Professor Yu!
You again.
I lost my temper earlier. I apologize.
Sorry.
I didn't come for your course...
but for a child.
I screwed up. I destroyed a genius.
Only you can help me.
A father and his son came to see you.
- I'm not taking any students. - Wait!
It's all my fault.
He sold his violin to buy me a coat.
Nobody's ever been that nice to me.
And I wrecked his future.
This way, Professor.
Professor.
Please come in.
- Miss Lili brought me. - Sit down.
What you want doesn't count.
Now play and absolve me of my crime.
Here.
It seems I've ruined his future.
Play!
Miss Lili, truly...
I thank you deeply.
As soon as I saw you...
I knew you were a good soul.
Knock it off.
I knew right away you were rotten.
How true.
We're even now.
Whether Yu accepts him or not is up to fate.
Agreed.
Who's your teacher?
You won't say?
No matter.
You play from the heart.
That's good.
Who did you sell your violin to?
Dongdan's shop.
You're gutsy. I'd not have dared.
Character pleases me.
You've got peach fuzz.
Want to be my pupil?
Every note is in place, but it's no use.
There's no feeling when you play.
Music devoid of feeling is like an empty gun.
Without bullets, how can you hit a target...
or conquer a listener?
Feelings can't be taught.
Technique, yes.
But feelings are up to you.
Class dismissed.
Come here, Liu Xiaochun.
I'd like you to meet Lin Yu.
This is Xiaochun. Shake hands.
We've met.
I'll soon pick a pupil for the international contest.
Your chances are equal, so study hard.
But you already chose me.
I'll decide at the last minute.
Go!
Liu Xiaochun, that's great!
An international competition.
So begins our first lesson.
Seems dark?
Get used to it.
Learn to embrace it.
The stage is blinding.
When you play, the audience vanishes.
The light is in your heart.
Heaven, too, is dark.
Only the angels glow.
You, too, are an angel, for you possess music.
Your violin is a weapon.
Your feelings are bullets. You must conquer.
You must conquer through music.
I've chosen your piece.
It's perfect for you.
It's difficult.
Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D Major.
This is a precious violin.
It's over 200 years old.
Starting today, it's in your care.
Begin.
That's better.
The shotgun's become a sleek rifle.
I barely recognize you.
Professor Yu.
Liu Cheng, it's you.
I've come to get Chun.
Liu Cheng...
I've discussed it with Chun...
- Some water. - Thank you.
To facilitate matters...
starting today...
Chun will live here with me.
From the professor...
to buy yourself an outfit.
I have something to tell you.
I went to Dongdan's shop.
Somebody bought our violin.
No big deal.
It had seen better days.
A change was in order.
Pay close attention to Mr. Yu.
This is my sink.
Yours is the other one.
Peasant!
30, 40, 50 thousand.
It's all there. Every last cent.
They sold the violin.
So I don't need the cash.
Who's the bastard who bought it?
Let's drop it!
And you can knit. You're something, Liu Cheng.
It was an old sweater of Xiaochun's.
I undid it to knit him another.
Chun is lucky to have a dad like you.
Give me that.
The professor wants to keep Xiaochun with him.
I should be pleased.
So why don't I feel good about it?
He's your flesh and blood, not some kid you found.
He's your son, no matter what.
That's true.
It's me.
I wanted to see you.
Come in.
Lili bought you this coat. Try it on.
I wanted to see you...
to talk to you about something.
It's good that you're living here with Mr. Yu.
I'm thinking of heading home.
I'll earn the cash to send you abroad to compete.
What do you say?
Have some fruit juice.
Thanks.
Here.
It's a last-minute thing...
as to who will get to compete.
Bye!
That's good.
Why are you stopping?
Professor...
I don't want to compete.
My dad's leaving.
I want to go with him.
He won't agree.
He dreams of your success.
Stay and play well...
for his sake.
I think my playing is worse.
True enough.
You've developed Lin Yu's failing.
This is about expressing gratitude.
I see no gratefulness in you.
How to put you in touch with the sensation?
Let's say...
Take an example.
For example...
Liu Cheng is not your real father.
He found you in a train station...
with a violin beside you.
So Liu Cheng assumed...
whoever left you there...
wanted you to play the violin.
If your parents abandoned you...
for a shameful reason...
Liu Cheng never blamed them.
He was very happy to have you.
He hopes you will succeed...
because that way...
upon learning the truth...
you'd overcome the humiliation.
That's how he raised you.
Don't you think you owe it to him to excel?
It's a pack of lies!
Liu Xiaochun!
What's the matter?
Tell me what happened.
Don't cry.
I miss you.
What's wrong?
Did your teacher mistreat you?
I shouldn't have made you angry.
I shouldn't have sold the violin.
I didn't listen to you. I was wrong to disobey.
I have my flaws, too. No matter.
I want to quit.
I want to go home with you.
My boy.
Professor.
Come in, Professor.
Let me talk to him.
I know you're angry at me.
I regret revealing the secret.
I so desire your success...
for your father's sake.
Put on your coat. Come back.
The choice is yours.
Liu Cheng, come in.
Why the big box?
It's some of Chun's things I'd like you to keep.
I head home tomorrow.
But there's the competition.
What's your hurry?
Sit down.
What's going on?
If I attend, I'm afraid...
I'll distract Chun.
I have stage fright, too.
One more thing.
He'll need money to travel abroad.
I've got to go home and earn some.
The 50,000 yuan. I set them aside for you.
It's enough for a while.
I can borrow more.
Take it.
For a young girl like you...
life can't be easy.
I can't accept.
If you find the time...
please look in on Chun.
He's still just a boy.
And I suppose you're a man?
No need to get all weepy.
You didn't knit this.
Lili helped me.
Looks good on you.
It does.
Help me pack?
Dad, are you taking that home again?
We brought it along to make gifts.
Who knew we'd find a teacher so fast?
I'll make a comforter and bring it to you.
Aren't we lucky!
Finding a teacher as good as Yu so quickly.
We made a great leap forward.
Big competition coming up.
We've been living here a while.
It's hard to leave.
True. At first we even slept at the public baths.
I had my red hat.
Then I lost it.
And your slogan to comfort me?
"Admit your mistake!"
Were we right to switch teachers?
Yes.
It was hard to leave Professor Jiang...
and his cats.
Hush now.
I know.
Dad!
You must come hear me play.
You'll go right after.
Sonny...
I'm no good under pressure.
I might even faint.
Time to say goodbye. I'll be back soon.
Behave yourself.
On your way.
Away you go!
Aren't you gone yet?
Are you rejecting me?
Professor Jiang? It's Liu Cheng.
Xiaochun's dad.
Hello. I wanted to tell you...
I'm heading home.
Chun isn't leaving. He lives with Professor Yu.
We met many good people in Beijing. We were lucky.
I wanted to thank you.
Many thanks.
I've made up my mind.
For tonight's competition...
I've chosen Xiaochun.
Give me your glass.
Lin Yu...
keep working hard.
There will be other opportunities.
A ticket to leave town.
It's best that you take a train home...
after tonight's concert.
We'll serve ourselves.
Yesterday afternoon, the rehearsal went well.
But you know Chun.
How to put it?
When you're around, I'm uneasy.
I understand.
I already bought my seat...
for tonight's train.
I'm not going to the concert.
Out of my way!
I'm sick of this!
Lin Yu.
I really thought you'd be the one to play tonight.
Yeah, right.
Don't pretend to pity me.
I'm leaving, but first...
come see something.
Go on, open it.
Open it up!
Hard to believe, huh?
While you and your dad mourned its loss...
it was right here in a drawer.
Know why he bought it?
So long as this existed, your heart eluded him.
If you triumphed, he'd give it back to you...
making a fuss over all the trouble he'd gone to.
But if you didn't turn into a prize pupil...
this would be gone for good.
My playing lacks feeling.
Has he shown me feeling?
He says it can't be given.
Because he has none to give.
Liu Xiaochun.
I thought I didn't care.
But when he said I wouldn't play tonight...
I realized just how much I truly love music.
I know.
Xiaochun!
Dad!
Chun!
Whose baby is this?
Did someone lose a child?
Xiaochun: Tang Yun Liu Cheng: Liu Peiqi
Lili: Chen Hong Professor Jiang: Wang Zhiwen
Professor Yu: Chen Kaige Lili's lover: Cheng Qian
Debao: Liu Bing Mrs. Yu: Kim Hairi
Tang Rong: Li Chuanyun
Planning: Shi Dongming
Sound: Wang Danrong
Script Supervision: Zheng Wanlong
Assistant Directors: Shui Lei, Feng Feng
Continuity: Jin Dou
Make-up Artists: Yang Dandan, Yoo Minah
Costumes: Bian Yan, Feng Weiling
Violin solos: Li Chuanyun