Original subtitles

TALLINNFILM

THE WILD SWANS

Based upon the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen

Directed by Helle KARIS

Music by Oleg Karavaichuk

Director of Photography Ago RUUS

Production Designer Ronald KOLMANN

Screenplay by Helle KARIS

Savva KULISH Juhan VIIDING

Hey, listen!

We were ordered to tell you that,

on the king's command and with the queen's permission,

today is a big holiday at the palace -

the birthday of the king's daughter!

This day cannot be a holiday,

because the king's daughter disappeared.

She disappeared long, long ago,

when you all were still in your cradles.

So, on the king's command...

And with the queen's permission...

All girls who are named Elise must come to the palace,

because the king's daughter's name was Elise.

Is there an Elise among you?

It's Providence itself who calls her.

My name is Elise.

- Your name? - Elise.

Elise?

- Elise? - Yes.

- How old are you? - Fifteen.

Fifteen.

Fifteee... Very good. Fine!

Excellent! Splendid!

Wash her!

Comb her!

And dress!

She is to be a princess.

With or without mirrors?

No mirrors.

Long live His Majesty the King,

father of the beautiful Princess Elise!

Elise.

Long live the Princess!

Long live the Queen,

the good mother of Princess Elise!

Her Highness the daughter of our gracious king

Princess Elise!

The first beauty of the kingdom!

Who is this girl?

Don't you recognize her?

I'm asking you: Who is this girl?

I'm Elise.

So you say you're Elise?

Yes, my name is Elise.

I think I'll never know who is my daughter.

Eat your cake yourselves!

Father!

A witch! A witch!

Elise.

Elise.

My dear girl.

You're really the king's daughter.

The daughter of our poor king.

And you have, my child, eleven brothers.

Your father loved you and your brothers very much.

But one day I was fated to leave this world for good.

And he brought a new queen to the palace.

She proved to be a wicked witch.

She stole the heart of your father

and made you go wandering around the world.

Elise.

You shall find your brothers.

And when you find them,

justice will triumph, and good will win over evil.

Always remember them, and you'll never be Ionely.

You play so nicely.

Tell me, boy, have you met in these parts

eleven handsome princes?

No, I have not.

But I have seen eleven beautiful swans.

Only yesterday, they flew right here, over this forest.

Good morning!

Good morning.

- May God help you. - Thank you.

Tell me, have you met eleven princes here?

Eleven princes? No.

I haven't met eleven princes in these parts.

Thank you.

Wait, girl.

But I've seen eleven swans.

Just this morning, they flew over the field.

They were flying in this direction.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

Good morning!

God help you!

I wanted to ask you...

Have you by any chance...

I wanted to ask you

if you have seen eleven handsome princes here?

No.

I haven't met eleven princes here, daughter.

But I saw eleven swans.

They were splashing on the river yesterday afternoon,

and then they swam towards the sea, over there.

- Eleven swans? - Yes.

Thank you, good woman!

Thank you, the sea. Thank you, the cliffs and the wind.

Now I know that I'll see my brothers.

Elise.

Elise.

Elise.

Elise.

Elise.

Kaspar.

That's me.

Peeter.

Peeter.

Hardi.

That's me.

Elise, the evil queen cast a spell over us,

and now we know no peace.

As soon as the sun rises,

we turn into swans.

And only in the dark of the night we recover our human shape.

Our arms are weak, Elise, but our swan's wings are strong.

And when we're together, we're even stronger.

We'll pick you up and carry you with us

to the land which is our home now.

Kaspar.

Peeter.

Hardi.

Kristjan

Verner.

Tanel.

Jurmo.

Hendrik.

Levi-Danel.

Don't grieve.

Now that you know who your brothers are, you can save them.

But do you have enough courage and patience?

Yes.

Do you see this nettle which I hold in my hand?

The same nettle grows here, round the hut.

And only this nettle and the kind that grows on the graves

can save your brothers.

Remember that.

You must gather this nettle and make it flax

with your bare feet.

It will hurt you very much.

You must spin and weave eleven shirts from it.

Then throw them over the swans,

and the spell will be broken.

No one in the whole world,

no one should know what's on your mind.

Even if it takes years to do that

and your delicate hands become rough,

you must not speak until you finish your work.

Remember, Elise, the first word you utter

will be deadly for your brothers.

Did you understand? Remember all I have told you.

To know, to want, not to lose heart, and to keep silent.

My subjects.

My courtiers.

This dumb girl is my bride.

I want you to love her.

You don't want?

You don't want to be my queen?

This key is yours.

Whenever you feel like being alone

or reminisce about your past life,

unlock this door

Please.

Open it.

Elise!

Elise!

Elise!

Elise!

Do you see this nettle which I hold in my hand?

The same nettle grows here, round the hut.

And only this nettle and the kind that grows on the graves

can save your brothers.

Remember that.

Remember that.

Remember that.

The queen is a witch.

Who are you, my wife?

What is your name?

Who is your mother?

Who is your father?

Where do you come from?

Where is your home?

What are you thinking about?

Was I deceived by you?

Tell me,

are you waiting for the sunrise or...

are you longing for the moon?

Why are your eyes so sad?

What are your dreams?

Why is your skin so white?

Why are your delicate hands so swollen?

What do you need the nettle for?

Let's go.

Do you love me?

No one in the whole world should know what's on your mind.

Even if it takes years to do that and your delicate hands become rough,

you must not speak

until you finish your work.

The first word you utter

will be deadly for your brothers.

To know, to want, not to lose heart, and to keep silent.

The queen is a witch...

The queen is a witch!

The queen is a witch.

Trouble! Trouble! Our queen is a witch.

Run away from here, children. Our queen is a witch.

Trouble. Our queen is a witch.

Trouble. Our queen is a witch.

Quiet! Quiet! It turns out our queen is a witch.

Grandpa, is it true that the queen is a witch?

I cannotjudge her.

Let the people judge.

Is the queen a witch?

A witch! I saw it myself!

I saw it with my own eyes!

A witch!

If the queen is a witch,

what should we do with a witch?

Put her to death by fire.

Put her to death by fire!

A witch!

Burn her!

Burn her on a bonfire!

Burn her!

Your hour has come.

I am here, my daughter, to hear your confession.

Confess to your sins and tell me

what you love more, the earth or the heavens.

Are you waiting for the sun or are you longing for the moon?

Or you're not afraid of the dark of the night?

Confess, who sent you?

Tell me.

Where's your home, your land?

Who is your father, your mother?

Who gave you the strength?

Who deprived you of the fear of God?

Who bound your tongue?

Repent, my daughter,

and you will save your immortal soul.

Here are silks and velvets for you!

My sister,

my dear brothers, don't grieve.

Each morning, as soon as the sun awakes,

I'll soar up to the heaven's heights.

Look for me.

And each night, the moment the sun leaves the earth,

I'll appear to you in your dreams.

Remember me.

I'll always be with you.

Starring:

Elise - Katri HORMA

Young King - Juris ZAGARS

Archbishop - Andreis ZAGARS

Good Mother - Ines ARU

King Father - Gunnar KILGAS

Evil Queen - Liina ORLOVA

Boy - Sven RAA

Old Man - Helend PEEP

Brothers-Princes: Levi-Danel MAGILA

Peeter MURDMAA Jurmo EESPERE

Kaspar JANCIS Hendrik LEPP

Kristjan KRUUSEMENT Tanel URB

Hardi KOMPA Verner MATTAS

Indrek OOLUP

The End