Original subtitles

The dialogue of the film is primarily in Ruthenian language

with the rest of the film in [Slovak language].

For generations, the land under the Carpathians has been torn

by borders shifted by those who held the power.

Despite being overlooked for centuries, the Ruthenian community

remains deeply rooted in its own homeland.

Starinska Valley, the easternmost corner of Czechoslovakia, 1980.

Shit.

Easy.

Honour to work, Comrade Chairman!

Honour…

Tired of the cows already?

Not at all. My wife and I don't have the time anymore.

Madam?

Leave her alone, you hear me?

And you? Will you sell your cows? For a decent price. While you can.

How much?

This one you can take. For free.

I'd be happy to go.

They don't want me.

Who would want you like this?

- Kata, copy that already! - Wait!

I won't. They won't wait for us either.

Write, write!

Seriously, finish already, please.

Kata, let's go.

- Wait, what are you doing? - Let's go, come on!

Fuck.

[Good morning, dear listeners.]

[First, a time update: the current time is 6:15.]

Fuck this job.

[Everything alright?]

[You're neither the first nor the last whose body gave out.]

[No shame in it.]

Can we keep this between us?

[Don't worry. My lips are sealed.]

Take care, Alex. And take it easy.

Have you thought about what you're gonna do next?

Plenty of work around the house.

I'd rather take care of my own home than build socialism here.

While you still have a home.

[Did you do this on your way to school or what?]

[No, I finished it last night.]

[Yesterday?]

[Kata, the last time I saw you studying was last week.]

- [Did you even do this yourself?] - Yes.

[Sit down. I'm giving you a D.]

Dear citizens, I hereby inform you

that on March 25th, Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

a general assembly will be held

at the local national committee in Ruske

because of the dam construction.

I repeat…

You think we're getting flooded?

I don't know any more than you.

[Sit down!]

[Give me your applications if you have them signed.]

[If you don't have it, you may go.]

[HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION, VOCATIONAL SCHOOL SNINA.]

[If anyone needs advice, I'll be in my office.]

[Remember to submit all signed applications by Monday.]

Go to your room and play there.

Play there.

What about your application, Mara?

Monday is your last chance. You have to hand in something.

Your dad still hasn't decided? Should I speak to him?

No need.

[Jarmila, are you coming?]

- [I don't wanna be late.] - Coming!

You finish it here and I'll check it later.

Kata, look after the boys, okay?

- [Come on.] - I'm going…

You're screwed.

Dear comrades, neighbours.

I called this assembly to fulfill my reporting duties,

though it gives me no pleasure.

I'll be brief.

The Regional Authority Office in Humenne has decreed that

due to the construction of the Starina reservoir

the village of Ruske

has been included in the drinking water protection area, effective immediately.

That means we'll have to cease all construction

and renovation works in our municipal zone.

So we're getting flooded, too?

[Calm down, it's not the end of the world.]

We're renovating the church.

I hope that we will be an exception, right?

I'm afraid the order also applies to the church.

Wait. Are we seriously going to let it rain on us in church?

Have you seen what's left from the church in Polana?

Fuck this! Nothing is sacred to these people.

This is how it starts.

They cut down all the trees and orchards in Starina.

In the other villages, they destroyed all they could.

They told them that would be enough.

But was it? You greedy bastards!

Father!

And what the hell does that 'protection area' of yours even mean?

Father, calm down, please.

Calm down, comrades.

I've made stew.

Careful, it's hot.

What was that at the assembly?

Can you imagine how embarrassed I was?

You asked Jarmila to pressure me into sending you

to that school of yours and now you´re acting dumb?

Why would I ask someone to talk to you?

- I didn't ask her to do anything! - Don't lie!

Who else did you talk to? The whole village?

You're going to Snina and that's that.

Kosice isn't that far.

It's not that far?

How many of our people go to the academy?

How many girls?

What do you want to do at that school?

You´re stupid as shit.

That's not a job for a girl.

I've made it clear, and you will listen.

When you go to the vocational school,

you'll get a job at the shoe factory for sure.

You'll have a better start in life.

Believe me, girl. One day, you'll thank me for talking sense into you.

I don't wanna work in the shoe factory. You want that, not me.

I know you don't want to.

Life's not about what you want, but how much you can take.

I don't wanna hear about this again.

What if I don't get admitted to grammar school either?

This one suits you.

Kill the light.

What about your parents?

They go to sleep with the chickens at half past six.

[Cheers.]

[Any idea what planes you'd like to fly?]

[I'm not gonna stop until I get my rocket license.]

[Oh, dear.]

[How does it work there in Kosice?]

[The first year is almost all maths and physics.]

[Then you start dabbling in everything from instrument panels…]

[…to engine parts.]

[Just going to school won't make a pilot out of you, though.]

[What are you sitting here for? Are you 150 years old?]

[Don't worry, your dad's gonna come around.]

[When he sees how much you want it, he'll let you apply.]

[What's up? You wanna go home yet?]

[No! Never!]

How come you're not at work?

What? Dad, let me go, what are you doing?

Dad, no, what are you doing?

Dad!

Sober up!

The parish fair is near, and the church is falling apart.

There's still plenty of time before the fair.

We'll do what we can. People will help.

- They have to. This is undignified. - Don't worry.

Father, you give him beer money?

Good going.

My bride, your husband drinks too. Doesn't he?

And how was the concert?

Did you drink away your pay?

Great, support him, Father.

Why learn something useful when he can play in pubs?

Dad thinks that Jesus Christ never went to a pub.

Never? Why? Did he run up a tab?

And these provocateurs are my family?!

At least clean the windows in church for that money.

Thank God.

Don't wait up.

Dad? Who's going to do the laundry after this?

Go, don't wait up. You've got things to do!

Go ahead.

Last chance to hand in your application forms. Anyone?

So, Ruske will be getting its first female pilot after all?

Why aren't you at work?

I quit.

I'll tend to the farm from now on.

What did you do again? We won't have any money.

What are you talking about? We can hold our own.

Soon you'll start bringing in some money, too.

I'll be gone all day tomorrow. I'm going to Kata's. We have to study.

Alright. If you can finish your day's work.

But you need to do the washing tomorrow.

I'll go and get a glass of water. You want one?

[Additional results from today's second league match.]

[Vitkovice Ironworks won against Dukla Banska Bystrica 1:0.]

[Banska Bystrica's soldiers are in second place with 22 points.]

[Tatran Presov beat Sparta 1-0.]

[With 20 points, Sparta is ranked third.]

[Vitkovice Ironworks also have 20 points.]

[What about this?]

[That's the side-stick. To control the plane.]

[And the pedals?]

[For the rudder. This is radio for communication.]

[Who is this?!]

[A friend.]

[What's she doing in the cockpit?]

[You don't care about the rules?]

[How long have you been coming here?]

[She is into flying, so we wanted to show her.]

[I'm sorry, it's my fault. I've never sat in anything like this.]

[Girl, if you want to fly, you have to earn it.]

[If you help a bit and there's time tonight, we can talk.]

[Got it?]

[You can start right away. We need that mowed.]

[I'll deal with you about that later, boys.]

[Roll call is at half past seven every Saturday. Don't be late.]

Come.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Never mind.

Just make sure you do the carrots and turnips tomorrow.

Here, take it.

Not this one. The bucket.

Come.

Look!

- Here it is. - Did you buy a washing machine?

Yes.

You'll need more time for studying now that you'll be in high school.

Then after you start making money, it'll get even busier.

Easy to wash, you understand? Great. Everything is ready.

We just need to try it out.

Come on, try it out.

Come on, put more inside, add more clothes.

Keep adding, keep adding, add one more shirt.

Close it, and it washes. You twist it.

Beautiful.

The priest has one like this too!

Whose arse is he crawling up this time?

When will you come by next? So I can plan out my work.

[Lord only knows.]

[No one's told me anything yet.]

[I don't know.]

[You'll find out over the village radio.]

See? Not even the broom vendor wants to come here anymore.

Take it easy on the trees, Alex.

Leave something for the birds to perch on.

Fear not. If the birches die, it won't be because of him.

He spends all day at home, but leaves the hard work to me.

And how's school, Mara? Are you learning anything else apart from jabs and gibes?

- [Jan, grease the gate.] - [Copy that.]

- [Peter, the patches.] - [Copy that!]

- [Ondrej, the tractor.] - [Copy that.]

- [Michal, the winch.] - [Copy that.]

[Dusan, Marek, task 9, airlift rehearsal.]

[Copy that.]

[Mara…]

Who knows what Lempel wants?

What could he want? What could he want?

Just to get people's blood pressure up.

His father was in charge

when they were starting the co-op.

They took everything we had.

My father had to pay such high quotas that he used to cry every evening.

And where did all of our cattle go?

I wouldn't be surprised if he had used it to breed the cows

he's so eagerly pretending to raise.

I´d chase him out of the village with a hot poker, if I could.

I said I´d chase him out with a hot poker…

Shit.

Get the fuck out of here. Do you want to wake her up?

You can't be serious.

To Mrs. Anna.

May she rest in peace.

She was a brave woman.

She lived through the First and Second World War

I'm just sorry she can't rest here forever.

What do you mean?

I didn't mean to… well, the funeral's gonna be in town.

So the Local Authority Office couldn't get her a burial plot at home?

Well, actually, no. The Regional Authority forbade us to bury people here.

Great!

- What is great about it? - It means the village is fucked.

You can't do it like that!

Calm down! Alright, calm down.

Unfortunately, there's no other way.

I've made the necessary arrangements.

I'll officiate the funeral so she's surrounded by her own people.

So, you're deserting us, too.

No one's deserting anyone, Dad!

Deal the cards.

In the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

- [Hello. Hello.] - [Hi.]

[Guys, what's up? You my footballers?]

Easy, easy.

[Just a drop for the princesses.]

[You're looking at the new deputy director of Vihorlat!]

Congratulations, Dad!

Really? Congratulations.

[We've also been assigned a new flat in Snina!]

[We can move within a couple of weeks.]

We can't do that, Vlado.

I'm teaching until June, and Kata has to finish her grade.

[Jarka… So you'll commute for a few weeks until the school ends.]

Commute from Snina? Are you crazy?

[If we don't go now, we'll have fewer options later.]

But…

[Half of the valley disappeared from the map.]

[I only want what's the best for this family.]

- Aren't you nervous? - Nervous from what?

From the entrance exams. Do you know everything?

Don't you need to study?

Don't be ridiculous.

Give it to me.

Shit! Wrong direction.

See you later.

- [I'm sorry I'm late.] - [Name?]

[Maria Hanakova.]

Glory to Jesus Christ.

Glory forever.

Look, if not us, at least the birds can build here.

Where is everyone?

They're at home, where else?

Won't they mind the rain falling on their heads?

At least the Lord will get to hear us better.

Alex, some people have already given up on the village.

They don't see the point in repairing something that's gonna get razed anyway.

Who knows how many are even coming to the parish fair?

I'm coming.

The priest and his friend. Hell of a procession…

We said we'd get the church ready for the fair, so that's what we're doing.

If you still give a shit.

I do. How could I listen to all these idiots complaints otherwise?

[If you didn't screw up anything else, you'll get in.]

[Probably yes. Wait.]

Well, then?

I don't know. Mom's not gonna be proud.

[Come on, if you want to make it.]

I wanted you to come with me.

There's… You're going to like it.

You know my dad won't let me. Come on.

When hardly anyone is flying, it's packed in here.

You need to be really careful when parking a plane.

What is there? The gas and the brake?

This doesn't have an engine, silly. You use those to control the rudder.

And this is the radio.

Don't touch it!

He's the boss here. If he saw you, he would kill you.

[May I help you?]

[Wait, wait. First, tell me how the exams went.]

[You remember that?]

[You're buzzing around us with that like a bee.]

[Are you also interested in flying?]

[I've only come to have a look around.]

[That's how it starts!]

[This one also came to look around and then I found her sitting in the cockpit!]

[So, where do I put these?]

[Nowhere.]

[They first need to be rinsed in kerosene.]

[Marek!]

[Marek seems like he wants to. He'd be happy to do it.]

[What about me?]

[Come.]

I'm sorry I'm late. I can see the cows haven't exploded in the meantime.

Do you know what time it is, Mara?

Where have you been? Did you even go to the entrance exam?

I did.

Where have you been wandering?

I haven't been wandering anywhere! I was in Snina.

They may believe you. Not me. Where did you go after that?

Fine, don't tell me.

From now on, it's off to school and then straight home.

Fine.

What are you doing? You´ll ruin it all. Don´t throw it like that.

Take this. Take it to the kitchen.

[We will go over the problems you got wrong.]

[Mara.]

[You got an A, as always.]

[You're going to have to try harder if you want to stay in grammar school.]

What's this?!

I saw the application only after it was signed.

- Signed? - Yes.

Signed, yes?

What is that supposed to mean?

Huh?

You're not going anywhere!

Alex…

Oh, my God…

Mara, wait.

This was supposed to be my own room.

But now? I´m stuck in here with those two brats.

The cutlery is still in the box.

I've always known you were meant for more.

Seriously?! That's all you're gonna say?

If I did something like that, you'd skin me alive.

This is different, Kata.

Why is it different?

[I thought you'd deserted us.]

[Let's see.]

[Well, congratulations.]

[My dad doesn't wanna let me go.]

[I devoted everything to getting in. I proved that I was worthy.]

[But still, he won't let me go. What should I do?]

[Your father didn't know you were applying?]

[Then what did you expect?]

[He probably didn't know that you come here, too?]

[What if we'd had an accident in the glider?]

Everything I've built for her, she wants to throw away.

Why did I spend my life toiling and moiling?

So that she'd leave me to rot in the house.

That I built for her? All our blood is in this ground.