"This X-ray photo shows the stomach of the hero of our story." "Cancer symptoms." "But he doesn't know." "POPULATION MANAGER" "This counter links you to the City Hall." "Inquiries Office." "My child has had an eruption caused by this water..." "This place would be an ideal playground..." "Some petitioners, Boss." "Send them to Civil Engineering!" "Here is the main character." "Let's not talk about him." "Because..." "For him, time flies..." "He vegetates..." "He is barely alive !" "Control your behavior during work!" "But that's so funny." "What is?" "That joke." "Read on." "Never had a vacation?" "Are you essential?" "No." "But I don't want them to think i'm not." "It's no use." "He is a walking corpse!" "He's been dead 25 years." "Before that he lived!" "He even tried to work!" "BETTER PRODUCTION PROJECT... submitted by Kanji Watanabe... november 7th 1933." "Now he is deprived of decision... of initiative." "The City Hall and its slavery have killed him!" "So busy!" "But he does few things." "He heats up his chair!" "In his chair, doing nothing is mandatory!" "But is it good?" "So many wasted hours and painful crisis before he learns what's happening to him..." "But building a park is the business of the "Public Parks"." "It's an hygiene matter." "It's Public Health." "The Hygiene Office please." "Go to Plublic Health." "Prevention Office." "Anti-Epidémic section ?" "Mosquitoes?" "Refer to the Plagues Office!" "The sewer problem?" "Refer to Sewers Office." "This sewer system is crossed by a road... with the Roads Office agreement..." "The urban policy" "Is not yet final..." "Go to Urbanism." "The firemen didn't want it to be cleared." "Bringing water there is difficult." "We need water!" "But not polluted water!" "It's so difficult to clean the pipes!" "A swimming pool" "Would be welcomed." "Go to Education." "It's about restoration of the school." "It should be submitted To the City Council." "I will recommend you to the alderman." "Please be seated." "We like your proposal." "The Civil section takes care of these matters..." "Tell them where to go." "Go to Civil Engineering." "Who do you think we are?" "Wat's the use of this sign." "killing time?" "No time to lose?" "The polluted water water must be filtrated!" "Nobody cares!" "Isn't it your businnes?" "We won't sollicitate you again!" "Where is democracy?" "Our boss is not here." "Send a written submission." "the boss absence is abnormal." "He doesn't look good." "A long absencence would be annoying." "It must be serious." "But we need his stamp." "It's a real pity." "In a month , he would have served 30 years." "His absence delights some." "Public servants covets their boss situation!" "What medication does he takes?" "It's for the stomach." "He's never felt very well." "He never eats anything but noodles." "Who will replace the boss?" "Why beeing hasty?" "You still have time!" "X-RAYS." "Stomach pains?" "I suffer a chronic pain." "There is no day where i don't suffer." "It's said that he has an ulcer." "It must be cancer." "Having a cancer it's like a death sentence." "The doctor talks about ulcer..." "He says there is no need for surgery." "When you can eat anything you want, yo have a year left to live!" "Less even, when the symptoms appear." "Your stomach hurts." "The eructation is painful." "You are always thirsty." "You are constipated or you have diarrhoeas." "Your feces are black." "You cant swallow your favorite meat." "You vomit everything." "When you'll vomit a meal taken 8 days earlier, you'll have 3 months to live." "Mr. Watanabe !" "Mr. Kanji Watanabe !" "You have an ulcer." "Be sincere..." "Tell me the truth." "It's a cancer isn't it?" "No." "A simple ulcer." "Surgery is impossiple?" "It's needless." "You'll heal." "What must I eat?" "Anything you like and that you can digest." "Will he last a year?" "6 months at most." "If you only had 6 months to live what would you do?" "What would you do, Miss Aihara?" "I'll take poison." "Power breakdown?" "There's light next door." "Dad is out?" "Tha caretaker has forgotten to lock the door?" "She goes out too often." "Having her live here wouldn't be foolish." "You know dad..." "With his bureaucrat ideas!" "It's as cold here." "Our houses defaults!" "Coming home in such a house!" "We could buil one..." "With dad's pension." "He will receiver 700000 yens." "And his monthly wages." "He's got 100000 yens savings." "But will he agree?" "If he doesn't want I'll leave him." "He won't take his money in the grave." "What's the matter dad?" "Absolutely nothing." "It's awful!" "Your father a heard everything!" "How tactless!" "He shouldn't come that way in our room!" "Why doesn't he say what he want?" "Don't be so hard." "Let's stop talking about dad... and think of us." "Hold me tight!" "She was so young..." "It must have been terrible to die leaving" "such a cute child behind..." "Stop whining!" "Hurry !" "Mummy leaves!" "You don't remary because of Mitsuo, but..." "Wait untils he grows up." "His gratitude will dissapoint you!" "You'll be importunate when he'll get married!" "You must marry now." "My wife says a guy like you can't stay a widower." "Dad!" "Good night." "Close the door." "Good one hey ?" "It was my kid..." "Be brave." "Removing the appendix, it's nothing." "Will you tell..." "I've got a work to do." "To Mr. Kanji Watanabe..."" "in acknowledgement of 25 years of loyal services." "National Association of Mayors" "The master gos to the office." "He hasn't been today." "I'm responsible of an inquiry on this topic." "I can't believe it." "One of his employees confirmed it to me." "What could he have done..." "It's unbelievable, yet..." "His family was thunderstuck." "It's terrible..." "I can decide while the chief is absent." "I need his stamp." "Do you want to quit?" "This job doesn't suits me." "Dad withdrawed 50000 yens." "Incredible !" "May be he has a mistress!" "Good for him!" "That's not impossible." "he is impressible." "He must secretly admire women." "That's for you that he stayed a widower for 20 years." "Finally, he has yielded." "Nonsense..." "He looks like a beaten dog." "It's something else." "Have you seen him recently?" "4 days ago." "Something worries him." "My husband asked him if he came to borrow money." "With that look, it couldn't be about a woman!" "Mon sinner husband sees sinners everywhere!" "Anything new?" "Nothing I'm aware of." "Take that to my place." "Go get sleeping pills at the drugstore." "But it's closed already." "Is it so late?" "The shops close early here." "I can't sleep whithout it... and whisky." "Excuse-me..." "I can give you some..." "At the official price?" "I was going to get rid of it..." "Let me pay for your drinks." "You are a big drinker." "Have another." "I can't..." "I throw up everything I drink." "I have a gastric cancer." "A gastric cancer?" "You shouldn't drink like that." "I'am ashamed to say so..." "But inj your condition, drinking like that it's a suicide!" "That's not so easy..." "I thought about suicide..." "But it's hard to die." "I can't die." "Fo years,I have not known the purpose of my existence." "No children?" "Your stomach hurts?" "It's more than the stomach..." "A deep meaning hides behind all this..." "I'm an idiot." "I'm furious" "against myself!" "Until those last days..." "I had never drank..." "When I learned that I had such few time to live..." "I understand." "But you should not drink..." "Is the taste good?" "No..." "But sometimes... it allows me to forget." "I drink this sake to protest against the life I've lived!" "It's like drinking poison." "It's a torture..." "But it's sometimes soothing..." "I understand you." "I have 50000 yens That i want to spend in pleasures." "But I don't know how." "If you could..." "I must tell you how?" "If it doen't bother you." "I worked hard to get it..." "Now that i can spend it..." "I understand." "Keep the money." "Tonight the drinks are on me." "You are interesting." "Forgive my bad manners but you are interesting." "I write saga-novels." "But you have interested me." "Misfortune has its good sides." "The man finds the truth in it." "Cancer opened your eyes on life." "Men only see the beauty of life when they are about to depart it!" "Even those are rare." "Some die ignorant..." "You rebel against this idea..." "That's what impresses me." "Slave of life..." "You try to tame it!" "Man must enjoy life." "God wants it so." "You mus desire to live!" "This desire is not immoral." "Let's go." "Let's make up for wasted time!" "I will impersonate with pleasure" "Mephistopheles's part." "He doesn't ask for explanations!" "We Have a black dog!" "Guide us!" "See this silver ball..." "That's you... your life." "The machine that frees you of daily miseries." "A dreams dispenser!" "Stop!" "They're greedy!" "It will cost you dearly." "Buy a new hat." "It's been so long..." "What's so funny?" "He really has a cancer." "He shouldn't drink." "You are incorrigible !" "Have a good look at him." "It's the Christ bearing his cross:" "cancer !" "You'd already be dead!" "Not him: he started to live!" "Isn't it?" "Nobody has a preference ?" "Life is so short!" "Life is so short!" "It's time to love." "These good old tunes!" "Ok..." "Life is so brief..." "Taste love." "Your lips are fresh..." "Enjoy your youth." "Tomorrow it will be too late." "Life is so brief..." "It's time to love." "Enjoy your youth..." "Your heart full of heat..." "Tomorrow it will be too late!" "Life is so brief..." "Taste love." "Your lips are fresh..." "Enjoy your youth." "Tomorrow it will be too late." "Life is so brief..." "It's time to love." "Enjoy your youth..." "Your heart full of heat..." "Tomorrow it will be too late!" "That's what's needed!" "This is not an art." "It's more direct." "This woman's body is quite a piece of meat!" "Gin... camphor..." "Hormon, streptomycin, uranium." "Stop the car!" "A flat tyre?" "Doesn't look like it." "Let's sing !" "I hate melancholy !" "Boss !" "Your hat fooled me!" "I went to your place." "Are you going to work ?" "Do you have your stamp?" "It's home." "I want to resign." "I've got another job." "Come with me to my place." "Why do you leave?" "This job is tiresome." "Never anything new." "I've hold a year and hal." "Your absence and your hat have been the only novelties." "Don't say anything to dad." "I've nothing to tell him!" "Don't trouble him." "That's all your fault." "Because of his retirement..." "Why blame me?" "You spoke about his savings that night..." "Dad would not behave in that way..." "He never went out." "Lets stop talking about him." "We don't know what's with him." "Come up." "My 30 years !" "30 years in such a hole!" "It makes me shiver!" "That's nothing." "Whenever i think about it..." "It reminds me of the joke that yout read." "It was so true!" "In 30 years, all I can recall" "is the work and the boredom." "What a surprise to find you so understanding." "My uncle said that too." "But I Know dad." "I can't believe he's in love with such a young woman." "It's a bad form." "You're going to the office?" "Yes." "I have to give this." "Take my absence escuse." "Why don't you come?" "Everybody talks about it." "Are you really ill?" "You are pale..." "No..." "It's not about..." "Where do you go when..." "you pretend to go to the office?" "But that's weir..." "Mr. Sakai came to inquire about you." "After 30 years you earned some rest." "Unlike Mr. Sakai I will not try to learn everything." "He never stops to cackle!" "He's an empty barrel!" "And such poses !" "He looks down upon me" "Because he earns 200 more yens than me!" "Good bye." "I'll come with you." "You are lucky... to live in such a house..." "At my place, 3 families share 2 rooms." "You have a son ?" "Where can i find women stockings?" "You want to buy some?" "Foreign shops have them." "For your stepdaughter?" "They say she's very cute..." "You're all right ?" "I'm so excited!" "I should work 3 months to buy them!" "Why did you buy them?" "Yours are torn." "Weren't you cold?" "I like your kindness." "You have to forgive me." "You know something?" "Everyone in your department has a nickname." "Do you want to know them?" ""Eel."" "Someone very slick..." "Mr. Ohno." ""Sewer exit"..." "Wet all year." "Mr. Obara ?" ""Flypaper"." ""The ungluable" !" "Mr. Noguchi." "And for Mr. Saito ?" "Nothing marks him out..." ""Guest table."" "The daily menu!" "And Kimura ?" ""Gelatine"..." "Weak heart... alway trembling!" "You too have a nickname." "I won't tell you." "Please." "Tell me..." "Very well... "The Mummy"." "Thanks for everything." "Do you have to go to work?" "If it can wait until tomorrow..." "Stay with me." "You don't eat anything." "You seem tired." "I had fun." "You snored in the movie theater!" "Yesterday night I..." "I can't tell anyone." "I must admit it, but..." "The reason why" "I became a mummy..." "I am not upset" "That you call me that." "It's absolutely true." "It was unavoidable..." "I became a mummy because of my son." "And he doesn't appreciate it." "You shouldn't resent it." "He didn't asked for it." "All parents are the same." "My mother says the same thing." "She suffers because of me." "I'm happy to live." "But I didn't asked for it." "Why accuse your son?" "I know that you love him!" "The electricity shortage is going to last." "Really?" "It's the warmest winter in 30 years." "Really?" "I'd like to talk to you." "I wanted to tell you before..." "But as it's not amusing..." "I don't want to ear it." "I've talked about it with the uncle." "Such a thing should be taken care of as a transaction." "We must assert our right on your possessions." "She costs you 50000 yens!" "Women today..." "You do what you want." "We are resigned!" "I made a suggestion!" "Think about Kazue, about her family!" "Bringing a woman here!" "I was embarrassed when the caretaker spoke about it." "Our hero took a leave of two weeks." "Lots of rumors where started." "Everyone admitted that Mr. Watanabe made himself ridiculous." "But Mr. Watanabe was certain of the contrary." "This is not the City Hall!" "No way here to do in a day the work of an hour!" "Time is money!" "Let's see each other tonight." "At night I'd rather sleep." "Why do you want to go out with me every night?" "Whe should stop!" "That makes no sense." "Tonight again." "What for?" "It'll be the last time." "Let's take a walk." "No thank you!" "I know how it will end!" "I've had enough!" "We have nothing to say to each other." "That look again!" "You make me nervous." "Why do you chase me?" "What for?" "I like your company." "That's not love." "No." "Speak plainly!" "Are you angry?" "I don't recognize myself..." "Why do I need you..." "I know only one thing..." "I'm going to die." "I've got... a gastric cancer." "Here, inside..." "Do you understand?" "Less than a year to live..." "It attracted me towards you." "When I was a kid I nearly drowned myself..." "It was the same feeling." "Everywhere..." "Darkness..." "I fight to hang on..." "There's only you." "What about your son?" "Don't talk about him!" "I have no son!" "I am alone." "You couldn't understand!" "My son is far from here..." "As far as my parents when I was drowning..." "It's painful to think about it." "What is my use?" "Looking at you conforts me..." "Heats up my mummy's heart." "You are so kind..." "You're young and so healthy..." "That's not it either." "Your energy amazes me." "It makes me envious." "I'd like to be like you, even for a day... otherwise I couldn't die well." "I want to accomplish something." "I don't know what..." "You only can help me." "I doubt it..." "Teach me." "I eat and I work!" "That's all." "I build these toys..." "But that's nice..." "I have the feeling that all the children are my friends." "Do the same thing..." "What can I do at the office?" "Resign and find another job." "It's too late." "It's not too late." "Its not impossible!" "If I must I can accomplish something there." "Soon he will quit." "You will succed him." "It's difficult to tell..." "Take care of this, Mr. Ohno." "PETITION FOR THE PURIFICATION" "OF THE SEWER SYSTEM." "This petition should go to Civil Engeeniring." "It should be sent to..." "No, without us this project will never be done." "All the departments must cooperate." "Call a car." "We will inspect the place and write a report." "It's difficult boss." "No!" "Not if we are decided!" "Five months later, the hero of this story died." "We would like to see the aldermen." "Only 5 minutes." "Journalists..." "I am serene about this!" "Are you certain ?" "We inquired." "You take credit for" "The creation of this park..." "Wasn't it Mr. Watanabe ?" "He managed the Population Department" "The Domains Department is in charge of the parks." "We know that, but..." "Who introduced the project?" "The inhabitants think that it was Mr. Watanabe..." "The fact that he died in the parc interests them." "What do you mean?" "They are dissatisfied." "Your opening speech didn't mention Mr. Watanabe." "It was unfair..." "It was a political speech." "M. Watanabe has simply been cast into shadows." "A lot of people think that his death in the park is significant." "A silent protest against the city council!" "He would have commited sucide there?" "He would have let himself freeze to death?" "It snowed yesterday night." "That happens in novels." "The autopsy is irrefutable." "He succumbed to a gastric cancer." "Internal bleeding." "He died suddenly." "If you don't believe me..." "The name of the hospital..." "They distort everything!" "It's possible, but... municipal project are greatly neglected..." "They ignore everything." "For example, that park..." "It's ridiculous to think" "That Mr. Watanabe created it." "It's maybe harsh to say that in front of his family..." "I'm certain that it didn't worry him." "Of course he worked hard at this park achievement." "His perseverance impressed me." "But it was normal." "And it ridiculous to think that the Population Department manager has created a park all by himself!" "Mr. Watanabe must have fun!" "We are not faultless." "We should have better publicize our participation." "The Domains Department manager..." "Or the Civil Engineering Department one." "That's what I believe." "The Domains Department manager and I... took care of the plans." "When I think of the efforts engaged in this project..." "The alderman deserved a medal." "I have been criticized about my opening speech." "A political speech, hey ?" "Kuroe-cho inhabitants are here to pay their respects." "It's chilly hey ?" "Do you want a drink ?" "I'll heat this sake." "What if we got closer ?" "They couldn't stay !" "Mr. Watanabe built this park despite what they can say." "The Alderman knows it..." "Yo go too far !" "The Domains Department took care of everything." "I didn't mean that." "We know how you're feeling." "Why would Mr Watanabe have wanted to create a park ?" "It wasn't his jurisdiction." "It's only a project that's been realized..." "Without the upcoming elections... nobody would have cared." "Without the politicians, it wouldn't have been so fast !" "I don't understand" "Watanabe's transformation." "It's weird." "He knew he had cancer." "That's the reason why..." "We talked about your father." "Did he know he had a cancer ?" "No." "He would have told us." "He knew nothing." "For the best really," "It would have been like a death sentence." "M. Saito is wrong then." "Mr. Watanabe changed... 5 months ago." "Nobody knows why." "Because of a woman." "A mistress has often such influence on an old man." "He feels alive again..." "He must have had an affair." "He wore a garish hat." "That astonished me." "It'll be difficult boss." "No, not if we are decided !" "His dedication was almost fanatism." "That's the truth." "It's difficult to believe that the influence of a woman..." "I can't undersand it..." "Though, his zeal was confronted with difficulties." "With the municipal lobbies..." "I don't understand why a civil servant, after 30 years of service..." "He should'nt have bothered the other departments." "They didn't like it." "My boss was annoyed." "Parks were his responsability." "We have a lot of projects..." "The conditions are bad in this area." "To build a park is not such an easy task." "I will review it carefully." "In the end, the boss gave up... to Watanabe's demands." "He couldn't resist him." "What a man !" "He never wanted to admit defeat!" "My boss ran away whenever he saw Watanabe!" "His humble attitude with the subordinates was even more incomprehensible." "Finaly we gave up too." "We took pity of him." "He had more difficulties with the Public department" "I went with him during 15 days." "Ah, his visit to the mayor..." "It was extraordinary !" "ALDERMAN'S OFFICE." "There's been another incident." "In the alderman's office?" "I doubt that a department manager has ever dared to challenge the alderman." "I don't care about your project." "Mais on pensera que votre but est publicitaire." "We have our problems." "No time for yours!" "I went to a party." "The geishas were awful." "One of them was dumb." "She was a student." "I beg you to reconsider... about the park..." "Wasn't he right to insist so much ?" "That was madness!" "Influences play their part." "But the alderman changed his mind." "An adviser pressed him..." "You are too sensitive to Watanabe's zeal." "I don't think so." "If he can't be understood..." "Then the world is a sad place." "Yes, It's a sad place." "Watanabe seem to be carried by his project." "It made me shiver..." "One day, on the construction site..." "His face was radiant..." "It could have been a grandfather watching his grandson!" "He is the park creator." "That's what I pretend against everybody." "But without the city council approval, it would have never happened." "He wasn't part of the final decision." "I wouldn't go that far." "Those who wanted to build a tavern there tried to influence him." "You're the Population Dpt Manager ?" "We wanted to have a word with you." "Dont mix-up in everything!" "Who are you ?" "Don't be stupid!" "Withdraw your project !" "Isn't your life valuable?" "It's Watanabe." "That's so strange..." "I don't understand his sudden transformation." "He must have known he was sick!" "I just remembered..." "That's too much we came here 15 days in a row !" "They should tell us" "If they'll give us the money or not !" "They are so wicked !" "Why don't they give us the money graciously ?" "Don't you resent them ?" "I don't resent anyone." "I don't have time !" "since you talk about it..." "I remember something else..." "That's wonderful!" "That's 30 years that I haven't marveled at that." "But I don't have time anymore." "Now it's clear!" "He knew he was condemned !" "That explains everything." "Then I understand his weird behavior." "Maybe that's normal." "We'd do the same." "We are all mortals." "Assistant manager !" "Population Dpt Manager!" "I'm not yet appointed." "What did you say ?" "We'd do the same?" "Don't make me laugh!" "You couldn't." "Don't make me laugh!" "I've gone to evening courses." "I will never be a manager." "A man like you!" "No !" "Compared to Watanabe," "we are quite pale!" "And you too !" "Failures !" "There is good elements... in the City Hall..." "The years of service they change you..." "Nothing can be done." "You are always stopped." "You fake..." "You're right!" "That's true!" "Even to empty a vat in certain areas..." "You need so many documents!" "And so many stamps!" "Excuses !" "We live... losing our time !" "We complain about corruption..." "It's not as bad as... all the time that we lose." "I think about it sometimes.." "What can be done amongst those penpushers ?" "Impossible to think." "An in the middle of such an organization," "Watanabe accomplished this task while suffering." "That's what I wanted to say." "That makes me mad!" "Me too." "He wasn't rewarded." "What he must have felt..." "Take away the credit from him it monstrous!" "That's the alderman!" "Be careful of what you say." "What must have Watanabe thought..." "When he died alone..." "In that park ?" "That makes me sick !" "A policemen brought this." "He found it in the park." "He would like to pray..." "I thank you." "Make yourself at home." "To tell the truth, I've seen him... in the park yersterday night." "It was almost eleven." "He was on a swing." "I thought he was drunk." "I've been careless." "Nothing would have happened" "If I had taken care of him." "I'm sorry." "But he seemed to be so happy." "How could I say..." "He was sadly singing..." "His voice struck me in the heart." "Life is so brief..." "Taste love." "Your lips are fresh..." "Enjoy your youth." "Tomorrow it will be too late." "On the stairs, I found a bag with my name on it." "It contained dad's checkbook, his stamp... he must have left it there..." "If he knew he had cancer, why didn't he say something?" "Kanji's mistress didn't come." "He didn't have one." "Let's work hard!" "Like Watanabe !" "That his death wont be in vain!" "That will be a new era!" "For the public good!" "That's perfect!" "The sewer in Kizaki-cho are overflowing..." "Alert Civil Engineering!" "Go to Civil Engineering..." "Counter n° 8." "Dinner is ready!" "The End" "English Subtitles :" "Eric Bouquerel"