The Buried Forest

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ABuried Forest Production

Committee Presents

A Kohei OGURI Film

THE BURlED FORES (Umoregi)

"Won't you dance with me?"

That's what I asked you,

First we danced apart,

Then we started crying,

Our bodies and faces drew closer,

And we tasted each other's tears,

Beats me.

What's so interesting?

It's only a story, just fiction.

But the pictures are good.

Mmm...

Machi, you were talking about

the pet shop...

That funny pet shop.

I'd hardly call it a shop.

Hey...

Shall we make a story?

Huh!

What?

With lots of fiction.

Story?

About the pet shop owner.

He got a camel.

A camel?

You can't be serious...

In this town?

And why not?

It's just a story.

Mind you, it was hard.

There was nowhere to walk it.

So...

he dug up the road...

filled it with earth...

and made a path for the camel.

After that,

everyone preferred the dirt road...

and they dug up all the roads

in the town.

Huhhh!

You continue, Tokie!

Eh...?

I can't!

Jin!

Jin!

Machi, then.

I'm no good.

Don't be so negative.

Do camels have eyelids?

I've never checked,

but I'm sure they do.

It was three years before they

closed the bus station,

when I took over the business.

I asked my dad:

"Why didn't they make a railroad?"

Some people thought they would.

That's not what I mean.

My granddad was from old Tokyo.

He was dead against a railway.

So he said.

People had a different take

on things in the past.

If the railway had come here...

our little market wouldn't

be here now.

That's true, now you mention it.

Akio, has the delivery gone?

Hey, Akio!

Akio!

That grandma from Sanda just called.

She wants a big bucket.

A bucket?

Do we have one?

Oh, I'll look for one.

Ouch...

Hey, Tahbo!

Stop that!

Ah, here's San-chan.

Yo!

What's up, Machi?

What is it with your hair?

Thanks for the CD.

It was okay.

You like vocals, right, San-chan?

I suppose.

Summer vacation already?

Yep.

Would you like a lift?

No thanks.

- You don't.

Ride Tomo's motorbike?

I'll walk.

I like walking.

Good for you.

Be careful.

What are you doing?

Sailing a boat.

What kind of boat?

A bamboo leaf boat.

It's tiny, isn't it?

But it's carrying very

important things.

Yeah?

Yuko, how come Machi is

so moody these days?

It's probably her age.

Were you like that, when you

were 15 or 16?

Maybe I was.

Scary!

I bet you were awful!

I happened to be very cute.

Oh, yeah?

I feel sorry for you.

You never knew me when I was cute.

Really?

Say...

Is it true that Marui the joiner quit?

He has so much skill.

And now he's driving a taxi.

A taxi?

Yeah.

Marui is a cab driver?

Why a cab driver?

He couldn't bear working alone,

they say.

Maybe he brooded too much

over his daughter's death.

What a waste.

How will he live?

That's a bit callous.

Yes...

What?

A vehicle?

Yes, a story is a vehicle,

We get on and ride, and that's

our life,

I wonder.

Do you think we can choose

our vehicle?

Well,,,

A story is only words,,,

I'll call you.

See you,

That was the news, and now

it's back to the music,

This song is "Morning HaZe",

Hang on!

Take this miso to go with it.

You shouldn't...

- Here.

Thank you.

Take care.

Where's the fishmonger?

At the hospital, his wife's rheumatism

is playing up,

What's this?

It's the egg... of the "Elephant

Bird"... so I'm told.

They can pick up an elephant

and fly off.

They're massive, or so it says

in the letter.

So he sent this, did he?

I love Jugem's jokes like this.

He's never changed.

All the way from Brazil.

Do you think it's a fake?

You never know.

They say they shoot butterflies

with pistols in Brazil.

I've never met granddad

so I don't know.

In the fields...

there was a man who was

watching the sunset...

he suddenly got the urge

to follow the sun.

So he dropped the plow...

and walked off, never to return.

Maybe Jugem is like that.

Ah! It still works.

Don't want people to think

we're breaking in.

It's bigger than I thought.

- Certainly is.

It's been 5 years since he closed.

Amazing.

What photo is it?

Don't know.

I wonder where it is.

They're relatives, but I was

scared of my uncle.

So I don't really know.

Uncle!

Take our picture!

Who are you talking to?

- The dead!

Move that pram and bring a chair.

Be a good girl.

Sit down.

Wimp!

You're really pretty.

It's bright.

I like portrait photos.

Everyone looking in the same direction.

It's not often that happens.

I hate photos.

I always shut my eyes.

I wonder why.

It's a talent.

- What do you mean?

The instant the shutter opens

you wave goodbye...

with your eyelids, I mean.

That's a talent.

That's a compliment?

Yes, it is.

Tomo!

What?

- Leave the ball there.

Huh!

What are you doing?

Bet you can't guess.

There, it's the last one.

Come here, Tomo!

Quick!

Very interesting.

It means "dream" in Tonpa characters.

Tonpa?

Used by a small tribe in China.

Uh...

When I was little...

I was very shy.

I used to like hiding

in small spaces.

Once...

I hid in the hydrangea bush.

It started to rain...

and my parents looked for me.

But I didn't come out.

So, the camel became very

popular in town.

Lots of people came to walk

with him.

The camel was kind and took to

the people well.

They went for many walks everyday.

San-chan often rode the camel.

Called himself "Lawrence of Arabia".

And paraded around the town

Why is San-chan in the story?

Never mind.

But...

But?

You've made me forget with

your interruptions.

Sorry.

But...

the camel started getting

depressed.

He missed so much of the simple

life of sand and sky.

Good one!

Tomie, please go back inside!

I want everyone to know

what's going on.

Fetch them some tea instead of

dithering about there.

What's up here?

- Oh, hello. What a fuss, eh?

Maybe you're making matters worse,

acting like this.

I know I'm sometimes in the wrong, too.

But the way they did it isn't fair.

That's the issue.

Marui.

There was a family meeting.

It was decided, and I can't

go against it.

You could discuss it again.

How?

My daughter and the family already

trooped back to Tokyo.

My son said:

"Show of hands or secret ballot?"

Now I'm being put in an "old home".

What was the vote?

Eight to one for packing me off,

the "one" being me.

I see...

Ah... I'm sorry for the fuss my

mother is causing.

That's okay.

Okay! Now everyone!

Move away from the area.

Cars are passing.

Watch out!

There's a car coming through!

Step back!

This way!

Sorry for dragging you out

- I don't mind.

It's the old woman next door.

I was born way in the mountains.

My mother lived there till

the day she died.

How old was she?

Ninety.

She was alone for 20 years

after Daddy died.

I felt sorry for her.

But she loved the mountains.

She never complained.

"What if you get ill up here?"

I used to say.

"l couldn't be happier if my

time comes here."

That's what she said.

I was... still young.

I couldn't... understand.

How did I ever become such

a weak person?

I feel I can't live if I don't cling

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