Fires on the Plain (野火)

A Kaijyu Theater production

A film by Shinya Tsukamoto

FIRES ON THE PLAIN

You have TB and you can't even forage for food.

Can you dig a bomb shelter?

Can you? Answer me!

Yes, sir!

You can't.

Go then!

To the hospital.

Go.

Don't waste it.

What?

Private Tamura, 14th Independent infantry regiment.

My squad leader sent me here.

Are you sick?

It's my lungs.

That's no reason to come here!

You have food?

Yes, sir.

Tamura.

Private Tamura.

Return to the squad.

Sir?

You're discharged. Go.

Why are you back?

You're still sick!

Come back when you can serve my squad.

You're early. You had 5 days of rations.

What's your problem?

It wasn't a 5-day ration.

We already ate it.

These men are injured. I have no time for you.

Why come back like he said?

Don't give up. Tell him you have no place to go.

If the surgeon won't admit you

kill yourself.

Make use of your grenade.

That way you'd be doing a service.

Sir, I will go to the field hospital

and kill myself if I'm turned away.

Right. Good luck.

Yes, sir.

You gave away your rations so there're no more.

I don't know which is better,

to go or to stay.

I won't kill you.

I won't.

Give me that.

And that.

I'll get you yams.

Ouch!

It's you again.

You won't quit.

Move those men outside.

They're untreatable anyway.

Cook this one so I can eat it.

If you give me half.

I can't eat this raw.

So give me half.

Go and do something useful, idiot.

Want to swap your yam for a smoke?

Why not treat yourself before you die?

Hey, come on.

Hey.

Why not swap your yam?

Please.

Please give me your yam.

It has to be the whole yam.

Keep the cigarette.

What?

I don't smoke.

Now leave me alone.

Alright!

Here.

Cook it.

Thank you.

You're like a bunch of deserters.

You cowards.

Charge!

Don't let the enemy take the island!

Don't surrender...

How's your leg?

It hurts.

I'll be right here.

Don't expect anything from me.

I'm just...lonely.

You're always crying, you sissy.

I'm...

illegitimate.

Why are you telling me that now?

Are you surprised?

Not at all. It's common enough.

Really?

You fool!

Listen to me.

I abandoned my son.

I was just a student.

My brother looked after him.

I was told to stay away.

I only got to meet him when I was drafted.

That's when...

My son said, “So long, Father.”

You're a sinner, old man.

That's why I'm prepared to die in this hellhole.

Give it back!

Now!

Those yams are for the patients.

Get up!

I've got yams!

Stop! Sir!

What?

You can have mine. Let him off.

You have an attitude.

You have a problem?

Get up, old man!

Ouch...

My stomach...

Fire...

I need fire.

If I can make fire...

I'll come back.

Damn, there's nothing!

Right, I need fire.

Any matches here?

I need matches.

I won't kill you.

I won't kill you.

I won't kill you!

I won't kill you!

I won't.

I won't kill you.

I won't kill you!

I won't kill you!

I won't kill you!

I won't!

It's too much to carry.

I'm with the 14th Independent infantry regiment, Murayama squad!

The Murayama squad... Didn't they die?

Die...?

The enemy attacked while I was at the hospital.

What for?

My lungs.

I had a suspicion that an outsider was in the area.

Where were you?

And your rifle?

I lost it in the stream.

That's enough yams to get us to Palompon.

To Palompon?

You didn't know?

All personnel on Leyte have orders to go to Palompon.

The top brass finally noticed how bad it is.

Everyone's retreating.

They'll send us to Cebu by ship.

So you wandered around cluelessly?

We'll pack our yams and go.

You'd better get some food and go, too.

Well?

Too sick?

You can stay

and give up on your girl back home.

If you died some man will console your girl

and she'll end up happily married to him.

Are you OK?

What's that bulging in your bag?

- It's salt, sir. - Salt!

That's great!

Let me have a lick.

Where was it?

In the village.

Let's go and see what else is there.

The villagers took everything and ran.

I saw many dead Japanese soldiers.

One villager ran when he saw me.

He might have alerted guerrillas.

Right.

We should get moving.

How about you?

You give me salt and you can tag along.

You look miserable.

Come with us.

I'll let you.

Lucky, huh?

What's that?

A guerrilla smoke signal?

Nothing like it...

A nice bonfire.

They're posing as villagers.

I guess it isn't the time for bonfires.

Let's get going.

Palompon.

Palompon.

Palompon.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

You're good at that.

What did you do back home?

I was a writer.

I read

and wrote. That's what I liked.