Original subtitles

MAFIRT presents

SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE

We dedicate our film to the Nameless Child,

to all those children who met the same fate

on the highroads of historical times.

Somewhere where the storm of war

swept through countries, regions, people and lives…

Somewhere in Europe… Somewhere along the Danube…

Daddy!...

Daddy!...

Are you alive? Speak up, damn you! Are you alive?

The bombs… The bombs…

The bomb, my foot! You’re shell-shocked, you ass.

Hold on, come on.

Come on, you idiot!... Wait a mo’! What the hell?

Well, what’s the matter, General? Is it the end?

You’re quiet too now, aren’t you? You wretch!

Well, what’s up? Are you still alive?

If you died in the meantime and I’m carrying you for nothing,

I’ll beat you dead.

Speak up, you goddamn, rotten brat!

Lanky, Lanky, you wouldn’t leave a pal in the lurch, would you? Go to hell!

Anyone who can smoke, can walk too.

Wait a bit.

Hey, hey, my cigarette!

Water!

Water! Water! Water!

Take care of my mouth organ.

What are they doing?

They’re getting to know each other.

Let’s go! At it! Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Please, sir, let us get in.

May we hold on at the back? Please, let us get in.

Be off, you gang of loafing rascals! Go away.

To hell with you! Get out of the way! Scram, you dirty lot of vagabonds!

Pals, this is paint!

Wine, wine, wine!

Ugh, it’s vinegar!

Aren't we lucky with this car!

What’s this?

A noose.

- What is it for? - What for?

For the blighter’s neck.

- Ready. - What shall with do with him?

Let’s hang him, kids!

Idiot! We’d better look for some grub.

His shoes are mine.

They aren’t yours. Do you think everything belongs to you? We've earnt them!

Hey, this in bacon!

Not now… Okay, you can smell it…

Well, it’s not enough for all of us,

but one of us could get full on it. We’ll draw lots.

The one who draws the headless one,

wins. Come on.

Here you are.

It’s Dandy’s!

Don’t eat here, hey! Can’t you see how hungrily they’re watching?

Go behind the car…

What are you staring at? Come on, let’s wake the blighter.

Potatoes! Potatoes! Potatoes!

Where did you find them?

After me!

Potatoes! Potatoes!

In view of the recent rampaging carried out by tramps and marauders

which has been threatening the safety of the people,

I hereby order that all settlements organise a watch system

to defend themselves together against the peril.

Government Security Office.

Is there anyone here who can pray?

Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name;

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Come on, come on, come on!

Who can swim here?

Take off your clothes and put them in the boat. The others will come with me.

Come on, quick. In you get.

What are you waiting for?

Can you swim?

Yes, I can.

Why are you still dressed then?

Because I'm not a boy.

What are you saying?

That's why I can't undress. Take me with you in the boat.

How did you get here?

Lanky, Lanky! I've found an oar!

All right, get in the boat! This one here is coming with us.

This one's got it all right!

But it's perfect to live in.

What? It's a ruin!

How fussy you've become! It's just right for us.

Feathers, Red! Go check it out!

You! Dammit!

- Where is Feathers? - He got caught.

How did you get here? What’s your name?

What is it? You can't speak?

I've brought you some bread to go with that sausage.

A character!

What’s your name? How did you get here?

If you have something to say, you can lick my…

Kids! Here's the grub! Come on!

Grub!... Cheers! Grub!

Why are you looking at me?

What do you want of me?

Nothing.

Do you know that I’ve never had

anything to do with your sort.

But I’ve had something

to do with your sort.

With men?

It happened in the autumn…

When the Germans appeared in our street…

They had already collected the people from the neighboring houses.

There was some noise outside…

I knew they had arrived at our house.

They sent me word that if I was "reasonable"

and went into the other room,

they wouldn’t take us away.

The others didn’t know about it,

only me…

Do you want me to find him?

Why?

To make him pay his debt.

He isn’t in debt. He doesn’t owe me anything.

I didn’t even see him.

I only saw those who were waiting for me in the next room…

Do you mind me telling you?

What’s your name?

Éva.

My name is Péter.

Kids! Kids! I beg you, let's hang him!

Let’s hang him!

Let’s hang him!

Good. All right. Let’s hang him!

Kids, I beg you, here! Let’s hang him here!

Kids, wait!

One, two, three…

Stop!

Who told you to hang him?

I did.

You?... Why?

For fun.

Take him away.

So what shall we do with the old blighter now?

I haven’t decided yet. I’ll tell you in the morning. All of you get to sleep!

Didn’t you hear?

Drunken pigs...

Where’s the old chap? Do you hear? Where’s the old chap?

I don’t know.

- Did you let him go? - No.

- Then how did he push off? - I…

You?

I let him go.

That’s not true, she’s lying. The old man asked me to untie his hands!

- And you untied them of course. - Yes.

A fine mess. The old blighter will set the whole village on us.

You’ve betrayed the whole gang! Do you know what you are? A traitor!

I beg you, kids, let’s hang him!

Shut up… Stick him in the cupboard.

No, leave me alone! Don’t, let go of me!

And now what?

If they come we’ll defend ourselves.

They’re coming! They’re coming!

Wait! He's coming alone.

Come out.

I won’t because they’ve locked me in.

But I’ll lock you out.

It’s no use because I’m a prisoner.

If you come out, you won’t be a prisoner.

You’re talking nonsense, girls don’t know about these things.

Shut the door.

Good morning, gentlemen…

Before I forget…

the villagers are looking for some children…

And what did you tell them?

I don’t lie as a rule.

So you’ve split on us.

I said that I hadn’t met any children. Only tramps.

But they didn’t question me about that.

You can come out.

You see, he's come back.

Are you telling me? Me? Do you think I’m a fool?

What do you mean they disappeared?

Has the earth swallowed them?

They’re around here somewhere and that’s that.

It’s your business to find them. Do you understand?

Yes.

Report to me tomorrow. Dismissed.

Well, these were the last two…

It’s rumoured in town that Berlin is under siege.

Will there be peace again?

I don’t think so, Doctor. We won’t give it up so easily.

If you like the war so much, why did you opt out?

Why are you hiding here?

Do you want to carry on here, making war on children?

I didn’t call a doctor to have him criticize me, but to do his job.

Clear? Dismissed.

Yes.

Yes, “comrade”.

Is that you?

It was and will be me.

What’s that in your hand?

Can’t you see?... A baton.

- What are you? A teacher? - Not me.

A magician?

Sort of… When I give a cue with this baton, people start to make music.

- Don’t you believe me? - No.

- Can you read? - Yes.

Then go and read those capital letters

you’ll find over there among the litter. Go.

“Pi-er-re… Si-mon.”

Okay, you can read. Now read the other one.

“Con-duc-tor: Pe-ter Si-mon.”

Now you see, that’s me, too, and that’s me, too.

All those Peter, Pierre, Pietro, they’re all me.

That’s how I was called in different foreign languages, in different countries.

In Europe, in America, everywhere I went in the world.

If you’re such a famous man, what are you here for?

Because down below in the world there’s too much noise going on.

They wouldn’t hear the music…

Sometime later, when there’s quiet once again…

How did you get here?

Why do you ask? Did I ask you how you got here?

I didn’t ask this dog either when he attached himself

to me this morning in the woods.

I didn’t ask him how and why he came here.

He got kicked somewhere, he ran off, he’s here…

He’s a tramp like the rest of us.

Are you a tramp too?

Of course I’m a tramp.

Like all those who had to flee because they got hurt somewhere.

What was the matter with you?

Big trouble. I dared to think.

I’ve changed the guard.

Good.

What now, do we leave or stay?

We’re staying.

And where the hell are we going to sleep?

I don’t by any means want to interfere in your problems, gentlemen,

but if you repaired the roof a bit,

just as I repaired it to keep the rain out, you could sleep here quite well…

The old blighter thinks we’re bricklayers.

I don’t know what your line is, gentlemen,

I’m not a bricklayer myself either, but the roof does not leak where I am.

It’s all a question of a couple of rafters and a little goodwill.

Listen here.You can lick my...

Don’t trouble yourself, young man, I’ve heard that before.

Go and see to the supper. Make the nails.

Supper! Supper! Supper!

Shall we go up to the fortress?

- What for? - Perhaps they’re up there.

With the mad musician? You ass!

He doesn’t have anything to do with strangers.

He can’t even tolerate a dog for company, let alone a lot of dirty brats.

- Do you think so? - I do.

- What are you writing? - Notes.

- What for? - They’ll become music.

And what’s that for?

Gosh, you have difficult question... Well, how shall I say…

If something hurts very, very much or if something is so very, very beautiful

that it’s impossible to put it into words, then this is the way you tell it…

It can be heard more easily. Do you understand?

No.

Now listen here. Once there was a young man

somewhere beyond the seven seas, far away, somewhere in France.

He had a great many things to tell people…

So he sat down at the piano and played this…

- Have you ever heard it? - No.

Has none of you heard it?

Never mind, at that time no one knew it.

But one day someone passed under the young man’s window and heard it…

Then another heard it, then a third one…

One of them whistled it, the other hummed it

and then more and more people started singing it.

The song took wings…

And when a sea of people were singing it,

their song was answered by cannons…

Bigger and bigger cannons, tanks, machine guns.

But the song grew louder and louder.

It went round the world because people understood

what that young man wanted to say…

And what was it that your young man wanted to say?

Freedom, he said!

Well, freedom isn’t a child’s game.

It’s the grown-ups’ favorite game.

If anyone wants to take it away from them big trouble befalls the world.

Few people understand that… It’s my favorite game, too.

A fine game! We played it a lot on the highways.

Freedom!... We very nearly starved to death.

You were not free! You were forced to roam around,

to steal, to rob, otherwise you would have died of hunger.

Freedom means that you aren’t forced to suffer,

to do evil things, to hurt others. The worst captivity is misery.

Go on playing.

What shall I play?

The song so many people were singing.

Come nearer! You daren’t, eh?

But you dare steal, rob and murder!

We were hungry…

We stole. But we haven’t done anything wrong.

“We haven’t done anything wrong.”

I’ll beat it out of you, dirty rascals!

A few slaps will loosen your tongues!

Oh, come, leave them alone, they’re only kids.

How fastidious you’ve become, Lieutenant. Where are the others?

There are only three of us.

- Where’s the gang? - What gang?

- Won’t you tell me? - I don’t know… I don’t know…

Out of tune! Can’t you hear? Out of tune!

Listen here!

Now! Go!

Oh, I’m hungry.

Good morning, good morning.

Here’s the grub.

However… the rations have to be cut,

I’d better not show myself in the village for a while.

Is anything wrong?

Not yet… They caught three kids,

they’re just smacking them down there in the school. - What for?

They want to beat out of them the whereabouts of the gang.

What gang?

Ours… What is to say, yours.

And the kids?

They’re crying… Howling… bearing it…

Are they boxing their ears?

No, just stroking them. Like this…

Shut up.

Give out the breakfast.

Wait! Sit down!

Don’t you hear? Sit down!

You heard what’s going on? Those three down there are being beaten up…

So what? It’s they who are getting hurt!

Shut up! They’re beating those three boys! Instead of us! Do you see?

My stomach’s rumbling and he preaches!

So what? You stole the old man’s bread yesterday, too.

Mind your own business.

Why are you defending him, did you get your share?

Silence, damn you! Silence! Didn’t you hear? Silence!...

Don’t you see?

The question is whether we’ll put up

with those rotten brutes beating those three kids!

They are stronger!

And they’ve got guns.

We should be glad we're alive.

If we go to the village and they find out

that we are here, they’ll smoke us out.

The hell I’ll go.

When I got beaten up, no one gave a damn. And two of my teeth were knocked out.

So what do you intend to do now?

- Are they still beating them? - Who the heck knows?

Are they still beating them?

Are you going down?

Get together four or five tough kids for tonight.

We’ll go to the village. Don’t tell the others.

Go ahead. We’ll follow you.

I’m coming with you!

You stay.

If I don’t come back,

tell the old man that I put the gang and you into his care.

Come on. Come on.

Hurry up, get the tiles up.

There! There!

Look out! Quietly!

- Who’s that? - Open up!

What’s up, have you been drinking again?

Yes, again…

Are we leaving?

Leaving? Idiot!

We’re staying, old chap! We're staying.

We’ll put our nice uniforms in mothballs to keep the moths out…

Mothballs? Mothballs.

What did you do with yours?

I soaked it in petrol and burnt it…

Coward!

I’ve had enough! Enough!

Enough of everything!

Of heroism… uniforms,

bravery… enough!

This is the gang. Come on…

As from today these three boys belong to our gang.

Do you understand? Let’s go to sleep.

Look. These three stairs are yours.

Stop here.

Did it hurt very much?

- What? - The beating.

It doesn’t hurt any more…

Go to sleep now.

They’re coming! They’re coming!

- Who? - There are three of them.

It’ll be better if I speak with them.

Run up to the tower. Get going, one-two!

Good morning.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

How nicely you’ve repaired it.

You wouldn’t believe it. Looks like a ruin from below.

Well, yes, I did my best to make it habitable.

The best I could do.

They’re leaving.

They’re taking the old man with them.

Hell, no. There are only three of them.

What did they want?

They came to nose around.

And?

Nothing. They came, they looked around and left. I acted the idiot.

Did they buy it?

No.

So… They’ll come back.

Quite probably.

We’ll go away.

Where to?

Hell knows. Somewhere… back to where we came from. To the highroad!

A pity.

Pity what?? Have you got a better idea?

The whole thing’s gone to blame.

Is that your famous freedom?

You have to fight for freedom.

With this lot? Shall I fight against the world with a couple of brats?

Leave the world alone. There’s nothing wrong with it anymore.

It’s already yours! It’s just that you aren’t aware of it yet.

Nor are those few snotty grown-ups who are still standing in your way.

The gate has to be strengthened. Bring down two rafters from the attic.

We’re going to build a rampart in the bend! Take the stones from there!

Dandy, you and five men come with me to chop wood.

Lanky! Where’s the old man?

What’s the matter with him?

I saw him this morning, he went with his dog towards the village.

- He’s done a bunk. - Shut up!

Whatever you say, he’s just as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.

Hold your tongue!!

It’s possible we’re in a mouse-trap, but we won’t give in easily.

Let’s get down to work.

Everybody to their places!

Is that you? Listen…

I’d like to tell you something…

I’d like to ask you…

I’d like you to forget…

What?

Everything… The things you’ve been through and everything…

- Why? - I don’t know… I’d just like it…

I’d like to know that you’ve forgotten…

Do you promise?

Cheers! One up for us! They’re on the run.

Lanky, Lanky, come here! It's Wide Eyes!

Wide Eyes, Wide Eyes dear!

There’s nothing… there’s nothing wrong.

No! No!

Don’t shoot… no… no… no…

What’s he saying?

I don’t know, he’s got a fever.

Very high fever, his little body is so hot…

Wide Eyes! Wide Eyes dear!

Boys, Wide Eyes needs a doctor.

He has to be taken down to the village.

Anyone who goes down there must know what to expect.

This isn’t an order, of course, it’s a request.

Who will come with me?

That… that’s all right…

Yes… that’s how it should be…

Thank you in Wide Eyes’ name, but…

it wouldn’t make any sense.

If one has to pay it’s enough if two of us will pay…

Is it clear for you all?

We came together, we’ll go together!

Can you help?

Which one of you is in charge?

What’s your name?

Who’s your father?

The State Reform School.

I asked you who’s your father?

How should I know? I’ve never seen him.

What did you live on?

The State. That is, till it was bombed to pieces.

And you? What’s your name?

Dandy.

None of your cheek. Tell me your name… The name by which you’re called at home.

Pityu… Pityu dear… But mostly Pityu.

Why are you on the move? Why aren’t you at home?

Because there’s only a hole where our house used to be… and rubble…

All that was showing of my father was his hand… like this…

No, with his fingers like this…

And you? With that idiotic face of yours? How did you get here?

Have you got a father, a mother? Come on, out with it, have you got a father?

- Yes. - Where is he?

They said he was a P.O.W. Mother said he wouldn’t come back.

And your mother?

She took up with the grocer…

He tried to suck up to me.

He gave me lots of raspberry sweets, but I didn’t want sweets.

I left them…

Hold your tongue! Lying swine!

It’s impossible to get a single decent answer of you!

It’s all eye-wash, lies!...

Do you know what’s in store for tramps? For marauders?

Summary justice! Do you understand? Summary justice!

Wide Eyes…

Wide Eyes…

Where is… where is… my mouth organ?

Here…

Who of you dare accuse them? You? You? Or I? We, the accused?

The war was not their doing, we, the grown-ups made war. You! You!

And I! It was the war, misery and despair which drove them to the highways!

If there’s anyone here to be accused, it’s us! You! You! And all of us!

And now let’s hear the accusation!

Here are the witnesses. Speak up!

Come on! What’s got into you?

Open your mouth! Why don’t you speak up?

Tell the gentleman what these scoundrels did to you?

Thank you… people.

Do you understand now? Have you understood?

According to the decree these boys are tramps!

Consequently they’re a public menace. According to the law…

According to the written law a tramp is a person

without an occupation and without a home.

The occupation of the accused is that they are children,

while their homes were devastated by the war…

If you’re referring to the letter of the law, I’ll do that, too.

And so will they. They, too! Here’s the document.

It’s just been signed in the town.

That rock and the ruin on it and everything that goes with it

belongs to them and to every child who is looking for a home.

Here, have a look, there’s even a seal on it, down there, on the left…

What seal is this? Who signed it?

Someone… Someone who wanted to help.

And who is that “someone”?

You would call him “authority”. I’m calling him a human being.

Things are beginning to move in town…

New people write new laws…

New laws…

In whose name?

In the name of all those who need help. In yours, too.

Now you’re at home in the place in which you took refuge.

The roof you knocked together is the roof of your own house

and we’re going to knock together the things that are lacking.

And if you need anything else

I'll raise funds by playing the piano.

I don’t understand… Isn’t that what you wanted?

You wanted a home! You wanted to defend it against the whole world.

…Now the world has given it to you. Aren’t you pleased?

I think... The price was high.

High?

Wide Eyes…

Wide Eyes? What’s the matter with Wide Eyes?

Come on…

You can go.

Go home, kids.

Wide Eyes… Wide Eyes, look at me.

We’re here for you.

Wide Eyes, here’s the whole gang!

Look up, everybody’s here…

Look, Wide Eyes.

They’re coming… with guns… they're coming

No, no, Wide Eyes, they aren’t coming. We are here.

We are here with you, do you understand?

You’ll recover and we’ll go home, do you understand? Home!

We’ll go up to the fortress which… which belongs to us now.

We’re going to build a big house and there’ll be a big garden, too…

And all kinds of toys… A toy railway...

and a train…

and a bear… a teddy-bear.

A teddy-bear and a lovely mouth organ made of silver.

With two rows of holes!

And there’ll be a lovely bell on it, too.

And everything will be yours, Wide Eyes, because you saved us…

Wide Eyes!

Don’t cry. You mustn’t cry now.

Look, he is smiling, too…