Downloaded from YTS.MX
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
THE TRUE STORY OF A COLLEGE STUDENT
I crammed for exams.
A year later, I made it into the medical school of my dreams.
And so I came to Tokyo.
-Okay. Listen up, guys. -Yes?
Listen up. Guys pay 3,000 yen. Girls pay 2,000 yen.
Who's up for an after-party?
-I'm leaving. -Why?
You'll just drink.
-Karaoke? Sing? -No.
-Hey, where's Kouta? -What?
-Excuse me. -Yes?
A member of your group collapsed in the bathroom.
What the...
I take my classes and go out drinking like everyone else.
I should be happy.
Before I knew it, I was in my second year of med school.
The carotid artery
is classified into external and internal arteries.
The internal artery feeds into the brain, supplying oxygen and nutrients.
On the other hand, the external arteries...
I hear there's a party next week.
Do you want to go?
What?
How about you?
No more collapsing.
Listen.
You are going to use your own hands
to acquire the skills to become a physician.
Most of the patients
will come to the hospital,
confident that you have those skills.
You have an obligation to reward their confidence.
Thank you for your business.
-Excuse me. -Yes?
Can you show me these?
Certainly.
I should be happy.
But something is missing.
So you're seeing someone else?
No, not really.
Why, then...
It's not that I'm dissatisfied.
But it's like something is...
missing, I guess.
I wonder what it is.
What's missing?
I don't...
What do you think is missing in him?
Beats me.
TANAKA
Your attention, please!
Attention!
Thank you for joining us today!
-Yes! -Yes!
I'm Honda, I study Economics at Tokyo City University!
-Yes! -Nice to meet you!
I hope everybody's having a great time!
-Yes! -Yes!
That guy is a total jerk.
Agreed.
Oh, he's coming.
Here.
He is our top recommendation.
Hello. Can I sit here?
Oh, sure.
Sorry.
That hurts.
Which school are you in?
Tokyo International Medical School.
-Wow, amazing. You're a med student. -Yes.
I'm Mitsuru Honda. Nice to meet you.
I'm Kouta Tanaka. Nice to meet you.
-Kouta, you're not the partying type? -What?
-Yes, sorry. -No need to be sorry.
-What's your name? -What?
Your name?
-Shibayama. -What?
Shibayama!
And you?
-Yano. -What?
-Yano! -Yano.
This is just your standard party, so chill.
What I really want to do is something original.
I'm not saying this is boring.
It just feels like something's missing.
I wish there was something
I could really get into.
Right?
Yes.
Cheers.
We were looking
for something to change our ordinary lives.
Welcome.
HELP THE CHILDREN OF CAMBODIA
PROVIDE CAMBODIAN CHILDREN WITH A ROOF OVER THEIR SCHOOLS
AUGUST 13, 2005
In that instant, my future was transformed.
PROVIDE CAMBODIAN CHILDREN WITH A ROOF OVER THEIR SCHOOLS
LET'S BUILD A SCHOOL IN CAMBODIA! KOUTA.
An elementary school for 1,500,000 yen?
Actually, it costs 3,000,000 yen,
but if you donate half of it, some place called
the World Bank donates the other half.
The World Bank sounds fake.
-That's the bank in Second Life. -Shut up, Shibayama.
Why do we have to build a school?
We don't have to build a school, I want to build a school.
Listen, man. It's not exactly like getting a hard-on.
Your part-time job pays 880 an hour.
You can't raise 1,500,000 yen.
We can if we all work together.
Either way, it is an impossible amount.
Listen.
Normally, I would take my classes,
work at my part-time job, and then graduate.
But normally, students don't build a school in Cambodia, right?
Kouta, how many people did you send that text to?
Whoever came to mind.
But we're the only ones here.
You're right.
I bet they all think you've gone out of your mind.
But you know, I don't really get it, but it could be cool.
-It could be cool, right? -I don't really get it, but sure.
Are you all out of beer?
Hey, Kouta.
What?
You need to explain why you're so into this.
I got a rush.
I felt like it would change my so-so life. That's all.
-Hey, it's Honda. -Who?
The metrosexual running that party.
-Right. -What's he coming here for?
I texted him too.
Why did you text him?
He's not a bad guy.
Stop giving out your contact details to anyone you happen to meet!
-Hey! -Hey!
I could have just texted you back, but I had to come over.
-I live close anyway. -Come on in.
-Excuse me. -He's actually here.
Hey there.
Are you guys already drinking?
-I brought beer. -Thanks.
-A school in Cambodia? -Yes.
-That's really cool! -Right?
-Yes. -He's way too flashy for me.
He's like a disco ball.
I'm getting way into this.
With you on board, I'm sure this will work out, right, guys?
-Right? -Yes!
-Yes. -Yes.
To raise 1,500,000, we need an event.
An event?
Invite a lot of people and charge them.
The question is, what's a good event?
Battle of the bands?
Bands are good.
-Weren't you in a band in high school? -Wow.
Singing Blue Hearts punk songs like "Gutter Rat"?
Not a pretty sight.
Shibayama, you look a little like a rat yourself.
I didn't know I knew you that well.
Oh, how about a flea market?
A flea market?
It will take forever to build that school.
Exactly.
It's got to be a clubbing event.
-Clubbing? -Yes.
Rent a nightclub in Roppongi and host a huge party.
Can we really rent a place like that?
I've rented lots of clubs. Leave it to me.
In a club that size, to make a decent profit...
It will cost 500,000 yen to rent the place.
-Five hundred thousand yen? -Five hundred thousand yen?
In order to raise 1,500,000 yen, if we charge a cover fee of 2,000 yen,
we need to get 1,000 people.
-A thousand people? -That's impossible, man.
Have you ever pulled that off?
Not really, but we'll be fine.
If we find a sponsor...
If it's for charity, we can get corporate donations.
You just made it bigger.
We can do it.
Let's start by calling them.
You're the man.
All yours.
-What? Me? -Yes.
Hello?
Hey, it's English!
-Really? -A foreigner?
-You can always hang up. -Hang up.
You can do it, Kouta!
-Yes! -Wow!
We look like washed-up male escorts.
He looks like a popular male escort.
Hey, I'm late.
Meet Yumiko. Educated abroad.
Hello.
-Hello. -Hello.
She will translate.
-Let's go. -Okay.
-What? -What?
Once construction begins, you can't go back.
Is that okay?
Right.
Yes.
And so our school
construction project began.
-We can't turn back now. -I'm nauseous.
What if we can't raise 1,500,000 yen?
It's too early to get nervous, but we need more help.
That's right. More members.
Let's make an event club.
-An event club? -Sounds great!
-It's not that easy. -Yes, it is.
Let's all go to the club tonight.
Why a club?
If we're having a club event,
we need to recruit at clubs.
-Hitting on girls? -No way.
But listen, guys,
we're in too deep to back down.
Right!
Oh, whatever.
Hey.
SEPTEMBER 2005
-Let's go home. My head hurts. -Yes.
Hey, wait. We can't turn back now.
We've started a journey.
No one else hits up girls on principle.
-That's right. -Yes!
Excuse me.
Excuse me. Sorry.
Well...
-Do you know him? -No way.
-Do you have a minute? -What?
Well...
Excuse me. I'm really sorry.
-What is it? -What?
-Don't talk to guys. -Why not?
They get mad if you invite customers to other club events.
If you just talk to girls, it looks like you're hitting them up.
Hit up girls.
-Okay, got it. -Okay.
Hello.
-Hi! -What are you drinking?
-A Red Eye. -A Red Eye?
I grew that tomato in your drink.
-Really? -Really?
-No way. -You're crazy.
Let's get a drink at the bar. I'm buying.
-Sure! -Yes.
-What should I get? -Oh, no. I spilled it.
So you were over here?
-All right. -Let's do this.
Excuse me. Do you have a minute?
They would never play my favorite Blue Hearts song here.
They only play music we've never heard before.
Are you interested in Cambodia?
Do you know Cambodia?
Do you need a drink?
I'm intentionally contracting my facial muscles,
picking up girls to build a school in Cambodia.
How many contacts did you get?
-Four. -You, Yano?
Well, six.
You, Shiba?
Two.
Anyway, if we're forming a club, we need a name.
Sky Gazers.
What?
Our club's name.
Because a guy who stares at the sky dreamed it up.
Oh, whatever. I'm sleepy.
All right. We'll do it our way.
Sky Gazers.
Excuse me, a school in Cambodia...
Take a flyer, please.
Please.
Thank you. Take a flyer, please.
Your approach is a little boring.
Shut up. Don't just sit there. Hand some out too.
Oh, excuse me.
A school in Cambodia...
Oh, please. Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Excuse me!
Well...
We're a club building a school in Cambodia.
-A school? -Yes. Oh, please...
-You're building a school? -Yes.
Amazing.
Well, if...
if you're interested, please come.
Hey, wait for me!
What?
Cut it out.
-"If you're interested, please..." -Shut up!
She's in the Nursing program.
It's Honda.
Hello?
What?
-Is that him? -Look.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
I'm Honda. I sent you the proposal.
-I'm from the-- -Fine.
What do you want me to do?
-Oh, well... -Please.
For instance, post it on your homepage.
You mean promotional support?
Yes.
Why?
What?
Why are you guys doing this?
Well, that's...
We...
We believe that even college students can do something to help the world.
Man, you're young.
-Sorry. -Sorry.
Well, so are we.
Sounds like fun. Let's do it.
Thank you so much!
And so that famous Live Wind Corp is providing promotional support!
We'll build the school in Northwestern Cambodia.
We're building the school with the proceeds from the event,
so it's pointless unless we get a lot of people to attend.
Please promote it in your colleges too.
-Okay. -Got it.
Oh, let me introduce
Kouta Tanaka, the guy who dreamed up this whole project.
-Stand up and say something. -Talk.
Nice to meet you. That's it.
-That's it? -I can't...
We need to raise 1,500,000 yen to complete the school.
Please read the materials and tell us what you think.
Thanks.
-Say something, Mr. Founder. -No way.
-Kouta. -Yes?
I'll leave the event speech up to you.
-What? Me? -Yes.
-Thanks. -But...
Okay.
SEPTEMBER 2005 FIRST EVENT
-That's 2,000 yen. -Oh, 2,000 yen. Thanks.
-Thank you. -Thanks.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
-Thanks. -Thank you.
-Thank you.
That was the med school students performing.
Now, the moment we've been waiting for.
Bingo game time with super great prizes!
-Yes! -Yes!
Hello, everyone. I'm Kouta Tanaka.
Hello.
"Everyone,
do you know about Cambodia?
Cambodia has an area of 181,035 square kilometers
and a population of 13.36 million people.
Its capital is Phnom Penh.
There's agriculture, fishing, and forestry.
Also, it is home to Angkor Wat, a World Heritage site.
Cambodia is on the Indochina Peninsula.
It's in the middle of the Indochina Peninsula,
Thailand to its west, Laos to its north, and Vietnam to its east.
It shares a border with Vietnam.
People's lives are by no means comfortable.
Children can't go to school even if they want to because there are no schools.
Our..."
Excuse me.
Our project may seem like no more than a drop in the ocean.
But when drops of water get together,
they form an ocean.
That's all. Thank you very much.
FIRST EVENT 632 ATTENDED, 320,000 YEN RAISED
Good work.
-Are you all right? -What?
Can you hear me now?
Yes.
Your accent's from Western Japan.
Yes.
Really? My parents are from Nishinomiya.
-Really? Mine are from Himeji. -What?
Himeji!
Oh, really?
You quoted
Mother Theresa in your speech, didn't you?
How did you know?
I've been to Indonesia as a volunteer.
What?
I've been to Indonesia as a volunteer.
Really?
There are some things you just can't know until you've been there.
What?
Say,
what's it like where our school will be built?
What?
What's it like where our school is?
Have you never been to Cambodia?
You've never been?
Yes.
I'm building a school in Cambodia,
but I've never been there.
I have to go.
I'm off to Cambodia.
OCTOBER 2005 FIRST TRIP TO CAMBODIA
We're finally here! Cambodia!
Wow, so many people.
-That's him, the Sky Gazer Project... -There it is.
How do you do? I'm Vuthy, your guide.
Nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you. -Nice to meet you.
-Wow, look at that. -Wow.
-Awesome. -Awesome.
-Hello! -Hi!
If I'm asked what kind of country Cambodia is,
without hesitation I'll say,
a country where three or even four children
pile on to motorbikes and race around.
-Let's see. -You're in the picture!
What is that?
It really is.
Hey, what are we in Cambodia for?
And paying for our own way...
It's a study tour
in order to build a school.
A study tour?
I've blown all the money I made part-timing.
SIEM REAP
-What is this? -It's great!
More rice.
Man, you eat a lot.
This mystery sauce is really great.
It's all I need.
So do you.
-It's really good! -Really?
You're right.
-Not bad. -Yum.
You're very unusual.
Most Japanese who come to Cambodia look really serious when they eat.
Why, when the food tastes so good?
Once they see conditions here, they can't joke around.
Loosen up, man. Metrosexuals don't get all serious.
We're visiting a hospital tomorrow. We shouldn't drink so much.
We came all this way, might as well enjoy ourselves.
I haven't eaten this well in a long time.
Well-spoken.
-Okay, let's toast to that! -Cheers!
-Yes!
SIEM REAP HOSPITAL
And behind us is an office that Siem Reap runs.
The large building in front of us
-Yes. -contains three units.
One is for eyes, one is for ear, nose, and throat,
-and one is for dentistry. -Dentistry?
Yes, all three.
This is the AIDS ward.
Do you want to talk to them?
Yes, please.
Okay, let's go.
Excuse us.
She is an AIDS patient.
She came here...
She's been in here for ten years.
Now she has AIDS as well as
-malaria and psychological problems. -Malaria...
-Yes. -Right.
What do you want to ask her?
In 2005, 2.6 percent of Cambodians between 15 and 49 years old,
which means 1 in 40 Cambodians are either HIV-positive or have AIDS.
A total of 170,000 people. The most cases in Southeast Asia.
Compared to before,
there's more information about AIDS.
But there's still prejudice and discrimination.
This is Soppia.
Hello.
-Hello. -Hello.
She is also HIV-positive.
Soppia's husband got HIV from a prostitute.
Soppia got it from him and she showed
symptoms of AIDS one year ago.
Then her husband left her and ran away.
Since then, she's been here all alone.
She says she hasn't spoken to young people in a long time,
so she's very happy.
-What? -She says you look exactly
like a famous Cambodian singer.
-Who? Me? -You're in the spotlight now!
In that case, he will sing for you.
Wait a minute. Mr. Vuthy, don't translate that!
No turning back now.
-Just sing. -No way.
-Just sing, Yano. -Please.
No pulling out now.
Ladies and gentlemen, our number one star, Yano, will sing "Blue Sky."
"Blue Sky"?
"Blue Sky" by The Blue Hearts.
You said you like them.
On the other side of the TV screen
The calvary...
I'm sorry, I just can't.
-What's up with you? -You've got to sing.
-You guys sing! -Sing Blue Hearts.
-You look just like him! -Yes.
-You look like him, so sing. -So sing like him.
-I like them, but I can't sing. -Just do it.
Hey, Yano!
-Come on. -Let's take it.
I'll take the picture.
Say, "Cheese."
-Okay, I got it. -Nice.
It didn't flash.
How did it come out?
-Looks great! -Nice!
-You got it. -Looks really great.
-How is our Yano? Look. -Cool, right?
She says she has found hope to live.
Hope to live...
She said, "Please come again."
Yes, I will.
I promise I will.
PHNOM PENH
This town is really intense.
-You can't even cross the street. -Right?
It's the capital, after all.
There are lots of new buildings too.
It's changing.
It needs to keep changing.
This is the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum.
I'll briefly describe to you the Tuol Sleng Prison.
Please take a look.
All of these people were Pol Pot's top officials.
-Pol Pot is in the center. -Pol Pot.
Pol Pot was the number one topman of the Pol Pot era.
He was the leader or the prime minister.
During Pol Pot's reign,
-especially intellectuals, -Intellectuals...
-smart people, educated people... -Educated people?
Once Pol Pot's people found them,
they were arrested and killed.
Cambodia was dragged into the Vietnam War, and in the ensuing civil war,
unbelievable numbers of people were massacred.
This was once a high school.
It was turned into a concentration camp.
Amazing.
The photographs on the walls
are of people who were killed.
The victims slept on these beds.
-On these? -That's right.
In between torture sessions,
they lay them on these beds.
These short irons are leg irons.
-Leg irons? -Yes.
Please take a look at their feet.
-Their feet. -They put their feet in there?
Their ankles were here?
In such a tiny hole?
During Pol Pot's reign,
people were cruelly forced to work.
Every day, from 5:00 a.m. until about 6:00 p.m.,
they had to work.
They got two meals a day. Lunch and supper.
I said meals, but instead of rice, they got gruel.
Gruel?
Gruel with almost no rice in it.
Today, human feet wouldn't fit in these.
That's how skinny and little they were back then.
Just a sack of bones.
This is a map of Cambodia.
It shows how Cambodians
were driven out of Phnom Penh and into the countryside.
This is my hometown.
Is that where you lived back then?
I lived here.
From 1975 to 1976, I lived here,
but from 1976
until the end of Pol Pot's reign, I lived here.
So my family was forced to relocate twice.
I did forced labor too.
-You did? -Yes, me too.
This kind of work
and this.
During Pol Pot's reign,
many people including teachers, doctors, and other educated people
were killed along with their families.
The total killed was one out of four Cambodians.
Perhaps more than two million people.
Here in Tuol Sleng Prison, more than 17,000 people were held captive.
Only seven of them survived.
-Can you see that hole? -What?
There's no toilet,
so how did they use the bathroom?
-That's what the hole is for? -That's right.
-Down that hole. -That hole?
If it gets dirty,
they have to lick it clean with their tongues.
To clean it?
That's right. Clean it.
What?
That's crazy.
What you see in the memorial tower
-are all skulls. -Skulls. Wow.
-In total, -Wow.
-there are 8,985 skulls. -There are 8,000?
We need to teach young Cambodians what happened during Pol Pot's reign.
Right.
-So we don't forget that time. -I see.
To remember it, we memorialize it.
-They killed children? -What do you think they did,
-in order to kill the children? -How they killed them?
Hold them by their legs,
bash them against this tree,
and put them in the hole.
-That's crazy. -Right?
It's crazy.
So this is the Killing Tree.
It's discolored here.
-It's bloodstained. -Yes.
It was here, and in 30 years,
it grew this high.
They were smashed against it.
Babies...
These are human bones.
What?
-It's not wood. -It's not wood?
That one is a little far.
Sorry, excuse me.
-These are human teeth. -You're right!
-Every year, the rain comes to Cambodia. -Right.
As the soil peels away,
-more and more appear. -More appear...
There are also bones
-right beside your feet. -Oh, this is...
-This? -What?
-Also, the clothes of the victims. -Isn't this one too?
-This is a bone too. -And this?
-That's right. It's a bone. -This?
That too.
So is this and this...
Is this a bone?
-Is this a bone? It is! -The cloth came out of the earth.
-This is clothing. -Yes.
The people tortured at Tuol Sleng
were eventually brought here and killed.
They get more and more shallow and will someday become flat.
As the rain falls, and the soil flows away,
these holes grow more shallow.
But the tragic events that took place here
will never fade.
When I become a doctor,
I want to save as many lives as I can.
Every life is precious...
Or should be.
I'm not sure how you're feeling
after seeing that.
For me, coming to this place
and guiding tourists here always reminds me of my family.
Because
I lived through the Pol Pot era myself.
What I will never be able to forget
is what happened to my father.
You see...
During the Pol Pot regime,
Vuthy's father was held captive in the camp.
Day after day, he was forced into labor,
and he finally collapsed.
Vuthy's mother, who was held at a different camp,
risked her life to deliver him a boiled egg,
which was extremely precious then, to give him strength.
My father was overjoyed then.
But when my father sat up to...
You see...
When he put the egg in his mouth, he couldn't eat it.
He couldn't...
he couldn't live anymore.
He died before he could eat it.
Today, working as a guide,
I'm able to eat good food with you.
Whenever I eat, I remember my father.
If he was still alive, I would like to feed him plenty of food.
Thank you for telling us.
You're welcome.
Please laugh.
Your easy laughter is your greatest quality.
Let us laugh
and enjoy the delicious food.
Thanks for the food.
-Thanks for the food. -Thanks for the food.
-It's hot. -Hot!
-Hey, wait. Sorry. -It's fine.
-Don't hog the food. -Why do you care?
Thanks for the food.
Hello?
Hello, Kaori?
Hello, Kouta?
You surprised me.
What time is it there?
It's 8:00 p.m. here. What time is it there?
It's 10:00 p.m. here.
What are you doing?
Studying in a restaurant.
Oh, sorry to disturb your studies.
No, that's fine.
Listen, can you help us out?
Are you okay?
Honda?
I think you should head home to Japan.
We haven't even seen the school yet.
What's the point if I go home now?
If something happens to you, there will be no school.
I'm fine.
We're really worried about you.
Kaori says she'll pick you up at the airport.
We'll come back to Cambodia.
You can see the school then. Okay?
Honda went back to Japan before us.
-Watch out! -What?
-What?
-We're stuck. -Stuck?
Heave-ho.
-No way. -Seriously?
Let's go back.
-No, we're going to the school! -I don't want to. Not in this!
-Here we go! -No way.
-Here we go! Kouta is in. -Come on.
Be careful.
-Don't splash! -That hurts!
-What are you doing, stupid? -I fell!
CHARAS VILLAGE
They're growing bananas.
-Bananas? -Yes.
-Beautiful color. -Yes.
-They sell gasoline. -Tobacco too.
Hello.
-How do you do? -How do you do?
-Wow. -Why is that here?
That's dangerous.
They are building a school.
The babies are cute.
-Babies. -Hey, babies.
-How do you do? -How do you do?
A clearing.
-There are lots of kids. -So many.
-Hey! -Hey!
-Hello. -Hello.
Our school will be built here.
-Yes. -Yes.
How do I ask their names?
"What's your name?"
Hello. What's your name?
-Hen. -You're Hen.
What do you want to grow up to be?
Tell me.
Be a doctor.
-A doctor? -Oh, I see. Why?
She says there are so many sick people,
so she wants to become a doctor
-to heal them. -I see.
Just like us.
Are those all the children in this school?
There are many more.
But there are not enough classrooms,
so they have morning and afternoon classes.
So once the school is built, everyone can study together.
No.
Some children can't attend because they have to work at home.
Are there children like that nearby here?
Yes.
I would like to meet one.
That's dangerous over there.
-What? -Why?
Beyond the red lines, there are landmines.
What?
You can't go over there, no matter what.
These are landmines they found.
These landmines explode at your feet.
The person walking can't see it, but if you step on it...
You lose your legs.
How many more are there?
I don't know, but a lot.
But those children are running.
-What did you say? -What?
-I told them not to run. -Okay.
Those children live nearby.
What? They live in a minefield?
That's right.
There are 70 million landmines buried in the world.
Every 20 minutes, someone is wounded by a landmine.
Cambodia is said
to have the highest concentration of landmines in the world.
The number of Cambodians
wounded by landmines is 67,000.
Isn't that volleyball?
-Volleyball? -You're right.
This is Swit.
-Swit. -Swit.
Swit's father was a refugee.
After the war, he came back to Cambodia.
He doesn't have his own land,
so he rents land and farms it.
Once the landmines are all cleared,
he'll be able to get some land and farm that.
What does Swit usually do?
He always helps his father with his work.
So you don't go to school?
He's a big boy,
but he doesn't go to school.
You see...
Soon, over there,
there will be a school with a roof.
We'll save a seat for you too.
Oh, right.
This is for you.
Thank you.
I'm so glad I came.
Thank you so much.
-We'll meet again. -Thank you so much.
Come again.
We will, I promise.
Let's laugh together again.
-Thank you. -Thanks.
-Take care, Vuthy. -Yes, you too.
Take care.
Bye!
-The Pachinko place. -Really?
-Let's go. -I really want to go.
-I don't know at all. -It's by the station.
-Really? -Why?
-No way! -I just don't know!
Convenience stores, fast food,
and clean toilets.
Hot water in the showers.
Nothing you eat will make you sick.
It had only been one week, but coming home after Cambodia,
everything looked different to me.
Did anything change?
What?
I got depressed after I went to Indonesia.
I sympathized with the locals I had decided were poor.
Meeting with other volunteers and talking about things,
I saw how shallow I am.
That I looked down on the locals.
But...
you seem different.
I'm no different,
but I saw so much...
I see.
Say, Kouta.
What?
Oh, it's nothing.
The next day,
our corporate sponsor was arrested,
on charges of insider trading.
He seemed like a nice guy.
Maybe he was too aggressive.
It's not just him.
What?
Look.
We're being attacked too.
What is this?
A CRIMINAL NGO
ARE YOU INSIDER TRADING TOO?
Our little club's website was being attacked.
WHAT DO THEY WANT? JUST BUILD THE SCHOOL.
THEY'RE JUST AS BAD.
Insider trading?
"Stop messing around and study."
We're not messing around.
Calm down.
"Take a good look at the bad guys."
What? That's us.
-Screw you! -Calm down.
Don't take it too seriously, Honda.
It's just the Internet.
Shut up.
What's his problem? Leave the chair alone.
Elsewhere, there was more shocking news.
SHIBAYAMA, FLUNKED
TANAKA, FLUNKED
We should never have gone to Cambodia.
What do you think
it means to become a doctor?
Well...
Look.
These people all donated their own bodies to medical science.
No one pays you to donate your body.
In fact, rookies like you stab at them,
reducing them to body parts.
Donating your own body isn't fake,
it's truly volunteering.
Understand?
Have a seat.
Yes.
Did you go to Cambodia?
Yes.
I went when I was young too.
The civil war had just ended, and it was terrible.
Don't forget you're studying medicine.
If you're going to be half-assed, don't become a doctor or a volunteer.
DONATIONS FOR SKY GAZERS
DIE, HYPOCRITES!
Stop, listen.
At this rate, we'll never raise the money in time.
Starting today, there's a quota.
-What quota? -What?
That's news to us.
Everybody raises 50,000 yen.
You have to sell 25 tickets.
What if we can't?
You pay for it yourself.
-Wait! -No way!
-Wait... -Otherwise, we can't raise the funds.
We're way behind.
But 50,000 yen could make me homeless.
What do you mean, "a quota"? We're not a corporation.
We calculated these numbers together.
-Calm down. -Do it properly!
Hey! Let's drop the quota.
Why?
It's not right for our project.
Of course, it's right!
Our club is raising 1,500,000 yen!
Don't put it that way.
Sorry.
I had a more casual approach to this club.
That volunteering would look good on my resume. Is that wrong?
No, that's fine.
We should all just think about Cambodia a little.
-We are, but still... -We are thinking about it.
It's like we're going 1,500,000 yen into debt to get a school built.
A school is just a building.
You're just building it to feel better than everyone else.
-Let's do something more practical. -Hey, just wait.
We joined this club to raise money for Cambodia.
If it's not that, we're gone.
Go ahead and leave, get out!
Sorry!
Sorry! Could you quiet down?
First of all, why Cambodia?
Why?
Because I found the flyer at the post office.
-That's all? -What?
Hey!
There are poor people in Japan too. Why go abroad?
You're right.
So you build a school in Cambodia.
The real problems start after that. They don't have enough teachers.
Yes, it's not good enough just to build it.
Why not? We're all here to build a school.
What's wrong with that?
Isn't contributing to another country something good?
-I get that, but... -Is that not enough?
Hey, wait!
-Wait! -Calm down!
Why did you have to say that?
Say something, Honda!
-We haven't heard from Shibayama. -Or from Yano.
We have to follow the four of you.
-Say something then. -We'll all split up like this.
620,000 YEN RAISED 880,000 YEN TO GO
You said Cambodia!
I think they would all understand
if they went over there.
I went and just got confused.
What?
My brain is all confused.
Between war, landmines, and AIDS, I'm panicked.
What I do know is that the club is falling apart.
And I've got to hit the books.
Did you see the curriculum for next year?
It's packed.
It's impossible.
Listen.
Cut the crap.
What?
How can you say that after meeting Vuthy and Soppia?
Tell me then.
You think you can actually save that country?
-Cut it out. -Sorry.
It's fine.
When we were in Angkor Wat,
a little kid begged me for one dollar.
Sure, I gave it to him.
But do you think that one dollar is going to change their future?
Of course not.
It's the same with the school we're building.
The problem is just too big.
It's just too big for us to handle.
It's just impossible.
Well, maybe you have a point.
Why are you agreeing?
You can't start talking like that.
It was your idea and now you're not doing anything.
Tell me, Kouta.
What exactly did we set out to do?
What about the club?
About that...
Honda's a little too strict.
Unless you two come to an agreement,
this whole project will fall apart.
You're the only one Honda will listen to.
No. He's a lot tougher than I am.
No.
He's not as strong as you are.
I don't want the group to just fall apart.
I'm sorry.
I just had to tell you.
What?
Are you two--
Dating.
I see.
Since when?
Actually, when I got back to Narita super weak,
Kaori just said,
"Welcome home."
I was so grateful.
So I just fell in love with her.
Yes.
We just started seeing each other recently.
I see.
Excuse me.
This is the Japanese-style hamburger.
Who ordered it?
Watch out, the plate is hot.
I'll bring the rice.
How are you, Kouta?
The boy, Swit, whom you met in the village,
said he wanted to write you a letter.
Swit can't write,
but he wanted to express his gratitude to you,
so I taught him how.
Swit's mother died after she became sick.
So he says he wants to study hard to become a doctor.
Thank you for the hope.
Please come back to Cambodia. We are waiting for you.
THANK YOU
SWIT
His heartfelt letter was too heavy for me now.
I'm Luna from the agency.
-Hello. -Hello.
Excuse me.
You booked me for 60 minutes?
Yes, 60 minutes is fine.
Okay.
He agreed to 60 minutes.
Yes.
No, I don't.
Yes.
Yes, thanks.
That's 60 minutes. Can you pay first, please?
-That would be 18,000 yen. -Okay.
-Thanks. -Sure.
Okay.
Here.
-Your change. -Thanks.
Are you a student?
-Yes, sort of. -I see.
Okay, let's take a bath together.
Okay.
Oh, no! Please wait.
-Change? -No...
PROVIDE CAMBODIAN CHILDREN WITH A ROOF OVER THEIR SCHOOLS
-Okay. -Well...
What?
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. Really.
I'm sorry.
What?
Are you okay?
Well...
For one hour,
can I just borrow your chest?
Thank you so much.
It's all right.
What?
I still have some time until my next one.
Okay.
Bye.
Thank you so much, really.
What did you play in high school?
-Basketball. -What? I can't beat you.
Hey...
I played soccer.
What's your favorite manga?
Captain Tsubasa.
Mine was Slam Dunk.
No wonder we don't get along.
Amazing.
-You're more amazing. -What?
My dad is a doctor.
So I decided to become a doctor too.
But I freaked out during exams.
I see.
I didn't know I hadn't found anything I really wanted to do.
But since I met you guys,
I got really serious about the project.
About Kaori--
Stop. That topic is off-limits.
I'm not tough enough
to handle that now.
Right.
I can't wait to visit the school we built.
Actually, I'm pretty pathetic.
The only reason I made the club was to have a new experience.
And even volunteering was just my way of being cool and getting girls.
Even though I didn't get any.
But that's all right.
I've decided to accept myself the way I am.
Right.
Yes.
Right.
All right!
I just can't come up with any answers.
But one thing is clear.
I can't do anything alone.
That's why I need your help.
The kids in Cambodia all had such huge smiles.
Looking back on it now,
I bet they smiled at us
because we were all smiling.
That's why we all have to keep smiling.
Smile like idiots and raise money,
and then...
If that does some good in this world,
isn't that fantastic?
Yes.
That sounds...
What?
Oh, no.
I'll get mad.
This round's on me then.
Here.
Thanks.
Thank you.
-Cheers then. -Right.
-Cheers. -Do that again.
This time with feelings!
Right. Okay.
Let's toast in Cambodian.
-Yes. -Yes.
Let's go.
Ready?
-Cheers! -Cheers!
790,000 YEN RAISED 710,000 YEN TO GO
920,000 YEN RAISED 580,000 YEN TO GO
"BLUE SKY"
1,180,000 YEN RAISED 320,000 YEN TO GO
SHIBAYAMA, PASSED TANAKA, PASSED
1,290,000 YEN RAISED 210,000 YEN TO GO
1,360,000 YEN RAISED 140,000 YEN TO GO
HELP THE CHILDREN OF CAMBODIA
JULY 2006 THE FINAL EVENT
-Yes! -Yes!
Hello, I'm Kouta Tanaka.
-Hi! -Hey, Kouta!
Last summer,
we actually went to Cambodia and saw what it's like there.
We were at a loss for words.
What we're trying to do now
may be something small.
-Hey! -What are you doing?
-Hey! -Hey!
As you can see, I have nothing.
No matter how I struggle, the world won't care.
And probably, nothing will change.
Honestly, I don't understand what it means
to love or to volunteer.
I'm sorry, I really don't.
But...
Sometimes, the joy of doing something
for someone else can exceed
the joy of doing something for yourself.
Well...
I talk like this, but actually,
I'm a truly pathetic human being.
I made this club to build a school in Cambodia,
but our website got attacked and we were called hypocrites.
Our donation box got destroyed...
I was a hopeless leader.
But...
In Cambodia,
there were people who gave me the gift of their smiles.
That's why I'm going to keep working on this project.
Because...
no matter how weak I am,
they give me their smiles.
I am nothing.
-Hey! -Hey!
Well...
You see us for who we are.
Please...
-Help us out! -Help us out!
Thank you.
Are you coming to the opening ceremony?
What?
The school's opening ceremony.
Sorry.
Right.
You should attend, Kouta.
I've got things I need to do here.
I'm quitting the club.
Why?
It's best for me.
Bye then.
Wait a minute.
I'm really happy
I got to meet you!
Even though I couldn't do anything for you.
What?
Have a good trip.
AUGUST 2006
Hello, I'm Vuthy.
-Vuthy. -Vuthy?
-Kouta! -Vuthy!
-Long time no see. -Long time no see.
-How are you? -I'm fine. How about you?
-I'm fine. -Great.
-Really? -Please. Thanks.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
-Once you know, put it in here. -Right. Throw it on.
-Vuthy. -Yes?
There's a place I would like to go to.
Where is that?
-There it is. -What?
Found it.
-From before. -Our last trip.
-Don't laugh. -You're the same.
What is it?
I've been practicing for today.
What?
"Blue Sky"?
-Yes. -For real?
-Wow. -Cool.
You're the man.
What's wrong?
Soppia passed away one month ago.
Well...
Tomorrow is finally the opening ceremony.
Yes, it is.
Swit will come too, right?
Why not?
Now that the landmines have been cleared,
they have to plow the land.
So he can't go to school.
I don't believe you.
You really want to go.
You wrote to me that you want to study.
He says he wants to help his father with his work.
But today's the opening ceremony.
Kouta, dreams and reality aren't the same thing.
But in reality, the school's opening!
Kouta!
Damn it!
Let me help.
Okay!
This is tough.
-One, two, three. -One, two, three.
We did it!
Great.
-One, two, three. -One, two, three.
We did it!
Thank you.
Kouta!
Swit!
He'll help his father after school.
He'll go to school every day and then help his father.
That's great.
Great.
Great!
We did it!
You're late!
Sorry.
I'll go ahead.
What?
Shall we?
-Yes. -Yes.
Let's go!
Come on. You take the lead.
AUGUST 27, 2006 10:00 AM
-Okay! -Thank you!
SKY GAZER PROJECT
-Here it goes. -Together now!
-Ready, go. -Ready, go.
-Wow! -Yes!
Hello.
-Hello. -Hello.
Sky Gazers representative, please.
-Representative? -Representative?
-You. -Go.
What? Me?
Thank you.
Hello.
-Hello. -Hello.
Thank you for your gift of song.
Now we would like to sing a song for you.
-What's this about? -What?
Okay.
Stand here.
"Blue Sky."
"BLUE SKY"
What?
I told you I practiced.
On the other side of the TV screen
The calvary shows off
Shooting down
Indians
I wish you had used
That bright shining pistol
Of yours
To blow my blues away instead
Sorry.
Ready?
Are you really trying
To bribe God and beg
For a passport
Into heaven
Without an ounce of sincerity
Someone is laughing
Show me what you're
Hiding in your hand
Ready?
From my birthplace
Or the color of my skin and eyes
What can you possibly know
About who I am?
Mr. Bus Driver
Take me with you
I don't care
Where you're going
This isn't how it was supposed to be
I hear history
Pleading with me
Under the blue sky
Well...
Many times, I wasn't sure we could make it.
Many times.
But here, you blew my doubts away.
Now it's your turn
to learn, laugh,
and be happy here.
You all taught me something very precious.
Thank you for the hope to live.
-Thank you so much. -Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
Thank you!
Say, "Cheese!"
That was the last time
the four of us laughed together.
Honda took a break from college and went to
Africa to work for an international aid group.
Nice.
Come on.
Yano decided to become an HIV specialist.
I'm sure he'll save many lives.
-Yes! -Yes!
Look straight ahead.
For some reason,
Shibayama is now studying Cambodian.
It's unclear what he wants to do.
After Kaori finishes her nursing residency,
she'll go work in her hometown hospital.
Vuthy still works as a guide in Phnom Penh.
As for me,
I have my hands full just keeping up every day.
Yes!
The emotions I felt in Cambodia may fade over time.
Maybe those children
have already forgotten about us.
SKY GAZER PROJECT
We can't change the world.
But, on that day, at that moment,
I know for sure that the children smiled,
and we smiled too.
KOTA HADA, WHO WROTE THIS STORY, NOW WORKS IN A HOSPITAL IN TOKYO.
HE STILL ACTIVELY SUPPORTS SCHOOLS IN CAMBODIA.
TODAY, IN 2011, THERE ARE ABOUT 6,700 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN CAMBODIA.
OF THOSE, MORE THAN 700 WERE BUILT WITH JAPANESE NPO AND NGO SUPPORT.
AND THE NUMBERS KEEP GROWING.
THIS FILM IS FICTION.
ALL SIMILARITIES TO PEOPLE AND EVENTS ARE COINCIDENTAL.