Nuj Nplhaib thiab Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj

[Tzexa Lee]

Peb tau criticize cov neeg uas tsis yog Hmoob tab sis sau ntawv hais
txog Hmoob lawm. Zaum kuv ho xav kom peb ho los xyuas tus Hmoob ua
rau tus Hmoob.

Zaj movie Nuj Nplhaib thiab Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj hloov Hmoob zaj dab
neeg Nuj Nplaib thiab Niam Nkauj Zaug Paj thaum ub ob lub nru lus
lawm. Yog vim ua li cas kuv hais li no nev? Hmoob zaj dab neeg mas
Nuj Nplhaib yeej tsis tau nrog tsov tus tub ua rog vim nws muab tsov
tus tub tua lawm thaum Ntxawm plhis rov los Hmoob. Zaj dab neeg los
yeej tsis tau hais tias Hmoob thiab tsov sib haum. Tab sis zaj movie
hais tias tau nrog tsov tus tub ua rog thiab tso tus tub thiab Nuj
Nplhaib nkawv sib hwm ua txiv tub. Hmoob zaj dab neeg hais tias TUS
YUB NCUAB UAS TXHEEB KOJ LUB NEEJ MUS UA LAWM MAS KOJ YUAV TSUM TSIS
PUB NWS MUAJ SIA NYOB NTIAJ TEB LI. Zaj movie Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj los
kuj tib yam. Kuv saib tas mas kuv tsis paub hais tias lub nru lus yog
hais dab tsi tiag lawm. Zaj dab neeg mas hais tias Ntsuag yog ib tug
ntxiv neej uas tsis txheej cuab tsheej yib tab sis thaum nws tau Niam
Nkauj Zuag Paj los ua poj niam mas Niam Nkauj Zaug Paj los pab txhawb
nws lub neej, ua rau nws lub neej zoo tab sis nws tseem tso Niam Nkauj
Zuag Paj tseg mus yuav Niam Nkauj Kub Kaws. (Lus English yog gold
digger.) Thaum Nkaim Nkauj Zuag Paj khiav lawm, nws lub neej thiaj li
puas tas. Nws thiaj tso Niam Nkauj Kub Kaws tsev thiaj rov mus nrhiav
Nkiam Nkauj Zuag Paj. Thaum nws txheeb tau Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj rov
los, nws thiaj ua ib siab coj Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj mus ua ib lub neej
ntsiag to lawm. Zaj dab neeg no hais tias TAU POJ NIAM ZOO UA NEEJ
TSHEEJ NEEG LAWM TSIS TXHOB MUS NTSHAWB IB TUG POJ NIAM NTXIV RAU QHOV
TUS TSHIAB YOG NEEG NTSHAW NYIAJ NTSHAW TXIAJ XWB.

Kuv chiv los tso ntawm no es peb sib tham mus.

Tzexa

[Charlie]

Tzeza,

Just a minor correction. It's "Nuj Nphlaib thiab Ntxawm" and "Txiv
Nraug Ntsuag & Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj." You're funny!

Charlie

tzex...@msn.com (Tzexa Lee) wrote in message news:<d60d891f.03012...@posting.google.com>...

[Lajntxiag]

Hmoob cov dabneeg will continue to be told in various ways, whether by
Hmong or non-Hmong. Various versions will be told, but especially in
the movies where it is often strategically sound to amplify and modify
"reality" or digress from the "real" versions. From "Chiyou" or "Txiv
Yawg" to "Txiv nraug ntsuag" and "Huab tais xya leej ntxhais"--we will
continue to observe selective narratives.

I believe it is by advancing different versions of the same myth,
legend, story, folktale, etc. that these myths, legends, folktales,
etc. can best be kept alive generation after generation. In essence,
this is story telling at its best: to give new life to stories so as
to prevent them from dying. In Hmong words, "Hais dabneeg." Myths and
history do not "evolve" on their own. Story tellers and historians
constantly evolutionize myths and history.

For example, nearly all, if not all, "ethnic" groups in the world have
some version of "the creation of the world/universe/lub ntuj lub teb."
The story of the "Great Flood" is often cited as a common narrative
across human and religious groups. However, from what we know, each
group has its own "version" of the creation. Even within the Hmong
community, Hmong story tellers (who are influenced by traditional and
institutionalized religion) tend to recall slightly different
versions. Which version is more accurate? Can we possibly trust the
accuracy of any story that claims to know exactly what happened "puag
thaum ntuj tsim teb raug los"? Do we trust our memories
wholeheartedly? Chances are, no.

No single version will "satisfy" or "correctly match" the version that
individuals alreay have--or trust themselves to have retained--within
their own memories. The most we can hope for, then, is that movie
producers/story tellers present narratives for the simple reason of:
story telling. Because, in this story telling process, the most
fascinating pursuit is for both the story teller and his audience to
dive into the story, as it is unfolding, to travel different roads, to
see, smell, hear, and feel different sights and sounds throughout the
story--but, hopefully--just maybe--to meet again at the end of the
story and to smile, cry, or laugh together.

--Lajntxiag

[NkaujHmoob]

Txeza,

I watched Nuj Nplhaib a few months ago and didn't think the movie was
well directed. I thought there were too much effects and all the
characters had on too many fancy clothing that irritated the
treasurable Hmong folk tale.

However, I had the opportunity to watch another Hmong movie that was
very much like Nuj Nphliab thiab Ntxawm... It was, "Muam Nkauj Xis
thiab Nuj Sis Lis". I thought all of the character/actors did a very
good job at playing their roles. Even all the lines were so well
thought out.... Again, I wish they would have all the actors wear all
the customs/clothing during that time but the director chose to have
all the actors wore modern clothings.

I thought this movie is really good for people who are lost or just
don't know how to approach an opportunity or handling
responsibilities, especially girls/women. Here are a few lines I
find it useful and great for reminding the lost minds: YUAV KOM DEV
TSIS TOM YUS MAS YUAV TSUM XYAUM YUG DEV KOM DEV SWM YUS TUS NTXHIAB
TSO ES DEV THIAJ TSIS TOM YUS AND THIS ONE IS THE BEST---->> THAUM
YUS TUS HLUB CHIM CHIM TSIS HAIS LUS LOS COV ES TSEEM TSIS TAU MUAJ
TUG, YUAV TSUM UA SIAB NTEV THIAB SIAB LOJ, VIM YUS TUS TAV TSEEM MUAJ
TEEB MEEM THIAB TSEEM MUS DAWS PLAU DUG RAU UB RAU NO LAWM NWS THIAJ
LOS TSIS TXOG YUS XWB...

LAST ONE, THE SORRY HAVE ITS SILENCE IN SAYING THAT... UA NEEJ NYOB
TXHOB MUS TXEEB LUAG POM LUAG NKAWM THIAJ TSIS MAG LUAG NPLAWM...HEHE

I had a great time watching this movie. You guys should watch and
see.

tzex...@msn.com (Tzexa Lee) wrote in message news:<d60d891f.03012...@posting.google.com>...

[Hmong213]

The Hmong movie industry has been improved. I'm proud of their hardwork to make
this entertainment for all the Hmong people. Another love story movie "Kua Muag
Ntshav Xyoo 1972". To me, this one is another good movie to be watched.

>Subject: Re: Nuj Nplhaib thiab Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj
>From: nkaujhmo...@yahoo.com (NkaujHmoob)
>Date: 1/26/2003 12:41 PM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: <ca099735.03012...@posting.google.com>

[ibsimneej]

I think the lady in Nuj Nplhaib (Ntawm) look good. Anyone have her address? LOL!

ibsimneej

tzex...@msn.com (Tzexa Lee) wrote in message news:<d60d891f.03012...@posting.google.com>...

[Hmoob1]

I worked with the Hmong people from various communities for over a few
years. I observed that the story of Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj has several
versions. And the differences arose out of the regions the story
tellers were from. Same with Nraug Ntsuag tales. Same with Nuj
Nplhaib tales. So what you take to be different is what you came to
know in your region and what you have seen put out by another region,
e.g. the movie director's regions.

About Nuj Nplhaib though, you are right. In all of the Hmong oral
versions, Nuj Nplhaib killed off all of the cubs. None remained. So
there is no war after the happy ending--Ntxawm reunited with Nuj
Nplhaib back in the old village. However, the movie makers chose
to--and this is just my analysis--they chose to save one little tiger
to create suspense and to keep the movie making going. This is chiefly
money-driven. Notice that all of the series could have been put into
one VHS or one DVD. And I want to go as far as assuming that they
filmed everything in one trip to Thailand. But the film makers had to
put the series into different VHS cassettes so that they could sell
for more money. Each part now costs $13.00 or so. If they had
everything in one part, they would make just $13.00 for the entire
movie. Stretching it, they now make three times that: $39.00. With a
little modern sympathy for the jungle felis kind of beings, the movie
maker chose to keep a small tiger alive for more actions and so more
VHS tapes...:)