Original subtitles

"MY BEST FRIEND" April 30, 2004

"My best friend." I have no best friend.

Because there are no children in my village...

I like to play with my grandfather Milutin,

who is 86 years old.

He is so good.

He has a son named Voja, who is my father.

Milutin and Voja quarrel constantly

as Voja always drinks brandy.

He tells him: "My son, I hope you won't be drunk when I die!

Am I to be buried by the Albanians?"

My father Voja replies:

'Why did God condemn me to rot here alongside you?"

Milulin than says: "I'll die here, where I was born.

You, drunken fool, n leave if you have where to go to!"

Voja says: "Let your refugee in Belgrade take care of you then!"

The refugee is Milulin's daughter Milica, my aunt.

I hardly remember her, because she fled to Belgrade

when the Albanians look over Kosovo with NATO.

There she married a baker from Ub.

Milutin says: "I just want to live long enough

to see my granddaughter from Belgrade. Then I n die."

Milutin will die soon

because he is very sick and doesn't get out of bed.

I play dominoes with him and I always win.

When I win, he gives me a sugar cube.

I'm sorry he will die,

because I'll have no one to play with and get sugar cubes from.

Very good, Nenad.

Milutin, Voja, Albanians, God...

Milica, Belgrade... What are they, Nenad?

They are nouns...

What kind of nouns?

Proper nouns! - Exactly!

What letter do proper nouns begin with?

Capitals... - Right.

Correct your errors now.

Eeny, meeny, miny mo...

Anything new

The Matovi�s have sold their house.

They're moving to Mitrovica.

Bu! they don't know what to do about grandma.

How's your grandfather? - Voja says he won'! be going soon.

Does he drink? -Who?

Voja! - He does...

Seven times seven? - Forty-nine.

Eight times nine? - Seventy two.

One hundred twenty four divided by twelve'! - Six!

Six'?! - I didn't study that yet.

Get your notebook and pencil, and do your math!

I can't see a thing.

Is your bag heavy'? - No...

Good... This cement sure is!

Tell Voja lo slop by for a chat. - I will.

I'd oorne over to your place, but I have to wail for the bell.

When will it arrive'? -Any day now.

Tell your grandpa lo hold on! -I will.

See you tomorrow, father!

Bashkim...

Bashhm, we hit the carrier twenty �mes!

Then the carrier ran of the road!

A soldier came out and started shooting!

And we run away! We barely escaped...

Come on, Milutin. Your move.

But I didn't beat you yet. That's at the end!

Albanian brothers... you're running late tonight!

Who needs electricity! As if we Serbs always had electricity...

So, what's new'!

Father Draia will get a new bell.

All we need is a bell!

Voja... Father Draia said he'd like you to slop by.

Draia? Tell the bishop...

I've no intention of rattling around in that armored car!

Be sure to tell him that! No chance of Voja coming!

No chance...

If he's such a Serb, he can saddle his horse and come over here...

Tell father DraZa to find Milica.

She's in Belgrade. No. 86 Keclerovi� Street.

With the Petkovi� family...

He should tell her to oome over.

Milutin hasn't much time left.

Got it? - Yes.

Repeat it.

I'm to tell Draia to find Milica in Belgrade in Kemerovi� St.

It's Keclerovic': St. 86!

Belgrade, Keclerovif: St. 86!

Right!

The Pelkovi� family!

O" You go!

Wipe that milk off your face! You're not five years old...

Hi, you sooundrel!

Go!

Did you give Voja my message'? -I did.

What did he say?

Go on, tell me!

He said...

"Tell the bishop that if he's a true Serb he should not be afraid.

He can saddle his horse... I won't ride in that armored car!"

How is Milutin'? - Bad.

Voja also said you should find Milica.

She's in Belgrade... Kesmanovi� St. 80... 126!

The Pelkovi� family.

Eeny, meeny...!

C'mon, Father Draia!

Eeny, meeny, miny mo...

Father Draia, will Milutin go to heaven or hell'!

Tell Voja I'll stop by soon to give Milulin the communion.

"Nenad, it all happened unexpectedly.

I've gone to Belgrade, where I got a job.

Don't come to school until someone contacts you.

Your teacher Branka."

1... 2... 3...

Look at me!

Hey, wait!

What's it like in the armored carrier? - Not bad.

Can you hear it inside when we throw rocks'! -You can.

Can you ask the soldier to take us for a ride too?

You don't need to. - Why?

You're Albanians.

Tell him we're Serbs! Just a little ride...

Just for the two of us! Not Bashkim!

Who is Bashkim? -The shepherd whose father you people killed.

I didn't kill anyone.

Ask if we can ride inside! Tell him our grandma is Serbian!

Hey, Serb!

What?!

Did you ask? - What'?

The soldiers! About the ride.

What will you give me in return?

We'll go for a swim in the creek!

I can't swim! - We neither!

I'll ask the soldiers.

Word of honor'? - Yes!

Stop! I'll shoot, slop!

Leave the cows!

I'll make you pay for this!

Stop!

Leave the cows!

For you, 0 Lord, have done as you pleased.

Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard,

and the raging sea grew calm.

At this the men greatly feared the Lord,

and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.

But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah,

and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Did you tell Father Draia about Milica?

I did. - And what did he say'?

Thai he'll ll her. - Did he say something else?

He said he'll stop by soon to give Milulin the communion.

Soon?! Is he insane?

Milutin is dying and he will "stop by soon"!

He's waiting for the bell! - Waiting for the bell...

ls the bell more important than Milutin?

Milutin is more important... -Right.

My teacher moved out to Belgrade.

She lefi me a message not to come to school...

I don't re about her or Belgrade!

Tomorrow you'll go get DraZa. To give Milulin his last communion!

Otherwise it may be too late...

In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me.

From the depths of the grave I called for help..."

Grandpa, n I go and play with some friends'!

Tell Voja to prepare my suit...

I want you to bury me in a new suit...

The bride will ride in a carriage.

Grandpa, we have no horses.

Call Amen. He's got two horses, white as snow.

Let everyone know who's getting married!

A drum and two zurlas.

Women with dairi.

We bring them from Prizren'?

No, go to Draga�. Gorany people are better.

We need someone who knows to dance well.

We mustn't embarrass the bride's relatives.

I fired this rifle when your father got married.

I will shoot from it for you as well.

If only your father were alive.

Bye, rascals!

C'mon, Serb! Get in!

Come here!

Join us!

Bashkim! - Wait for us, Bashkim!

Wait, Bashkiml.!

Let's go! Pull!

Hold it! - What now'?

It won't go up. It's stuck.

We must take it back down.

Bring it down...

More...

Slowly.

Easy.

There.

Easy, we don't want to break ii.

God's will...

Hello?!

I hear you now!

We're a few kilometers from the enclave.

Everything is fine!

Hello?

We're about ten kilometers from the checkpoint!

Dear God what's this'?

They're stoning us!

Get up, it's all right now.

Good day!

Get your {D cards ready for inspection!

Everyone get your ID cards ready...

Milica?

Yes.

Where are you going'?

To Vrelo.

my?

To see my father.

I have the UNHCR document! It's all in there...

And where is she going?

She's 'with me...

To see her grandpa. My father is dying...

How dale you enter the slate territory of Kosovo

'with a broken windshield on your bus?

When I entered it, if wasn't broken.

Go, now.

Wait!

Come here.

Put down the cross.

Come here.

Hold that.

When you finish writing his name on the cross,

you'll take the carrier to get Father Draia.

Tell him that grandfather died and that we have to bury him.

We won't wail for Mili. Whoever is here is here.

Got it? - Yes.

Now, repeal.

When I finish the writing,

I'll take the armored carried t0 go get father DraZa.

I'll tell him that Milutin is dead and we have to burry him.

We won't wail for Mili. Whoever is here is here.

Go now.

Roll up those trouser legs, you're not five years old!

No school today! It's closed.

Grandpa Milutin died. I must get the priest.

I'll give you some chocolate

No school. Get it'?

What happened?

What happened? Give him a handkerchief!

What's wrong'! -it's fine, don't worry.

Thanks for that.

Giddyup!

Fame! Dram!

Stop!

Who is this?

Our friend. A Serb.

We rode in the carrier with him.

We need a fourth one. Call him to play with us.

Bashkim wants you to play with us. We need a fourth one.

I can't. I've oome for the priest. We have to bury my grandfather.

The priest went away in his cart.

He's probably already at your place.

We ran away from the wedding.

Bashkim took a gun! Slay with us.

You want to play dominoes?

Good day.

Who is VojislavArsi�i?

Vojislav Arsi�!

That's me.

We have a report that you fired shots.

I defended my cattle!

VWth what kind of weapon?

A hunting rifle.

Bring it here!

You have a license?

You have any [note weapons'?

Search the place!

Why the harassment'?

Can't you see that our father died?

We�, we have to respond.

We received a report...

I see you, Bashkiml.!

I got here first!

No you didn't! -I did!

I did! - No!

Anyway, I'm older. I don"t have to count.

Let the Serb count!

Bashkim says you have to count. - OK!

One, two, three...

Ceki�!

Cekic', come!

You're a Serb!

Please accept my condolences...

I must go.

No! Do the count again.

Tell him I must find the priest.

Go back and count!

Here, take this chocolate.

Count again!

Tell him that father will give me a beating!

Let him go. His dad will beat him.

Where's my dad? They killed him!

He says that you killed his father.

You count! Under the bell!

I won't.

Let me go!

Under the be"!

Under the be"!

Giddyup...

Under the be"!

Let me go!

Under the be"!

Don't!

Don't Bashkiml.!

Let him go Bashkdml.!

Count!

Count!

No!

Count! I'll shoot!

Bashhm, don't... What did he do to you'?

He is guilty! They're all guilty!

We're going now, Bashkiml - Stop!

Ask him if he is afraid?

He is asking you whether you are afraid.

Please say you're afraid so that we can all go home. -No!

You must be afraid!

You must be afraid!

No!

You must! You killed my father! Do you hear me'?

No!

You must be afraid!

Stop 'n!

Stop!

Bashkim!

Wei�! Stop!

Bashkim, n you hear me?

Bashkim!

...illegal possession of weapons is a threat.

Illegal possession of weapons is a threat.

And as such it is a source of future conflict.

Therefore, we will seize your weapons...

...which are a sign of times gone by.

Good...

We offer you a future...

Through your employment in the multietlmnic police foroe.

Your work would contribute

to the survival of the Serbian minority in this area...

This is a symbol of mutual reconciliation...

Tell him he doesn't have to make a decision just now.

He should think it over...

Tell him about that fellow of his... What's his name?

Ceki�! - Righl...

You don't have to decide right now. Take your time.

You'll have a salary like Ceki�.

I've forgotten... Give him my condolences.

The inspector extends her condolences

for the death of your father.

Thank you.

Welcome, Ceki�!

Giddyup...

God rest his soul.

God have mercy on his soul.

Can you find me another shirt'?

Here. It's Voja's.

How is the bakery business?

Alright...

Hello, my brave boy!

Tell grandpa, who shot you?

Who shot you'?

We were playing...

Who shot you'?

Tell grandfather who shot you.

Te� us!

Tell us who shot you.

A Serb.

Where is the gun'?

I don't know... - You don't?

Try to remember...

Eeny, meeny, miny mo...

Have mercy on your servant Milutin. Alleluia.

Eternal blessing bestow upon him.

Eternal blessing...!

The last kiss...

God rest his soul.

God rest his soul.

You carry it. Go up front.

Nenad!

Nenad!

Nenad!

Son!

Nenad!

Son!

Son!

Nenad!

Nenad!

Nenad!

Get in, we don't have time!

Nenad!

Amen.

How big is the population of Belgrade?

A million... and a half.

Will my schoolteacher be a man or a woman'?

I don't know.

Will there be many students? -Sure.

Listen... In that school, there'll be a lot of kids you don't know.

All sorts... Good and bad.

Don't you be hardheaded!

Understood?

Yes.

WELCOME!

So, will you introduce yourself?

Tell us your name. - Nenad.

Could you speak up a little? - Nenad...

Well, Nenad, tell us where do you come from'!

Sorry, Nenad.

Now please get up and tell us loud and clear

where do you come from'!

From Vrelo...

Tell us where Vrelo is'? - In Kosovo.

Albanian! - What was that?

Sit down.

The essay must have an introduction,

followed by the development and the conclusion.

Mind the capitalized words,

the hyphenation and the punctuation...

And write legibly!

"MY BEST...".

Throw the ball!

Throw back the ball, stupid!

Give me the ball, Albanian!

"MY BEST FRIEND".

Serb!

Serb!

Come back!