Original subtitles

HUNGARIANS

"Except for ignorance, our past, our lives and our stomachs,

Oh, we are really pure. May hope open a door to us!"

/Attila József: HUNGARIANS/

WINTER

Dear father!

- They're waiting for you in the pub! - Nobody's waiting for me there!

But of course they are! Uncle Dániel just knocked on the door

a moment ago. There were others with him!

Have you given it a thought?

The child is too small. There's nobody to look after him.

Your brother said he would... He did.

You never had such an opportunity before, András! Come with us!

Or do you wish to live in a rented house all your life?

You're the youngest and the strongest among us!

We'd feel much safer with you!

- I'd want to take the woman as well, if I'd decide to go! - You can!

Dani Kis brings his one too, just like János Szabó and Elek Tar!

Well, let's talk about it then!

Go! Tell your mother to come here!

Hear me out, Dániel!

My son would like to go with you too!

The air is too damp there, Károly, and your son is...

He's recovered already. His lungs are fine.

Well, if that's how it is, all right then.

Whoever wishes to come, may come.

But we can't take everybody with us either! There is a war going on.

The village cannot be left without men.

- There's work to be had here as well. - I got that.

But I can spare my son.

Are you certain that he's recovered?

Why would I lie to you?

I talked to the notary. He wants the list by tomorrow morning.

I write down everybody who applies.

They are making a contract with everybody.

How much is the payment?

If they'll only pay half of what they promise,

we'll still be all right. We're going to be paid after performance.

Whoever works more, will get more. That's how it is.

- I went to the notary. - I'm not going anywhere!

Goddamnit! I'm not going!

I'd rather just die here! But I'm not going!

You're just like your father! He lived his entire

life here, and he never even left the village!

What are you talking about my father?

My father went as far at the land of the Italians!

Stop yelling! You wake up the child!

If I said I won't go,

that means, I won't go! Goddamn it!

My father had stabbed an Italian at Isonzo!

He had to! He was drafted!

But following his own heart he never went even as far as Debrecen!

And they can also take you to the war again, too!

Which is a another good reason for us to go!

But no... I'm not going!

Well, look! The Bandi Bacskó, the fool!

What does he want? He's looking at you, András! Do you hear me?

Why is he looking? It seems he wants to tell you something, but I wonder what?

Can you hear it? Don't go! Don't go away!

Don't go, András! You mustn't!

Where are you running, you? Are you trying to race with the train?

You hapless! He fell!

- I wonder what he wanted... - I don't know.

I think I saw him crying. And fools cannot cry at all, you know.

- How come? - They just can't.

In Nagykálló, in the loony bin, I never saw a single one who cried.

Not once. 'Cos they don't have the brains for it!

Ah, Dani! Dani! By God, I can't deal with it. Help me, Ábris!

Ábris! Hold the legs! Come on, now!

Why are you pushing me?

Stop that, Irma!

Damn you! How many times do I have to ask you to stop crying?

Let's say the Lord's Prayer!

We're not heading to the fair, Rozi! Why are you sounding the bells?

As if we were going to Máriapócs!

I just want to pray...

for my mother to be still alive when we return!

This is not a funeral! We're not going to die there!

Say your prayers silently! This is nobody else's business!

- Do we have everything? - Yes.

We can go.

Good day, folks! This gentleman here, beside me is the Master!

You'll be working on his farm!

The Master kindly welcomes you.

Other Hungarians have worked here before

but they returned home before Christmas.

Only I stayed behind.

My name is Brainer. Brainer.

Well, let's go then.

You can always come to me with whatever problems you've got.

Anton! Hey!

So! You'll be living in this wing of the mansion, upstairs.

Couples will be given their own rooms.

You can find the kitchen downstairs.

Everybody is allowed to cook for themselves there.

And if you look where I'm pointing now,

there are some barracks beyond the trees.

Fences all over. Don't go there if possible!

By the way, you'll be given an card,

and you're free to go wherever you want with that.

You're not restricted in your movement.

The only thing the Master asks you is not to inquire about the barrack-camp!

Nice and warm room!

What are you looking for?

- I want to talk to the Master! - What do you want from him?

- I must talk to him! - Come!

So, say it! What do you want from the Master?

Ask him where the church is here?

There is no church here. This is a farm.

No need to turn to the Master with this. The church is in the town!

We'll go there sooner or later!

There was no need to disturb the Master over this!

Ábris! I've brought you some tea!

Don't tell this to the Master! I'll be all right by tomorrow!

I just got weak. Otherwise I'm fine!

Do you know how to handle horses?

There is no need to know much about that!

But these are different horses than the ones back home!

Horses are horses wherever they are!

I cleaned horses before, although not too often,

but I want to do it, like...

And this? You're full of hay, you!

Why are you so jumpy? Why are you so jumpy? You fool!

You must be Anton, right? You're Anton!

I don't know what this is, but it seems like pálinka. Even though it's not.

It's sweet. It's better than nothing!

Dear God, Anton!

Your mouth must be rotting away, 'cos your breath really stinks!

Where's the rush, Fábián?

You're faster on foot than others on horseback!

One must hurry if he really wants to get there!

That's the spirit!

But there is no need to do everything in one day, Fábián!

That lanky one, the Szabó!

He carries up two bags of potatoes from the cellar,

and then complains that his back hurts!

There is no need to exert yourselves just yet!

The time has not come for that yet! Only when the summer comes!

The fall! That's when! Then you'll have a lot to do!

That's when most of the work is! That's something!

The Master will be glad!

I'd love to smoke some Hungarian tobacco, Fábián!

If only you'd accept mine in exchange!

Watch your tobacco, Fábián! It's not always that we can get any.

- No?- Well, there is a war going on, if you haven't noticed!

Mr. Brainer!

Is it always such a wasteland here?

Not a single living soul comes along all day!

Tell me, Fábián! Do you know who's fighting the war these days?

- I know. - Well, who? - The folks.

Folks? What folks?

Have you heard the name of Hitler?

Hitler. Adolf Hitler.

I think I might have heard it before.

And you, Fábián, what have you heard about him?

With all due respect, I don't read newspapers.

Hitler is a military man!

That he is! A military man!

A military leader!

What's wrong with him?

Mr. Brainer! Can I ask you something?

Go ahead.

Who is there next door? There, in the barracks,

which is surrounded.

French POWs.

- I'd like to have a look at them, if I may. - Why would you want to do that?

What's wrong with them?

You see, Fábián! Your wife has more sense than you do!

What's the point of looking at them?

POWs? POWs. I don't look at things I have absolutely no business with!

Such people are capable of everything!

How did you think of those prisoners?

How could you ask anything at all from such a man?

He is a Hungarian. He speaks Hungarian.

He worked here last year, and then he stayed around.

He is a Hungarian.

Can you hear this, Ilonka? Airplanes!

SPRING

But who's playing the violins and the trumpets?

And how do they know what to play?

They must be playing from a score, that's for sure!

That must be very hard!

But it's so wonderful!

Just...so wonderful!

A letter arrived from back home again!

The money arrived at the post for the second time.

But my brother says only I can collect it!

- Once I return home. - They wrote the same to us!

Our fortunes are growing! That's what my sister wrote to us!

By the time Christmas arrives again, you'll have

so much money you won't even know what to do with it!

That's our smallest problem! Money is very easy to spend!

That's right! Very easy!

Especially if somebody likes to go the pub!

Back home, in my childhood,

I used to go to school barefoot as early as March!

But here, the ground is still cold and wet!

And there are no birds either! They should at least have skylarks!

Back home, in the old days, one could always

find skylarks at least, if nothing else!

Skylarks? Skylarks!

Skylarks!

For the children! Kind!

Bring this one back!

Bring it back! Zurück! This one!

András!

Polish cigarettes!

Filled with tasty tobacco for gentlemen!

I'm coming soon!

They shot somebody! It must have been a Frenchman!

Or a Polack woman! Tried to escape probably.

Open the window, András!

Maybe we can see something!

There is no need for you in here today!

This is what Brainer told me. Word for word!

But why? And he also sent the woman to work on the beet-field!

- Why do you think he did that? - How would I know?

Say, Dani?

Have you seen the cart driver this morning?

- No. - That's just it. 'cos me neither!

Something is not okay here!

Come on, Lizi! Let's go!

Nobody has seen him!

Who understands this? God only knows where he might be!

Last night, those shots! I wonder if it was...

We can't know that for sure! And stop talking now!

Stop talking about that now! Keep quiet!

Good day, folks!

You're doing well!

If you can keep it up, the harvest will be much better than last year.

And everything goes well, the women will finish working in the beet-field, too!

The Master noticed that you are interested in music, Ábris!

And said you can go into his room if you want to listen to some music.

- You just have to tell me before that! - Thank you very much.

We haven't seen the cart driver today, Mr. Brainer!

And he is usually here by now.

- Bringing us some water... - There is no need to continue, Fábián!

I wouldn't ask such questions if I were you!

Not from me, nor anybody else!

I wouldn't even mention the cart driver's name actually!

I suppose you didn't come here only to be sent home!

Listen to me, Brainer! How dare you? If I grabbed you...

- No! No! - András!

- Why do you care so much about the driver?- Sit down!

Care or not care!

It's not about that! But he should talk to us with respect!

Mr. Brainer!

We're among each other. And you just started to threaten us.

We asked you about the driver respectfully.

And you can only threaten us as an answer?

I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention.

But you came here to work. Not for sightseeing!

You're paid good money for your work!

So, concentrate on that and nothing else!

And for your own sake, it's better if you just close your eyes right now!

Good Lord!

SUMMER

Dear God! He won't live to see the morning!

I'll be back soon!

Ilona! Ilona!

Come, quickly!

You must! You must!

He's dying! Dying!

There! This will bring down the fever!

It will help, you'll see!

I've a son like you, too!

I have...

I do.

What are you thinking?

No!

You want to give that to me?

You need it much better!

I've one upstairs!

You need it, too!

Well, thank you. Thank you.

For my man!

That's enough!

It'll last while we're here!

They made the Polack women pack their things!

They are taking them away!

It's Brainer and two military trucks!

The soil is too wet.

There'll be no hoeing here, not even in the afternoon!

There is water between the lines still!

Well, then there's no point waiting here, let's go back to the farm!

- What's with the boy? - It seems like he's recovering.

He said he can come with tomorrow.

They're tired. They were all up last night during that storm.

Would you believe that? Water!

A bit of pálinka would do wonders to me now!

I wouldn't spit it out this time!

Pálinka is medicine!

It was the driver who gave us pálinka the last time, on the very first day!

- Do you remember, Dani? - Oh yes! Very much!

I very much remember it, because that was the last time as well!

I wonder where the driver is now?

That poor fool smells very bad by now!

- What kind of bird is this? - Some kind of crow.

First time I see a bird ever since I got here.

Not even skylarks here.

So! Let's some some gentlemen's cigarettes!

What kind of cigarettes? Oooh! There's no point wasting it on us!

This really is gentlemen's cigarettes!

This cigarette refreshes me!

Me too. I feel like something is stirring in me!

I feel like I could do a thing-or-two!

- Like what? - Well, for example, if...

no better things show up, I'd wrestle with you, and push you to the ground!

- You really feel like you would? - Right!

Then you just wait until I feel like it too!

You!

This is good! Like a pipe!

Or like an elder whistle!

- You, Elek! - What?

- Can you blow that in tune with me? - How on Earth could I not?

Well, then play with me that...

This round sky if it turns Grey, it clears up!

In front of our house, there's a bench, do not sit on it!

If you sit on it, be careful not to fall down!

You were my lover, but I don't want you anymore anymore!

Dani has a good voice still!

That's true. That he has!

- So far it was good. This day, I mean. - Good-good. That's right.

So far it was the best among them all!

The Master and Brainer are not at home.

It seems like they'll only be back in the evening.

Ábris had a bad dream!

Tell us about it, it will relieve you!

I dreamt about colours. Many colours!

Red, blue... and lots of white.

What was white?

Only the ending was white! At the end...

We're listening to you from the beginning till the end.

It started with me getting lost,

At first we were all inside,

but then all of a sudden, I was left alone in a big forest.

And this forest seemed to have neither a beginning nor an end.

I was just wandering around in it.

I was wandering in it for days,

and the interesting part was that I never seemed to get tired.

My legs were light.

When I looked up at the sky, the sun was always right above my head.

And because of that everything seemed much whiter.

And then there was that great silence!

Whenever I yelled, my voice reverberated from the distance!

Hungarians! Hungarians!

Where are you?

I'm looking for the Hungarians!

Hungarians! Answer me!

Hungarians! Why don't you answer me?

Hallo!

Hungarians!

I'm looking for the Hungarians, Grandfather!

You're at the right place then, son. 'Cos I'm the very last one of them.

The last Hungarian.

Look at me carefully! You won't find another Hungarian in the world anymore.

There are endless waters beyond the forest.

You won't find any Hungarian there either!

This isn't true!

You're lying! This is not true! After all I'm a Hungarian, too!

There's got to be more Hungarians still! Of course there are!

Like Dani Kis, and András Fábián!

And Dániel Gáspár!

Hungarians! Where are you, Hungarians?

Hungarians! Where are you?

Hungarians!

The Master's son might return home on a leave from the army.

This is his room. It's been closed for years.

So, this what you are supposed to clean up.

The Master would like to offer you some beer.

Come! We can drink some good beer now!

That doesn't sound bad!

- The Master says 'to your health!' - To all of us!

To our health!

The Master says in his son's name as well.

You did a very nice, very good work today, people.

Tell it to the women as well.

Except that all this work was in vain already.

Because the Master's son got lost.

I was already told about it in town.

- But he can still return. - Look, Mr. Fábián!

Whenever somebody gets lost in war, he never returns home.

And the Master's son got lost in Russia.

I'll count in your day as usual. You did a good job.

I'll count it as if you were hoeing.

- Thank you, Mr. Brainer! - Thank you very much.

- Have a good rest! - Good night!

Could you help me, Mr. Brainer?

- In what? - I'd like to buy a bicycle.

For my brother. We left the kid with him. He looks after him.

I'd like to send him a steel-framed bicycle.

We're going to town with the Master next week.

Whoever feels like it may come with us.

We can buy it then.

But why haven't you gotten married?

- 'Cos I didn't feel like it... - Why?

Poor people should never get married!

Because when poverty grabs its own hand, it gives way to a much greater poverty!

But then are we just supposed to kick the bucket, only because we're poor?

I've thought about this myself, too.

And if I weren't such a curious man by nature,

I'd surely be pushing up the daisies by now.

What are you curious about?

Myself. And the world around me.

I always wonder that even though the days seem to be the same,

people's lives are different every day.

What's the reason behind that?

What kind of machinery is hidden in humans?

When two people start talking to each other,

they can tell everything about themselves, but still!

None of them will actually find out what the other's biggest problem is!

There is a chasm so great between people

like the distance between heaven and earth.

Have you heard that we're going to Paris next week?

To Paris?

To the sea, perhaps?

There as well! Brainer told me last time he came in here!

Just before they took away the Polack women.

And he said that whoever wants might come with us!

- Well, I wouldn't mind! - Me neither! If only I got better by then!

Brainer said we could even go to a church there!

I'd even do my confessions if that's possible!

Of course, you want to do your confessions.

After all the priests speak Hungarian around here!

You too smart, Aunt Zsófi!

But if you really were that smart, you should know

that one cannot live without God!

That's for sure!

But if you wish to do your confessions, you must talk to Brainer as well!

And make sure you discuss your sins with him thoroughly!

Otherwise the priest might misunderstand!

Careful, Aunt Zsófi! One is not supposed to make jokes about God!

Stop! Stop, will you!

- Mr. Brainer! It's Sunday, Goddamn you! - Let him!

So what? If it's Sunday, it's Sunday!

Is that why you had to stop the truck?

Because I can't buy anything today! All the shops are closed!

I told you! I want a bicycle!

They're expecting it back home! I want that bicycle!

You be careful, because if there will be none,

may God have mercy on you! You hear me?

What do you want, man? We'll still be in town tomorrow morning!

Then you can buy as many bicycles as you wish!

Whoever doesn't want to come, tell me now! I can still take you back!

Look, Uncle Dániel!

This castle has so many towers, that I haven't

seen this many, not even on churches!

- This must be a rich country! - Right! A rich one!

It seems like one!

Stand up!

Holy Virgin Mary!

Holy Mother of our Lord, Jesus.

Guardian Angel of the Hungarians!

We pray to you, help us!

Help us to get back home safely from here!

Help me to meet my mother still alive when I arrive back home! Help me!

Grant me strength to be able to work and to put an end to our poverty!

Help us, Virgin Mary!

My spine shivers! Strength deserts my arms.

But give me endurance to be able to raise up my little children.

Help us, Virgin Mary!

I'll express my gratitude to the Mary of Máriapócs when I return home!

Help me until then, Virgin Mary!

Guardian Angel of the Hungarians! Help us, my Lord!

Great God!

Help me to be able to thank

the graceful support of the Holy Virgin!

And your mercy, for keeping us in good health!

And for preserving our strength!

And helping us raise our children!

To your glory! May it be so, My lord!

The river! There's the river!

- Aha! - Good Lord! My wife!

Rozika! Rozika!

Dani! To the tree!

Her heart! Her heart must be massaged!

Such a heat came over me. But I already feel much better.

- Where is the Master, Mr. Brainer?- He left. He's got some business elsewhere.

We'll only meet up with him in the morning.

I need to leave now as well. I've got to take care of something.

Get back on the car!

I wouldn't mind if you hurried up a bit!

I'll take you to the river. You can wait for me there.

But don't wander off from there, because

then we won't be able to find each other!

Mr. Brainer!

Where are we going to sleep?

On the truck! There is enough space!

That much is true. There is enough space for us there.

Just like the river Tisza! What river is this, I wonder?

- It's called Seine. - How do you know that?

From school. We learned about this.

Main in Frankfurt, Rhine in Strassbourg, and Seine in Paris.

It's hard to forget that!

Such valiant soldiers!

They are marching as if some machinery is moving their legs!

You just don't envy them so much! You can still be a soldier again!

The Master is a good man, after all!

He took us to Paris, to the Church of Our Lady!

And now, to the beach! Nobody else would have done that!

Your face is on fire, boy!

You've got a fever!

Nothing's wrong with me! I feel just fine!

It was a pity to come here! It will soon be raining!

Let's not mope now, that we're here!

Let's be happy that we're here!

Ilonka! Zsófi! Rozi! Irma! Come!

You won't see anything like this ever again!

Water without end! You've never seen such a thing before! Come!

If the weather were better, we could even have a swim!

Not for the life of me...

What are you doing, Abri?

Stop there, will you!

You're not my father to order me around!

You're sick, you unfortunate soul!

I am not unfortunate!

Just because I'm younger than you,

I'm not unfortunate at all!

Dániel!

Here, put it on! This water will make you sick!

Dániel is right! You mustn't go into the water in this cold!

Well, it's raining already!

There is some kind of house there! Shouldn't we go there?

Of course, we should! Everybody go up there!

I'll get the truck!

Come!

Nobody go in!

What? Something wrong?

Nothing wrong, just don't go in!

Why can't we go in there?

Hell knows!

What is it? Is the door closed?

Why don't you enter, Fábián?

With all due respect, there is somebody in there.

Who is stopping us form getting in?

It seems like he won't be able to harm us anymore!

Don't kid with me, please! If you're seeing a dead man, just say it!

- Anything can happen in war! - Well, this one is certainly dead.

He is just sitting by the window. One would think he's just asleep.

But no. This one is not asleep. This one is dead for sure!

God Almighty!

What are we waiting for? Let's go in, until it stops!

Don't! You, godless! Next to a dead man?

- Ah! Ah! Ah! - Dear God! The bicycle!

Let's go back to the truck!

Fábián! There's a tilt under the bench! Spread it above you!

Give me the end of the tilt, András!

Hide underneath, quickly!

What does it mean, I wonder? Surely some kind of prayer.

The wrapping on it is soaking wet.

Which sea was that?

I've been thinking about that too.

It must have been the Arctic Ocean!

- It could only be that! - What? There was no ice there at all!

So what? A sea is a sea! Let's sleep!

A steel-framed bicycle! By God, I haven't even heard of such a thing!

Where did you get the idea from?

We're under a curse! The entire village!

Because it was built over a graveyard!

Do you hear the bells?

Hungarians rest here all around!

The Baron expects you to drive and not sleep.

Do you hear? Bálint Fábián!

- Do you understand, or did you not? - Yes, Sir! I understood!

Well, go on then! They're Lenin boys!

Ride with them so quickly that they can't breathe!

Go!

I've known them since their childhood.

If this is what they deserve then what do I deserve, I wonder?

I had to kill people during the war,

people I didn't even know.

Who never hurt me or my family.

When the sergeant gave this to me, he said,

Nothing can stop this.

It even pierces through bone. That's what he said.

That Italian comes to my mind quite often these days.

I can still feel the warmth of his blood between my fingers.

It was my face he carried with him into death.

My face was the last that he saw in his life.

Not his children's. Not his wife's.

But mine.

- What's your father, Fábián? - With all due respect, a farmer.

But he wasn't always that.

Back in 1919, he used to be the coach driver of his Lordship, Baron Ughy.

There is a big problem, Fábián!

Your father died, my son!

He hanged himself on the bell rope.

You've got a five-days leave.

Five days from now you report back to us,

saying you respectfully buried your father!

- Is that understood? - Yes Sir! Understood! With all due respect!

Here lies Bálint Fábián, died at the age of 43.

Happily married to Anna Szabó for 21 years.

Died in 1922. May he rest in peace.

AUTUMN

Move aside! I'll pick your row too!

I said, move aside! Leave these two row for me!

Look at that Frenchman! He must be some gentleman of sort.

He's got long, slender fingers.

Save your strength, Ilonka!

- There is a long day ahead of us! - Yes. But if he hurry up today,

we can make as much money in one day, as in a week at other times!

Brainer said he'll count the crates! He did say that!

They're not given any food!

Well, not much.

They say, that at the next farm the Russians

are only given a single raw potato a day.

- A single one? - A single one. Brainer told me.

God curse them all!

Grab the bacon, Ilonka!

Bacon and potatoes. I brought them for you.

Eat it.

Enjoy.

How are they supposed to work like that? Hungry?

They are given food in the morning and in the evening.

Nowhere else in this country are prisoners kept as well as here.

And all that because of the Master. You can believe me.

By the way, that thin-faced Frenchman told me

that he has never seen a women work as hard as you do, Mrs. Fábián!

Why is there a cross hanging around his neck?

Is he that religious perhaps?

Quite a bit. That Frenchman is a priest. Père Jean-Pierre de Lyon.

- That's his name. - A priest?

- How could they do this to a priest? - Dear God! Even a priest?

Gáspár!

The Master is looking for Ábris Kondor!

It was me, who told him to stay at home.

He hardly slept anything last night. He had a fever. And a bad cough.

The kid very much looks like the Master's son.

He had a similar child-face. Nobody wanted to believe that he's a doctor.

By now even the Master knows that he has disappeared.

He was notified.

Don't be afraid, Rozi!

Damn you!

Duck! Into the ditch!

- What is he saying? - That it's over.

- What is? - Everything.

The war, he himself, the Germans. So, it's all over.

Well, yes. If they hadn't teamed up with the Hungarians,

they wouldn't get defeated now.

- How come?

Because the nations just don't seem to learn once and for all

that it isn't worth it to befriend the Hungarians.

After all, when did the Hungarians ever win? In which battle? Where?

The Hungarians have never won anywhere.

Unless back in the days of our forefather, Chieftain Árpád.

What?

If the Germans lose the war, it will be because of the Hungarians?

I didn't say that.

I only said that whoever befriended the Hungarians in the past,

was always squashed.

I mean, always.

Just think about it.

Always!

Along with the Hungarians.

30, 35, 40, 45,

50, 55, 59.

Today's results are as follows: The Kis's- 54,

the Fábiáns- 70, the Tars- 47, the Szabós- 59 crates.

What did you say, Mr. Brainer, how many for me and my husband?

70.

Well, I beg your pardon! Are you sure you counted them right?

How dare you accuse me of such thing?

Who are you? You cannot even count to two and you dare to question me?

I'm the steward, if you forgot about that!

The stewardly whore mother of you!

How dare you talk to me like this here?

If I tell about this to the Master he'll kick you out of this place in not time!

I'll rip out your eyes!

- You dirty scum! - No!

- What are you doing? - Dirty scum!

You mustn't do this! You hear me? Come here!

Your... your mistake, Mr. Brainer is that you didn't count these!

Because those were picked by the French!

Who picked those?

You turd! You dirty turd!

- Ilonka! This isn't nice! - Bastard!

Bastard!

Mr. Brainer! I saw it, and I can testify

that these crates were brought here by András Fábián!

The two of you might be having an agreement! I don't have to believe you!

But I put a sign on all my crates!

There is a potato stem on the top of all my crates!

Here! Here is the potato stem!

It's mine! Here! Here! Here, it's mine! You can see!

I'm not lying! Nobody among us would lie to you

because of a wretched crate!

Mr steward, I have something to report.

Go ahead!

The Master lets you know, that the Hungarian boy has died half an hour ago.

What?

Don't cry, Ilonka! Calm down!

You were smart to put a sign on the crates!

You're a smart woman!

Anything happened, Mr. Brainer?

Forgive me. My mistake.

I'll fix the numbers accordingly, Mrs. Fábián. I'm sorry.

But this kid brought some very bad news. I don't even know how to put it.

The Master sent word that Ábris Kondor has died.

It must be burned.

He must be buried as soon as possible, to avoid an epidemic.

What's wrong with you, Brainer?

He just died an hour ago, and you're already hurrying us?

Go out, everybody! I'll wash the dead. Alone.

I do it alone back home as well.

And then he'll need a coffin.

Mr. Brainer! He'll need a coffin.

I heard. I just have no idea where to get one.

A coffin, nowadays?

Won't a crate do?

A crate?

You lousy son of a whore!

A crate?

No coffin! No bells! No priest!

Cause everything'll do for a Hungarian? Everything'll do for a poor man?

Sound the bells, by the love of God, I'm telling you!

Why does everybody want to play the Hungarians for fools?

Is it the Hungarians everybody are after?

Do they really think... that even a crate will do for us?

You're right. Everybody is after us.

I wonder why do they like us so much?

All-in-all, he needs a decent burial.

The Master.

His wife lies there. She died last year.

I'll go there and clean it a little.

Don't you have a family, Mr. Brainer?

I do. In America. They went there 2 years ago.

I'd already been working here back then.

It was very hard for them to make it.

- Why don't you go after them? - From here? Now?

Germany is at war with America.

With them as well? The French here next to us,

beyond Hungary the Russians, and America as well?

It's a lot even just to count them! Not to mention fighting them all!

Thank you.

I'd like to ask something from you, Mr. Brainer.

- What? - There is a picture in my room.

A picture of a saint. I'd like to take it with me if I may.

Why do you need that?

I'd like to take it home, if I may.

All right, Mrs. Fábián. We'll have a look at that picture.

The Master should be told about the burial.

Why?

Because we've already decided about it.

That Frenchmen will be the priest. That Lyon.

... or whatever he's called.

ÁBRIS KONDOR LIVED 23 YEARS

Lord, Thou hast been

since Thou didst shape creation,

Our dwelling place

in ev'ry generation.

Before the mountains were

brought forth and grounded,

And Thou the earth and world

hadst formed and founded,

From everlasting stands

Thy holy throne;

To everlasting...

Here Lies Ábris Kondor. Lived 43 years.

Died in a foreign land in 1943. May he rest in peace.

... Thou art God a lone.

Bálint Fábián. Lived 43 years.

It's still some time until we finish the harvest.

How much longer? Like a month?

One and a half at most. What's that? Nothing.

Now I'm certain that I'm pregnant.

That's why I fainted at the church.

There, in that big city.

Be happy for that!

You go home now, and raise them all.

At least you've got some money now.

That we do.

My brother-in-law wrote again.

He got the steel-framed bicycle.

He even settled the advance payment for the house!

We'll have some animals too.

Hopefully we'll live much easier from now on.

And perhaps we might even go to the carnival

once with András. I mean, if there will be any.

I have only danced once in my whole life. On my wedding day.

Only once?

You see, I haven't even danced once!

And as it is, I probably never will!

The Master wanted to talk to you about this long ago.

He suggests that you stay here.

Whoever wants to. You'll be given some land, and a house.

And everybody can be his own Master.

You'll feel welcome here. He says.

- They're waiting for us back home. - Who's waiting for you?

They are... Relatives, friends.

Anyway, I lived my whole life there. That's where I'm at home.

So, I, for my part, don't want to stay here.

WINTER AGAIN

Don't annoy that dog all the time, Bandi!

Don't you hear that?

This is the 424, Bandi! Hear that?

The 424?

This isn't the 424.

Why are you telling me this is the 424?

András! András!

Aunt Zsófi! Uncle Dániel!

You're here at last! Welcome back!

You're here at last!

Let me help! Let me carry something!

You're here! András! András! András! András!

Ah, you're back! You're here at last!

You're back!

They're back from America!

They're here!

They're back from America!

Aunt Zsuzska! They're here! You hear me?

How can you take such long strides, András?

People are amazed at your stride!

- It's almost like a miracle! - One must go fast! He must!

- Was he a German soldier? - Yes.

A child-soldier.

And... and how old was that German soldier?

Well, about 17 or

even younger.

They are all just children, just as poor Ábris was. God rest him.

Cheers!

They're drafting everybody here as well. Even the young ones.

The village is empty.

Only women, children and old ones. Nobody else is left.

God grant you a good evening!

So, here you are!

Well, you're back then!

- As you can see. - I see.

Well, lads. You must sign these.

- Who? - András Fábián, Dani Kis,

and Elek Tar. An immediate draft.

You must go immediately. But...

You can stay here for the night

Somebody take the child to his mother.

There is no need for me to go home for such a short time.

All right, all right! Enough of this!

Don't cry, Rozika! This will soon be over. It's already over, anyway!

You'll see, one or two months only, and Dani will be back home!

They can't get them out!

The train is here soon!

They're coming!

Well, This round sky if it turns Grey, it clears up!

This is not the one to sing now, Dani!

This is what my father sang

in the first war, in 1914...

To your homeland without fail

Be faithful, O Hungarian!

It is your cradle and will your grave be

Which nurses and will bury you.

In the great world outside of here

There is no place for you

May fortune's hand bless or beat you

Here you must live and die!

After all we're Hungarian soldiers already, I was told!

That's right! Hungarian soldiers!

Rozika!

Ilonka! Where are you?

- Don't be afraid, the war will be over soon! - God bless you!

Stop crying!

You've always been a good wife, Irma!

Come, will you! Come on! Train's about to leave.

God be with you, Rozika!

Take care of yourself!

- Where is my big coat? - Up in the wagon! - Move!

Here it is, indeed!

Dani! Dani! Where are you?

Take care of yourself! András!

- Irma! - Here they are! - Rozika! God be with you!

Starring

Based on a novel by

Screenplay by

Music by

Director of photography

Directed by