Original subtitles

It's just me, Andr�.

Goat farmer Selman Tosku, comes out of the rain.

You're not coming here just to say that?

I come to ask you to write a letter to the government for me.

I can't read nor write.

I live very poor.

The cabin I'm living in is threatening to fall apart over my head.

In the winter, my son Festim, sleeps at friends of his.

And you know what?

One rainy day when I lay sleeping, it began to drop on my nose.

I thought that someone was licking me, or maybe pissing on me.

Talk to the village council about it.

You're the one who's the worse off here.

Who do you think will listen to me?

I would really like to live in one of the cooperative houses.

There's people, neighbors, children...

A place where I can talk.

Come in. The door to the school is open.

Sit down at the stove.

I'm sorry...

You can write.

Don't forget to tell them about the leakage.

Of course not. But let me write now.

Will you please let me write? Trust me. I won't forget about the leakage.

I trust you.

Wait.

Maybe you'd better not mention the leakage.

It could seem petty.

Wipe that about the leakage.

I won't write about the leakage, okay?

Selman, I'm finished.

Before you put it in the envelope, could you read it to me?

Yes.

"Application."

"I'm born in this village and have always lived in the same cabin."

"As there isn't much to say about my life, -"

"- I will go straight to the main cause."

"I've always worked honestly."

"Still I cannot afford to repair my cabin, which could fall apart -"

"- any time now."

What is it?

No, nothing. It hurts. -

- Continue, read it all. - But what is it?

It hurts -

- hearing others talk about my life.

- Hurts who? - Myself!

Take your letter and send it to the village tomorrow.

No, read the end. I'll do.

"Hopeful..."

What is it, Selman?

Behave like a grownup man!

Do you think they'll give me a new house after this letter?

Maybe.

Andr�, please.

Read it one more time. I want to hear what you've written.

- Sure, but no more tears! - I just want to hear it one more time.

"I'm born in this village and have always lived in the same cabin."

"As there isn't much to say about my life, I will go straight to the main cause.

"I've always worked honestly."

"Still I cannot afford to repair my cabin, which could fall apart -"

"- any time now."

"Hopeful and with trust to the party, -"

"- I hope my problem can be solved."

Good night.

Don't ask me about it. I won't read the letter one more time.

It's late. Go home and go to bed.

That's not the reason why I'm here.

Do you know why I came back?

I just thought, how could I leave without thanking you?

You've done so much for me.

What can I give you in return?

Tomatoes Chestnut? Garlic?

I didn't do it for tomatoes.

It was nothing. I just wrote down what you told me.

But I want to give you something for it.

- OK, then give me some garlic. - I'll bring it myself.

And I'm sorry for my behaviour.

Good night.

- Who is it? - Unlock, it's me!

- You again! What is it now? - I come with garlic.

In this hour!

- Maybe it could have waited until tomorrow. - Guess what more I have with me.

- Raki, maybe? - Correct.

Thanks, I really needed that.

Taste it!

Very good.

No, no...

I won't read the letter again.

Well, I guess I shouldn't force you.

But let's not argue.

- I just came to give you the raki. - I understand.

God night.

Working together strengthens the camaraderie.

Dear students.

Dear teachers.

On account of the Party -

- I would like to thank you for the work you've done with the slogans.

That's all in this round.

Yesterday I saw that the e's were missing. Some stones are missing.

- Stones moving themselves. - I get mad!

- The doctors call it stress. - I've worked with slogans for 17 years!

- Any news? - Not much.

The weather's nice.

- Are you teaching this afternoon? - No.

- Should we walk over to the slogans? - I was there three days ago.

Sure, if you say so.

OK.

Do you smoke?

Now and then.

I like it because it makes me dizzy.

The members of the politburo will stop by here, -

- and here, -

- in front of the slogan: "The Party is the Father of Happiness."

Come in.

- Don't you close your door after you? - That's not the reason why I'm here.

- It's the destroyed slogan of mine. - Close the door anyway.

- Did someone see you? - No.

Zabit, -

- how was the output of the cooperative this year?

Terrible! Two tons per hectare.

That's not terrible. It was like that everywhere.

2,2 tons per hectare.

What could you expect with a cooperative leader -

- who only thinks about ladies?

Have you seen Zana's son?

He's like blown out of the nose of the leader!

What's going on?

Selman Tosku!

I arrest you in the name of the people.

Comrades.

We have gathered here today to reveal an enemy of the people: Selman Tosku.

He comes from one of the most reactionary familys in the district.

You know him well.

It's he, Selman, -

- who's thought out an advanced way to fight us.

He destroys our slogans, -

- the ones that the children have laid down with hard work and love.

These slogans have blinded Selman.

Listen real good, Selman Tosku.

Even in the mouth of a serpent -

- we would have found you!

Your honour, -

- you judge me without reason.

I'm innocent.

I haven't done anything.

I never touched the slogans.

Your honour, may I say something?

Yes.

I know Selman well.

He may be a poor goat farmer, but he's a good man.

He can't read or write and he can not count his goats.

He doesn't even know what the slogans mean.

They lack meaning to him.

How can you judge an analphabet -

- for an act that doesn't mean anything to him?

Selman Tosku -

- is so much an analphabet -

- that he sabotaged the slogan of M'ira's:

"The Most Dangerous Enemy Is the One That Is Forgotten."

Selman Tosku, thank you for what you've teached us. You're so right.

We will never forget you!

As for you, Andr�, -

- all I can say is that you're still very young.

There are some things you don't not understand.

But you will learn eventually to not mind others businesses!

Take him away.

There.

There will be a poster reading: "Albania - The Granite Rock".

And over there, at the riverside: "Enver Party".

Stop that goddamned motor!

If I stop it, it won't start again.

It's a perfect place -

- for the car to stop.

Don't forget that people should stand at both sides of the road.

I hope they'll drive into the village! We must be prepared for anything.

Let's summarize.

"Long Live the Albanian People."

"Long Live the Dictature of the Proletariat, Steady as the Primary Rock."

And he will of course shake my hand -

- and put his arm around me. What else could he do!

Let's got o the small school, to Lesh in the outskirts of our district.

At the end of the world!

"VIETNAM WILL WIN"

I wasn't expecting to see you here, comrade Sabaf.

Comrade, the pleasure is all mine.

Greetings.

- Come in. - We come in work related business, Lesh.

I'm sorry, but the education is over for today.

Is something wrong?

Yes, Lesh. Your slogan.

- What? "Vietnam Will Win"? - Yes, Lesh.

The Vietnam war ended 10 years ago.

I can't believe it!

Who won?

The problem is that your slogan is obsolete.

Has something happened, Lesh?

Vietnam. It was The North Vietnam who won.

Vietnam has won!

Goodness gracious, Vietnam won!

They won! Thank God.

I prayed every night that the Vietnamese would win. They're dodgy little fellows.

Your slogan must be destroyed immidiately.

Lesh, we're old friends, aren't we?

We've played chess together in the village.

I never thought I would have to go to these lenghts.

I'll have to report it to the faculty as an ideological matter.

It's really unforgivable, Lesh, I would even say serious!

But I got it a long time ago.

Long before you came here, comrade!

Try to understand! You're not following the news of the world.

We could keep it like a historical memory.

Yes, exactly!

Enough already! Remove this slogan immidiately!

Lesh, listen.

I'll have to bring this up on the faculty meeting.

- You won't be mad at me? - No. It's good.

Good day.

Well, Lesh. Tell us what happened.

I'm sorry, but what do you mean?

What? Tell us why your slogan is still there.

Let's finish this matter.

You're holding the paper upside down.

Thanks.

Comerades.

The Party.

The People.

I only followed the orders from the Party.

And after that no one has asked me to change slogan.

I and my students have done our best to keep it in good shape.

Good.

The only thing we can blame Lesh for, -

- is his deficient interest for the success of the revolution around the world.

What would the member of the politburo have thinked if he saw the slogan?

I agree.

But now I mean that Lesh needs a new slogan.

The only problem is we can't ask for advice from the Party.

Comrade Sabaf, I suggest we give him a short slogan.

Besides he lives so far away that a slogan is not compulsory.

What do you mean, Pashk?

You know as much as I do -

- that the capitalistic countries always have played with Vietnam.

Lesh, destroy the slogan! Let's finish this matter!

Comrades, I've worked faithfully all my life with that slogan.

No one doubts that you've handled in good faith.

But the slogan is 10 years too old!

- So just give me a more modern one! - What could we give you on the end of the world?

Whatever you want, as long as the word Vietnam is included

We've got children waiting. We can't stay here all night.

If Lesh want's a slogan with Vietnam in it, -

- we could give him a verse from the old song:

"Shoot, Vietnam, Shoot. Direct Your Cannons Towars All Peace Negotiations."

What will your slogan be?

I don't know.

It's not decided yet.

High heels or not, -

- no one notices me in this forgotten village anyway.

You there!

Didn't the teacher ask you to take your best clothes on?

What's this hole? Your toes are sticking out!

I don't have any other.

You there! Don't just sit there. Come over to the road.

You to. Everyone over to the road.

Comrade, move someone over to the other side.

Come on! Look a little more enthusiastic.

Enver Party! Enver Party!

ALBANIA THE GRANITE ROCK

He's coming!

Enver Party! Enver Party!

HOLD STAND, VIETNAM

Andr�, -

- comrade Sabaf and I thought about painting a slogan on the wall.

You've been given the honour of painting it.

The slogan is as follows: "Long Live the Dictature of the Proletariat."

And another thing, Andr�.

The headmaster and I are very concerned.

Recently your and Diana's behaviour has -

- awoken concern.

You've not been a good role model in the eyes of the village.

You know very well that the Party -

- considers a teachers moral to be holy.

Therefore we have suggested to the districts education comittee -

- that Diana's transfered to another village.

Far away, of course.

That way, you will care more about your school undertakings.

Especially in the work with the slogans. Agreed?

Yes.

A child on a balcony

is throwing flowers down on the helmets

forward march

the bayonets are shining.

Hang on, teacher!

Hurry!

Get down from there!

Andr�!

The party and the people are having this meeting only because of you.

Did you paint the slogan with your hands or with your feet?

Very fun.

The party and the people would very much want to know -

- who asked you to paint the slogan that way?

I'm sorry about the faults, comrades.

I haven't got orders from anyone, comrade Sabaf.

I did my best to make the slogan look good.

But it was didn't turn out very well -

- because the wall was warped.

Please!

If you only talk about walls and paths, we'll never finish!

So what do you mean is the reason?

I can tell you that. Comrades.

This isn't just about -

- Andr� painting the slogan without the necessary passion.

The problem runs deeper than that. Andr�.

From the moment he arrived, he gave cigarettes to Selman Tosku.

He became his friend and defended him in the court.

And that's not all!

When the member of the politburo drove by, he didn't clap his hands!

Yes, comrade Sabaf. You're misinformed.

Well yes, you applaused. But it wasn't enthusiastic enough!

But the worst thing is the secret flirting with the french teacher.

It's him!

Him!

Comrades, -

- that's exactly how an enemy of the people behaves!

Yes, an enemy of the people!

Take it easy, comrade Sabaf.

I do not mean to lessen his slip-ups, -

- but let us look at the problem in peace and quiet.

Andr�, you may leave us until the Party has decided in the matter.

I was worried for you.

I've been waiting long.

This time the Party chose to be be indulgent.

You escape with six months of hard labour -

- in the cooperative where comrade Lume is the leader.

- Lola. - Teacher!

Are you tired?

Now we write all the slogans with bricks. It's much easier!

But it's still brick after brick.

Let's go now.

Besim and Estref, you load the tractor.

You begin to reap. Andr�, you follow the others.

These hands of yours are not made for work, but for pleasure.

He's done all the tasks he was asked to do with great diligence.

He helped us to read the Party Song.

What more can I say? Help me, comrades. Am I right, or?

Yes, you're right. He's worked diligently.

And he didn't stand back physically.

Comrades.

I thank you of all my heart.

The slogan I give you is:

"May the Campaign of Sowing and Harvesting be Crowned with Luck."

It fits the work you did in the cooperative.

One more thing, Andr�.

Recently -

- we've been using bricks instead of rocks.

It gives many practical and aesthetic benefits.

It's no longer necessary to bleach the rocks, -

- and rain and domestic animals can no longer destroy the slogans.

But a new problem has arised. The students can steal the bricks.

The Party comittee has expressed concerns over this. And of course they're right.

The people must be able to express their feelings, -

- spontaneously.

Naturally and with their own hands.

- Do you understand? - Yes. Thanks.

Go now. Your class is waiting for you at the school yard.

"May the Campaign of Sowing and Harvesting be Crowned with Luck."

But teacher, that's 42 letters.

In brick or rocks, teacher?

In rock.

Just like before.

English translation: x264