Original subtitles

The Golden Fern

From a fairy tale by Jan Drda written by Jiri Weiss

Dialogue by Otomar Krejca

Starring

Designer

Music

Editing Sound

Masks Costumes

Cinematography

Directed by

On St. John's night

in the darkest deepness of the forest

the golden fern is growing.

Give back the golden fern.

Show yourself.

Come closer.

Give back the golden fern.

Give me your hand.

You are beautiful.

Aren't you hungry?

Give back the fern.

But you have to kiss me.

No...

Stay with me.

You will kill it.

You will kill...

No! No!

Lesanka, Lesanka.

You came to me from the forest, so I will call you like this.

This is for you.

I am Jura.

That is for you, Jura.

Where's Jura?

He's looking for some skirt, who hasn't seen through this shepherd.

Well Jura... he's choosy.

- And you didn't chase him? - Me? No, he did.

What did they say?

Why are we not alone in the world?

Only you and me.

You are the only one.

Only you are the one.

It's the music again.

You should go.

But together with you.

Go alone.

What are you afraid of all the time?

Well?

Let them see you!

Let them wonder!

Let them envy!

It will be evening soon.

You'll be safe behind a human doorstep.

But in the forest...

when the sun sets...

We'll be back home well before.

Do you still love me, Jura?

Why shouldn't I?

Shepherd, you have a new one again?

None is good for you. You scoff at every girl.

Nobody knows until he gets to know her.

She danced him off!

Who is the king?

Nobody will laugh at me.

Nobody.

Look, where the sun is already.

- Hurry up. - I'm going!

Or not?

Come, Jurka.

Jura!

Nobody will command me!

Jura!

And you go home!

I say go home!

Go!

Go.

You know the way.

He gave me a fern seed. No... no!

She would dance him to death, even in bed.

Nobody will laugh at me!

Let go.

Martin danced you off?

It's because of her,

she hardly touches you...

You treat your friend as if a stranger.

For some woman's skirt.

Drink.

Drink.

To friendship.

Fools.

Well...

Come on.

- One more for all of you! - Wait!

- I'll pay for this. - No!

Now me.

It's on me.

That's not enough, Jura.

- It's not enough. - You see, he's laughing at you, too.

Don't start again.

He wouldn't laugh at a soldier.

Not at a soldier.

Innkeeper, pour!

Guys, drink, drink, drink.

And no hesitation.

One more.

Nobody laughs at a soldier.

Everyone respects the soldier.

And the Empress herself takes care of his money.

May God give her good health.

Landlord! A full cask!

A soldier doesn't drink like a groom.

A soldier is not a subject, a soldier is what?

A soldier is a lord!

A soldier... a soldier is not a subject...

A soldier... a soldier is a lord...

A soldier... a soldier...

Why are you staring into your cup?

You have a wife at home... like a flower. You should water her!

But Dad...

Such a strong chap and an old man tells him what to do.

He's tied to her apron strings.

What are you doing, unfortunate boy?

Go home!

What, what? Are you afraid?

- Are you afraid to join us? - He's more afraid of his wife!

- That's not true! - What? Are you like a sissy to her?

She's besotted with me, you know...

A soldier... A soldier is a lord.

Every fiery girl looks at a soldier...

Darling! Martin!

Don't cry here, woman, for God's sake! Up! Come on!

Don't wait for me, Rozara.

What if I stay there?

Let me go!

I won't go! I cannot! Corporal!

Who wrote these three crosses?

You'll get used to it.

I don't want to!

I don't care about war!

Listen, you crying boy. Deserters are paid with lead or rope.

Or we send them for a walk in hazel alley.

To whom does she belong?

Lesanka!

Say your goodbyes, milk-drinker.

You have to wear this shirt all the time.

You can never change it for another one. Promise me!

And do not forget.

Lesanka, please, forgive me...

Wait. You have to wait until I come back.

If you don't forget, we shall meet!

You cannot forget!

I do not have it, I do not...

I sewed it...

into Jura's...

shirt...

To keep him safe.

I love him.

How is it possible?

What is it?

Not a scratch on the shirt.

Show me.

And it went straight for the heart.

They say that shots avoid those who are in love.

At least we'll know if our women wait for us.

Back to work! Back to work!

They'll wait.

They'll wait, for sure.

No, no, no!

Our proud imperial flag...

...in the hands of those pagan dogs!

Gentlemen,

we've lost our military pride.

I won't stand for it.

I won't stand for it!

Soldiers!

Attention!

Soldiers! Who will go there? Who dares?

Who will bring back our trampled military pride?

For such a man I shall do what is in my power.

Do you hear, soldiers?

Everything! Everything that is in my power.

To me. To me.

You are a brave soldier, you are a hero.

So that you know that I keep my word, say your wish.

You have a wish, right?

I know what you would like...

Every solider wants to be a captain and you are too shy to ask.

- Kneel. From now on... - To be captain, yes, but...

But not now... not now.

I would... just... I would... home.

Home?

That is not in my power, boy.

That, only the Empress could do.

And wouldn't you be ashamed...

A hero and lying around the hearth? Silence!

From this moment, in our army, you are a captain.

What shall I do with it?

At your service, Captain.

What are you laughing at?

We don't laugh at you.

No one is allowed to laugh at you here.

I'd rather be home.

You forgot this one.

I'll keep mine.

Father, who is the new captain?

- Who? - A shepherd, sir.

My bravest fighter, a hero.

A real hero.

- Why doesn't he greet your daughter? - Oh, but child...

He's a shepherd, he was a shepherd until yesterday.

- In love? - Yes.

In love.

Why didn't he visit us?

Invite him for me, father...

A hero in love, a shepherd.

Tell him to report to me.

Wine, please.

Would you like a sniff?

- May I introduce... - I know.

A shepherd in love, right?

Or is it not true?

It's the truth.

See? A hero.

A real hero.

Your arm, knight.

Do you play pharaoh?

I can't play it.

Maybe dominoes?

I cannot play dominoes.

Chess?

Don't you want to continue?

You wanted to dance me to death?

- You wanted to dance me to death. - I wanted to.

Only one could do it. Only my Lesanka.

Do you think about her?

I think about her all the time.

About the one from the woods?

About Lesanka.

Do you want to go to her?

Do you?

I do.

I'll tell my father, he'll let you go.

Should I?

If it's possible...

I'd do anything in the world for it.

You'll bring me the Vizier's stallion.

There is no more beautiful horse, not even in the Sultan's stables.

If you manage to bring him, I will put in a word for you.

Follow him! Catch him!

You!

And you!

Get up!

Hands!

Poor Edjem.

Poor thing.

You did it.

Not even the Empress could buy this one.

I didn't buy him.

If I did not like him, he would have no price.

But I like him.

Don't forget...

That you would like to go back to yours.

If you keep reminding me, I won't forget.

Won't you help me into the saddle?

Won't you come with me?

You are bleeding.

For you.

I'll put in a word for you, because you keep reminding me you miss her.

Captain! Captain!

Why aren't you singing?

Keep singing, boys.

Enough. Enough!

Not a sad song. Sing a cheerful one.

Cheerful! Cheerful! Cheerful!

My dear Marenka...

Close your window...

My dear Marenka...

A soldier... A soldier is no subject.

A soldier... A soldier is a lord.

A soldier... A soldier is no subject.

A Soldier... A soldier is a lord.

Did you come...

so I wouldn't forget?

To remind me of the promise?

What are you wearing? A Captain and he's wearing a coarse shirt.

Why don't you throw it away?

My wife sewed it.

I can't do that... Sew a shirt.

What do you want right now?

I love you.

Go to your forest girl.

She hears such things.

What will you wish?

How can you know... what I could want...

Mercy! Mercy!

He was not looking carefully.

Eyes.

I don't like this singing.

Pearls of the first Dalissime.

You are... more beautiful than pearls.

They are as I expected...

But they are the only ones in the world.

You know what? Take them to the one you love the most.

Jura... Jura!

We thought you'd come without a uniform, as a shepherd, you know.

You have this beautiful shepherd's shirt, right?

Really.

His wife sewed it.

A beautifully coarse shirt.

No one will laugh at me!

No one!

Be careful on this journey.

Tell me!

Everything!

What do you see?

Sadness, Captain.

You love a black stone.

A black stone.

Tell me how.

How?

You will come back for the third time...

to where you have already been twice.

In a tent of yellow silk,

a golden birdcage is hanging.

There is a nightingale inside.

Its singing... moves even the black stone.

Our captain...

- Our shepherd? - He's disguised because of your order.

Not on my orders.

Why does our captain goes in disguise to the Turkish side?

Indeed. What is he supposed to be doing there?

He's probably betrayed us...

Betrayed?

The shepherd?

Yeah, right. Why did he betray us?

Look who they are leading. Mister shepherd.

Deserter. He played at captain.

The Vizier's nightingale...

And why doesn't it sing, if it's a nightingale?

Poor one. He's lost his mind, I guess.

Do your duty.

Your last wish?

I kept my first promise to you, I will keep the last one.

Say what you desire.

To speak with your daughter.

What do you want?

To put in a good word for you?

That nobody will laugh at me, not even now.

I wanted to say just that.

You see, daughter, that's how the world repays you.

Begin!

You shepherd...

You have to know how to deal with lords.

Revive him!

He's stopped breathing.

To the Danube with this carcass.

Matej, we won't throw him there, right?

We'll dig him a grave with our sabres.

And wash him, that's how it is done.

Who knows exactly how it happened...

You see, Jurasek, an aristocratic favour can only lead to blood.

Matej...

Lesanka!

Lesanka!

Lesanka!

Lesanka!

subtitles: veruncheek