Film Catfishes and Toads is based on an Annamese epic written by the anonymous author around the 19th century, but it has some innovations to suit the social situation of the 1990s by artist Ngô-mạnh-Lân. This film also belongs to the very few Vietnamese animated films that are remembered for a long time among generations of audiences.

The story tells about a strange quarrel between Mr Catfish and his relatives with the residents of the hedgerow hamlet. Public opinion is skeptical that Mr Catfish and his wife kidnapped Mr Toad's children to raise them. However, Catfish tried to bribe officials to win this case.

Through this film, children will learn the biological behavior of some animals which accustomed to living in humid environments. For adults, it provides a perspective on the fragility of both morality and law.

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1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,500
Vietnam Animation Studio
produced in Hanoї 1993

2
00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:08,500
According to an order of the
Ministry of Culture and Information

3
00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:10,000
The Cutout Film

4
00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:26,000
<b>CATFISHES AND TOADS</b>
.

5
00:00:26,500 --> 00:00:28,000
<b>CATFISHES AND TOADS</b>
Based on a Vietnamese fable

6
00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,000
Scenartist : Hữu Đức
Shaping artists : Nguyễn Bích, Hữu Đức
Literary editor : Vũ Kim Dũng (Merited Artist)

7
00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,500
Acting artists : Phan Trung, Bùi Nga
Caméra operator : Viết Tuế
Composer : Đỗ Hồng Quân (Merited Artist)

8
00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,000
Character and decorative designers :
Đăng Giáp, Vinh Hoa, Mỹ Lưu, Bích Hạnh, Phạm Thị Hiền

9
00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:46,500
Voiceover by actors from the
Hanoї Traditional Opéra Theatre

10
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:55,500
- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

11
00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,000
Director : Ngô Mạnh Lân (Merited Artist)

12
00:00:58,500 --> 00:01:00,000
Recording and printing at the
National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio

13
00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:21,000
Come on, we almost get there.

14
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,000
[Maternity Home]

15
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,500
Round mother and squared baby, will you ?

16
00:02:22,500 --> 00:02:26,500
♫ We are little Tadpoles,

17
00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:32,000
♫ We are swimming freely in the water.

18
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:41,000
♫ Let's wait until there is thunder, rub-a-dub,
♫ We'll rise to the surface to reunite our parents.

19
00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:50,500
I'm infertile.

20
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:53,000
I'd rather catch them for my nurture.

21
00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:05,500
I must possess them.

22
00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:16,000
My honey !

23
00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:19,000
Come and see our children !

24
00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,500
Yo, my children !

25
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,000
My dear children !

26
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,000
♫ Ahoy, hushaby !

27
00:03:56,500 --> 00:04:01,500
Our children, wherever you are, come home !

28
00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:03,500
Come back now !

29
00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:14,000
Hey, you !

30
00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,000
Where the hell are you from ?
Why do you disrupt this night ?

31
00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:19,000
Are you planning on your stealing ?

32
00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:21,500
Who steal ? Don't slander !

33
00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:23,500
I'm looking for my lost children.

34
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,000
What if they were kidnapped by goblins ?

35
00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:28,500
Alright, go away to avoid making noise !

36
00:04:31,500 --> 00:04:33,000
Ugh, my children !

37
00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:34,500
There you are !

38
00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:38,000
My children !

39
00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:40,000
Your parents are us, come !

40
00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:44,000
Get out, I said.

41
00:04:44,500 --> 00:04:47,000
Why can your children swim underwater ?

42
00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:48,500
Go now !

43
00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,000
Right !

44
00:04:54,500 --> 00:04:57,500
It was Catfish the flathead
who kidnapped our babies.

45
00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,500
Alas, what should we do ?

46
00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:04,500
I will file a lawsuit to let you know.

47
00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:09,500
[No Taking Bribes !]

48
00:05:10,500 --> 00:05:11,500
According to Toad's file,

49
00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,500
Catfish was sued for
kidnapping Toad babies.

50
00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,500
However fact and fiction is still unclear,

51
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,000
I called in witnesses
for our interrogation.

52
00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:21,500
Here, Sir !

53
00:05:24,500 --> 00:05:25,500
Yo, Catfish !

54
00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:30,500
Why do you steal Toad kids,
then you even assault him ?

55
00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:33,000
Your Excellency !

56
00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:35,500
That Toad just lied.

57
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,500
He took advantage of the darkness to
crawl into my pond to steal something.

58
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:41,500
I just shouted.

59
00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,500
He was afraid that he blamed me.

60
00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,500
His family originally lived on land.

61
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,000
How could his children
be in the water, right ?

62
00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:55,000
I take the liberty of request
Your Excellency to enlighten us.

63
00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,000
Yo, thou !

64
00:05:59,500 --> 00:06:02,000
Explain to me any reason, now !

65
00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,000
Sir, we are inherently honest,

66
00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:10,000
so we don't know anything about the
trouble between Mr Catfish and Toad.

67
00:06:10,500 --> 00:06:11,500
Your Excellency !

68
00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:16,500
When my wife was about to give birth,
Ms Bard and Mrs Crucian Carp helped her.

69
00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,000
The moment Mr Catfish hit me,
they all witnessed it, too.

70
00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,500
I allow Toad and his witnesses to leave.

71
00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:27,000
About that Catfish.

72
00:06:27,500 --> 00:06:28,500
My underlings !

73
00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,500
Put him in jail to await
investigation and verdict.

74
00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,000
Right, Sir !

75
00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:44,500
Ouch !

76
00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,000
O Heaven, o Earth !

77
00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:56,500
Bro, a very small gift for you !

78
00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:04,500
Darling, come to find Senior Snakehead !

79
00:07:05,500 --> 00:07:09,000
Maybe there's some way
to solicit for me.

80
00:07:09,500 --> 00:07:11,500
Otherwise I'll die !

81
00:07:27,500 --> 00:07:29,500
Sirs, I'm an ignorant woman.

82
00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,000
I hope a little care from you.

83
00:07:33,500 --> 00:07:34,500
Be assured !

84
00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:39,000
Here, Mayor Cranoglanis is
very skillful in public affairs,

85
00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:41,000
so it will be done.

86
00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,000
Of course !

87
00:07:44,500 --> 00:07:48,500
Just prepare your offerings,
the trial will end very soon.

88
00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,000
Your Excellency !

89
00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,000
Catfish doesn't have an evil heart.

90
00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,500
That's why his wife
give you these things.

91
00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:16,000
They just hope a little
reconsideration from you, Sir.

92
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:19,000
Alright !

93
00:08:19,500 --> 00:08:21,000
Let me see !

94
00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:24,500
I really don't want to
dig up dirt on anything.

95
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,500
Toad's file isn't yet transparent, too.

96
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:37,000
I'll send a few clerks to check it out.

97
00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,000
Alright !

98
00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:42,500
Leave to prepare your generous things !

99
00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:44,000
It will be done !

100
00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:47,500
Right, it will be done anyway.

101
00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,000
Don't worry !

102
00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:57,500
[Inspection Delegation]

103
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:06,000
Mayor, accept these things
to run around for our family.

104
00:09:06,500 --> 00:09:07,500
Of course !

105
00:09:26,500 --> 00:09:27,500
Behold, gentlemen !

106
00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:29,000
There !

107
00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,000
These babies have black skin and flat heads.

108
00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,500
They're clearly of Catfish's lineage.

109
00:09:40,500 --> 00:09:42,500
Master Turtle, make a photo !

110
00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,500
That's right !

111
00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,000
They are exactly the flathead Catfishes.

112
00:09:50,500 --> 00:09:51,500
No wrong at all !

113
00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,000
Yo, Toad !

114
00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:11,500
Your liver is too big
to lie me, isn't it ?

115
00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,500
My underlings, tie him up !

116
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,500
Bow to you, Sir !
It's unjust for me !

117
00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:20,500
What injustice ?

118
00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,000
Yo, Scribe Eel !

119
00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:23,500
Bring out your photo !

120
00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,000
Yo, Toad !

Film Mountain Spirit and Water Spirit (Sơn Tinh - Thủy Tinh) was made at a time when the Vietnam civil war was extremely fierce. The shapes used in this film are originally patterns on the surface of ancient bronze drums, which are considered Vietnamese national treasures.

It based on a famous Vietnamese myth to mention about water management, but is also a warning about dangers from the outside that can destroy the country.

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1
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:14,000
<b>MOUNTAIN SPIRIT AND WATER SPIRIT</b>
- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

2
00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,000
Scenarist : Võ Quảng

3
00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:20,000
Director : Trương Qua

4
00:00:20,500 --> 00:00:23,000
Main artist : Mai Long

5
00:00:23,500 --> 00:00:26,500
Composer : Nguyễn Xuân Khoát

6
00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,000
With the collaboration of
folklorist Cao Huy Đỉnh

7
00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:36,000
Animators : Trang Nguyên, Bùi Nga, Phạm Hào

8
00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:40,500
Decorative artists : Minh Trí, Vinh Hoa, Tuyết Mai

9
00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:45,500
Caméra operators : Đào Thị Loan, Viết Tuế, Thủy Hằng

10
00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,500
Voice of Vietnam's Orchestra
with conductor Cao Việt Bách

11
00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,000
Sound engineer : Bá Tâm
Producer : Trần Lễ

12
00:00:54,500 --> 00:00:58,500
Color printing at the
Vietnam Film Production Technical Workshop

13
00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:04,000
Vietnam Animation Studio
produced in Hanoї 1972

14
00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:10,500
As legend has it, four millennia ago.

15
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:20,000
There is a kingdom of the dragon and the phoenix,
where was called as Malang ("human").

16
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,500
Mænang Ngọc Hoa
("princess" + "gem-flower")

17
00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,500
The princess has just turned eighteen years old,
the king opened a contest to find a good son-in-law.

18
00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:51,000
Thủy Tinh ("water spirit"),
the mighty prince of East Sea.

19
00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:45,500
Sơn Tinh ("mountain spirit"),
the lord of Tản Viên Mountains ("round umbrella").

20
00:05:08,500 --> 00:05:11,000
Kurung King
("mountainous king")

21
00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:16,500
Anyone who is talented must have :

22
00:05:19,500 --> 00:05:21,500
A nine-ivory elephant.

23
00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:25,500
A nine-spur chicken.

24
00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,000
A nine-color-hair horse.

25
00:05:29,500 --> 00:05:34,500
Thus, I will invite him in to
give my daughter's hand.

26
00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:58,000
Thủy Tinh lost, so he returned to his ocean palace
and called his subordinates to discuss the advance.

27
00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:21,000
In the fall, Thủy Tinh led his sea tribe
and raised water to attack Sơn Tinh.

28
00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:05,000
Sơn Tinh mobilized his people
to build dikes to prevent floods.

29
00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:35,000
The higher the water rise,
the higher the hills became.

30
00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:12,500
From then on, every autumn,
Thủy Tinh would attack Sơn Tinh in revenge.

31
00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:19,000
Moreover, King's judgments continue to be a hot topic
of debate among generations of Vietnamese students.

32
00:25:47,000 --> 00:26:03,999
<b>THE END</b>
© Varhiv 2024

Film Answer (Đáp số) was produced at a time when Vietnam had just ended the war, but signs of a capitalist consumer lifestyle began to infiltrate urban society in many ways, causing many bad habits. Therefore, the film serves as a wake-up call for young people.

A male pupil is very playful and lazy to study. On his way from home to school, he constantly imitated passersby for fun. As a result, he was late for class and also could not solve the problem which the teacher had given.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

1
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,500
Vietnam Animation Studio
produced in Hanoї 1980

2
00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:18,500
<b>ANSWER</b>
- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

3
00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:44,500
School

4
00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,000
Primary and Secondary School

5
00:06:32,500 --> 00:06:35,000
Solve the Equation

6
00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:08,500
Dear children !

7
00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,500
This male pupil who wearing a checkered shirt...

8
00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,500
... can find the answer to the problem, can't he ?

9
00:08:19,500 --> 00:08:23,500
However, only through the actions
of that pupil from home to school,

10
00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,500
we also guess how his learning results are.

11
00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,500
So the Zero what the teacher give him,

12
00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,500
because he couldn't find
the answer to the problem.

13
00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,500
It is also the answer to the lifestyle,

14
00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,000
that we should never try to imitate.

15
00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:12,000
Isn't that right, children ?

16
00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:20,500
Scenarist : Hồ Quảng (Merited Artist)
Editor : Hoài Giang

17
00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:26,000
Director : Đặng Hiền
Main artist : Thế Thiện
Composer : Hồ Bắc (People's Artist)

18
00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:43,000
Color printing at the
National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio

19
00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:47,999
<b>THE END</b>
© Varhiv 2024

Wordless film Lion and Little Mouse (Sư Tử và Chuột Con) was produced to celebrate the XVII Olympic Winter Games which held in Lillehammer of Norway in 1994. This was also the first direct investment project from the Swedish-Vietnamese Fund for Promotion of Culture (Quỹ Phát Triển Văn Hóa Việt Nam-Thụy Điển).

In a certain forest there were lived Lion, Monkey, Squirrel and Little Mouse. Lion is so conceited about his unrivaled health that he often ruins the morning exercises which is done by his friends.

One day, Little Mouse decided to challenge Lion to compete him in the upcoming Olympic Games. Lion enthusiastically accepted and... lost. He received a lifelong lesson about the effects of morning exercises on improving health, not using strength to bully others.

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1
00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:02,000
Vietnam Animation Studio
produced in Hanoї 1993

2
00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:04,000
According to an order from the
Ministry of Culture and Information

3
00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:10,000
<b>LION AND LITTLE MOUSE</b>
- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

4
00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:14,000
Scenarist : Đoàn Anh Dũng
Editor : Vũ Kim Dũng (Merited Artist)

5
00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:18,000
Director : Đỗ Dương

6
00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:23,500
Main artist : Đặng Nhân Lập
Acting artists : Ngọc Tuấn, Minh Phương

7
00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,000
Caméra operator : Hằng Hương
Composer : Cao Việt Bách (People's Artist)

8
00:00:28,500 --> 00:00:32,500
Character designer : Nga My
Decorative artist : Tuấn Ngọc

9
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,000
Animator : Đình Thường
Sound engineer : Kim Thục

10
00:00:37,500 --> 00:00:42,000
Montager : Kim Oanh
Producer : Bạch Ngọc

11
00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:47,000
This film was completed with the help of the
Swedish-Vietnamese Fund for Promotion of Culture

12
00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:52,000
Color printing at the
National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio

13
00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:42,000
The Olympic Flag

14
00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:37,999
<b>THE END</b>
© Varhiv 2024

In the early 2000s, the revenge film genre seemed quite strong. Now I will list some typical Vietnamese films : Lunar New Year in Hell Village, Demon Dog, Lonely Man...

Actually, this is not my favorite film genre, because they only revolve around making enemies, and moreover, they have been exploited too much by previous Western and Wuxia films. However, they are quite suitable for industrial life, where many problems cannot be solved by negotiation or gentle advice. I can take an example from my own work at Wikipedia. Instead of negotiating, they will immediately use both power and numbers to oppress the weak. Obviously, when you have to live in an office environment, algorithms and meaningless orders, you always have the feeling of wanting to destroy everything to return to nature or childhood. All in all, we will have to discuss this topic a lot until the world of the office comes to an end.

The 1990s witnessed rapid economic growth throughout Vietnam after many years of war, poverty and especially internal political conflict. However, opportunities to get rich too quickly have stimulated many bad habits in a society that has not had enough time to escape the backward agricultural and patriarchal mindset.

The filmmakers took advantage of a Japanese folktale to try to partly depict the modern Vietnamese situation. This was also the film that started the trend of reforming the Vietnamese animation industry, which often lacked themes, and even its presentation was usually very rigid and didactic. This film also belongs to the very few Vietnamese animated films that are loved by many generations of audiences. Its horror details, even after many years, have not been yet surpassed by any Vietnamese animated film.

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1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500
Vietnam Animation JSC
produced in Hanoï 1993

2
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:10,000
<b>THE DANCING SKELETON</b>
Based on Japanese folktale

3
00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,000
Scenarist : Linh Chi
Script editor : Vũ Kim Dũng

4
00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:15,000
Director : Bảo Quang

5
00:00:15,500 --> 00:00:17,000
Main artist : Phương Hoa

6
00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,000
Composer : Trọng Đài

7
00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:30,000
- Subtitles by Duy Kiền -

8
00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:32,500
Prints at the
National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio

9
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,500
Once upon a time
in a remote Japanese village,

10
00:00:37,500 --> 00:00:40,500
lived two poor friends,
Shimo (下家) and Kami (上家).

11
00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,000
The harvest that year was dismal.

12
00:00:44,500 --> 00:00:49,000
Shimo, an optimistic man,
refused to give in to his fate.

13
00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:51,000
Howdy, Kami !

14
00:00:51,500 --> 00:00:53,500
We should go elsewhere to work.

15
00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,500
Alright, maybe it's time
I try my luck, too.

16
00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,500
So I'll take your advice
and follow you.

17
00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:18,000
They arrived in the next town.

18
00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:20,000
Shimo worked hard to earn money,

19
00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,500
but he struggled to make a living.

20
00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,500
Kami, on the other hand, was lazy
and spent all his time gambling.

21
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:34,000
Yo, Kami !

22
00:01:34,500 --> 00:01:37,000
Shouldn't you be working, huh ?

23
00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:43,000
Shimo tried to convince Kami
to stop putzing around.

24
00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,500
But he still didn't listen
who drinks will drink again.

25
00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:50,500
Hurry up !

26
00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:52,500
Take a close look !

27
00:01:57,500 --> 00:01:59,000
Come in here !

28
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,000
Look at here !

29
00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,000
I'm so lucky, yet another win !

30
00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:15,500
Come on !

31
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:19,000
Take a close look !

32
00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:22,500
Oh, I lost all.

33
00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,500
Come in here !

34
00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:29,500
Gimme back money !

35
00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,500
You guys are cheating !

36
00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:34,500
Get rid of him !

37
00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,000
Get out !

38
00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,500
Kami, what's the matter with you ?

39
00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:55,500
I gambled all my money away.

40
00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:59,000
I've repeatedly told you
to stop gambling.

41
00:02:59,500 --> 00:03:01,500
What am I to do now, Shimo ?

42
00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,500
Well, maybe should go back to farming.

43
00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,000
I've managed to save some money.

44
00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:21,500
When we return, I'll build a homestead
and buy some farmland.

45
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,500
Just stick with me,
maybe we'll get by.

46
00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,000
Look at here !

47
00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:32,500
This amount should be enough !

48
00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:34,500
Of course, Kami was dazzled by greed,

49
00:03:35,500 --> 00:03:37,000
so a cruel thought popped in his mind.

50
00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:40,000
Ouch, Kami !

51
00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:56,000
After brutally killing his friend,
Kami returned to the town.

52
00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,500
It didn't take long for him to
gamble away all the stolen money.

53
00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:03,000
Come on, let's get started !

54
00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,000
Keep trying !

55
00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:22,000
Gimme the money !

56
00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:27,000
Take your hands off !

57
00:04:27,500 --> 00:04:29,500
Is there any money left ?

58
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,500
Go home ! You're broke.

59
00:04:34,500 --> 00:04:36,000
Go now !

60
00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:48,000
He dragged his feet back home.

61
00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:50,000
He remained as destitute as ever.

62
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,000
I'm here !

63
00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,000
Kami !

64
00:05:15,500 --> 00:05:17,000
Don't you recognize me ?

65
00:05:17,500 --> 00:05:21,000
I'm Shimo, your best friend.

66
00:05:21,500 --> 00:05:25,000
But you murdered me
and then hid my body.

67
00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:26,500
Don't you remember ?

68
00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,000
Kami, don't be afraid !

69
00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:12,500
I beg of you a thousand times.

70
00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:14,000
Please spare me !

71
00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:17,000
I spent all your money,
I really lost everything.

72
00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:19,000
Kami, don't panic !

73
00:06:19,500 --> 00:06:22,500
I'll help you get back
a lot of money.

74
00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,000
Kami, don't worry !

75
00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,500
But you're dead ? How ?

76
00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:31,000
I have my ways.

77
00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:38,500
Attention, everyone !

78
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,000
Today, we present to you :

79
00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:43,000
The Dancing Skeleton.

80
00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,000
Which is controlled by
telented artisan Kami.

81
00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,000
Rumors about a strange dancing skeleton
reached the royal palace.

82
00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:51,500
The emperor summoned Kami to the court
to check out the performance.

83
00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,000
Hey Kami, listen up !

84
00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:58,500
His Majesty ordered you to perform
the Dancing Skeleton in the palace.

85
00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,000
Aye-aye !

85
00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:02,500
Hey Kami !

87
00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:07,500
I heard that you can
make a skeleton dance.

88
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,000
So perform for me !

89
00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:11,500
I'll reward you generously.

90
00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:13,000
Your wish is my command.

91
00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,000
Hey Shimo, wake up and dance !

92
00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:54,500
Why don't you dance anymore ?

93
00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:56,000
Please !

94
00:08:56,500 --> 00:08:59,500
Why are you like that ?
I'm begging you !

95
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,000
Now you won't obey me ?

96
00:09:03,500 --> 00:09:04,500
Take it !

97
00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:06,500
Kami !

98
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,000
You're a heartless man.

99
00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:15,000
Your wrongdoing don't deserve to receive
the tolerance of both heaven and earth.

100
00:09:17,500 --> 00:09:18,500
Your Majesty !

101
00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,500
I am Shimo, who was
murdered by this guy Kami.

102
00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,500
And then he stole all my money.

103
00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,000
I beg you to punish him, Sire !

104
00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,000
So this Kami is a backstabber.

105
00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:41,500
Suck a greedy and cruel monster !

106
00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,000
Please a mercy, Sire !

107
00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:45,500
Your crime should not be forgiven !

108
00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,000
Guards, take him and behead him !

109
00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:50,500
My goodness, please spare my life !

110
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:54,500
I'm very thankful, Your Majesty !

111
00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:03,999
<b>THE END</b>
© Varhiv 2024

Mykola Hohol's works are endless inspiration for Vietnamese writers in the 1980s, a time when Vietnam's politics - economy - society were in serious crisis. There is a novel that I really like : Land of Many People and Many Ghosts (Mảnh đất lắm người nhiều ma). Later, it was made into telefilm Land and People (Đất và người), which is also a film that I often rewatch to reflect on. The novel and film both try to show the context of rural Vietnam in the late 1980s, when the government eliminated subsidies and began dividing fields among farmers. Previously, due to pressure from the Soviet Union and the PR of China, fields and land are owned by the state, however everyone understands that the state is a very vague concept, there is even this proverb : Everybody's business is nobody's business (cha chung không ai khóc, "if a man has many children, then when he dies, they will not cry"). Vietnam's agriculture is inherently backward, and the territory is small with an overcrowded population, so the fields become a breeding ground for grass and insects, while farmers are still hungry and poor. The policy of dividing fields thus caused Vietnam to escape hunger in just two years and begin exporting rice - a commodity that previously had to depend on aid from the Soviet Union and a few other Eastern European countries. However, it continued to "give birth" another problem : Some persons with a high ownership mindset will seek to buy fields from men with low educational levels. This problem may be normal in America and Europe, where the land is very large and fertile, but it would be unstable in a territory so small as Northern Vietnam (its total area is only equal to Moskva oblast or Cyprus) but the population always grows too fast. When there are many fields, of course landlords will exert local political influence and make the country's politics become increasingly stagnant. Please note that these landlords basically only have primary or secondary education, they are actually still farmers in thinking, so their politics are tricks to gain benefits, not to make the country strong. That is why the communist government of Vietnam has applied very bloody punishments to all forms of secession like this. Actually, both sides are wrong, so Vietnam is still very slow in developing science and knowledge.

Therefore, the story of The Terrible Vengeance made me quickly understand the issues that Hohol wanted to talk about the condition of the Ukrainian nations in the 19th century. Film The Dancing Skeleton was also made in a similar Vietnamese social context, when fluctuations in world politics had quite complicated effects on the situation in Vietnam.

Birubir seems to be a professional translator, because he provides mostly Soviet and Russian films of high artistic quality, while the animation side is small but all of them are award-winning films (for example: A Story of a Crime). Therefore, it would be a pity if he is no longer in this world.

Lev Milchin's first (or second?) film. I think the only thing of interest here is the piggy bank itself, which is a funny and well-done character. But nothing else seems to not have much personality...

>>1
I'm not sure about the other one, but for this one, I went with the names that were in the subtitles themselves - it seems that Boris Bulgakov did the Russian transcription, and Alec Vagapov the English translation. Maybe one of those is birubir's real name. Note that birubir was the one who uploaded the subtitles (both ru and en) to subtitry.ru in Feb 2009. If he'd wanted to change the names, he could have.

However, I watched this film at a film festival when it came out, and I remember that the English subtitles were quite good - I think the translation was the same as the one here. So possibly these very subs are the official ones.