Original subtitles

- we carry loads of coal and ore - for Master Jochum

- till ouroxen are skin and bone - for Master Jochum

- they fell on their knees and wept - for Master Jochum

- iron ore makes us sleek and fat - for Master Jochum

- a pittance will come tomorrow - from Master Jochum

- soon we shall have wages - from Master Jochum

An-Magritt was only sixteen, -

- when she sang her song of rebellion in the mountains.

It was a legacy from her mother, who suffered-

- forgiving birth to An-Magritt, after rape.

She was to stand here, during mass, three times -

- as decreed by the Church.

But she did so only once, for she threw herself into the river.

This was her rebellion, and she paid for it with her life.

Thus it fell to Grandpa to take care of An-Magritt.

He was no welcome guest, -

- but she survived on the milk he managed to beg for her.

Conceived in violence, -

- it was to charity that she owed her life.

Don't leave me! Gorr-Ola!

Wait for me, Merra-Per!

Wretches!

May the devil take you!

Go on.

Come on, ox.

Salt... salt.

Come on, ox.

- Martin, stay here! - Use your wits!

Martin!

Martin! You'll never get over the mountain now!

- You'll freeze to death! - We'll tum back then.

Fools, let them freeze.

- How much? - One and a half measures.

- But I have two! - How do you know?

I can tell by the load and by the stones.

There is the same as last time when I had two. Leave me! Let go!

- Give me back my grouse. - Grouse?

Tallyman, how much did you mark me up?

- Read, Merra-Per! - "Read!"You devil!

Believe me, I have nothing to give you. Go home.

You labourfor a fool, Karen.

They're all heathens.

God's blessing is food.

Didn't you understand what I said? I have nothing to give you.

I beg for nothing. I only want to pay my tithe.

You're not so rich that you owe me tithes.

I can afford to give it away.

- Where do you come from? - Jens, she works at the foundry.

And yourname?

Ane-Margrethe Olesdatter.

And yourmother?

My mother's name was Ane.

Jens...

She's not there.

She died by her own hand.

And your father?

Then your name won't be there. You needn't pay any tithes.

But if I pay tithes, my name can be entered in the book.

- Aplace in heaven for a grouse? - No, just in the parish register.

- You have a sharp tongue. - I meant no harm.

An-Magritt!

I need help at the water wheel this minute. It's getting colder.

You'll freeze to death lying there. The wheel has to be hacked free.

I would hack off yourhead, if I could bestir myself.

Call out your own men. We're sledge drivers.

We could drive out his men and warm ourselves at the furnaces.

Father, there will be hard work tonight.

- Stupid peasants! - Hold your peace, fumaceman!

All men to the water wheel or you'll freeze in this accursed night.

Don't bring in that horse!

There was a girl among you.

What the devil have you done with ourlittle maid?

What have you done with ourlittle maid?

She was in the stable.

Little maid? Little maid? Little maid!

Martin has no blood. Even ifhe cut himself, he wouldn't bleed.

You're busy. Now then, mind the blades.

Quick, a warming-pan.

Lads, she's far gone, but all hope is not yet lost.

You must cheer. Shout as loud as you can.

Come on. One, two, three...

Don't stand there whispering. Shout, you devil!

Come on now.

Damnation, do none of you understand? Shout! Roar!

Little maid? Little maid?

If she falls asleep again, no devil will everwake her.

Once again, come on.

Once more!

Little maid... Little maid...

Dear God, I thank you for showing mercy.

Amen.

No, it's no use. To the bellows.

Little maid, are you awake now?

You're to stay with us.

We'll look after you, do you hear?

All hands to the bellows! We must work them by hand!

Come on, pull! We want no more corpses here.

Several men to each rope.

Lads, more charcoal for the furnaces. Quickly now.

Hurry up!

Come on, pull now!

Pull, lads.

Now it's coming. Don't give up now.

His name is Jesus Christ

the leaderof God's soldiers

salvation is in Him alone

the earth shall He retain

Can you tell me how many persons comprise the divinity?

Can no one tell me how many persons the divinity is comprised of?

Three. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

And the Lord said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

For the Lord satisfies your soul with good things, -

- so that your youth is renewed, like the eagle's.

And the Lord executes righteousness for all that are oppressed.

- What has happened? - It's not true, Grandpa.

And who is telling lies?

- FatherJens, poor man. - Beware of all disbelief.

- He can keep his parish register. - Parish register?

All that creep and crawl are in it, except horses and cows.

Why are they thrown into a bog when they die?

They do not have immortal souls, my girl.

Did my mother not have an immortal soul, then?

- Wasn't she thrown... - No. Anybody who says so...

I believe you, Grandpa. I believe in you and God's word, nothing else.

I have nobody else to believe in anyway, Grandpa.

Master Tvedt, clerk, myself: Present. Master Filip: Present.

Master Hedstrom, bailiff: Absent. Master Jurgen, furnaceman: Present.

Master Johannes, engineer: Not yet arrived.

Come on, lads.

- Here at last. - Jurgen, old friend.

I'm fine. Here at last.

This is my old friend, Johannes, the world's greatest engineer.

No doubt he brings money from the Lord Chamberlain.

Silence! Silence!

Now we shall have our settlement.

Sledge drivers, I present to you MasterJohannes, an engineer, -

- sent to us by MasterJochum, Lord Chamberlain in Amsterdam.

It's a great day for our foundry.

He'll build a new water wheel and provide a splendid future for us all.

Our troubles are over. Yes.

Yes, they are.

That was our settlement.

No, listen to what I tell you!

This is proof of our gracious Chamberlain's concem for us.

The devil take his waterwheel. I prefer silver.

It's a misunderstanding. Master Johannes has brought no money.

Well, it may be a misunderstanding, but I want my money.

Here's my tally stick.

Filip, take a slate! Note down all who show insubordination.

The names will be sent to Amsterdam.

- We'll send a letter of complaint. - To the King.

Put a mark under Per, Sjur and Niels!

Yes, I saw you, Per.

Scoundrels, the lot of you!

Me, too, Ane-Margrethe Olesdatter.

Away with you, An-Magritt, what do you think you're doing?

- Why don't you put my name down? - Out with you, girl.

I ask forno money. Grandpa said I should take com.

- Now that's enough. - No, no, leave it.

Hedstrom! You must help me. I don't dare go in alone.

- Has anyone done you harm? - They won't give me any com.

Corn. It smells like flowers. Who refuses to give you com?

If they owe me money, can I not ask for com instead?

Don't ask. Demand.

- I cannot enterthat. - You do as I say.

- I cannot set it up. - You have done it before. No fuss.

I shall be at your service in a trice, little maid. One moment.

Master Bailiff.

The week's report!

Lfit has been falsified as usual, I'll shoot.

Now you swindlers will listen to our little maid.

Speak up!

Speak up.

- I've come formy corn. - What will you do with the com?

I don't want to starve and I wish to sow.

Seed, gentlemen. You've heard what our little maid wanted to say.

- We should open up the com bin. - I cannot make settlement in com.

- Then they'll all want corn. - The consequences...

The consequences, gentlemen.

Reckon up what you owe ourlittle maid.

And then, little maid, I think you should take this.

- I can't shoot at people. - No, leave that to an old soldier.

There must be limits.

Aim at the lock.

Put your hand on your hip, legs well apart.

Back straight, like a bold duellist. One, two, fire!

Touche!

How much do you need, little maid?

You've never had such a big load from me.

- Let's see what your scales say. - By God, you're right.

See to it you weigh correctly.

- It's the same mark as last time. - One and a half measures.

I won't go till it has been properly weighed!

You all piss on yourloads to make them heavy as lead. Away with you!

Are you just going to stand and stare?

- Look at my stick. - Let's see.

- You have no business here. - Hold your tongue!

Two and a half.

- Two? - Yes.

It's true. He's stealing from us!

- You're not supposed to fight me! - You were fighting me!

Let me go! Let me be! What the devil do you want?

Let go, you filthy hellhound! Let go! I don't want to!

- Let go! - There, there.

I don't want to, I don't want to!

- What the devil do you want with me? - Nothing is going to happen.

Nobody's going to hurt you.

Come, come.

No. There... blood.

Very gently, yes.

That's it.

What do you want to do to me?

Protect you, An-Magritt.

Your name isAn-Magritt?

Here.

Poor child.

Abastard. Acreature without a soul.

No, a goddess, Jurgen.

Apagan goddess.

- May I? - What the hell do you want?

You're soaked. I only want to dry your clothes.

- No? - No.

Put more wood on the fire. It's cold in here.

Let's get this off.

That's it.

Take this.

Are you still afraid?

Pagan goddess?

Bastard child. She's not for you.

You're an engineer. The wench only wants you to notice her.

The child will arrive soon. Then it will be the stocks.

Damnation, have you thought of that?

Come on, ox!

An-Magritt!

Kristin needs help now!

Go to hell!

Chop now.

Lort-Niels.

You'll be sent into slavery if you touch the stocks.

Will you let me through in the name of the law?

Martin drove a sledge with us, and Kristin was his wife.

It's punishment enough that the child is dead.

You must accept a tithe from me this time.

You need it for altarbread.

"And Jesus said to the Pharisees: Go out and cast the first stone. "

Go out and cast them now! Just as you cast them at my mother!

Come on, Kristin.

Krstin, get up now.

You can't lie like that. Krstin!

Kristin!

Put your feet up under you.

Don't do it. Not for anybody. Don't do it.

- Stand still, Grandpa. - It's the way you hold your neck.

- Is it dangerous to look up? - Don't poke fun at people.

- Where are you going? - Out to poke fun at people.

Dear God, I thank you for sunshine and warmth.

And for Johannes, though I don't know what you want me to do with him.

What are you doing here?

Looking for someone who knows German. Do you?

- I dare say. - What does "heidnische Gottin" mean?

- Pagan goddess. - Goddess?

Goddess, yes.

But what does "ein Tier ohne Seele" mean then?

An animal without a soul.

Can you draw a plough for me?

Not too broad in the blade, for I have many stones and a stubbom ox.

- Ox. - Ox?

Plough...

Plough.

What a fine water wheel you've made.

Can you write?

Has something been written there? I'd forgotten it.

Tell me, have you any cows?

Cows? Yes, I'll get some in time.

- My trade... You understand? - Yes.

- My trade is ore... stone. - Stone, yes.

Your trade is com and bread.

And you can't eat stone, so you are a bigger fool than me.

Abiggerfool? Yes, you're right.

What do you want with me, Johannes?

Don't forget the plough.

- Look. - Have you been practicing?

- I wrote in the snow. - Make up a word now, let's see.

No, sit down.

Write whatever you like, and spell the letters aloud.

J...

No, there's nobody here.

J says J.

- O says O. - Yes?

Jo...

H says H.

Asays A.

N says N.

E says E.

S says S.

Johanes.

Grandpa!

Look, Grandpa!

Look, Grandpa.

Come and see the field.

From here, Grandpa.

One... two... three... four...

Right down to the road. When it's summer.

Just you watch, I'll break it all up in time.

- Let go, or I'll crack your skull! - The furnaces must cool off.

- What's going on? Stop or I shoot! - The furnaces must cool off.

You're a stupid devil!

Break open the air ducts!

Johannes!

Johannes?

Come on now.

Come along now. Off we go.

No, stop.

Come along now.

This way. Come on now.

Come along now.

Stop!

Come here.

That's it. Stop.

An-Magritt, come and help me.

You may be able to make a plough, but you can't drive one.

What do you think my ox thinks of you now?

But there are too many stones here, An-Magritt.

- No, there's more soil than stone. - Will you plough it all up alone?

Yes. It will all be fields and meadows.

It will be heavy work foryou, my pagan goddess.

Not if you help me, Johannes.

- Oh, now I suppose I've proposed. - Proposed?

Yes, now I've proposed to you.

An-Magritt.

DearAn-Magritt. I...

Johannes! Thanks for the rose bush.

You look so tired, Grandpa. Have you slept?

No, I couldn't.

- Have the others lit theirs? - Yes, many of them.

We'll soon have this lad going. Hurry now.

Why did you leave this? Right by the stack and full of good charcoal?

It's to stay there... as a road mark.

But there's no road, and nobody comes this way, silly.

It's to stay here.

Well, shall we light it then, if all is in order?

Then we'll see what it looks like.

The plumb line looks fine.

And then the fire hole.

There's fine charcoal in this stack.

It's summer now. Shall we light it?

Read now.

That's just old superstition, Grandpa.

It's as well to do as Grandpa says.

"Burn in rain and time of drought, in moonshine and in darkness-

- for 19 days and nights on end, protect us, dear St. Francis. "

Run round the stack now.

No, against the sun.

Shall I light it for you, Grandpa? Won't that be best?

Fetch some turf from the bog. Soft.

Little maid!

Not that, if you please.

And now we'll pull!

Pull, that's it!

Come on, pull!

- Keep away, An-Magritt. - I have to watch out.

No, it's dangerous.

That's it, pull!

Pull!

And pull!

And pull!

And pull!

How many bushels do you think we have, Grandpa?

- Not much to last the winter. - I'll earn more with the sledge.

I'm making them pay me in corn, not money.

There must be forty... fifty, at least.

- I wonderwhat is in his post sack. - I dare say he has nothing.

- Yes, I heard the jingle of silver. - Hold your tongue, girl!

Don't drive across the ice, An-Magritt!

At least you have no reason to look dismal.

I would thank God if I were to receive travelling orders.

- When are you leaving? - I don't know.

Johannes! Johannes!

Do you know what was in the post?

The post.

- Do you know? - Yes, I know.

An-Magritt, my child. Famine, understand? Hunger.

- Hunger? Yes, I know what that is. - Save your com. I wam you.

Tell the sledge drivers what the Lord Chamberlain says in his letter.

Away! Open the door!

We'll break it down!

Open the door!

Aletter has come from our most gracious Lord Chamberlain.

He's ill-tempered because all his affairs are in a bad way.

He's disappointed in the new waterwheel -

- and dissatisfied with the way the foundry is being run.

He sums up his embarrassments in three decisions, -

- emphasizing that they cause himself and his partners much distress.

Firstly...

- Go on. - Yes, go on.

Firstly, his financial situation prevents him from sending wages.

He asks you to be patient.

Secondly...

...he's obliged, for the same reason, to reduce cartage tariffs.

Thirdly...

Thirdly, severe ice conditions have blocked his ships-

- making it impossible forhim...

...to send our foundry com and provisions.

You're lying! That's not right! You have food and money!

- What do you want? - Give me the letter.

- Can you read, An-Magritt? - She can read.

...financial situation...

...obliged to reduce cartage tariffs...

...making it impossible to...

Tvedt has read correctly.

What do you want me to do? Have I become a scapegoat for you now?

You were good at reading the letter in the same way as the foreman.

But don't you see that if it's down in black and white...

I can't work miracles, can I?

- Gorr-Ola? - I believe you read correctly.

- Do you want me to lie to you? - You can hold your tongue!

I gave you the truth, but that's more than you can take!

You must help us, Johannes. You're the world's greatest engineer.

The Lord Chamberlain will listen to you, for you know him.

Yes, I know the Lord Chamberlain in Amsterdam.

Ask him ifhe wants to kill us all up here!

Johannes!

- An-Magritt, my child... - What child are you talking of?

Lord Jesus.

Who is it?

- Who is it? - Let me through.

No, you're crazy!

No one may touch a suicide!

- He may still be alive. Help me. - Let go.

- Give me a knife. - He who helps shares the guilt.

The devil take the lot of you! Give me a knife!

Please! Merra-Per! Lort-Niels!

- Help me, Johannes. - Why haven't you cut him down?

What are you afraid of?

I would like to say that I cut him down, if anyone is to be blamed.

I care little for what the law says anyway.

My child, it hurts now, but it does one good to cry.

I'm not crying, the devil I am!

Look, not one tear.

You frighten your grandfather when you get so upset.

- All the poison must be got out. - What poison?

I'm a different person now from the little creature whose life you saved.

Forgive my disturbing you, Father, -

- but if I can be of any help to you in the present situation, -

- I'm at your service.

Maybe I should add -

- that I have attended thousands ofburials -

- on active service.

Mass burials... I've lent a hand when time was short.

Do you claim the right to prepare a burial?

I do. Lfit's necessary.

You know that he took his own life?

It can hardly be contested, if half the truth be suppressed.

- And the whole truth? - He starved to death.

Besides, the bog is already occupied by a pretty young woman and mother.

Imagine three shovelfuls of snow, -

- they are likely to disappear at the first thaw.

Why don't you stone me?

Why?

Your hands are full of the stones I myself have given you.

He was hungry, yet I gave him nothing to eat.

Death is an unjust ruler-

- that destroys the lamb and spares the wolf.

Which of you shall be next?

May God punish the Lord Chamberlain.

He has bled you all dry.

You drag forth his ore which he sells to princes for their bloody deeds, -

- wars and pestilence, from which he draws his profit.

This is rebellion! Our gracious Lord Chamberlain...

It's the priest who speaks now.

And I say unto the dead man:

Know that God has counted your steps in the snow and does not blame you.

But woe unto those who have abused their power over you.

If they don't burn their blood-soaked banners, their graves will be cursed.

This will cost you your pulpit!

My pulpit? Well, I dare say I have wasted my pearls.

No.

But I believe you need this, Father?

Do you hesitate, little maid?

I once hesitated, too.

It was in a city under siege. Famine and ruins.

Suddenly a young woman sprang up into the saddle behind me.

She spurred me on through the enemy camp, -

- through cannonballs and sabres.

She had your eyes, little maid.

I never noticed when she fell, -

- but hervoice was like yours, little maid, when she shouted:

There is always a horse forhim who would ride.

I know you're lying, Hedstrom. But I believe you all the same.

When the priest himselfhas said we are slaves...

- We'll write to the King himself. - We'll ask the priest to write...

- No, he'll end up in prison. - We won't write, we'll go there.

Hold yourtongues, all of you!

You screech and yell, but dare not as much as crawl before the great.

You dare not ask the priest to write for you either. He might say yes.

Dare you not ask me either?

Now it's as quiet as the grave here.

Perhaps it was wrong of me to leam to write.

Dare you not ask me either, Merra-Per?

- I'll go alone then. - Where had you thought of going?

To see the Chancellor.

Does anyone dare lend me a horse? It's too far formy ox, four days.

I need my horse myself. I'm going the same way.

I'll come too, An-Magritt.

You'll have to take Gorr-Ola's for we're all going the same way.

You too? And you?

And you? And you?

- we carry loads of coal and ore - for MasterJochum

- till ouroxen are skin and bone - for MasterJochum

- they fell on their knees and wept - for MasterJochum

- iron ore makes us sleek and fat - for MasterJochum

- a pittance will come tomorrow - from MasterJochum

- soon we shall have wages - from MasterJochum

Merra-Per is feeling bad. He wants you to come.

- You must not give up now. - I'm not.

But I won't sit on a sledge when I'm dead.

Dead?

You must lift me into a saddle.

I want to be sitting on a horse when we arrive.

- Yes. - An-Magritt.

Go to the charcoal bog when you get home.

There stands a pine tree and five paces into the bog -

- you'll find your mother.

I know.

But I'm the only one who knows about your father.

It's he who stands guard for the Chancellor.

For me there was nothing but hatred, An-Magritt.

Let's go.

Swedish steel is a little cold, but it bites well, guardsman.

We'll take it gently for I am a kind of advance guard for your daughter-

- and nobody shall prevent her from passing. Understand?

Would you like to keep that little nose of yours?

Do you realize that I've killed a dozen men with this silent weapon?

I have bloody hands, horrible.

Didn't I tell you to open? Open up, then!

Thank you.

Who do you think you are?

I request audience for Mademoiselle Ane-Margrethe Olesdatter.

- He is to have my horse. - Leave him be.

It was what he wanted. Lift him up, come and help.

Your daughter is captain of a terrible regiment.

There rides a dead man.

Ready, guardsman.

What's all this?

Who are you? What do you want?

- Are you ill? - My gout.

Help me up.

Once more, but gently.

Now then, what do you want?

My name isAn-Magritt.

I come from people who are starving to death.

- Who has penned this petition? - I had to do it myself.

The law doesn't forbid it.

You lie.

We speak the truth where I come from.

Read there.

...we respectfully request...

There.

...continually results in death -

- and the spread of pestilence...

Hold out your hands.

- I'm not a witch if that's it. - No, you have working hands.

- Are you married? Betrothed? - No.

There's somebody I think about. But I don't think he'll have me.

Are they out there? I wish to see my subjects. Help me.

Have you a remedy for this too? My foot is rotting away.

If it's that bad, there's only one thing to do.

- Put it in ice water to cool. - And then?

Chop it off.

That man on horseback who is pointing at me. I wish to speak to him.

He's dead.

Dead?

OurChamberlain, MasterJochum, is going too far.

You can say that no reduction in cartage tariffs will be permitted -

- and that com and fish are to be sent up to the foundry.

Chancellor. The com must be from Danzig, notArchangel.

Why, might I ask?

We eat the fish, but we save the com for sowing.

And Danzig corn grows best.

- Danzig? - Danzig.

I passed the Chamberlain's sledge up in the mountains.

Orders are orders, -

- but surely His Grace doesn't wish you to sneak away like a dog?

Dog?

Well spoken, you know my fate.

True. You've had much bad luck in your life.

But nobody can ride away from his own shadow. Ask a dragoon.

I tried myself once. I rode through half of Sweden till I ended up here.

I rode four horses to their death. But it did little help.

She follows me, even though she's dead.

No farewells, I can't face it.

Just a letter.

You must leave a glimmer of hope.

Hope? Arefugee such as I?

It's enough in a place like this.

If I were to angerthe Chamberlain, he would make an end of me.

I would only make An-Magritt unhappy.

Forgive me for disturbing you, but it's a matter of importance.

I need God's help, an express prayer, -

- if such a thing exists on the heavenly postal routes.

One, two and a "hey presto" if you understand me. Rather urgent.

Do you think it matters that I've been degraded in my profession?

I need your experience. Perhaps I had better use the name in full?

Ane-Margrethe Olesdatter.

Assuredly your prayer forAn-Magritt will find its way.

Straight up to heaven?

Almighty God, -

- Father of Heaven and Earth.

Once I trusted in my sword, -

- but for your sake I will put it aside.

I know, God, -

- that I am unworthy of your attention, -

- nevertheless, I beg of you, hear me and my prayer.

Let no evil befall our little maid. Amen.

Enter, An-Magritt.

I didn't come for myself. I came with Merra-Per.

Enter.

I will not leave empty-handed.

You're a hard taskmaster.

You can write.

I don't know where...

I think God's hand will guide your pen, An-Magritt.

Johannes!

Johannes!

Johannes!

Johannes!

An-Magritt!

- An-Magritt... - No, Johannes, drive on.

Not yet, Johannes.

- But you'll have a long way home. - It's a good road.

- Will you be back in the summer? - Yes.

- Look at him! - My ox!

Stop, it's my ox!

He's looking for me.

Johannes!

Johannes! Johannes!

Johannes!

Subtitles: Louise MunkAlminde Scandinavian Text Service 2008