Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

People say I'm sending Sebastian and Nina

to New York...

...so neither will take my job.

Hey, perhaps that's partly true.

Like these butterflies

that surround us this evening...

...it's a time of transformation,

new beginnings.

In preparing to open a new office...

...I wanted to place my very best people

in charge of it.

And you truly are my best.

Oh.

To Sebastian and Nina. A toast.

- Nina and Sebastian.

- Thank you.

Make us proud in New York.

And make us a lot of money in New York.

After dinner, we went to some restaurant.

And then someone came up and said...

Hello?

- Is this Nina Wei?

- Yes.

I'm calling from

Pu Tuo Qu Hongkang Hospital.

What's going on?

Sophia Liao is in a coma in our hospital.

What?

- What?

- I'm sorry.

Ms. Liao was on her bike

and was hit by a taxi.

God.

Yours was the last number

dialed on her phone.

She called me?

God.

Okay, I'm coming.

Oh, sorry.

Where is she?

Oh, my God.

I'm sorry.

How did we end up here?

You went away.

There is so much distance between us.

What happened

to the promises we made?

What's going on here?

Nina!

Please don't bring this music

into my house.

And these buns you always bring.

Look how oily they are.

Sophia.

When your mother died,

I promised her I'd raise you properly.

When you act out,

I can't fulfill your mother's final wish.

I know I'm only your stepmother.

Are you going to be against me forever?

Huh?

Nina, I'd like to have a word with you.

Follow me.

That liar. She never met my mother.

This is good music.

Come.

I'll find someone else to tutor her

in Mandarin.

Do not come here again.

A smart girl like you...

...with a bright future...

...shouldn't have to spend all your time

with her.

Come and meet my family for dinner.

This is so exciting.

I never get to visit a real family.

Here's the soup.

Ah. It smells wonderful, Mrs. Wei.

Thank you, Sophia. It's all homemade.

So your family is Korean, right?

Mom.

I already told you they come from Korea.

I didn't come to Shanghai till I was 14.

That's why my Chinese is so bad.

- Very good.

- Thank you.

Shanghai is a seaport.

Everyone from somewhere else.

People come and they go,

come and they go.

MRS. WEl:

Enough of this silly English.

Nina. Nina.

- Mrs. Liao's not at home.

- Hey, it's you.

So my niece told me Cixi Tai Hou

busted you for the Faye Wong tape, huh?

All I know

Teresa, huh?

Oh, what's this? These are so tiny.

These are not easy to come by.

This shoe was for women

with tiny bound feet.

See? Called...

...3- inch golden lilies.

It's a shoe?

Do you know our family came

from Hunan?

Oh, no.

She's talking about

my mother's mother's mother's mother.

- I think I got that right, huh?

- Mm-hm.

And her name was Snow Flower...

...and she had a laotong named Lily.

Laotong?

Sworn sisters for life, laotong.

Like us.

- Sister.

- Sister.

- Sister.

- Sister. Ha, ha.

Girls, you have a lot to learn

about laotong commitment.

See, marriages used to be made

for men's reasons.

To form business alliances,

to manage households, to produce sons.

And they were obligatory.

A laotong's commitment

was for women's reasons, by choice.

For companionship,

understanding and happiness.

What you're signing today is a symbol

of your deep-hearted love for each other.

Deep-hearted love. I like that.

Here is your laotong contract.

Your vow is written in nu shu.

Sign below it.

Oh, yes. The infamous Wong Faye CD.

Sophia's bag

is at reception. You can pick it up.

Okay, thank you.

This is the story of Snow Flower and Lily.

Two girls born in the same month,

on the same day.

Their feet bound on the same day.

At that moment,

their destinies tied forever.

Mama, when can I go out to play?

Lily, this is more important.

We must make your feet perfect so the

matchmaker can find you a good husband.

Madam, it is done.

Get up, walk.

Get up!

Walk.

Mama, it hurts.

Ten circles of the room.

Snow Flower! What are you doing?

Come back! Walk!

Only through pain will you find beauty.

Only through suffering

will you find peace.

I wrap, I bind.

But you will have the reward.

Come.

Come.

Back, again.

Again.

Mama!

These are the most perfect feet

I have ever seen.

These are true golden lilies.

I will be able to find her a good family.

But given your circumstances...

...we must make another match first.

I have found you a laotong.

Your sister in heart for life.

Her name is Snow Flower,

and she is from Tongkou.

Tongkou?

A rich girl is too good for my daughter.

This is true. Her family is privileged.

Her grandfather was an imperial scholar.

But these girls

have compatible astrology signs...

...so her mother does not mind

this class difference.

Can I meet her now?

Snow Flower?

Nu shu is a secret language

between women.

It is personal,

between you and your laotong.

That is why you learn it together.

So you will know what is in her heart.

Bright.

Moon.

- Correct?

- Yes.

The Temple of Gupo fair is a holy place.

We are here today in front of Gupo

to write your laotong contract.

And make your vows

of eternal commitment.

My hand opens to yours.

We of good affection...

...shall never sever our bond.

We will be laotong for all eternity.

Why can't you grow up?

Your mother's right.

You don't get these opportunities

every day.

You have to go to New York.

You shouldn't feel guilty.

Her accident had nothing to do with you.

Enough.

Stop trying to convince me.

I've decided to stay.

I don't even know what her life was like

these past few months.

Now, with this accident,

I need to find out what happened to her.

Uh, hi, Sebastian. It's Nina.

I'm not sure

when I can meet you in New York.

I...

I just can't leave.

I need to be here for Sophia.

Sorry.

I'll be at the house.

Call me when you land.

Bye.

I am to marry a boy I do not know.

He is from a distinguished family.

My life will change

because of my perfect feet.

Sister, you must come to my wedding.

Has Madame Wang found you a match,

Snow Flower?

What about bed business?

Mama has never said anything to me.

It cannot be as hard as embroidery

or cleaning.

Why are you laughing?

Stop laughing at me.

I am not a good daughter for leaving you.

We are women.

We are born to leave our families.

Mama.

Go.

Mama.

Lily.

Never forget we are vowed forever.

No one will come between us.

Snow Flower.

Sun, water and firewood are free.

But salt is a commodity.

The Taiping rebels

are creating chaos everywhere.

I am concerned about our son trading

in such a faraway place.

What do women know

about such things?

Within this household,

I make all the decisions!

Obey, obey, obey.

He will do what he wants.

My father has granted me permission

to travel to Guilin to buy salt.

I will return and sell it here.

Guilin. That is far.

Is it safe?

It is not a woman's place to worry.

I may be gone for a long time.

Excuse me, is Claire here?

- She's inside.

- Thanks.

Claire, you're here.

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