Original subtitles

TOR Film Studio Three T Production Sintra

and

Telewizja Polska S.A., Canal+, Agencja Produkcji Filmowej, Istituto Luce

present

a movie from KRZYSZTOF ZANUSSI, filmed in Polish-Russian-Italian cooperation

PERSONA NON GRATA

with special appearance of REMO GIRONE

Executive producer:

Executive producer in Russia - SERGEI GUREVICH in Uruguay - FERNANDO EPSTEIN

Consultant: JAROSLAW GUGALA

Stage designer and costumes: JAGNA JANICKA

Interior decorator: Wieslawa Choikowska

Make-up: Maja Gawinska-Lyczkowska

Editing: Wanda Zeman

Director collaboration: Zbigniew Gruz Magdalena Szwarcbart

Production coordination: Pawel Barenski Andrzej Besztak

Production coordination: Michal Szczerbic Laura Gutman

Ekaterina Yakovleva

Music: Wojciech Kilar

Photos: Edward Klosinski

Producers: Iwona Ziulkowska-Okapiec Leonid Vereschagin

Coproducer: Alexei Balashov

Producers: Krzysztof Zanussi Nikita Mikhalkov

Rosama Seregni

Scenario and direction: Krzysztof Zanussi

No...

I mean it: No way.

Who is it?

Come in.

- Are the funeral parlor men here? - Mm-hm.

Oh... Tell them to get down to work.

I agree, but it's too early.

It's not a good time.

I mean it.

Just a second.

- Nine o'clock, Moscow. - Nine o'clock there.

- What about the funeral? - At 11 AM.

Departure at 4 PM, back in Moscow at 8 PM, buy the ticket.

A business ticket?

No.

One moment.

- Is it a two-way service? - It will be for you.

We humbly entrust sister Helena...

...God...

...and ask you to free her soul...

...from all the evil. Let her rest in eternal peace.

Excuse me.

- Thank you. - All right...

So? Can you still speak Polish?

Not much, but I can still remember a few words.

- I've already lost my faith that you'd come one day. - As usual. You don't trust anybody.

My airplane was three hours late, I will have to be leaving soon.

- Soon? - In 40 minutes.

What a shame, I hoped we would be able to talk a little bit.

And for that to happen, we would need a whole night and a few bottles of vodka.

We will, in Uruguay. I'll bring a vodka, I'm going to officially be in Montevideo soon.

Listen,

I know you might not be eager to talk about it but... how did it happen?

I heard it happened completely out of a sudden?

You know. Helena...

...returned to the country because she had a very high blood pressure. Nothing unusual.

But then. A stroke, out of the blue.

She'd been lying at home for two days, unconscious, without anybody suspecting anything.

She didn't even make it to the hospital.

And what were I doing? Sitting, of course, in Uruguay.

You know...

One could say: She's had a painless death.

You know, we have a certain prayer in Poland:

"From sudden and unexpected death, o Lord, save us!"

Mm-hmm.

I... at first I didn't understand why people would say something like that.

But now...

...now I understand. I feel, I could have prepared myself for this.

We've had so many things left to discuss.

And now, nothing.

For example, I wanted to ask her about you.

Whether...

...there was something...

...between you or not.

And now, who's going to tell me that? You are?

What is it that you want to know?

- The truth. - What truth?

Like a confession?

- What confession? - At the temple or church.

You with your KGB, or we with our UB - it didn't matter, all of us had to confess.

So many years have passed and you're still protesting. You always find something wrong.

You're old, remember about that.

That's true, I was born with that protest gene.

- What do you protest against? - Everything.

Against the world, the life. Against you.

- And myself. - Because of that goddamn protest...

you've become a tiny dissident, instead of a famous musicologist.

Once we used to believe that we could change the world!

- And so you did. - Seems we should have changed it more.

You released a lot of steam but the train didn't move at all. Do you regret that?

Did you have somebody write that speech for you? Say, you must have taken it from somewhere.

- Do you have a ghost writer? - Four of them.

I'm sorry.

I have to go, see you in Montevideo.

Here you go. You have to call me.

Farewell. I wish I didn't have to go.

I'll confess to you in Montevideo, I promise.

Helena used to like him.

She believed he was sincerely interested in Solidarnosc.

He was sincerely delighted with her and frankly used to inform on her.

Do you think he had something to do with...

...her getting busted for the second time?

How's your health?

Fine. Why are you... asking?

I don't know if you still want to work for the institution...

...or would rather want to return to the country.

- I don't know it myself. I'll try to continue my work. - Great, great.

But maybe there is something I could help you out with?

You said that with such an resemblance to the English equivalent:

"May I help you?"

You could help me...

...with the boy. I want you to send him up to me as a consul.

Yes, Yes, I remember. He came back from Russia with wife.

I'll check whether there are any problems with that.

That's the main reason I wanted to tal...

Shit.

Prime Minister's office.

I understand.

Thank you.

Yes...

By accident I noticed that it's a denunciation from my institution.

Yes but it was intended for me.

Restricted delivery, get a break!

- It was sent for the sake of rules. - Rules?

What rules?!

Huh? For the sake of rules I am not supposed to know that my worker - a former informer...

...informs on me that I drink? That I'm crazy?!

That he dares to inform me at the moment everything just screws up?!

The moment my wife suddenly dies in Warsaw he decides to inform on me. And you're telling me: "for the sake of rules"?!

What rules are we trying to obey?

Think about it. Where are we?

What's happening to us?

Is it what we were studying the medicine for?

- No, it's just the way Poland is. - Do not deride!

When you get sacked you'll mark my words.

Think about it, can't you see that everything's deteriorating?!

It's just sand but we were supposed to follow the ideals.

- What is deteriorating? - Everything is deteriorating!

The world is deteriorating. It's already deteriorated.

You can't live in it.

Thank you.

How did you know I was coming today?

We have excellent intelligence in Italy, the world just doesn't recognize it.

You are fantastic.

It's not true. I did not know you were coming. I just came to pick up a colleague.

But you see, there are no accidents. I was thinking a lot about you.

I took a liberty to order the church service for your Helena on Sunday. I thought you'd be back then.

Thank you for the service and your optimism.

I wasn't so sure I'd be back.

If you're in hurry I would be happy to give you a lift or did you call for your car?

Thank you. I will take a cab, I want to take my people by surprise.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Welcome! What a surprise.

Please, once again, receive my words of gratitude.

Excuse me. What are you doing in my office?

- I am deputizing for you. - You should be doing that at your own desk.

I'm sorry, but knowing you for a year...

...I haven't noticed you to be so envious about external signs of power.

Are you claiming that you know me well?

- I think so. - As a result you started to think I'm crazy, didn't you?

- I would never think of anything similar. - You did not. You wrote it.

Mr. Ambassador, it's unbelievable! Who told you such rubbish?

- Are you going to lie for the whole eternity? - I can swear I had never said anything like that.

What do you swear to? Do you have any sanctities left you can swear to?

Excuse me, I refuse to tolerate that. I am not going to let anyone talk to me with such a tone.

Mr. Counselor!

Leszczynski!

No, that's so un-heard-of!

I've been working in diplomacy for 30 years but it's the first time such thing happens to me.

That's right. You used to cooperate with the informers but now you are one.

Keeping that in mind, please do not get sentimental with your biography.

Sit down.

Tell me what has been happening throughout the last days.

How's the contract for the helicopters sale?

Initialed. We've had a delegation from Mount.

That's right... but that was before my departure.

- What about the building? - The owner's advocate told us that if we don't accept him...

...raising the rent four times, we would have to leave the building. - What? Is he crazy? Four times?!

When the inflation is only 300%?

I hope you told him we could move out?

Yes but we will have to bring the building to the state before the renovation.

- Meaning we'd have to demolish the secretariat and the penthouse. - That's but an absurd!

But he's the one who's going to waste the money!

Besides he gave us a written consent for the build-up.

It wasn't a written consent. I couldn't find it.

How come you couldn't find it? When was the consent given?

- Right before you were elected. - You have already been working here then.

Meaning it is you who is going to be responsible for finding that consent for me.

If it does not get found then you will have to pay for the demolition.

No! I'm sorry, Mr. Ambassador but we can't collaborate like that any longer.

We can't. But we have to. And it's nothing but a sad necessity.

- You know what? - Yes?

If it was up to me I would not work with you at all.

Thank you for your honesty.

Is it only me or did somebody rummage through my wardrobe?

As far as I recall, Helen left this dress in the bathroom?

- Maybe my wife... - I asked you not to touch anything.

Right? "Leave everything...

...as Mrs. Helena left it"

But she always told us to put everything back into the wardrobe.

Whatever. She's gone now.

Yes, she is.

You're free to go.

Polish Embassy, may I help you?

Sir! Sir!

Please, sir!

It's the Prime Minister! Prime Minister!

Phone.

What do you want?

What do you want?

Regarding?

Buzz off, dog!

- What? - Signature.

Did you call me?

What? Yes, yes. Please call Mr. Counselor.

Do you remember about me?

- It's that man sitting there again. What is he doing here? - He says he lost his passport.

- So he lost it, and? - Really? I think he sold it.

I can sense it. Somewhat.

But if Mr. Ambassador gives me an order...

...to provide him with a blanket passport then I shall do it right away.

No, I won't. Right now it is you who is responsible for consular matters.

Fortunately, new consul is coming soon.

Really? How can you tell that they're going to send us a consul soon?

What? Prime Minister was supposed to tell you...

...that he was coming in no-time.

- Didn't he call you? - Who? Prime Minister?

I can't remember but even if he did...

...then how do you know what he was going to tell me?

As far as I know, none affairs in the Ministry are kept secret?

Still, I'd like to see the list of all calls from the Embassy...

I have this feeling that you often call the headquarters.

This time it was headquarters that called.

- And? - Regarding the Prime Minister's visit.

I've already told you that it's not going to take place.

- He called it off. - Yes, I remember that.

But it turns out that it's quite the contrary.

He's coming for a one-day visit.

Didn't he call you to tell you that?

Yes. What about the building?

Did you find the consent for the expansion?

I'm still looking for it.

Do something about that applicant. I used to stand long enough in the queues to understand...

...how he must be feeling right now.

Must be all those departments and corridors...

But! You probably don't know what I am talking about.

I do. I do, I had to wait in the queues as well.

Everybody had to.

You know what?

Regarding him waiting there...

...I think it's going to be good for him to sit there for some time.

You know? If he sits for a long time...

...then he's going to concede. The moment he concedes...

...it's going to clear out whether he's such an innocent person or he's just...

...pretending to be one, like a cunning gull who...

...just simulates he loses everything.

You know...

...people don't come here without any business.

And that business is always shady.

Oh!

That was, comrade...

...a correct class expression.

"Business is always shady."

Oh God, God.

- Give me a few pennies, please. - Get out or I'm calling the police.

- Who was that? - A beggar.

- What did you do? - I told him to leave.

Why? You should have given him something.

- So that he squanders it on drink? - Is there something wrong in it?

Maybe he needs to?

Mrs. Helena always gave something to the poor.

- But he's going to buy alcohol for it. - So what?

Go catch him.

Tell him to wait.

Take all the bottles that still have something left in them.

So that they don't tempt me.

- You're going to give them to him. - All of them?

Except this one.

Take them, take them. And don't break them on your way.

- Shall I leave this one? - Yes, it's Ferne. I never drink it.

Viva Polonia!

Viva Polonia! Viva Polonia!

Mr. Ambassador.

My request may seem to be quite strange for you...

...but I would like you to keep Helena's ashes.

Is it your or Helena's request?

She loved this country, she told me that after her confession.

She felt something bad would happen soon.

Do you still have to keep the confession secret after her death?

Confession is kept secret forever.

I'm not talking about burying her in Uruguay.

I'd only like to store the urn in the church...

...until I return to the country.

When do you intend to return?

I don't know yet.

We don't have a proper place to store the urn in the church.

I don't see anything inappropriate in storing her in your own house.

I don't know.

People are not accustomed to corpse cremation but Helena always wanted it.

Her father died in Auschwitz.

He was burnt as well.

Why did she confess?

Just because, there's no purpose in asking the question: Why? Now.

She left, being reconciled to God.

She came to me a few days before departure.

I am really not sure if we should have accepted your hospitality.

We could have taken a room for the couriers. And now we're only going to disturb you.

Well, till one day.

Sooner or later, we'll find some sort of an accommodation for you.

I bet you are going to have your children move in here.

But for this very moment...

...all you are expected to do is to help me cope with the overwhelming loneliness.

During all the official occasions...

...Oksana is going to be the hostess.

- Doesn't counselor have a wife? - He does.

But I like neither of them.

Yeah.

But I do like you.

I don't know how I can express my gratitude to you.

What for?

For hosting you in an empty guest room?

- It's but a trifle. - You know it's not about it.

- Is it? So what is it about then? - About drawing us here.

We wouldn't have come without your help.

- Why is that so? - You know it very well.

I'm not a part of the system. I don't know all the people I should.

Why don't you? Didn't you try to meet them? You could have at least tried.

But what can I do?

What can I do? I'm from the provinces.

Besides I didn't study...

...where I should have.

- What did you mean by saying: "where I should have"? - Why do you ask so many questions?

You know it very well. I studied in Moscow at the time one should not have.

And I found my wife there and one should not have done that as well.

Well. There've been times one should've.

Many of our diplomats returned from there with wives, who have later on...

...worked for the good of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Fortunately, it's no concern of ours.

Anyway... It's great that...

- It's great that people like you still exist. - Why great?

Because... because, thanks to you, justice can sometimes win.

You don't understand anything. It's not the justice that wins. It's only my victory that I still have some influences left.

But it shouldn't be this way.

- You have influences thanks to what you have done in the past. - For the deserts in a lost case.

Lost case? Why do you call it lost?

Because there's not much that has changed.

Because you get a promotion not because you're good in what you do...

...but because I helped you.

But still... you helped me because I'm good.

That's right.

I believe in that.

- I would like to believe in that as well. - There's still something, though.

In my private opinion there should be some sort of a mechanism.

But there's none.

- Why is it missing? - Because we haven't built it.

But it's everywhere that way.

I heard that even in France, or in Italy...

...everything is about the connections.

It's all that black-white Eastern thinking of yours...

...when, truth be told, everything is actually a matter of your position in the society.

Evil is everywhere.

Sometimes there's just more of it, sometimes less.

Helena always used to pray for...

Do you feel your wife's existence, having your wife's ashes close to you, here in your house?

Are you afraid of Helena haunting the building?

I didn't think of that.

If Helena suddenly emerged here...

...we wouldn't be scared of her, would we, Hipolit?

Hipolit!

We will have to put a wooden partition-wall here. Like the one that used to stay here...

...do you remember it? - Yes.

Tell those gentlemen to do it as fast as they can.

Oh, Mr. Ambassador!

I talked with Warsaw today.

Of course, it was them who called.

So, Mr. Ambassador, regarding the consul family accommodation.

So, things are not too well.

Because Prime Minister is going to stay in a hotel, of course...

...but two proprietary affairs inspectors are coming with him.

- Finally. - And they'd rather stay in the residence.

Besides, these are guest rooms we have in our Embassy.

Why don't they stay in a hotel?

We could accommodate consul and his wife in the hotel.

Yes but why? Because those inspectors would want us to do so?

I guess so but, personally, I wouldn't do that.

Here you go.

Besides, I guess I know why you wouldn't do that. Provided they stayed here...

...I would have enough time to set them against you.

But if they stay in the hotel then you will...

...be able to talk them into whatever you want to.

- But I don't want to talk them into anything. - Oh, really?

Seriously, you do want to. You are going to have to pay for the demolition after all, aren't you?

I called the former Ambassador yesterday and he told me that there was no written consent...

...only spoken one for the building expansion.

Is former Ambassador willing to write the confirmation?

That's great. You're going to divide the costs in two.

You didn't think that we were going to call tax-payers to account, did you?

It is your light-heartedness Republic of Poland is going to suffer costs for...

...so there's no other way but paying for it. - It is not up to Mr. Ambassador's will to decide about it.

Of course, it is the Court that is going to decide about the case. It's high-time we brought actions against such cases.

- I have a lot of work to do. - What do you think about our new consul?

Is he going to be of any good? His wife seems to be slowly installing here.

Well, I only hope it's an official nomination and that...

...Mrs. Oksana has already been granted Polish citizenship and that she gave up the Russian one?

I suppose.

You know what? It surprises me that after so many years of service for People's Republic of Poland...

...I can hear that anti Russian note in your voice.

Well, but since you're that interested, you can check it...

...by yourself by calling to the headquarters. - But it is you who is responsible for the institution safety.

Talking about that new consul, he's got work.

They found a corpse of that guy you asked me to provide with a blanket passport.

The passport was returned and the case is investigated.

See, if we had not given him that passport, he might have been still alive...

...at least for a few days. - Yeah.

A coffin will have to be sealed.

We've been sent money to cover the costs for sending back the corpse.

Turns out he was not as poor as he pretended to be...

...though he looked so bad that no one would ever give him a broken penny.

I hope you'll go there with our new consul, as it's quite a difficult assignment for the beginning.

There are no easy assignments here.

I've got some work to do. Unless Mr. Ambassador gives me an order.

A written one?

No way.

- I'll go there by myself. - Thank you very much.

Unfortunately everything, pockets, even the shoes.

- Do you have the gloves? - Yes.

You can't do it with bare hands.

- Can you see the seals? - Yes, everything is where it should be.

Fine. You can open up the cover.

You know what?

Forgive me but I...

I'll leave you here on your own.

You understand.

Excuse me for a moment.

One moment.

- Yes? - Have you been doing something to my wardrobe recently?

Me? Not at all!

I never enter this room on my own.

Maybe it was counselor at the time he used to work here?

Yes, it's possible. It could have been counselor.

I don't know if I should be telling you that, being a local here...

...but this time Mr. Counselor must have done something.

Those documents regarding the expansion used to be here.

I was the one who even translated them.

After doing so I hid them in the briefcase. I can remember that.

- Mr. Counselor would cut his own throat? - No.

Counselor and the house-owner are...

...amigos. - Mhm.

So provided the house-owner receives his compensation...

...he might want to get equal with our counselor.

Such frauds often happen here.

Oh my God. Human imagination knows no boundaries.

- I think I'm never going to make money. Thank you very much. - No problem.

It wasn't a problem for you, but I seem to be too dumb to even sense it.

So...

You're already here, so take a look if any of these dresses fits on you.

- No, I can't. - What do you mean? Go, choose one.

I'd like to see you in her clothes.

But I can't.

Go on, don't hesitate.

Helena was taller than you but we could have the clothes altered if necessary.

We'll send the rest of the clothes to the Red Cross.

Oh.

This one has just been returned from the laundry.

There's a service for Helen today...

...so you could put on that dress.

...to the church, though I don't even know if you're planning to go.

Thank you for everything, for your kind memory and friendship.

Since Luciana is being charmed by those gentlemen, may I talk to you for a moment?

I have a problem with the internal security at the Embassy.

I could call headquarters and they'd send me someone.

If they will find nothing I will come out stupid.

- Mr. Ambassador? - One moment.

- He's your new driver? - No, he's a consul.

- So what do you think? - I don't know.

Do you want me to talk to our security?

Not really, you are so competitive.

Do you think we compete with you to that helicopter contract?

Better look out for the Russian, they're stealing the deal.

Mr. Waldek.

We've got to do something about that tie of yours.

- But it's a new tie. - So give it to the driver.

The suit needs fixing too.

- You are needed at the Embassy, there's a message for you. - Why didn't they call me on my mobile?

You were outside the network coverage.

When did it come?

An hour ago. I called Rodrigo as fast as I could...

...after the counselor had given the paper to me.

It was not even a restricted delivery.

Put me through to the headquarters at this instance.

Directly to the Prime Minister. I mean, Vice-!

Si, si.

The matter in the dispute is whether national identity and social cohesion...

...can be defended only by increasing the efforts.

No way.

- Only by increasing the efforts towards... - Wait a second.

Put him through.

...transplanting the earlier standards... - Excuse me.

Mr. Ambassador? I'm listening.

Listen, what's going on?

Don't mess around, why do you use such a tone towards me in your writings?

And just what tone are you using right now when talking to me?

What do you mean?

I'll put it short: I don't like when people treat me like a dog.

And I'm not going to let anyone treat me that way.

- Who treated you this way? - You did.

Just like a dog. You used exactly that word.

- I can't recall anything. - It's difficult to talk to someone with amnesia.

Listen, I think that one of us is probably crazy.

Could be. And I'm not talking about myself.

That was very polite. Tell me what you meant in that dispatch you sent me.

I meant that your prot�g� consul...

...let through three kilos of cocaine in the coffin.

In a moment or two the worldwide press is going to find out about it.

You'd better check if it's only his stupidity and naivety.

- I can guarantee you... - Find out and stop boring me.

Listen.

The only reason I'm talking to you is that Russian Vice Minister...

...is said to be already in Montevideo.

He can ruin our business as we have better offer for the helicopters.

You are his friend. Find out...

...if there is a way to block him.

Are you sure he's already there? I think he would have called me in such a case.

- I have to go. - Hang on, just a moment.

I can't. We'll meet in a few days anyway.

Call Mr. Counselor, please.

What is it?

What's that?

Do we have a burglary?

It's ventilation. Tell Rodrigo to put in a new pane. Is consul at the Embassy?

- He left for some sort of an inheritance case. - Does he know about the message we were sent?

No, I wanted to wait with that for Mr. Ambassador. I was right about that guy, wasn't I?

- He was phony. - You would be right if you could smell his stench in the coffin.

Do you think he had something to do with that smuggling?

Police started the investigation... which means so.

- And he seemed to be such a nice guy. - You should never trust such people.

You seem to be so sure but tell me: Who do you seem to be?

I guess you look just like a nice person.

Mr. Ambassador, it was not a nice joke.

Don't expect me to be telling you nice jokes. Ask Oksana to come here.

Waldemar already knows.

How come? He knew about everything and he still decided to go? What a fool!

He was afraid to look into your eyes.

Oh. And he decided to use you as a shield.

What a knight.

Now you can see in what condition Polish civil courage is.

Fine. Call your Embassy right away.

My Embassy? This one here is mine.

- And? - They said their Minister was in private and...

...had gone to some sort of a center.

Everything's wrong again.

I've really had enough of this.

Buy me an airline ticket...

...to that airport - what was its name... It was...

...you know, from the other side... You can remember. - Yes, I do.

Return... the day after tomorrow, evening.

The day after tomorrow? You remember about the delegation coming, right?

What do you think? That I'm unconscious? What are you telling me all of this for?

I want an airplane that would let me come here before their arrival.

- What about my husband? - Tell him I'm going to shoot him on sight.

I put it here.

I remember that after I had came back from the Embassy...

...I prepared everything that would be necessary.

I couldn't have gone crazy.

It was somewhere over here.

Was anyone here when I was taking a nap? Maybe your wife?

- No, no. - Right, "no, no".

That's impossible. It was here and now it's gone.

The devil must have put it under his tail.

- Mrs. Oksana, has she been here? - Yes but I think that not in this room.

She wanted to take some clothes for the consul.

What a dimwit.

He must be really afraid of meeting me.

Maybe she has been in here?

She might have had a business in me not leaving the country.

- That's the last plane. - We're going to make it.

I have to buy a new ticket, though.

We have a reservation for you. For one night.

Is this gentleman staying here? His man sounds foreign so here's his card.

They're spending the day on the yacht but they will be back for the night.

- What country are you from? - You guess.

Slovakian, not Czech, I think. Ukrainian, Bulgarian or Polish.

You're right, Polish.

Be it ten years ago, I would have probably been still rotting somewhere at the province...

...in Poland. Now it's different.

Thanks to whom can you be leaving the country now? Who changed that?

Solidarnosc, the Pope.

Could be Reagan with that Russian guy... Gorbaczov.

All right, sit down. Here you go.

Tell me...

Can you do whatever you want to?

I can see that you carry the luggage here...

But what's going to be next? Are you planning to return to the country?

We shall see... When I have enough money...

...I intend to come back to Poland and launch some sort of a night club.

We don't have many of those at the provinces.

And you think that our fellow-citizens miss night clubs?

Do you know how to run one?

Why not? I know two Polish girls here, they work in a night club and...

...they somewhat got me into the business.

So I often take a closer peek at the gears...

...I learn a lot of things, earn some money.

What do you do?

It's nothing worth mentioning but it's fine. They pay me.

- Are the Polish girls satisfied? - Not really.

The pimps took all of their passports and they can't move anywhere.

They take all their belongings, actually.

I could help them with those passports.

Seriously? ...they don't have the money though and... maybe we could take it on credit?

- I work at the Embassy. - Really?

Not only are you a Pole but also from the Embassy.

I'm going to tell the girls that you could help them.