Original subtitles

Serbia, near the Romanian border, May 2010.

Good morning, Stojanka!

Ah, Tila, it’s not very good.

No, but it’s good that it’s not worse.

Why do I have to blather with you on an empty stomach?

That’s not blathering, it’s Epicurean.

You learned that in high school, in philosophy.

Happiness is the absence of pain.

It would be better if I’d learned building, then my roof wouldn’t be leaking.

It would be better if you’d married Zoran,

finished college, lived in New Belgrade in a high-rise…

See, he remembers you, writing you a letter, sending his daughter, huh?

Dear Zoran,

I’m glad that you’re well,

but I’m sorry to hear that your daughter is ill.

Put her on the seven o’clock buss on Friday and send her here.

I’ll wait for her here and see if and what I can do to help her.

Don't even think about coming with her,

I am not going to see her.

Why should she come here if you don’t want to see her?

I’m not going to see her if he comes too.

Of course I’m going to see her, I treat so many imbeciles, anyway.

We haven't seen each other all these years

so there's no point in seeing each other now.

You don’t need any phone number of mine

and you don’t have to write me foolish things.

Just make sure your daughter brings the X-rays.

God be with you, mother.

And with you, sonny.

I saw you Stojanka! Getting out of the way

in case God drops the chandelier on your head, right?

Hah! If it wasn't properly fixed,

it would have fallen on you long ago, Father!

So you say!

When you go to town, post this letter for me.

That's all right.

No it's not. The devil loves debts.

I was thinking... I'm going to town, to see the eye specialist.

Why don't you come with me?

Sofija tells me that you’re as blind as a bat.

What do I need to see? I know where everything is, Father.

- Stojanka, glasses would help... - They don't help cataracts!

For cataracts you need an operation.

And that would cost an arm and a leg.

And even if I had the money, I'd have better things to do with it.

Like fixing my roof.

How much do they cost?

- Them? Forget them, they cost... -... a devil’s ransom, I suppose.

Stojanka!

I've got the materials for the roof.

I just don't have the money to pay a carpenter.

And when can you get it?

In three months, three weeks and three days.

So that’s some kind of magic formula, now?

No, that's how long it will be before my sow farrows.

If only those Romanians were still desperate for money.

When Ceausescu...

I'll see if I can bring you one of these local guys when they're finished here.

Open it, I have to go out!

Easy... Could you help me get her on here?

Sit down there.

Haven't you got someone here to help you?

Yes, yes... Don't you worry about it, just drive.

We can manage it all ourselves, isn't that right?

Bojana is your name? I'm Stojanka.

Let’s go!

Is it hurting?

Have a good look around and remember the way.

When you leave you’ll be going back to the road by yourself.

Easy now, easy…

Lean on me, easy…

It’s hard not having a mother.

And it’s worse if you have one who’s no use.

Did my father tell you that?

The left side is female.

The left side belongs to the mother, and the right belongs to the father.

I’ve read something about bioenergy.

I see that you drag your left leg more.

But how do you know all these things?

My grandmother taught me.

Girls don’t often learn anything from their mothers.

I don't have a grandmother. Both of mine died before I was born.

I suppose you're named after one of them.

No.

Dad named me after some girlfriend of his when he was young.

Someone he loved a lot...

Bojana?

What?

- No, no. I don't mean you, I mean... - Did you know her? - No!

Well, she wasn't actually called Bojana.

Dad never told me what her name was,

only that part of her name is hidden in mine.

So there are some letters in common.

Five letters! He really outdid himself!

Lie on your hip, turn on that side.

Fine… You're just frightened.

It doesn’t hurt... Come on, stand up!

Hold on to me.

I really can't do it.

You haven't even tried.

You see. Now walk, walk.

Now, let me. You could it.

Wait, wait... Let’s go now, freely, you can do it.

I'll teach you to be clever!

Well? Can you or can't you?

You can, of course.

When Stojanka fixes it, then it has to work!

No, you can't do that. There's no signal here.

And we don't have an ordinary phone.

You'll be able to call when you get onto the bus.

Come on now!

I’ve come this far with you, you’re on your own from here.

Just go straight ahead and you'll come out on the main road.

The bus will be here in ten or fifteen minutes.

I wish I had a mother like you.

Ah, fuck it...Yeah...

And how does your father cope with your mother?

He doesn't. They're divorced.

This is my Sofija, my granddaughter.

You’ve met Stevan, and this is his sister.

This is Bojana, a client from Belgrade.

You're from Belgrade. Lucky you!

Little one, you're coming home with me and you,

the big one, go to the bus.

Go ahead!

Who was that?

She couldn't walk, so she came to me for adjustment.

Why were you hugging and kissing her like that?

You don't hug other clients. You don't even hug me.

You hardly even kiss me on my birthday.

This was for money.

It didn't look to me like it was for money.

Well it was.

So maybe I should pay you sometime.

And give that money here!

How did you manage to see that?

If I'm blind, I’m not stupid.

You're not stupid, huh?

So what about this?

Stop, Grandma! Freeze!

The coach's?

The coach's.

He gave it to me so that I can practise a bit for Monday.

Imagine if I win?

I imagine.

Has someone at school been bullying you again?

No, they haven't.

Well, when I go to the school, there will be...

Grandma please, don't, I beg you.

Why not? Someone has to help you!

No one can help me.

Yes they can, just wait and see.

They won’t forgive you for being successful.

Successful!

I'm the most miserable in the whole class.

They won't forgive failure either.

But it's not your failure. It's...

- Then whose is it?! - It's mine! It's my failure.

Do things your own way!

But let me give them what they deserve!

Grandma, don’t!

The whole class was talking about it,

not just the class the whole village was talking about it!

What do they say? Who are they to talk?

They say that you're crazy and you're a witch!

I'm not a witch.

There's no such thing as a witch. You're old enough to know that.

But you are crazy.

I'm old enough to know that, too!

Stojanka? Stojanka, can you hear me?

Forget the milking!

Follow her.

You’re not crazy.

I know you’re not crazy, even if no one else does.

I will, I will.

Let her calm down a bit. And me too.

To catch my breath a bit.

I’ll have a stroke, a heart attack.

I’m old, Tila, it hammers in my ears.

If children were designed for grandmothers,

grandmothers would give birth to them.

You know it’s nothing to do with age, it’s about goodness.

Please, don’t! You’ll make me cry, and where will we be then.

Cover the milk.

That diaper was Sofia’s too?

Like it was yesterday. Or was it Stevan’s?

Sofia’s.

We used only used Pampers on Stevan.

We could afford those for a while.

It looked then like things would get better.

We thought we’d be able to work, to earn some money, have some fun.

Like when we poured the foundations for the new house.

Those guys got into power,

the ones I knew from the student demonstrations in 1968.

And it really seemed that they would be better than the ones before.

And then they started getting worn out and stretched, like that diaper.

That’s enough, don’t get into politics.

Eh, Tila…

Hey! Come over here for a minute!

Morning, Stojanka!

Morning.

What's this then?

Elderflowers.

And underneath?

Where have you been, Stojanka?

Don’t you know you have to stay out of Army territory.

Do you want to be arrested by the Government security?

Is that what you want?

I haven't been over there.

I'm too old to climb over the wire.

But you're not too old to lie, huh?

The rabbit season is closed; you know?

So you can't set traps.

Can you get that into your head for once? And what's this?

Is this elderflowers?

Listen, do you want me to fine you?

Do you want me to give you a fine now to teach you the rules?

I want you to leave me alone!

I fixed your hand when you got into that bar fight

and couldn't even clench your fist properly.

I gave you goat's milk free for three months when your mother was sick.

I pretended to read your wife's tea leaves

and convinced her you don't have a girlfriend.

Let’s go into the house.

Wait a little... These have been shot!

Do you have a gun?

Milutin, please, leave me alone.

Wait...

You're not telling me that someone is putting dead rabbits in your trap?

You must have an admirer, huh?

Someone killed them in the traps.

Would you like a sip?

Let me go.

Come on, children. It’s time for dinner.

This is spaghetti with cockroaches...

They're not going to eat that!

Sofija. For God's sake, turn that off!

That’s all I need!

Then tomorrow I won't know what's happened. I won't know who’s been thrown off.

Everyone will pick on me!

Pick, pick, pick. Piggy on the railway, picking up stones.

What’s that?

Mum used to sing me that.

Can we go to the priest's again to see Mum on the computer?

Maybe. I'll ask.

It's not up to the priest, it's up to Mum.

It's so hard to find game in Belgrade.

Tennis elbow.

I hurt my elbow playing tennis.

And you really have to go to the market yourself?

Don't you have some youngster to sell things for you?

Don't you have someone younger who could play tennis for you?

Well, I'm not that old.

I'll bet you that you're older than me. I put 200 dinars on that!

I don't believe it!

You're a full three years younger than me.

You've really let yourself go.

Buy some cream, take care of your skin.

Go to the hairdresser, cover up the grey...

So you want to tell me that, at our age,

it's more important to look good than to win money from a bet?

Your ID card won't be much use to you soon.

Hi, inspector!

What’s this? Everything sold already?

Well, at least give me that cheese you've got there.

I should send my husband to you one of these days.

His shoulder's been hurting him all spring and it's time he did something about it.

Men!

He can come whenever he wants.

You should look at my ID card for me, I think I have to get a new one.

Everyone has to. There are queues there these days.

Once it calms down, bring it to me, we'll sort it out.

Your son and daughter-in-law will need them too?

How are they doing there in Austria.

Have you heard from them?

Didn't Arsenije - that's your son's name isn't it?

Didn't he get into some kind of trouble?

It's a long time since he's been here, isn't it?

What do you mean?

No, I didn't mean anything...

Say hello to Sofija.

Tell her not to be disappointed if she's not in the top three for the shooting.

There's a lot of competition;

the city kids have better coaches and better practice conditions.

Come on, ladies! Knickers, knickers, knickers!

Think global, buy local!

They are good.

Are these real ones?

Of course they are! This is licensed Nike colours.

Everybody’s wearing them. This colour goes with anything!

Real my ass!

You can see they're Chinese fakes.

They’re not Chinese, I swear on my children!

And you, if you’re not buying, get out of here!

Wait, wait... Maybe I can try 38...

- Did you say they’re 38? - 38.

Give them to me.

How much for them?

15 euros.

Could it be 1000 dinars?

Well, okay. 1000 dinars.

- Hello! - Hello!

Here you are!

How much is the jackpot?

It'll be enough for you, Stojanka.

Don't forget that I filled out your ticket.

Something for me if you get seven numbers?

Who you are, I forgot? You know me?

How could I not know you

when you've been playing the same numbers for a hundred years.

I would know you just by your numbers.

And they start with the numbers of my birthday.

I know that you don’t have that number because of me,

but because of your daughter.

But I remember her birthday because it’s the same as mine.

How is she?

Does she like Nebraska? Huh? What does she say?

- What? - Nebraska.

That's where she said she was going the last time I saw her on Facebook.

Now my computer isn't working,

so I haven't been in touch with anybody for a while.

Here you are, Stojanka.

Mum?

Mutter. Die Mutter.

No!

How come?

Die Mutter is mother. But Mum?

That's what I asked.

Mum is Mutti.

So how do you say bicycle?

- You're sure you don't want these sneakers. - No.

They're not real ones.

Everyone would laugh at me.

It's better to have nothing than a fake.

You can’t make war at the end of twentieth century

the same way was at the beginning of century.

So all kinds of things happened during our wars:

rape, looting, persecution of civilians, of the civilian population,

cruelty, people being put in camps.

Because of all that, The Hague is today looking for many people

who were responsible on all sides.

Can you explain why you're laughing at a story

about people being killed, kids being killed?

You're too little, you can’t understand anything.

- I'm not little. - Me either.

The customs of war are simply being violated.

Many things happened that were against the customs of war.…

Against the customs of war, they said.

From the beginning of time, if there are any customs of war,

they have been robbery, murder and rape.

Politicians are always urging people on to war,

then turn the worst of them loose to do whatever they want.

Then after the politicians have carved up the territory and the power,

they give each other medals.

And the worst from whichever side wins are proclaimed heroes.

They have streets and schools named after them.

So what about Dositej Obradović? Was he a criminal?

No, he was a writer.

And the side that loses turns out to be the worst criminals.

Until the next war.

That’s enough. Let’s go downstairs.

Come on, dude, talk!

And you can stop checking everything out.

I'm not giving any of it away and I'm not selling anything.

Instead you can tell me whether this is your final price.

Exactly a thousand euros and not a cent less.

And I can hardly do it for that.

I need at least two men up there to help me.

Why can't I help you?

You can't, how could you, a woman, of your age.

It just doesn’t work like that, you don't know the job.

I'm a professional.

Ah, so that's what you are!

Stojanka, could your son send you some money?

Father!

It’s going to be piglets.

Stevan, give the bike back!

She's just about ready to drop, huh?

Yeah, you just know when my sow is due to farrow.

It's still early.

Before she does you're going to have to settle things with the vet, Stojanka.

You can't manage it on your own.

You know why I love you Father?

Because you always know what I can and can't do.

Let him ride it...

- You like the bike? - Yes.

It could be yours.

Anyway I will get a new one from my neighbour from Norway.

You could have it for fifty or sixty euros.

Well, fifty or sixty?

Sixty.

Well, sonny, call me when you've got the money.

Good bye!

I'm going too. See you.

Good morning!

Can you open the power box so that I can read the meter?

Do you have to do it today?

I don't.

But then our people will have to come tomorrow and cut you off.

So you’ll see what you can do then.

Who put this here? I can’t see anything.

Well... I want to ask you one question,

do you go to a shop and take stuff without paying for it?

What the hell is it to do with you?

Aren't you ashamed to give me a lecture?

I know your parents, your mother and father! Rude little bastard!

Why are you screaming like a stuck pig?

Go on, you're done. Shake it out. Now you can.

I’m asking you open up the meter. I have to read it. That’s my job.

I read my own meter. You don't need to read anything.

Well, lady, if you are read the meter yourself,

why haven't you read it yourself for a year!

You should be ashamed.

You must have money coming out of your ears.

Every time I come here you're working on someone.

You've got more patients than the public health clinic in town.

Yes, yes, but you know she doesn't charge anyone, do you Stojanka?

You just let people give you what they can.

But these days no one has anything to give.

Because no one has anything. Like me.

Once I've paid my power bill, electricity... there's no money for anything.

See? The guy pays his power bill.

I pay, he pays, everybody pays their power bill,

you're the only smart one who doesn't!

The technicians will come tomorrow to cut you off;

I am telling you this for your own good. And the interest is growing!

What kind of example are you for those children?

Stop yelling here!

Get out of here and don't come back ever again!

I’m just doing my job! I came to read the meter...

Did your father teach you to behave like this? Get out! Beat it!

Don’t blame me when the time comes...!

Where do you think you're going?

Well... I...

Right. I don't charge. But everyone can give me something.

Has someone really eaten the last of the yogurt?

I’ve told you to always leave me two or three spoons for the new one.

The only way to treat cataracts is the surgical removal of the affected lens

and replacement with an artificial lens.

But what should people with cataracts do

if their doctor tells them to wait until the cataract has fully developed?

That's what they told my grandmother.

Then your grandmother should immediately go

to the Doctor Hadžikaramarić Clinic and...

- She can't do that, Doctor, she's dead. - Ah. My condolences.

But, anyway, your grandmother would need

to schedule surgery as soon as possible and order the surgery...

Grandma, you should go for that operation.

Yes, yes, I am running to do that.

The operation itself costs between 1,100 and 1,200 euros,

but every case is different...

Now, let’s see if you have the lucky numbers on the ticket in front of you...

Granny, promise me that you'll have the cataract operation

if we win something on lotto now. - I promise.

And for my bike?

And a bike for you.

When we fix the roof I’ll buy you an air gun too, and all the equipment.

Any winner can expect 1,400,000 euros...

- The number drawn is 6. - We’ve got it!

- The second number is 19. - We’ve got it!

The number drawn is 28.

We’ve got it!

- The number drawn is 1. - We’ve got it!

With four numbers right now we have 340 combinations.

The winnings from that is 600 dinars about 5 euros.

And the fifth number...

32.

Winning lotto combination in the 67th game is...

That’s some money too.

Do we have a winner with seven numbers in the 67th game? No.

I was just thinking you must have at least four.

Shame it's not five.

There are so many with four in this game...

What's your name?

They call me Suzi,

because of that Suzana who pulls out the lotto balls on television.

So tell me, Suzi, do you think my daughter is happy?

She is happy. Why wouldn't she be?

I've seen the pictures.

Nice house. Big.

If she didn't have money, probably she wouldn't have had a third kid.

These two are cute, curly hair like their father.

But they're not as dark as him. Sort of... chocolate.

The husband used to make good money when he was playing,

but now he's a coach, good money too. They moved to Nebraska.

His folks are from Nebraska, aren't they? The in-laws?

And good on her - finishing university in English.

In English! I can’t speak a word of English!

Didn't you know about that?

I don't know...

I don't know, sonny, whereabouts in town can I buy real Nikes.

You only have to go straight on the main street.

When you pass that new bank and the Chinese shop.

Over the road from the betting shop.

But I haven't seen what they have for a long time, my daughter’s been there.

But she won't wear Nike, you know how kids are these days,

she says they're for peasants.

- Hello. - Hi.

Do you have here any real Nike Air Max?

Well, I don’t know what real ones means to you?

I mean that it would be a good idea if you drop the stupidity

and stop behaving like an ignoramus.

And it means that I know the owner of this shop

and that you're not going to be safe because he "loves" you.

And of course he's not going to be pleased when I tell him

how you're keeping an eye on that fellow over in the betting shop

and don't give a damn about customers.

And turn down that music!

Well, you know, really, I thought that's more cheerful like that.

Because it’s a nice song, people like it...

People like it...

People need to feel them comfortable when they come into the shop.

And, do you have them or not?

Well, you know what, generally speaking,

those real ones we don’t have.

But you can’t find them anywhere in town, I’m telling you honestly.

Here we have Romanian customers, and they buy everything.

But I have something real for you.

I mean it is totally real.

Come and see.

These are authentic Converse,

they’re very fashionable now, I hope that they fit you...

I don’t know if they’re exactly your style, but I think...

They’re not for me, they’re for my granddaughter.

And how do I know whether my granddaughter will like them?

So, you know what, generally, I can’t tell that.

I mean, that depends on that what she wears generally.

Sonny, what do you think, would my granddaughter like these?

Of course she will like them.

We can't even persuade him to buy shoes.

It depends on the kind of music she listens to.

What depends on music?

Those Nikes, the ones they don't have,

they’re usually for people who listen to techno and turbo-folk.

And what kind of music do you listen to?

That's not bad at all. It's a bit like the Beatles.

You know the Beatles?

No, you do know them!

I was born the same day as Paul McCartney, six years later.

- No shit!? - I beg your pardon?

Amazing, I said.

Give me a pair of those. Size 38.

Well, now, generally, I think that it’s not possible.

This is 40, and we have that and 36. 38 always sell out first.

You have to come here immediately when you order it.

There's a place in town where you can buy sneakers, I’ll show you.

They don't sell anything fake.

It's just they don't always have them, and when they do, the sell out fast.

You mean at those Gypsies?

You are very primitive!

Did you know that Antonio Banderas is a Rom?

No sh... Amazing!

You can ask the owner to save a pair for you.

Let’s go, to show me where those Roma people are.

Stevan, let’s go to the priest, to the computer.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Aren’t they fine?

It looks like they aren’t home.

- Smiljka? Smiljka! - What?

Let’s go out.

"Hi, It's me. Sneža. Are you there?"

How can we reply when this isn't working?

"I can hear you and see you.

But my camera and microphone aren't working so you can’t see or hear me.

But you can talk and I'll answer with messages."

Mum! Where is Dad?

Why are you saying that your camera isn't working? Isn’t it his camera too?

What are you up to, children?

Grandma, you don’t have to shout!

"Don't all speak at the same time, please."

Mum, don’t has an apostrophe!

"Stevica, honey, stand where mother can see you."

"My, how you've grown!"

Mum, there’s this bike. Costs sixty euros.

Steva really wants it and has been torturing us for days about it.

Mum, I can't... It’s stupid like this.

I want to go there to you. To Vienna.

I've already learnt German pretty well, I could go to school there.

Sneža, dear, the roof has to be fixed.

It won't last another autumn.

It needs at least five hundred, if not a whole thousand euros to fix it.

And what's up with Arsa? He's as fucked as his mad father.

Pardon my French, kids.

Even Daca, that policewoman, asked me;

she's suspicious about him.

And I’m suspicious too, if you want the truth.

"Stevica, baby, you'll have to wait a bit for that bike.

We're broke at the moment, but the first money we get, the bike is yours.

Sofija, you're a big girl, be patient and wait."

But Mum, you promised!

Sneža? Are you well there? Sneža!

"I’m here.

There's something wrong, this isn't working properly.

If I disappear, it's because of the battery.

I love you heaps, kids. Your mother really misses you."

What do you mean, the battery? Where have you gone, Mum?

It's not fair!

Your father, my son, is obviously in some kind of trouble.

Your mother, my daughter-in-law, is doing what she can.

Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

Everything is just fine.

Well, maybe it not.

But if that's how it is, that's how it is.

As usual.

And what’s usual?

It's cold for this time of year.

It's almost summer and we're still heating in the morning, and in the evening.

It looks to me like someone's been stealing from us.

- Who's stealing? - You mean what are they stealing!

Who would want any of this?

Firewood.

It's disappearing.

It’s disappearing because we used it.

You can't come in. It's locked.

What's locked?

The door of my room.

I'm in the kitchen if you need me.

And where are you now?

In the library.

You're crazy, Grandma, I'm telling you.

This isn't a library. This is our house.

You're the crazy one!

Any decent house has a library.

It's full of bookshelves.

Armchairs for reading.

A coffee table.

And it's all ours?

And how come we're so rich that we have a library?

We worked for it. We earned it.

All right, we didn't work for it. It was left to us.

Who left it to us? How did they get it?

They inherited it too.

From someone who also inherited it?

That's right.

But what about the very first ones?

Where did they get the money from?

Well, any family who has got anything must have someone, at least once,

in the past who did some kind of dirty work.

It used to take a few generations to turn peasants into respectable people.

To get everything together, to marry the right people,

with no one being a drunk or a gambler, or getting killed in war...

But now it seems like it’s possible in a different way.

Granddad used to drink. And he died in the war.

That's right.

- And did he gamble? - No way.

To be a gambler you have to have something to lose.

You have to be from a wealthy family

and think that it's all God-given and it will always be like that.

You mean like you think that there will never be anything.

I don't think that.

I think that if you work you will have and if you don't work you won't have.

But you work, and you don't have.

But if I didn't work, there wouldn't even be this we do have.

Sofija, when I sell the piglets I'll get you a cell phone and new sneakers.

Come on Grandma...

The roof has to be fixed, there are bills to pay,

we'll need to pay for school books, for my shooting, for membership.

What did you say those sneakers are called?

Nike, Air Max.

Grandma?

Run into the house. It's almost bedtime.

Damn women!

Did I do that to you?

I don't drink coffee.

Well, my girl, if you’re going to run around with boys,

it's time to start drinking coffee.

Did you see that?

It's like when you dip a brush with tempera paint into clean water.

Yes, it is.

But it only lasts for a moment.

Well, it's the same with boys, my Sofija.

If you think I have a boyfriend or something, you're wrong.

Even if I liked someone, he wouldn't like me.

I'm not popular.

So, if you weren’t with a boyfriend, where were you all night?

You’ll drive me insane!

Eh, Grandma, Grandma... I went to the town, to the police.

I wanted to get a passport. But I couldn’t.

Because I'm under age. Parents have to sign the application.

But, the police don't work until midnight.

I want to know where you were after dark.

I met some friends.

It was great,

we got carried away talking.

And so I missed the last bus. And then I walked home.

What on earth is this?

It's a "wanted" poster. I took it off the wall at the police.

Look!

For this guy they're offering a million euros reward.

And for this other one, 250,000.

So?

Well, even this small one would be enough for everything we need.

This nation has become completely idiotic.

And who is going to give you that money,

my sweet, for this “small one” and for that other one?

Here, it's written there.

"The Action Team of the Serbian Government for concluding cooperation

with the ICTY... "

What's the ICTY?

How should I know? As if it’s something important.

"... announces a financial reward for information leading to the discovery

and detention of persons now at large

who have been indicted for war crimes..." Get off, Tila!

"...during the armed clashes on the territory of the former Yugoslavia..."

See, this red one is a million euros, and this black one, 250,000!

You just have to call this number.

And where are you going to find them?

You are just disgusting.

What did you say?

You are disgusting, Grandma!

Watch the way you talk to me!

Anyway, if they wanted to give money,

they would have taken them for themselves a long time ago.

Who are they?

They. Who take everything. The authorities.

Hello, Ma’am!

What is that? Is it even for us?

It's a CD inside there, maybe a film or some music, something like that.

You know it all, don't you!

Maybe it's some admirer.

A love letter on CD, that's what it looks like to me.

And you look like a nice, polite man. But you're not.

You stick your nose into other people's business.

Well, it's an occupational hazard...

"It came as no surprise

that you were able to solve the problem with Bojana's leg.

You were always the best: the whole class knew that.

When you didn't return that October,

quite a few of them were pleased: you were too much competition.

And I was such a fool."

"You know, since then, since you, nothing better has happened in my life.

And thank you for losing me the boxing match after that weekend of ours.

If I hadn’t lost it, my whole life probably wouldn’t have happened."

"There will be more youth, but not like ours anymore.

I would like to see you. Z."

P.S. I'm sending you this CD in case you threw the vinyl out in anger.

Even if you didn't, I suppose that you can't play it any more.

Or can you?

Bojana tells me that at your place

it's as though time came to a halt in some better age.

Thanks for the rabbit, too. Z."

And now to introduce our guests, with us tonight is Zoran Zarić...

The whole of your professional career has been devoted to sport,

and especially boxing. What is meant by a knockdown?

... it's a matter of neuroanatomy.

- Grandma? - Be quiet.

This is the father of that Bojana from Belgrade whose leg I fixed.

He’s some kind of smartass.

Yes, he is smart.

He knows that if he explains it in simple words

no one is going to think it's anything special.

This way, everyone can see that it's serious.

Tell us please, what is this so-called hard chin?

Be careful, Zarić!

There’s no such thing as a hard chin.

There's only a badly placed punch.

On the other hand,

a well-placed punch on the tip of the jaw will result in a knockdown.

See, something useful from you.

Sometimes a punch with a force of 50 Newtons or,

to make it simpler, five kilograms, is enough...

Thanks a lot, Mr. Zarić!

"Dear Z,

you've got so old, I can't tell..."

Why can't you tell?

It's just an expression!

"You've got so old, I can't tell you that you haven't because you have."

Stevan, we don't have to write this letter.

You wanted to earn some pancakes!

We’ll do it like this...

"I see that you're an expert on boxing,

so I wanted to ask you:

how can you knock someone out,

but be sure that you don't..."

That you don't what?

No, nothing.

Cut that, throw it out. We won't write to him.

God bless you, my child!

I’m not sure, Father!

What on earth is this?

Someone is stealing wood from me so I thought I'd scare the thief away.

So I made it, I can’t hit him with anything hard.

That way I might kill him, you know.

Then they would arrest me, like if I killed a human.

Anyway, I spoke to the vet; he'll come if you call him.

Father, do you want me to sew that hem up?

Okay, I've told you.

Anything would be better than - God help us - losing your sow.

You can fix my hem another time.

Since when did you smoke, Grandma?

Well, like in these new American movies.

I smoke when I'm evil.

What do you want, you fool!

Leave me alone!

What do you want?

He's as drunk as a lord.

He'll kill me if he catches me!

Who is going to kill you? Why kill you?

Milutin, take it easy.

Stojanka, what have you done?!

You witch, you’ve killed my husband!

Milutin, stand up!

Can you hear me?

Stand up, Milutin, you beast! Can you hear me?

My love, I love you! I love you!

Let’s go, let’s go home...

We...

This way... Shame on you, Stojanka!

Haven’t I told you before not to come here again!

What do you mean a bear trap?!

There aren't any bears around here, you're getting confused.

There are! You wouldn't know.

They come when it's a harsh winter.

Yes there are. There certainly are.

Get her a trap,

up there in the attic beside that satellite dish of yours, in the chest.

Is there a god?

There is a god, even if he’s as small as a mouse.

What happened? What you’ve done?

Grandma will help you...

Get the fuck out of here, Grandma!

What’s that?

Wait, I can’t hear you well!

- I can't move too fast on my old legs. - Don't come near me!

Oh, what’ve you done, man! Let me see…

And what do you think, Father, do you think they're heroes or criminals?

Cataracts? But you can thread a needle like a teenager.

I don't need eyes for things I already know.

I need them for new things.

For things nobody’s ever seen. Like this poster.

They should be teaching the people to forgive,

reminding them that it is not up to us to judge...

Instead of that,

they just encourage people to become informers, to be greedy.

Didn't someone denounce your father?

He was a political prisoner after WW2, wasn't he?

He was.

First take off that cassock, then talk.

I'm not saying this as a priest, Stojanka...

You can keep talking, but give me that cassock so that I can mend the hem.

Ah, that...

If I sew it while you're wearing it,

you'll get caught next time you steal something.

Nothing will come of these rewards.

This isn't the Wild West.

Although we have become wild.

But who's going to catch this pair when they're taking care of them,

both our lot and foreigners and who knows who else,

for who knows what reason.

Anyway, you need to give the vet a call.

You think you've found him?

Have you found him or not?

Where is he now?

Yes, I have found him, only I'm not certain that it's him.

I have cataracts, so I can’t get him in focus.

Can you come to see?

And bring the money, in case it is him?

I'm afraid were wasting our time here. Thank you for calling.

It’s stuck inside!

The piglet. Piglet stuck!

Untie me; I know how to do that...

- Pour some water to wash my hands. - How can you do it with those paws?

I’ll do it myself.

You can’t do it alone!

I was born alone, too.

Have you got hold of it?

Yes, I have, but it won’t budge.

OK, turn it... No, no, no, don’t pull!

Push it inside.

Now get hold of the opposite end of the piglet...

Now pull! Come on, come on...

Bravo.

Where are you going?

Sit there!

Sorry. Sorry! And why are you making so much fuss?

I said I’m sorry!

Eh, it’s not that easy to wash blood off your hands?

I’m moving you to a better place.

If you're not who you are, you deserve it.

And it's better not to disturb the sow.

What a frigging comedy!

Ooh! You’re good with that!

What you are doing in the kitchen? Get out!

Eh, if I was in the kitchen, not in your head, it would be easy to kick me out.

You’re good with the rifle.

Well done!

And it suits you somehow.

Sofija taught me when she stared to practise shooting.

Of course.

But it’s good that the village people believes in that.

Tell me, my dear, how are you?

No one ever asks you that. So let me ask it.

Sometimes just the question is worthwhile.

It is worthwhile. I’m not very well. I’m cold.

I’m getting cold. Very soon I will be totally cold.

Like those piglets when they will pull them out of the oven on Christmas.

My dear...

Be quiet. I’m really not well. I’m sick.

Cover yourself.

All my nerves are screaming.

I feel pain in every single muscle fibre. I can’t strain myself like that anymore.

You’ll sleep now. Sleep is redemption.

Black sleep.

Like priest’s cassocks.

With falling unstitched hems.

Hems of sleep, hems of death... My Tila.

So you delivered the piglets last night all by yourself?

It's not brain surgery: nature takes care of itself.

It’s a beautiful day. Why don't you go to the beach?

Sofija, come back here.

And, as Grandma used to say, don’t come home if you drown.

You saw him, didn’t you?

Yes, I did.

So is it him?

I'm not sure.

Are you – you?

Hey, kid, has there been anyone here? Any unusual visitors?

Yes. The carpenter.

Good morning!

Milutin, where are you going?

I have a sow in there with piglets, you'll upset her...

Do you have a search warrant?

Cover yourself and keep quiet!

All clear!

Raw goat's milk is very good for the skin.

Would you like coffee?

- Why not... - We didn’t come here for coffee! Move on!

Grandma, why didn’t he ask for help?

Why did he stay quiet?

Why are you undressed?

- You are so dumb! - Yes, I’m dumb.

Why don't you fix the roof? You've got that timber.

I like it like that.

I know how to do that, but I can’t with this damaged leg.

What should I call you?

Call me whatever you like, just don't call me late for dinner.

It hurts. But you can stand this, huh?

Then maybe you're not you.

You bullies are usually cowards.

We can expect a sunny period with no rain,

which is good news for our younger viewers

for whom we are going to show the film The Paper Prince.

There's a carpenter coming tomorrow.

Romanian. He doesn't speak Serbian.

I fixed his leg so, in return, he's going to fix our roof.

Listen, you're a Romanian and your name is Ion.

You don't speak Serbian.

Don’t speak to the children.

If anyone comes, be quiet.

Clear? Is that clear?

And what if some Romanian comes?

Sofija borrowed a CD player from Gina.

I've told you not to come up here. Get down.

Tell her not to get too excited. Excitement ruins everything.

Sofija, be as excited as you like!

Excitement is worth more than anything in the world.

Grandma loves you! Cheers!

I can't leave him on his own now.

You're a big girl, so you will go to the market in town by yourself.

Grandma, it is him.

Who else would those soldiers be looking for

and who else would know so much about shooting.

Listen, when you've sold everything, go and buy yourself sneakers.

Am I a pack horse?

You are strong, Sofija.

I could fix the ceiling inside, too.

That's for autumn.

Let it dry out while it's still summer.

It's no good making plans at our age.

I don't like people who don't make plans.

And then live to a hundred.

What about you? Did you have any plans?

You're as pretty as a picture. Go now!

You just have to win that competition.

And if you don't win, don’t cry.

If you will pour water for me (for luck), I'll shoot!

And then they came to take Arsenije for the army.

So what did I do?

I took an axe and broke his leg with the blunt side, to save him.

My husband almost beat me to death.

He was always beating me, but this time he broke my collarbone.

And then he joined the paramilitary.

I said to him "God help you to get killed!"

And he was. My daughter has never forgiven me.

She waited a year and then escaped from home.

She's never contacted me since.

That was twenty years ago.

Until a few days ago I didn't even know if she was alive or dead.

Now I hear that she’s finished university, got married and has three kids.

Ion, do you have kids?

Ion? What’s with you, man?

220/180.

We call it a TIA, a transitory ischaemic attack.

Chances are it will pass as though nothing happened.

If he doesn't have insurance,

and you have no money to pay for the examination, I really don't know...

The man's Romanian, and I'm telling you that tomorrow I'll bring the money.

We were in a hurry to get here.

Foreign citizen without any document?

This is urgent, but I have to notify the police.

- Can you...? - I can.

Hurry! Lie down here! Hurry!

How would you like to be him?

What about you?

What would you like to be if you were in my place?

I don't know what I would like even in my own place.

Just like I didn't know back then.

It was nice weather like this, with the smell of the lindens.

June 1968 in Belgrade.

I came home pregnant and married the first man who would have me.

I landed him with Arsenije, and then we had Marija,

and I put up with him and kept on putting up with him.

I'm still covered in scars from the beatings.

And Zoran, the man I loved in Belgrade, he wants to see me now.

But he doesn't know anything. Stupid men.

Are you asleep or dead? Or are you just sick of me talking.

Let’s stand up!

- Can you stand up? - I can.

What are we going to do?

What kind of man are you if you don't have a plan?

I'm a man who takes orders.

And so my husband was drinking and drinking

and abusing and beating all of us, me most of all.

Finally, I found him in the shed hugging our daughter,

and she wasn’t so small any more, you know.

He says: "What's the problem?

I'm not her father, just like I'm not the father of our son."

Had you told him the boy wasn't his?

No, but when kid had his appendix removed, he had to be given blood.

So the boy's blood group wasn’t mine, nor his...

I could see how it would finish, so when he went to the war, what could I do?

I packed up and followed him.

And I found him with some hostages, ready for an exchange,

so I got some Croat drunk, some Kresimir Poskok.

I remember like it was yesterday, a tall geeky guy.

And, what could I do, I took his rifle and, Ion, I killed my husband like a rabbit.

And this Croat told me he was in love with some Lovorka

and I read his fortune and told him that she would wait for him.

I'd really like to know whether she did.

Fuck Lovorka!

My daughter never forgave me for cursing him,

imagine what she would do if she ever found out about this.

Luckily, no one ever found out.

I never told that to anybody except to my grandmother

and she, poor thing, took it with her to the grave.

And now, I’ve told you!

Why are you telling me?

Well, I'll tell you if you tell me why you were killing the rabbits.

But you see I know!

You killed them because you thought

that a life without freedom is a life that's over. Am I right?

Aren't you the clever one!

Not me.

That's Ivo Andric, "The Damned Yard".

Why don't you kill yourself?

Stop shitting.

I know, a rabbit in a trap can't kill himself. It's not in his nature.

Lie down?

We’re there...

Well, why did you tell me all that story of yours?

It's because no one can carry such a burden alone.

I am like King Midas and his ass's ears.

They're soon going to turn me into a whispering reed.

You saw how close that was last night. And it's not the first time.

It's over now, but they’ll come again.

And soon it will be my turn too.

I'm going to milk the goats

and then I’ll make some breakfast. You rest.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you, you should call that Zoran of yours.

Don't be stupid.

Ah, so you were awake then!

And listen, don't jump out of the window or I'll kill you.

And now you know that I could. It's not so hard.

I know.

Anyone who has done it once will do it again.

Oh, God!

Once upon a time you used to say that in different circumstances.

Aren’t you ashamed to remember such nonsense?

Why be ashamed?

It’s the truth, and it wasn’t bad.

It was such a long time ago, as though it wasn’t in my lifetime.

And I didn’t say "Oh, God!", but "Ach, God!"

Well yes, that’s a big difference, it’s logical.

It’s not sexual craving anymore,

but motherly concern for everything weak in the world.

It was some youthful premonition of happiness. Silly.

Happiness which still hasn’t arrived.

But this is our reality, my Tila.

That’s because you think about money all the time.

Money wouldn’t solve anything.

That’s the truth.

Money wouldn’t get rid of impermanence, age, death, which will come in any case.

It wouldn’t bring love.

No.

It wouldn’t bring Maria back.

It wouldn’t make up for all the lost years you spent without each other.

But it would fix the roof, pay the vet,

buy kit for Sofia’s shooting, a bike for Stevan.

And if it were really a lot of money, it would finish building the new house,

it would bring Arsenije and Snežana back from Austria

and maybe it would open one small door for my daughter Maria.

And for your black son-in-law, black Stojanka!

And for chocolate grand-children.

One small door…

Like those ones for cats in American movies.

How do they know their own cat will come through that door?

Here, at our place, we’d probably get the neighbour’s female cats

and a skunk and who knows what other animals.

Grandma, sit over here, there’s a signal here too!

Hello? This is Stojanka...

Stevan, where's the carpenter, the Romanian?

He went to the outside toilet.

He gave me sixty euros for the bike.

You are a man who takes orders, my ass!

It would be better if they had not all gone abroad.

I mean, it’s better for me personally, because the Church is treated better,

but it’s not worth it when it’s worse for everybody else.

"A tyrant submerged in a nation displaces the number of people

equal to the weight of that tyrant."

- What’s that? - Brana Crnčević.

There was a time when I was friends with his daughter.

Ah, those were the days, Belgrade…

Wow, father, you are quite a rogue!

Stojanka, some saints started as the biggest sinners.

Grandma, wake up.

Grandma?

Marija? My daughter?

Yes, mother, it's me.

- Where are you going, you madwoman? - Grandma!

There's a power station down there.

- You'll get minced in the turbines! - Grandma!

You don't want me to be minced?

- Mum. - Grandma, wake up!

But, you know, I didn't give you any money, he run away from me...

And I didn't do everything I could have to find you.

Well, you've found me now. Better late than never!

Grandma, stand up!

Grandma, I won! Wake up!

What's up? It took me half an hour to wake you up.

Are you all right?

How come you're sleeping in the afternoon?

I was tired. I didn't sleep last night.

And I've got the money for my bike.

That Romanian carpenter gave it to me before he left.

Stevan let him go while I was at the power pole to phone.

I couldn't get anyone anyway, no one works at the weekend.

Stevan's got the money for his bike, you've got your roof,

and no one gives a damn about me!

When I sell the piglets I'll buy you a ticket for Vienna.

I don't want to go to Vienna.

I want to shoot at the Olympics like Jasna Sekaric.

Anyway, it wasn't him. How would he know how to fix a roof?

He only knows how to destroy houses, that's what the army is for.

Grandma, visitors!

They're not the same ones that were here before, are they?

There were some came a couple of days ago.

God knows who they were looking for.

They were looking for two young guys

who robbed the pharmacy of the army hospital. Junkies probably.

Good morning... My respects.

Thirty five...

The exact measures will used to sew an outfit for Sofia.

Miss, air rifle, outfit for air rifle, air pistol, rifle.

Could a parent or guardian please sign here. Thank you!

Sofija! Where did all this come from? This is worth thousands of euros!

Let me report that this equipment has been sent

by Lieutenant-General Živko Spasojević who likes to encourage young talent.

Sofija, you should report to the military base.

We’ll do!

The range is open seven days a week.

Wait! Here are some flowers for the Lieutenant.

Thank you!

Come on lads, why are you so stiff?

Come on and relax a little, have some coffee or juice. A little brandy?

Thanks, we are on duty! Allow us to get along!

Get along?! I won't allow you.

At last we have something to celebrate under my roof,

which has finally been fixed.

Let’s have a seat!

"Dear Zoran,

I am a difficult person, I can't tell you."

What can't you tell him?

It's just a saying.

I am difficult, I can't say that I’m not difficult when I am difficult.

Keep writing.

"But if you really want to come, you can.

Whenever you like.

I hope you're healthy and sitting down.

If you're not, then be careful.

I don’t mean you will have a heart attack when you see how I look,

but the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,

and so your son is a bum like you..."

Who is his son?

Do you want pancakes or not?

"... a bum just like you,

but you have two wonderful grandchildren.

That's because they take after their grandmother.

Bye.

Stojanka."

Starring

Special guests

In other roles

Introducing

Doubles

Creative and crew

Special thanks