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Attention passengers to Chongming Island.
The World ferry service,
from Fengjie along the Yangtze River,
will dock shortly.
Collect your baggage and prepare for arrival.
What do you desire? Fantasy!
What do you long for? Excitement!
The Wuhan Magical Arts Troupe
invites you to experience the mysteries of supernatural powers!
Come on! Come in and watch!
Welcome, friends from Fengjie!
It takes US dollars to travel by water.
Watch closely and learn.
I have no dollars...
only blank paper.
So what do I do?
Abracadabra!
See? Euros!
See? Euros!
Watch closely: From euros to Chinese renminbi!
Abracadabra!
Renminbi! Get it?
Get it?
Then pay up.
Tuition fees.
You learned something.
Respect intellectual property.
Are you deaf?
I don't have any money.
No money?
Broke ***.
What's in there? Show me.
Need a ride, man?
Yes or no?
Where to?
5 Qingshi Street.
Fengjie district, Sichuan province.
- Five yuan. - Three.
The price is five yuan.
Okay. Get on.
This is it, man.
Here?
That little island out there, that was your street.
Get off.
It's all under water.
The old Fengjie was flooded a while back.
Never heard on TV about the Three Gorges Dam?
And the people?
Gone. Everyone moved out.
You knew. You tricked me!
I didn't order the flood!
Do you know Missy Ma?
All girls are called Missy around here.
You looking only for her?
For her.
I have an idea, man.
For three yuan, I'll take you to the Relocation Office.
Her new address will be in their database.
So?
Okay.
See that ferry over there?
That's where my home was.
It's all gone now.
I'm just implementing government policy!
The ordinance is on the wall!
We are all governed by the same Communist Party.
Compensation should be the same for all displaced persons.
But it isn't!
How so?
Watch what you say!
Everything goes in your pockets!
It's not right!
Problems exist everywhere!
A city with 2,000 years of history was demolished in just two years.
We need to slow down a bit to solve the problems.
5 Qingshi Street.
Fengjie District, Sichuan Province.
When was that?
16 years ago.
Now I understand.
Fengjie isn't considered Sichuan.
It's under the jurisdiction of Chongqing since 1997.
I heard that.
She lives in Fengjie?
Probably. Why would she leave?
Who knows?
We're on the site of the Three Gorges Dam.
A lot of people moved south to Guangdong or northeast.
This computer is useless.
- Come back tomorrow. - Why?
My computer died.
- Died? - It's not working.
Go home. That's enough!
There's nothing I can do.
It's your job to help!
"PHASE 3 WATER LEVEL: 156.50 M."
You're from Shanxi province?
It's three yuan a night.
Three yuan a night.
You must be joking!
You trying to kill tourism?
Since you were referred,
I'll make it 1.50 yuan.
1.20 yuan!
Okay, 1.20 yuan.
Pay up.
You're siding with the clients.
Here's one yuan for you.
Brother.
Tell Mom that I'm here.
So you learned some tricks?
Listen up and remember:
This is my territory! Got that?
Doesn't sound like him.
- Mr. He... - What?
- Cigarette? - I don't smoke.
What brings you to Fengjie?
I'm looking for someone.
- What? - I'm looking for someone.
I can't understand your accent.
- I'm looking for someone. - I see. Who?
Where are the people from Qingshi Street?
- I can't understand you. - 5 Qingshi Street.
I don't understand.
5 Qingshi Street is the address.
Hey! What about me?
Here.
And a light?
Brother Ma and his family lived there.
I'm looking for his sister.
I don't know her.
Where did Brother Ma go?
He's still around, living on a cargo ferry.
It's on Pier 6.
Is Brother Ma around?
Passengers or cargo?
- Are you Ma? - That's me.
I'm from Shanxi.
Where's Missy?
Let's go up on deck.
Who are you waiting for?
Brother Ma.
Long trip?
Five days.
- So why are you here? - To see your sister.
She's not here. She works in Yichang.
Yichang?
Downriver.
Where's my daughter?
Don't know. Ask her mother.
You're the uncle. You should know.
You seem like a good man.
But we just met.
Don't stir up the past.
We don't want trouble.
I just want to see my daughter.
- She's not yours. - What?
According to the police.
They authorized her mother to take her;
that's all.
***!
I'll throw you in the river!
I came a long way to see her.
Then just wait.
In a month or two...
She'll be back sooner or later.
I just want to see my daughter.
Don't make trouble. I'll throw you in the river.
This is for you, brother, a specialty from back home.
I'm not your brother-in-law. Keep your wine.
"Tang Dynasty Inn."
- You do demolition work? - That's right.
What's the pay?
50 or 60 yuan per day.
Not bad.
This is a new guy, just arrived from Shanxi.
Did you come by car or boat?
By boat.
If you came by boat,
you must have seen the Kui Men Gorge.
What's Kui Men?
It's right outside Fengjie.
Didn't see it.
That's Kui Men right here.
My region is on our money too.
The Hukou Falls on the Yellow River.
It looks beautiful.
His region is nice.
"Give it everything you got!"
Even if only for a day
Make all my dreams come true
With all my heart and soul
I'll always be true to you
Whatever it takes
My dream will come true
I'll whisper in your ear
My vow
I love you, only you
Like a mouse loves grain
I'll stay by your side
I'll be there no matter what
Are you new?
- Where are you from? - Shanxi.
That's far away.
Are you looking for a girl?
What girl?
A real woman.
Dayan! Come out!
Still smoking.
- Your sister came by? - Just now.
Come in.
What did she say?
She'll see the manager with me.
What for?
Is he your husband?
- It must be tough. - It was a work accident.
You can pay me later.
Do you know her?
That's Missy Ma.
Know where she is?
Working on the Wanzhou Highway.
- Not in Yichang? - Maybe.
- Are you related? - I was her husband.
In Shanxi?
What about my daughter?
I don't know. She went to school with my daughter.
Your daughter? She might know something.
She works in a factory far away.
Did she finish school?
Any class photo?
I don't know where I put that old stuff.
Try and find it.
I haven't seen her for 16 years.
Which one is my daughter?
That one.
Hey, man!
Hey, man!
What's your name, brother?
My name is Han. Han Sanming.
And you?
They call me Brother Mark.
Heard that before?
Your surname is Mark?
No. The guys around the dock call me that.
They tough on you?
You know, in our world, it's dog eat dog.
Dog eat dog.
It rains a lot here.
It sure does.
Back home, it didn't rain all spring. It hurt crops.
Farmers like you must go hungry.
You're right to try your luck here.
I work in a coal mine.
You're a miner?
So why come here? Why not stay in the mine?
I'm looking for my wife and daughter.
You bought a wife from here?
You're fast!
It doesn't take a genius.
There are more women than men here. Many women are sold off.
How much did you pay?
3,000 yuan, back then.
3,000 yuan.
You paid that much and you let her get away?
The police came.
She cried and cried. She left with our daughter.
That must be hard.
I wish I could help.
I have the address she left when she went away.
Let me see.
Mango brand? What cigarettes are those?
They were popular 16 years ago.
You're a nostalgist.
We can't forget who we are.
You know...
We're not suited for this modern world.
The reason is, we're too nostalgic.
Who are you imitating?
Chow Yun-Fat!
Brother Fat!
- Brother Fat. - I hope I can count on you.
No problem.
Okay.
I'll give you my number.
Call me whenever.
We're buddies.
I won't let you down.
Call me whenever.
You got a cell phone?
- Tell me the number. - 135...
9342-3290.
- What's that song? - "Bless the Good People."
***! All the "good people" had to leave Fengjie!
Your turn. Call my cell phone to hear my song.
Flowing waters
Pounding waters
The river's waters run toward infinity
It surges through our lives
It carries away our woes
"PHASE 3 WATER LEVEL: 156.30 M."
You're the manager! This is your fault!
What kind of manager are you?
Bankrupting a 100-million-yuan factory!
You should be ashamed! How irresponsible!
As manager, it's your job to put things right.
No excuses!
Sit down, dear brother.
You should know that my brother and I have hired a lawyer.
You're obliged by law to compensate him for the accident.
What kind of manager are you, turning your back on the workers?
How could you do this?
Your brother's accident,
it was at the Yunyang Factory.
It didn't happen here!
Talk to the people at Yunyang!
Who made him work there?
You sold the factory for almost nothing
to that Xiamen businesswoman!
Who said that?
You sold the factory.
If not, he wouldn't have gone to Yunyang to lose an arm!
- That's crazy! - You haven't paid us in months!
Compensate him, or we'll sue!
- Take this and hire a lawyer! - We don't want your charity!
***, keep an eye on them!
Don't let them take anything! This is state property.
Pardon me, sir.
- Who are you? - I'm looking for someone.
Who? It's shut down.
A Shanxi man who worked here.
Shanxi?
He was a soldier in Yichang. An army friend had recommended him.
- Guo Bin? - Yes, Guo Bin.
I don't know him.
You know his name.
I don't know him!
Mrs. Liu, someone's looking for Guo Bin!
Who's looking for Guo Bin?
- Me. - You're looking for Guo Bin?
- Who are you? - His wife.
Wife? Nice to meet you.
The factory shut down years ago. His things are still here.
- Have you come for his things? - Yes, of course.
Do you have his number?
No. But I hear he's doing well.
We lost touch with him.
Still here?
Do you have any idea where to find Guo Bin?
That's an odd question.
I traveled far to see him.
You're his wife, but you don't know where he is?
Two years ago, he stopped coming home.
Two years?
Men are good for nothing!
You must be furious about being left alone.
Any idea what he's doing now?
Not exactly.
He lives on the other side of the river.
I never go there, not even when I'm in town.
I tried, but I can't open it.
It's rusted.
Let me try.
So you're from out of town?
- Do you have a moment? - Why?
Do you mind if I ask you something?
Go ahead.
My name is Chunyu.
Do they need maids in your region? I'm 16.
Sixteen is so young.
The sky is so dark.
That's how it is here.
Where are you from?
Shanxi.
Good-bye.
Fly slowly, my beloved
Beware the rose's thorns
Part your lips, my beloved
The flower scents are intoxicating
Fly with me, my beloved
Over the woods, toward the brook
Dance with me, my beloved
Budding love shines so brightly
Let's fly away in sweet embrace
Let's fly to eternity, far from this world
I'll follow you for life, love you with no regrets
I'm intoxicated by love and your beauty
Let's fly away in sweet embrace
Let's fly to eternity, far from this world
Until the autumn leaves begin to fall
Love you, no regrets...
Hello.
I'd like the number of the Fengjie Antiquities Bureau.
Yes, the Antiquities Bureau. Thank you.
I'm looking for *** Dongming.
Dongming?
Over there.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
Careful. Don't break anything.
*** Dongming?
Yes. You're...
Guo Bin's wife.
His wife?
Shen Hong. We spoke on the phone.
Hello!
- Did you just arrive? - This morning.
- Where is Guo Bin? - I'm looking for him.
He doesn't know you're here?
I didn't inform him.
You didn't call him?
You call him.
His phone is off.
Dongming, help me find him.
I'm not from here.
Okay. Let me finish up.
I'll wait.
What are you digging for?
A 2,200-year-old tomb. Han Dynasty.
Careful!
"Demolition Authority Headquarters."
Missy!
- Is Guo Bin here? - The boss?
***!
Who's asking?
An army buddy from the Cultural Bureau.
- Is he here? - He came and left.
He has a meeting with some district managers.
Is he coming back?
Who knows? He's a busy man.
- We'll wait. - Fine.
We'll wait for him.
Hey, man!
What happened?
***! Who did that?
The people from building 68 beat me up.
Let's go, guys!
We'll teach them a lesson!
We'll show them!
You shouldn't have gone alone.
Not so tight!
- Let me. - Who are you?
- I'm a nurse. - Okay, go ahead.
They'll pay for this!
- Does it hurt? - No.
- Bin is your boss? - Yes.
His wife is skinny.
That's not his wife. She's in Shanxi.
But I just saw her.
That's Ms. Ding.
She's the big boss.
- Ding what? - Ding Yaling.
She's from Xiamen.
Maybe there's something between them.
They don't know either.
Go look in the conference room.
Guo naps there when he drinks too much.
- Which floor? - 16th.
Let's go to the conference room.
I'll wait here.
Don't leave.
Wait for me.
"President of the Hehe Group, Ms. Ding Yaling."
"January 24, 2002:
Demolition of the Education Bureau."
You play mahjong?
Everyone plays in Sichuan.
Dongming, can I help?
No, thanks. Relax.
Was the trip rough?
Not really.
I'm cooking a real Sichuan specialty.
I'm so sorry for being so much trouble.
I choose bad friends.
Probably!
Guo Bin isn't a good friend.
But still, you traveled so far.
Try to enjoy it.
My ferry back leaves at 8:00 tomorrow morning.
So impatient?
Not really.
I waited two years.
You've been good to Bin since he came here.
Not really.
I haven't seen him for a year.
Great view!
The Three Gorges...
Dongming.
You know us well... Tell me the truth.
Does Bin have another woman?
He's very busy.
He has to entertain managers and clients.
I told you, I haven't seen him for a year.
Men always lie for one another.
I swear, I'm not.
Me and him...
What? What did he tell you?
The problem is,
he never tells me anything.
***.
- Look. - What?
Count the digits.
This number has seven digits.
Fengjie numbers now have eight digits.
That's the last number he gave me...
two years ago.
The only thing I could do was wait for his calls.
When he did call me,
it was just to check
if I was alive or not.
What has gotten in my eyes?
I no longer recognize your silhouette
Shen Hong.
Bin never danced before.
Social obligations.
Affairs included?
- Probably not. - Then why?
Probably yes.
Let's go. He won't show up.
Let's wait a while.
Then stay at my place.
Maybe he got held up.
Yeah, by Ding Yaling.
My latest project.
The cost is 240 million.
Taming the Yangtze...
You made Chairman Mao's dream a reality.
Why isn't the bridge lit up?
I'll take care of it.
Call the attendant so I can tell him.
My VIP guests are here. Why is the bridge dark?
Put the lights on. I'll say when.
Ready?
One, two, three...
Lights!
I found him.
I was too busy. I turned off my phone.
What are you doing here?
I'm leaving.
Get in.
What's wrong?
Leaving without a word...
Is something wrong at home?
Don't be angry.
It's *** me too.
I have something to tell you.
I'm in love with another man.
Who?
Does it matter?
Since when?
Is that important?
He's waiting for me in Yichang.
Then we'll take a boat to Shanghai.
Fine.
Bin...
I want a divorce.
Are you sure?
I made up my mind.
I'm leaving.
All you have to do is sign the papers.
Welcome aboard the "Forest," the Yangtze Jetfoil.
We are now leaving Fengjie to travel to Shanghai.
During the Tang dynasty,
the eighth-century poet Li Bai wrote these famous lines:
"From the colorful dawn over the City of the White Emperor,
"to the dusk over Jiangling, I journeyed for 300 miles.
"The cry of monkeys from both banks behind me
"carries over ten thousand peaks to my tiny boat."
Today the world's eyes
look toward this region again,
thanks to the Three Gorges Project.
The Three Gorges Dam
has been a dream of our leaders for several generations.
The people of this region have made great sacrifices for it.
On May 1, 2006,
the water level here will rise to 156.30 meters.
The houses on the riverbanks
will all be submerged.
"I buy old bottles!"
"I buy old bottles!"
That cry and that voice sound so familiar
I've heard them all my life
No need to remind me
I could never forget
No heaven without earth
No floor without a house
No home without you here
No me without you
If you hadn't raised me
You kept me safe and warm
Without you watching over me
What would I have become?
Cool off!
Cool off!
Feels great!
Mr. He!
What?
Who told you to write that?
Government orders.
Government orders? With no advance notice?
That's abusive!
Be reasonable.
You saying I lost my reason?
I'm not senile.
I've lived in Fengjie for many years.
I have a lot of friends!
"Demolish."
What's wrong? Are you sick?
Just a cold. What are you doing here?
We have to demolish this building.
It will fall down itself, it's so old.
Did you find a new place?
I'm moving to Guangdong.
And your husband?
No use waiting here to die together.
Careful.
Sanming!
Have a toffee.
White Rabbit brand.
We're going to Yunyang to beat up some guy.
We get 50 yuan each. Want to come?
Not my kind of money.
But I get paid today. I'll take you out.
See you tonight! I'll have steak!
At the bus station restaurant!
Take care and don't be late!
Some toffee, guys?
- Do the job right. - Don't worry!
Make Guo Bin proud.
Hi.
Have you eaten?
I ate.
I'm going down to Yichang.
She can't come back to you.
Wait till her boat comes to Fengjie.
I'll let you know.
Over here!
Mr. He!
Who is it?
Me, Sanming.
I came to see your new home.
Come in!
Mr. He, my rent money.
Is everything packed?
Except for your things.
We'll send someone to fetch them when you're all moved.
- Going to work? - Just tore down a bank.
- You're leaving? - I'm moving to Guangdong.
- Already? - No choice.
Have a safe trip.
Brother Ma.
She's back?
I'll be right there.
Is her boat there?
Yes.
You go ahead.
Sit down.
Hungry? I can make some noodles.
No thanks.
Where's my daughter?
She works down south.
This is south.
She's in Dongguan,
way down south.
Is your new husband good to you?
He's not my husband.
I work on his boat for food.
Your skin is darker.
You look older.
Have you been well?
No.
I cared for you, but you ran off.
I was young. I didn't know any better.
My mother freed you from work after you gave birth.
But you left anyway.
Did you remarry?
No.
I can find you someone.
No.
I want to see my daughter.
Don't you have a photo of her?
On the boat.
Show her to me.
You never came for me.
Why did you wait 16 years?
Missy!
I want to take her with me.
See what she says.
Give us the chance.
It might work out.
Her brother owes me 30,000 yuan.
Pay his debt and take her.
I'll pay it. Give me a year.
What's that?
Toffee.
White Rabbit.
I'm going home tomorrow.
What's the hurry?
Going back to make money.
Don't forget us.
I'll think of you every time I'll see Kui Men on a bill.
Cheers!
Let's eat.
Would you find me work if I went to your region?
Yes.
We have a lot of mines, many coal mines.
What's the pay?
200 yuan per day.
That's a lot!
For demolitions here, the pay is only a miserable 50 yuan.
We'll finish up here. Then we'll join you.
All of you?
Sure! We'll be there.
Till we meet again!
Cheers!
Mining is dangerous.
Two guys were killed just before I left.
Dozens are killed every year.
Once you go down, who knows if you'll come back up.
Be warned.
It's dangerous?
Really dangerous.
Cheers!