Original subtitles

I've had enough of being tossed about...

On land or sea! We'll be there soon.

Homesteader Karl Oskar Nilsson

imagine if this ox were mine.

Are we almost there?

It's just a bit further.

You didn't consult me before picking a spot so far away.

No.

- Are the stones still warm? - They seem to be.

Let's go on. They might harm us if they see us.

No, Anders says the savages in these parts aren't hostile.

You couldn't come with me to look at the land,

so I had to decide alone.

I've picked out the best spot in all of north America.

But it's such an everlasting way there.

To a place like this,

no way in the world is too long.

Don't go thinking I'll put up with everything you do.

- Trust me. - You always think you're the wisest.

You never ask anyone's advice.

I ask yours sometimes...

Don't I?

Maybe sometimes, but you always do what you want regardless.

The ground here is easy to till, anyway.

It's a lovely spot you've found, Karl Oskar.

See that shanty

up there?

It's just a little shanty. That's what they call them here.

But it's a roof over our heads till we get the house finished.

We'll have to live like paupers at first.

But we have more land than any big farmer at home.

And better land!

Look, Kristina.

See that?

We'll grow good bread here.

The new land

“Dear beloved parents...”

Directed, filmed, and edited by

Karl Oskar.

We have to buy a cow for milk in the winter.

I should have told you before. It's not so easy.

We have nothing to buy a cow with.

Nothing?

Are we that bad off?

Everything's been so expensive.

And you can't say I've bought anything unnecessary.

A cow's as necessary as anything else.

Not as necessary as the house.

But the whole winter?

You think the children can go till spring without a drop of milk?

Isn't there any way?

How can we buy it with no money?

You think it's winter coming on?

It can't come on this suddenly!

Will you finish the house in time?

I'll make the next one bigger.

And plane the logs on both sides.

What do you think?

Now you can look! One, two, three!

What on earth!

You found a wild cow?

We thought you could borrow her for the winter.

We only need one.

She's a bit old, of course...

But she's fat, and a good milker.

She's stuck.

You're stuck?

It's your fault, Karl Oskar.

You made the chair too small for a grown woman.

You're old enough to know

that womenfolk are broader in the beam than menfolk.

God made us like that so we can lie solidly on our backs

and obey his commandments to multiply and fill the earth.

Ulrika makes a great porridge!

That's the kind of woman a man needs.

You have a woman already.

The Indian girl can only cook hogwash.

Why do you have her then?

She'll do to scratch the itch.

Of course...

She's a bit small down there,

but all Indian girls are.

Cheers, everyone!

This American liquor is good and strong,

but it's the color of cow piss.

Help me.

Can you keep a secret, arvid?

You know I can.

I'm clearing out of here the minute I can.

You're leaving your brother?

Karl Oskar's not my master.

I'm going off to dig for gold.

Gold?

You never said anything about that.

Some things you keep secret.

But I wasn't thinking of going alone.

I'd like you to come along.

Want to?

There's no ocean to cross?

No.

Now, I figure if we walk...

Thats it, boys you're sounding good

fiddling like you're sawing wood

gusten's barking out the rhythm

Janne's on accordion right along with him

squeezing it hard and stomping his feet

neighing like a horse in heat

Lena, you glide like a bird in the sky

you're fleet of foot and fair to the eye

as pretty ladies fill the room

my heart starts pounding boom boom boom!

Their skirts are swirling full and long

to Janne's tune and gusten's song

the bright blue day turns purple-pink

as the sun behind the mountains sinks

the night sky hangs as pretty as can be

over finnbdcksby

Once we get the road in, it won't seem so far.

Does anyone regret emigrating?

What's that?

Does anyone regret emigrating?

Regret it?

Regret coming to a country

where you're treated like a human being?

I'd sooner they made sausage of me!

Back home they think Sweden's the whole world.

That's why they're so smug.

That Satan's den!

If you stepped outside your door in the morning

and let out a fart,

people would pass it on till it echoed all over the parish.

It was appointed that we should move here.

We must entertain neither regret nor fear.

Well, there's something I regret:

Not having moved here six years ago!

I'll never budge,

as sure as I sit here!

- Kristina! - What is it?

Are you in pain?

She's tired and needs rest.

Forgive me...

For blubbering like this!

I can't help it.

I'll be all right in a minute.

There, there.

Just wait till you see our next house.

Our next house here at ki-chi-saga...

Karl Oskar despises the Indians,

but they know better than to go around

hacking at the earth like the whiteskins.

Robert...

About that gold.

Where is it?

In California.

I mean, do you know where exactly?

Not exactly.

We have to look for it and ask around.

Is it scattered around or all in one place?

Scattered around.

I wonder what danjel will say.

Can't you do as you like?

Sure, but he paid my passage.

When we return, you can pay him so much

that he can travel for the rest of his life.

Get out of here! Out!

Dear god, that was a close call.

You sure you're all right?

It's nothing. It'll pass.

- But you're in pain? - I'll be all right soon.

My time has come, Karl Oskar.

- You think so? - It can't be anything else.

- Isn't it early? - By two weeks.

I don't decide these things! Of course not, darling.

We have to get help. Go get ulrika.

- Ulrika! - Yes, I asked her when we moved.

Ulrika...

There, there.

Help me.

Is mother going to die?

You needn't worry, Johan.

There's nothing to worry about. Mother will be fine soon.

I see the head!

Get a firm grip on her.

Hold me!

It's a boy.

He's made like his father between the legs.

Hand me the sheep shears.

He was made in Sweden.

But we'll pray to the lord to preserve him...

So that he's none the worse for it.

He'll be a real American.

He's a sturdy one.

Shall we show him to mother?

Have a little nip now.

I baptize you nils Oskar danijel...

In the name of the father...

And the son...

And the holy ghost.

Let us pray.

I shot an Indian!

What's this nonsense? You're lying!

No, I'm not!

I think he fell down.

He shot at me first.

If you shot an Indian, it means trouble for us all.

Where was it?

At the foot of the big cliff.

Come show me.

There.

Did he shoot arrows at you?

Yes, several.

He's been dead for weeks. He never shot arrows at you.

But it's true! I swear!

It must have been another Indian in another tree.

I'm sure I heard arrows.

You're hard of hearing in one ear.

I know what this means.

The Indians can't bury their dead in the frozen ground.

They hang them up like this until spring.

But I swear!

- You were lying. Take it back. - I won't take back one word.

If you're so far gone that you believe your own lies,

no one's going to believe you anymore.

You can't order me around.

You're not my guardian. I'm your older brother.

Well, that's the last of it.

No more bread from now on.

Think we could borrow a sack of flour from uncle danjel?

We still owe him for the mortgage back home,

but I suppose we have no choice.

You'll soon have one less mouth to feed.

What?

I'm leaving.

For the goldfields in California.

What will you do there?

Dig for gold, of course.

Dig for gold!

Arvid's coming too.

You can't. I won't allow it.

In America every man is his own master.

We'll work for our passage on the steamboat to St. Louis

and then continue overland.

You'll never manage. You're just 18.

You left home at 14.

That's true...

But that was back home.

That's different.

You went where you liked at 14.

Can't I do the same at 18?

You can't stop me.

As soon as the ice breaks up, we're off.

You shouldn't give me your last dollars.

You might need them...

In case you don't find all the gold you expect.

Is it true what Jonas petter says?

Did Samuel ngjd propose?

It's true. He proposed.

Another one!

Did you give him an answer?

He got the same answer as Anders mansson and Mr. Abbot.

I wonder who'll end up being your husband.

I don't have to wonder.

I'm leaving danjel and moving to stillwater.

A miracle has happened. A miracle?

I'm to be baptized a baptist...

By my husband-to-be.

My goodness!

I'm marrying pastor Jackson of stillwater.

It's a miracle from god!

I can't explain it.

There's nothing more I can say.

Dear sweet ulrikal

you surprise me.

It's not like you to be sad.

I'm not sad!

I'm happy!

I'm so happy for you.

You couldn't ask for a better husband.

It's a miracle!

Turn around

and close your eyes till I say.

Close your eyes.

You can look now.

You have to try it on too.

You look prettier than the finest high-society lady.

Lord, reach out your mighty hand...

And take me back to Sweden.

I thought you were asleep.

Something woke me.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

Go back to sleep.

Then why are you lying awake?

It's nothing.

It's so silly and childish.

Are you sad?

Are you sad about something?

If you're struggling with something, we have to help each other.

The best of friends have to help each other.

If god is to take you back home,

I'll reach out my arms and keep you here with me.

Listen, Karl Oskar.

There's nothing more to say.

It was a childish thought that came over me as I said my prayers.

Dear Kristina.

Don't you ever long for the old country?

Sure, sometimes.

I can't help it.

Darling.

Wait, I'll get something for you.

Anna's old shoe.

It helps me remember...

If I ever feel sad.

Maybe it will help you too.

But I'll tell you this:

One day our children will thank us for coming to north America.

Do you think so?

You really think so?

I feel it. I know it.

Maybe so.

You never know.

Kristina...

You remember when we moved here last fall,

and you said it was almost as pretty as at home at duvemala?

I've been wondering

if we should call our new home here duvemala.

What do you think? Or new duvemala.

Just imagine!

Duvemala.

Then we don't live at ki-chi-saga anymore.

We live at duvemala.

It sounds so strange.

Shall we do that? Is it settled?

You know what tomorrow is?

It's an important anniversary.

It's April 14:

One year to the day...

Since we boarded the ship at karlshamn.

And tomorrow I'll plow American soil for the first time.

You're Swedish, I guess?

Petrus olausson, from alfta parish.

Karl Oskar Nilsson, from ljuder in smaland.

I thought I'd settle down here by the lake.

We're neighbors now.

In Sweden I was fined 200 silver daler

for reading a chapter from the Bible in my own house.

No, Sweden's been ruined by corrupt authorities.

Every night in my prayers I thank the lord

for my new homeland.

I'm glad we're getting neighbors so close.

I never thought anyone else would want to live way out here.

You won't be alone much longer.

Really?

Two more families are coming to settle here.

Hear that?

One from halsingland and one from ostergétland.

Then we can start a parish. You mean a church parish?

Yes. We'll build a church...

A little log-cabin temple to god.

A house of god

in plain timber, of course.

Well, you see...

I have to think about a barn first,

and I was thinking of a new farmhouse.

We mustn't strive in the flesh and forget the hereafter.

Building a barn is no excuse

for putting off building a house of god.

If I'd had money for my own oxen,

1d have cleared 30 acres by now.

I have an ox.

If you get one, we can help each other.

Are you the only man here?

A younger brother came over with me,

but he left for California two years ago.

No one knows if he's still alive.

Here's where I'll build the new farmhouse.

A bit on the big side, isn't it?

The kitchen will be at this end,

and the sleeping quarters at the other.

The wall will be here.

I tell you, you can't build it that big.

Yes, I can.

Look at this.

This is from back home in Sweden.

An apple tree!

An astrachan.

How pretty!

The men here are so courteous.

They value their womenfolk here in America.

In that devil's hole Sweden, men use women

as servants in the day and mattresses at night.

In between, they're not worth a fart.

We stood still in front of a machine for a while,

and then, like magic,

we were painted on that thick paper.

As pretty as a painting.

We've hung there like that for over a year.

Would you like some more?

You have a good and kind husband.

Henry's gentle.

How did you understand each other

before you learned english?

We pointed and made signs and gestured.

- Excuse me. - Something stick in your throat?

No, it's the parson that's on the way.

Not Henry! The parson I'm bringing into the world.

That's why I went and threw up.

I'm pregnant, you see.

When I married, I hadn't had a man in bed with me

for four long years.

It felt nice to use my body

for the purpose it was created for...

And in a union blessed by god.

Though Jackson popped it in too fast in the beginning.

That was the problem.

Sleep well, now. You have a long journey tomorrow.

Good night.

Ask who it is first

who is it?

May I have shelter, good people?

- You're Swedish? - Yes.

Thank heaven! You got caught in awful weather.

- Where have you come from? - I've just come from St. Paul.

I walked the whole way.

I'm completely exhausted.

Sit down and dry off.

It's nice to come inside where it's warm.

You're bleeding!

- Am I? - Did you hurt yourself?

The mosquitoes were biting something awful.

Karl Oskar Nilsson.

Ljuder parish.

Erland torner is my name.

I'm from vaderstad parish

in ostergétland.

Ostergétland. I see.

I suppose... You've come here to settle?

No, I'm a pastor in the church of Sweden.

- You're a pastor? - Yes.

I come to you as a stranger,

my good countrymen...

But here are my papers

to certify that -

we didn't doubt you for a moment.

Would you like some dry clothes?

I'm sure Karl Oskar has something that -

it's almost a sacrilege

to dress a parson like that.

It's a bit big,

but it's nice and warm.

You're welcome to share what we have for dinner.

May I ask...

Why you've come to America?

For the emigrants' sake.

For our sake?

But who pays you?

No one.

But good people

give me food and lodging.

Like here tonight.

And as you care for me,

so will I care for the souls of my countrymen.

Do you think you could prepare us

for absolution?

We haven't received absolution in three years.

From this I have learned

that with sin

one must not jest

I've taken today's reading

from the acts of the apostles, chapter 17.

For to dwell on all the face of the earth,

and hath determined the times before appointed,

and the bounds of their habitation...”

Forgive me, pastor.

God has decreed...

How far and wide

man shall roam,

and I speak to you, Swedish women and men,

who have traveled a third of the earth's surface,

from continent to continent.

L, a poor and sinful creature...

Born a sinner...

And a sinner all my days...

May the body of Christ that you are about to receive

preserve thee unto everlasting life.

May the blood of Christ that you are about to receive

preserve thee unto everlasting life.

Behold, behold

now we are all

like Jesus

You mean ulrika?

She and I are the best of friends.

Friends!

Your friend is married to the baptist parson in stillwater!

She's been rebaptized!

I know. But that's her business.

Then you shall know this too:

We must not have commerce with lost souls.

Do not let that woman into this house.

Do not open your door to her.

With Mrs. Jackson you admit a spiritual enemy into your home.

We warn you out of Christian love.

Uncle petrus...

Do you realize you're speaking

of the best friend I have in America?

Friendship can blind us.

Dear Kristina...

These evil spirits disguise themselves as friends.

You don't recognize your spiritual enemy in this Mrs. Jackson.

You dare come here and speak ill of ulrika?

The poor child! What's she saying?

Dear Kristina, calm down.

You must correct your foolish wife.

Help us talk some sense into her.

- This is ridiculous. - It is indeed!

You leave Kristina alone.

She can open the door to anyone she likes.

And don't be giving orders in my house! I've meant to tell you this before.

I don't need a guardian, and neither does my wife.

There - I've said it, once and for all!

My dear neighbor...

You must understand us. We wished only to warn you.

You came here to drive a wedge between ulrika and me.

You slander her and accuse her of evil deeds.

You've forgotten the eighth commandment.

You should be ashamed!

Come, petrus. I see we've come too late.

My dear Kristina...

We came here today out of Christian love,

and you received us with words of abuse.

But I forgive you.

I know it's not your doing. Evil spirits speak through you.

Enough of your evil spirits!

Christian folk must avoid this contaminated house

until it's been cleansed.

Out!

Get out if it's too unclean for you here!

“Until it's been cleansed”!

I'll never forget that as long as I live. Out!

Nineteen out of 20 men in these parts

are like cooped-up stallions,

grumbling and pining for a woman

till moss starts growing on their pricks.

Or else they end up doing like Samuel no6jd

and taking one of those brown women to live with them.

I'll tell you this much:

You'll never catch me going to bed with an Indian woman.

I bet you'd go crawling in a pinch.

There's nothing wrong with their pussies,

even if they are a bit small.

We were thinking we should write to the Swedish government

and tell them to send over a shipload of females.

Sturdy, respectable, upstanding females, of course.

And we'd promise in writing

to take the virginity of every one of them

the very day they arrived...

Or by the next night

at the very latest.

And if any woman still had her maidenhood at sunrise,

she could claim a thousand daler in damages.

If only I had an ox of my own.

I could double our harvest.

You'd better get off.

Stamp your feet.

No!

Move!

Go, damn youl!

We'll be home soon.

Bundle up tight.

Come here.

Johan!

Johan, my boy!

There, Johan.

Keep warm.

I'll be back soon.

Robert!

You're back!

You recognized me quicker than Karl Oskar did.

He was in the crib when I left.

We have another one now.

This is ulrika.

You must be hungry.

Thirsty more than anything.

I caught a little cold on the steamboat.

Isn't arvid with you?

No, he didn't want to come.

Then where is he now?

He's still out there.

He stayed behind.

Eat up. You have to eat.

You're just skin and bones.

Does your ear still hurt?

Oh, it buzzes and roars.

You should hear what it tells me at night.

What?

I should have had that cradle out in the goldfields.

They handle gold like a baby there.

They rock it to and fro

till the dirt and gravel are sifted out

and the gold lies gleaming at the bottom.

Where do they find gold?

All over the place.

Sometimes in the strangest places.

There was a man on the washing team.

One night he got such a horrible stomachache

that he lay on his belly howling and screaming.

The next morning he was dead.

One of the other men

took a knife and slit open the man's belly.

His insides were glimmering with gold.

He'd been a nugget thief, you see.

He'd swallow a nugget now and then.

He thought they'd come out the regular way, of course.

He'd swallowed gold worth $4,000.

So there's gold in California, all right.

How dreadful!

What awful things you've seen!

Did you hear that, Karl Oskar?

Did you really find gold in California?

I'm satisfied.

Is that the truth? I mean -

I've served my last master.

I have plenty.

Enough for all three of us.

Robert, stop lying to us.

It's more than I can listen to.

It upsets me.

You don't believe me?

You know you didn't bring any gold home.

But no one's blaming you for coming back with no gold.

We're just happy to see you alive.

You think I'm lying.

Take this.

It'll do as well as gold.

I took a little pocket money out of the bank.

Keep the bucks. They're a present.

Intermission

390, 400, 450...

700, 750...

800, 850...

Do we dare keep it in the house?

Sure. No one would ever suspect.

Just think:

We got 1,500 riksaaler for all korpamoen.

This is ten times as much.

I felt from the start that Robert wasn't lying this time.

We mustn't get too excited. We can't be sure.

You still doubt him?

It could all be worthless.

You think your brother's a forger?

I'll be all right once we get to California.

Ith be all right once we get to California.

Arvid

let's turn back, Robert.

Hobert let's turn back.

Uncle Robert's asleep.

Mother, when are we eating?

Run outside and play. Out you go!

We joined together and formed our own parish,

with our own schoolhouse.

Your brother's become a respected man in America.

He and uncle danijel are on the board.

I've been made Deacon.

So you're a churchwarden?

Yes, though with no church for now.

But we've started building it. Finally!

They argued for a year over where it should be.

People here can't agree about a thing.

They squabble over every little detail.

People had too little say back home.

It's no surprise that they make up for it here.

Are the children learning english in school?

Yes.

Will you read something for your uncle?

Stand up like at school.

I don't understand half of it.

Marta, will you sing something for uncle Robert?

- Sing your school song. - Yes, sing that.

To school we now go and we stand in a row

with hands and faces so clean

let us now hear with an attentive ear

all that we're taught else too late it has been

if idly we linger and don't lift a finger

we may come to grief and it's our fault, we're told

ah, hasten fo learn and for knowledge to yearn

for it is lar better than silver and gold

Arvid.

One of the mules got loose.

We've got to find it before he wakes up.

You shouldn't wear yourself out sewing clothes.

You can afford dresses now in the prettiest materials.

Silks and velvets aren't what I'll be buying first.

There are a thousand things I need more.

You're a good person, Robert.

You've always been good to me.

You had a tough time out there.

Lucky you got away with your life.

Got away...

You think I got away?

Why don't you just say that arvid's dead?

That first night, you said he stayed behind in the goldfields.

You didn't tell us he'd lost his life.

Who doesn't lose his life out there?

Everyone on the trail does, one way or another.

Why all these riddles?

Why don't you speak the plain truth for once?

You're burning up.

It feels like a fever.

Robert, we're brothers.

Why won't you confide in me?

The first night I came home...

You told me to stop lying.

I'd started to confide in you...

But you didn't believe me.

You said, “I know you've come back without a nickel.”

Sit down.

We can be friends again.

Why did you hide the watch?

No one thinks you killed arvid

and stole his property.

But maybe that's right.

Maybe it was me who killed arvid!

Now you're talking gibberish.

One day he wanted to turn back...

But I -

I can't take it anymore. Leave me alone!

I just can't take it. Forgive me.

Have you never gone to see a doctor?

I'm only 22. I should be healthy enough.

But it could be something serious.

I don't know... it might be fatal.

Fatal?

Surely you don't think I'm afraid of dying.

Everyone's afraid of dying.

I'm not.

Death can't do a thing to me.

That's blasphemous.

Nothing that happens can touch me anymore.

Neither good nor bad.

You know why?

No.

Tell me.

I'm reconciled to my fate.

That's all.

You understand?

I'm not proud.

I humble myself instead.

I accept my fate.

Here's your money back.

You can use it next time you use the outhouse!

That's right. Keep your rubbish!

I can manage without your worthless money.

Are you crazy? Throwing away all that money!

“Good for nothing,” they said at the bank.

It's not worth a penny!

No... that's not true.

You still deny it?

You goddamn liar!

To think I brought you to America.

You're so full of lies they're coming out your ears!

You've been lying since you came back. I've had enough.

Can't you talk things over in a civilized way?

It never occurred to me

that the bills might be fake.

They call it “wildcats money.”

I told you that first night -

there, you see! You knew. You admit it.

He knew it was worthless. “Wildcats money.”

Just what they said at the bank.

He did it on purpose! Calm down.

Trying to palm his filthy paper off on us!

I didn't mean to trick anyone.

Listen - - shut up!

To think you're my brother! You goddamn swindler!

To live my whole life ashamed of my own brother!

How was I to know -

for god's sake, can't you be quiet!

I'll shut that lying mouth of yours!

Are you mad!

Just shutting that lying mouth of his!

Are you hurt bad?

No, I don't think so.

I'm all right.

I'm all right.

I'm not bleeding.

The lying mouth isn't bleeding.

We're going to talk things over calmly now.

Tell me the truth, Robert.

Dear, sweet Kristina...

I didn't mean to deceive anyone.

I didn't mean to trick anyone.

I'm not lying.

I had no idea.

You see, I never touched any of that money myself.

I was saving it

for you and Kristina.

Forgive me.

I wasn't in my right mind. Can you forgive me?

I forgive you, Karl Oskar.

It's forgiven. Remember that.

You're my only brother.

And I too would like to ask for your -

but it's too late now.

It's all too late now.

“Here lies Axel Robert Nilsson

born in ljuder in Sweden 1833

died in Minnesota, north America, 1855

may I rest in peace”

“...and to renounce and abjure...

For always all alleg-"

we'll have to find out what “allegiance” means.

“And fideli-~" - “fidelity.”

- I don't know what that means either. - Trohet

does it? Are you sure?

Are we to be swedes no longer?

They struck us from the parish register in Sweden.

We're American citizens now.

Suppose I start using the name in these papers

and signing my name “Charles o. Nelson”?

How would you like that?

I wouldn't!

You can renounce the Swedish king, but if you give up

your Swedish name, I'll laugh in your face for such vanity!

Anyway, I get to vote for president next time.

You can't deny that the authorities here have been kind at us.

You mean they've been kind fo us.

“To us.” right.

Maybe it should be said that there way.

There you go again!

You're always saying “that there way.”

In Swedish we say “that way.”

I see.

All right.

Maybe you're right.

Of course I'm right!

You'll just never admit it.

You “close” the door and “put” wood on the fire

and “put out” the fire.

In Swedish we “shut” the door

and “lay” wood on the fire and “extinguish” the fire.

I see I'd best keep my mouth shut the rest of the evening.

Mother, listen to this.

“Last year...

25,000 of Elias howe's sewing machines with shuttles

were manufactured and sold

in the American union.”

Wouldnt you like a sewing machine?

Dearest Karl Oskar...

If you'll “put” more wood on the fire, I'll cook supper.

I can't put it off any longer. I'll join up.

Or else I might be forced to.

You're not forced to yet.

No, but I may be soon.

By October 1st they may start drafting people.

Wait till then.

It's more honorable

to volunteer.

You're thinking of going to war of your own free will?

If there were an honest way out of it,

I wouldn't go at all. You know that.

But this way I'd just be pushing my obligation off on others.

I'd feel like a cowardly wretch.

So you'd enlist to ease your conscience?

Yes, that's right.

What does your conscience tell you about the fifth commandment?

“Thou shalt not kill.”

That commandment

doesn't apply in war.

The catechism doesn't say that war is an exception.

One has a right to defend oneself.

The man you kill says the same thing.

“I have a right to defend myself.”

Are you against me doing this?

I don't want your hands to kill anyone.

I don't want you entering eternity with blood on your hands.

That's why.

If you take another's life, you lose your own.

I don't want your soul to be lost.

Tend to your eternal life.

So that's how you see it.

But you're wrong.

I won't be guilty of murder if I kill enemies at war,

neither in god's eyes nor in man's.

The slave drivers in the south are to blame.

They started it. We have to defend ourselves.

A Christian is forbidden to kill any man.

I have no choice.

I must have peace of mind!

I don't want you to be a murderer.

But it seems you must go

to ease your conscience.

If I were a man, I'd be proud

to be considered unfit to kill people.

You'll have me here at home after all

as long as the war lasts.

That's right.

Some eat their own children.

They have nothing else to live on.

The soldiers at redwood

showed me a pile of gnawed bones...

Of Indian children who'd been eaten.

But the storehouses...

Were full of food.

The Indians' food.

But the government won't give in to their demands...

So they weren't allowed to eat their own food.

How can they just put up with it?

What are they to do? Starve to death?

Or kill others?

What others?

Take a guess.

Those who stole their land, of course.

And who would that be?

This entire country was stolen from the Indians.

This entire country? I didn't steal any land.

I paid the government

for every single acre, fair and square.

Yes...

But you bought stolen property.

Are you accusing me of dishonest dealings?

You acted honorably enough. That was all right.

It was in accordance with the law.

But that law was made afterwards...

After they'd done the stealing.

And what did they pay for the land?

One dollar for 20,000 acres...

Of the most fertile soil in the world.

When I came here, there was nothing but wild grass.

Now there are crops that can feed us and others.

I earned my land when I cleared and plowed it.

Yes...

But you got it cheap, Nelson.

Forgive me for what I prayed for last summer.

For not wanting any more children.

You've shown me that it wasn't your will.

You have to be there, god.

You hear me?

You have to be.

You must have been getting anxious, Karl Oskar.

We took so long.

But there were so many people ahead of us,

and when it was finally our turn,

they brought in a man from the sawmill.

His nose had been sawed off.

His face looked like mincemeat.

Such a nice-looking man, too.

Well, I'll fix lunch.

You must be starving.

What did the doctor say?

We have plenty of time to talk about it later.

He examined Kristina.

The womb itself is fine.

The womb itself? Then is something else wrong?

You promised to explain to Karl Oskar.

Yes, I did, my friend.

Come, Karl Oskar. Let's talk in the kitchen.

Kristina's insides are torn up.

She can't take any more.

Not even once more.

Going through labor again would be the death of her.

So now you know.

The doctor's exact words were...

Now you've heard it in english too.

Your wife can be fit and healthy again

if you take good care of her.

Take care of Kristina.

Don't ever get her pregnant again.

I'm sorry for you,

being forced to bed alone from now on.

I'm no use anymore.

You'll get your health back. That's all that matters.

But I'm of no use to you anymore.

I'm worn out.

You heard what I said.

It's all that matters.

I'm useless as a woman.

You don't have a real wife anymore.

I"m not well.

I've ruined my health

in this place.

Not everyone can take it here.

You have to stop drinking, mansson.

You're ruining everything.

I was the ruin of my mother.

That's what you mean.

You'll be your own ruin too.

Have you ever even tried to stop?

Every day for ten years.

Then why can't you?

Because...

I"m scared.

Scared.

You can't -

you can't -

what are you afraid of?

You're up?

Yes.

Are you sick?

No.

Then what's the matter?

I'm coming back to you.

What are you talking about?

I want to be your wife again.

I've come back to you.

Don't you want me?

You don't know what you're doing.

You're being rash.

You're not to worry.

I know what I'm doing.

We can't risk your life.

My life is in the hands of the almighty.

It's too dangerous.

How can you even think of it?

It's easy.

I pay no attention to the doctor.

I trust in god.

If I live, it's god's will.

If I die, it's his will.

I'm with child again.

You mustn't be afraid.

It's always gone well before.

Why shouldn't it this time?

I worked it out.

In February.

I'll carry the child until February.

It was in may.

It happened the first time. I'm sure of it.

That's no wonder, I guess.

What do you think?

On August 18, 1862,

70,000 gold dollars arrived at fort ridgely.

The starving sioux tribes

had long been claiming it from the government.

It was exactly one day too late.

Sven danjelsson's settlement in meeker county, August 17.

- Are the others from Sweden? - Yes.

- From smaland? - Yes.

They're digging in the potato patch.

Little boy.

I think we have visitors.

Do we know them?

Yes, we've given them food before. I'll go talk to them.

Good.

Damn it!

How close are they? Have you heard anything?

No one knows anything for sure.

At the meeting last night

we agreed we should fight back.

They're building ramparts over by the church.

They could be here soon. We don't have enough men.

Well, I can't come.

Kristina's in bed. She had another miscarriage.

I understand why you need to stay home.

You've never been one to shit your pants in fear.

But you have to send the kids away.

I'll arrange for them to go with the others.

Who'd have thought it?

A man should be spared war when he's up in years.

We're too spread out. We'd best hide on the island.

Don't you trust in god's protection?

God helps those who help themselves.

Yes, I've always felt a man must rely on himself.

Lincoln's been too lenient.

The heathen pack should have been driven off long ago.

The white man offered the redskins the holy gospel,

and the redskins answered with tomahawks.

Perhaps they'd have preferred bread over bibles.

Try and swallow this.

Have this.

I thought I'd be able to keep it this time.

Don't trouble yourself about that now.

I was so sure I'd be able to keep it.

Just as long as you get well again.

You're not to worry.

I'll be well soon.

I know it.

They're ringing the church bells on a weekday.

It sounds like it.

Why?

I was wondering that myself.

Perhaps it's for someone who's -

don't be afraid.

Remember what I told you?

Yes, I remember.

I know.

Is it morning already?

Yes, but it's still early.

It's so quiet.

Isn't anyone else up?

Are the children all asleep?

I think so.

I must have slept a long time.

Yes, a good while.

I dreamed I was swinging...

In the ox reins.

I was in the barn at home.

Would you like anything?

Just some water.

Thank you.

Dearest, you must lie still.

Kristina, lie still.

I'm not sick.

Just so very tired.

You don't have the strength.

You have to stay still.

You're still here.

I woke you up.

Was I moaning a lot?

No, not a sound.

I'm better now.

Are you sure?

You needn't sit up with me.

You can sleep tonight.

Look.

Your astrachans are ripe.

See here?

You have to taste our first apple.

It's the first apple from your tree.

Can you take a bite?

It's so smooth.

It's soft and ripe.

It smells good.

Can you take a bite?

Astrachans are refreshing.

Where did you get it?

From your tree outside.

It's the first apple from the tree.

Now I see it.

It's an astrachan!

That's right.

It tastes like our apples.

Our apples at home!

I recognize it!

Our astrachan apples...

Are ripe.

I'm home!

Stay!

The sioux uprising in Minnesota

was the largest Indian war in north America.

A military tribunal sentenced 303 sioux warriors to death by hanging.

Despite strong protest, president Lincoln granted a reprieve to 265.

The execution of the remaining 38

took place at mankato on December 26, 1862.

“My beloved sister Lydia...

I can't get over Kristina"s death.

Our lord took her from me.

How can anyone expect me to forgive god after this?”

Ljuder parish

“Here lies Kristina johansdotter wife of Karl Oskar Nilsson

born at duvemala, Sweden 1825 died in north America 1862

we shall meet again”

“Chisago lake settlement,

center city, minnesola, December 20, 1890.

Mrs. Lydia Karlsson,

akerby, ljuder parish, Sweden.

As am an old neighbor of your brother Charles,

he asked me on several occasions

if I would write to his sister n Sweden when he died.

Your brother's children have forgotten their Swedish

and only write in english.

On their behalf I herewith beg to inform you

that your brother left this life

on the evening of last December 7.

At 8:30 he was up and had supper.

He washed himself and combed his hair

and prepared himself neatly for bed.

Thereupon he went to bed, and at 11:00 his spirit was set free.

He died peacefully.

Your brother's family, your affectionate kinsmen,

send you their most heartfelt greetings.

I ask god to send down upon my old native land

his blessing and everlasting peace.

With best regards, Axel j Andersson.”

Digitally restored in 2004 by svensk filmindustri

in collaboration with