Original subtitles

In Yugoslavia, not too long ago

it was believed that families without male heirs were cursed.

In order to break the curse,

a family would pick one of the girls to be a 'Virgina'.

This story is about one of those girls,

born at the end of the century, not far from the Adriatic sea.

(praying for good crop and a son)

(singing for good crop)

Stop that, God doesen't like rascals.

Let's go back to Dragoj.

For you, St. George.

If you'd feel like stopping by.

Please let my first born son

be of a better destiny than I.

Is it a bed wetter again?

Is it a girl, I ask you?!

Yes, Timotije.

Don't do it, Timotije. Think of your eternal soul.

- It'll be a he. - Virgina.

Virgina, until you get it right.

We'll just have to thank God for what we got.

(praying for the child)

Timotije got a son!

The unfortunate one got a son!

Stevan, if you only knew how long you were awaited.

An apple from me, and good health from God.

My sister has a daughter your age,

you'll be marriyng here when you grow up.

Now let's see that weapon of yours.

I'm glad you came, I haven't seen you in a while.

It's not every day you get a son, Timotije.

Good thing it was a boy this time,

we thought that God had abandoned you. - So did I.

Timotije got a son!

Stay Luka, you might get one too.

Forget America, let's drink.

Hurry up or we'll be late for the ship.

Farewell.

We thank you, St. George

for these gifts and for aknowledging of our son Virgina.

This way no one will see the difference.

More.

Wait.

Let's see them.

Looks good.

Water.

You won't be allowed outside of these walls, Virgina.

Get lost, woman.

Now you do it.

Get started.

No.

Like this.

Get started.

Didn't I tell you to never leave these walls... Ever!

He must meet other people, he's all grown now.

Men socialize with each other to gain respect. - Not men like him.

- What have I taught you? - A man never cries.

- Guilty? - Yes, I'm guilty.

Stevan!

What are you doing? - Nothing.

Paun is coming.

Hurry, woman.

My name is...

My name is...

Good day. - Just came from the village.

I brought you some salt and gun powder. - Thank you.

We haven't seen you in years.

And you've grown into a man since the last time I saw you.

Beautiful as a girl. What was your name again?

I forgot, help me out...

My name is Stevan Djordjic, son of Timotije.

Well said.

This is my sister's son, shake hands.

He lives with me. - My name is Mijat.

Shake hands, like a man.

He is sick, must lie in bed. Go to bed.

A whole man and he's sick?

I'm afraid you're spoiling him.

Hi, girls. You want me to take you for a ride.

You should've said you were coming, I could have made something.

I should have said? Why are you so shy?

We like girls.

Don't be afraid.

What are you afraid of? It won't bite your nose off.

You'll get to ride on a horse too.

You're better off as a man.

Look at me.

Better to be a rooster for a day than a hen for a lifetime.

You must learn how to look people in the eye.

They won't know anything

if you don't tell them yourself.

That you can't do.

You are right, St. George.

I shall let him be among others.

But first he must promise something.

Not everything is the way we want it to be.

It's God's will.

Even witches... Fairies, goblins...

Wind, rain, snow, sun it's all in their craft.

It's left upon us men

to make sure the household is protected from bad things.

To give or to take.

Hear the wind? - Yes.

St. George is telling us something. - What?

He's telling me to take good care of you.

Our patron saint is St. George.

It's all up to him. - Does he know I'm not a man?

He doesen't know, or he acts like he doesen't know.

It's better that way.

Is that a girl too? - No, a snake.

St. George, our patron saint,

I swear to keep my secret

on my Christian name and the names of my relatives.

If my secret ever sees the day of light

let my punishment be... - Death.

Let it be up to you.

Now you can see other people. But first you come with me.

Marry your son when you want to, and your daughter when the opportunity comes.

Yes, but beware of the ways of the devil.

I challange you. - You go.

Don't cry afterwards. I'm the stongest guy here.

Congratulations, Timotije! He's got the strenght of an ox.

I congratulate.

Did St. George see this? - He must have, son.

Wanna go piss so we can measure our things?

Maybe an other time.

Go pee, if you're a man.

Enough! Go home!

He's probably got the biggest one. Even bigger than yours.

Stop it...

You wanna see St. George before destined?

You'll be the death of me.

St George and all the saints of heaven...

Let it be a man child

What is it?

You want a drag?

Take a drag. Men are permitted to.

You must get used to it. Tobacco makes the man.

How you like being a man?

It's not that bad, isn't it? - It's okay.

Who's that knocking?

Good evening. - If God will.

Good evening. - If God will.

What's the matter?

Stevan!

Let him be for himself...

He's still a woman, Timotije.

Now for real.

Don't worry, he'll learn about being a man.

He's stubborn, like you.

You think I like making feathers out of chickens?

Having us starved to death? - No.

We have a son, Timotije.

It's not yours, you're a man.

You go ahead, but be back before nightfall.

Don't be afraid.

I'm gonna be your wife and I wanna get to know you.

When you were born I was promised to you

and I like you, you're beautiful.

You're not like the others.

I fell in love with you the moment I saw you.

Seriousley.

Stevan, don't be afraid.

I don't see anything.

Sit still!

Are they fighting? - They're laughing.

Never seen this before? - No. - You don't know anything, my friend.

I don't.

They are not like us, unlike anyone else.

It's broken and opens up in the middle.

That I know, that's why they are whores. - Right.

And when you are married you put your thing in there

and they give birth to a child.

Only they can give birth, we can't.

My friend has a sheep until he gets married.

I don't, yet I still get hard.

It's hard already. How about yours?

Mine too.

Where are you going? Come back.

Com here, Stevan.

Why are you running from me?

Does your father know you're here?

Yes.

Then I'll tell him I saw you. - Don't do that.

So you're lying up to my face and lying to your father too?

Go.

Dostana!

This one will die too. We've only got one left.

It's sick. - Yes, but why?

Have you been outside this home? - No, I swear.

He's not, I've been watching him.

You only give birth to bad luck.

I'm guilty, you punish me. - May I find you dead one day!

We'll all die of hunger.

Could I give birth to a son if I would to be allowed?

You could, but forget about that.

So why don't you give birth to a son?

St. George wouldn't be upset and we'd all be better off.

I will.

What are you doing?

That's all I can do. There is nothing left.

We'll manage somehow

this earth will do good one day.

He isn't happy,

everyone says I will give birth to an girl again.

I'm sure he'll bless you if he comes to the celebration.

He'll come if he's a man of his word.

Is this the last? - Yes. Rest is for the celebration.

I want some too, I'm hungry.

Come here! Now!

Eat, you need your strenght. - I won't.

I know you're telling me something. Something is wrong...

Only I don't know what.

You must have done St. George wrong

since people are not coming to your celebration.

You must have told some serious lies. - I have not.

I'm just down on my luck.

If you haven't done anything wrong someone else in your family might have.

All I know is that people show up for my patron St. Stevan.

He's coming.

Happy St. Georges day.

Beuatiful girl. Look at her.

With God willing we'll gather next year again.

God be with you.

God be with us.

Come.

Don't be afraid, come here.

Closer, don't be afraid.

Look what I have.

It's beautiful to be a woman, Stevan.

I'm glad for what God has given me.

I'm pregnant, Timotije.

Get serious. You can't be.

It must be a boy. I'm feeling numb on the left side

even though I'm stretching my right leg. It must be a son.

Stop lying. - I'm not.

May you live for hundred years!

May you have another son!

Mijat!

Mijat, I must talk with you.

Why now?

I wanna try, don't be such a wuss.

You're beautiful. - You too. Don't stop.

Again.

Do you feel anything? - You're cheating!

Stevan!

Your sisters told me you took their doll.

Why would I take thier doll? - He's lying.

A man doesn't lie, woman! - Timotije, don't!

What would a man need a doll for?

I think it's a son this time, I'm certain!

May I die if I'm lying. - Then die!

A son? I already have a son!

Behind those mountains is the ocean. A lot of salt water.

And beyond that ocean everything is different, my uncle says.

There are no stones, but lots of good crop. That's why everyone is leaving.

They have beautiful women too.

They can do everything men can, and even more so.

But they are expensive, and that's why they are so hard to get hold of.

That I know, they're all sinners. When are you leaving?

Soon, my uncle says. Before we die of starvation.

He's signed us up for a ship,

and we're never coming back. - I'm gonna miss you.

The thing with the hands, we can do it here.

You won't hit me again? - No, but we must keep our eyes shut.

Ok, it's your turn.

How do you want it? - All over.

You're cheating. - I'm not. Let's do it again.

What you doing? - We're playing.

You wanna play with us?

I just want to play with him.

Not now, some other time. I'll be waiting here.

She loves you. Go after her.

She has breasts, I'm sure they're very nice too.

She'll let you touch her, and you won't even have to shut your eyes.

So what if she slaps you, just slap her back.

We can practice on a sheep first if you're afraid.

I've decided to give it a try.

You're crazy, Stevan? - I might be.

Where is Stevan? - Sleeping.

It's nothing to be afraid of.

A bed wetter.

What is it? - Get away.

She's not breeding!

Dostana!

Wake up.

You killed my mother!

Mother...

Cry! A man is allowed to cry for his mother. - I won't!

You'll be a man forever!

Dostana is dead!

Where are you going, Timotije?

I know you're a girl.

I don't mind that you're a girl. I won't tell anyone.

You'll do as I say and you will be fine.

May angels watch over you.

They will take better care of you than we ever could.

Farewell.

You can't hold me by my word anymore

I swore by my mother and you have taken her.

I can't be a man anymore, I've had it.

What are you doing here, Stevan?

My mother died giving birth

and my father will come after me as soon as my mother is buried.

You lying again? Tell me the truth.

Why do you want to come with us?

I want to live my life on my own terms.

And the way God made me.

First time you're telling me the truth.

I'll talk to your father.

I told you, he's the man.

We must hurry or we'll be late for the ship.

I'll take her, you catch up with us later.

You're okay, Mijat. You're always kind to me.

Shouldn't you bury your wife first

and then look for him?

He'll come back by himself, he's a man, isn't he?

You look there and I'll go this way.

Stevan!

Father.

Son!

Where you going with that rifle? - My son is missing.

What you gonna do with that rifle?

Mind your own business!

Don't be crazy, Timotije. He ran away because of you.

That's why he wants to get away.

Son!

Come here.

Come here, you hear?

Stop or I'll kill you! - Do it, but I won't keep this up!

I said so to St. George!

Have you gone mad, Timotije? - Let go of the rifle!

Father!

I understand now, St. George.

I'll be your son, the one you always wanted. Just don't die.

I already have a son. The best son one could hope for.

Subtitles by Cinephile