All language subtitles for fghjkjhgfdsfghjklkjhg

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Man: [ Writing ]
I DID NOT WITNESS
THE MOST IMPORTANT
EVENTS IN MY LIFE.

MY DEEPEST STORY MUST
BE TOLD BY A BLIND MAN

FROM BEHIND A WALL,

FROM UNDERGROUND.

[ Panting ]

[ Distant shouts ]

Man:
[ Indistinct whispers ]

Child:
[ Panting ]

[ Closer shouts ]

[ Door crashing open ][ Gasp ]

[ Panting ]

[ Panting ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Distant gunfire ]

[ Gunshot ][ Gasp ]

Woman:
[ In foreign language ]

Man:
BELLA...

[ Door crashing open ][ Mixed shouts ]

[ In foreign
language ]

[ Gunshot ][ Yelp ]

Girl:
[ Screaming ]

[ Panting ]

[ Approaching footsteps ]

[ Bell clanging ]

[ Distant chatter ]

[ Clatter ]

Jakob:
[ Light cough ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Thunder rumbling ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Water running ]

Woman:
JAKE, CAN YOU
GET ME A TOWEL?

HERE YOU GO.

[ Sigh ]

I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT PAPER.

PAPER OR CHINA?

CHINA OR PAPER?

I THINK IT'S PAPER.WHAT?

FIRST YEAR
ANNIVERSARY.

THAT'S NEXT WEEK.I KNOW.

I THINK WE
SHOULD CELEBRATE.

WHY WAIT?

HMMM.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.[ Shudder ]

MAYBE WE SHOULD
JUST GET READY.

OKAY.

Woman:
YOU READY TO GO?

THIS WOMAN AT BIRKENAU,

SHE KEPT AN IMAGE OF
HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER

CUT FROM A PHOTO,
UNDERNEATH HER TONGUE
FOR THREE MONTHS.

SHE COULD'VE BEEN
KILLED AT ANY MOMENT.

INCREDIBLE.

YEAH.

THAT A PERSON WOULD
DIE FOR A PHOTOGRAPH.

YOU DON'T WANT
TO COME, DO YOU?

EVERYONE WILL
MISS YOU.

THEY'RE STARTING
TO THINK YOU
DON'T LIKE THEM.

YOU CAN'T WORK ON
THIS ALL THE TIME.

YOU'LL DRIVE YOURSELF MAD.

ACTUALLY, I'VE
FINISHED IT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU
SAY ANYTHING?

IT'S GREAT, JAKE.

YOU CAN
MOVE ON NOW.

START YOUR OWN BOOK,
DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

WE COULD TAKE
THAT TRIP.WHAT TRIP?

TO THE ISLAND.
TO GREECE.

[ Deep breath ]
YEAH. I...

MAYBE.

OH, JAKE.

COME ON. THEY'LL
BE WAITING FOR US.

WE CAN SHARE
THE GOOD NEWS.NO, I...

I'M NOT UP FOR IT.

YOU GO.OR...

MAYBE I COULD
JUST STAY HERE.NO, NO.

GO ALONE.

SAY HELLO
TO EVERYONE.

OKAY.

IT'S GREAT, JAKE.

A NEW BEGINNING.

[ Door opens/closes ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

HEY...

[ Speaking
in Greek ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Man:
[ In Greek ]

HOME.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob: [ Writing ]
WHEN WE WERE MARRIED,

I HOPED THAT IF
I LET ALEX IN,

IF I LET IN
A FINGER OF LIGHT,

IT WOULD FLOOD
THE CLEARING.

AND AT FIRST, THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

MINGUS, MENDELSSOHN,
MOZART...

MANTOVANI.

THAT'S AN
ODD SELECTION.

I'M ON THE "Ms".

HUH!

CRASH COURSE?

UH, YEAH.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

[ Giggling ]

I REALLY DON'T KNOW
THAT MUCH ABOUT MUSIC.

MY SISTER USED TO PLAY.

DID SHE?YEAH.

WHAT?THE PIANO.

BEETHOVEN,
BRAHMS, SCHUMANN.

SHE HAD GOOD TASTE.

YEAH.DOES SHE
STILL PLAY?

NO. NO, SHE'S...

SHE DOESN'T
PLAY ANYMORE.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
THE CONCERTS AT
THE CONSERVATORY?

NO.AH.

W.E.A.

THE WORKERS
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

THE UNION.

AH.EVERY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AT 2:00.

IT'S ALL AMATEUR
STUFF, REALLY,

BUT A LOT OF
MY FRIENDS GO.

WHO DO YOU
HANG OUT WITH?

UH... I DON'T REALLY
HAVE ANY FRIENDS.

NO?WELL...

A FEW.

WELL, I COULD PROBABLY
AFFORD TO BE...

MORE DISCRIMINATING
MYSELF.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Laughter ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

OH!

OH, LOOK AT THOSE.

THOSE ARE PERFECT.

YOU NEED A PAIR
OF GALOSHES.

NO, I NEED THOSE.
IT'S THE COLOUR.

THEY'LL LOOK BRILLIANT
ON THE WET PAVEMENT.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Laughing ]

HEE-HA!

Alex:
[ Laughing ]

WHAT?

YOU'RE SO...WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?

YOU'RE SO...

YOU'RE SO SERIOUS.I'M SORRY.

NO, DON'T BE SORRY.

[ Gasp/chuckle ]

OKAY, I'M NOT SORRY.

[ Giggling ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob:
[ Muttering ]

[ Gasping ]

[ Whimper/gasp ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Knocking ]

[ Knocking ]

I BROUGHT YOU
BACK YOUR BOOKS.

HI, BEN.HEY.

I REALLY LIKED
"THE STRANGER".

"SEVEN DAYS IN MAY",
NOT SO MUCH.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT REALLY INTO
POLITICAL THRILLERS.

IT'S A LITTLE EARLY, BEN.
WHAT TIME IS IT?

UH... I DON'T KNOW.

[ Distant door opening ]Man:
BEN?

AH, THERE YOU ARE.

LEAVE JAKOB ALONE.

HE PROBABLY
HASN'T EVEN HAD
HIS BREAKFAST YET.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

Man:
COME ON.

HOW ABOUT I BRING
YOU A NEW BATCH
OF BOOKS LATER?

OKAY.

Man:
YOU'VE ALWAYS
SPOILED HIM.

OH... HELLO.

OH, THIS IS ALEX.

UH, THIS IS JOZEF.

JOZEF, UM...

Alex:
NICE TO MEET YOU.

Jakob:
UH, HE L-LIVES
DOWN THE HALL.

Alex:
AH.[ Laugh ]

I'VE KNOWN JAKOB
SINCE HE WAS A BOY.

REALLY?Jozef:
OH YES.

HE WAS A
LOVELY BOY TOO.

SO QUIET,
SO POLITE.

YOU'RE EMBARRASSING
ME, JOZEF.

OH, WELL.

I'LL, UH...
I'LL LEAVE YOU AND,
UH, YOUR FRIEND.

BYE. HUH.

[ Radio chatter ]

SO, YOU'VE LIVED IN
THIS PLACE A LONG TIME.

Jakob:
YEAH.

I'VE NEVER LIVED ANYWHERE
FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS.

WELL, IT'S COMFORTABLE.

HMM.

MMM, WHAT'S THAT?

YOU'RE NOT TOO BIG
ON CHANGE, I'M GUESSING.

OH...
[ Chuckling ]

Alex:
JAKOB AND I CAME HERE
ON OUR FIRST DATE.

THAT WASN'T A DATE.
WE'D JUST MET.

Man:
A DATE OR NOT, I THOUGHT
YOU'D HAVE TAKEN HIM

TO SOME HORRIBLE
UNDERGROUND JAZZ CLUB.

OR SOME GOD-
AWFUL LECTURE BY
MARSHALL McLUHAN.

Man:
OR TO SOME
VERY WORTHY,

BUT ALSO VERY DULL
MEETING ON THE JOYS

OF THE LABOUR
PROGRESSIVE PARTY.

[ Chuckles ]

AND NOW YOU'RE MAKING
FUN OF MY POLITICS.

WELL, WE KNOW YOU COME
BY THEM HONESTLY.

[ Imitating bird cries ]OH!

[ Laughter ]

[ Squawking ]

Man:
HEY![ Laughter ]

THANK YOU.

Woman:
HEY, WHERE'S MINE?

THERE YOU GO.
RIGHT OVER HERE.

Alex:
THEY LIKED YOU.

HEY, HEY, HEY,
I LEARNED
SOME JEWISH.

UH-HUH?[ Speaking in Hebrew ]

I HAVE A YELLOW DOG?

[ Giggling ]YOU DON'T EVEN
HAVE A DOG.

IS THAT WHAT I SAID?

THAT LADY IN THE
MARKET TRICKED ME.

OH, I...

I THINK WE SHOULD
GET MARRIED.

WHAT?AND I DON'T WANT
TO WAIT TOO LONG

FOR YOU TO ASK.

I'M JUST SAYING,
I THINK IT LOOKS...

PRETTY INEVITABLE.

YOU THINK SO?YEAH. I DO.

I THINK WE CAN MAKE
EACH OTHER HAPPY.

MMM.

[ Muffled giggle ]

Jakob: [ Writing ]
ALEX NEVER UNDERSTANDS;

THINKS THAT
SHE'S DOING ME GOOD

SNATCHING ME FROM THE JAWS
OF DESPAIR, RESCUING ME.

BUT EACH TIME A MEMORY
OR A STORY SLINKS AWAY

IT TAKES MORE
OF ME WITH IT.

EVERYTHING IS WRONG.

THE BEDROOM,
ALEX BESIDE ME, MY PANIC.

HOW WILL BELLA
EVER FIND ME HERE?

BESIDE THIS
STRANGE WOMAN,

SPEAKING THIS LANGUAGE,

EATING STRANGE FOOD,
WEARING THESE CLOTHES...

[ Sniffle ]

HELLO.CONGRATULATIONS
ON YOUR BOOK.

POPPY SEED.POPPY SEED.

ELAINE, YOU'RE
A GODDESS.

GIVE ME YOUR COAT.

ALEX, THEY'RE HERE.

HOW ARE THE CHILDREN?AH, WHO CARES?

AS LONG AS SOMEONE
ELSE IS TAKING
CARE OF THEM.

HI.THERE SHE IS.

HELLO.MMM.

HI.HI.

HOW ARE YOU?

AHA!

POPPY SEED.YOUR FAVOURITE.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

SO, MAURICE,
HOW'S THE MUSEUM?

OH, YOU KNOW,
IT'S PALAEONTOLOGY.

IT'S NOT A
VERY GLAMOROUS...

NOT THAT
MUCH TO SAY.

Alex:
WELL, NEVER MIND.

I GET MORE THAN
ENOUGH HISTORY
RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

ALEX?YEAH.

MAYBE I COULD
GIVE YOU A HAND
IN THE KITCHEN.

SURE.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob:
AND THERE WAS
THIS CZECH WOMAN,
A FARMER'S WIFE.

Maurice:
MM-HMM.

Jakob:
SHE HID A
FAMILY OF JEWS,

PEOPLE SHE
BARELY EVEN KNEW.

SEVEN OF THEM,
FOR THE ENTIRE WAR,

ALMOST TWO YEARS,
FEEDING THEM.

AT THE END
OF THE WAR...JAKE...

WAS THE FIRST TIME
HER HUSBAND FOUND
OUT ABOUT IT.
JUST A SECOND.

Jakob:
YOU'D THINK HE'D BE
PROUD OF HER, YES?

Maurice:
SURE.

HE BEAT HER SO BADLY
SHE ALMOST DIED.

JAKE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD
JUST GIVE MAURICE A BREAK.

NO, THIS IS OKAY.Alex:
NO, IT'S NOT.

IT'S... YOU'RE NOT
MARRIED TO HIM.

YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED
TO LISTEN TO THIS
STUFF 24 HOURS A DAY.

ALEX, REALLY, IT'S...NO, MAURICE,

IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN
EXPLODE. HIS OBSESSION

WITH THESE DETAILS...ALEX.

IT'S OBSCENE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

NO. NO!

[ Reading ]
"THE MOMENT I'D
SPENT HALF MY DAY

CRAWLING THROUGH
MISERY TO REACH

VANISHES UNDER A BULB.
THE SHADOWS SLIP AWAY

AS ALEX AGAIN
BARGES IN

WITH HER
SHAMELESS VITALITY."

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT
THIS HAS BEEN LIKE FOR ME?

I CAN'T TAKE
THIS ANYMORE.

THIS IS WHAT YOU
WANT, ISN'T IT?

THEN YOU CAN...

SIT IN THE
DARK FOREVER.

EVERY TRACE OF ME
WILL BE GONE,

MY CLOTHES WHICH YOU
THINK ARE TOO FLASHY,

AND MY JOB WHICH
YOU THINK IS TRIVIAL

AND MY FRIENDS WHOSE NAMES
YOU CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER.

YOU'RE UNGRATEFUL,
JAKE.

ALEX.WHAT?

[ Sighing ]

RIGHT.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob: [ Writing ]
I TRIED TO BURY IMAGES,

TO COVER THEM OVER
WITH DISTRACTIONS,

WITH ATTEMPTS AT LOVE.

BY DAY,
I ENTERED THE WORLD,

BUT AT NIGHT, MY MOTHER,
MY FATHER, BELLA

SIMPLY ROSE, SHOOK THE EARTH FROM THEIR CLOTHES,

AND WAITED.

TO LIVE WITH GHOSTS
REQUIRES SOLITUDE.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Woman:
[ Singing in
foreign language ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Birds twittering ]

Jakob: [ Writing ]
I KNOW ONLY FRAGMENTS
OF WHAT ATHOS CONTAINED.

SALT, OLIVES,

VINE LEAVES, SEA FOAM,

A LIFE SPANNING TWO
WARS AND ONE LOVE.

ELENI.

WERE THERE WORDS
THAT THEY REGRETTED?

DID THEY IMAGINE CHILDREN?

WHEN A MAN DIES...

HIS SECRETS BOND
LIKE CRYSTALS.

THERE IS NO ONE HERE.

YOU CAN COME OUT.

YOU NEED SOME
FRESH AIR, JAKOB.

COME OUT.

ONE DAY
YOU HAVE TO COME OUT.

AT LEAST
WE HAVE THIS.

YOUR GUMS
ARE BLEEDING.

I'LL SOAK SOME BREAD
IN WATER FOR YOU.

EAT. EAT.

YOUR GREEK IS
STILL BETTER
THAN YOUR ENGLISH.

HMM?

OH, NICOLAOS.

[ In Greek ]

MY BROTHER.

HE DIED AT AGE OF 18

IN A TRAFFIC
ACCIDENT.

HMM.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DIE
WHEN IT'S NOT EXPECTED,

NOT JUST
DURING WARTIME.

COME HERE.

NO ONE WILL SEE YOU.

WE ARE
TOO HIGH UP.

MY GRANDPARENTS
USED TO HAVE A HOUSE

ON THE ISLAND OF HYDRA,
OVERLOOKING THE SEA.

ONCE WHEN NICOS
WAS A BOY,

HE FOLDED A
PAPER AIRPLANE

AND SENT IT
OVER THE EDGE.

[ Chuckling ]

IT LANDED IN THE HAT
OF A MAN DRINKING OUZO

IN A CAFE NEAR
BY THE DOCK.

ON THE WINGS
OF THE AIRPLANE,

MY BROTHER HAD
WRITTEN A NOTE

BEGGING TO BE SAVED
FROM A KIDNAPPER.

AND HE DESCRIBED
WHERE HE WAS
BEING HELD CAPTIVE.

[ Chuckling ]

THEN, THE POLICE
CAME TO OUR HOUSE,

AND NICOS LAUGHED
AND LAUGHED...

[ Chuckling ]
WHILE MY FATHER

CHASED HIM, YELLING
HALFWAY DOWN THE HILL.

[ Distant roar of vehicles ]

[ Distant shouting ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Panting ]

[ Speaking in
foreign language ]

[ Sobbing ]

[ Muttering/yelling ]

IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'M HERE.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Both:
[ Speaking in Greek ]

Athos:

Woman:

[ Humming ]

Bella:
[ Humming ]

[ Blowing softly ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Humming ]

HMM?

HMMM... HMM.

HMM?

[ Humming ]

[ Singing in Greek ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Cup breaking ]

[ Knocking on door ]

[ Crickets chirping ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Athos:
I HAVE TO GO
INTO TOWN.

HEY. DON'T WORRY.

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

[ Sniffling ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Man 1:
[ Speaking in German ]

Man 2:
[ Interpreting in Greek ]

[ In German ]

Man 1:
[ In German ]

[ Mixed shouts ]

[ Shouting/screaming ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Mixed screams ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

CAN YOU READ THIS?

[ Sobbing ]

JAKOB.

[ Grunts ]

JAKOB! JAKOB.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Muttering/sobbing ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

OH...

YOU ARE BACK.

[ Sigh ]

[ Distant singing/
shouting ]

[ Cheering ]

IT'S OVER.

[ Whistling ]

COME OUTSIDE.

IT'S SAFE NOW.

[ Whistling ]

THIS IS A LETTER

I RECEIVED
A FEW MONTHS AGO.

IT'S INVITATION
TO TEACH IN CANADA.

SEE THE STAMP?

MOUNTAIN...

SNOW...

AS SOON AS I GET A VISA.

JAKOB.

JAKOB!

JAKOB!

[ Grunting ][ Groaning ]

JAKOB. JA...

[ Chuckling ][ Grunting ]

THAT THE DEAD
MAY DRINK.

THAT THE DEAD
MAY NOT GO HUNGRY.

FOR YOUR PARENTS.

FOR BELLA.

FOR ALL WHO HAVE NO ONE
TO RECALL THEIR NAMES.

TELL ME.

JAKOB,

IT MAY NOT MEAN
ANYTHING TO YOU NOW,

BUT YOU MUST
TRY TO BE BURIED

IN GROUND THAT
WILL REMEMBER YOU.

[ Singing in Greek ]

Jakob: [ Writing ]
I LONG FOR THE
LOSS OF MEMORY.

THOUGH I HAVE TRIED
TO WILL MY PARENTS

AND BELLA FROM MY SLEEP,

THIS WILL
AMOUNTS TO NOTHING,

FOR MY MIND BETRAYS ME
IN A SECOND.

I'VE CROSSED AN OCEAN
AND LIVED MANY YEARS
WITHOUT THEM,

YET I CAN FEEL BELLA'S
GENTLE FINGERS ON MY BACK,

MY FATHER'S HAND ON MY HEAD,

AND SUDDENLY I'M AFRAID,

AND TURN AROUND
IN EMPTY ROOMS.

[ Piano ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob:
HOW ARE
YOUR PARENTS?

Ben:
THEY'RE FINE.

HOW ARE YOU?I'M ALL RIGHT,
I GUESS.

I START UNIVERSITY
NEXT YEAR.I KNOW, THAT'S GOOD.

I'M DATING SOMEONE.OH, REALLY?

IS SHE HERE?NO.

OH.

WHAT'S HER NAME?

NAOMI.AH.

AN EXCELLENT NAME.

DO YOU KNOW
WHAT IT MEANS?NO, I DON'T.

IN HEBREW, IT MEANS
"FULL OF GRACE".

I DIDN'T EXPECT
YOU TO BE HERE.

DO YOU STILL THINK
IT'S TRUE, THAT I...

WANTED TO CHANGE YOU?

I MEAN, IT'S
IN THE BOOK, SO
I SUPPOSE YOU DO.

ALEX, IF IT HADN'T
BEEN FOR YOU,

I NEVER WOULD'VE
WRITTEN THE BOOK.

I WOULD NEVER HAVE...
GONE TO GREECE.

[ Chuckle ]
I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT'S TRUE.

WELL, I...

SO WHAT NOW?

I'M GOING TO TEACH
HERE FOR A FEW
MONTHS EVERY YEAR,

WHEN I'M NOT
ON THE ISLAND.

ARE YOU SEEING
ANYBODY?UH, NO.

YOU?SORT OF.

HE'S A MUSICIAN.
[ Chuckling ]

AREN'T YOU LONELY?

YEAH. SAME OLD JAKE.

YOU'VE WRITTEN
A VERY GOOD BOOK.

YOU SHOULD BE PROUD.

FROM MR. TAYLOR,
MY NEW COLLEAGUE.

IT'S INVITATION
TO PARTY.

[ Chuckling ]
LOOK HOW POPULAR
WE ARE ALREADY.

[ Speaking in Yiddish ]

ELECTRICITY.

RUNNING WATER.

IT'S LIKE
LIVING IN HOTEL.

[ Light snoring ]

[ Christmas ♪♪♪ ]

[ Mixed chatter ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Athos:
I WAS LOOKING
FORWARD TO SNOW,

BUT THERE IS
HARDLY ANY AT ALL.

Man:
YOU'RE LIKE A LOT
OF MEDITERRANEANS:

YOU'VE GOT
A FASCINATION
WITH THE COLD.

WELL, A FEW WINTERS
HERE WILL CHANGE
THAT, I'M SURE.

[ Chuckles ]

EXCUSE ME.

I HOPE YOU'RE
HAVING A GOOD TIME.

I'M SORRY THERE AREN'T
MORE CHILDREN HERE.

THANK YOU,
IT'S VERY NICE.

OH, WAIT. I HAVE
SOMETHING FOR YOU.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT...

[ Chuckle ]
I MEAN...

WELL, EVERYONE SHOULD
BE ABLE TO TAKE PART
IN A CELEBRATION.

RIGHT?

THANK YOU. YOU'RE
MUCH TOO KIND.

OH! I ALMOST FORGOT.

JAKOB...

WHY DON'T YOU
POSE WITH ATHOS?

OH. HMM.

COME.

GOOD.

[ Whispering ]
SMILE.

[ Chuckling ]

[ Thunder rumbling ]

Athos:
[ Grunting ]

[ In Greek ]

[ Grunt ]

TOO MUCH CHAMPAGNE.
[ Chuckle ]

I'LL FEEL BETTER
IN THE MORNING.

MMM!

AH, EXCELLENT.

I TAUGHT YOU WELL.

YOU DIDN'T OPEN
YOUR PRESENT.

WHAT DO YOU
THINK IT IS?

REFRIGERATOR?

LOCOMOTIVE?

A FROG?
[ Chuckle ]

OPEN IT.

[ Thunder rolling ]

[ Whistle of admiration ]

PUT IT ON.

AH. LOOKS GOOD ON YOU.

WHAT IS IT?

Both:
[ Chuckling ]

[ Thunder crashing ]

[ Gasp ]MY GOD.

STAY WHERE YOU ARE.

OH. CAREFUL.

[ Knocking on door ]

NOW WHAT?

I'M... UM, I'M
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.

EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?AH...

[ Thunder crash ]THIS CRAZY STORM.

Athos:
DO YOU WANT TO COME IN?

Woman:
OH, NO, NO, NO, NO.
THANK YOU. UM...

I WAS WONDERING
I-IF YOU HAD ANY
EXTRA CANDLES?

OF COURSE.
TAKE THIS ONE.

I'LL BRING
YOU SOME MORE.THANK YOU.

I'M, UH, SORRY
TO BOTHER YOU.

I-IT'S...

IT'S MY HUSBAND. HE...

Athos:
WHAT IS IT?

Woman:
HE DOESN'T TAKE
TOO WELL TO, UH...

I SHOULDN'T LEAVE
HIM ALONE TOO LONG.

HUH.

Jozef:
SO, THIS BOOK
YOU'RE WRITING.

Athos:
"BEARING FALSE WITNESS".

BUT IT'S NOT
REALLY A BOOK YET.

JUST A LOT
OF NOTES, IDEAS.

WHO KNOWS IF
I EVER FINISH IT.

AND, UH, IT'S
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
DURING THE WAR?

WELL, UH, IT'S ABOUT
THE ABUSE OF HISTORY.

IT STARTS, UH, WITH
BISKUPIN IN POLAND,

WHERE I MET JAKOB.

10 YEARS AGO,
A RIVER DRIED
UP THERE

AND PEOPLE STARTED
FINDING ARTEFACTS.

BUT THEN THE NAZIS
CAME AND THEY
BURIED EVERYTHING.

AS FAR AS THEY
WERE CONCERNED,

THERE COULDN'T POSSIBLY
BE AN ADVANCED CULTURE

THAT THEY DIDN'T CREATE.

SO THEY DESTROYED
THE EVIDENCE.

IT'S A GOOD THING
YOU'RE DOING.

ALREADY, PEOPLE
SAY THE THINGS
I LIVED THROUGH

NEVER HAPPENED.

YOU'D THINK THEY'D AT
LEAST WAIT A FEW YEARS,

UNTIL WE'RE ALL DEAD.

THE MITZVAH
THAT YOU DID

FOR THAT BOY,

IT'S A BLESSED THING.

Woman:
DID YOU KNOW...

THAT JOZEF WAS
A CONDUCTOR IN WARSAW...

HUH.BEFORE THE WAR?

A VERY GOOD
CONDUCTOR.

OH, NOT
THAT GOOD.

AND HE'S A VERY GOOD
PIANO TEACHER TOO.

PARENTS PAY ME

AND CHILDREN
RESENT ME.

IS THAT GOOD
TEACHING?

DON'T LISTEN TO HIM.

THANK YOU.MY SARA,

SHE WAS A SINGER.

NOT BAD EITHER.

NOW I SELL DRY GOODS
IN THE MARKET.

I'M THE SINGING
DRY GOODS LADY.

[ Chuckling ]

THINGS CHANGE.

SOME MORE SUGAR.

[ "Moonlight Sonata" ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

YOU EAT SO SLOWLY,

LIKE AN ARISTOCRAT.

I THINK
ABOUT HER TOO.

YOU THINK SHE'S DEAD.

I DON'T KNOW, JAKOB.

MAYBE IT'S BETTER
NOT TO HOPE.

LISTEN...
WHEN I FEEL THINGS

BUILDING UP
INSIDE ME, I WRITE.

YOU HAVE ALSO
SOMETHING TO EXPRESS.

SO...

YOU WILL WRITE TOO.

WRITE WHAT?

WHAT YOU MUST.

THERE IS
AN OLD SAYING:

"THE GREAT MYSTERY
OF WOOD IS NOT
THAT IT BURNS,

BUT THAT IT FLOATS."

NO.

THERE IS A GOOD AND
BAD SIDE TO EVERYTHING.

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SEE
WHAT DESTROYS SOMETHING

OR WHAT SAVES IT.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob: [ Reading ]
"THERE IS EARTH THAT
NEVER LEAVES YOUR HANDS,

RAIN THAT NEVER
LEAVES YOUR BONES.

AT NIGHT, MEMORY
ROAMS YOUR SKIN.

WHILE YOU SLEEP,
THE SEA FLOODS YOUR HOUSE.

YOU WAKE IN THE BOG,

BURNING WITH
THE SMELL OF EARTH."

[ Sniffling ]

"NOTHING RELEASES YOU,

NOT DEATH
IN THE DREAM,
NOT WAKING.

THIS IS HOW ONE BECOMES
UNDONE, BY A SMELL,

A WORD, A PLACE,

A PHOTO OF
A MOUNTAIN OF SHOES.

BY LOVE THAT CLOSES
ITS MOUTH BEFORE
CALLING A NAME."

JAKOB, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

[ Sobbing ]BEAUTIFUL.

[ Chuckling ]

OH-H, DAMN YOU.

[ Chuckling ]

LOOK AT US, HUH?

[ Sniffling ]
UH? AH-HAH.

THE TWO BACHELORS
CRYING INTO OUR COFFEES.

[ Laughing ]

[ Sniffling ]

OKAY.

THEN I'M GOING TO DO
SOME WORK OF MY OWN.

BEN, IT'S GETTING LATE.

YOUR PARENTS WILL
THINK WE KIDNAPPED YOU.

[ Chuckling ]

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT ASLEEP.

COME ON, BEN.

[ Giggling ]

COME ON.
TIME FOR BED.

AH, THERE YOU ARE.

DID HE FALL ASLEEP?

COME ON, NOW,
TIME FOR BED.

[ Whispering ]
DON'T MAKE ME GO.

[ Chuckle ]
BEN.

COME ON, BEN.BEN, BEN.

COME ON.
[ Straining ]

OKAY... GO ON.

[ Door opening ]GOOD NIGHT.

YOU ALWAYS
KNOW, JAKOB.

IF HE EVER GIVES
YOU ANY TROUBLE,

YOU JUST SEND
HIM BACK, HUH?

HE CAN OVERSTAY
HIS WELCOME.IT'S NO TROUBLE.

GOOD NIGHT.GOOD NIGHT.

YOU SHOULD REST.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU

TO WORK NIGHT AFTER
NIGHT LIKE THIS.

THERE IS AN OLD
GREEK SAYING...

"LIGHT YOUR CANDLE
BEFORE NIGHT OVERTAKES YOU."

YOU HAVE A SAYING
FOR EVERYTHING.

[ Coughing ]

[ Gasp ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Crying ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL
CEREMONY.

SO MANY PEOPLE.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU
FIRST CAME HERE,

YOU WERE WHAT, 11?

MMM-HMM.JUST A LITTLE BIT
OLDER THAN BEN.

[ Playful growl ]

[ Chuckling ]

HEY. WHAT'S THIS?

AN APPLE.

IS AN APPLE FOOD?

[ Sigh ]WHY DO YOU
THROW IT AWAY?

I DON'T WANT
THE OTHER HALF.

[ Scoffing ]
CAN YOU IMAGINE?

Jozef:
TAKE IT.

I SAID TAKE IT!

DURING THE WAR,

EVERYTHING HAD VALUE,
NO MATTER HOW SMALL.

A BUTTON,
A PENCIL, A SPOON!

NOT TO MENTION
THE THINGS THAT
COULD MAKE YOU WEEP.

A GOOD PAIR
OF SHOES.

HOT WATER.
A SCRAP OF FOOD.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT, JAKOB?

NOW MY OWN SON
THROWS AWAY AN APPLE.

JOZEF.

WELL, IF MY ONLY SON
DOESN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND
THE VALUE OF THINGS,

WHY DID WE
EVEN SURVIVE?

[ Sigh ]

I'M SORRY.

[ Dissonant ♪♪♪ ]

[ Crying ]

WHY DON'T YOU
PLAY SOMETHING?

[ "Moonlight Sonata" ♪♪♪ ]

Athos: [ Writing ]
I KNOW I HAVE WRITTEN
TO YOU BEFORE.

THIS LETTER IS IN REGARDS
TO A MISSING PERSON.

FIRST NAME: BELLA;
LAST NAME: BEER.

LAST SEEN:
BISKUPIN, POLAND, 1942.

AGE: 15.

I'M SEEKING
ANY INFORMATION

REGARDING HER POSSIBLE
WHEREABOUTS...

[ Overlapping ]
PLEASE POST THE FOLLOWING
EVERY FRIDAY FOR ONE YEAR.

I KNOW THE RECORDS
ARE INCOMPLETE...

I KNOW I HAVE WRITTEN
TO YOU BEFORE.

CHECK YOUR LIST,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT

POSSIBLE VARIATIONS
OF SPELLING.

FIRST NAME: BELLA;
LAST NAME: BEER. AGE: 15.

[ Sobbing ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Birds chirping ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Woman:
[ Humming ]

[ Telephone ringing ]

HELLO?

Ben: [ On the phone ]
Jakob?

IT'S BEN, HOW ARE YOU?

Jakob:
Oh, hi, Ben.
Uh, I'm fine.

I'M JUST SLEEPING.We were thinking of you.

How are things in Hydra?

GOOD. HOW'S NAOMI?

SHE'S FINE.And your dad?

How's he, since...

HE'S OKAY.

WELL, I'LL BE
SEEING HIM SOON.

I'll be back for class
in a couple of weeks.

THAT SOON?Yeah.

OKAY, HANG ON.

JAKOB!Hi, Naomi.

Good to hear your voice.

WELL, SAY YOU'LL
COME TO DINNER.

Oh yes, of course.
Soon as I get back.

GREAT.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

FINALLY!

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

OH, YOU REMEMBERED
MY OLIVE OIL.

HOW COULD I FORGET?[ Chuckling ]

HI!

WELCOME BACK.

LISTEN, THERE'S THIS
WOMAN FROM THE MUSEUM
NAOMI KNOWS.

SHE'S A CURATOR.
VERY SMART.

OH, NO!

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

"ALL RIGHT", WHAT?

INVITE HER
OVER SOMETIME.

Naomi:
[ Chuckle ]

WELL, ACTUALLY,
SHE ALREADY DID.

JAKOB. MICHAELA.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Inaudible conversation ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Ben:
NAOMI'S HAD US
ON HER THESIS DIET
FOR MONTHS NOW.

WHEN I WAS DOING
THE RUSSIANS,

ALL WE EVER ATE
WAS CABBAGE SOUP
AND PEROGIES.

Ben:
THEN IT WAS
THE LATIN AMERICANS.

EMPANADAS, RICE, BEANS.

AND NOW IT'S SWEDEN.

AND EVERY OTHER DAY,
WE'RE EATING SALTED FISH.

Naomi:
THAT'S NOT TRUE!

AND WHAT'S WRONG
WITH SALTED FISH ANYWAY?

YOU KNOW,
WHEN I WAS SMALL,

I WAS OBSESSED
WITH SALT.

I THINK IT
STARTED BECAUSE
WE TRAVELLED SO MUCH

AND EVERYWHERE,
I KEPT HEARING
ABOUT SALT.

SALZBURG:
CITY OF SALT.

VIA SALARIATI OF ROME:
ROAD OF SALT.

AND IN THE SAHARA,
THERE WERE ENTIRE
CITIES BUILT OF SALT.

I USED TO
IMAGINE CARAVANS

WEIGHED DOWN WITH
THICK CAKES OF SALT.

I'M TALKING TOO MUCH.

[ Laughter ]

SO, NAOMI.

HOW'S YOUR PROJECT?UM, GOOD.

I... COLLECT SONGS
AND LULLABIES
FROM EVERYWHERE
IN THE WORLD.

BECOME A KIND OF
A MANIA WITH ME.

A SONG FOR
EVERY OCCASION.
OR PERSON.

BY NOW I CAN
MATCH A SONG OR
A BALLAD TO ANYONE.

WHAT ABOUT JA...WHAT ABOUT...

[ Chuckling ]

WHAT ABOUT JAKOB?

WHAT ABOUT MICHAELA?
JAKOB.
NO!

Naomi:
NO, I DON'T...

Michaela:
TRY, TRY.UM...

WELL, FOR YOU, I...
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY,
"MOORSOLDATEN".

MM-HMM.

"THE PEAT BOG SOLDIERS".

PEAT BOG.

YOU'RE VERY GOOD.

[ Laughing ]

DO YOU KNOW THE SONG?

OH, YES.

IT'S...
WELL, IT'S...

UH, IT WAS WRITTEN
BY PRISONERS
DURING THE WAR.

AND THEY WEREN'T
ALLOWED TO SING ANYTHING
BUT MARCHING SONGS

WHILE THEY WERE WORKING,

SO THEY WROTE
SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED
LIKE A MARCHING SONG,

BUT...

WELL, REALLY,
IT'S A SONG ABOUT HOPE.

SING IT.

UH...

VERY GOOD.

SO, YOU STILL
LIVE IN GREECE.

BACK AND FORTH.

I WRITE THERE,
TEACH HERE.

HOW LONG HAVE
YOU KNOWN NAOMI?

WELL, TO TELL YOU
THE TRUTH, NOT THAT LONG.

I'VE ONLY BEEN AT
THE MUSEUM A FEW MONTHS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU
KNOWN EACH OTHER?

WELL, I'VE KNOWN BEN
ALL HIS LIFE, REALLY.

I WAS THERE
WHEN HE WAS BORN.

HIS PARENTS LIVED
IN THE APARTMENT
NEXT TO OURS.

BEN WAS VERY PREMATURE.

AND WHEN HIS MOTHER
WENT INTO LABOUR,

HIS FATHER CAME RUNNING
INTO OUR APARTMENT IN A PANIC.

AND ATHOS, MY GODFATHER,
WAS AWAY AT A CONFERENCE,

SO I CALLED THE
AMBULANCE AND...

ANYWAY, I ENDED UP
BEING AT THE HOSPITAL
WHEN SHE GAVE BIRTH.

WHEN THEY BROUGHT HIM
FROM THE DELIVERY ROOM,

HE WEIGHED LESS
THAN THREE POUNDS.

SO SMALL

IN THIS ALMOST
TRANSPARENT BODY.

HE WAS LIKE A SPIRIT.

NOT EVEN A PERSON.

NO BIGGER THAN MY HAND.

[ Piano ♪♪♪ ]

TAKE OFF YOUR COAT.

I'LL MAKE
SOME TEA.

OH, THIS IS...

FROM MY MOTHER'S
SIDE OF THE FAMILY.

SHE'S RUSSIAN,
HE'S SPANISH.

FABULOUS ARGUMENTS,
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.

AND THEY USED TO
GO ON FOR HOURS.

[ Chuckle ]WHAT STAMINA.

HMM.

HMM.

WHAT?

LEMON.

WHY? YOU...
YOU WANT MILK?

NO.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob:
...EVEN THE HORROR
OF THE PAST,

YOU TRY TO REINVENT IT
AND RE-IMAGINE IT.

LIKE MY RUSSIAN
GRANDMOTHER.

[ Chuckle ]
YEAH, SORT OF.

NOT ALWAYS
SO AMUSINGLY.

TAKE SPECIFIC
MOMENTS AND...

YOUR MIND FILLS
IN THE GAPS.

I'VE SPENT YEARS
TRYING TO IMAGINE

BELLA'S ROUTE
FROM THE HOUSE.

WHERE DID SHE DIE?

IN THE STREET?
IN THE TRAIN?

IN THE BARRACKS?

YOU TRY
TO RECONSTRUCT,

VISUALIZE EVERY
POSSIBLE SCENARIO.

I USED TO DREAM THAT
MAYBE SHE ESCAPED.

I HAVEN'T DREAMT
THAT IN A LONG TIME.

I ALSO USED
TO WONDER

WHAT MIGHT HAVE
HAPPENED IF I'D STAYED.

WAITED IN THE HOUSE
INSTEAD OF RUNNING AWAY.

MAYBE SHE CAME BACK.

THERE'S A POEM
BY AKHMATOVA.

"YOU ARE MANY
YEARS LATE.

HOW HAPPY I AM
TO SEE YOU."

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Humming ]

JOZEF?

JOZEF?

WE SHOULDN'T TELL
THE RABBI

OR THEY WON'T LET HIM
INTO THE CEMETERY.

AT LEAST HE WAITED
TILL MY MOTHER DIED.

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE
HE WOULD DO THAT

AFTER EVERYTHING
HE WENT THROUGH.

YOUR FATHER
SUFFERED A LOT, BEN.

Ben:
HE DIDN'T SUFFER.

HE WAS IMPENETRABLE.

CAN I ASK YOU
SOMETHING?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU COULD HAVE
GONE THROUGH WHAT YOU DID

AND STILL BE
SO GENEROUS,

STILL WRITE
THE THINGS YOU DO.

I USED TO THINK THAT
IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU,

I COULD UNDERSTAND
MY FATHER BETTER.

BUT IT'S LIKE YOU'RE
FROM DIFFERENT WORLDS.

WELL, I DON'T THINK SO.

YOUR FATHER TOLD
ME NOT LONG AGO...

THAT HE STILL WOULD DREAM

ABOUT HIS MOTHER
AND FATHER.

THE SMALLEST THINGS.

THE DETAIL
OF HIS MOTHER'S
COAT, A BUTTON,

HIS FATHER'S SHOES
OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN.

AND THAT WHEN
HE WOKE UP
IN THE MORNING,

OLD AS HE WAS...

HE WAS STILL CRYING.

Bella:
[ Humming ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob: [ Writing ]
AFTER YEARS OF TRYING
TO BE CLOSER TO THEM,

I NOW FEAR THAT I AM
ONLY HAUNTING MY PARENTS
AND BELLA WITH MY CALLING,

STARTLING THEM AWAKE
IN THEIR BLACK BEDS.

ALL THE YEARS I'VE FELT
BELLA ENTREATING ME,

FILLED WITH
HER LONELINESS,

I HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD
HER SIGNALS.

LIKE OTHER GHOSTS,
SHE WHISPERS,

NOT FOR ME TO JOIN HER,

BUT SO THAT WHEN
I'M CLOSE ENOUGH,

SHE CAN PUSH ME BACK
INTO THE WORLD.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

WHOA!

AH!

[ Laughing ]

[ Sigh ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Sniffing ]
MMM.

GARLIC.

AND, UH...

BASIL.

MMM. SWEAT.

[ Deep inhalation ]

HONEY.

[ Kiss ]

MM, OH, COCONUT OIL.

SALT.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Woman:
[ Giggling ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Camera clicking ]

READ IT.

YOU SURE?

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Michaela: [ Reading ]
"I DID NOT WITNESS THE MOST
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF MY LIFE.

MY DEEPEST STORY MUST
BE TOLD BY A BLIND MAN

FROM BEHIND A WALL,
FROM UNDERGROUND,

FROM THE CORNER
OF A SMALL HOUSE
ON A SMALL ISLAND

THAT JUTS LIKE A BONE
FROM THE SKIN OF SEA.

WHILE I HID
IN THE RADIANT LIGHT
OF ATHOS' ISLAND,

THOUSANDS SUFFOCATED
IN DARKNESS.

WHILE I HID IN
THE LUXURY OF A ROOM,

THOUSANDS WERE STUFFED
INTO CRAWLSPACES,

STABLES, PIGSTIES.

WHILE I WAS LEARNING
GREEK AND ENGLISH,

LEARNING GEOLOGY
AND POETRY,

JEWS WERE FILLING THE CORNERS
AND CRACKS OF EUROPE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
WHILE I LISTENED TO
STORIES OF EXPLORERS,

A JEW COULD BE PURCHASED
FOR A QUART OF BRANDY,

FOR SUGAR, CIGARETTES.

WHAT DO OUR BODIES
MAKE US BELIEVE?

THAT WE'RE NEVER OURSELVES
UNTIL WE CONTAIN TWO SOULS.

NOW I'M NOT AFRAID WHEN
HARVESTING DARKNESS.

NIGHT AFTER NIGHT IT IS
HAPPINESS THAT WAKES ME.

THERE IS ROOM AT LAST FOR
EVERYONE I HAVE EVER LOVED.

AS MICHAELA APPROACHES,
I SHAKE LIKE A COMPASS NEEDLE,

FEELING FOR THE
FIRST TIME A FUTURE,

MY WORDS, MY LIFE,
NO LONGER SEPARATE

AFTER DECADES OF
HIDING IN MY SKIN.

HERE IS A WOMAN WHO WILL
SLOWLY UNDRESS MY SPIRIT,

BRING MY BODY
TO BELIEF."

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ Quiet sobs ]

Jakob:
WE'RE GOING
TO BE LATE.

COMING.

[ ♪♪♪ ]

Jakob: [ Writing ]
"EACH MORNING I WRITE
THESE WORDS FOR YOU ALL,

FOR BELLA AND ATHOS
AND ELENI; FOR ALEX;

FOR JOZEF AND SARA;
FOR BEN AND NAOMI;
FOR MICHAELA.

MICHAELA.

I CAN DESCRIBE WHAT
HER WRISTS LOOK LIKE

OR HOW HER HAIR GROWS
AT THE BACK OF HER NECK.

BUT MORE, I KNOW
WHAT SHE REMEMBERS.

I KNOW HER MEMORIES.

I PRAY THAT SOON
MY WIFE WILL FEEL NEW
BREATH INSIDE HER OWN.

I PRAY AND PRESS MY
HEAD AGAINST HER SIDE,
AND WHISPER A STORY.

CHILD I LONG FOR,
CHILD I DREAM...

IF WE CONCEIVE YOU,
THINK OF US SOMETIMES,

YOUR MOTHER AND ME,
WHEN IT RAINS.

AND ONE DAY, WHEN
YOU'VE ALMOST FORGOTTEN,

I PRAY YOU'LL
LET US RETURN.

THAT THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW,
EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY,

THE SEA AIR OF OUR
MARRIAGE WILL FIND YOU.

I PRAY THAT ONE DAY,

IN A ROOM LIT ONLY
BY NIGHT SNOW,

YOU WILL SUDDENLY
KNOW HOW MIRACULOUS

IS YOUR PARENTS' LOVE
FOR EACH OTHER.

MY SON, MY DAUGHTER...

BELA.

BELLA.

IF WE CONCEIVE YOU,

KNOW THAT ONCE
I WAS LOST IN A FOREST.

I WAS SO AFRAID,

MY BLOOD POUNDED
IN MY CHEST,

AND I KNEW MY HEARTSTRINGS
WOULD SOON BE EXHAUSTED.

I SAVED MYSELF
WITHOUT THINKING.

I GRASPED THE TWO
SYLLABLES CLOSEST TO ME

AND REPLACED MY HEARTBEAT
WITH YOUR NAME.

BELLA.

NOW I SEE THAT I MUST
GIVE WHAT I MOST NEED."

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]

[ ♪♪♪ ]