Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025)
Original title (French): Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes
Directors: Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han
Screenplay: Liane-Cho Han, Aude Py, Maïlys Vallade, Eddine Noël
Based on: The Character of Rain by Amélie Nothomb
Release date: 20 May 2025 (Cannes); 25 June 2025 (France)
Plot: Amélie is born in a vegetative state to a Belgian family living in Japan. Amélie believes her condition makes her a god to everyone around her. On her second birthday, an earthquake occurs that causes Amélie to break free of her vegetative state and move around freely. This causes her to be rejective of her family, causing her father Patrick to call for a nanny. Of the suggestion of landlady Kashima-san, Nishio-san arrives to the household, alongside the family’s grandmother Claude to stay for a while. Claude provides white chocolate to Amélie, calming her down. Amélie begins to bond with the family, except for her brother André.
After Amélie learns her first word “vacuum cleaner,” Claude goes back to Belgium, upsetting Amélie. Nishio later finds Amélie, and reads to her a book about yōkai, starting a friendship between the two, to Kashima’s chagrin. During their time together, Nishio shows Amélie a school of koi near a garden, teaches her the kanji word for rain (雨, ame) through a fogged window, and explains how she had lost her family in World War II. Later, Patrick learns of Claude’s death and has to go to Belgium for two months, with Amélie sad yet confused about the concept of death. Upon Patrick’s return, the family sans Nishio goes out to play in the beach. Amélie is reluctant to leave, but Nishio encourages her by recounting the memories of when she had visited as a child. Once there, Amélie takes and opens a jar, hoping to fill her beach experiences for Nishio. While staring curiously at the sea creatures, Amélie is caught up in the waves and nearly drowns. André saves her, finally earning him her respect. Returning home, Amélie shares the jar with Nishio; she thanks Amélie.
On Amélie’s third birthday, she finds Nishio at the home of Kashima, who scolds Nishio for bonding with Amélie and asks if she had forgotten her own family. Amélie is caught listening to their conversation. While bringing her back to her family, Nishio is denounced by Kashima in front of Amélie’s family. Nishio resigns as their nanny, leaving Amélie to celebrate her third birthday alone. Amélie is given her birthday present; three koi. However, Patrick informs Amélie that the family will soon be moving back to Belgium, further upsetting her.
One day while feeding her koi, Amélie throws herself into the pond. She ends up meeting Claude, who informs her that her time is not over. Amélie sees an outside vision of her past memory of accompanying Nishio near the window, who tells her to wake up. Amélie finds herself in a hospital, having been saved by Kashima and Nishio. Much later, the family enjoys winter, and now knowing how precious her time is with Nishio, Amélie officially recognizes that she is not a god, but a human.
* * *
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025) | Transcript
[soft, low rumbling]
[heartbeat thumping softly]
[heartbeat grows louder]
[heartbeat fades]
[Amélie] In the beginning, there was nothing.
[gentle music]
Nothing except God.
[heartbeat thumping]
How long had God been around? No one’s old enough to say. Anyway, the universe was rather empty, as you can see. But that was fine, ’cause God didn’t look at anything or want anything. God wasn’t interested in anything. God didn’t even care about being God. It might be best to think of God as a tube. Yes, a tube. Allow me to explain. All God ever did was swallow, digest, and eject. God’s divine sustenance came in and went out. But God retained nothing. Just like a tube.
[music fades]
The eyes of living beings possess the most remarkable properties. The gaze.
[doctor] Hmm, hmm.
[Amélie] We don’t say that the ears have a listener…
[bright music]
[fingers snapping]
[Amélie] …or that the nose has a smeller or a sniffer, but the eyes have a gaze. What’s the difference between the eyes that have a gaze and eyes that don’t? There’s a word for it: life. God did not have a gaze.
[doctor] Hmm.
I’m afraid your child is a vegetable.
[Amélie] Alarming, wouldn’t you think?
But the child’s parents were the optimistic sort. And to be honest, as things stood, they didn’t seem to mind this development. You see, they already had two children, two children who were very, very much alive.
[kids grunt, giggle]
[music continues]
[Amélie] So a quiet, little plant like this one was a gift, really. That was God’s greatest power. God was unflappable. Not all the pilgrims who came to pay homage, not all the tickling, not volcanoes, not even the most ecstatic music. Nothing could faze God.
[clapping]
[Amélie] I know humans who would pay dearly for such a power, the power of serenity.
[bright music resumes]
[Amélie] Still, everyone wanted God to show signs of life, of movement, of anything at all, really. But all God did was keep on doing nothing. So little by little, people lost interest in God until God was almost forgotten about completely. Days, weeks, centuries passed.
[music continues]
Stop! That’s it. What happened that day remains a mystery.
[dramatic music]
[Amélie] Some people deny the role of accidents in evolution. They want a reason for everything, but sometimes all it takes is a speck of dust. Just the tiniest, little speck of dust…
[water rushing]
…to change everything.
[muffled]
♪ Happy Birthday, dear Amélie ♪
[Patrick laughs]
I’ll blow out the candles.
No, it’s my turn.
[rumbling, objects rattling] What’s happening?
Mama, I’m scared.
Don’t panic.
It’s only a little earthquake, they happen a lot here in Japan.
[rapid heartbeat thumping]
[objects rattling]
[Andre shouts] Papa!
[stammering]
Quick, kids, under the table!
[explosion booms]
[dramatic music]
[Amélie] God was finally endowed with gaze and a body too. What could God do now? Was this a good thing?
[gasps]
[whooshing]
[Amélie thuds]
[all gasp]
Are you okay, baby?
[Amélie] Baby?
Who was this baby? God wasn’t a baby. God immediately spoke up to set the record straight, declaring, in God’s celestial tone…
[Amélie babbles]
[family laughs]
[Amélie babbles]
Ah! That’s right.
[kids laughing]
[Patrick babbles]
[laughing mockingly]
[Juliette laughs]
[Danièèle] It’s a miracle.
[Amélie whines] That was wonderful, sweetie.
[Amélie] No, it wasn’t.
[Juliette continues laughing]
[Amélie]
It wasn’t wonderful at all.
Bravo, sweetheart!
[Amélie] Their lips move and words come out.
[Andre] She talks like a baby!
[Amélie] When God’s lips move, only noise comes out.
[Danièle speaks indistinctly]
[Amélie whimpers]
[screaming]
Uh, what do we do?
Oh, uh…oh, wait, I got it, I’ll call my mom.
What? Patrick!
[screaming continues]
[Amélie] It wasn’t for lack of trying, but all God could do was scream in despair. God’s body was a prison.
[rake rustles]
[Amélie screaming in distance]
[gentle somber music]
[glass shatters]
[muffled screaming continues]
[Andre] Mom, she’s throwing her toys again!
[Juliette] It went right through the window!
Andre! Stop it!
[Andre]
I’ll stop it when she stops it!
[Juliette]
Mom, she took my things again!
[Danièle] Juliette, please.
[Amélie shrieks]
[Andre]
I’m sick and tired of this!
[Amélie wails]
[Patrick gasps]
[Andre shouting indistinctly]
Ohayo, gozaimasu.
[kids screaming]
[Danièle] Andre!
[Juliette] I’m gonna get you!
[Juliette shouts] Give it back!
[Amélie screaming] Arigato, Kashimasan.
Care to come in?
[indistinct shouting] Sorry, we’re in a little over our heads today.
[Juliette] No! That’s mine!
[Amélie shrieks]
[Juliette shouts]
[kids shouting]
[objects clattering]
[Danièle sighs heavily]
[Amélie screaming]
[Danièle] I can’t take it anymore, this is impossible.
I can’t rehearse for my concert, and what about you?
You don’t even resemble a diplomat.
[Patrick chuckles]
Guess who brought this back?
Oh, no.
Oh yes, our dear landlady.
She scared me half to death.
It’s like she was lurking out there waiting for me.
She saw the window?
What’s she going to think of us?
[Patrick] She knows a girl who could help us out.
The girl’s family served hers before the war.
[Andre shouts] I’m so embarrassed.
[impacts crash]
[gasps]
[kids shout]
That’s a good idea, give her a call.
[kids shouting indistinctly]
[door slides open, shut]
[doorbell chimes]
[Danièle] Can you see who that is?
[Patrick] Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it.
Ohayo, NishMother?
[gentle music]
That’s right.
It’s good to see you.
But, wha-what are you…
Though I think you were really expecting this young woman.
[chuckles]
Oh, Nishiosan.
[Andre and Juliette] Granny!
Oh, my little darlings, how big you’ve grown.
My tooth is loose, look.
[babbling] Ugh!
[laughs] What a killer smile.
[laughs] Who is that lady?
[Patrick] Mother, kids, this is Nishiosan.
She’s gonna help us out around here.
Please, come in.
Dozo, dozo, this way.
Oh, I’ll take care of those.
[Juliette] Granny, did you bring us any chocolates?
[Granny] Yes, I did.
[Juliette] Ooh, thanks.
[Andre] And comic books?
[Granny] Why, of course.
[music continues]
You don’t look so well, sweetie.
We’d given up expecting you.
It’s been so long.
There was so much to do getting ready for the visit.
Just look at this suit.
Isn’t it perfect?
[Patrick] It’s been six months.
[Juliette] Wow.
Oh, hi there, I’m Danièle.
I really appreciate you helping us out.
[gasps] Your mother’s here?
Hello, my de–
You look a little frazzled as well.
[Amélie shrieks]
[Danièle and Patrick gasp]
Ah, is that my little treasure?
[Andre panting]
[Juliette] Come on.
[Patrick mutters]
More like a little monster.
Nishiosan, let me show you around.
It’s changed a lot since you were young.
[raspy breathing]
[intriguing music]
[Amélie gasps]
[Andre] In here.
[Juliette] Ready?
[Granny] Ready.
[Amélie gasps]
[whispers] Look in the bed.
[Granny chuckles]
[music continues]
You wait right here, children, let me handle this.
[kids whimper]
[Amélie growls]
Hello there.
Mmm. I’m your grandmother.
It’s nice to finally meet–
[Amélie snarls] Oh, aren’t you crabby?
Wait, I know just what you need.
[growling] I always carry one of these in my bag.
[gasps]
[Granny] A little pick me up.
[gasps]
This is white chocolate from Belgium, where you come from.
[Amélie sniffs]
[growls]
[Granny] Go on, try it.
[music intensifies]
[sparkling chime rings]
[upbeat music]
[Amélie] A miracle transpired.
[energy whooshes]
[Juliette] Mama, Papa!
[Andre] Come and see!
[Patrick] What’s happened?
[Patrick gasps]
[gentle music]
[Amélie]
The joy of white chocolate showed me that God was me.
[all gasping]
Meet my good friend Amélie.
[Amélie] And that’s how I was born at the age of two and a half in the heart of the Konsai Mountains, under the gaze of my paternal grandmother, and by the grace of white chocolate.
[Danièle gasps]
[music continues]
[yawns]
This calls for champagne, don’t you think?
[parents sigh]
[Amélie] I had become joy.
Wherever joy was to be found, there you would find me too.
[Amélie pants]
[panting continues]
[upbeat music]
[Amélie giggling]
Joy had finally brought my body to life. Chocolate awakened all my senses. In mere days, I made up for all the lost time, though I didn’t really think of that time as having been lost. Apparently humans should know how to walk by two and a half.
[Amélie giggling]
Walking wasn’t all that complicated. You fall forward, catch yourself, and repeat.
[music continues]
But then there was running.
[Amélie panting]
Running is escape.
[Amélie squeals]
It’s the verb of bandits and superheroes. Whoa!
[music continues]
[Amélie pants]
[Amélie] But it’s more exhausting.
[panting]
Most importantly, by age two and a half, humans are supposed to know how to talk.
[inhales] Ah
[vacuum whirs]
[whirring continues]
[curious music]
[Amélie] What was this strange, longnecked creature?
And how was it able to do what it did, to take something and leave nothing?
[gasps]
[whirring continues]
[Amélie] Only a God could perform such a miracle.
What could be more divine than this pure and simple annihilation?
[music continues]
[particles whir]
I knew then that I had a brother.
[Danièle] Come away, Amélie, Nishiosan needs to use thatVacuum cleaner.
[Danièle gasps]
[Andre] Snack time.
[Juliette] Wait for me.
[Danièle] Patrick, Patrick!
Amélie just said her first word!
[Patrick gasps]
That’s wonderful, what was it?
Vacuum cleaner.
Vacuum cleaner?
What a lovely word!
Bravo, Amélie.
[Juliette chuckles]
Try another word, Amélie.
Try saying Mama.
[Amélie] Well, clearly this meant a lot to them.
Mama.
[all gasp]
[Danièle] Very good, Amélie!
That’s me, Mama!
It’s my turn now, my turn.
Pa…pa!
Papa.
That’s right, sweetie.
Bravo! Papa!
[Amélie] What a strange reaction.
[Danièle laughs]
[Amélie] It was as if they needed me to say their names to prove they existed. Oh, cut it out!
Juliette.
[gasps] She said my name.
She said Juliette.
[bright upbeat music]
[Danièle gasps]
[Amélie] Granny.
Oh, my little angel.
You’re so clever.
[music continues]
[Amélie] My brother loved to torture me.
He’d spend whole afternoons reading comics…
[Andre grunts]
[Juliette shrieks]
[Amélie] …on top of me.
[music continues]
[Danièle gasps]
[laughs]
She isn’t gonna say your name.
Oh, like I care anyway.
[Juliette and parents laughing]
Just give her time.
She only knows a few words.
Not true, I can say a lot of words.
You…you know how to talk?
Yes, I’ve always known how.
[Patrick laughs]
She speaks like an empress.
What a remarkable child.
She chooses her words.
Stop sulking, young man.
This calls for more champagne.
[laughs]
[Amélie laughs]
[Amélie] Good thing you were there, Granny.
You were the only one… [laughing] …who could see the real me.
[Juliette] I’ll miss you, Granny.
You’ll come back soon?
Of course.
But next time you’ll be so big, I’ll hardly recognize you.
Now look after your parents because they need it.
Where is Amélie?
[Juliette] Oh, yeah.
I want to say goodbye.
[Patrick] I’ll get her, but hop in the car.
We don’t want to be late.
[gentle music]
[Amélie mimics engine]
[gasps] Good heavens!
[continues mimicking engine]
[Granny] What are you doing here, you little minx?
Where are you going?
The land of white chocolate.
[Amélie laughs]
Oh, I’m going to miss you.
[Granny and Amélie moan softly]
I don’t know where she—oh, there you are.
Come on, Granny’s gonna be late for her plane.
[Granny] Take me away, driver.
Mama, will she be back soon?
Well, not very soon.
She’s going to Belgium, that’s far away.
Across the world.
[gasps] Across the world?
[engine starts] I don’t want that.
[dramatic music]
It’s not fair.
Why doesn’t she stay here?
Because she has to go home.
What do you think?
Don’t be such a baby.
[Amélie groans]
[Andre shouts]
[Andre grunts]
[Danièle gasps]
Andre, stop fighting.
You too, Amélie.
She almost broke my camera.
Hey!
She’s just a little kid.
She doesn’t know what that is.
[Andre]
Whatever, I didn’t ask you.
[Danièle] That’s enough.
Both of you go to your rooms.
[Amélie grunts]
[Danièle gasps]
[Amélie crying]
[Andre gasps]
[Amélie] They didn’t understand.
This coarse Belgium may have given me white chocolate, but now it was taking away my grandmother. The only one who didn’t treat me like a baby.
[Juliette yelps, pants]
[Amélie] It was intolerable!
[Juliette shrieks]
[rumbling]
[intense music]
[books thudding]
[Amélie groaning]
[music fades]
[rumbling stops]
[Amélie crying softly]
[book thuds]
[Nishio] I’m a ykai!
[Nishio giggles]
[Amélie laughs]
Look at this.
[gasps] This guy is Otoroshi, he’s a ykai whose job is to protect the gods.
He’s usually found in shrines that are very remote and isolated.
When someone does something bad there, or misbehaves, he makes the loudest noise you ever heard!
And he punishes the evildoers by falling on them from a great height and crushing them.
[growling] His job is to teach humans a lesson.
[anticipatory music]
[heavy footstep thuds]
[monster growls]
[Amélie shrieks]
[monster growls]
[music continues]
[licking lips]
[monster growls]
[music ends]
[Nishio laughs]
[gasps]
[Amélie laughs]
[laughs] More, read more.
There are lots more ykai…
[Amélie giggles] …but we’ll save them for next time.
Wanna help?
[gentle music]
[Amélie grunts]
Arigato, Améchan.
[music fades]
[gasps]
[wood creaking]
[moans softly]
[wood creaking]
[gentle Japanese-language music playing in distance]
[coffee drips]
[music continues playing]
[frogs croak]
[music continues playing]
Nishiosan!
[music fades]
[Amélie blows]
[birdsong]
[upbeat music]
[whispers] Open up.
Open up, everyone! [giggling]
[Amélie] It was my first springtime ever.
Nature and I awoke together.
[giggling continues]
At my command, I saw the plants rejoice!
[music continues]
[squeals]
[Amélie squeals, giggles]
[music continues]
[music ends]
[gentle Japanese-language music playing on radio]
[Amélie giggles]
[music stops]
Nishiosan, Nishiosan!
Why are you out here on your own so early?
I wanted you to read about more monsters, but I left the book in the kitchen.
[Nishio laughs]
[gentle music]
Then let’s go get it.
[music continues]
[grunts softly]
[Amélie panting]
[Amélie laughs]
[giggling]
[Amélie grunts]
[tense music]
[gasps]
Hello, Kashimasan, it’s good to see you again.
I wanted to thank you for this job.
Hello, Nishiosan.
What’s that girl doing in the garden?
Amélie came looking for me and found me by the pond.
[Kashima] You don’t have time to waste on her.
Just keep my property in order by performing the duties my tenants aren’t able to.
That is your job.
Yes ma’am, you’re right.
But I’m helping them out by watching Amélie here.
[humphs]
[Amélie] She looked so sad, this lady.
Go on home. I’ll be right there.
[Amélie] What was her problem?
Those tight lips and sinister eyes.
[gentle music]
[Amélie] The only way to explain it was that she was refusing to love me. She only had to look at Nishiosan, who was radiating happiness, to see that it was good to love me. Poor Kashimasan. I think she suffered from the disease of holding back too much.
[music fades]
Ah, Amélie, where were you?
Papa, what is that?
It’s a carp.
It’s the symbol of boys, and May is their month.
Why the month of May?
Hmm, I don’t know.
Why a month for boys?
Good question.
Which month is for girls?
I, uh, don’t think there is one.
[wind blowing]
Well, then why is it a carp?
Why do babies always have to ask why?
Okay, Papa, I’m done.
All right.
Come on sweetie, let’s go.
[Amélie] It was so unfair.
Why a month for boys and not girls? Not even a day for girls.
Not even a symbol.
[thunder rumbling]
[Amélie]
And again, why a carp?
[rattling]
I want to see a real carp!
I’m sure we can arrange that.
[gentle music]
Oh, why don’t we ask Nishiosan where to find some.
[Amélie] I didn’t really wanna leave my sanctuary, but I had to. I needed to see a carp to find out why they symbolized my brother.
[upbeat piano music]
[music continues]
[music fades]
[Juliette gasps]
It’s so beautiful.
[bright music]
Almost there.
[Amélie] So this was it?
The house of carp?
[camera shutter clicking]
[Andre gasps]
[music continues]
Come on, Juliette, come on!
[Juliette laughs, pants]
[music continues]
[music continues]
So where are the carp?
[Juliette] Papa, come on, let’s go.
Hold on. I don’t know, sweetie.
[Andre] Look! Look up there.
They’re this way, Améchan, over here.
Thanks Nishiosan, we’ll be right there.
[music fades]
Just you wait, some of the carp are over 100 years old.
[can pops]
[rattling]
[water burbling]
[fish splash]
[gasps softly]
Are you all right?
Bleh!
[fish continue splashing]
Carp are really ugly, aren’t they?
[Nishio laughs]
I can’t say I ever found them very cute.
[Amélie] That’s why they’re the symbol of boys because you’re the worst fish.
[heads babbling]
It also might be because they have long whiskers. [laughs]
[Amélie laughs]
[Amélie] The Japanese definitely picked the right fish to symbolize the uglier gender.
[fish splashing]
Mmnn!
[both laugh]
[Nishio laughing]
[Amélie] Bah, bah. Bah.
[Patrick] Amélie, Nishiosan, let’s go.
It’s starting to rain!
[Nishio] We’ll be right there.
[thunder cracks]
[gentle music]
Hurry up, Amélie, or you’ll melt!
Aw, can’t we stay?
I wanna stand in the rain.
Of course you do, you are the rain.
The first part of your name, Amé, means rain in Japanese.
[Amélie] My name fit me perfectly.
Like the rain, I was both precious and perilous. Benign and deadly. Silent and tempestuous.
[Amélie raindrops laughing]
[Amélie] But above all, I felt invincible.
When we get home, I’ll show you how to write your name.
[thunder booms]
[whimpers]
[Amélie] I was the rain.
[raindrop giggles]
[Andre] Last one to the kitchen is a rotten egg!
Woah! Take off those wet socks!
[kids laugh, cheer]
[Juliette] He’s the rotten egg.
[Andre]
Nuhuh, you are. I beat you!
[Juliette]
No you didn’t, you cheated!
[kids shouting indistinctly]
[Amélie] Show me, Nishiosan.
You said you’d show me how to write my name in Japanese.
[chuckles]
Maybe we change first?
When we got home is what you said.
You’re right, I did say that.
Now stick your finger up.
Like that?
Yes, very good.
Now come close to the window and let me guide you.
[gentle music]
First draw a horizontal line like this for the sky.
Then you draw half of a square, then a vertical line from the sky to the earth, and last of all, four little drops.
And that’s how you draw amé, the character for rain.
I can’t really see it.
Hold on.
[Nishio breathes]
[music continues]
How about now?
[gasps] Okay, time to go get changed.
[music continues]
[Amélie breathes]
[Amélie] I think I’d always known it, but now there wasn’t any doubt about it. I was Japanese.
[Patrick sobbing]
[Amélie] That was the first time I’d ever seen my father cry. He looks like a giant baby.
[sobbing continues]
Why are you crying, Papa?
Are you scared of the storm?
[both gasp]
[Patrick sobbing]
No, sweetie.
Papa’s crying because… because his mother, Granny, is gone.
Yeah, she went to Belgium.
No, Amélie, it’s different this time.
Granny will never be coming back.
She’s dead, Amélie.
I’m really sorry.
Dead?
Yes, my angel.
You’re too young to understand.
[Andre shouting indistinctly]
Go play with your brother and sister, I’ll be right there.
[kids shouting indistinctly]
[somber music]
[Patrick sobs]
[music continues]
[Patrick sobs]
[woman singing in Japanese]
[Amélie] Death, I knew what it was.
[sobbing continues]
[Danièle] Oh, honey.
[Amélie] But that didn’t mean I understood it.
[music and singing continue on radio]
[Amélie] My granny had saved me from death, and then in no time at all, it was her turn. Like it was a trade off or something.
[music, singing continue]
[Amélie sighs]
But why?
[soft rattling]
[gentle music]
[chuckles]
What is this?
A koma, that’s Japanese for a top.
Try to make yours do that.
[chuckles] Okay, watch.
Like this.
[music continues]
[gasps]
[chuckles]
[man speaking indistinctly on radio] Nishiosan, why do we die?
[knife clatters]
[stammers] Why do we die?
Um, maybe because…
’cause it’s God’s will?
God?
I didn’t want my grandmother to die.
What?
Your grandmother’s dead?
[Amélie] Yeah, my mama told me.
Oh, that’s terrible.
I had no idea, Amélie, I’m so sorry.
Why do we die?
Uh, because when you’ve lived a good long life, like your grandmother did, you get tired.
So you sleep and that’s a good thing.
But don’t young people die too?
Yes, well… [exhales] During the war, I saw a lot of death.
Tell me about the war.
[chuckles]
Oh, that’s ancient history.
You don’t wanna hear about that.
I do.
Tell me about it, please.
Okay, then I’ll try.
[radio shuts off]
It was long ago.
I was a kid.
I was having breakfast with my parents and my older sister when the bombs started raining down.
[splashing, booming]
It wasn’t the first time for Kobe, but that day I felt the bombs were meant for us.
And I wasn’t wrong.
[metal rattling] Right next to me, there was a huge explosion.
[steam roars]
I couldn’t believe I was still alive.
I tried to move my arms and legs, but something was stopping me.
It took me a while to realize I was buried.
[rice clatters]
Strangely enough, I felt safe, but I began to run out of air.
So I started digging, digging, digging, not knowing where I was going.
Then I pricked up my ears.
I told myself that wherever there was noise, there would be life.
But I was wrong.
There was only death.
[knife slices]
[exhales]
I lost my whole family that day.
I hope I’m not scaring you too much with this story.
Were you sad then?
Like my papa?
Yes, but time heals many things, and the memory of my loved ones is still fresh with me and continues to guide me through life.
Do you still see them?
[Nishio laughs]
[gentle music]
Not the way you see me now.
They walk a different path now, perhaps becoming something else altogether.
I picture them and talk to them sometimes.
It soothes me.
There’s a special occasion coming up.
It’s a major event in Japan.
We light candles and float them down the river, like for a birthday.
We do it to honor those we’ve lost and to help them on their way.
Can I come and see it?
Maybe.
We’ll have to ask your mom.
You can help me get ready for it.
[gentle music]
How long will Papa be in Belgium for?
[Danièle] Two months.
They’ll go by fast, don’t worry.
[engine revs]
[music continues]
[Andre] Come on, try and get it.
[Amélie] Pass it to me! To me!
[Andre] You have to get it.
[Juliette] Here, here!
[Andre] Juliette!
[Amélie] Over here!
[Andre and Juliette laughing]
[Amélie grunts]
[humphs]
[gentle music playing on radio]
[Amélie blows]
[Amélie chuckles]
[Nishio laughs]
[Nishio blows]
[both laugh]
[gentle piano music]
[both laughing]
Arigato.
[music continues]
[Amélie laughs]
[Amélie grunting]
[Nishio laughs]
[music continues]
[Amélie laughs]
Woo!
[munches]
[giggles]
Mmm!
[Andre laughing]
[music continues]
[Danièle laughs softly]
[hammer clinking]
[hammer clinking]
[blows raspberry]
[shears snip]
[music continues]
[Amélie shouts]
[Andre laughs]
[music continues]
[gasps]
Hey! [laughs]
[music continues]
[giggles]
[Nishio chuckles]
[Amélie grunts, exhales]
[music continues]
[gasps]
[Amélie gasps]
[Nishio chuckles]
You’ll bring us some chocolates, right?
Hey!
No, nougat!
Stop!
[kids grunting]
[Patrick] Don’t worry.
[kids shouting]
[Danièle]
Okay, let me talk to Papa.
[Andre grunts]
[Juliette] I didn’t even get to talk to him, thanks a lot, Andre!
[Patrick] Where’s Amélie, is she not there?
Afraid not, Nishiosan took her down to the river.
You just missed her.
They’re setting their candles on the water.
[Patrick] Ah, that’s right.
It’s the last day of the festival. Amélie so lucky to get to see that. Be sure to thank Nishiosan for taking her.
[Danièle] They love spending time together.
They’re practically inseparable. So you’re back tomorrow?
[Patrick] Yes, and I can’t wait.
I’ve been miserable without you. When I get back, we’ll have a day at the beach, promise.
[somber music]
[kids laugh]
[music continues]
[match flares]
[Amélie gasps]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[cicadas chirring]
When are we leaving?
Yeah, let’s get going.
Where’s Papa and Amélie?
Patience, ever heard of it?
I wanna stay here with you.
No, you’re going to have a wonderful time.
And besides, your father just got back from Belgium.
He wants to see you.
But why aren’t you coming with us?
Well, because I’ve been there.
I went to that beach with my family.
It was beautiful.
I was a little girl too, about your age.
I wouldn’t want you to miss standing on the edge of the world.
[chuckles]
There’s my big girl, I’ve missed you so much.
[Amélie laughs]
I’ll be right here waiting.
Have a good day, Nishiosan.
See you later.
[Nishio] Itterasshai!
[upbeat music playing on radio]
[man on radio] The sun is out, the skies are clear, and conditions are perfect for a day at Tottori beach…
[Juliette laughs] …if you happen to be out that way. And now, to keep things sizzling…
[Juliette] Don’t go anywhere, Papa!
[man on radio] …is the summer’s biggest hit.
[upbeat music]
[Juliette laughs]
[women singing in Japanese on radio]
[gulls squawking]
[waves crashing]
[laughs]
[music, singing continue on radio]
[gasps]
[Amélie] I wish Nishiosan had come with us.
[laughs, pants]
[music, singing continue on radio]
Mama, can I take this jar?
Jar?
Oh, sure sweetie.
[Amélie laughs]
[music, singing continue]
[squealing]
[squealing continues]
[music, singing continue on radio]
[ship horn blares in distance]
[water burbling]
[music, singing stop]
[Amélie] Was that the edge of the world?
Maybe that’s where my grandmother was.
[waves crash]
[ethereal music]
[waves roar]
[music continues]
[sparkling chimes]
[music continues]
[music turns mysterious]
[music swells ominously]
[Amélie gasps]
[water rushing]
[muffled grunting, whimpering]
[gasping]
[water rushing]
Mama!
Papa!
[water rushing]
[mysterious music]
[water rushing]
[Danièle pants]
[Amélie coughs]
[parents sigh in relief]
[gentle music]
[Patrick sighs]
[inhales sharply]
Everything’s okay now, Amélie.
It was Andre who spotted your jar abandoned by the water.
[sniffles]
If it hadn’t been for him…
[crying softly]
Thank you, Andre.
[sniffles, gasps]
[gasps]
She said Andre.
[Patrick chuckles]
[music continues]
[waves crash]
[metal tinkling]
[rain patters]
[waves crashing]
[gulls squawking]
[music continues]
[rain patters]
[rain patters]
[music continues]
[Andre exhales softly]
[snores, exhales softly]
[Amélie] I looked at my brother like a mathematical equation. Without him there would be no me. Would I have liked that? Well, I wouldn’t have been around to find out.
[rain patters]
[thunder rumbles in distance]
[gentle music]
Hi, Nishiosan.
Welcome back.
[car door opens, shuts]
Do you need help, sir?
Sure, if you could bring Amélie in for us, that would be great.
She’s had a rough day.
Of course.
[music continues]
[chuckles softly]
[music continues]
That’s a nice jar.
It’s for you.
You can open it if you want.
Thank you.
[sparkling chimes]
[whooshing]
[bright music]
[kids laughing]
[whooshing]
[Nishio’s mother] Nishiosan! Oide!
Hayaku oide!
[waves crashing]
[gulls squawking]
[music continues]
[wind whistling]
[music continues]
[Nishio] Arigato, Améchan.
[music continues]
[sobs softly]
[sparkling chimes]
[gasps]
Juliette, Juliette, wake up, it’s my birthday!
I’m three today!
[Juliette groans sleepily]
[Amélie growls]
[gasps]
[gasps]
[gentle music]
[grunting softly]
[Amélie laughs]
[music continues]
[gasping]
[frogs croak]
[gentle music]
[music continues]
[gasps]
[Nishio]
Good evening, Kashimasan.
Thank you for having me.
[Amélie giggles]
[Kashima] It’s a little late for explanations.
[Nishio]
Please forgive me, Kashimasan, but Amélie takes up so much of my time.
[Kashima] That’s the problem.
She’s clouded your judgment.
No, ma’am.
It’s just that their family lost a loved one, so she was talking to me about that.
[Kashima] It’s not your concern.
Our cultures should not mingle.
[door slides]
[Nishio] I’m sorry, ma’am.
I meant no disrespect.
You showed disrespect to our ancestors, taking that girl to the river.
All I’ve done is care for a child.
[stones shuffle]
[Kashima] Don’t you understand?
Befriending them means betraying your own.
Have you forgotten what they did to us?
These people had nothing to do with that.
I’m only trying to help them and I love that girl.
[gasps]
How dare you say that in front of me.
Don’t you remember what they did to us after the war?
They took everything from us.
Everything!
[Amélie thuds and grunts]
[both gasp]
Amélie, what are you doing here?
Um…
Today’s my birthday.
[Nishio] Please forgive her, Kashimasan.
I’ll take her back home now.
[exhales sharply]
[Kashima] Come to your senses.
You’re too attached to that child.
The war’s over, Kashimasan.
That was 30 years ago.
Her parents were children themselves then.
My husband!
[somber music]
[breathily] And my son!
Have you forgotten about them?
Your mother, your father, your little sister.
That’s enough.
You’re scaring her.
I shouldn’t have asked you to come.
Get out of here.
I never want to see you again.
The child will grow up one day and forget you.
Just as you have forgotten.
Forgotten everything!
Think carefully whose side you’re on!
Your pathetic attachment to that girl will come to nothing!
I’m sorry, Amélie.
Nishiosan.
[Amélie] Nishiosan!
Nishiosan!
[sobbing] No!
Nishiosan, wait!
Come back!
Please, Nishiosan.
[gasps] Nishiosan, come back!
Nishiosan!
[Amélie sobs]
[sobbing continues]
[Danièle hums comfortingly]
These are grown up problems.
It has nothing to do with you.
[sobbing]
It’s Kashimasan’s fault.
She was mean to Nishiosan.
They’ve had to go through a lot of hardship.
You’re too young to understand yet, but it doesn’t have anything to do with you, okay?
[Amélie sniffling]
[gasping]
[footsteps approaching]
[Patrick pants]
[somber music]
I am sorry, Amélie.
I couldn’t make her stay.
[music continues]
[Juliette panting]
Happy birthday, Amélie!
Easy, easy, Juliette.
[Juliette] Mwah!
[Danièle] Yeah, that’s right.
We have some candles to blow out today.
You only turn three once.
We’ve gotta hurry up, because we still have to bake you a cake.
Race you to the kitchen!
[upbeat music]
[Andre] Move! I wanna take a picture.
[Juliette] Lemme light the candles.
[camera shutter clicks]
[Patrick gasps]
Knock it off, Andre.
[music continues]
[Juliette] You’re so cute.
Papa, Papa!
[giggles]
Happy birthday, honey.
[Patrick chuckles]
[music continues]
[Patrick laughs]
[indistinct chattering]
[blows weakly]
[Andre] Can I do it?
[family cheering]
[Andre] Happy birthday! Smile!
[camera shutter clicks]
[Juliette] Happy birthday!
[Patrick laughs]
[sighs]
It’s time for your surprise now, sweetie.
[kids giggling]
[gentle music]
[muffled Japaneselanguage music plays, fades]
[Danièle] Here, chéri.
[kids giggling]
[rattling] Go on, open it.
[Amélie gasps]
[chuckles]
[dramatic music]
[water burbling]
[fish splash]
[parents] Surprise!
[Patrick laughs] We saw how much fun you had feeding the carp at that temple we visited.
So we got you three of them.
One for each year.
[splashing continues]
[Patrick] But now you’re responsible for feeding them every day for the rest of their lives.
[Danièle chuckles]
Stop, Patrick, they can live for hundreds of years.
[Patrick] Well, until we go back to Belgium then.
[gasps] Back to Belgium?
Uh, yeah.
We’re Belgian, sweetie, you know that.
No, I’m Japanese.
Sometimes things aren’t the way we want them to be.
Your father works for Belgium, and if Belgium says that we have to leave Japan, then we have to leave.
He doesn’t have to listen to Belgium.
It’s so far away!
This is my home, I wanna stay.
No, Belgium’s our home, Amélie.
We have to go back.
We belong there, you’ll see.
[dramatic music]
[Amélie] On that day, my third birthday, everything changed.
[wind whistling]
I was about to lose all that I loved.
[music continues]
We’re not going right away.
You’ll still have time to enjoy it while we pack up and get ready to leave.
[Amélie] Had I done something wrong?
Was I being punished? Or can things just go away forever without any warning?
[fish splash]
Would I forget everything? Nishiosan, my kingdom, Japan, the flowers, everything?
[music continues]
Is this life? One great chomping mouth that spares nothing?
[heartbeat thumping]
[dark music]
[Amélie gasps]
[Amélie] Carpe diem.
[container clatters]
[fish splash]
The day of the carp.
[splashing continues]
[whooshing]
[mouth groaning]
[water burbling]
[soft thud]
[emotional music]
[Amélie] Kashimasan, I began to understand your sadness.
The sadness of having lost everything. I’d never feed the carp again. I’d never leave Japan.
[water burbling]
[water rushing]
At the age of three, I went back to the beginning, to when there was nothing.
[music continues]
[Granny] What are you doing here, you little minx?
I think I’m dead.
Not quite yet.
Then I’m almost dead if I’m seeing you.
That’s right.
But this is no place for you.
It’s so boring here, and the world is so big.
The world is so sad, everything goes away.
While I may be gone, you can still see me in your memories.
[upbeat music]
[Amélie] If I can’t live in Japan forever, if I have to lose Nishiosan and the mountains.
[no audible dialogue]
[Amélie] If I have to leave the garden, if what was given gets taken away, I have no choice but to remember.
[music continues]
When we got home is what you said.
I did say that, you’re right.
Okay, stick your finger up.
Like that?
Draw a horizontal line like this for the sky.
Then you draw…
[continues indistinctly]
Amé.
…and last of all, four little drops.
[gasps]
Amélie, come back.
[music fades]
[water drop splashes]
[water drop splashes]
[Patrick and Danièle sigh]
[Amélie groans]
[Danièle gasps]
Sweetie, she’s awake.
She’s awake.
[both gasp]
[Amélie sighs]
Hey, Amélie.
[Patrick sighs]
[Andre] You okay?
You’ve gotta quit scaring us like that.
[kids giggle]
[Andre] What’s wrong with her head?
Is she hurt bad?
[Juliette] Yeah, is she?
Take it easy, kids.
That’s where you bumped your head in the pond.
Is there a hole?
[Danièle] Yes, they had to stitch you up.
[Juliette] Like with a needle and thread?
[Danièle] Yes.
Now be careful, sweetie.
Don’t touch that, let it heal.
Someone very special is here to see you.
[gentle music]
[gasps]
You happy to see her, sweetie?
It was Kashimasan who saved you.
Kashimasan?
She called Nishiosan, who came to the hospital right away.
[sniffling]
[Nishio] Améchan, thanks for coming back.
[Amélie cries softly]
You came back too.
Are you gonna stay a while?
I’ll stay with you for as long as you’re here.
[continues crying]
[Nishio crying]
[Amélie continues crying]
[Danièle sighs]
[bright gentle music]
[Amélie laughs]
Ah!
[kids shouting]
[both laughing]
[Juliette] I’m not ready yet!
Hold on, give me a minute!
[Andre] Well, I’m ready!
[giggles]
[Andre] Come on, hurry up!
[Juliette] Come on, Amélie!
[Amélie laughs]
[Juliette] Andre! No!
[Amélie laughs]
[kids shouting indistinctly]
[Juliette] Andre, stop!
Don’t hit Mom!
[all laughing, shouting]
Hey, you okay?
[Amélie] When you are three, you see everything and understand nothing. How many swallows does it take to make a springtime? Do scars eventually melt away like snow in the sun? My dear Nishiosan, my sunshine, wherever I go, I’ll always remember the precious years I spent by your side.
[giggles]
I wanna see and feel everything as much as one can in a lifetime…
[laughter]
…and write every page of my life with passion and with eyes wide open. So it turns out I’m not God, but believe me, it’s a lot more fun this way.
[music continues]
[bright music]
[woman vocalizing]
[music, singing continue]
[upbeat music]
[music continues]
[gentle music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[gentle music]
[music fades]
[water drop splashes]
