The Scent of Burning Grass (Mùi cỏ cháy)

Waves are youths in their twenties,

protecting the coast for eternity.

-Please take a full-body shot. -Okay.

One! Two!

May I join?

It's bad luck to take photos of three people.

Ask Long to make it four. My mouth hurts from all the smiling.

We have a girl for the photos.

-Free kiss, no slap. -Step aside.

Hey!

-This spot is mine. -Anywhere will do.

Now, say "cheese".

-It's mine. -No, it's mine. Take your hands off.

-Do we need to take another photo? -Nope.

Hey! Why don't you bring your girlfriend?

I'd like to, but… I'm still single.

You're still so young.

-When will you leave? -Tomorrow.

-You'll have the photos then. -Thanks.

Let me pay for it. In case…

There's no need. It's my gift for you.

Attention! Line up!

Salute! Thank you so much!

We'll be back for more photos upon winning the war.

You must pay for your photos on that day.

Turn right.

Quick, march!

Squad, halt!

Squad, halt!

Squad, halt!

Hurry up or we will be late.

Now, run!

-Where are they? Can't see any. -Joining the army?

Girls in the army? Come on.

-Girls might shoot better than us. -Better than you for sure.

Hey! If they wanna catch you, you won't be able to get away.

-They're all evacuated. -Where's Hoang?

He's in class.

Go see him.

I'm picturing myself having a lecture in this class back then.

Where did you get this note?

Some girl left it here. Very good handwriting.

It must be Phuong-Crooked-Tooth's.

Forget it. Only Nga's is this good.

Whose? You say?

Stop bragging like you're in love. Know her handwriting, huh?

I sent her your letters.

She took them, unimpressed.

Then she gave me this sandal-clip as a gift when we left there.

How can I forget her handwriting?

Right. How come there's no poem about her indifference?

You fools! Give an ear to my poem!

I'd like to say lots of things. I'd like to sing a song.

Let me give this first song to our old school.

Our beloved class with moss-covered walls.

And the almonds falling on the ground at night.

Such a great poem!

I volunteer to collect the almonds for you.

Barbarian you are!

It's just a poetic image. They're not real almonds in the schoolyard.

Right. How poetic you are!

GOODBYE, CLASS! SEPTEMBER 9, 1971

And the almonds Falling on the ground at night

GOODBYE, CLASS! SEPTEMBER 9, 1971 HOANG - THANH - THANG - LONG

We are leaving today. And we promise to come back to our school

and our beloved capital.

VIETNAM

Sit down, please.

You guys wait here.

The trial begins.

We are at war and you come here for a divorce.

I don't get it.

Today we will come to a conclusion.

As requested, your children should be here

so we can decide on your joint custody

and who they will live with after your divorce.

Four of our children have been evacuated.

Long, my eldest son, cannot be here for he has just joined the army.

Why don't you try to reconcile for the sake of your children?

Your tenaciousness will only hurt your children.

They would be separated from either mom or dad.

As for Long,

what would he think if he finds out about your divorce?

For that reason, we have waited until today

to come here.

It is not easy at all.

My husband is nowhere near a man. He never provides enough money.

I will take care of all four children.

I will take care of them

so she can be free.

Long will understand when he gets back.

Without your children's attendance, we cannot make a decision.

Long's attendance is a must.

We would like to consider his opinion.

He is fully entitled as a civilian.

We will close this case when he gets back.

How was it, Long?

Help me untie that knot.

Clean the table and put the stove back.

I TOOK THE CURTAIN. YOUR BELOVED SON. LONG.

Hurry up! Hurry up!

Hurry!

-Quickly! -Wait for me.

-Come on! -Up!

Come on!

-Get in! -Hurry up!

-Hurry up! -Hurry!

-Come on! -Keep this bag for me.

-Quickly! -Oops!

-Oh my! -Be careful.

-How careless! -The bag is heavy.

Hurry up!

It's time to go.

-Hurry up! -Come on!

Come on!

-Give me a hand. -Okay.

Hurry up!

-Let's go! -Go!

Go! Go!

Who are you looking for?

Come here!

-Thang! -We're here.

-We're here. -Here.

Here. Your photos.

-Thanks. -See you.

-Goodbye. -See you.

Hey! How rude you are!

No photographs. You are exposing military secrets.

Take him to our base.

I'm here to say goodbye, not to take photos.

Goodbye, everyone.

Goodbye.

We're sons of our father and mother

Feeling homesick and we get home Sneaking out or whatever

We don't need backpacks junk food, or cars

We're home for the holidays Then back in two days

What the heck are you doing?

Don't let him drive this anymore!

He will kill us all, slamming on the brake like that.

Take him to court right now!

Take him to court!

Take him to court!

Who are you taking to court?

What did you sing?

Planning to sneak out? Who wrote this song?

-Well, it's me. -Get off.

What's your name and major?

I'm Hoang. My major is Literature.

Literature?

How dare you write that load of nonsense? It breaks the spirit of soldiers.

Everyone, get off!

Attention!

Turn right!

I demand,

as a soldier,

you must stop being disorganized

and submit to the military discipline.

When you stand in line,

you are not even allowed to scratch ant bites and glance at girls.

-All clear? -Roger that!

Repeat!

Standing in line,

no scratching ant bites, no glancing at girls.

How can you stop itching without scratching, soldiers?

Just scratch as you want.

Goodbye, girls.

How disorganized!

Turn right!

Detention for everyone.

Quick, march!

Squad, halt!

Squad, halt!

Squad, halt!

Squad, halt!

-Why did you buy so many toads? -For food.

What?

It isn't easy to get them. Help me cut their thighs.

Me? What for?

I'm making Rousong for our son.

Toad meat is poisonous. It's lethal.

That's why I'm just taking the thighs.

With this, our son will have enough energy for practice.

Oh dear! I didn't think of it.

My husband made some for our Thanh when he was little. It's very good.

Did you catch them yourself?

No, I bought it. How could I catch them myself?

We don't know where they are. How can we send it to them?

Just help me make it. His military base isn't far from here.

They have just left, sis.

-What? -Oh, really?

When did they leave? Where?

See? That's how the military works.

Did they move to the south?

They were moved to the north. No real battle yet.

Healthy or not, how could you cut thighs off the uncle of the god?

They're in Nha Nam base now.

Don't spill the beans.

Near the train station?

-You have anything to eat? I'm starving. -Nope.

-Hey, bro. -What?