Original subtitles

Star Media presents

Alexei Kravchenko, Svetlana Kolpakova

Yuriy Borisov, Arina Zharkova

Maksim Kerin, Alina Lanina

Maria Smolnikova, Vitaliy Khayev

Sergey Sosnovskiy, Maria Kuznetsova

Sergey Peregudov, Vladislav Vetrov

Viktoria Tolstoganova, Leonid Gromov

Created and directed by Milena Fadeyeva

Director of Photography Radik Askarov, R.G.G.

Art Director - Sergey Kokovkin

Costumes by Alexei Kamyshov

Music by Ivan Uryupin

Montage by Marina Vasilyeva

Sound Director - Leonid Shushakov

Executive Producers - Eduard Aliyev, Tatyana Statsman

Produced by Ekaterina Pogorzhelskaya

Produced by Andrey Anokhin, Vlad Ryashin

Movie of Milena Fadeyeva

THE ANCESTRAL LAND

Neither horses nor camels eat when they are moving in a herd.

Why do you do it?

We’re hungry, Comrade Lieutenant.

Comrade Lieutenant,

we haven’t had anything in our mouths since the morning.

All right, eat, hell with you! Widen your step! We shall move faster.

We, infantrymen, are complaining. We’re hungry and we’re cold.

But when you look at these men, you feel ashamed.

How many miners’ intestines are hanging on the trees?

Just one mistake, and here you go - please enter the heaven, bro...

Private Morozov? Come here!

Yes, Comrade Commander.

Morozov, where are you going?

Where are you going, damn you? Get back, now!

Morozov!

Company, stop!

Morozov!

Sonny...

You shall run, your commander is calling you.

How are you?

Like everybody now. I’m fighting. Go.

We’ll talk about everything after the war.

I knew that you were at the front, at the very frontline.

You’re always in my heart.

This is it, man. God help you.

Morozov, catch up! Company, march forward!

Did you meet somebody you know?

Two months ago, I met Rinat Timofeyev. He is my neighbour.

We weren’t enemies before the war, but we didn’t like each other much.

We were both in love with Raya Kandeykina...

Be quiet, be quiet... be quiet, boy, don’t look there...

I was a professor of literature at the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute.

My wife Elechka also worked there.

We didn’t have children.

Our only child died two days after the birth.

All my relatives left Russia after the revolution.

We come from the nobles.

That’s why I don’t have anybody in Petersburg...

I mean in Leningrad.

I’m all alone.

German Petrovitch, I’ll look for work.

I’ll be leaving Egorka here on his own.

Of course, Varenka. You shall work if you decided so.

We’ll manage somehow.

We’ll take turns of who is staying with him.

Is Egorka’s father at the war?

He must be.

I don’t know anything about him.

I beg your pardon.

Varya... Varenka, do you like literature?

What writers do you like?

German Petrovitch, me and writers...

Do you want me to read for you?

I do.

Listen.

“Some women are like nurses of life.

One shan’t hide anything from them, at least what one has sick

and insulted in the soul.

The ones who suffer may bravely go to them

with hope and without the fear to be a burden for them,

for not many people know how much patient love,

compassion and forgiveness may a heart of such a woman contain.

Entire treasure chests of empathy, compassion and love

are stored in their pure hearts, which are also often insulted

because a heart that loves a lot is sad a lot but in it,

a wound is carefully hidden from a curious glance,

for deep grief often keeps silence and hides.

These women aren’t scared either by the depth of the wound,

or the puss, or the stench it emits.

The one who comes up to them is already worthy of them.

They seem to be born for the sake of heroic deeds...”

What is it?

This? This is from Dostoyevskiy.

You know, I have a feeling that he was writing about you.

German Petrovitch, may I read this book?

Of course. Of course! I'll put it on the table.

It’s yours, like all the books in my room.

Comrade Captain... I’ll now stand up, Comrade Captain.

It happened to me accidentally.

It was an accident...

Comrade Captain, one moment...

I have no strength left...

No, I have the strength. Yes, Comrade Captain.

Lilya? There is a flask in my right pocket.

Take a few sips.

I don’t drink, Comrade Captain.

Drink it! Execute my order.

I don’t know how. It’s spirits.

Execute my order, soldier Morozova!

Yes, sir.

It’s good.

Your wounds shall be dressed, Comrade Captain.

Andrey.

Please call me Andrey.

Andrey...

You’re very beautiful, Lilya.

Give me your hand.

Your hands are so tender...

Comrade Captain...

Comrade Captain...

Comrade Captain! Comrade Captain!

Comrade Captain! Comrade Captain!

- Yelena Makarovna? - Yes.

We’re already waiting for you.

Yes, yes, let’s go.

Let’s go.

Follow me.

All our boys can’t walk. Some of them are blind.

In some cases, eyes were damaged by explosions,

and some lost their eyes all together.

They will feel warmer from the mere sound of your voice.

Three days ago, school girls came to us to sing some songs.

They had such voices...

I think angels in heaven must have the same.

Yelena Makarovna, let’s go to the end of the corridor.

There is a big ward for the cot cases there.

You will perform there first, and then move to the other wards.

I used to stay in his hospital as well.

My brother was its head doctor before the war.

- Alexei Makarovitch? - Yes.

Really?

I used to work with him. Alexei Makarovitch, such a great man!

How is he? Does he write?

He heads a surgical department in a field hospital.

He doesn’t write often. I don’t like it too.

You know, to write to your brother at the front...

Be braver. Come on. Come on.

Comrades, this is Yelena Makarovna Babakhina, a theatre actress.

She’ll now read some poems for you, Here you go.

You may start.

Brace yourself.

These people have been looking forward to listening to you.

A stone warmed up by explosions is cooling down.

The storm that started in the morning wears off.

The last step. The fighters are driving away

the enemy from the last trenches with bayonets.

The trenches encircle the hill like dead snakes.

Concrete machine gun nests are puncturing them.

And broken cannons are sadly looking at the sunset

stretching their cold long necks towards the sky...

Alexei Makarovitch? Has something happened?

Alexei Makarovitch, are you all right?

- What? - Aren’t you sick?

My soul hurts today... Do you know how it happens?

I do.

We, doctors still don’t know how to treat it...

and we’ll never learn.

- Have you slept at least a bit? - I have.

I saw my wife in my dream. She was shouting... calling me.

She must be thinking about you.

She must be.

Alexei Makarovitch, let’s go or you’ll freeze.

Maybe you’ll sleep for another hour...

Oh, no, you won’t sleep now.

The trucks with the wounded are coming.

Unload them! Faster!

Unload, move it!

Don’t you dare unload all of them here!

Unload only cot cases and those with serious wounds.

Where shall we take the rest?

- Do you know the order? - Come on, come on, come on!

Bring the cot cases here!

Those who can walk - go to the evacuation point!

- Alexei Makarovitch! - Call your senior man here!

I’m Morozov, the head of the surgical department.

How many trucks do you have, Comrade Captain?

Thirty two, Comrade Military Doctor.

How many wounded?

How do I know? We didn’t count them. About 500 people.

It’s impossible! Girls, come to me, now!

Nurses! Sort the wounded!

Those who had been unloaded from the trucks but can walk,

load back into the trucks!

Did you hear the order? Execute!

Faster, faster!

The 18th Tank and 10th Motorized Infantry Divisions of the enemy

seized the towns of Mikhaylov and Yepifan.

After the start of the assault from December 6 to December 10

units of our troops seized and liberated from the Germans

over 400 settlements...

Food rations cards are the main documents now.

Come on, ladies!

Somebody stole the food ration cards from my neighbour yesterday,

so she nearly committed a suicide.

She has three children!

How will she feed them now?

Here you go.

Thank you.

You’re welcome. Ladies, come up!

- Hello. - Hello.

Where is your dog?

Polkan is gone. He died of hunger.

Oh, really?

Yes, really. I couldn’t stand up because of hunger for two days myself.

I thought I’d follow Polkan and die.

Now I’m gluing the posters and distributing leaflets.

They give me bread crumbs for that, and sometimes even some sugar.

Do you still live in the cellar?

Where else may I live?

I see. Come with me. Come om, come on.

Come on, let’s wash you. Close your eyes or soap may get in.

Here we go. Now...

Hello.

Hello, sir.

Hello, German Petrovitch. Don’t get scared. This is Timka.

He lives in the cellar; he is an orphan.

I brought him here to wash and to feed.

Why shall I get scared?

Why shall I get scared?

And why only to wash and to feed?

A boy doesn’t have a place to live.

- Have you washed him? - I have.

Let him stay here. Come on, get up.

German Petrovitch!

I wanted to ask you about it but I wouldn’t dare. Thanks!

Stop it! Come on, dry his feet.

Come on, give me your feet.

It tickles!

- It tickles, doesn’t it? It’s all right. - Hold on.

How are your relatives doing? Are they alive?

I haven’t received any letters for a while.

What do they write from home?

Mine do write. I got a letter from my mother.

How is your mum? What does she write?

You’re so curious.

What is her name?

And what do they write to you?

It’s the war, Morozov.

Today your father was killed, and tomorrow you’ll be killed.

Or vice versa.

Now you’ll be fighting the enemy with newfound hatred.

What is it? Nekrasov?

- What shoe size do you have? - 43rd.

Just what I need. Look!

Let’s swap. I’ll give you my boots with a hole

and you’ll give me your good ones.

Plus, I’ll give you another great thing.

Look, Nekrasov! It’s my trophy. Come on!

What do I need the enemy’s stuff for?

What do you mean?

Look for fools in other places, son of a bitch!

Don’t insult my mother! Do you get it?

Son of a bitch! His mother is a virgin!

I’ll now slap you on the face!

His mum had six kids but she was still a virgin!

Shut your mouth!

No, she had only one kid, but a lucky one!

- Look, Golikov! - What?

I’ll now tear your mouth, do you get it?

This mouth has an owner.

You’re not an owner, you’re a stinky dog. Did you get it?

What a chatterbox!

Comrade Lieutenant, do you need to patch something up?

I’m very good with that.

I’m not afraid to prick my fingers with a needle for your sake.

I’d tear your tongue out, Sharifullin,

but without it, the detachment will be bored.

I don’t want that. It’s not necessary.

Morozov, don’t keep silence, don’t hide your pain.

You shan’t do it now.

Here you go, smoke.

Thank you, Comrade Lieutenant.

Comrade Lieutenant! Comrade Lieutenant!

The Germans are approaching us!

At your places!

Fire, motherfuckers! Fire!

What did Utkin say? Schmutsiges schwein?

Comrade Lieutenant, we’ll all die today!

For the Motherland!

Run forward! Hurray!

Hurray!

Burn in hell, damned swines...

You’ll died anyway...

Comrade Lieutenant!

Sharifullin...

Schmutsiges schwein...

Schmutsiges schwein! Schmutsiges schwein!

Pavel Arkadyevitch, we shall organize some food for the children.

They stand by the machines for 12 hours every day.

Ivan Grigoryevitch, where will I find food for such a crowd?

Before addressing me with such suggestions,

you shall first think whether they are plausible.

Four children fainted this week.

Due to hunger and tiredness, children lose consciousness.

Ivan Grigoryevitch! Don’t play on my feelings!

Do you think I’m not alive? Don’t I feel sorry for the kids?

However, we just can't do it! We can’t, honey!

- Pavel Arkadyevitch? - Yes, Lidia Mitrofanovna?

A reporter came.

Stein Zinoviy Markovitch, from the newspaper

“A Worker from the Urals”.

Let him come in.

Let him see how children are helping the front at our plant.

- Hello, Pavel Arkadyevitch. - Hello.

Pavel Arkadyevitch, I want to make a couple of photos.

As many as you like. Where shall I stand?

There, if you may. Very good.

I’ll take your photo at the background of the young workers.

I may stand with them.

No, not with them. Better choose one of them... the best one.

- The best one? - Yes.

- What is your name? - Tanya.

Tanusha, come here. Look at the gentleman.

This is it.

- Thanks. - Go to work.

Yes. Babakhin. Wait, I’ll be there soon.

Honey? What are you doing here?

I was at the hospital today...

You’re going there so often! Did you find somebody you like there?

Pasha, stop talking nonsense. They are only cripples there.

It’s a place of grief, and you’re telling your idiotic jokes.

Have you found out?

I have.

Akimov Ignat Kuzmitch?

He burnt in a tank.

70% of his body were burnt, including the face.

He was also wounded into his abdomen.

He is at the field hospital 2461.

I wish death to all of you.

Lord, kill them... send some terrible death on them...

Oh, heavenly angels...

Oh, God...

Where are you looking, Lord?

These bastards did such a thing...

She is alive! She is alive...

I don’t know how it happened! I shot, it exploded, and he...

- You’re lying. - Why would I lie?

- Hello, Varya. - Hello.

I have found you. Varya, may I wait for you?

What for?

We need to talk. I hope you’re not against it?

No. Wait for me. I need to wipe the stairs dry.

Yes. Sure. I’ll go outside and wait for you there.

Yes? What is it?

Varya, I brought something for your Timka.

- You did, didn’t you? - Take these.

My Igor used to play with them before the war.

But he is too big now - he is 14, he is helping the front at the plant.

And your boy will play.

- Shura! - It’s likely he hasn’t seen them before.

Thank you, Shura.

Good bye.

Shall we have a walk?

Let’s have a walk.

You know, Varya, I like you very much.

I fell for you the first time I saw you.

I came to your home today. The conditions are not the best there.

Move to me! I have a big apartment, huge rooms.

What do you mean - move to me?

Just get into the car and move.

- What about the kids? - I’ll take your kids too.

- But we’re strangers. - We won’t be strangers then.

Do you know what? I’m in a hurry.

Varya, Varya! Varya!

Look. I might come from a village

and I don’t know city life but I understood you very well.

Let me at least give you a lift home.

You offered me to become your lover.

My wife.

The children are sitting at home alone. I’m in a hurry.

Hello, Auntie Varya.

- Hello! Hi, Auntie Varya! - Hello.

We’re washing so well! Here we go!

We like the bath so much!

Who has come to us? How good it is!

- Careful! - Yes, be careful.

Here we go.

Come on, come on...

Be careful... careful...

Give me the towel.

Here you go.

Are you cold?

We washed so well! The bath was so good.

This is it. You’re a real hero!

- You didn’t use the sponge, though! - It’s all right.

It is, isn’t it?

She is cleaner than you were when she brought you here.

Do you remember how dirty you were?

Yes. It’s because I lived in the street.

- Here is your mum. - My little one!

We have been walking together for the second day in a row.

We shall get acquainted. Makovskiy.

If you want to call me by the name - Dmitry.

However, nobody is calling each other by names at the war.

Morozov... Stepan.

- Are you a Private? - I am.

And I’m a Lieutenant.

However, nobody cares for that here. We shall escape.

I thought about it.

It’s impossible to escape.

There are as many guards here as shit in a toilet.

It’s all right. We’ll think of something on the way.

But we don’t know how long it takes to get to the barbed wire.

Brother, don’t limp so much or they might shoot you.

I’ve been limping since childhood.

One can’t hide a limp in one’s ass.

If we don’t escape on our way, we’ll certainly die in a camp.

What did you do, fool? One can’t do like this.

Guys! Soldiers! I want to feed you!

Oh, Lord!

Punish them, God! Punish them!

Forget about the escape, Stepa.

Welcome to hell!