Original subtitles

What?

It didn't arrive?

SZCZECIN, 13 JANUARY 19 HOURS BEFORE THE MAYDAY CALL

Tell them no. What's going on over there?

It was supposed to arrive yesterday, wasn't it?

Listen… Fine. Look, I can't talk at the moment.

Yeah. I'll call you back later.

Bye. Bye.

Come on, Ania. Just have a little think how it would look.

A high-ranking employee of Navica Ferries

sailing on a competitor's ferry to Sweden?

To a conference about shipowners and their rates, no less?! No way.

Wiesław, we both know our ferries aren't really for passengers.

-So I thought… -Ania!

You know the Russians have been after this route forever.

The Swedes are constantly dumping prices every day.

They're relentless. Anyway, I don't need to tell you.

You know full well what it's like. Take care of the documentation.

Listen to me. You and Marta will take the Heweliusz.

Yeah, it's better for our image that way.

Andrzej is today's captain.

He's more than capable of taking care of you.

Ania…

You'll be treated better than on the Queen Elizabeth.

-See you later, Wiesław. -Hmm.

Look who it is!

Piotr Binter, as I live and breathe.

Hi, Ania.

What are you doing here?

Dropping in to sign some papers.

And after?

Nothing special.

Thank you.

I was going to take the Uppsala, but…

Kosiorek said I wasn't allowed to.

You know, LOT had Kościuszko, we have our Heweliusz.

Stop it.

Why are you going there anyway?

To enter rate negotiations.

We're trying to make a new deal if we can,

but I know our ferries aren't the best, so I'm not full of confidence.

Although a new ferry would be good.

A new ferry would be good, that's for sure!

How about you come with me to the sailor's carnival ball?

You're able to come, as you're not working.

Oh, come on! We're adults, aren't we?

No strings attached?

We can go there as colleagues, perhaps.

Could you pop in on Sonia?

She's kind of your cat as well!

Here you go.

Just give her something to eat.

Nice to see you.

Wait there a minute.

This will guard you.

In Tahiti they told me that it scares away storms

and brings good luck.

You can give it back to me when we next see each other.

At the ball?

See you.

SZCZECIN 18 JANUARY

Sonia!

Sonia.

There you are.

Stop meowing. We'll be better off together.

Honey.

Witek.

Witek.

Honey, please would you hold her?

I'm absolutely desperate to use the toilet.

And maybe change her nappy.

Last few days she's had a bit of a rash.

Witek?

Where are you going?

-Sorry. I have to go out for a while. -What?

I'm sorry.

What's going on here?

Nothing's going on. Everything's… Everything's okay.

I can see that it isn't.

Witek, I know that you're struggling.

We've struggled as well.

For a few days, I was a widow and she was without a father.

My god, you don't get it at all.

What don't I get? What is it, tell me?

We need some care and attention too.

Even if it's a tiny little bit.

You're spending all day in bed, Witek. You've barely spoken at all.

I'm trying to understand.

-Please just… -Nothing!

Nothing's going on, all right? Just leave me alone!

Can't you see I can't stand this place any more?!

Can you be quiet for once? Does she have to howl like that?!

He walks in with this bag, yeah? And it's dripping wet.

He takes out a live carp and tosses it into the crapper!

-And then he gave her a plush fish! -No way!

Hey, Aga's coming.

Hey!

Hey, you're finally here!

I kind of missed you, you know?

Come here.

-Give me one. -Take it.

Hey, what's up?

I'm all good.

How are you guys doing?

I was just talking about Rice's party, you know?

-And the gossip. -Mm.

And all the shit that went down there.

Er, you know…

That guy Kaczy had a fight with Artur.

Hmm. I don't know which one that is.

7F guy, held back a year.

I'd avoid him if I were you.

Is he trouble?

Yeah. I heard he's got some beef with you.

Why with me?

Anyone know what's going on?

No.

What is she even doing here?

Where's Sobczak?

Indisposed, apparently!

Third time this month! Really, girls?

Aleksandra, Magda…

Oh. Hello, Aga.

Aleksandra, Magdalena, Dorota…

Aga. Could I have a moment, please?

Go ahead and start without Agnieszka.

How are you feeling, Aga?

I'm sure you've been asked that a lot.

Okay.

Isn't it too soon for you to come back to school?

No.

We've already had a little chat with a couple of your classmates.

To inform them of what happened and prepare them.

Why are you doing that?

I want you to know you have our full support if you need it.

All of your teachers are now aware of exactly what your situation is,

so they will be lenient.

Can I go and join the class now?

Can I?

Yes, of course.

Thanks.

Hey!

NAVICA FERRIES

Thank you, Mariola.

I'm afraid the chairman's late.

That's fine.

Thank you, Mariola. Close the door on the way out, darling.

Let's make a start then.

The Maritime Chamber will now take place here, in Starogard.

Uh, they'll propose a date today,

although it won't happen until at least three weeks' time.

Do you know who's the presiding judge yet?

Professor Janusz Pyzel.

He's presided over a few of these.

He holds a PhD in maritime law.

It's crucial that specialists who run the Chamber

are aware of… the wider context.

They know that Navica Ferries don't only sail Heweliusz.

And as I've said,

you likely won't have to testify as a lay judge either.

But what if I do have to?

The key rule is this.

You tell the truth most of the time.

That is, apart from…

Piotr, it's as straightforward as a pig's tail.

The conditions were rough.

Ułasiewicz and his crew made a mistake.

Some defects were evident.

But nobody's perfect.

It's crucial to say that the ferry's defects weren't responsible.

So, basically you're suggesting that…

the captain went insane and that's why he did an about,

going through the wind in a poorly balanced ship?

Why would you say insane?

As I said, conditions were rough out there.

I wouldn't rule out insanity though. And also the possibility of intoxication.

Ułasiewicz was by no means a drunk and always had his sense about him.

And an excellent crew as well.

That's the truth.

The ferry disaster

that occurred in the early hours of January 14th

has shocked public opinion on both sides of the Baltic Sea.

Fifty-five people lost their lives in a hurricane-force storm,

some of the worst conditions experienced in these waters for a number of years.

Only nine of the crew members were able to be rescued from the ferry that morning.

The captain of the Jan Heweliusz on that last crossing,

who also lost his life in this tragic event, was…

Could you change the channel?

…and there is a continuing investigation…

…found elsewhere in other agricultural markets.

And another beer as well, thank you.

…could be down to the changes in weather…

-You take care. Goodnight. -Goodnight.

-Wait a minute! Wait! -Hey! Hurry up, come on!

Coming!

I'm coming. Hang on.

I'm sorry.

Hey.

URBAN FERRY IN ŚWINOUJŚCIE

Good morning.

We met at the border. Can we talk?

About what?

You know what we need to talk about.

I don't think so.

Fine.

What are you doing?

Just a formality.

Don't I have the right to a lawyer?

Hopefully no need for a lawyer.

Mr Witek, we're just having a friendly conversation.

Doesn't feel much like that.

Is it true that Ułasiewicz was a drinker?

No. That's not true. He didn't drink.

Apparently, from what I hear

there was a formal dinner held just before departure.

Yes. We had Attorney Mentzel with us. The captain wanted her looked after.

-And there was a lot of booze. -Hey!

That's not true.

Ułasiewicz was a good captain.

Our captain.

Do you hear me?

We just have to know how the fuck Ułasiewicz managed to capsize the ferry.

-Tell me about the stern gate? -What's that got to do with it?

Seriously?

Ułasiewicz caused damage to the gate in Ystad

so water was pouring through it.

Listen to me.

We spend all of our time on the water,

and it pours in.

Water surrounds you. We're not in the desert.

A hand-sized hole in the stern gate

wouldn't make any difference to the ferry sinking or not.

Maybe he crashed it because he'd been drinking.

I'd rather end this conversation

while it's still a friendly one.

NAVICA FERRIES

I wondered when you'd finally grace us with your presence.

Sit down then.

Have you got your boots and your immersion suit?

Pardon?

I presume you're here to return them?

No, madam. How could I ever do that?

Then we'll have to deduct them from your daily allowance.

I was on Heweliusz! What do you mean?!

No problem. You don't need to get so irate.

We'll just have to let it go.

For your lost property, there's some money.

Aren't you pleased?

Sign this for me.

Here.

Oh, one more thing.

This was sent from Germany.

Thank you.

If you lose the boots and immersion suit next time,

we won't be so lenient and you won't see any money.

Witek.

-Hi. -What did you get?

Nine million.

-That's all? -That's all.

In my cabin drawer, I'd saved over 300 million for a decent car.

Good luck.

Going up.

E… Excuse me?

You were an officer for Ułasiewicz, weren't you?

Would you be willing to speak with me a moment?

Sorry. No, I don't have the time.

My name is Piotr Binter.

You don't recognise me?

And I

Don't like a thing about your mother

-Cheers. -Cheers.

I hate your daddy's guts too

Tell me what really happened to you.

And I Don't like a thing about your sister…

That did. I think that says it all.

Why didn't you just take shelter by the land?

Why do you think? We were in a hurry, as usual.

We'd been delayed and…

You left port late because of that stern gate?

By eight o'clock, the stern gate had been fixed already.

Oh. So what kept you?

That's a question to ask the captain.

Maybe at the day of reckoning.

Maybe, but first a very down-to-earth trial's going to happen.

But, um, I guess you knew that.

-Do you know what that means for us? -We'll be targeted.

-I presume they have reasons. -They don't.

The shipowner can't go bankrupt. I know that, and you know that.

You know what will happen. It'll be a crime against Ułasiewicz.

-He was the captain, after all. -Yeah, but who are you then?

Hmm?

Ułasiewicz…

was a great individual.

You must understand, he was the best captain out there.

There was nothing he could do. There was a hurricane!

I know but there were other ships that made it back nevertheless.

But that means nothing. Those others weren't Heweliusz!

I'm sure you know what a piece of shit that ferry was.

I do. And that's why I'm struggling to understand

why he would even think about making that about. For what?

I don't know.

I'm not him. I don't know. I wasn't on the bridge.

I was below, in the engine room.

There was a lot happening as you know.

Maybe you should ask the others.

No, no. Leave that, it's on me. No, please. Stop being silly. No way.

Thank you.

Please excuse me.

Good luck, all right?

WARSAW

-Good morning, Jola. -Come in, please.

Here are Andrzej's discharge papers after last year's surgery. Will that do?

Yeah, that'll be fine.

Thank you.

What do you need them for?

To help with the formal identification…

when they finally manage to find him.

I'll do the identification.

Jola…

When someone's been in water for days…

It'll be better if I go. Trust me.

It's really important you know that

I attempted everything I could to help him out there.

I told him to manoeuvre the ballasted side of the ferry towards the wind.

The radio kept breaking up and we didn't know where they were.

That's why we were unable to help them.

It happened so fast. I hope you're aware of that.

I am.

Thank you.

When will the hearing be?

Soon. But the exact date hasn't been determined.

Will there be a witch-hunt against Andrzej?

Don't know. I hope not but it could happen.

They always try and do it, even if somebody wasn't directly at fault, so…

Andrzej's not guilty.

But he was the captain.

Goodbye.

Where the fuck you going then?

What do you want?

Your dad got mine killed, so you're gonna have to pay for that.

My dad didn't kill anybody.

What's going on over there?

Kaczkowski, as if your mum's not stressed enough!

We're just talking!

Yeah? Yeah, I'd hope so!

Now you listen here. You're gonna bring half a million by tomorrow,

or I'll beat the shit out of you.

Um, excuse me.

Uh, I've come from Szczecin.

I've got something

that belonged to your husband.

That's why they thought I was your husband.

Robbing graves, is that what you've done?

You've been stealing watches off the dead?

No.

No, that's… that's not how it happened.

-It was just that… -Tell me, how is it possible…

that none of the passengers survived,

yet you somehow, with eight colleagues, managed to do so?

I'd always thought that was the point.

That you were obliged to save others.

-We tried to. I… -Yeah, well you didn't try hard enough!

And meanwhile, they were all abandoned by a useless crew

and an irresponsible captain, weren't they?!

And you're… you're the ones who killed my husband! You are!

Please just leave.

Yes.

I'll go.

-Sorry for your loss. -I mean it. Just leave!

I'm sorry.

14 JANUARY 4 MINUTES BEFORE THE MAYDAY CALL

What's going on?

What the fuck is going on?!

Come on! Hurry up and move!

Attention, all crew and passengers!

Attention, all crew and passengers!

This is the captain speaking.

The ferry must be evacuated.

I repeat, the ferry must be evacuated.

Proceed immediately to assembly stations.

Abandon ship!

-Marek, wait up! -Come on. Come on!

-This is the captain speaking. -Jesus!

Go! Go, go! Go, go!

Mummy!

Where are the life jackets?

Where is it? Maciek, can you hear me?! Come!

We have to go this way, come on!

Let's go!

Life-jackets, please! Put on the life-jackets now! Hurry up!

-Straight on and turn right! -Watch out for him!

This way! This way! Hurry up! Hurry up!

Sir, you have to get out as quickly as you can!

Life jacket! Grab the life jacket!

Hurry up! Go up, up that way! Quickly! This way!

-Straight on and turn right! -Give me the life jacket, I beg you!

-I can't swim! I'm begging you! -Just fuck off, man!

That way! There!

-No! Maciek! Maciek! No! -Mum!

Help her! That's her kid up there!

-Maciek! -She's got a kid up there!

-Mummy! -Maciek! Wait!

Head to the exit! Faster!

Maciek!

-Mummy, where are you? -Head to the exit! Now!

Let me through! Please!

Help!

-Where's the crew? The crew? -What?!

-Where's the crew? -Keep going!

-Where are they? -Come on! Everything will be okay!

Grab my hand!

Come on!

Everything's gonna be okay!

Help is on the way for sure!

Where are they?

Where is everything? It's all gone!

Don't worry! I promise! Everything will be okay!

Maciek! What about my boy!

-How you feeling? You okay? -Maciek!

-Keep breathing, okay? -Yes, yes.

Hold on. Help's on its way!

Ostsee Radio, Ostsee Radio, Kempen!

We're at the site of the disaster!

Repeat. You're breaking up!

Ostsee Radio, Ostsee Radio, Kempen! We're at the site of the disaster.

On our left is Polish ferry Jan Heweliusz. So we're launching a rescue mission.

Give us your coordinates.

I repeat, give us your coordinates!

What are our coordinates?

I'd say we're about roughly 16 miles east from Kolliker!

Sixteen miles east of Kolliker.

-Hey, we need to get these off! -I need some help to do this!

We need to try and launch them!

That's it! It's on!

Towards you! Towards you! Turn it! Turn it!

Turn it! Turn it!

-Keep turning! -Keep going!

Hold it and don't let go!

Hold it!

I can't see anything!

Hold onto the lifebuoy as long as you can!

-I can't any more! -Just keep hold of it, please!

Hey, wait!

Hey!

-Don't let go whatever happens, okay? -I can't do it!

Just hold on to it!

To the rafts!

-As quick as you can! -To the rafts!

Keep going! To the rafts! To the rafts!

Look out! Hey Look out!

Kid! Get on the raft!

Help me! Help! Help me!

Get me out of here! Please, help!

Get me out! Help! Help me, please!

Sail around it carefully.

Yes, Captain.

Get in! Fast!

I got you.

Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners

now and at the hour…

Watch out! We're sinking!

-Al… Alek. My son… -Fuck!

Tell him… tell… tell him that l love him!

Hey!

Tell him… tell him that I love him!

My… My wife is pregnant! I won't get… get to see Monika!

-I won't see Monika! Tell them! -Calm down, man! You're gonna make it!

-Captain! -What is it?

There's something you need to see!

Maintain course. I'll be right back!

-Holy shit! What the fuck is that?! -Don't know, Captain!

We just managed to get him out of the water!

Is that something we've done?

-Throw him into the water! -What? But Captain…

That's an order, you hear me?

-You didn't see a thing, you understand? -Yeah.

Come on. Get rid of him.

Jens… You need to turn about.

-What? -We're not staying here.

Kempen, come in Kempen!

This is Kempen, this is Kempen! The conditions are too rough.

We're too small. We're leaving.

I see a raft. Descending.

One metre forward!

One metre forward. Descending!

They're here!

They came! Hey!

Hey!

Lower! Hey, over here!

Over here! Lower! Hey!

They're here! Look!

Here, hey!

Descend! The rope got caught!

Cut it off!

Shit! Shit!

Help me! Help me!

This is all I have.

I took everything out of my bankbook.

Don't you worry, my dear.

It's enough for a modest funeral.

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

I shall see you later at Mass.

Oh, excuse me…

Have you met the captain's wife?

No.

I believe she lives very close to you, at Drozda 12.

Sometimes, it's important to share your pain

with someone who's experiencing the same as you.

-You could really support each other… -Thank you. God bless.

Er… Mr Bronisław, I seem to have misplaced it.

Bear with me.

Um… Oh, there! I got it.

There you go, sir.

-Hi. Good morning. -Good morning.

I'd like to see the manager.

The manager?

Um… go right at the end of the hallway, up the stairs.

Last office at the end of the hall.

Mrs Kaczkowska, how many times do I have to tell you

that your husband was not an employee here?

What do you mean?

How could he not be? He told me he came here to work.

I've no idea what he told you.

I'm just telling you the facts.

I know that one of the trucks he drove was yours, though.

Yes, but as I've told you a number of times,

that vehicle was only leased to him.

So if that is the case…

In that case, you're saying that I'm not entitled to anything?

No compensation is due to you

as your husband was not an employee of ours.

To be honest, for not returning our vehicle,

he should pay us damages.

What?!

I'm really sorry, Mrs Kaczkowska, but in cases such as these,

the contractor is liable to compensate using his own assets.

I'm sorry, but the contractor in this case is dead!

So his debts are now yours.

No doubt we all remember the story of Jonah and the great storm.

God sent the raging storm so that Jonah could fulfill his mission.

The Lord's judgements are unknowable to us, but they are purposeful.

We shall likely learn their deeper meaning at the day of reckoning.

It is then that their ingenuity will become apparent to us

in all its glory.

Let us pray today for two individuals who were part of our flock,

and tragically lost their lives on the Jan Heweliusz ferry.

Captain Andrzej Ułasiewicz

remained faithful until the end.

-He stayed on the bridge. -Aga!

-He died like a real sailor. He died… -What are you talking about, Father?

Dad's still alive. You shouldn't say that!

They haven't found him because he's still alive!

I know, dear child.

-I understand how extremely… -You understand shit if you ask me!

How can you bury a man

if his body isn't there to go in the ground?

Hope is what you should be giving here, not taking it from us.

Aga!

Aga?

Aga?

Twenty-three thousand, please.

Thank you.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Hang on a moment.

Ms Aneta, would you come over here?

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Here you are.

-I'm so grateful to you. -Mm.

I promise I'll settle my account here soon.

When you're able to, I know you'll do so.

Oh, and… for your boy.

Thank you.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

That poor woman there.

Imagine it, her husband drowned in that catastrophe.

-Awful. -Yeah.

-What would you like? -Potatoes. Thank you.

Did you give him mint tea?

Then try massaging his tummy

and in the medicine cabinet there's some drops.

Uh, with the yellow cap.

TEMIDA'S VOICE

On the right! There are these little…

-Hello. -Hello, Mrs…

I've been telling the lady you wouldn't see her today, but she insisted.

I've waited two hours for a moment of your time.

Madam, I'm really sorry but I'm due in court.

Uh, maybe in two weeks' time I could see you.

Counsellor?

I've been to seven law firms now and they've all sent me away.

I really am in a hurry. I have a hearing in half an hour.

You do know who my husband was?

Yes, I do. I really am sorry but I can't take this case.

Next week I'm going to America.

But you just said that you could see me in two weeks.

Please, Madam…

I'm really sorry to tell you this,

but this is a really crooked case.

I doubt anyone will take it.

They're in cahoots and will be intent on supporting each other.

Presiding judge is going to be Janusz Pyzel.

Colleague of Minister Kowalik's.

The lay judges will be Kubara and the other captain of the Heweliusz.

You understand now?

I'm sorry.

Come on. Off you go.

-Hello? -I need help.

Can you help me find a lawyer?

So Jola, I'm… I'm really…

Piotr, I am begging you right now.

I need help and you promised that you would be there.

Hang on.

Wait a minute, I have to put a coin in.

You know, it's not that easy.

I've been told you're a lay judge in your own company's case,

so I'd appreciate it if you helped me,

if you have any shred of honour left in you.

They're gonna want to make the most of it, you know?

They'll bring down Ułasiewicz without even a second thought.

Son, I'm afraid there's no judge in the entire world

who'd rule in favour of Ułasiewicz.

He was the captain.

He shouldn't have left the port.

Even so,

it doesn't matter now anyway.

I just cannot allow him to get absolutely crucified by them.

I could've been the one in his place too.

But you weren't.

And since you're a lay judge for them,

you'll play by their rules as well.

I know.

I've a favour to run past you.

Yeah?

Jola's been trying to get a lawyer, but she can't find anyone.

No one's willing to take the case.

Does that shock you?

I'm sure you know someone.

Fuck that.

I promised myself I wouldn't get involved this time.

-Dad, you must do it. -Uh, Karol?

Uh, what was the name of that person

who recently managed to defend that unbelievable cretin?

You know, that managed to block off the canal somehow?

I don't remember him.

I don't know him!

Keep your memory fresh.

The efforts ended earlier this morning.

The captain was found on the bridge.

He was discovered caught between the wall and the console.

He remained at his post till the end.

Captain Andrzej Ułasiewicz was born on June 12th, 1946.

He graduated from Gdynia Maritime School in 1967…

Ignacy Budzisz.

A specialist in the maritime chambers.

I'd recommend you call him.

He's outside their circles and might take on this case.

…as well as foot passengers. In 1987…

We have just received some very sad news

that a body has been recovered

from the wreckage of the Jan Heweliusz ferry.

It is that of the Captain, Andrzej Ułasiewicz,

who remained on the bridge until the very end.

What was that?

No. No.

No. No!

Let go of me! Let go of me!