Original subtitles

THESE EARTHLY DAYS GO ROLLING BY

So, you've decided to move into our home.

I have.

You're sure about your decision?

- Yes, I'm sure. - Really?

Plenty of good reasons too.

Let's talk a little bit about you.

This will be a big change for you.

Tell us something about yourself.

Well,

after my divorce

I lost my home.

That was okay.

But being alone doesn't suit me.

I live on the Sava River in an old storage shed.

My friends found it for me.

You can imagine how cold it is in wintertime.

It says in your papers that you were a sea captain.

Yes.

As a young man I sailed all over the world.

Then, I worked on riverboats.

30 years.

Do you mind if I smoke?

Lots of pals.

- Dead, mostly. - And now?

Now I have no one.

I've lived alone for two years.

Except for my parrot.

You have a parrot?

He is a great pal.

He's all I have.

That's nice.

We have other parrots here, so he'II have company too.

It's a good thing.

So you traveled a lot.

Plenty of time to travel now that you have retired.

But no ship.

I don't travel anymore.

But I'm always close to the river and to the sea.

You'd never imagine it,

but I paint portraits there.

That's good, that's great.

It's useful and it's nice.

I make some extra money.

Our pensions are small, you know.

- How much is yours? - 400.

You'll have enough to pay for the home

and some pocket money too.

I don't need much.

I don't drink. Maybe one drink with friends.

That's all fine.

Tell me, how you felt this morning, for example?

Did you think about it,

was it hard to make the decision?

Well, I was a bit apprehensive.

That's normal.

And I didn't know if you'd admit me.

Would you like a single room?

I wouldn't.

I'd really prefer to share with someone.

That's fine.

I don't want to be by myself.

Please put me with someone...

Now I would like to show you around,

what the home looks like.

Hello. How are you?

- Everything's ok? - Great.

Good.

This is the living room.

There is a small kitchen, so you can make tea or coffee.

You can listen to the radio here, watch TV, read the papers.

Whatever you like.

It is good for people on the same floor to be together,

so they can get to know each other.

Of course.

- Bye. - Bye.

This is the dining room. You'll have breakfast, lunch and dinner here.

We'll find you a place to sit

depending on what kind of company you prefer, male or female.

It's all the same to me. But I'd prefer female.

Fine. We'll see to that.

The food is suitable for older people.

It's cooked with oil, there is no pork.

We also provide for special diets...

- I like greasy food. - I can see that!

But if you want that, you can go to a restaurant

and order whatever you like.

This is our recreation room.

A little exercise won't hurt you.

I agree.

This is Miss Violeta, our coach.

Nice to meet you. Captain Vukovic.

Nice to meet you. I am Violeta.

I'm the coach here.

This is where we practice sports.

I hope you will join us.

If you'II have me.

We'd be delighted. A big strong man like you.

- Isn't it a bit late? - Not at all.

- But at my age... - It's never too late for sports.

And for fun and enjoyment, I am always full of fun.

But I don't approve of smoking or drinking.

That was my point! He's cheating!

- Your point? What is it now? - It was not his point.

There you go again.

My mistake.

Tell me, who should I believe this time?

Good day, Mr. Predic. How are you?

- Well... - Is something wrong?

I'm not feeling well today.

We told you that you'd be getting a roommate.

So, here he is.

You should talk and get to know each other.

We hope you'll get along.

- I'm Vukovic. - Predic.

You went for a walk a few days ago. Everything was fine.

I'm not feeling well today.

- Did you have breakfast? - No.

No breakfast?

- Did the doctor come to see you? - No.

- Should we call him? - No need.

- You don't feel well? - I'm not well today.

I need peace and quiet.

- So now you're not in the mood to talk. - No.

Fine. Some other time.

Well, what can we do?

This is your bed.

You have a small kitchen here to make tea or coffee.

Here is the bathroom.

So, here we are.

Well, my friend, as long as you're here,

we should get organized.

There's your closet.

And this is your chair.

You get this half of the table.

One more thing.

I get up at 6 in the morning.

I use the bathroom for 20 minutes.

After you use the bathroom,

please wash the sink.

- Of course. - Good.

All right.

If you have to get up at night, get a flashlight,

because the light bothers me.

All right, I'll buy one.

And another thing. If you snore,

I'II have to wake you up.

So wake me up.

And this bird...

I hope you won't be keeping it in the room?

This bird stays, sir.

- Here's the coffee. - Good.

I shouldn't drink coffee.

Why not?

It's bad for my heart.

Ah, a woman's heart!

I protect my woman's heart from coffee.

And save it for romance...

All the nice things.

Art, sports.

Did I mention love?

Love is important for women as long as they're alive.

That's right.

And how is your heart?

We're like the may-fly.

You know the Tisa River.

Of course. The may-flies.

You're from Becej?

Yes, the Old Becej. That's were I lived.

The may-fly meets his fate when the sun sets

And the Tisa River becomes a yellow carpet

Yes. You can't swim. You can't row.

That's all we men are good for.

Oh, don't say that. Not all men are useless.

Some of them.

It would be better if you were more romantic.

More romantic.

It makes everything else more stimulating.

I read magazines.

Nowadays there's a lot of talk about sex.

It seems that it is...

a necessary stimulant.

We read about it. We look at pictures.

- You're right. - I don't like pornography that much.

But there is something to it. It comes with the times.

A woman's heel used to be plenty

to excite a man.

And now?

Now it's all nude bikinis.

We like that.

There, you see.

I don't know what else to say...

Here comes my roommate.

Some roommate you've got.

I'd prefer a female roommate.

He's a bit difficult.

But maybe he has reason to be.

See how late he is for lunch. Let's hope he doesn't hear us.

I had a little problem with him.

He wanted me to get rid of my friend Mickey,

the parrot.

Your pet! I've heard him squawking.

He took some convincing.

I have some seeds...

- Seeds? - Bird food from Budapest.

- I'll bring you some. - You'II bring me some?

- Yes, I will. - I'd be very grateful.

I don't know your room number.

I'II give it to you.

Do you also live in this home? I haven't seen you before.

I came in a few days ago.

You didn't know?

He looks younger.

We need someone like you around here.

I must repay such a compliment.

My dear Violeta...

Here you are.

Thank you very much.

It's a lovely flower. Smells lovely.

Thank you.

Stay like that, please.

You come from Novi Sad? You have the accent.

I'm from Vojvodina.

My family is from Serbobran.

You have family?

I have a daughter. She lives far away.

Abroad?

Yes. She lives in America.

She married an Englishman.

It's not easy for me. I have two grandsons.

When they were little boys, I lived with them.

We were so close.

But the last time I visited them

it didn't go well.

When I came back here I didn't mention it.

I pretended to be happy.

I told everyone that I had a wonderful time there.

But I was very sad in my heart.

My older grandson said something

that hurt me very much

and I felt that we were drifting apart.

So I went to my room

and wrote this poem.

Do you want to hear it?

Let's hear it.

To my grandson Alexander:

Love is always pure

And my love for you, the purest of all

Heavenly light floated around me

Only your embrace I could endure

I was often far from you

But my love for you only grew

I thought of you and your love for me

This in my dream I could never imagine

That your thoughts could hurt me so

And a part of my heart

Is now icy cold

But only a part or else

lt'd stop beating

The other part of it

Still lives for my darling boy

Even when my soul is gone

From this world

I write poems when I feel depressed. All my poems are sad.

But when I'm here, with my family...

You know, people in this home are my family.

They will be yours too.

Put your fingers to the strings

Draw music from them

For it will tell much more

Than human silence can

For it will tell much more

Than human silence can

These earthly days go rolling by

Like children we take

The only path

Like children we take

The only path

When we close our eyes

We love our life at last

As if only a single moment

Has passed

As if only a single moment

Has passed

A beautiful song.

I'm not used to night concerts,

but I liked it.

It's really beautiful.

Where did you hear it?

It was...

a long time ago.

I was taking passengers from Belgrade to Pancevo and back

on my little boat.

I had just arrived at the pier...

in Pancevo,

when I heard an accordion playing.

A girl was singing.

I could hear her voice.

I came out on deck so I could hear her better.

There was a crowd of passengers around them listening.

I came closer.

The girl was singing that song so nicely.

I spent that night in Pancevo,

having fun, cruising bars...

Next morning I saw them again on the boat.

They came with foreign passengers,

tired...

completely wet from the rain.

They asked me to let them in the cabin.

Who?

What do you mean, who?

Just the girl?

No. The two of them. The girl and the accordionist.

She fell asleep right away, and I asked the accordionist

to play me that song a few more times.

I memorized

the lyrics of the song.

So far away

Down by the sea

There is my love

There is my happiness

Let's have...

A happy life

Youth is short and tempestuous

And so is life without them

So far away

Where the yellow lemon blooms

There is my love

There is my happiness

As a special treat for Thursday leisure time,

I am going to play you a record of the song Djelem, djelem,

sung by the famous actress

in the film I Even Met Happy Gypsies.

Allow me to introduce our new resident.

The New Year is coming.

He has a wonderful idea.

Let's not celebrate by listening to records as we usually do.

Every one of us

has some talent for playing or singing.

So we should have a happy, live celebration.

Actually...

Comrade Katya initiated this.

When I heard that we would have the same program

as we do on Thursdays,

I spoke to her and we agreed

that this time we should organize a celebration

just as Comrade Katya said.

So I'd like to ask you all,

please come forward,

anyone who can sing, recite etc.

We will have an audition

and choose the ones who will perform in the program.

You'll see that we can have

just as nice a New Year's Eve as anyone else.

It will be good... One more thing.

Invite all your relatives,

and grandchildren

to come and celebrate the New Year with us.

This is going to be wonderful.

For all residents and their guests:

There will be an organized New Year's celebration.

Those who want to participate in the program

should inform Captain Vukovic.

Captain!

I have good news.

I've brought you the bird food.

Good afternoon. Sorry, is the captain here?

No. He's at the doctor.

What is it?

His heart. What did you want?

I promised to bring him this for the bird.

He's not here.

Tell him I brought this.

Tell him I said hello.

Captain, it's not so good.

It's not serious,

but you should lose some weight.

You should be on a diet.

I'II prescribe you some medicine

until we can get a cardiologist to look at you

and at you heart.

It's not all that bad.

Don't worry, you'll be fine.

How are you getting on with your roommate?

Okay. But I hope it'll get better.

I told you, he's quiet and keeps to himself.

But give him a chance.

His wife died two years ago

and he came to our home.

I think he had some problems with his apartment.

No one visits him.

So I suppose there is some deeper family problem.

You might try to get a bit closer to him,

considering that you share the room and all...

Mr. Predic!

Be quiet, please.

Comrade, you signed up to recite a poem.

- Would you like to sing? - Well, I could.

Come on, sing.

I have a poem: The Golden Age.

Let's hear it.

When your path nears the grave

Is it your golden age?

The path seems endless

And we wander it in search

And we could ask ourselves

What have we done on this Earth

And where will life lead us

But we see that the end has come

We all have snow-white crowns

And our backs are bent

Now! wonder with a frown

If! could stay on this road

Just a little longer

To let my soul wander

But my life, like an old photo

Has faded away

And there's nothing more to see

But my thoughts do not agree

Something in my heart moves

And everything!'ve ever known

Is awake once more

I feel like I see another shore

So! set sail once again

And! travel back when...

That'II be plenty, thanks.

You're obviously nowhere near your grave

So it really is a golden age

Bravo!

Please, let me hear him.

One moment, please.

What have you prepared?

Two songs.

You have two songs? Let's hear it.

Go ahead.

There are days

When I don't know what to do

Because that song

Hurts me so

I love you

I love you so much

I love you

But! do not know why

By the first light of dawn

When the sun is rising

I am going home

A bit tipsy...

Good. We'll consider both songs.

You may sit down now.

Who's next?

A violin with a glass. A Czechoslovakian march.

- A Czechoslovakian march? - With a glass.

You'll play that?

On the violin? Or on the glass?

No, on the violin.

Let's hear it.

Interesting.

That was great.

And now, silence, please.

I would like to tell a joke, very appropriate for all of us here.

Maybe it's not a new one, but it's the last one I heard.

I need a chair.

We'll need a joke too.

A short joke, suitable for the occasion.

There were two retired neighbors. Females.

Mila asks Nada: "How are you? What have you been doing?"

"This loneliness is killing me."

"Why don't you marry?"

"Marry? whom?

"The good ones are already taken."

"I have someone for you."

- "Who?" - "He's retired."

- "How big is his pension?" - "More than 400 a month."

"That's good."

"Make us some coffee, I'II tell you all about him."

"All right, I'II make us some coffee right away."

"Oh, my knees...

"Oh, my legs...

"So, is this pensioner young?"

I would like to address my partner.

Sorry. What did you want?

I would like to sing something, if she will be my partner.

- I didn't finish my joke... - Finish your joke.

One moment, please. Let's hear how it ends.

The end is important.

Let's hear it.

She was... going to make coffee...

"Make us some coffee

"and I'II tell you all about this pensioner."

"I will, right away.

"Oh, my knees, my legs...

"Oh, my back...

"So, tell me, is this pensioner really young?"

I would like to sing a song

to my partner,

in remembrance of my youth.

- Is it romantic? - Yes.

And you've chosen me?

That's nice. Thank you.

If you're faithful to me, my darling

I don't know

If you really love me

Tell me you do

You whisper to me

How faithful you are

Tell me, my darling

Do you love me?

I would tell you, my darling

If! were much, much younger

But it seems to me

That there is still

Much love in my heart

This is great! Bravo!

The number one lover!

But now...

Quiet, please.

Let's hear... I am sick.

I am sick

And you are sick

We are sick

From love

'Cause! love

No one else

But you

My darling...

Coffee is ready.

Come, Mr. Predic. Here's your coffee.

Thank you.

Tomorrow we'II go to buy the squealers...

for New Year's Eve.

Come with us.

Believe me, I can't. I'm not feeling well.

We could use your help. You were in the trade after all.

I used to be.

Hello.

- We're here for the squealers. - What's the name?

- I have the receipt here. - Let me see.

Let's see, where did I put it?

Here you are.

- Happy New Year. - Same to you.

- Here's your coat and thank you. - Happy New Year.

I wish you all the best.

Here you are.

You take one too. Happy New Year.

Off we go.

Is my hair all right?

Yes, but wipe some lipstick off.

- Put your wig on. - Why?

You look better with it.

You look really beautiful with the wig.

I look beautiful without it too.

When you want to have a nice hairdo, your hair won't listen.

And when you don't need one, it looks just fine.

You have beautiful hair.

Thank you for the compliment.

You don't have any gray. That's curious.

Oh, I have a lot of gray.

But it doesn't show.

It does, it does.

Do you know why I don't have gray?

Because you're a young woman.

- Me, a young woman? - Yes.

Thank you so much, madam.

You're still young.

You like gray hair.

But it won't get gray.

- Who likes gray hair? - Me.

And that's why I don't have gray hair.

You like it because you don't have it.

I've always liked it.

I went to my dentist's when I was fifty.

I said, "Look, doctor, my teeth are..."

- You were losing them. - No, they were going bad.

And he said, "Oh, madam, you are still young."

And I said,

"If you were my age, you wouldn't say that."

And I was just fifty then.

I felt older then, than I feel today.

And how old am I today, that's in a book somewhere...

Let me introduce myself. I am Toza, the craftsman.

"Tile, bricks and ceramics".

Our ladies are all dressed up!

Hairdos and everything.

With lots of powder and paint.

- All made up. - All made up!

You're so cute, I feel five years younger.

- Just five years? - That'll do!

Who would you choose, for at least one dance?

One dance, yes.

I know all the dances.

Tango...

Waltz...

And you, don't fall in love with everybody.

One or two, that's fine.

How many will fall in love with us?

You're young! Who could resist you?

You're an odd one.

Everybody's having a great time and you sit in the room, alone.

I don't understand you.

I'm going to visit my son

and then I'm going to bed.

Mickey,

I'II come at midnight to wish you a happy New Year.

If you change your mind, join us.

Good evening. Why are you sitting here?

- We're waiting for our relatives. - Ah, I see.

Let me introduce my son Alec and my husband.

Cute boy. Are you celebrating with us?

Go inside, your relatives will find you.

- We'II wait here a bit more. - All right.

The highlight of our program! Roasted squealers!

Our dear Kosana

will now sing her favorite aria.

- Which one? - From La Traviata.

From La Traviata.

Oh, youth

Why did you pass so quickly

And quietly?

Like the sun in one day

Sorrows are falling on my heart

Like rain drops on yellow leaves

Many in our neighborhood are now retired

Look at them like old train cars

Pushed off the tracks

And waiting to fall apart some day

And days pass by

From dusk till dawn

From dawn till dusk

Just like it was last year

Only today is someone's first day

And someone's last

Thank you.

Happy New Year!

Mickey, my dear, come give me a kiss.

Mr. Predic?

I wish you a happy New Year.

Thank you. You too.

Why did you bring this?

Food and drink to wash it down.

Thank you, I don't drink.

You look happier than usual.

You think I'm drunk?

Three or four bottles of beer!

In my time, I could drink

a meter and a half of bottles.

Those days are over.

It will do you good to celebrate a little.

Dress up, I'll wait for you.

Let's go downstairs.

Predic's here, my roommate!

My dear friends, I'm not in health,

but I've come for the love of my friend

to wish you all a Happy New Year.

- Happy New Year. - Thank you.

- Happy New Year. - Thank you. You too.

Happy New Year. My best wishes.

But what song will we sing now?

We have all sung, so you must too.

What song?

If I must also bring some cheer to the company,

I'II sing a song.

Let me see...

"They are coming to take you from me..."

The soldiers are coming...

Through the fields...

To take my son from me...

They're singing

their songs...

But! will not let them

The soldiers are coming...

To take my son from me...

But! will not let them

They're coming...

To take my son Marco from me...

But! will not let them

All the glasses are empty...

Fill them up!

- You're not feeling well? - I'll be fine.

- You just go back in there. - Don't go any further.

Too much to drink is all.

I'II go fetch a doctor. Wait here.

- You're here for Comrade Vukovic? - Yes.

Sit down, please.

Are you his cousin?

No, I'm his friend.

How is he doing?

He passed away this morning

at 6:30.

I called the retirement home.

I spoke to Comrade Katya.

I'm very sorry.

My condolences.

Put your fingers to the strings

Draw music from them

For it will tell much more

Than human silence can

These earthly days

go rolling by...

Like children we take

The only path

When we close our eyes

We love our life at last

As if only a single moment

Has passed...

Subtitles by Verica Jakovljevic & Stephen Walsh

Subtitling Titra Film Paris