Original subtitles

BIG BEAT

Starring

Based on the stories by

Screenplay by

Music and Lyrics by

Prague 1959

Production

Sound Recordist

Costume Design

Make-up

Set Design

Edited by

Choreography by

Director of Photography

Produced by

Directed by

What are you so smug about?

Nothing.

No laughing at work.

Take out the rubbish!

Good evening.

Hey,

the Suchdol guys are coming!

This dick said this vas your patch.

Is that how it is, Moron?

Foreign territory is ours.

One of you was shit-scared!

Well, we'll take

what's ours as well, OK?

Everything belongs to everyone now, eh?

What are they hiding here, then?

They can't scare you!

What's going on here,

what am I seeing?

Some stinkin' foreigners who wanna play.

I'm not in the mood, boys, no way!

Time for a tumble now!

Let's beat it!

We like smoking Lucky Strikes

and eating pommes frites.

And we like drinking tins of real juice.

Meine liebe komme ficke

I wanna a piece of something, too,

Eddie's got the nicest pair of shoes.

What's going on,

what's this I smell?

Some stinkin' foreigners who wanna play,

I'm not in the mood,

boys, no way.

Time for a tumble now!

Shitheads! I got eight of them!

How's your sister?

Wanna give her a message?

You can be pretty sure where the trouble starts.

Get down this minute!

Go and calm Dad down.

What are you doing up there?

Wait at home, you

trouble-maker!

Oh, Dad!

Poking about in dustbins!

You want to get jaundice? End up in hospital?

Dad'll get his pains again!

My neck aches!

I've got something for you.

What've you got?

Wouldn't you like to know!

Auntie! - Wait a sec!

Where are you?

What are you doing?

Come down! I'll get you!

There we are. Off to your room.

Here's your stick.

Read a book!

Who did that?

Auntie!

I saw Hamacek and Peterka.

Who else was there?

I don't want people complaining!

Do you hear me? Who was there?

What's up?

Don't pretend you're eating!

It's OK, Dad.

Oh, great! Look at him!

Don't look at me like that!

Oh, Dad!

You're no trouble but I can't handle your brother.

You give me any old muck just because I can't taste anything

The goulash got burnt.

It got burnt?

Someone must've burnt it!

And leave auntie alone. We wouldn't be here without her.

Look, I'm a meal mincer!

You disgusting pig!

Auntie hasn't had any dinner yet.

You could've killed us!

I'm very sorry.

I'll have to see your I.D.

Don't worry about it! It's OK. Forget it.

Sorry we woke you up.

I was still up.

Good night.

Stay in your room.

We'll fix the pane.

What if she kills someone?

We'll look after her.

Sure!

Go and get me three beers.

Make sure it's Pilsner!

Yeah, OK.

Hasn't she got any other relatives?

Three lagers and two lemonades.

Orange or lime?

Orange.

Auntie's got to go into a home, we can't control her.

My Dad's a cripple. That accident did something to him.

He can't tell if he's eating goose or cake.

Rubbish!

It's true!

Sis can give him any old slop and he eats it.

You buy yourself orange juice and get rat's piss for Dad!

You buy it, then!

What have you got for me?

You have to beg for it.

Spit it out!

On your knees!

Don't be silly. Wait!

That's nice.

Are you feeling OK?

It's a parachute!

Hi.

It's late!

Come out!

D'you know what the time is?

Yeah, be a good pioneer and come out here!

What're we going to do?

Anything you like.

Like what?

Go for a walk.

We can have the flat to ourselves. My brother's away.

My arms are empty when I can't be with you,

I wanna go, I don't know where, the world's gray.

Your beauty and your smile are tearing me in two.

A young monk who suffers, I can't be without you.

The grass of the secret night is the softest,

Above the boundless depths, kissing me and the night.

I shall soar over the walls you set before me,

Lies all around, I need you here beside me.

Softly sway the ships at sea, the ocean's graceful might.

It will be a prayer for me, I gently kiss the night.

Even a stone would come to me but you hesitate,

I want more than half of you, don't throw it all away.

I want more than half of you, don't throw it all away.

Wonderful!

But it's for the woman who sleeps in my mother's bed.

Thanks. See you tomorrow.

She's going to walk home for a change.

Mrs. Vlasakova is walking back with her comrade husband.

You're to take the flowers home.

Where' s the car?

I'm walking home.

What d'you mean?

If that's what you want.

I can do what I want.

Off you go, then.

And stop following me!

I don't follow you!

That man should be hung up by his guts.

Forget it!

What does Mr. Juricka do?

Stands on his own two feet.

So does Eda from the hotel.

Yeah, sure. Move it!

He's willing to look after auntie unlike the louts around here.

I'm Juricka...

I'm ready so let s hit the road.

Got to catch that sort fast!

They got you, eh? Good thing they'll put you away.

We're scared to go by train

Off you go.

Come on, then.

Let's hear you.

Here I am, auntie!

Are you Standa or Milos?

Pavel.

Recognize him?

Of course, it's Pavel!

That's a shame.

Here, have some.

Leave it, give it to the kids.

Have some!

OK. I'm not myself today.

The lad'll look after her.

What's that?

Is that coming from your flat?

It's coming from their flat!

You pick up!

Hi.

Look who I've brought!

Your demented aunt?

A relative of hers.

Hi.

Hello.

You're not from around here?

Sit down or are you off again?

Want to sell it?

No.

Well, play something then.

Hey, you brat over there!

Me?

Get drumming.

Give it a good beating!

My old man sat me down, we were hanging around,

Said he wants to start living a bit.

Get a load now, don't let it get the best of you.

Listen to what I'm trying to say to you.

I went further, baby, where God took me,

I went further, baby, I kept the boogie,

Every foreign borderline, every cop shop wasting time,

Playin' only rock'n'roll for you.

A black stork brought me into this world.

Above my cradle Elvis Presley stood.

Got my Chevy in the lane, got me a rockin' dame

The King's in town and that's what really gives.

I went further, baby, where God took me,

I went further, baby, I kept the boogie,

Every foreign borderline, every cop shop wasting time,

Playin' only rock'n'roll for you.

Seems like I'm always stuck, can't find no luck,

Can't find me a guiet place

Birds around me started to scream, waking the morning,

Suddenly I feel the electricity.

You went further, baby, where God took you,

I went further, baby, I kept the boogie,

Every foreign borderline, every cop shop wasting time,

Playin' rock'n'roll for you...

Good morning.

What would you like to have done?

D'you like it?

I look like Hitler.

Thank you.

I used to like dumpling soup.

Stop that! It is Sunday!

Bon appetit.

What d'you call him?

Baby.

You know what that means in English? Spelt b-a-b-y.

Well? It means kid.

That figures... infantile idiot.

But it sounds OK, doesn't it?

He plays the guitar, too.

If only! If he at least looked like an artist.!

He may look like a maniac, but he plays terribly.

He's promoting something he shouldn't...

What he's doing is unacceptable.

It's all OK, baby, I love you. Why doesn't he sing in Czech or Slovak?

He could sing in Russian.

Old Carda...

he works round the clock, he gets home exhausted.

He waits to see if I do anything about all the noise.

It's the same with Peterka.

I had him under control, his son gets into trouble.

Now he keeps asking: What're you trying to prove?

It's no fun for me.

Eat up, it'll get cold.

I don't know.

It used to be quiet around here.

No-one noticed us, We were safe.

Now we have to put up with this.

Don't go around with him.

I don't!

That's good, then.

Then why does he dress all in red?

I don't mind red but he's overdoing it.

Now you'll have no problem finding it.

He's scratched it now!

That's you when you were five,

That's not Pavlik, that's Baby!

When I think of all those days wasted playing silly games.

Or pretending to be Russians or Germans.

We had to be German as everyone wanted to partisans.

Being German meant rolling around pretending to be dead.

It wasn't cool.

Baby's got the right idea.

French potatoes!

Wait, will you?

Thank you.

Happy birthday.

Happy birthday.

I hope you... attain something in life,

like Edward.

Oh, Dad!

Have a good look at him!

Happy birthday, I'm glad you came.

When Kalab sees this, he'll go spare.

What's this supposed to mean?

What's going on?

I really don't know, comrade.

This policeman may know who he is.

Shall we go into your office, comrade?

Would you like some goulash, Dad?

Is he here?

In the kitchen.

I mean Juricka.

Took auntie to the doctor's.

He's had it here.

And don't pretend you're tidying up.

Nothing happened.

Nothing was broken.

Nothing was broken, my foot!

I had to beg for forgiveness!

Who d'you think you are?

It was just for fun.

What about Edward? He'll get into trouble.

He hates it there, he can work on the boat instead.

You should thank me.

Thank you.

You little...!

You didn't have to do that.

I've had enough of his pranks

Why are you trying to win me round?

Why go somewhere to make a terrible noise?

What if someone important turned up?

What about your school, your future, what about me?

You've got a pay increase.

It could be a goodbye present

Or another currency reform.

You can't buy my favour with goulash. It won't work.

Ah, Mr. Juricka. Just in time.

Auntie's staying in hospital.

Really?

What's up?

Dad doesn't talk any sense anymore.

He's taking it all too seriously.

And he says Baby's finished here.

I'm wandering and lost, don't want to go to sleep.

It sounds like an old cliché, no-one loves me.

My Dad watches this, his looks could kill me.

He lives like all the rest, in a grown-up fantasy.

The sun shines red in the sky, long shadows are formed.

Boys buy me flowers, I'm on the silver screen.

For some, this is all it takes, they like what they get,

Life is eating me up, there's no turning back,

Life is eating me up, there's no turning back.

The sax rings out in the hotel, a gold, shiny sound.

The gramophone plays a rockin' tune,

The exotic fragrance of coffee all around.

Don't wanna be a fat housewife in tracksuits every night.

There's one in every house, how unfair is this life.

She sings alone softly, how she was once free,

And my old man's a fool, even if he's a Ph.D.

And my old man's a fool, even if he's a Ph.D.

Help! Help! Murder!

Got it...!

Are you all right...?

Let's see.

They nicked a record, Suchdol bastards!

Let's see.

It's nothing.

Easy for you to say!

It's a bit old.

Let's see.

You look great!

Seductive...

is the colourful path from nowhere

And all the fragrant places you know.

I... love you.

Twinkling...

above our heads at night, a distant star,

Underneath the lamp's warmth you stand.

I love...

I love you.

You're music to my ears.

A desert waterfall.

A snowfall in July.

Exotic clothes,

In the shade of an alder grove.

To talk with you

And hear you smile.

Crazy...

is the night, a carousel of light, just you two.

I can't. He waits past the darkness.

Sorry...

Engagements aren't great pickings, are they?

What're we going to do?

She'll be here soon.

Nice salami...

Bread, champagne, pate, a real party!

What d'you call your brother?

Sober.

Throw it here!

Where's your sister?

Went to hospital with Baby.

What hospital?

It's looking bad with auntie.

Your Dad wants some beer.

We've got an engagement party today.

Want to give her a message?

I'm finished!

Yeah.

Who was that?

He goes about with my girl.

Does he really?

How should I know? I have to fool around here.

You're not the only one.

Are you in a hurry?

Dad won't notice it's flat.

Opium.

You know what baby means in English?

That's what you are,

an invalid idiot!

You're lucky to have a sister like that. Nice blue eyes.

They're brown. To your Dad, they're yellow, who cares?

It's the other way round!

Suck, baby!

They didn't give you much.

200 crowns isn't bad. - Is it too little?

I'd say it was OK.

Would you like some coffee?

Any more?

What about you?

No, I'll have beer.

We have to piss the beer back in. Where'd it go otherwise?

Into your brain.

You're off the mark!

What if he realises?

He won't.

Not after his accident. He's a cripple.

But he still has a strong sense of smell!

I spent it all.

How much did they give you?

Work it out.

This sandwich costs 1,70.

The beer's arrived.

Here are some glasses.

Who'd like some beer? - I certainly will.

Who's having beer? - Everyone!

Ah! Here it is!

I'll be able to buy new glasses with my pay rise!

You not having some?

He's got plenty of time yet.

Just a drop.

Cheers.

It's quite good!

What?

How dare you drink like that!

Rich coming from you!

What are you looking at?

Come here!

Can your Dad taste anything yet?

Hurry up, it's our only chance!

It's OK for you but what about me?

USA...

Go to sleep.

I'll talk to both your Dads tomorrow.

Can I ask you something?

Yeah.

Are you going out with her?

Who?

That pretty lady.

Go to sleep!

Be glad my brother isn't here.

She's a bit of all right.

Yeah, sure.

Try and pick her up. She might give you a bit.

What? I don't need anything.

Nothing. Go to sleep.

If you went out with her, theoretically speaking,

you could let me have Ksanda's sister.

Eh, Ksanda?

Yeah, yeah.

What are you on about?

Sorry.

Forget about her. Your future wife still isn't potty trained.

Hi. It's Eda. Are you asleep?

Are you alone?

That's good.

You don't have to whisper.

Who did this belong to?

Some collaborators.

Who told you that?

Premek, my husband.

Shall we clink glasses?

Sorry.

To your husband, I hope his training goes on a long time.

Where's the bedroom?

You're a fast worker!

What're you thinking about?

I'm just thinking.

What about?

What it's like to be in Fanda's Mum's bed.

What if they weren't collaborators?

What if they're in concentration camps again?

Who cares at this moment

People should care.

D'you want to sleep with me or shall I go and iron?

I don't know.

Oh, great!

Have you got any playing cards?

What?

Have you got any cards?

That's a good idea!

That's quite a good idea!

I want to play!

Come here!

We have to get out of here.

If we get here, we'll be over the border.

We'll take this route.

Of course.

We can't go home, they'd kill us.

Peterka was there and some police spy.

If we go this way we'll be OK

Dad's friend got shot.

There's no other way. In prison they shoot you to pieces.

Let's go by boat, then.

How'll you get on the boat?

We'll take sis.

She's two and a half.

No, yours!

Idiot! Yours is better.

She's pretty.

She's unusable.

What're you doing here?

What're you doing here?

I sleep here, don't I?

Hi.

What's the matter?

I promised Eddie that I'd come here.

I missed the bus.

We're in shit trouble.

Have you been home?

I'm so stupid.

Where's Eddie?

How many years did they get?

That's not my fault.

Let's play.

Hi.

Is Ksanda in?

Yeah.

Wait!

What's up?

The Red Devils are playing.

Dad nearly killed Ksanda!

Thanks for yesterday.

I'll tell Milada that...

That hotel singer?

They pissed in Dad's beer!

Let's go and see her.

Dad can get the police round!

We could phone her.

She'll be still asleep.

Yeah, you do that!

Let's go!

Make your minds up.

We have. It's the Red Devils.

Give him back his uniform!

It's not until tomorrow, go and wake her up.

Yeah. But it's not until tomorrow!

What're you staring at?

That's for the record.

Your girlfriend leaving school this year?

Next year. Why?

What's infidelity?

Everything!

That was fantastic!

It was boring

What d'you mean, boring?

We'll be for it if we don't give the record back!

An uncertain dream

Writes itself in my head, tells me I'm alone.

World built of walls, in misery I climb them.

Tells me it's over, time to move on.

Maybe you're losing more than you realise.

Maybe I'm losing more than I know.

What are you doing?!

Idiots! It's not my fault.

You don't seem too upset!

He'll kill me.

Your Dad fix things.

Yeah, Dad doesn't give a fuck about you.

We'll say you were at music school, keep your trap shut.

Why here? - Dad had the garage locked.

He's got the key.

Your Dad's an old cretin.

What are you eating that onion for?

So my breath doesn't reek.

Hi. - Hi.

Dad'll kill you.

I'm getting used to it.

That's a nice one! - Dad's got a firm hand.

Fathers ought to be abolished.

We thought you liked playing to all those Commies.

Just be glad your Dad's not hanging around all the time.

Perhaps you'd like playing.

But I like my Dad.

It must be hard with a perfect Dad, like yours.

At least he's not behind bars. - This isn't finished.

When we get our territory back, you'd better keep away.

I might have to go away any time.

What about us?

So you're saying goodbye?

Things are getting too hot.

What's up with you?

D'you want Baby Doll?

You appreciate her more.

Now that you're mine you

can teach the others how to kiss.

My girl would certainly do it.

If my girl doesn't mind, if the boss is letting her go,

it might be a good parting.

So we don't forget this evening.

Go back in there.

At least you see what he's really like.

He passes your sister around.

And he's got Milada pregnant.

Why d'you think he has to go suddenly?

You bastard! You got Milada pregnant.

So leave my sister alone.

Who told you that? - Eda.

You're not going to believe him, are you?

I don't know what I've done.

It's a real laugh around here today!

Bye.

I heard that hooligan's fooling around with your wife.

I'm just warning you. Before it gets out.

It may not be true. My boy told me.

It could be just lies. - They've overstepped the limit man

Got any details?

He won't open his mouth. - I said details!

I buy and sell information.

I'll kill him! And that bitch!

I hope you'll back me up. - Of course.

Are they at home? - And that animal? -Sure.

What's going on?

Where is he?

Did you hear me? - No.

You don't know what's going on? - No.

You don't understand? - No.

But I'm beginning to understand!

He's really botched things up this time!

He's overstepped the limit... The animal!

My father would've killed me!

We didn't beat them enough.

Lock them all up, I say!

I'm waiting for an answer. - To what.?

Where is he? - Who? - That monster.

He's not here. - He won't come back.

He's finished here.

He'll never survive the place we're sending him to.

If he survives at all!

Sit down.

I've let the beer piss incident drop.

But when he turns up, you turn him in!

I might, I don't know.

What did you say?

Maybe.

Your daughter's supposed to be finishing school this year, eh?

Next year.

Good evening.

We're just returning this.

It's not damaged.

Goodbye.

About time!

Want something to eat?

Thanks. - It's lunch left-overs.

Bon appetit.

Gherkins! They're sour!

And mustard...

Vinegar!

It's vinegar!

And this is soap!

I've got my taste back!

I don't want any potatoes. I'm going to the pub.

Stop that!

His girl would do it.

OK, then.

You have to do what I do.

Open your mouth,

close your eyes

let's see your tongue.

Are you embarrassed? - Me? No!

Sometimes your whole body aches.

You know the feeling.

You wake up to yet another useless day.

And people passing by just lick you off.

Or they slop you doing what you want.

They make you sick.

You don't know what to do.

But there is a cure for it.

It works better than penicillin.

It's rock'n'roll!

Hear our prayer, Lord,

hear our prayer, Lord... Bring us bubbles now.

Hear our prayer, Lord,

hear our prayer... Bring us bubbles now!

Cops in the street,

Chevrolets go purring by.

Black girls don't give a damn,

oil baron and his bride.

You can go to California.

You can go off on your own,

A few great tones from a bag of snakes,

Rockin' rockin' roll for you.

Hear our prayer, Lord...

Give us bubbles now!

Hear our prayer, Lord...

Give that bucket of bubbles here.

Just white darkness in your head

And eyes shut by the wings of shadows

A glorious head of noble grey,

Rockin', rockin', roll gives you.

Hear our prayer, Lord...

Bring us those bubbles now!

Cops in the street,

Chevrolets go purring by,

Black girls don't give a damn,

oil baron and his bride.

You can be a real player,

or a president,

Live with the noise

of a thousand engines

To bring you back if for a moment,

Rockin' rockin' roll...

Bye.

See you.

Where's Peterka?

Let's go.

What's going on?

You don't know?

They're sending that dog into space!

What if it fell on us coming back down?

You couldn't do it.

But this dog could!

If you were clever, male, you'd be up there instead.

If a dog's going up there, ~ perhaps a man will!

He told them, in his parents' good books.

That's why he's been hiding.

Leave him alone!

This is quite some joke!

What a dog!

Seven, eight, nine...

We're going together.

Do something, comrade!

Wait! Move back!

Thanks.

Don't let them see you.

At last!

What can you do?

That's enough.

I couldn't see anything.

Beyond the oak grove, there is a light,

A cream cheese church, buttermilk white,

Bells of cream and milk bellropes to see,

Ask the bell-ringer if you don't believe me.

Well done, little boy!

Milada!

Come on...

Where are you going?

There's a delegation here.

It was a stupid joke of mine, that Baby thing.

Don't you know what's happened?

I don't need to think.

I'll tell him.

Just be guiet!

Or you'll end up where he is!

Get lost, get outta here, just leave me be,

I wanted paradise, don't have no key.

How can you eat like this? Stuff your face,

I lost my girl today, my baby...

All around me all I see, ain't no joy

She told me suddenly, I ain't her boy.

Down, dirty, misery, I dance alone,

Your looks of tyranny won't get me home.

They tell me: ,, Get down on your knees!"

I'm always on my knees...

We're gonna ruin your nice new suits.

I'll have a cigarette to calm me down

This moment's all for me,

Some peace I've found.

Don't want your manners here

and your stuffy songs

I hate your Soviet style and your stupid crowd.

No laughing at work!

Always down on my knees...

That's how it goes,

We're gonna ruin this place...

Wait!

Beat it!

Close your eyes

Most of you will see better,

In the school playground There stands a lone tree.

And there stands a girl, still shy just a little,

Just after her first kiss She thinks thunder is near.

While the neurotic headmaster watches their dancing.

The worst band he's ever had at the school.

All you need is a guitar and good luck will find you,

He realises as he watches, it's time that he left.

So close your eyes, most of us will see better

his story I'm singing is as true as today.

In honour of the heroes who drove the people crazy

Before the baneful infection we'll clear out the hall,

before the baneful infection we'll clear out the hall.

English subtitles Karolina Vocadlo

Songs translated by David Nykl