Original subtitles

20th of January 1970,

1:34 AM.

I'm doing research now. Turn off the turntable!

Turn off the music, Gloria! For fuck's sake!

Good morning.

…when they called him out of the room. He returns after a while,

and says, Where were we at, gentlemen?

With one leg on one arm and the other one on the other.

Gentlemen! What a woman she was!

Simona Kossak.

Yes.

Was Jerzy Kossak your family?

Yes. He was my father.

So, that makes Wojciech Kossak your grandpa.

Yes, and Juliusz Kossak was my great-grandfather.

Do you paint horses, too?

- No, I don't. - What do you paint then?

Nothing. I don't have the talent.

Such a pity.

But you like horses, don't you?

I do. The alive ones.

Is your master's about horses?

No. About fish.

What is the topic of your thesis?

Sounds emitted by fish of the Hemichromis bimaculatis species.

You recorded fish sounds.

I did.

I put condoms over microphones and those into an aquarium.

What sounds were you able to record?

Males behave in a specific way in the company of a female.

They circle her and rub her sides,

emitting sounds similar to cooing and chirping.

Just like you now, gentlemen.

- So, how did it go? - Old farts.

You failed?

I passed.

Hip!

Congrats.

What would you like to do?

Was this your first time?

Was this so obvious?

Do you still want to leave Kraków?

Why?

Do you love me?

I do.

Will you marry me?

Instead of leaving?

What's up, lecher?

I won!

Have you fucked my starchy sis?

Nine months of courting, maybe less.

She even promised to marry me.

You slut!

Simona!

What is this about, Krzysiek?

What? We had a bet.

I claimed, he'd never get you. That you have principles, and stuff.

It seems I was wrong!

- Is it true? - It's just a joke.

I lost a crate of vodka because of you, Simona!

You're not sane, Gloria!

You're going to thank me one day. Men are pigs.

No hard feelings, Simona.

So funny.

I disliked your stupid pimp smile from the start.

Have you sold father's paintings?

Mom. Later.

They aren't yours but family's.

- One day, they'd be mine. - Do you think you're a star?

Your grandpa was one.

Guys! Let's go.

Mommy!

- Go to Simona. - Joasia!

I thought you were dating this pimp.

Put her to bed.

Oh.

Congrats on your MA.

We'll get you an assistantship at the uni after the summer.

It won't make you rich…

Not every Kossak can be a painter.

I'm leaving!

Where for?

- To Białowieża. - Only for a while.

For work. I'm moving out, for good.

Are you crazy?

Who's going to take care of me?

The baby, the house? It's all falling apart.

I'm not your maid.

Excuse me?

Joasia has a mother.

I need no privileges, I want to be a scientist.

Let me tell you it all to spare you the delusion.

You lack both beauty and talent.

Your intellect is annoying.

The only thing you have is your name, but it works only here.

You'll be back with your tail between your legs.

Put the girl to bed.

- Mom… - Put her to bed.

Shall we dance?

Come!

Don't leave me here alone.

I'll get you out.

We'll live in the forest, I promise.

Okay?

- Simona? - Director Batura?

Thank you.

You're going to research roe dear fare under natural conditions.

Every day, for several years, whatever the weather, every sing leaf.

Then, you'll write your PhD dissertation. This research can be groundbreaking

and change our approach to wildlife preservation.

We're going to fence eighty acres of land,

next to Dziedzinka, where I'm going to get you a herd of roe deer to watch.

What do you think?

Splendid. This is why I came to Białowieża.

Wouldn't you prefer the University?

I would only be an untalented Kossak in Kraków.

Isn't the Forest a reserve?

It is.

There's plenty of the wood trucks.

Too many.

Does it bother you?

Does it bother you?

It does.

I might be the only forester who's bothered.

What are you going to do?

I thought about sticking nails into trees.

Why?

Nails damage chainsaws.

There's no running water, electricity,

nor a bathroom here.

It's been long uninhabited, the roof could be leaking.

It smells damp.

The Reserve keeps it for its employees.

One half of the house can be yours.

Isn't this what you dreamt of?

Aren't you afraid of living all alone in the forest?

Let's close it.

In my parents' flat,

we had a copy of your father's painting, The Return from the Hunt.

My love for the woods comes from that, I guess.

Actually, my grandpa painted it.

Sure. Is that so? Grandpa?

Good morning.

Good morning!

Are you fucking blind?

Run! Run!

Don't worry, I saw nothing.

Hello, Mr. Taras.

- Picking mushrooms? - Indeed.

- Without a basket? - Not much this year.

- Are you okay? - Yes.

He's the most savage poacher of the Forest.

His family killed a forester before the war.

They lassoed him.

Tied by his genitals.

He allegedly shot their dog.

I'll give you a lift.

Thank you.

Leave me alone!

- What the heck are you doing? - I live here. What are you doing here?

I live here. Who let you in?

None of your business! Who are you?

Fuck! They sent me some broad, I'll be damned.

I asked you who you are!

Could you behave?

Where do you have it from?

It roamed the forest. Froggy is her name.

- Her mother could be looking for her. - Don't think so. Her mother must be dead.

She's thin. Her siblings must be dead or hunted.

Froggy is a stupid name.

Is it?

What's your name?

Simona.

What?

Nothing.

I'm Leszek.

Are you here for long, Leszek?

For long.

And you?

Till the end.

Do you know where the bison dwell?

Can you see this stone?

Sweep aside some moss.

It's a stump.

Of a tree that has been felled centuries ago.

Look.

Can you see?

It's still alive. But how?

Other trees feed it.

They help each other. Can you believe it?

This is a real forest. A primeval one.

All its trees are interconnected through roots.

But how?

Either directly or through fungus. They are researching it in Canada.

How they talk to each other.

They are related. Parents, children, grandparents.

There is no such forest in Europe.

There are only tree farms.

Just like potato farms.

They don't help each other.

They can't hear each other. They are deaf and numb.

And weak.

Cool, isn't it?

The forest is a huge organism that has developed over millennia.

Generation after generation,

billions of creatures depending on each other.

Fungi, bacteria, protozoans.

We cannot even understand it, not to mention recreating it.

For those stupid motherfuckers, it's only lumber.

There will be no forest in twenty years.

You came at the last minute.

Batura is a nice guy.

Batura?

He's very nice.

Was this sarcasm?

No. Why?

Foresters have been straining for years to fell the most valuable trees here.

Trees that can only be found here.

They usually succeed.

They clear old woods and try to grow new ones.

That would not grow.

They make money on lumber,

and on hunts.

It's a corporation, I tell you.

Do you know how much they pay for shooting bison?

They kill bison?

Of course.

What this sausage was made of?

Just joking, it's ordinary dried one.

We came here to watch badgers.

Joasia!

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

We came to Asia.

Simona!

Take care of the luggage.

Gently, gentlemen, gently!

Froggy ran away.

Relax.

- It's okay, director. - I'm sorry.

Great!

Come here!

Leszek!

Hi! How you have grown!

Is there a single woman who's not after you, Leszek?

You're overestimating me.

Batura.

Elżbieta Kossak.

My pleasure.

- Hi. - Hi.

Simona's great-grandfather painted it.

Juliusz Kossak, you must have heard of him.

Of course.

This is Wojciech Kossak's.

- And this one? - Wojciech again, my father-in-law.

The greatest lecher of the three.

If a woman refused to sleep with him, he would accuse her of lack of patriotism.

Where should I put it?

Here.

Grasses, herbs, like nettle.

They love blackberry.

And trees?

Roe deer rarely eat them in summer.

Only some birches, oaks, aspens. About one-sixth of their diet.

I don't have enough data.

Simona is very methodical. Like her grandpa.

He was famous for the detail.

Painting those battles and animals took ages, though.

Kossaks' paintings are so idyllic.

- They are what? - Idyllic.

I thought you liked animals.

It's just that nature isn't like that.

What is it like then?

It is cruel and beautiful.

Funny, sometimes.

Just like you, Leszek.

Put her to bed, Simona.

Good night.

Why are you with my daughter, Leszek?

She's no beauty, is rather difficult.

I'm looking forward to the vacation together.

Why?

Simona is independent. Like I am.

Is Simona independent? She's desperate.

Is that so? Must have missed it.

She's at hand, right?

You know,

one could think you don't like her.

Some people are easy to use.

Do you feel threatened?

Good night, Leszek.

Are you doing it on purpose?

Are you jealous?

If you think he loves you, you're dumber than I thought.

Go away! Go the fuck away!

Why do you research roe deer food?

The bison were already taken.

Here you are.

Enjoy.

How do you sit?

Should I put an encyclopedia on your head?

You can thrust a fork into my hand.

We're in the forest, but we're no savages. A family meal is sacred.

How am I doing?

I told you to wash them!

You can't spank her in my house.

- I don't spank her. - Really?

Where do the welts on her back come from?

- Not from me. - From whom?

- Can we talk about it later? - Why not now?

I don't know.

Gloria or one of her men.

- How could you allow it? - I didn't! That's why I brought her here.

Are you trying to spite me, Simona?

Simona! Hey, Simona!

Bloody hell!

There you go.

It's some avens, I'm not sure which one.

Do roe deer eat it?

They do.

Check it in the atlas, it must be avens.

WOOD AVENS

Oh, there's Miss Kossak.

Follow me.

This is Leszek Wilczek, a famous photographer of nature.

Stefan Jarząb.

I'm so glad to have a genuine Kossak in our collection.

I'm grateful for your work, Simona. Lumber industry is in crisis.

Not only in the Forest. Throughout the country.

We have trouble with new woods.

It grows poorly, it's weak, predominantly pine.

Białowieża is the last resort where we can get valuable lumber.

- I research roe deer fare. - Of course.

Your work on the roe deer damaging new plantings could be groundbreaking.

We should reduce roe deer numbers to a minimum.

Who knows, we might even be forced to exterminate the entire species.

We need scientific foundation, of course.

We need expertise. Luckily, we have you.

Minister!

I'm coming!

Excuse me. The Forest calls!

You told me I'd be researching roe deer.

I did, so?

You never mentioned exterminating them.

I don't want to kill them, I want to save the Forest.

By killing roe deer?

I need arguments to save the roe deer. This is what your research is for.

Bravo!

I'm on your side, Simona.

Gotta go.

Such a nice guy.

- Cheers! - May the forest reward us!

Bravo!

Bravo!

Oh no.

I'm glad that you came, ladies.

Let me introduce minister Stefan Jarząb.

Elżbieta Kossak.

Simona's sister?

My pleasure.

One of my friends hid in Kraków during German occupation.

He even attended one of your famous parties.

What is your friend's name?

Jerzy Kujawski. We work together.

It doesn't ring a bell, unfortunately.

So many people visited Kossakówka during that time.

He recalled your husband sporting an old overcoat,

they played Chopin and sang the national anthem.

German police only peeked over the fence. And did nothing.

I wonder, why?

My grandmother, of the Putkamers, was Bismarck's wife's sister.

My father-in-law has painted many battles for emperor Wilhelm II.

His wife sacked him when she realized that on the paintings,

French and Polish soldiers are handsomer than Prussians.

Later, during the occupation, my father-in-law had to play insane

to avoid painting Hans Frank's portrait.

Your family is famous for their patriotism.

Haven't I told you?

How's your roe deer research, Simona?

There's no evidence that roe deer forage on saplings.

Haven't you claimed to the contrary, director?

The research is still ongoing.

Still, trees are a big part of their diet.

Excellent!

Excuse me, I must do my rounds.

Have a nice evening.

What are you doing?

Now, it's clear why they are so nice to you.

Just like a tea party at Czartoryskis.

What do you want?

Haven't you heard They need your research for some hoax.

- Batura is on my side. - Because he said so?

You're stupid, indeed.

Such a rare feat for a Kossak.

Think!

Fuck! You're punching my rib!

Simona! Come out and help me, please!

I know that you're inside. The child is next to me.

Mom!

I insist.

Stay.

She will go in. She won't.

Could you come out?

Wait.

- Fuck. - I'm sorry.

Fucking hell.

What are you doing?

- I need your help. - It's not what I mean.

- No idea what you mean. - You're doing it on purpose.

I need your help with lunch. Period.

- I'm working there, mom. - Oh, right. I heard.

Peel the potatoes.

Aren't you staying for dinner, Leszek?

Less work for you.

- Bye, kiddo. - Bye.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- It's not roe deer who destroy saplings. - Excuse me?

Roe deer do not destroy saplings.

Are you sure? You haven't finished your research yet.

There's no proof for this assumption.

Roe deer do not like trees.

Make them like trees.

Excuse me?

You need to write that roe deer damage pine saplings in your paper.

- But you said… - No one enjoys such privileges.

A house in the middle of ancient forest, a job that you love.

You and Wilczek live there like Robinson and Friday.

Why have I given it all to you?

You have to do something in return.

For the Forest.

And for me.

Otherwise, you'll lose it all.

Let's mark one hundred pine saplings.

We're going to watch them take root,

grow, and if animals feed on them.

- Why? - This is what science is about.

First, we gather data and only then draw conclusions.

Unlike in life.

Why?

Because it turns out that Polish forestry badly needs my research.

Badly.

Why?

- Because they want to kill roe deer. - Your deer?

All of them.

Come on, Wilczek!

Hey.

- Is something wrong? - Batura always wanted to kill roe deer.

- He needs my research for it. - In Białowieża?

In the entire country because pines won't grow!

Simona…

I am in fact stupid.

Get up, both of you.

Children of good families do not lounge in bed.

They don't cry, never give up, they are brave, and do not pester adults.

What example are you setting?

- She's not your daughter. - Neither is she yours.

- I want to teach her something.- - What? T be a mean bitch to your kids?

Pigs are better mothers.

Pigs do not have to keep up with the society.

Although the debutante ball is a pigsty.

Get your ass going, get a grip.

Simona!

Joasia!

Get lost!

Get lost!

Get lost! Now!

Get the fuck out of here!

I want you to leave.

Do you really think I'm a bad mother?

I'm all tense with you around.

All my life, I fear of doing something wrong.

Say something wrong, eat the wrong way, love the wrong way.

I don't want to feel that way.

You fell in love with a wrong man.

It's my life, not yours.

I have waited so long for your father to divorce his wife.

Then, I waited until she died.

I thought I could give him another brilliant painter.

I have two daughters instead.

I'm the punishment for your sins.

What do you want?

- Prove that I'm worth something? - You don't have to prove a thing.

Your name is Kossak.

- We're not some purebred dogs! - Of course we are!

People have no idea who their great grandparents were,

our family dates back earlier than the oldest trees of this forest.

Can't you see the responsibility?

Please leave Joasia here.

She is happy here.

I know.

But Gloria will never allow it.

I'm sorry.

I only wanted you to be strong.

Joasia.

I'll bring you here, I promise.

Mom…

Check if you can store it there.

It must be dry.

Someone damaged the fence, all roe deer are gone.

Excuse me.

- When? - Last night.

I can't finish the research, I lack the data.

It must have been poachers. Don't worry, we'll get you new deer.

Yes.

It has to be dry!

Unless you'd like to give up and return to Kraków.

I know that you don't. Check it!

It should hold.

Cool.

- It should be okay. - Someone should test it.

- All connected. - Good.

Don't be afraid. Do it!

- Can I help you? - I'll manage.

Are you sure?

I am.

Hello!

Good morning!

Good morning.

You again?

I need help.

Don't worry, I saw nothing.

What you want?

What plant is this?

No idea.

Is this all?

Who could know? You know everybody here.

She's a teacher.

She knows a lot about the forest.

Her grandfather was a wizard. Not some witcher, a real wizard.

He had a book and knew how to do magic.

He could help people or harm them if someone crossed him.

He changed the forester who lived at Dziedzinka before the war

into a dog for one day.

I heard you didn't like the forester either.

I wasn't there then.

Well,

he was such a wizard.

People fear his family until this day.

You never know, grandpa could have taught her something.

Well.

It's devil's-bit scabious.

- Is this a real name? - It is.

- Many thanks. - It's nothing.

I was about to go out, I could walk you back.

- Has Taras told you about my grandpa? - Not much.

I ran away from my husband last year.

Only he didn't fear my grandpa.

Only later I realized that it's because he's an even meaner son-of-a-bitch.

Don't listen, Staś.

Is this Taras's son?

He is.

A bad man and drunkard.

I used to like it.

When did you stop?

I tolerated beating me,

I couldn't tolerate him beating Staś.

Grandpa did magic only close to the forest.

I wouldn't work elsewhere.

Why?

What are you doing?

Take it.

- Am I supposed to eat it? - Chew.

Let me show you something.

It's a place of power.

People, who lived here thousands of years ago, laid those stones.

Enough.

Those majestic animals are Africa's true stars.

They can reach an imposing height of eighteen feet.

Their long necks allow them to reach tree branches.

And this is not all.

Giraffes are the masters of disguise.

I'm not sure if I love him or just like doing it with him.

He's a sexual object for me.

A bit like a dyke.

You talk like a horny rabbit.

It works the same way with all animals.

We add all the feelings, but it's still the same.

Leszek is a prick.

A handsome one.

I'd like to penetrate him.

- I wonder what it's like. - Strange thoughts roam this little head.

Froggy!

I was thinking about your roe deer. I have an idea.

Is this how we deal with it?

I don't want to hurt you.

If you have a problem with it, let's call it quits.

Is this our choice?

What do you want from me?

Nothing.

Should I lie to you?

Fuck off, Wilczek!

Oh!

Hello!

- Hi. - Hi.

- Hanna Gucwińska. - Simona Kossak.

Koko.

Thanks for coming. This is Simona I have told you about.

- Antoni Gucwiński. - Simona Kossak.

I'm so glad. I was lately shown parts

of the Racławice panorama. They want to exhibit it in Wrocław.

Grandpa would be so happy.

All those details, it must have taken him ages.

- Koko! - Koko.

Okay, let's go.

Let's go.

- Let me help you. - Thank you.

In the area I observed, seventy per cent of the saplings simply wilted.

They didn't take root.

Several were hit by fungi, only a few per cent were eaten by animals.

Look, Koko. Bad men fell the forest, like in your native Africa.

And they want to kill roe deer,

like they killed your parents, sisters, and brothers.

I can see what you fight for, Simona, but we don't engage in politics.

I'm sorry.

If it turned out that roe deer eat young trees,

it would be logical to reduce their population.

We have exterminated other predators, we have to regulate nature ourselves.

The view of National Woods is not groundless.

Life on Earth is billions years old, it doesn't belong to them.

They can't even plant pines properly.

Roe deer eat almost no saplings, they don't like wood.

It's a dozen, in winter about 20 per cent of their fare.

It's not roe deer who fell 1 million trees over the last five years.

The problem is that industrial clearing destroys the entire ecosystem.

They think a bit of fertilizer could help the forest grow back.

Foresters purposefully destroy old trees and rare species,

to prevent the creation of another preserve.

People should learn about it before it's too late.

Thirty per cent of Poland's territory belongs to National Woods.

They fell trees everywhere and could save one unique forest.

We do a popular show about animals.

It must be charming, exotic, and cause no stir.

We should publicize your research.

Koko would love to make a special episode on roe deer.

Am I right, Koko?

It's not a good idea, Koko.

Life on Earth is billions years old and does not belong to National Woods.

- They can't even plant pines. - The public doesn't care.

People want to read about sex, love.

How to make hair conditioner with beer.

Where to go for holidays?

- Should we shag here? - I beg you!

Wait.

Come here Leszek, sit in this chair.

Alright.

And you…

- Sit on his lap. - I won't sit on his lap.

Pretend that you're in love.

- She could be right, Simona. - Fuck off, I won't sit on your lap.

Give it to me. I beg you.

Don't be so stiff, I beg you!

Imagine that you love him.

That he's the one.

That you happily live here with the animals.

That you have great sex life.

That the world envies you.

The Age of the Aquarius.

You see? Leszek ain't that bad.

You could eat him whole.

Was this enough?

You're beautiful, gal.

I root for you.

Watch over Leszek, he's a womanizer.

- He broke many hearts. - I'll be careful.

Good.

- The story will run in the next issue. - Great.

- Drop by me when you're in Warsaw. - Sure.

- Bye! - Thanks.

Bye!

- What? - Did you sleep with Koko too?

Today, we would like to tell you about a species we all know well.

A species we tend to consider ordinary.

We couldn't be more wrong.

I'm talking about a close relative of the African impala.

The European roe,

about which we'll talk today,

can be found in greatest numbers in Central Europe, including Poland,

where it has been lately thoroughly researched.

Roe deer are wrongly considered vermin.

Instead, we should value their role in our ecosystem.

We assume that there are over five hundred thousand

representatives of this charming species.

Did you watch Animals in Camera yesterday?

I don't have a TV set or electricity.

Have you seen the latest Przekrój?

I don't have the time.

After all day's work, it's the house and animals.

They wrote about the Forest. How unique it is.

- That it needs protection. - Isn't that good?

They also mentioned an idealist scientist,

of the famous painter family.

Leszek's friends came, I thought it was a friendly visit.

Friendly visit?

I'm not in charge of the press.

Do you think it can change anything? People don't care.

Lumber is one of our main export goods. Do you know what money it brings?

- I can only imagine. - It's big. And big fish are behind it.

Their single phone call can take a TV show off air.

Or people off their posts.

So I hope you're not playing games.

We have agreed on a doctor's thesis about roe deer eating woods.

Yes, we did.

If you stand me up, you'd go down with a bang.

And the big fish would make sure you won't find a job.

Not even in a slaughterhouse. And no Kossak's going to help you.

Don't do this to me!

Fuck, they eat pines too!

What?

Elżbieta is dead.

She had cancer.

I'm terribly sorry.

'I, the undersigned, Elżbieta Maria Kossak née Dzięciołowska,

born in Bochnia on November 5th, 1910,

widow of Jerzy Maciej Kossak,

being of sound mind, I hereby declare that all my movable and immovable assets

should be ceded to my daughter Gloria.

I also declare that I haven't made

any other statements or legacies in that regard anywhere else.'

Show me that leg!

Come here, let me take a picture of you.

Give it back.

Jesus!

Don't move!

Take it off, now!

Fuck it!

Are you okay?

Get out! Now!

Do you find it funny?

Let's sleep.

This is my beloved sister.

Who ran to the forest.

I can't figure out why mother left you nothing.

You can always sleep here when you're in Kraków.

Besides, mother is going to explain it all in a minute.

You can't neglect Joasia, Gloria.

- Strangers roam the house. - Strangers?

They are my friends, Simona.

I invited them to witness it together.

This house is haunted.

When we were young, at night there was always someone lurking, knocking,

howling, or crying.

Dead Kossaks return here.

They refuse to go away.

They break cups, throw paintings off the walls, or drink vodka with me.

- Gloria, please. - Can't you remember?

We were children.

My sister is a scientist and does not believe in ghosts.

You'll see in a minute, you will all see.

It's almost midnight.

- I'd like to talk to you about Joasia. - Talk.

I thought she could stay with me for a while,

she loves the house and the forest.

Do you want to take my child?

Have your own!

- Kossakówka is not the right… - It is the best place for children.

Look how well-behaving we are!

Manners, honor, our name!

You won't take my child away, got it?

She's going to stay with me forever.

Forever.

Everybody shut up!

Shut up!

Fuck! I told you!

I was to collect you from the station but the bike wouldn't start.

I'm late, I'm sorry.

You're right on time.

- Thanks. - You're welcome.

Wilczek!

What?

Come.

- Do you like it? - It's practical.

You lied to me!

I read your thesis.

I wrote the truth.

- Roe deer do not damage the woods. - You don't get it.

They're going to clear the Forest forever,

until they fell everything around the preserve.

Then, they're going to find a way to get the preserve.

We were to find a way to save the Forest, but you'd rather be a celebrity.

How could the extermination of roe stop them?

Don't dramatize! Better roe deer than us.

You seem to dramatize.

I understand it's the final version.

It is.

Alright.

It's all set, we won't make a show.

The defense will take place.

But you're fired.

Leave Dziedzinka.

- Good morning. - Good morning, director.

Good morning.

Hello. Byrcyn, of the Tatra National Park.

- Kossak. - Wilczek.

I read your doctor's thesis.

You have cojones.

Thanks. It's the best compliment I've ever heard.

I wish you luck.

You badly need it.

You wrote that roe deer diet consists

mostly of herbs, grasses, etc.

What about the damaging of young woods by roe deer, so common in our land?

- My research shows it's not true. - This is one of your biased conclusions.

You write that almost thirty per cent of roe deer fare are trees.

Isn't it logical that where there's a lot of roe deer

they could damage the majority, if not all of the plantings?

- It is not true. - You can easily calculate it, Miss M.A.

I've noted what roe deer ate day by day, whatever the weather.

Every single straw.

I've got hundreds of pictures, materials, and exhibits.

Roe deer fare consists predominantly of grasses, herbs, bushes, acorns, fruits.

Indeed, roe deer eat shoots of young trees.

About fifteen per cent of their winter fare is pedunculate oak,

only a few per cent per year.

The same applies for birch, alder, and rowan.

What percentage of the plantings are those species?

- I don't have the numbers… - A few per cent.

What percentage of the plantings are pines?

Over eighty.

Eighty.

What is the share of pine in roe deer diet?

Less than two. Two per cent.

How could an animal that eats pine as often as we eat spinach

be responsible for damaging eighty per cent of the plantings?

It's easy to calculate.

The woods disappear because of clearing. It becomes obvious in Białowieża.

We're lucky to have the last primeval forest in Europe!

We can research unique connections of this ecosystem to save other forests!

Instead, over a million trees were felled in Białowieża last year.

One million!

It wasn't roe deer who did it.

Who is this?

It's the new boss of the institute, I forgot his name.

Kujawski. I had my master's with him. Old fart.

There are your grandpa's old studio and the Kossak museum in Zakopane,

- I can get you a job there. - I'd rather die.

Unfortunately,

with utmost disappointment…

Excuse me, professor. May I?

Of course, professor.

The discussion about damage caused by animals in young woods

has been going on for decades.

I think that the choice between animals and the woods is false.

We are ready to move on.

And abandon the one-dimensional view of nature

where everybody fights everybody.

The nature is also cooperation of seemingly alien counterparts.

Those who are unable to cooperate, die.

I highly value Simona's thesis.

It helps us to understand another piece of the puzzle that life is.

Congratulations.

Apologies for the interruption.

No problem, professor.

You have so aptly said what I wanted to express.

If I may. I'd also like to congratulate director Batura

on having such an excellent scientist in his institute. You must be proud!

We are proud, director.

I couldn't be more proud.

You saved the roe deer.

Deputy minister Jarząb is gone, director Batura is on probation.

The forestry is in deep shit, Jarząb couldn't handle that.

I'm so glad. Congratulations.

Thank you.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

I love your work, Simona.

Now, I see that you really love nature, not only horses, hounds, and hunts.

I heard you met my parents during the war.

Met them…

Is an understatement.

Your mom saved me from Gestapo.

She hasn't told you?

She hasn't.

She was an incredible woman. You resemble her so much.

If you think it influenced the evaluation of your thesis,

it didn't. We're scientists. We only care about facts.

It differentiates us from amateurs.

This is crucial, don't forget about it.

Good luck, there's a lot of work ahead of you.

What?

- You resemble her a bit. - I don't!

- A bit. - No.

You are.

Did you know that red deer have certain bacteria in their stomachs

that help them digest wood?

Should I research red deer diet now?

They told me to kill fifteen hundred red deer.

This is what you got.

To save useless roe deer,

we have to sacrifice half of the red deer population.

I hope it makes you proud.

Simona.

Take care of the luggage.

Can I stay here with you forever?

I'd love you to.

Come.

We have to leave them.

I don't want to.

We have to let them go.

Joasia!

Joasia!