Original subtitles

A Co-Production of DEFA Berlin and Feature Film Studio of Sofia

Actors:

Stars

I am getting tired.

Faster, faster, faster..

Go!

Jews

Poland

You must remember her,

The night swallowed her and never gave her back to the light of day

What happened then?

Why do we return to these memories?

But let's begin from the start.. ..the very start.

In those years, that seem so far away,

we met a german corporal.

What did he want in our little bulgarian village?

And what was his name?

For us he was just: "Herr Unteroffizier"

We knew nothing about him,

except: he was limping

Not even his real name did we ever find out..

Therefore we will call him simply:

"Walter"

You seem so happy, Blashe getting married?

For one it's a funeral, for the other a wedding.

Why is everybody so happy?

Nice weather today

Nice peace of work, Pletko

Good, very good

Wait until you find out..

Everybody, back to work!

Our people took Smolensk.

Corporal?

Corporal!

What do you want?

The batteries didn't arrive yet. - Well?

You said you'd take care of it

We won't make it in time

Come back later. I am working.

- Corporal! - Yes, sir!

What are you writing there?

I report current state of repairs, sir!

You are responsible for the bulgarian staff, corporal,

And would you kindly stop doing these scribbelings!

You Rembrandt!

Was that flattery or did he try to insult you?

An insult,..

..for poor Rembrandt

The old man is in a bad mood.

The workers are the opposite.

I don't care, Rembrandt,

How about some change, a little trip?

He Walter, you know what I think?

You think? Look at that!

Look, Rembrandt, as they say, thinking is bad for the stomach

You and I here - it is like paradise.

I thought about where we both came from. Leningrad.

Remember, when you were hit?

Yes.

So what?

So what..

Leningrad, and this silent, wild little island..

No, no..

There'll be no war, just silence

Americans!

They fly by..

..and good bye

Only with the chicks it's hard..

Not that they don't want, but..

..they keep playing games..

He, Walter..

..why don't we organise something decent in the bar?

I am happy!

Because you are a chimpanzee

Kurt, I envy you.

Mankind suffered 2.000000 years to get all the way up,

just to end up where it started.

What a waste.

In times of war everybody is a chimpanzee

Look, over there, another little chimpanzee

Chimpanzee! Come over here! Chimpanzee!

This is a damn wild country!

Children that don't know chocolate!

Damn it!

What is it?

Jews from Greece.

The devil himself should come and get them

I have to take care of them..

..untill the fright trains arrive.

Goodbye Rembrandt, enjoy our quiet valley!

(You my quiet valley, I kiss you a 1000 times..)

Here, take it.

Come on take it!

Thank you, I don't smoke.

Seargent, I'm begging you! There's a woman in labour!

So what? Anything else?

It's a difficult situation..

They're gonna die both, her and the baby!

What can I do? These things happen.

You are not human

Wild animals

Germans are all the same..

from the first to the last one.

All of them

Wolves, Rats!

Listen, Jew!

For what you just said, I could shoot you.

Whithout remorse.

But,..

..I simply don't have the time..

How are you, Petko?

Good,..

..and how are you?

Is there a doctor coming?

He is coming!

later...

Don't worry, Sarah..

..we are going to a place called Auschwitz, and we'll work there.

Your child will live.

The germans are human beings, too, aren't they, Ruth?

Yes humans,

Don't get upset, father!

The lesson has to continue, Attention!

Louder!

Stop it! Are you mad?

Someone's dying and you learn the alphabet!

Don't you understand? They bring us to the shambles.

Or do you expect sympathy from the germans?

Where's the patient?

Behind the chalkboard

Get this done here, that's all I can do.

Once children learned here.

And now a child is born..

..that will never go to school

Never?

Excuse me..

Why have you been brought here?

You should know the answer, seargent.

I am not a seargent, I am a corporal.

It's all the same. You are a german!

Why have you been brought here?

They will bring us to poland.

To some village. Auschwitz.

What for?

We will grow cabbage, they say.

You acted like a human.

Take it.

This is an old redaction of Heine

Keep it.

Only god knows..

..what awaits us in poland.

Why are you talking about poland all the time?

People are dying at the front, and you?

You'll just be working.

What's so wrong with it?

Is the story with the vegetable- gardens confirmed by the authorities?

Of course!

Then excuse me please.

You lied.

Thank you.

Always thank you! thank you!

Everybody says thanks, but what for?

Thanks for another helpless baby born.

A new human being is born.

A human being?

What took you so long?

The chicken is already completely defeated!

Am I your friend, or what?

You shouldn't live like a dog. Come on.

What are your jews doing? Did they get the baby?

Only for your sake I let the doctor into that dump!

Rembrandt

Come, eat! Things get cold!

I am not hungry

Let's go on with the portrait.

It's time to get it done

Not in the mood tonight, Kurt.

Too late already

Fine with me, it's your problem anyway.

What actually is Auschwitz?

A village

A village in poland

They say, it isn't so bad there

Where?

Auschwitz

Nobody ever came back to tell any details.

Good night

You said you've been there,

What is Auschwitz? The vegetable gardens.

Nice vegetable gardens.

It's a mill. A mill for human flesh.

I'll sleep, it's late.

ou know what, Kurt?

There was the middle-ages,

the renaissance,

the golden age,

Now it's the age idiotism.

That's it.

Kurt?

You hear me, Kurt?

Did you ever read Heine?

Rush, they went down to the river

What's going on?

Mr. Corporal! Thieves in the garage!

What could someone steal from here? Scrape?

You saw a ghost.

Ghosts don't shoot, corporal!

I saw two persons. They went past the wall.

Do you need wood charcoal?

How much?

Before the war 5, now 10.

Any news?

I reported about the camp

The head of our departement decided: we have to help.

How?

We have 10 sacks of potatoes...

..but the germans didn't let us in.

The jews are asking for medicine

Speak, doctor.

I need new supplies,too. Today!

Where should we take it from?

And in the forest: where from?

17 men are lying there!

I understand, doctor

I am not a doctor, but 4 semester of medicine means something here..

Dentist or surgeon!

I only have aspirin!

Easy, calm down.

Excuse me, comrade.

Did you get it also?

The fever will goe.

You have to get the medicine.

I see what I can do.

We need guns. Not like these. Real guns!

This time I hit the turning one

Did you hear? Last night thieves were in the garage.

What could they possibly steal?

I don't know, tyres, parts,..

missed it

missed

You are a good shot.

Do you have a light?

The lighter is broken

How sad. It was such a nice lighter

Do you need money?

Yes. One million, mexican currency.

I thought about 2- 3000 lewa

For what?

I need medicine

Maybe the thieves were after medicaments?

I don't think so. They were after something more valueable.

Dealing medicine on the black market is not very nice..

I need it for the jews in the camp

What do you care about those jews?

They are humans, too, Mr. Corporal.

Now I go after the bottle of cognag.

I don't need that.

Bravo! Let me try!

He Walter, don't forget about tonight!

The mutton has been slaughtered already!

..and women!

To our friendship!

And to your victory!

This old bastard! My friend!

Silence!

My best friend, Rembrandt,..

..is philosophizing somewhere..

Thanks, "Mr. Unter"

Walter is an idiot. An idiot!

Nobody...is allowed to drink from this glass!

What is your name, little frollein?

Muti

What?

Mu-ti

Ah, there he is!

My friend Rembrandt.

One portion of shashlik for my friend Walter!

And some wine!

I love Bulgaria!

A beautiful country!

You have no idea, how privileged you are!

You are not at war!

We declard war to England, and USA!

Did you hear that, Walter? They declared war to them,..

because they're so far-off...

But with the russians, you don't want to fight.

You shit in your pants because of the partisans!

We are not... ...afraid of partisans.

We exterminate them! That is our war!

That is your war? Very funny!

We lay one winter in front of Leningrad!

That was war, my friend! One of a kind!

What is she saying?

She says you are a real hero!

Rembrandt in a bad mood? Come on drink!

Come on, let's celebrate!

But of course! He needs a girl!

Walter will get his girl!

Just a moment!

Guard!

Don't do anything stupid!

The medicine has to get into the camp quickly!

I like you!

You are wonderfull chimpanzee-girl!

But chimpanzees don't use lipstick!

Nowadays, they do!

The progress of 2 million years!

Ain't it so, mademoiselle?

That's a cloud!

Please, sit down!

Don't you hear me, jew?

Come here! Be happy!

Be a gentleman.

Show her, what we expect from a lady.

Zack zack!

I am glad to meet you again.

Here, drink to us!

You refuse? Then I drink to your health!

This kind must be drilled differently..

Well done, Rembrandt!

Please come with me. Out of here.

Agreed. I am your friend, I step back.

Make sure, she doesn't escape.

Keep your eyes open, and report later!

Where do you lead me?

You don't have to be afraid.

Do you always play the noble cavalier?

Everybody's playing some kind of role.

How is the new born?

It's dead.

Maybe it is better that way?

Dying is never better.

I wouldn't be too sure of that.

Why? As long as a child lives, there is hope that lives.

Remarkable, that you in your situation still believe in something

What choice do we have?

What was your profession, then?

Before they found out that I am jewish?

School teacher

I was a painter.

A bad painter, now I am a bad soldier.

I never did anything decent.

I walked through museums, thinking that man was the pride of creation

And now..?

Now?

Now I know that the chimpanzee is much more reasonable.

Look. They fly somewhere, with their bombs..

Life will fall silent at their approach.

Like the crickets that went mute here..

But they pass, and the crickets will sing again.

People will live on, too

Even without hope?

There's always hope.

At least the next generation will be better..

They will be made from the same material..

All this...

..that seperates people now, is going to vanish..

Like the planes that just passed.

But they're going to come back!

and will pass again.

As I say: the bad comes and goes!

It depends on the individual!

Nothing depends on the individual! The human is not god!

Only human.

A lot depends on him!

If he is in fact a human

Don't you have anybody back in germany?

My mother... ..she had three sons.

Two of them never returned from russia.

Nobody else?

No.

Nobody.

Like in times of peace:

a rendez-vous, and he brings her home.

Him and her also have a little armor,who guards over them

Every era has her amors.

As you can see, even ours doesn't lack poetry

Good night.

By the way: Actually I don't hate people.

Maybe you don't hate them, but you're afraid to love them.

I'm afraid?

To love somebody means to do something for him.

At least to be willing to.

Good night.

Cigarette?

Thank you, corporal.

What can one do?

What can I do?

Sleep, corporal.

Well, sleep.

You have to come to the chief of police!

Police?

What could they want from me?

Is that all?

Yes that's it Mr. Chief of Police

What did happen? Why did you bust my worker?

Mr. corporal, please excuse me.

He was caught nightime with a bag full of medicine.

I think it was for the partisans

In the jew-camp we also found medicine. German medicine!

Maybe the corporal knows something, and can help?

No I cannot help you. Sorry.

Speak, who gave you the medicine?

Noone. I took it myself.

Who helped you?

Nobody.

Where did you plan to meet the partisans?

I didn't plan to meet the partisans, I was on a stroll.

With a bag of medicine?

I wanted to sell them.

In the forest,...to the bears?

There are shepherds

Speak or I'll shoot.

I mean it!

If the corporal does get any new information...

we will be thankfull.

Good bye, "Mr. Unter"

You will excuse, that we brought you to the police.

You know, we share the same interests.

I repeat!

The german and bulgarian autorities treat you jews loyal.

We expect the same from you.

That is right, in fact it is very right.

Last night some pig smuggled medicine into the camp..

that was stolen from army supplies. That is forbidden!

He who owns of these supplies has to return them immedeatly!

Who's first?

Step forward! Search him!

Two rolls of quinine!

The whole camp will be without food for TWO DAYS!

One role more. ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT FOOD!

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I ask one last time, to deliver the medics?

Thank you, Sir.

Thanks you.

Thank you.

I was at the police station.

I know. Who revealed Baushe?

You blame me?

I didn't say that.

No trust, Platko?

You are a german.

Should I admit, that I gave out the medicine?

What for?

You lied, the medicine wasn't for the jews!

It was the only way to make you give me some.

Most likely. Why don't you work today?

Police investigates the garage.

Will you come again tomorrow?

No, I leave town.

Where to?

Far far away.

Everyone has his own rights.

Good bye

I did not turn Blashe in!

I found it in the garage, after the thieves had gone.

Why didn't you report us to the police?

I want you to trust me.

Sorry, corporal.

I am not a thief, I didn't go there to steal anything.

Why then?

We wanted to steal weapons.

I didn't hear that.

Everyone has his own right, corporal.

Yes. you are not a thief, and I am not a pig.

Will we meet again?

You'll meet other people.

We are many.

Who is you?

Us...maybe some day.. ..you will understand.

Pretty early, Rembrandt.

Bring us schnapps!

What's wrong with you?

Nothing special.

You acted splendid against the jews today. Very german!

Think so? It's their fault!

By the way: I saw your jewish girlfriend.

She's fantastic!

Walter, next time it's my turn, ok?

What's wrong?

Wanna risk our friendship because of this?

We're acting like kids. Sorry, Walter.

I am your friend, and will be!

And your jew? You can have her! Anytime.

The jew! As the seargent ordered!

You can go to sleep, I bring her back later.

Thank you, corporal, I'll do that.

Thank you for coming.

I did not chose to come. The soldier brought me here.

Still distrust?

What do you want from me?

Nothing

I regret what happened on the school yard.

With the quinine

Your friend acts more consistently, at least he has no regrets.

He and I are not the same.

You are all guilty.

same guilt

Or are you without guilt for what happened that day?

What happend day by day the last years?

I did not want it.

Many did not want it.

But they let it happen!

Maybe you're right.

Haven't had any luck.

Wanted to help with the medicine

But caused only harm.

If it is true. Why did you do it?

Had no reason.

What do you expect from me now?

Nothing.

Why did you bring me here then?

To tell you the truth.

About the medicine?

No, about you.

They lie to you!

Auschwitz is not a vegetable garden.

It is a concentration camp. A death camp.

I know.

And still you are that calm?

Even a chimpanzee is afraid of death.

I am not a chimpanzee.

And what about the crickets?

The often praised good human?

They sing.

Ruth. You have to save yourself. You have to flee!

Why me?

I could never care about all people.

But I want to help you. That is very important to me.

For you?

Yes

Sometimes man has to do something to prove he is not a pig.

Help me do that.

You've done it already.

I'll find people who will hide you!

I cannot leave my poeple behind. Father, the children.

This is war. War seperates people.

We have to have the strength!

Where should we flee to, in this foreign country?

Where to?

Maybe to the stars?

Only there it is silent now..

Now it doesn't matter anymore if it is war or peace on earth.

..if people are happy, or unhappy.

..and if there are humans at all..

The Great Bear.

Orion

Geminis

They also live in the zodiac sign.

Each star in his zodiac sign.

Because they are freezing, and they fear lonelyness.

I don't have a zodiac sign.

You'll find it. Man always seeks, and finds.

They say that every person has a star up in the sky.

..and when the star cuts loose, that person dies.

You also have a star, on your sleeve.

When he cuts loose, the human dies.

This must not happen.

You must flee, Ruth!

Maybe. But it is wrong to leave alone.

Think it over.

I will come back!

Think it over. It is a stupid sacrifice!

Maybe

It is time for me to return to the camp.

You spy!

It's not just their desperation, it is their fear of being betrayed.

I did not do anything wrong!

I know, I know.

But still I'd like to see him just one more time.

This strange and funny..

..good man.

That's some weather!

What are you doing?

Sure. Scribbelings.

And my portrait remains unfinished.

When the jews will be deported?

You've got a crush on her!

Nonsense.

When?

Tomorrow.

Sure?

Yes. I've got the transport orders in my pocket already.

Where are you going?

The garage

Closed already.

I have to work!

Where is Petko?

He left.

I have to talk to him!

He is not in town.

Where can I find him?

Can you hide someone?

How long?

Till the end of war.

The girl?

Yes.

Only the girl. And the rest?

So you do not want to help?

When?

Tonight

What's up?

Calm down.

One of your people will escape the camp tonight..

Can you give her shelter?

It's dangerous, Petko

In a couple of days, we'll bring her somewhere else.

Don't be afraid because of him.

Ok.

Thank you. Petko will bring her tonight.

I'll bring her soon.

I wait.

Guard!

Yes, sir!

Lt. Mueller gave the order to fetch somebody from the camp.

But the camp is empty, corporal.

What? Where are the jews.

An hour ago they were transported to the trainstation

Rembrandt! I lied to you. But it's better that way...

Come to the pub, they serve suckling pig.

Faster, faster, faster..

Go!

Jews, Poland

She said the evil would go away, and never come back.

She's gone, but the evil stayed, cause it's stronger than mankind

Is there a power against it, Petko?

Yes

Didn't you say, you need guns?

Yes, Mr. corporal

"For all of us

war er einfach der "Herr Unteroffizier"

Nobody ever knew his name, therefore we called him Walter.

But you will remember..

It's burning, brothers, it's burning...

Help lies just in your hands! If you want to save the village

Take the trowels, kill the fire, clear the flames with your own blood!

Prove that you are able, don't stand aside, don't wait too long!

Our village burns, it burns, it burns, it burns

subtitles: MichelangeloAntonioni and CecileBeranger