Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (2025)

[bunniefuu]

In the beginning,

there was nothing.

Nothing except God.

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.

The eyes of living beings

possess the most

remarkable properties.

The gaze.

Hmm, hmm.

We don't say that

the ears have a listener...

...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.

Hmm.

I'm afraid

your child is a vegetable.

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.

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.

I know humans

who would pay dearly

for such a power,

the power of serenity.

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.

Stop! That's it.

What happened that day

remains a mystery.

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...

...to change everything.

Happy Birthday, dear Amlie

I'll blow out the candles.

No, it's my turn.

What's happening?

Mama, I'm scared.

Don't panic.

It's only a little earthquake,

they happen a lot

here in Japan.

Papa!

Quick, kids, under the table!

God was finally

endowed with gaze

and a body too.

What could God do now?

Was this a good thing?

Are you okay, baby?

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...

Ah! That's right.

It's a miracle.

That was wonderful, sweetie.

No, it wasn't.

It wasn't wonderful at all.

- Bravo, sweetheart!

- Their lips move

and words come out.

- She talks like a baby!

- When God's lips move,

only noise comes out.

Uh, what do we do?

Oh, uh...oh, wait,

I got it, I'll call my mom.

What? Patrick!

It wasn't for lack of trying,

but all God could do

was scream in despair.

God's body was a prison.

Mom, she's throwing

her toys again!

It went

right through the window!

Andre! Stop it!

I'll stop it when she stops it!

Mom, she took my things again!

Juliette, please.

I'm sick and tired of this!

Ohayo, gozaimasu.

- Andre!

- I'm gonna get you!

Give it back!

Arigato, Kashima-san.

Care to come in?

Sorry, we're in a little

over our heads today.

No! That's mine!

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.

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?

She knows a girl

who could help us out.

The girl's family served hers

before the w*r.

I'm so embarrassed.

That's a good idea,

give her a call.

Can you see who that is?

Yeah, yeah, I've got it.

Ohayo, Nish--

Mother?

That's right.

It's good to see you.

But, wha--what are you--

Though I think you were really

expecting this young woman.

Oh, Nishio-san.

- Granny!

- Oh, my little darlings,

how big you've grown.

My tooth is loose, look.

Ugh!

What a k*ller smile.

Who is that lady?

Mother, kids,

this is Nishio-san.

She's gonna help us out

around here.

Please, come in.

Dozo, dozo, this way.

Oh, I'll take care of those.

Granny, did you

bring us any chocolates?

- Yes, I did.

- Ooh, thanks.

- And comic books?

- Why, of course.

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?

- It's been six months.

- Wow.

Oh, hi there, I'm Danile.

I really appreciate

you helping us out.

Your mother's here?

Hello, my de--

You look a little

frazzled as well.

Ah, is that my little treasure?

Come on.

More like a little monster.

Nishio-san,

let me show you around.

It's changed a lot

since you were young.

In here.

- Ready?

- Ready.

Look in the bed.

You wait right here,

children, let me handle this.

Hello there.

Mmm. I'm your grandmother.

It's nice to finally meet--

Oh, aren't you crabby?

Wait, I know just what you need.

I always carry one of these

in my bag.

A little pick me up.

This is white chocolate

from Belgium,

where you come from.

Go on, try it.

A miracle transpired.

- Mama, Papa!

- Come and see!

What's happened?

The joy of white chocolate

showed me that God was me.

Meet my good friend Amlie.

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.

This calls for champagne,

don't you think?

I had become joy.

Wherever joy was to be found,

there you would find me too.

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.

Walking wasn't

all that complicated.

You fall forward,

catch yourself, and repeat.

But then there was running.

Running is escape.

It's the verb of

bandits and superheroes.

Whoa!

But it's more exhausting.

Most importantly,

by age two and a half,

humans are supposed

to know how to talk.

Ah--

What was this strange,

long-necked creature?

And how was it able

to do what it did,

to take something

and leave nothing?

Only a God could

perform such a miracle.

What could be more divine

than this pure and

simple annihilation?

I knew then that

I had a brother.

Come away, Amlie,

Nishio-san needs to use that--

Vacuum cleaner.

- Snack time.

- Wait for me.

Patrick, Patrick!

Amlie just said her first word!

That's wonderful, what was it?

Vacuum cleaner.

Vacuum cleaner?

What a lovely word!

Bravo, Amlie.

Try another word, Amlie.

Try saying Ma-ma.

Well, clearly

this meant a lot to them.

Mama.

Very good, Amlie!

That's me, Mama!

It's my turn now, my turn.

Pa...pa!

-Papa.

-That's right, sweetie.

Bravo! Papa!

What a strange reaction.

It was as if

they needed me

to say their names

to prove they existed.

Oh, cut it out!

Juliette.

She said my name.

She said Juliette.

- Granny.

- Oh, my little angel.

You're so clever.

My brother

loved to t*rture me.

He'd spend whole afternoons

reading comics...

...on top of me.

-She isn't gonna say your name.

-Oh, like I care anyway.

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.

She speaks like an empress.

What a remarkable child.

She chooses her words.

Stop sulking, young man.

This calls for more champagne.

Good thing

you were there, Granny.

You were the only one...

...who could see the real me.

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 Amlie?

Oh, yeah.

I want to say goodbye.

I'll get her,

but hop in the car.

We don't want to be late.

Good heavens!

What are you doing

here, you little minx?

Where are you going?

The land of white chocolate.

Oh, I'm going to miss you.

I don't know where she--

oh, there you are.

Come on, Granny's gonna

be late for her plane.

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.

Across the world?

I don't want that.

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.

Andre, stop fighting.

You too, Amlie.

She almost broke my camera.

-Hey!

-She's just a little kid.

She doesn't know what that is.

Whatever, I didn't ask you.

That's enough.

Both of you go to your rooms.

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.

It was intolerable!

I'm a ykai!

Look at this.

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.

His job is to teach

humans a lesson.

More, read more.

There are lots more ykai...

...but we'll save them

for next time.

Wanna help?

Arigato, Am-chan.

Nishio-san!

Open up.

Open up, everyone!

It was my first

springtime ever.

Nature and I awoke together.

At my command,

I saw the plants rejoice!

Nishio-san, Nishio-san!

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.

Then let's go get it.

Hello, Kashima-san,

it's good to see you again.

I wanted to thank you

for this job.

Hello, Nishio-san.

What's that girl

doing in the garden?

Amlie came looking for me

and found me by the pond.

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 Amlie here.

She looked so sad, this lady.

Go on home. I'll be right there.

What was her problem?

Those tight lips

and sinister eyes.

The only way to explain it

was that she was

refusing to love me.

She only had to look

at Nishio-san,

who was radiating happiness,

to see that it was good

to love me.

Poor Kashima-san.

I think she suffered

from the disease

of holding back too much.

Ah, Amlie, 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.

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.

It was so unfair.

Why a month for boys

and not girls?

Not even a day for girls.

Not even a symbol.

And again, why a carp?

I want to see a real carp!

I'm sure we can arrange that.

Oh, why don't we ask Nishio-san

where to find some.

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.

It's so beautiful.

Almost there.

So this was it?

The house of carp?

Come on, Juliette, come on!

- So where are the carp?

- Papa, come on,

-let's go.

-Hold on. I don't know, sweetie.

Look! Look up there.

They're this way,

Am-chan, over here.

Thanks Nishio-san,

we'll be right there.

Just you wait, some of the carp

are over 100 years old.

Are you all right?

Bleh!

Carp are really ugly,

aren't they?

I can't say I ever

found them very cute.

That's why

they're the symbol of boys

because you're the worst fish.

It also might be because they

have long whiskers.

The Japanese

definitely picked

the right fish to symbolize

the uglier gender.

Mmnn!

Bah, bah. Bah.

Amlie, Nishio-san, let's go.

It's starting to rain!

We'll be right there.

Hurry up, Amlie,

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, Am,

means rain in Japanese.

My name fit me perfectly.

Like the rain, I was both

precious and perilous.

Benign and deadly.

Silent and tempestuous.

But above all,

I felt invincible.

When we get home, I'll show

you how to write your name.

I was the rain.

Last one to the kitchen

is a rotten egg!

Woah! Take off those wet socks!

He's the rotten egg.

Nuh-uh, you are. I beat you!

No you didn't, you cheated!

Show me, Nishio-san.

You said you'd show me how

to write my name in Japanese.

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.

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 am,

the character for rain.

I can't really see it.

Hold on.

How about now?

Okay, time to go get changed.

I think I'd always known it,

but now there wasn't

any doubt about it.

I was Japanese.

That was the first time

I'd ever seen my father cry.

He looks like a giant baby.

Why are you crying, Papa?

Are you scared of the storm?

No, sweetie.

Papa's crying because...

because his mother,

Granny, is gone.

Yeah, she went to Belgium.

No, Amlie,

it's different this time.

Granny will never

be coming back.

She's dead, Amlie.

I'm really sorry.

Dead?

Yes, my angel.

You're too young to understand.

Go play with your brother and

sister, I'll be right there.

Death, I knew what it was.

Oh, honey.

But that didn't mean

I understood it.

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.

But why?

What is this?

A koma,

that's Japanese for a top.

Try to make yours do that.

Okay, watch.

Like this.

Nishio-san, why do we die?

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?

Yeah, my mama told me.

Oh, that's terrible.

I had no idea,

Amlie, 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...

During the w*r,

I saw a lot of death.

Tell me about the w*r.

Oh, that's ancient history.

You don't wanna hear about that.

I do.

Tell me about it, please.

Okay, then I'll try.

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.

It wasn't the first time

for Kobe,

but that day I felt the bombs

were meant for us.

And I wasn't wrong.

Right next to me,

there was a huge expl*si*n.

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.

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.

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?

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.

How long will Papa

be in Belgium for?

Two months.

They'll go by fast, don't worry.

Come on, try and get it.

- Pass it to me! To me!

- You have to get it.

- Here, here!

- Juliette!

Over here!

Arigato.

Woo!

Mmm!

Hey!

You'll bring us some

chocolates, right?

-Hey!

-No, nougat!

Stop!

Don't worry.

Okay, let me talk to Papa.

I didn't even

get to talk to him,

thanks a lot, Andre!

Where's Amlie,

is she not there?

Afraid not, Nishio-san

took her down to the river.

You just missed her.

They're setting their candles

on the water.

Ah, that's right.

It's the last day

of the festival.

Amlie so lucky

to get to see that.

Be sure to thank Nishio-san

for taking her.

They love

spending time together.

They're practically

inseparable.

So you're back tomorrow?

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.

When are we leaving?

Yeah, let's get going.

-Where's Papa and Amlie?

-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.

There's my big girl,

I've missed you so much.

I'll be right here waiting.

Have a good day, Nishio-san.

See you later.

Itterasshai!

The sun is out,

the skies are clear,

and conditions are perfect

for a day at Tottori beach...

...if you happen to be

out that way.

And now,

to keep things sizzling...

Don't go anywhere, Papa!

...is the summer's biggest hit.

I wish Nishio-san

had come with us.

Mama, can I take this jar?

Jar?

Oh, sure sweetie.

Was that

the edge of the world?

Maybe that's where

my grandmother was.

Mama!

Papa!

Everything's okay now, Amlie.

It was Andre who spotted your

jar abandoned by the water.

If it hadn't been for him...

Thank you, Andre.

She said Andre.

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.

Hi, Nishio-san.

Welcome back.

Do you need help, sir?

Sure, if you could

bring Amlie in for us,

that would be great.

-She's had a rough day.

-Of course.

That's a nice jar.

It's for you.

You can open it if you want.

Thank you.

Nishio-san! Oide!

Hayaku oide!

Arigato, Am-chan.

Juliette, Juliette,

wake up, it's my birthday!

I'm three today!

Good evening, Kashima-san.

Thank you for having me.

It's a little late

for explanations.

Please forgive me, Kashima-san,

but Amlie takes up

so much of my time.

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.

It's not your concern.

Our cultures should not mingle.

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.

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.

How dare you say that

in front of me.

Don't you remember what

they did to us after the w*r?

They took everything from us.

Everything!

Amlie, what are you doing here?

Um...

Today's my birthday.

Please forgive her,

Kashima-san.

I'll take her back home now.

Come to your senses.

You're too attached

to that child.

The w*r's over, Kashima-san.

That was 30 years ago.

Her parents were

children themselves then.

My husband!

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, Amlie.

Nishio-san.

Nishio-san!

Nishio-san!

No!

-Nishio-san, wait!

-Come back!

Please, Nishio-san.

Nishio-san, come back!

Nishio-san!

These are grown up problems.

It has nothing to do with you.

It's Kashima-san's fault.

She was mean to Nishio-san.

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?

I am sorry, Amlie.

I couldn't make her stay.

Happy birthday, Amlie!

- Easy, easy, Juliette.

- Mwah!

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!

Move! I wanna take a picture.

Lemme light the candles.

Knock it off, Andre.

You're so cute.

Papa, Papa!

Happy birthday, honey.

Can I do it?

Happy birthday! Smile!

Happy birthday!

It's time for

your surprise now, sweetie.

Here, chri.

Go on, open it.

Surprise!

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.

But now you're

responsible for feeding them

every day

for the rest of their lives.

Stop, Patrick,

they can live for

hundreds of years.

Well, until we go

back to Belgium then.

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, Amlie.

We have to go back.

We belong there, you'll see.

On that day,

my third birthday,

everything changed.

I was about to lose

all that I loved.

We're not going right away.

You'll still have time

to enjoy it while we pack up

and get ready to leave.

Had I done something wrong?

Was I being punished?

Or can things just go away

forever without any warning?

Would I forget everything?

Nishio-san, my kingdom,

Japan, the flowers, everything?

Is this life?

One great chomping mouth

that spares nothing?

Carpe diem.

The day of the carp.

Kashima-san, I began

to understand your sadness.

The sadness of having

lost everything.

I'd never feed the carp again.

I'd never leave Japan.

At the age of three,

I went back to the beginning,

to when there was nothing.

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.

If I can't

live in Japan forever,

if I have to lose Nishio-san

and the mountains.

If I have to leave the garden,

if what was given

gets taken away,

I have no choice

but to remember.

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...

Am.

...and last of all,

four little drops.

Amlie, come back.

Sweetie, she's awake.

She's awake.

Hey, Amlie.

You okay?

You've gotta quit

scaring us like that.

What's wrong with her head?

Is she hurt bad?

Yeah, is she?

Take it easy, kids.

That's where you bumped

your head in the pond.

Is there a hole?

Yes, they had to stitch you up.

Like with a needle and thread?

Yes.

Now be careful, sweetie.

Don't touch that, let it heal.

Someone very special

is here to see you.

You happy to see her, sweetie?

It was Kashima-san

who saved you.

Kashima-san?

She called Nishio-san,

who came

to the hospital right away.

Am-chan,

thanks for coming back.

You came back too.

Are you gonna stay a while?

I'll stay with you for

as long as you're here.

Ah!

I'm not ready yet!

Hold on, give me a minute!

Well, I'm ready!

Come on, hurry up!

Come on, Amlie!

Andre! No!

Andre, stop!

Don't hit Mom!

Hey, you okay?

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 Nishio-san,

my sunshine, wherever I go,

I'll always remember

the precious years

I spent by your side.

I wanna see and feel everything

as much as one can

in a lifetime...

...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.