me so much.
After time, she will forget about you. You should go to sleep now or you will get sick.
How about I go and visit my mother and tell her everything?
No, you can't do that.
Thao will humiliate you. I can't even think about it.
- Is he hungry?
- Maybe he's hungry.
Thuy said that he only stopped crying when he heard birds singing.
In the newspaper, people said that
the male birds usually change their voice to seduce the female birds.
They usually imitate sounds that they have heard before.
Let me buy a toy phone.
Wait!
See! He has stopped crying.
- How can we catch him?
- I will make a trap.
Let me call him.
He has just flown away.
- Stop crying!
- I will make a trap to catch him for you.
So do you like birds? Let me sing a bird song for you!
- Stop crying!
- Good boy! Stop crying!
*singing a bird song*
*singing a bird song*
*singing a bird song*
*singing a bird song*
Let him know what the rules are here!
You bastard! They're working so hard! Why do you steal from them? Do you have a heart?
We have rules here!
Don't let me see your face again! Get out!
Trong! Let them check the goods!
- With such low quality and you want me to pay you 40 million?
- Goods will go with the price.
With 40 million, you can only buy a motorbike, where can you buy a car like this?
- What about 30 million?
- I'm sorry.
We can only have 10 million selling this car. We have to use 30 million to do many things so we can sell it.
Why is it that much?
Hey! Just go away! You're wasting my time!
Ah! I found a phone!
Hello! Hello! I'm on the landfill now.
- Hello!
- Can I borrow it?
Hello! Is it Dad? I can't hear anything!
I'm pretending! You can take it.
Hello!
I decided to sell it for 35 million.
Here's your share, 5 million.
Let them take the car tomorrow.
- How's it going?
- Everything is done.
- Let me share the lost with you!
- Just take them!
We will work together many more times.
- You should announce that you want to sell the tractor.
- Okay.
Here you are! 1 million each.
Just take it to take care of your wedding. We will take 1 million for both.
I told you to take it, so just take it. If I don't have enough money, then we will work it out later.
Here she is! Come in!
- Miss! 
- What?
This is the fee I have to pay to Trong. What money?
People said that we have to give Trong money or else we won't be allowed to work here.
Where are your parents?
My parents are in my hometown. I came here alone.
You can go now. You don't have to pay anything.
I'm afraid that I will be kicked out of here.
-  No, he won't kick you out.
- He kicked Thanh out yesterday.
Can you just take the money for me?
*playing a traditional game*
I don't want to play anymore. Can you read me a story?
- Once upon a time, there was a king.
- No, it's a chicken.
I'm kidding. I can't read.
When I know how to read, I will read you a story.
- Remember to read me many stories, okay?
- Yes.
A rule is a rule. Your mercy is nonsense. If you show her mercy then who will show us mercy?
She's only 8 years old.
If you want to pity her, you can buy her clothes or toys later. A rule is a rule, it applies to everyone, no exceptions.
Don't try to prove yourself!
I want to go to the market to sell some banana flowers. Then we will have some extra money.
Staying here is too boring for me.
What? Boring?
Watching out people here! Collecting money! There is plenty of work for you.
You have to give me time so I can exploit the high quality iron.
You want to go and sell banana flowers so that I can be humiliated?
I am not used to abuse and require money from people.
Who is "abused" here?
Who are you talking about? Watch what you say!
We've been good before you.
You went with him without saying anything to me. Thao didn't say anything to me either.
But he doesn’t appreciate you like that. I can't stand this situation.
Please understand. That doesn't mean I don't love you.
I also want you to go school.
But I was so poor so you have had to suffer.
Stop talking like that!
What if I spoke to your husband?
It's over.
Madam! Here are your flowers!
I have some new flowers here.
They're so fresh today.
Thank you!
Hey! Have you seen Thuy?
- I don't know. She went to visit her adopted parents. She only comes here occasionally.
- Tell him that I'm not here!
Is Thuy here?
- She hasn't come here recently.
- The man out there told me that she was here.
- Then go inside and see if you can find her.
- Whose are those flowers?
Are you interrogating me?
- There are so many people selling flowers here.
- Don't let me catch her!
I met Thuong this morning.
He told me that if we sold the tractor we would have more to shares.
I told you before, being involved with women won't bring us any luck.
- Is she going out with another man?
- Haven’t you trusted her yet?
I trust her. But I'm afraid that when she goes back there, her father will force her to sleep with men again.
She loves you. She won’t do that.
How can I trust her?
If someone gives him money, he will definitely force her to do what he wants.
I just don't want to think badly about her.
If I catch her going with any other men, I will kill them.
Please start offering the tractor for sale!
My head is aching, why do you keep talking about the tractor?
Has Thuy come back yet?
She hasn’t come here.
Did you guys force her to sleep with a man last night?
- What are you talking about?
- I’ve already been to the pagoda. She didn't go there.
Here's the thing. She's my fiancée. You two have no right to force her to sleep with men anymore.
Shut up! You bastard!
- Thao! 
- What's wrong?
- It's all because of you. So this bastard can come here and insult me!
- I was just asking.
Why do you have to shout out like that?
That’s so humiliating! He sees her as a prostitute!
What's wrong with you?
- Where have you gone recently?
- I have had some problems at home.
Where did you get those flowers?
I have a provider from the forest.
I love drawing banana flowers so I need to change them every few days.
Whenever you get new flowers, can you bring them to my house?
- Okay.
- Thuy!
- Why do you come here?
- I met a man from my village and he invited me to visit his family.
- Tell Ly that she doesn’t have to cook my lunch today.
- Okay.
- Here's a cigarette my friend gave me, please give it to Hanh for me.
- Okay.
Here's milk for the kid.
Goodbye!
- Are you living with him?
- Yes.
Where do you live?
- Hey! Do you give a massage?
- Yes, I do. Please lie down here.
I know Thuy. Do you live with her?
That's right. I live with her but I just hear her voice, I can't see her.
- She's pretty, isn't she?
- Yes, she is.
- She's kind.
- You're a wise man.
I haven’t seen her lately.
She is still selling flowers but now she's selling them on the hill.
To be honest, you have been massaged by many people but have you ever been massaged by hot girls?
- Are you kidding?
- No, I'm not.
- I will help you try it today.
- Sounds fun.
- Of course!
- I'm afraid that they will look down on me because I'm blind.
- Nonsense! We're customers.
Lien! Wake up! You have a guest.
Take him in! Wait a minute!
- Take it slow!
- Come here!
- This house is quite big, isn't it?
- Sit down here!
Here's the thing. This girl used to work at my landfill but now she's a prostitute.
Wait a minute, let her take a shower. Then you can do whatever you want.
- Is she pretty?
- We don't have ugly girls here.
Choose a slender girl for me! It will make my hand tired if she's fat.
I'm kidding. You are king today, she will massage you. You don't have to do anything.
- Take 200!
- No, I have money.
Just take it! Pay her after she's done.
- It's my treat today. You don't have to worry.
- This is too much money.
Here's Van, my friend. You have to treat him well. I have to go out now and will come back here after a while.
- Don't go!
- Just sit here with me!
- What are you afraid of?
- Enjoy!
- You can go now!
Give me that!
Here's your tip!
You're so thoughtful! Thank you!
Come here more often!
*singing*
*singing*
*singing*
They're beautiful!
- Would you like some tea?
- Thank you, but I have to go now.
- You're beautiful. I want to draw you.
- I'm really shy.
Just a moment. You can see if I'm good at drawing banana flowers or not.
Are you surprised?
Do you know who that is?
- If you like it, you can take it.
- Thank you.
- What? Don't you like it?
- Yes, I like it. But I don't have anywhere to hang paintings in my house.
- I have to go now.
- Stay a little while longer!
- No, if I stay here too long my flowers will wither.
What are you doing?
Get on!
Now!
-  Please keep an eye on my flowers!
- Okay!
You are a little rat! You are so good at hiding!
If you keep hiding for few more days, you will drive me crazy.
- What will you do if you're crazy?
- Then I will burn this house, and you won't have anywhere to hide.
You want to burn anything. Are you a lighter?
You haven’t missed me, have you?
If you are only a few days late, we will move to another place. Then you can burn this empty house.
Where are you going?
They want to flee this area.
- We have to find other places.
- Why don't you all move to my place?
- Hurry up! They're waiting for you!
- Yes. One last round!
You two wait here! I will come back and pick you up. Bye!
Up! Up! Up!
- Where's Thuy?
- Thuy? Thuy! Someone is looking for you!
- Yes!
- Put on the truck then put your banana on! Hurry up!
- You...
We're moving out. They need this area to build a road so we have to move out.
- Where are you going to?
- To the landfill near the bridge.
- After moving there, will you continue to sell banana flowers?
- I don't know yet.
We will take the bird along. The bird will go to our new house with us.
We're moving to our new house.
You guys can stay here for a while. I will find a better place for you soon.
- Hey!
- What?
- Go help Van!
- Okay.
- Guide him! Let me help you bring your stuff in.
Hello! Oh! What about the kid? He has to go with me!
Let him stay with me for a while.
- Will he become a problem?
- No way.
Let him stay with us! It will be more fun for us to take care of him.
- Ask Trong first!
- First of all, just let him stay with us. We will talk about it later.
You don't mean raising this kid, do you?
We're going to have a baby. Can you take care of two babies at the same time?
I was abandoned when I was a child.
I was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Thao, so I can sympathize with him.
If you don't want him to live here, he and I will go down there to live with others.
Nonsense! I was just saying that! It's all up to you.
But you still have to take good care of our babies.
- Okay.
- Why is this bird here?
- This little boy likes the bird singing so they bought it for him.
So now we have to raise both a human and a bird. You're really a V.I.P. little man!
- Have you slept yet?
- I miss the kid so much. I hear him crying.
Maybe it's because he isn’t familiar with this place yet. Tomorrow, I will tell Thuy to take him here more often.
Where are you going?
Good boy! Good boy!
Stop crying, good boy!
- Stop! Stop!
- That butterfly is mine! I saw it first!
- Is that Loan?
- Mom!
- Mom!
- Loan!
- Why are you here?
- Dad always drank and hit me, so I came here with Tra.
- My poor daughter!
Tomorrow, I will take you to the market so you can work with your mother. You won't have to work at the landfill anymore.
- No, I want to work here with Tra.
- If you don't work with your mother, I will take you to your father.
- Don't you want to stay beside me?
- Could you work here with me?
She’s got a point. Selling bananas is a hard work but you still don’t earn much money.
Why don't you work here?
Mom! I'm hurt!
Loan! What's wrong with you?
Jesus!
- Are you okay?
- Take her home immediately and use some salt water to clean the wound.
Her temperature is so high.
It's nearly 41 degrees!
- Take her to the cyclo! I will take her to the hospital!
- Let me call the ambulance, it will take forever if you use the cyclo to get her to the hospital.
- Help my daughter!
- Calm down!
Help her drink some water!
Drink some water! Drink it!
With that high temperature, she could have tetanus.
- Hey, she's got a high temperature. Don't put more blankets on her!
- Why is she trembling like this?
- Wake up!
- Calm down!
I've yelled at her the other day. Loan! Loan!
The water is so fresh!
She's gone.
Don't be too sad.
It reminds me of her whenever I see kids.
She always wanted to have a doll.
I could never afford that.
People said that he called himself "The landfill king". Nonsense!
In this day and age, calling yourself "king" and "lord" is totally nonsense.
If you are a king, who are your people?
Turn off the music!
If you want to continue working here, you must have a good manager.
After asking everyone, we found out that Hanh has great credentials here.
The local authority will invite you to be the landfill's manager instead of Trong.
Thank you so much for believing in me!
But, this is my opinion. Recently, there were some accidents happening in this landfill.
Trong has to bear that responsibility but we can't put everything on his shoulders.
To be honest, we also get into fights sometimes.
He can't manage everything here.
I think letting Trong continue his work is our best choice.
If you believe me, I put my trust in him.
When did you get home? Why haven’t you slept yet?
I don't know what to do now. Staying here won't be okay and leaving will destroy my reputation.
What reputation?
Who will listen to me then?
Today, the chairman of the commune yelled at me right in front of the people working in the landfill. I just wanted to find a hole to hide myself in.
You want people to be afraid of you. I just want people to be close.
People are afraid of me too. It's really uncomfortable.
We're just human like them.
Even with strict regulations, there are still some disobedient people.
If we are too close to them, they will climb onto our shoulders!
I just want a stable life.
With this status, we can do anything and live anywhere.
We can't be like this when our child is born,
People just accept you as their king here.
In another place, it will be difficult for you to find a proper job.
I was just saying that. It's all up to you.
Trong!
- Where are you going?
- I've been thinking about it carefully. Could you be in charge of my position?
- I can't stay here anymore.
- If you leave, then who will take your position?
I've been struggling here for two years now.
The monthly salary is only 300 000VND. It's only enough to buy one round of beer.
I just kept working for fun.
If I’m too strict, then people hate me but if I'm not, you guys would have been banished from here by the gangster’s a long time ago.
I know. That's why I want to keep you here.
- Don't you trust me?
- I do.
But I can't do anything if my power is not clear.
It will cause many problems.
Are you going to leave us for real?
Please think about it carefully!
What? What's wrong?
Look! I've put all my possessions into my truck.
I just want to ask you one more time. If you don't want me to keep the job, I'll leave immediately.
That's tough!
- What if I say yes?
- Then I will stay.
Will you continue to abuse the children and rob from the elders?
- You know nothing!
- Shut up!
Do you want me to call you king?
If I have full power, the landfill wouldn’t have turned into this mess.
What am I?
Just a security guard, I can't beat people and don't have anything in my hands. I’ve always asked your opinion in all decisions.
Just let someone else try that position. Let's see if they can handle it for three days!
What? Answer me!
Alright! Now I want you to stay.
You can propose a new method of management.
If you can't implement your method, then that's your fault.
- It's 8kg!
- Attention!
Get out! Everyone!
From now on, you guys are not allowed to trade in this unorganized way.
Whoever wants to buy has to register with me. You're not allowed to buy directly from the workers.
If we catch anyone doing that kind of trading, we will confiscate!
Don't blame it on me then!
Then how much are we allowed to buy?
It depends on the amount of goods on that day.
From now on, if you buy goods here often, you have to pay a fee for using the public scale.
What will we work by if you confiscate our scale?
Watch your mouth! Who takes your scale?
What's wrong?
We have to take their scales from them.
Did Trong tell you to do that?
No, I think so.
We have to discuss this first. Don't work like that, Trong will get mad at you.
You have to give me authority to keep everything running smoothly!
Now I have to ask his permission when I want to sneeze?
Why don't you eat? What are you thinking about?
This afternoon, Hanh discussed with me about teaching the alphabet to the kids here. I think it's a great idea.
- Where will we do that?
- I think we have to build a tent over there.
- Who will teach them?
- I don't know. We may have to hire some students.
- What's wrong with you?
- Nothing. I'm just tired.
You are mad at me again.
If you don't like that idea, then we won't do it.
Don't say that!
When I was at school, I always wanted to be a teacher.
But I am not worthy of it.
Nonsense! If you want to be their teacher, just tell me. You don't have to behave like that.
You always think that people are looking down at you.
Stop talking! My position is beside the flower basket.
I do everything for your happiness.
People shouldn’t look down on us just because of our job.
*teaching kids reading*
*teaching kids reading*
Take it! You don't have to give me money anymore.
Give it to Hanh so you can contribute to our fund! Go!
Thuong said you let some high quality stuff in.
He took about 200 lots from the airport.
It's difficult now. We're not doing that stuff now.
I still can't explain to Hanh about the cars over there.
What? Now he's the boss?
I am. But we have changed the rules.
I promise that I will make everything public, as I don't like to hide anything.
- If I had known that...
- What?
Are you afraid of them now?
You're stupid! We've been earning our living by those high quality stuffs, not by the workers here.
I also want money like you.
But if I said I wouldn't do it, don't try and force me. Even if I have to starve tomorrow, I won't do it.
Tell Thuong to move those machines and cars away!
Or else, don't blame anything on me!
Hey! Wait!
Who told you to take money from them to buy scales?
I've announced that we won't take any money from them!
Give it back to them!
I took the money not for myself, but for your reputation!
If you don't like it, then I will give it back to them!
I didn't think that you kept the money for yourself.
But you're creating opportunities for them to talk bad about us. I don't like it.
- Now you're afraid of what people are saying!
- Hey! If you talk like that again, you will have to face the consequences!
- How's your business?
- Trong! When did you get here?
- I've just arrived.
- How are you?
- I'm sad.
- I'm sad too.
Young people today don't like traditional music, they like western music.
My erhu is no longer suitable today.
I think that your landfill is very cozy. I just want to go back there every evening.
If I'm not blind, I will work there as you do.
It's more fun than just sitting here.
Take this medicine. You’ve got a cold because you stood in the rain.
What are you worried about? Why don't you talk to me?
We shouldn't stay here.
It's boring when we have to depend on others.
I think that Hanh respects you. He's kind too. What's wrong?
I'm really sad because Hoa got me wrong.
Why do you have to care about them?
They thought I was a rooster in the cage.
I’ve been a wild animal all my life.
Just live with all your heart. No one can totally understand us.
Don't be sad. We will be kind so no one will look down on us.
I believe in you.
We will organize a big, western-style wedding!
Pull the car in here!
- Turn left!
- What? Right?
Where is the woman who sells her flowers here?
I haven't seen her for a long time. Some other people also came here to ask about her too.
- Mr. Painter! What do you think about this landscape?
- Some don't think that it's beautiful but I do.
I couldn't sit here for long back then, the smell was unbearable.
We're applying new waste processing technology so the smell will be much better.
Yes, it's like perfume on dog's shit.
Just kidding, we're still waiting for approval on our proposal.
Let me see it.
Many people all over the world have turned trash into art. But your idea is great.
I'm full of great ideas.
If I went to your university, I would turn my landfill into a piece of art just like your paintings.
Now I want you to paint on cars, cranes, cyclos, trains.
- In general, could you turn my landfill into an exhibition?
- Yes, I can. That's installation art.
- Just give me the idea, I will express it through art for you.
- That's great.
But not for me.
There's a blind man at my place. He's good at both singing and playing the erhu. And he has many great ideas.
I've never seen anyone who loves landfill as much as he does.
He goes out all day but he just wants to go back to my landfill in the evening.
He said that he felt so much warmth between people in the landfill.
There are so many kids and lights. They're everything he’s always dreamed about.
Sometimes, it's just him and his lamp wandering around the landfill at night.
He just stares at the torches of the people working there.
He said, "Trong, I can't see anything but I think that our landfill is beautiful, it is gorgeous!"
He acts as if the trash is glorified.
But he has made me feel closer to my landfill.
I want to open an exhibition right on my landfill.
I will pay you all the expenses. Okay?
It would be great if that man can install things. But if he can sing, we can combine both the installation and the performance.
Thuy!
- Have you met my father?
- I went to your house, but he's not there.
- I also went to your hometown, but I couldn't find him there either.
- That's weird!
Where can we find him now?
Our wedding is very soon. What if we skip that ceremony?
The point is that we still don't forget it.
We don't have to focus on the ceremony, okay?
It's all up to you.
Groom and Bride! 2... 3...
*singing a traditional song about wedding*
That's a landfill worker.
- Here's your landfill!
- Oh, this is the place you and I sat yesterday. That's great!
Here's Hanh's tent.
Then is my house over there?
What about...
- You are really great at painting banana flowers. I love your paintings.
- I like the forest banana flowers the most.
- Can you sell me one?
- If you like them, I will give you one for free.
Cheers!
Hey! When you guys were living at the pagoda, was there a painter who came and looked for Thuy?
No, she just told us that she sold flowers to a painter.
Last night, I had a nightmare, in which a cat stole my baby.
What does that mean?
Teacher! It's too windy!
- It's raining!
- Keep your books covered! Don't let them wet!
Help me!
You should go now. You can't go home if it’s raining harder.
Come here! Don't stick your head out like that!
You shouldn't be here! Go to the tent!
- Left!
- Okay?
- Okay! Take him inside!
Over there! Over there!
This side! This side!
Let me take him to our house, it's warmer there!
No, you can't go out now!
- The rain has ruined our class.
- Then let’s arrange another one.
The tent is leaking. The boy is getting wet.
Can I bring him here tonight?
Guys! Go over there and let people there classify them. Don't classify them here.
It's yours!
Give it to the worker! Not me!
- I won’t do it!
- What?
- It's humiliating!
Humiliating? Then go away!
Hey! I am about to tell you that.
You're different now. You flatter them and look down on us.
Shut up! Do you think that I enjoy doing that?
You don't understand what I need now.
All you can see is a little money and some nonsense about reputations. Go away!
Go away!
My mother is sick. Can you give me some money in advance?
- What?
- How long has she been sick?
- It's about a week.
Okay. I will give you 30,000VND.
Take it to buy medicine for you mother.
Should we put all the nylon into the sacks now?
Gather them together so that we can weigh them all at once.
- Hanh! Trong has just had an accident!
- What? Where?
A car has crashed into him.
- Are you hurt?
- Yes, I am.
It was definitely Thuong or Hoa.
You burnt their goods so they took revenge on you.
- We have to tell the police to arrest them.
- No, don't do that. It will be very complicated.
It's the price that I have to pay.
Forget it! I may have to be here for a long time.
Could you see Long the painter, to discuss the exhibition and the performance for me?
Van will teach the kids singing and lead them to installing our landfill.
- Van is blind. How will he pull it off?
- He can.
I've made a deal with Long. He will do as he said.
Okay, don't worry.
- Hat! Hat! Please! Please! Hat! Hat! Hat!
- No, no!
- Here's your money. 
- Thank you!
Eat them, they're good for your health.
What? How's the exhibition?
I want to talk to you about that.
I know that you're nice to me. But don't force me to do it!
- People will laugh at a blind man who wants to paint.
- Nonsense! What are you afraid of?
You have to be confident. Then people will admire you.
I'm not afraid of singing but whenever I think about painting, it hurts me.
There are so many blind people who can do awesome stuff all over the world. Some have received a Nobel prize, and some could be a vice president if they want.
The press talk about them all the time. You just have to try your best. Don't feel inferior!
Why does it have to be me? Why don't you ask Linh or Hanh to paint for you?
In short, you are the only one who can do it. Can you do it for me?
Do it for me!
Why do you have to force him to paint for you? Are you trying to make fun of Long?
I don't want to talk to anyone but since you are concerned, I will be honest with you.
This exhibition has two purposes.
Firstly, I want to prove that people in the landfill are not trash.
Secondly, Thuy has to understand that Long is nothing.
- And he is not better than Van, a blind man.
- Okay, I got it.
I know nothing. Trong asked me to do the exhibition with you.
I will try my best.
Art is strange. It doesn't depend on a person having an education.
Many people who are not educated can still be artists because they have emotions.
Just give me direction, and I will take care of the rest.
It's all up to you. Let people see the poor conditions we are living in.
And see the beauty of the landfill.
What do you think the workers will like the most?
It's nylon. Whenever they find a lot of it they are very happy.
- What's the most precious thing in this landfill?
- It's the love between the people. People here have a connection as strong as a spider’s web.
Mosquito net... Nylon... Spider web...
It's done. Where's the blue? How can you call it blueish?
- Trong gave me money and told me to create things. You have to respect me.
- It's almost blue.
- Thuy, is this blue?
- This color is also great.
- It's great but what is this?
- I mixed some red so it is more gorgeous.
- It's almost blue, it’s a purplish blue.
- I knew it!
I like blue. I sang the song about a blue bird for my baby.
You have to draw in blue for me.
It's my exhibition. Don't be afraid of anything! People will either complain or compliment me.
- I want you to draw it as I want.
- Yes, let me express your idea.
The best choice is to use green banana leaves to make the birds wings and tail.
The women selling the bananas in my place, likes this kid very much. She will love the idea.
The eyes are two bowls and the beak is a speaker.
- Is this the iron speaker? But where can we find it?
- We have an iron speaker at home.
Is this okay now?
Thuy, is this better?
This green is very beautiful. I've never seen such an extraordinary bird as this one.
Long seems to like Thuy. Do I have to watch out for him?
It's not necessary. Don't do anything then I can know what’s in my wife's heart.
Did you notice anything strange when Thuy came here the other day?
- No, she seems to still love me so much.
- You have to be careful.
I’ve heard that nylon is the most precious thing in the landfill.
So I will wrap everything with nylon. Everything... cars... trains... cyclos...
Here you are!
It's not okay. It's like a bag of trash.
No. People have even wrapped a bridge, buildings, and islands with nylon in France, it's extraordinary.
I don't care what the French do. You have used some thin string to imitate a spider’s web. It will convey our traditional spirit.
The spider is one of our favorite traditional insects. They use their webs to wrap their prey.
*singing a traditional song about a spider*
Yes, I will do as you say.
Here are some clothes. Are they okay?
I don't see any egg shells, tins or newspaper here!
I told you to put them on the clothes.
No, they're just some new clothes to get your early approval today.
We will still have a hundred more.
I want workers in the landfill to wear these clothes and they will look like garbage.
But when I start to play the erhu, they will start to dance.
- Do you understand?
- Yes, I’ve got it.
I will find all the materials that you want.
I will hire a composer for the music performance.
No, I will teach the kids to sing a bird song. The music is Russian and the lyrics are mine.
Let me play it for you!
My dear blue bird, sing with me on this brand new morning.
To remember the forgotten songs
The song with many tears, joys, and sadness of life.
Time is whispering with the wind to find it somewhere.
Sing it, bird! Why do you keep silent?
The bird still loves humans, still loves freedom. Then why is his voice so far away.
- Eat it!
- Leave me alone!
What's wrong with you?
Why are you crying?
Why are you crying while I'm still alive?
Just beat me. Don't treat me cold like that!
- Why do I have to beat you?
- I did something wrong.
What's wrong?
- Did you cheat on me?
- No!
Then why are you crying? Why do you have to apologize?
Say it! Say it or I'll kill you!
- I didn't cheat on you! 
- Liar!
You were being his model behind my back.
Did I do anything bad to you?
- Did you sleep with him?
- No, I didn't. Let me tell you everything!
- It's not my fault.
- Now are you denying it?
Don't think that! I've never...
I'm sorry because of the foetal derangement.
What did you just say?
- Why did you miscarriage our baby?
- No, it's just a foetal derangement!
I went to the doctor to check. Our baby is okay.
-  Which led to the foetal derangement?
- I felt.
- Where?
- At Long's house.
Bitch!
Calm down please!
Coward! Were you trying to flirt with my wife while I was in hospital?
No, I drew her. But I didn't flirt with her.
- Shut up! Are you denying it?
- That's the truth!
You have to finish my exhibition or I will kill you now.
- Choose!
- It's up to you. Do whatever you want.
You have destroyed my reputation, so now I have to redeem it.
After I announce the opening of the exhibition, you have to apologize to me in front of everyone.
That's our plan. If you don't do it, I will turn your face into landfill!
- Lien! Lien!
- Yes.
- Open the door!
- Wait a minute!
- What's wrong?
- Take care of him for me.
Take him to a good family!
- Can you help me?
- Okay, give him to me!
I just don't want him in my house. I don't hate him.
Choose a good family!
-  It will be better if it's a foreign family.
- Okay, you can go now.
- God has eyes. Watch your behavior!
- What?
You will understand the painfulness of losing a child when you have your own.
- She has to focus on my baby.
- You don't know his parents, how can you give him back to them? What did you do to him?
- You're so cruel!
- Shut up!
Trong!
I would prefer you cut off my legs rather than give him away!
I was with her every day. She loves you so much. I swear!
Long is a kind person too. You’ve got her wrong!
You even made me miserable!
- Is this true that she complimented your color that it's more beautiful than Long's color?
- Why do I have to lie to you?
- Lien! Where is Lien?
- Who's that?
- Hey! Where's the boy?
- I gave him away.
- Who? Why is it that fast?
- I gave him to a foreigner.
Nonsense! How could you find a foreigner so fast to give the baby to? Tell me the truth or I will kill you now!
I gave him to a man from my hometown.
Bring him back to me!
Van isn't home yet.
- This exhibition belongs to him. He will be very upset if we continue the opening without him.
- What can I do now?
Written and directed by
Do Minh Tuan
