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It must've been in 1961, before Easter.

We walked to the next village for eggs.

Dad still had his handmade shoes.

How many will we paint?

Eight. And I'll do two heads.

-One with a hat? -Of course!

I bet…

I can throw it up and when it falls, it won't smash.

Stop fooling, Lajos. We can't spare a single one.

My mother always knew she'd married the right man.

This was her 27th move.

She moved in next door to me at the age of 92.

It would have killed any normal old woman, but it made her years younger.

Moving gave her a strange thrill. She loved hitting the road.

But after all, it was history that chased her around the country,

and right through the 20th century.

-Hi Sári. -She's dying to see you.

Who is it?

It's me, Mom.

Look what I've brought you!

A cherry!

That's right, a cherry. But it's a strawberry.

-Got any cream? -Sure. I'll get it!

-Are you Sári's sister? -No, I'm your daughter.

I thought I had two daughters.

-Who's the one who bought the fur coat? -The sheepskin?

That was me.

I hear they're rounding up the Jews and the Catholics.

No, Mom, there are no Nazis or commies anymore.

It was on the radio.

Mom, you're a Protestant.

It'll be their turn sooner or later.

I know this hand. You're Ilu.

Ilu died ages ago. I'm Bertha.

No, I'm Bertha. Are you me?

Mom, you've got a daughter, do you know that?

I know. I've got a daughter. And Papa died a long time ago.

Papa Lali.

Jesus, the semolina!

-Have you got a husband? -No.

Are you a young girl?

No, I'm old. I'm 52.

I am 52, too.

No, you're 92.

I'm in my 93rd year.

I need to live three more years to reach 100.

Seven more.

Seven.

-What about the semolina? -Why?

She'll get the shits after the strawberries.

After the cream, the semolina won't hurt.

Sleep well, Mom. I'm going home.

Bye, Sári.

-Where do you live? -Doesn't matter, Mom.

When's Bertha coming, Zsuzsi?

Why did I call her Zsuzsi,

when she's Piroska?

She was born in Oradea in 1911, into a "better" family.

The Milles. They were a kind of a minor gentry.

The men were all in state employ, most were Post Office officials.

The vineyard in Székelyhíd was called Vecseri Hill.

The wealthy of Oradea had their holiday homes there.

The Milles had a large plot, and a house with a veranda.

Your great-grandparents.

We called Grandma "Juliska, pretty maid,"

she was a poor relative, and seen as a maid,

but so beautiful, that Grandpa fell madly in love and eloped with her.

-When was this? -In 1920.

That can't be right. They had grandkids by then.

Then in 1870. Or '80. What do I know!

So, his snobby family disowned them both.

Who were these nobs?

County magistrates.

But the whole family was a bunch of loonies.

My mother had two sisters and a brother, Józsi.

The girls were Irén,

Margit

and Rozál. Rozál was my mother.

Józsi was a member of the local elite,

he never left the house without his hat and cane.

Grandma put the cakes in the oven when Józsi appeared in the lane,

on his way home from the office.

By the time Józsi arrived the "Ladies' Whim" was ready.

In the afternoon the local registrar and the Romanian pharmacist would come over.

Sometimes the vicar looked in too. Those were scorching summers.

What scorching heat!

"How foolish dreams of love may be.

Life is as dark and cruel as can be.

Even postmasters are so foolish.

Among his fingers all coins are coolish."

Mother loved the town clerk, but a tailor's bill put an end to that marriage.

He had artistic leanings too, he painted this for her.

What's a tailor's bill?

A debt.

He had his suit made on credit. But a gentleman doesn't run up debts.

Especially not a Protestant one!

So Grandpa kicked him out when he asked for her hand.

Grandpa was a fearsome man.

I won't give my daughter's hand to a bohemian.

The girls loved romantic novels,

so Mother decided to stay a spinster.

They eventually married her off to an aging bachelor of 35.

He was a postmaster too.

The family christened him "Old Gardó,"

even us children called him that later.

They had a double wedding with all the trimmings.

Unhappy Rozál kept pulling a face.

Margit got married to the fire chief of Oradea,

a Romanian, we called him "Vlad Tepesh," because he hit Margit once.

So Margit packed her trunk and moved back home.

Sure enough, Vlad Tepesh came up the hill after her.

Margit, come back to me!

Margit begged Grandpa, but he told her

that there was no place for her anymore,

she should be happy she'd found a husband.

And that Irén would never find a husband,

and it was enough to be stuck with one spinster.

Poor Irén was not really pretty, but she wasn't that ugly either.

Grandpa ruined two of his daughters' lives that day.

My uncle Józsi was a payroll officer on the railways.

He was bored in Székelyhíd.

He longed to go to Africa and have hunting adventures.

I liked Józsi.

Look, a fox!

See the fox run

Sweet mother of God!

It was Jolán with her red hair. I nearly shot her!

Who was Jolán? How would I know? Some local lassie.

What happened to Józsi?

He went to dig gold in Australia. We never heard from him again.

My parents had a terrible marriage, with three children.

But we still had a happy childhood.

What's up?

Something happening?

Grandpa died before the collapse came.

It's wrong there.

Put it back.

Have you got children?

No, I've got a mother.

It needs watering.

Why did you divorce Tamás?

Because you broke my bloody marriage up, that's why!

It wasn't a great loss.

Your father was a good man.

He called me "The Lady of the Storm."

'Cos you could never sit still on your ass.

Something always came up.

What came up 27 times?

There were so many things.

First came the Treaty of Versailles.

Where four rivers flow and flow

Where we love to suffer so

Where the sun laughs above the lake

Where so many hearts so sweetly ache

Where legends are told, where songs are sung

We're definitely joining Hungary.

My son still has three years at university.

Aunt Áci was Old Gardó's sister,

who the whole family hated.

He can still travel there, can't he?

Gardó goes over every day.

Or will the border be closed?

I told Mother that I took the train before…

Debrecen's still in the same place despite the new border.

There, you see?

And what will he do in Romania with a Hungarian law degree?

So. We're going to exchange properties.

There's a Romanian doctor in Hungary, he's offered us a lovely farm.

We could do the same.

We just work here all the hours God sends.

This is the Mille house.

If we left here, we'd be nobodies.

Well, it won't make a difference to you.

But I'm going to save my son.

Politics won't get the better of me!

But they did, darling Auntie Áci.

Pista became a judge in Debrecen, and married into a massive estate.

Later, in 1951, they hid in a coal cellar to avoid getting deported.

He died there in the sixties.

Will we be foreigners now?

I can't imagine it.

Will the Debrecen post office stop deliver here?

How could it, once we're in a different country!

But the letters will get through, won't they?

Of course, Grandma, but I won't be able to work abroad.

But there'll be a post office here too. There has to be a post office!

Of course, if I swear allegiance to the king of Romania.

So what will you do?

The Debrecen post office gives us a flat.

So we're "opting."

-What'll we do? -Do what, son?

We're opting for Hungarian citizenship.

"Master of the Royal Post of Hungary says good bye and leaves sadly."

That was my first move.

That's when life fell apart for the first time.

Then every time I put it back together, something always kicked it to bits again.

Needs more flour.

Too much.

Not enough almonds.

Remember, my girl, almonds are the key to vanilla pretzels.

You haven't got a man to look after you.

What will happen to you when I'm gone?

You'll outlive me, I bet.

The one you're with now, is he a decent man?

Who am I with now?

That blond one. I saw him from the window.

You can't even see the tip of your own nose.

What a sweet boy that little prince was.

Which one, William or Harry?

Otto.

The royal family came to visit Debrecen.

The whole city turned out to see them.

I couldn't see a thing, so a soldier lifted me up.

The little crown prince wore a hat with a feather.

And the news came, on moth wings,

that the revolution had broken out in Budapest.

On moth wings.

Yes. The 1918 revolution.

So the royal family hurried off in their carriage.

"Aliz put on her white hat with a long white feather,

sole tail of an ostrich

that the family possesses considered by us

the ne plus ultra of beauty and fashion."

Life in Debrecen was harder.

Mother was always sewing because Old Gardó was out philandering.

He hardly gave her a penny.

But with Mother we had a lovely time.

Hello, Mrs. Gardó.

I've brought your pan back, but it's a bit burned.

God almighty! How could you…

It's easily replaced.

You silly thing, Janka! What can do I with that?

Throw it away. It's easily replaced, I told you.

You're such a dippy damsel, Janka!

These are pretty.

Sent up from Budapest? Who are they for?

The tanner's girls.

That's where the money is now. Will you be the chaperone too?

You bet. I'm taking them to the firemen's ball.

Do something! I'm so bored…

I'm taking her out of the Catholic school.

I can't afford double tuition fees, however hard I try.

The poor thing!

She'll learn a trade.

That's how I became a milliner.

My heart will soon break, my love is at stake

COMIN' THRO' THE RYE

I won't live…

I won't live…

Much longer now

But when I die… for I'll surely die

My mem'ry to save

Put fresh

Forget-me-nots

On my grave

-Here is your cheek-slappy. -Thank you.

What's cheek-slappy?

Face cream.

My father used to call it that.

Because you slapped it on I suppose.

Old Gardó had a sense of humor.

Maybe if Mother hadn't hated him that much…

What cream did Grandma use?

Kovács's of Nagyenyed.

What was that?

There was a pharmacist in Nagyenyed. He made it.

Everybody used it, if they couldn't afford better.

Ilu and my brother joined the Post Office but I just made hats.

Ilu was Mother's favorite Sanyi was our father's,

and I was just Bertha.

Nobody wanted me. Only your father.

Rubbish! You had lots of suitors!

Well, I had a few.

But I didn't want to get married.

None of us in the family really did.

Well, I wasn't an ugly girl.

Bertha! Today's bunch has arrived! That Tureczky's no miser!

What do I care about Tureczky!

Damn Tureczky.

You're toying with me, Bertha,

and if you give my flowers to the girls again,

I won't wait for you anymore.

Tureczky sent flowers, from snowdrops to peonies.

The Schwarz boy.

They had a huge grocery store, doing very well.

My father wouldn't be happy if I married a Gentile,

but he said that the family wouldn't mind in your case.

You see, Mother's grown very fond of you.

Dezso Fuszbaum was a jeweler. He was a lot older than me.

Please, Bertha, it's unseemly to skip like that.

I'm no longer a child. I'm an independent man.

I've already planned my future.

With Fuszbaum I'd have ended up in America.

With the Schwarz boy, in Auschwitz.

I graduate this year and I'll be a grown man, Ilu.

The Pulszky brothers were very dapper.

We're from a large family.

Do you know how many cousins I've got? Eight.

But only Gyuri and I are studying law.

I'm only doing it to please my mother.

Who cares about legal passages!

I've got a dream, Bertha.

I'll have a top hat, and a Macfarlane cape coat with a white silk lining,

and I set off into the night.

Well, he never did.

He grew old in some council office, living among porcelain figurines.

Are you out of your minds?!

Walking out with Protestant girls? You're Pulszkys!

Take your hands out of your pockets, Gyuri! What a way to behave!

-Our intentions are serious, Mother dear. -That's right.

Please!

You'll have to ask the girls. I'll be glad, of course.

So, did you pass the exam?

I failed, Ilu, but that's all right.

I'll get a good job at my uncle's mill.

Will you come with me, Ilu?

I told you, if you fail, I won't marry you.

I won't marry a frivolous man.

Ilu!

Mrs. Gardó, please talk to her!

Don't bother! Let's go, Gyuri. And we'll never come here again.

We went against the wishes of our dear mother.

And we came here.

And now look!

You'll regret this, Ilu. You too, Bertha.

You were forced to, were you?

Bertha!

Goodbye, Mrs Gardó.

Is he insane? Good thing I didn't have time to say yes!

You're an idiot, too, Ilu. You love him, don't you?

Gyuri's so sweet. And worth so much more than Guszti!

He failed.

He failed.

Can you believe it, Mother?

Remember, my girl, there's no greater curse than the Catholic gentry.

Are you Ilu?

No, I'm Bertha.

Who am I then?

BERTHA'S HATS

She'd had heart trouble for years, she lay in bed a lot.

Ilu is finally getting married to Gyuri.

Your brother's passed his graduation exam,

but I don't know what'll become of you.

Never give up the hat shop.

It'll always provide you with a living.

And never marry a man you don't love.

It's not worth it.

Right. Run to the shop for some salami.

The others'll be back hungry.

That snobby, cold woman thought she was better than me?

A gentlewoman! Of course! A noble family!

All high and mighty!

My wife was a cold woman, believe me!

A cold woman!

She had no love for me.

But when I die, for I'll surely die

My mem'ry to save

Put fresh

Forget-me-nots

On my grave

Then we lost Ilu two years after Mother. She'd inherited her weak heart.

I was stuck with the two Gardós.

And you, my girl, need a husband.

We're not going to be stuck with a spinster.

That's all I need. To be married off by Father!

Don't worry, you won't be stuck with me.

I'm off to Budapest.

Budapest, is it? My daughter will be no whore!

You should know who will be a whore!

-How do you speak to Father! -Shut up, you dandy!

'Cos Mother made me wear short trousers until I was 16.

I was a laughing stock!

My son, the women in this family were always a nightmare.

Finally your sister will end up wearing the trousers in this family.

A Gardó won't order me about.

I've got a trade, I can stand on my own feet.

My poor brother, he thought our mother didn't love him.

He got shipped to the front in 1942,

and he took a bullet right at the beginning.

He looked so pathetic in uniform.

My family was crumbling away.

I left Debrecen, and I took my life in my own hands.

I wasn't worried about what would happen.

A friend wrote from Budapest that there was work.

Teri's Hat Shop. And I could stay with Teri's family.

This is Laci, my husband. He's a lawyer.

That's my sister Bözsi.

She's living here with her husband until their house is built.

He's Artúr, Bözsi's husband.

Laci works at Artúr's office.

Hello.

That's my kid brother Béla, he's an artist.

Good morning.

He's a friend, Karcsi, he's a lawyer at Artúr's, too.

Karcsi sleeps here sometimes.

When he loses at cards, he daren't go home.

We'll put you in the maid's room for now,

and when Bözsi and her husband move, you can move to the small room.

They were loonies too, but they offered me a home.

Hello.

Heavens! Karcsi?

He had a big win yesterday.

Is he playing again?

He never stopped.

Give me that, I'll steam the dent out.

We made a deal when he lost the big apartment house.

I don't complain when he loses, but he buys me jewelry if he wins.

How right you are!

I know. What will we live off when he's lost the lot?

No, thanks.

Don't be a fool, it's genuine Gschwindt Liqueur!

For family only.

Karcsi would gamble away the whole liqueur factory, if his uncle took him on.

Of course he won't, because he knows him.

But let Karcsi have his fun.

A husband solves nothing.

But you should still try and find one!

What for? I can stand on my own feet.

You're a silly goose.

It's a scandal for a pretty girl to stay a spinster.

I can find someone if I want to.

-He's been run over! -He shouldn't have played with that yoyo!

Shining knight, would you see what the fuss is about?

See for yourself if you're so curious!

Come on then!

There. You've torn the film.

You're an impossible woman.

Are you allowed out in civilian clothes?

I'm not a professional soldier.

-But what? -A re-enlisted signalman.

When I was demobbed,

they asked if I wanted to send Morse signals from Buda Castle.

An excellent job!

You know the Governor?

We don't exactly have tea together.

My mother died young, too.

That was when I left Hatvan.

I've been adrift in the world since then.

-Don't you miss family? -Of course I do.

It's lousy living alone.

You need a family.

But life will give you one. It owes you that much, doesn't it?

Aren't you afraid, though?

What of? I can stand on my own two feet.

The rest will only come from now.

There's so much left to look forward to.

You'll see, I won't be less daring than you.

Lajos! You can't behave like that!

Hello! Come on! We'll be late for the river!

Hello.

-Good morning, Mrs Tuba. -Good morning.

COLLECT ORDERS FROM THE CARETAKER

Summer, winter, they pass by You must laugh, never care

If you're cheerful you'll always have a lucky life

I don't know what'll happen.

The new law says Jews can't work at legal authorities.

I'm sure to be disbarred.

But it's so absurd.

Don't worry, Aladár.

They've never managed to enforce any laws properly in this country.

I'm sorry, but I can't base my existence on negligence.

One "conscientious" clerk, and I can close my office.

And it's the second anti-Jewish law. There'll be a third, a fourth…

The Governor has Jewish friends. He can't really mean it.

It's about paying for getting parts of the country back.

But why pay with me?

What have I got to do with the Treaty of Versailles?

What a summer we're having!

I look at the river and all my troubles flow away.

-Fancy a strawberry? -Yes.

Andor, come away from there!

It's full of Jews again.

-What? -I'll tell you later.

That's right, madam.

Us Jews and soldiers love this beautiful Danube.

And us ethnic Germans adore it, too!

You can never tell what to do in this impossible country.

I picked the worst moment to Hungarianize my name.

-What was it originally? -Schenk.

And now the ethnic Germans are the good guys. You can't be smart enough here.

Worst case scenario, we'll start our own office and give Aladár a job.

-What as? -Who cares.

This nonsense can't last forever.

It won't be like that, my boys.

At worst you'll take over my office.

Provided, that's the worst.

Horthy, Horthy, Horthy!

This is Lajos. I've brought him to meet you.

Where did you find this handsome boy?

He walked up to me.

My girl, he's too frivolous. He's not a serious man.

-How was the reoccupation? -Fabulous.

The whole folk dance group was there. Everybody.

We could hardly believe it.

I hadn't heard the Hungarian anthem for 20 years.

I even cried.

We're Hungarians again… real Hungarians.

Don't you believe it! Like the British in India.

They looked down at us from their horses like that.

The proud ones from the mother country.

They asked how I spoke Hungarian so well.

What do they think we are?

They know nothing about us. What we do, how we live here.

Everything will be like the old days.

We'll stay who we've always been.

She is alone here a lot. It's made her bitter.

Now they've billeted some Hungarian officers here,

and they said we were collaborators.

That we gave in to the Romanians.

I don't understand that either.

What were we supposed to do?

How are you, Margit?

We get by.

Does Vlad Tepesh still hit you?

He hasn't laid a finger on me since.

I go to the theater a lot.

He's entitled to a box, but only I use it.

Vlad Tepesh doesn't really like the theater.

Hey! I just picked up my new dress from the seamstress.

-Will you have a look? -Of course! Let's see it!

-There's no need! -Just let me do it.

Why carry heavy things if you don't have to?

Tell me if it's no good, tell me truthfully.

Not at all, Margit, it's beautiful!

This is all the rage in Budapest too.

But you would say?

What a lovely dress, Margit. Sent from Budapest?

Oh, just a local seamstress…

Well, it's gorgeous.

Come on, Bertha, we'll miss the train.

Have you got your umbrella?

Take these for the journey.

He'll never marry you. He's too good-looking.

That was the last time I saw them.

Two veal cutlets, two salads, a bottle of wine!

Come on, hurry up.

Listen, Lajos, don't feel obliged.

You don't have to ask for my hand. There's even no one to ask.

That's not the problem.

-I'd like to invite you home. -So?

If Mother were still alive it'd be easier.

But my old dad's against it.

What did you say about me then?

That you're a Protestant.

Well, that's torn it.

He said as long as he's alive, I can't take a Protestant girl home.

A small crate floats down in the river Old grandma will stand there forever

We'll have fun till morning Till the sun stops its yawning…

This was our first home in Kispest.

I only had Mother's vase and poor Ilu's curtains.

We'll be happy here.

I'll build a veranda for our old age.

Damn…

-Did you ring me? -No, Mother, you rang me.

-Are you home? -Yes.

Which war is it now?

There's no war on, Mother.

Go and buy ten kilos of sugar and two of salt.

And 20 bags of baking powder.

Remember, my girl,

you can't face a war without baking powder.

Governor Horthy inspected the artillery guards at Buda Castle.

What could it say?

Who knows?

They don't tell us what they're planning to mess up next.

Governor Horthy addressed the people of Hungary. He said:

It is already obvious for everyone with a sound mind

that the German Reich has lost this war.

In full knowledge of my historic responsibility I have to take every step

to avoid any further unnecessary bloodshed.

Any nation that would permit the land inherited from its fathers to become

a theater of rearguard actions in the defense of foreign interests,

would lose the respect of world opinion.

This is why I have informed the German Reich's emissary in Hungary

that we will conclude a preliminary armistice with our opponents to date,

and will cease all hostilities towards them…

I'll be stunned if this comes to anything good.

I'm Miklós Horthy's soldier His handsomest soldier

What'll happen now?

There'll be trouble, old pal.

Who'd have thought we'd come to this.

In position!

Surround them!

Gentlemen…

Ferenc Szálasi was elected leader of the nation by Parliament.

Power was assumed in 24 hours

and every Hungarian is in their place in the new order.

-Good afternoon, Mrs. Tuba. -Good afternoon, Bertha.

-I thought I could sleep here. -Come on in.

-Is Mrs. Tuba an Arrow-Cross Nazi? -Nope! It's her nephew.

Her husband was a communist. He even went to prison.

They're that kind of family.

Lajos phoned that he's stuck in the Castle.

He doesn't know how long he'll be on duty.

Of course. The Germans have occupied it.

They've taken the Governor and his whole family.

Oh, sweet mother of Jesus!

It's just Bertha.

Mother of Jesus! Béla, have you deserted?

-And you too, Aladár… -Hello.

Here we are again.

Oh, God.

We call on all workers and employees throughout the country

to take up their posts right away…

-Come in, Mrs Tuba. -No, I won't.

I wanted to let you know

I made a bit more room for you in the cellar.

You're such old tenants…

That's great, Mrs Tuba. My sister's moved home too.

What about her husband?

You know he's on forced labor.

Just because…

-Any news of Béla? -No.

Last thing we heard he was in heavy fighting in Gödöllo.

I pray for him a lot. He was such a good child.

-I see Bertha's back too. -Just until Lajos comes off duty.

Doesn't Laci's exemption need renewing?

Anyone could see he's untauglich!

Of course, of course!

But in the new order it won't be enough that he's short sighted.

You need to be careful.

We look after each other, don't we?

I think she knows about Béla.

She doesn't know about Aladár.

But she'll take care of us, because of Béla.

Lucky that Mother got on so well with her.

Mother of Jesus, Artúr's deserted, too?

He didn't even join up.

Right, I'm going to disappear. Bözsi, you stay here.

And you look after this.

What is it?

That's all we need!

Stop whining, woman. We haven't got time.

Don't cry.

You know the kid wets the bed.

That won't harm gold.

We thought we'd leave, too.

We don't want to get anyone into trouble.

Nobody's going anywhere. You'd better stay, too.

You shouldn't be walking about without a star at all.

I'm going to a safe place.

Listen, your papers won't be any good either now.

You'd better come with me.

At worst I'll go up to the "partisan."

It's made big enough to accommodate a partisan in an emergency.

Artúr survived. I can't imagine how.

The sky had fallen in by then.

And we, like the loonies we were,

were sure that we'd be safe at Teri's place.

Well, perhaps that's why…

We must win this war which is vital for us

and we must throw all our nation's moral, spiritual and material strength

into the battle.

I'll go back to Kispest, in case Lajos comes home.

Hello.

Lajos! Where are you?

I'm safe. Don't worry.

Don't stay there on your own. Go to Teri's.

When are you coming?

When it's over.

Christmas, 1944.

Neither the rich nor the poor have sparkling Christmas trees.

How stupid of me!

I had to search half the city.

It's Berta.

They're shooting up Kispest. I was shitting myself.

I was the only one on the tram. What a lovely tree!

You can't sit still…

-Hello, Bertha. -Oh, hello.

Yes?

Hello, Teri, how are things there?

Merry Christmas, Dugó! Are you alright? Is Karcsi there?

He's taking the jewelry to the cellar.

They're climbing over the fence!

What? Who's climbing?

The Russians are in the garden!

Teri, I've got to hang up.

-What's up now? -The Russian's are in Karcsi's garden.

Right. We're going down to the cellar.

Aladár, don't switch the lights on,

and don't flush the toilet.

It's nearly over.

-Laci, you bring the meat. -Where did you get it?

I cooked it when the Russians crossed the border.

Stop chattering, it's a siege, let's go.

Laci went back to the flat now and again for things for the kid

and to see if the others were okay.

We prayed for it to end.

Meanwhile they shot the city to bits.

German soldiers?

Nicht, nicht!

Oh, God! The door is open.

Stop!

Watch, watch!

Oh, right!

Mrs. Barkó? We live here now.

Here's your stuff, you can take it.

It was a fireman, a devoted communist.

The family never had much luck with firemen.

We need the rest.

We lost everything in the bombing.

At least my sister's curtains…

You've got a nerve! You lot aren't in charge anymore!

Filthy fascists! You'd better clear off.

Who's the fascist here?

Firemen, mother? They caused the trouble?

Well, how shall I put it? That's what happened to us.

Cheer up, my girl. We're alive.

We'll go home to Hatvan.

Oh, good God!

What the shit are you doing here, Mom?

Mind your language with your mother!

Be glad that I don't hit you. You'll get pneumonia.

Wandering about in the night…

I'm bored.

I'll have to lock you in.

You never come over to read to me.

What don't I do?

The house in Hatvan looked as if there'd never been a war.

We were at home again.

-Hello there. -What's happened now?

-Looks like I'm out of a job again. -There's no job at the grocery shop?

There is. At a good wage. Only there is no shop anymore.

Just as it opened they came to nationalize it.

We need a child.

You should have come ages ago, Lajos.

We never forget our childhood friends.

I know you're all right. You can start tomorrow.

We're always short of reliable people.

You'll be a foreman.

You know I'm not qualified.

You'll get the hang of it. It's nothing for an intelligent man.

You'll join the Party, I'll give the reference.

Perhaps that could be avoided.

You'd better make them forget your past.

And the sooner the better.

What past? What's the problem with my past?

You worked for Horthy's lot…

As a radio telegrapher. A shitty soldier.

That makes no difference now.

Lajos! You're a Horthyist now.

Oh, bugger the people's democracy!

You don't joke about that.

Old pal, you don't understand, you can't joke around anymore.

Don't shit yourself, Gyula! That would be the end of the world.

I'm not coming at lunchtime because I'm going to the bank.

Do you work at the bank?

No, I work at the newspaper. I'm going there too.

So many places to go.

That's right.

My daughter Bertha said she was going to the bank too.

That was me, for shit's sake!

-What's the baby like? -Pretty. Loud.

Can Lajos manage on his own?

We don't have any choice. We need money.

His wages aren't enough for anything.

You shouldn't have run away from Budapest.

Now you can't come back.

We don't want to come back. Lajos is at home there.

We're fine there for now. We're left in peace.

My poor Guszti's always on edge.

And there's his wife as well, also of noble Catholic stock…

You smoke "Worker" cigarettes?

My dear Laci, take your hands out of your pockets!

It's most unseemly!

I see you've rescued a lot of stuff from the shop.

They started the nationalization at the end of the street,

so we had a whole night before they got to us.

It's very hard, my dear.

These terrible communists everywhere…

I said to my son, a gentleman should be able

to stay discreetly in the background.

This thing can't last forever.

But you did belong among them, didn't you?

I didn't belong anywhere, my girl.

Among all that stupidity, where should I have belonged in this country?

I belonged with your father, and he belonged with me.

And that was enough for us.

Teri, can you come over straight away?

We're coming.

You take the pictures and the silver.

The neighbor'll take the carpets and the coffee table.

And if Laci would take the chest of drawers.

Oh, come on!

He can't carry a chest of drawers in the night. He can't even lift it.

It's lunacy, of course, but I can lift it.

What about the books?

We've selected the valuable ones.

She can't understand that it's impossible to select out of 120 years.

Didn't you appeal?

That wouldn't delay the enforcement.

There's nothing to appeal.

"I hereby summarily banish you from the territory of Budapest,

and designate your compulsory place of abode as Tiszabo village.

You are obliged to surrender your vacated flat within 24 hours."

They don't always wait 24 hours.

Sometimes the truck comes at dawn.

There's nothing else for it, kids, we're going.

Take this, too.

Bertha, does the child have a silver spoon?

Not right now.

It's engraved with the name "Jánoska," but it's still…

Of course. Thank you.

If we have to go as well, we'll leave the stuff with Teri or Aladár.

If they don't resettle us, too.

Take care of yourselves.

Bye.

Will you?

When didn't he?

The others don't know about it.

Who doesn't know about Dugó's jewelry?

You can't trust anyone.

Not even you.

Shame on you, Karcsi.

He doesn't mean it personally.

We just all start to lose our minds.

-I won't be coming for a while, Teri. -Don't be so touchy!

She's right. For a while none of us should move about.

Here.

-How about the smart dress? -Not for now.

You shouldn't wear it to church.

You should be more careful.

Everyone here knows Lajos served at Buda Castle.

All the best.

That's it. We're not staying here.

We'll go to Old Gardó's in Gyüre.

What'll we do there, in the back of beyond?

We'll manage.

And at least nobody knows us there.

Right?

It's still warm.

Lajos, I didn't really mean it…

That's okay, Mari. Better safe than sorry.

-Well, God bless you. -And you.

Open up! Barkó!

Open up!

They've moved.

-When? -Last night.

Where to?

Who knows?

Shit!

Another "Mille-stone" around my neck.

Why couldn't you have been a boy?

You'll be just like your grandmother.

You'll hate me as well.

Like your mother. She comes here, but she hates me.

How do you all get like this?

This wasn't a good idea.

We might as well just have waited to be deported.

Well, my girl, I can't even get casual work here.

There's nothing to stay here for.

No, there isn't.

I'll work in a mine.

We'll sell the furniture, and we'll move to a mining town.

Lajos, don't go under the ground.

What if you don't come up one day?

I'll train to be a mine lift operator.

But that doesn't pay either.

Finally you accept that nothing's up to you.

Lajos, I'm scared.

Maybe if you want nothing more but to bring up your child.

Maybe then you'll be left alone.

Where are the other two Berthas?

How many Berthas are there?

Three. And who's the one in the red dress?

What red dress?

There are only two Berthas, you and me. That's just two.

-But we're pretty and fragrant. -That's true!

Tatabánya.

The miner's work is appreciated today.

After a hard day's work, the heroes of black gold are welcomed

by comfortable family homes.

I thought we'd start a new life. But it was terrible.

There was silence all over the housing estate.

Nobody talked. I only remember the silence.

Your father went to the mine and sat at home terrified.

STATE DEPARTMENT STORE

There are more and more state department stores in our big cities.

Good quality at a cheap price!

At the sale, customers flooded into shoe departments.

I hope they've got ankle boots.

-I don't want ankle boots. -Yes, you do.

How did you lose it?!

We saved up for two years!

Your dad'll kill you, and then me

for trusting you with that purse.

Excuse me!

RUSSIANS GO HOME!

Our temporary workers' committee has decided

to continue the strike until the Soviet troops leave Hungary for good.

Lajos, we're not going on strike. We can't afford it.

Understand?

There's a revolution on, my girl.

What revolution! It's nothing to do with us.

They just can't sit on their backsides!

Mother of Jesus!

-What's up, Jóska? -Mr. Barkó, you've got to come.

-Hello, Mrs. Barkó. -Good evening, Jóska.

The machine operators aren't striking, or the mine would flood.

Lajos, you're not going anywhere!

Are you mad? There's shooting in the streets!

What are you getting him into?

You'll both get into trouble.

Don't worry, Mrs Barkó. The operators are working.

The strike committee decided.

That's all I need, the strike committee!

I've seen enough in my time. And it all cost me dearly.

Everyone's been taken for a ride in this stupid country!

My girl, this is history in the making.

Don't talk to me about history!

I have to risk my hide all the time!

Lajos, you keep away from history!

Listen, Lajos.

We'll go to Auntie Ethel in America.

What will we do, my dear?

There's a refugee camp in Vienna, we'll write to her from there.

They're letting now everyone into America.

We'll open a canteen in Yonkers.

We can make a living on my home cooking anywhere.

Have you lost your mind?

Everyone's going.

We should have gone back in '45. I wanted to, you didn't.

Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud! We'll never get another chance in life!

Set off into the big wide world with a kid?

Lajos, you don't like moving.

This is Radio Free Europe, the voice of the free Hungary.

Pál Kövári and his wife send a message to their parents:

We're in Austria, doing fine.

Hey, if that can be heard outside…

To József Mayer in Sydney: his wife and daughter are on their way to Sydney.

Karcsi's message with the codeword Case of Gold:

they've reached Switzerland.

A message to Bonyhád: the Engelmanns are fine. Pass it on.

-They left? -All four of them.

-Which four? -Well, Bözsi, Artúr, Karcsi and Dugó.

To the Gschwindt family out there.

We could be in America by now.

But Lajos didn't want to go. No way.

Now we'll have to spend the rest of our lives in this dump.

Why didn't he want to?

How should I know?

He's so impossible, so slow…

No spirit of adventure.

Hold on!

You've always rushed around like a headless chicken.

You get peeved and move out.

You should be thankful that Lajos has let you drag him around.

Lajos is not a fly-by-night but…

Lajos is an oak.

And oaks put down roots.

But you keep uprooting him and dragging him away.

And Lajos loves his country. You should accept that.

Firstly… I don't drag him, I save him!

He'd have been taken away ages ago. At least twice!

So don't you tell me…

You've become addicted to it, that's the problem.

Well I never!

So we stayed.

Even though Auntie Ethel expected us in Yonkers.

I never understood who Auntie Ethel was.

Your grandmother's sister on your father's side, I guess.

Anyway, she sent us parcels for years.

-What's this? -Roller skates.

Nonsense! They should have sent shoes.

Eh, thick in black was the night, my Lord King László!

The wind was wet, it liked to fight.

It's not bad, but the poem actually goes like this:

"Thick in black was the night,

The wind blew up with all its might,

Buda Castle stood on high,

The weathercock creaked atop its mast

Who goes there? What is this thing?

Go back to sleep, oh mighty king,

It was the rain and nothing more,

The storm will soon be passed"

Give me your foot.

The other one.

I don't want to.

You don't want to?

Go on, Lajos!

The report states that the teacher, known to have religious leanings,

is giving good marks only to children who attend theology classes.

That's why your daughter gets straight As, isn't it, comrade?

My daughter doesn't attend theology classes.

-What do you mean? -She doesn't.

Do you deny that you raise her in a clerical spirit?

-I'm a Protestant, if you please! -Isn't that a religion?

And why does your husband wear handmade shoes?

Because we can't afford another pair.

Lajos, we're packing!

Mr. Barkó, where are you moving to?

We've driven right off the map!

We moved to a mining village in the back of beyond.

We spent 15 years there.

Be sure to run the water cold.

Who's the woman in the kitchen?

It doesn't matter, Mom.

It's ice cold!

You want to give me a sore throat!

You want to kill me!

That's enough! You're running me ragged!

You know exactly what you're doing.

You're running me around like you did Papa!

He never had a minute's peace!

I'll put you in a home! Understand?

Stop this now!

Yesterday I went to enroll at secondary school.

Hey, when the shaft opens up wide It beckons us deep down inside!

Deep down underground The black coal waits to be found!

Beat it towards you.

That's it.

The secret's to dip the spoon

in cold water before each dollop.

Hello, Mrs. Barkó.

I've brought a marrow, I saw you didn't plant any.

Great! Have a seat, Margó.

I won't.

-I see you got a parcel. -Oh, yes.

Well. But I have no money.

There's something you'd like, though.

Hey!

Margó, it was made for you.

You'd be elegant even in Budapest in that.

And my husband gives me a good hiding for wasting money on rags.

He won't say a word if he sees you in that.

He'd better not, 'cos he won't get any muff!

Good luck. Good bye.

Aren't you coming, Lajos?

Family waiting at home, eh?

Yours are waiting too, Józsi!

That's for sure.

Hey, I want a beer. A beer!

If I should ever marry, I want to be perfectly happy.

Perfect happiness!

Such wonders only exist in fairy tales.

Spoon, knife, fork.

Hello, Dad.

Over the ocean we'll be happy…

A dance?

-We'll ruin the child's taste in music. -She'll grow out of it.

Over the ocean

We'll have a fabulous farm

Over the ocean

To us will come no harm

Jesus, Mom, what are you doing here?

Come on, we'll go over to my place. Turn around.

Go.

Careful.

…thy kingdom come,

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…

Our Father who art in heaven,

what should I do now?

I've raised a child,

taught her, sent her to university,

financed her degree,

and she's put me out on the street.

I've become an old bag lady.

What should I do, Mr. Policeman? Tell me what I should do.

Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come.

I can't bear this smell of perfume in here.

In the name of the Lord, amen.

I swear in the name of everything

that I'm Mrs. Lajos Barkó.

Why can't we set off in time, just once?

Lajos, you shouldn't grumble all the time.

-Hello, Mrs. Barkó. -Good morning, Ármin.

You said you were going empty, Ármin.

I meant the coffin's empty.

Back, I won't bring anything, so I bring you back too.

We're off to Debrecen. It's my daughter's graduation today.

She'll be a teacher, won't she?

Yes. A secondary school teacher.

Faster, Ármin, we'll miss the train.

Not so fast, the coffin will fall apart.

That degree ceremony made up for so much he had lost.

Why did he let you drag him through life?

He didn't care.

He found a little happiness everywhere.

The only thing was to avoid humiliation.

You were the masterpiece of his life.

-Anything else for me to do? -No, Father.

Then we got a pensioners' flat in a nearby town.

Full comfort, I couldn't even remember what that's like.

And then your father gave up.

He'd had enough.

He passed away in two months.

Thank you.

Has Laci still got his world radio receiver?

It's 2000 now.

You messed that one up, Mom.

Who'd have thought I'd live so long?

Let's go.

Listen, I don't want to be buried in Hatvan after all.

You don't say! Where would you like to be buried then?

In Debrecen. Next to Mother and Ilu.

But the headstone's been engraved. We've just ordered the correction.

You just have the year filled in, then tell everyone

I'm buried there, but I didn't want them to come to the funeral.

Hatvan's a small town, everyone'll know you're not buried there.

I don't care. I hate Hatvan!

Okay, it will be Debrecen.

Then at All Souls' I'll traipse around the country with wreathes.

Okay then.

First bury me in Hatvan,

then in a few years' time move me to Debrecen.

You want another move.

Okay, there'll be another move.

I can't leave her alone.

When I went down to the pharmacy, she fell out of bed.

I don't give a shit, I always miss deadlines.

He can go to hell.

Let them fire me, then!

Bertha.

What's up, Mom?

Shall I change your nappy?

You have to eat, Mrs. Barkó.

No, thank you.

Just a little.

Nurse, I'd like to give this to you.

No, please.

She's such a sweet old lady, always says thank you.

I asked her where she's from, she said from very far away.

She meant Székelyhíd. She was born there.

I'm from Székelyhíd too. I moved to Hungary last year.

But Székelyhíd doesn't exist anymore.

Of course it does.

Do you know anyone by the name of Mille or Gardó?

Go on, keep it.

I'll look after her.

I had three children,

Ilus, Sanyi…

Strange, how differently we die.

Mother died in five minutes, while I popped out to the shop.

Nobody knows how they'll die.

I just don't know

what will become of you.

What would you like to eat, Mom?

I don't need anything.

But what would you fancy?

Cabbage noodles.

Shall I bring some? Cabbage noodles?

No.

It's just nice.

Mommy?