Bitterroot (2024)

[bunniefuu]

PLEASE COME BACK TO YOUR HOUSE

SPIRITS

AND NO LONGER EXPERIENCE

PAIN AND SICKNESS

COME AS PURE AS WATER

AND AS GREEN AS THE FOREST.

Hello, son.

Hello.

This weekend I have a daughter

coming in from Milwa..

Come if you're available

and see if you like her.

And son

you're grown now, you must find

a wife.

Have children for your mother

so she can be happy.

You are the only son, so make it

worth her giving birth to you.

-Okay.

-Thanks, auntie.

Come join us if you're

available.

We'll see if we can make it. See

you.

Careful, it's hot.

Don't forget, in two days

you have a date with Blong's

cousin.

.due to storm damage this year

there will not be enough for

farming.

.officials warn that millions of

people will go hungry

since neighboring countries

offered no financial assistance.

Areas affected by the conflict

have no medicine or water.

Don't make her go.

Her food will get cold,

let her keep eating.

Did you like her?

Who?

Blong's cousin.

What's this?

It is for spiritual protection.

Protection from what?

Just to be safe.

Did you like her?

I didn't have time.

In that case, let's invite her

over

before she goes back to

Minnesota.

Forget it.

She's from a good family.

She's never been married.

If we could get her,

it would be good for us--

It's been six months since the

divorce

and you're telling me to marry

again.

Every day I have to look at that

picture.

Stop it.

Don't be like that. A shaman

could have helped you.

My dear husband

I am very stressed today

so I am begging you to hear me.

Please come watch over our son

to protect and guard him.

Please come watch and guide him

to reach his destination.

Even if he travels far, may

nothing

slow him down or make him

stumble.

Watch over him and protect him

so he will marry a lovely wife

and have children and

grandchildren to fill the house.

Please, my husband, I beg of

you.

I wonder if Youlee had their

wedding yet.

They said it's going to be

August 6th.

Going in August is good

with all the fires here then.

Last year I was coughing all the

time.

Kia even got me a special

machine

to clean the air so I can

breathe better.

Did it help?

I don't know, I don't use it.

We turn it on when she comes

over.

Son, you're back?

Hi, auntie.

Hello, nephew.

Did you get my seedlings from

Kou's?

While you're there, see your

uncle.

He said he wants to talk to you.

-Kou and the others are out

back.

-Okay.

My dear, what are you up to?

Come, come.

Hello, son.

Would you like some water?

No thank you.

I'm watching this program on

forest fires.

There's a lot this year already.

You wanted to talk to me?

I have a few things

I want to talk to you about

because your mom and I

are worried about you.

So I wanted to talk to you

about your future.

She's always worrying.

Unfortunately, when you got

married

it did not work out.

So you ended up divorcing.

As Hmong people say, we must

continue our family legacy.

Therefore, I urge you to find a

new wife.

As your uncle,

I want you to find someone new.

It's been a while.

Hello.

Good to see you again.

Have a beer.

Made me a believer.

We're just joking.

If you want to go, we can ask

Pao.

I'm going to see what the others

have.

Why did you lie?

What?

You were fired from your job.

No. Laid off.

I'm looking for something else.

Why did you lie?

Mom--

I helped you look for a wife

but you don't want o..

I give you the amulet

and you don't wear it.

In the middle of the night

I hear you shout and scream.

What am I supposed to do?

Do you know I've devoted

my entire life to you?

No matter what I say, you don't

listen.

Will I have to drop dead

for you to be happy?

Hello.

I'm so happy you all have spared

your precious time to attend

this feast to celebrate

my son's graduation.

Thank you all.

My son, you have reached a big

milestone.

It is such a blessing.

Education is a great

accomplishment.

We'll meet back here for lunch.

We'll be staying in these

two areas. Don't go too far off.

Watch for holes, rocks, and

burned

stumps so you don't trip and

fall.

This was all from last year?

Yeah.

Miller Creek Fire. A good one.

You mean bad.

The worse it is, the more morels

for us.

To be honest, my son has been

giving me a lot of distress.

Does he disappear at night?

Has he been wearing the amulet?

He doesn't want to, auntie.

He refuses.

Thank you for trying

to help him and his wife.

If only I could have seen

farther,

I would have been able to help

them.

What happened after the

miscarriage?

She went back to California.

Just took all her things and

left, auntie.

Yes, auntie, she just

disappeared.

I don't know what to do so

I came to plead for your help.

Please forgive me.

I should bring my husband to

kowtow to you

but you know I no longer have a

husband so

I'm just using words to ask your

help.

Please help watch my son.

Recently he's been screaming

at night like he's disturbed.

I'm afraid he's encountered bad

spirits

so I am here to ask you to check

on him.

If you insist, I'll look into it

and see if I can be of any help.

Holy spirit of this area

this food is an offering to you.

The food over there

is ours. Do not come eat with

us.

Today we came to forage

and hike in nature.

Please protect us so we

stay in good health

and return back home just as

pure.

It might be a ghost.

I'm not afraid of ghosts.

Mom.

We don't need those hoses.

The sprinklers are fine.

If you change them, you won't

know how to use it anymore.

Nevermind.

At least my son-in-law wants to

help me.

.see if it will ease my heart

I miss you more than anything

words cannot describe my longing

On days I cannot see you

it's like my world is upside

down

like there's no path

for me to go on

You're nowhere to be found

My heart yearns.

What's that?

Mushrooms.

Where did you get them?

I went with Pao Moua.

There's nothing to worry about.

If you go, stay with the group.

Don't wander off by yourself.

Aunt Chuad says we must

do a spirit calling for you.

Mom--

Are you okay?

He says your heart is weak.

They want to run more tests to

know why.

I don't want this wheelchair.

We're just taking it to the car.

The doctor says to use it. Are

you ready?

Let's go home.

Rise, my spirit, don't rest

here.

Rise, rise, let's go home.

Don't argue, please.

Why aren't you sleeping? Why are

you up?

Help me button this shirt.

You're going to get better.

Aunt said you should take it

easy

so you can recover.

Where is Lue? Has he eaten?

Don't worry about him.

Did you take your medicine?

Is he wearing his amulet?

Just rest now.

I'm bored, so bored.

My kids downloaded a movie for

me.

Let's watch it.

It's dangerous and we

don't have enough supplies.

If we can find help on the other

side

we can rescue everyone.

Brother and sister, that's

right.

Hurry up and let's go.

This is for you.

Eat your portion. Don't eat

mine.

Father.

Please help me.

Mom?

.tonight is going to be a good

night

Today is the day

to call back your spirits

Tonight is the night

to call back your soul

I'm going to call Lue here

His spirit has long fallen

in the bedroom

underneath the fire pit,

under the logs

Lost in our realm, relatives,

brothers,

doesn't matter how it was lost

I am calling you back,

I am calling you back

His spirit has longed to find

a soulmate due to sadness

Please come back

You still have parents and

good brothers, good sisters

Please rise and come back

I am calling you back

Sadness is not a place

to stay and linger

Please come back to your house

spirits

and no longer experience

pain and sickness

Come as pure as water

and as green as the forest

Rise and come back,

rise and come back

Today is going to be a good day

Tonight is going to be a good

night

Today is the day

to call back your spirits

Tonight is the night

to call back your soul,

I'm going to call Lue here...

I want to see you for a little

while

to see if it will ease my heart

I miss you more than anything

words cannot describe my longing

Mom.

Son, are you hurt?

I'm fine. How are you?

I was working in the garden

and I met your father.

He said it was too soon

for me to go with him.

I know it was hard for you

growing up without a father.

Since Kao Neng also was without

a father

I thought she would love you.

My son, I told you

don't go into the forest alone.

You must bring someone to

protect you.

Mom, please forgive me.

I don't need a wife and kids

to take care of you.

Henry and Dylan are getting big.

We'll help each other.

And May and Dan.

My dear, I know.

But who will love and care for

you?