Vietnam Featured Film Studio
Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism
Solitary
A film by Bui Thac Chuyen
Do Thi Hai Yen     Linh - Dan Pham
Nhu Quynh
Johnny Tri Nguyen
Nguyen Duy Khoa
Goodbye!
2 3 Cheers! 2 3 Cheers! 2 3 Drink!
Let me help you.
Mom, please stop him!
What can we do if he falls down there?
It won't be that bad.
It will. He will be drunk, and then he will throw up all over the place and I will have to clean up his mess.
What's wrong with that? If you don't want to clean up his mess, I will do it. I will take care of him, you don't have to worry.
You're being ridiculous. What about my sister-in-law?
Let her wait, there’s no rush.
Drink it!
Continue!
Hurry up! Applause!
2 3 Cheers! 2 3 Cheers!
Poor him! He's so drunk!
What can I do now?
You don't have to do anything. Just let him sleep.
Keep him lying in a straight position. He will be awake tomorrow morning.
Yes.
Mom, I need money for breakfast.
That's not enough.
That’s only for you and your brother. Oanh and I will have breakfast at home. There is a lot of sticky rice left after the wedding.
- Hoang! Could you buy me some spicy dried fruit?
- Ask Mom for money!
No, eating that is not good for your health.
- But I don't like sticky rice.
- You are a girl, stop being so demanding. It's not good manners.
Here's your wedding money after all the expense. It's not so much.
Hai has a sensitive palate, so you should use less salt when cooking.
Never use chilies because he's allergic to them.
Yes.
Hai is a taxi driver so he usually gets home late.
Please wait for him and warm his food for him.
Yes.
There's another thing;
Hai drives all day so he will be exhausted at the end of the day.
At night, let him sleep. Don't force him to do anything strenuous!
It's heavy, you can't pull it. Let me pull it!
What are you smiling at?
Nothing; it's just a gift.
I was too drunk last night.
I can't remember anything after that.
I'm curious what I did.
You were just sleeping.
Really?
It's strange. You can be so conscious in the morning.
No one would know that you were that drunk last night just by looking at you today.
Mom said that too.
How can we escape?
We will have to wait for a while.
But I can't wait.
What's wrong?
Hold it for a moment.
I have to go now. A customer is calling.
Do you want to go?
Recently, no one is calling me.
Then you should go now.
So we can listen a dewdrop is singing in autumn.
Our love is being fulfilled.
Listen the laughter from the joyful days.
That's what we have been looking for our whole lives.
Slow down the pace of life so we can listen.
It's time for love.
Who has just slipped through the soft lips?
The glorious sunshine is warming my heart.
I already know that love is waiting, love is far away...
Is that Duyen?
Hello!
Cam is writing upstairs.
She has a cold. I am preparing a steam bath for her.
You can go up and see her.
You have to rest.
- Is that still the same novel?
- I can't stop writing it.
You didn't attend my wedding.
I'm sorry.
I'm more suitable for funerals. I'm not suitable for weddings.
Was your wedding great?
Did the dress look good on you?
Yes, the embroidered patterns are amazing. It must have taken a long time to create them.
- It took my mother a year to embroider.
- Then why did you give it to me?
When you get divorced, I will give you a more gorgeous one.
Did you wear that dress on your wedding night?
Did your husband like it?/
Cam!
Take your shirt off.
You are getting thinner and thinner. Your bones are about to stick out.
Don't threaten me.
Only take off the blanket when you're sweating, okay?
- Duyen, take care of her for me.
- Okay.
Duyen, tell me about your husband.
His name is Hai. He's a taxi driver, and he is two years younger than me.
You've never told me about Hai.
I just met him three months ago.
You're being foolish.
How can you marry him after only three months?
Do you think it's not right?
No.
How can everything be so easy with you?
I... I feel dizzy whenever I think about you getting married.
Don't ask too much. Then everything will be easy.
Did I ask too much?
Obviously; nothing is difficult with a simple person like me.
I met Hai. I like him so I married him. That's it.
After all, I don't even know if I was in a rush or not.
I just know that I have him now. That's enough for me.
Is he attractive?
I don't know. How do you define "attractive"?
I don't know either.
Maybe manly.
What’s manly?
To be honest, my Hai is quite simple. He's like a child.
When I look at him when he's sleeping...
... his face is gentle and peaceful, like a kid's face.
And his breath, too; his breath is very pure.
A breathtaking purity.
That's when I have a strange and familiar feeling which I can't explain.
It's like he is a part of me.
I know that feeling.
I forgot that I had an appointment this afternoon.
Who's that important person? Can you tell me?
A person...
That's it.
- What?
- Nothing.
I'm guessing who that person is.
There’s no point. How can you guess?
It's a man, right? What's the relationship between you two?
Nothing special.
- I don't believe you.
- I'm not forcing you to believe me.
You're really... You don't tell me anything.
- I'm feeling tired.
- You haven't entirely recovered yet. Take a short rest.
But my appointment is in about 30 minutes. Someone is waiting for me.
Don't worry about you. You're ill, how can you go in this status?
I have to go. I have to send a letter.
Which letter? I can help you.
- Is it okay?
- No problem. Just give me the address, and I will take the letter to the person.
I have no choice.
Please bring this letter to him.
He will understand. His name is Tho.
My eyes are so weak now. I stab myself all the time when embroidering such thin silk.
- Why do you embroider that?
- It’s my responsibility to embroider your wedding dress.
You gave away the previous one. I don't regret...
But I'm old now. My hands are getting slow.
I don't have enough time to embroider a dress like the previous one for you.
I won't wear those wedding dresses. You don't have to do it.
What are you saying?
Did you do anything to her?
Can you guess?
Same old stuff?
They still work.
It's just because she's so young.
That's right. So young and so trembling.
It seems like it’s the first time she’s seeing a man.
Don't get it wrong; she just got married.
Really?
Don't go. Maybe I have something for your novels.
- Why did it take you so long to get here?
- I'm sorry. I fell in the street. I called you but you didn't answer.
I'm out of mind after receiving your call.
I drove like a crazy person.
It's raining so the road is very slippery.
I fell off right at the street corner. It's hilarious.
It turned out to be lucky for me. You are taking care of me.
Why did you call me?
Three foreigners and a distant trip.
That's it?
Stop.
It's weird; it seems like I’m not familiar with this house yet. I have problems sleeping and I also feel uncomfortable.
What's wrong?
I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm used to sleeping with my grandma.
Maybe it's because of the cold weather at night during this season. Do you feel that too?
No, I’ve been sleeping really well.
That's right. You’ve been sleeping very well. You even talked in your sleep.
Did I talk in my sleep? Why didn't I know about it?
Because after you talked, you continued to sleep like a baby.
Did I say something wrong?
You said so many wrong things. But it's a secret, I won't tell you.
Hai! Give me the towel!
Hai, give me the towel!
- Why are you staying in there that long, you bitch?
- I'm finishing now.
You dirty bitch! You waste a huge tank of water every morning.
See, that’s girls! You can't rely on them.
- Same destination?
- Yes, same destination.
- How do you do?
- I've been having bad luck since the beginning of the month.
It's all because of Thanh.
- What did she do to you?
- Do what? You're stupid. I fucked her. Do you understand?
Then what’s wrong?
I've discovered that every time I’m with her, I get bad luck the next morning.
- Ah!
- That's enough to say that you know nothing about women.
- I already have a wife.
- When did you get married?
How was your first time?
Do you want to die?
Hey! Hey! Did you do anything with your wife last night?
What did you just say?
- No, I slept.
- Good.
- Odd./ - Unit./ - Odd, 1 million./ - Got./ - Put a million down.
Odd is still available. There's three million left.
- Take three million dong.
- Then open the cup!
- Open the cup!
- Open it!
Hurry up!
Keep the money organized!
- Even.
- Balance. Even is still available.
- Here.
- Two million?
Don't try too hard. You're not clever.
Hai! Which one do you like? This one?
What about this one? What about her?
Don't be shy!
Look at him! His skin is soft as silk.
Are you saving yourself for your wife?
Be careful!
It's my treat today!
You're stupid! You know nothing about women.
Hurry up! Hurry up! Do you have condoms yet?
Who took this?
My money!
Fighting! Fighting! Fighting!
"And this comes from Tay Phuong Pagoda."
"Tay Phuong Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in the north of Vietnam."
"In 1749..."
Here's yours.
One medium rare, please.
- Do you recognize this one?
- No.
I found these pictures in the wardrobe that Grandpa gave me.
Here's your money.
I don't know this person. Based on the clothes, it must be an immoral person.
Is this Grandpa?
He was very handsome when he was young, right?
They look like sister and brother in this picture.
- But what's the relationship between Grandpa and this woman?
- I don't know.
- Did he tell you anything?
- No.
You must have known everyone he knew.
Why? It was better if I didn't know some of his business.
Let me ask him.
Sunday 28th March 1948, M came to my house early in the morning.
I didn't know where he drank but he kept throwing up and sobbing till the afternoon.
I feel bad for him, but how can I comfort that broken heart?
21st January 1959.
I can't describe the blush and the softness of his skin.
And his gentle voice, too. Whenever he speaks, I feel like he is shy about something.
Jesus! Just one problem: G is too young.
In no time, the world of hungry and feeble men will eat G up.
That world will destroy G as it did with M, V, and many people before.
That's weird. She mentioned many men here.
But who is my grandpa?
M... V... G... T... Those may be the first letters of their names.
The first letter of my grandpa's name is D. But there's no one like that here.
People in love usually call each other by nicknames.
Do you have any feelings?
There's a picture taken in 1947.
My grandpa looked much younger than her.
Her diaries started in 1948, the same year my grandparents got married.
Listen!
Poor him! He felt into a dead end way.
I don't know if M's wife understands that those things with him are too much.
Always too much.
Why is it "always too much"?
I don't know.
Maybe my grandparents aren't happy,
though my grandma never says it out loud.
Hey! I want to ask you a question.
- What?
- What do you think about Tho?
-  What do you want to know?
- Everything you know about him.
He's working as a tour organizer at an international travel agency. He's 36 years old.
I don't want to know about those things. What do you think about Tho's personality?
- What do you think about him?
- I don't know, that's why I'm asking you.
- You met him.
- Yes, I met him.
Do you have any impression? Do you?
Yes, yes, but it's too vague and I'm not sure if it's true.
I think that you should believe your first impression.
- Do you love him?
- That's another story.
- Be honest with me.
- It's complicated.
I want to discover him but somehow I think it's impossible. So I feel like I'm reaching a dead end.
Maybe things will never be clear.
Is there any way to escape this situation?
I wish that I could be as simple as you.
Why is he here?
What did you do? You’re covered in bruises.
They may cause you some problems.
It’s fine. They’re just a little painful.
Hey, be gentle!
- Are you having your meal here, Hai?
- You're ridiculous. Are you seeing your brother as a stranger?
- I will go back home to eat.
- Stay here with me.
- No, I have to go.
- Mom, let him go. Duyen is waiting for him.
- What do you have today?
- We have the fish soup that you like.
What's your decision?
I'm busy now but Duyen is not.
Duyen, what do you think? Can you go?
I don’t know yet. You surprised me so much that I can’t tell you the answer right now.
Duyen has to ask her husband, don't you?
Yes.
I will wait. But don't miss this chance, because it will be very interesting.
And Cam, let me know if you change your mind.
- Are you interested in Tho's offer?
- Yes, I love beaches.
- I haven’t been to a beach in a long time. Do you want to go?
- I can't.
- Go with me!
- Don't bother with me. You should go.
- No, I can't do that.
- You don't have to hesitate if you really want to go.
- How do you know that I want to go?
- I can see it in your eyes.
Here you are.
Four dumplings, please.
Dumplings! Dumplings!
I've just eaten at my mother's house. She made an amazing fish soup today.
- Just try it!
- No.
Are you still hurt?
My mother has just applied some traditional medicine for me. I feel great now.
I'm going to go far away for a few days.
To where?
A travel agency invited me to be their interpreter for some foreigners.
What do you think?
It's up to you. If you want to go, then you can go.
- Don't you mind? 
- I just don't want to sleep alone.
Cam, should I go?
Do whatever you want.
But I want to know your opinion.
I don’t mind.
But...
What can I tell you? Just go...
*Japanese* Hello!
What are you doing? Why are you stealing my savings?
- I just want to borrow them. I will pay you back tomorrow.
- You don’t fool me! You never have any money!
My rooster will definitely win tomorrow. Then I will have a lot of money. But now I need some money for a deposit. Just give it to me.
- No, I won't. I don't care about you and your damn rooster.
- Give it to me!
- Give me that!
- No!
Bitch! Where are you going?
Go! Go now! Hurry!
- Go! Go!
- Stop there! Listen to me!
He took all my money!
You're safe now! He can't chase you here.
- Can you just let me stay here for a while?
- I have to pick up my customers.
With this amount of money, how long can I stay in this car?
Maybe we should go now; I have to cook dinner. If I get home late, my father will yell at me.
Don't rush!
My wife is on a business trip today so I will be alone at home; we don't have to rush.
- Isn't your wife at home? So you will have to sleep alone tonight, won't you?
- Yes.
- Are you scared?
- I like it.
I like sleeping alone, but I've never done it.
Because before I got married, I had to sleep with my siblings; then since getting married, I have to sleep with my wife. 
-  Why do you ask that?
- Because... never mind. I'll tell you later.
What's wrong?
The woman who lived in your house before...
What?
Here's the thing. There was a woman living in that room.
She lived alone and was as quiet as a turtle.
Usually, no one cared about her. But for the whole week, no one saw her leave her apartment.
So everyone broke down the door to check her situation. Then they found out she had died.
My father said it was in the middle of winter. If it was summer, things would have been worse.
- Are you making that story up?
- No, I'm telling you the truth.
- Who was she?
- No one knew.
I just remember when she was alive, there was an old man who came to visit her sometimes.
Is your wife his grandchild?
I don't even dare to go out at night because once, I saw her sitting at your window.
When she was alive, she used to sit there like that.
Stop talking about this topic.
The beautiful flowers
The pure heart and a romantic life
Have a slower pace of life, so we can listen.
The dewdrop is singing...
Go away!
- Is his dead?
- It's all because of you!
You cursed him to die. You bitch! Now he's dead for real.
- You don't have to use this at your age.
- What?
It will make you erect all the time.
- I just want to buy it for my father.
- That's alright.
- How old is he?
- He is 55 years old.
Only three cups per day, before meals.
Tell him to use it properly, or else he will make your mother exhausted.
You... you... bitch... bitch...
Hai!
- He's dead.
- Who?
My father's rooster. He died this afternoon.
My father is drunk now. But he will definitely mess with me.
I'm scared.
Why are you leaving your TV like that?
What's wrong with you? Are you scared too?
Can you stay here with me?
- It's me.
- I know it's you.
- Have you slept yet?
- No, I haven't.
- Why are you calling me at this hour?
- It’s nothing.
- I just wanted to call you.
- At 3 A.M.?
Is it true that nothing happened?
Hello! Are you still there?
Yes, I am.
Tell me; what happened?
It's horrible. The dress you gave me has been torn.
I understand. It's normal. Don't blame yourself.
I'm sad. I wish that you were here.
Was I wrong? I wish that you were here with me.
Go to sleep.
You will be better tomorrow, for sure.
I hope so too.
I will hang up now.
Can I play with you?
She's deaf; she can't hear you.
Poor girl! She is so pretty.
- Do you think that she is pretty too?
- Yes, she's so pretty.
- You've just met Tho, right?
- Yes.
Has he kissed you?
What a foolish question! Forgive me.
Because it doesn't matter if he did or not.
*Japanese*
Let me help you.
I don't need you.
I have loved him for six years, but he has never ever kissed me.
I'm sick of waiting.
That bastard will never pay me that debt.
What did you just say?
Do you like taking showers under a shower head?
Yes, I do. And a water heater would be awesome, I could take a shower without being cold.
Obviously. But I like using a shower head because the water through one is very steady.
It's not too strong or too weak. And the water falling on the body is like the rain.
The water won't take my breath away.
When I was young, I was very scared every time my father helped me bathe.
He just dunked me in the bath and poured all the water on my head. I couldn't breathe then.
He doesn't usually bathe. And because he always takes the roosters with him, he smells like roosters.
He smells really bad.
But I don't mind.
But he took all of my savings.
They were my savings for the new bathroom.
I'm hungry. If I were home right now, my mother would make me something to eat.
- Do you want to have some noodles? I can cook for you.
- Okay, but don't put chilies on them.
- Let me come with her.
- Take her away.
Hurry!
Yellow... skin... yellow... hair...
Yellow... afternoon...
What are you going to do?
I don't know. I've done something wrong.
After your wedding, I felt something wrong.
You said you were happy. But when I looked into your eyes, I knew that it was not true.
- You knew it?
- Yes.
Your eyes were always staring off somewhere; something was missing. And it made me feel dissatisfied. 
And you tried to help me, didn't you?
I'm sorry.
I'm not blaming you. Don't think about it too much.
What happened between Thu and I was my decision.
But after all, he's good.
What happened at the beach?
He scared me and he hurt me.
But that was the first time I felt my body that clear.
Written by Pham Dang Di
Directed by Bui Thac Chuyen.
