Original subtitles

VLASIK THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

The year was 1935.

Everything seemed to look right.

With the depression in the USA and fascism winning in Europe,

in Germany, Italy and Spain,

the West watched, in dismay and fear,

extremely fast creation of a new powerful industrial state in the East.

A hard creation under almost military time laws.

Stalin and his close circle sincerely thought this was the way.

That comfort of a whole generation can be discarded

for the sake of so called bright future.

Whether the generation agrees, they did not care much.

They all were hardcore revolutionaries.

After the murder of Kirov, Vlasik and his men

could not help not noticing the transformations in Stalin.

He closed up in his shell even further.

Less and less he trusted his close surroundings.

The family...

Nadezhda has betrayed him, at least as he was seeing it.

Children...

He had almost no time for them.

Vlasik and teachers were carrying all the cares.

After a time, Stalin will be sorry about it.

Part 5

I did not leave forever,

only for time being.

We'll see about that.

Here, take a look.

Photos by Stenberg.

- Stenberg? - Yes.

Very overexposed.

Lame printing, the grain is too high.

Lame, grain...

I like it.

Look!

Like a movie poster!

Think yourself, I can't address him like that,

like comrade Stalin please help my mistress get a role.

Vlasik, for God's sake, why to the boss?

Why to the boss?

You can press.

You can press Alexandrov, Eisenstein, Pudovkin, after all.

Stenberg says, they all are eager to lick your shoes.

Stenberg. Cholera with Stenberg.

You are jealous!

Stenberg and me are just friends.

Just friends. Why would I need him?

I don't need him. I got you.

So, what,

will you speak to the directors?

This is using a position for personal purposes.

What?

What?

You've just hinted on my position with all your grace.

- Me? Hinted? - Yes.

You said I'm your mistress,

and I have no rights for anything.

- When? - Right now.

- I said so? - Actually yes.

Hello?

This is for you. Your faithful Mironov.

Get lost.

I'm coming.

Right. Later.

Yours truly wife has lost you?

Well.

One has to be born a gentleman.

What can you do.

To the incomparable...

I found him half way from a sandlot.

Possible strong nicotine poisoning.

How did he run away?

About as you do, unnoticed.

- Who else knows? - Pauker was informed.

How?

Yerofeeva, one of the servants informed him.

Rattled.

She's his asset. I heard her calling.

Let's move.

Sveta, baby.

Where's Vasya?

Ran away.

- Ran away, how? - He also stole some tobacco

from dad's cabinet.

- We know that. Where did he go? - To Yasha, to Leningrad.

Since the winter holidays he was saying that we were all enemies,

and that he would run to Yasha.

Did he tell this to you?

To Artyom.

They don't let me near, so I listen in.

And the watch is gone.

He'll pay for the train with the watch, instead of money.

Artyom advised him so.

Okay, go to sleep.

You're in charge.

Ticket?

Where's the boy?

He was seen in your coach. I don't recommend to deny.

There.

You'll return what he paid you with.

Well?

Did you give the watch?

Let's go.

Come on.

Women are like that. Blabbing all kind of stuff.

You know, don't believe every skank.

- Whom should I believe? - Yourself and your father.

Stop running.

I'll talk to your father. Are you going to enroll to Kacha school?

How do you know?

I know things.

The Kachinsk pilot school, you know...

Their entrance test is really hard.

You must prepare very seriously.

I'll prepare very seriously.

Do you want to go to reception on the fourth?

Yes.

Will father allow me?

Let's hope. Get into the car.

Please.

Hurry up.

- Thank you. - Never mind.

Give me the watch.

Here you are.

Pardon me.

Therefore...

Therefore,

in my home,

under my very nose,

people hired by you,

and I trusted you,

propagate filthy gossip about my family.

And you all...

My children have to hear black-wash about their parents,

and you only eat, drink, and punch women!

And do nothing!

Come in.

May I, comrade Stalin?

Here's the order for replacing the Kremlin workers.

Everyone who dispensed gossip about me and my wife...

They're to be interrogated and fired today.

Comrade Stalin.

Why is this issue handled by Vlasik?

Why are you standing like dummies?

- Get to work! - Yes!

Comrade Pauker.

- Me. - You, stay.

Tatka's letter.

The last letter of Nadezhda.

Did you tell anyone about it?

Never, comrade Stalin.

Tell me, Carl Viktorovich,

can I

trust you?

Of course, comrade Stalin.

I do hope so, comrade Pauker.

Dismissed.

Yes!

Attention!

Comrade General Secretary

of the Central Committee

of the All Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks!

The graduates of the Academy

of Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and Fleet

are summoned upon the successful graduation!

People's Defense Commissar Voroshilov.

- As you were! - As you were!

Comrades graduates!

I am sure,

that of all valuable assets

in the whole world,

the most valuable

and the most decisive asset

is people.

The staff.

Citizen Filatov?

- Yes. - Come with us.

Go forward.

- Citizen Yerofeeva? - Yes.

May I see your documents?

Please.

Come with us.

She always does things her way. Shouldn't sing this song.

Don't worry. Look, everyone is eating, drinking.

They're talking, no one's going to notice the song.

Lyuba, I explicitly asked not to sing "Tuch tuch tuch".

I thought classic should fit this type of event.

Thank God we have different view on classic.

And you, dear, must be performing "The Nightingale"?

For which time?

- He didn't listen to me at all! - Thank God!

Good evening.

You're playing three pieces:

the "Waiting" waltz, a tango, and "Song about shooters".

Affirmative.

Hurry up!

The "Jail", Vlasik?

Yes, comrade Stalin.

The "Odessa Jail" now.

- No way, I'll get fired! - I said, "Odessa Jail".

I promised personally to comrade Khrapchenko,

I'll be arrested!

The boss is asking.

Come on.

The "Odessa Jail".

Our song.

[Two jailbirds broke out from the Odessa Jail]

[Two jailbirds broke out to freedom]

[In Vapnyarovsky den they stopped to have some rest]

[Please, comrade, tell my mother that her son has died at his post]

[With a blade in one hand and a gun in the other]

[And with a merry song on my lips]

[My weakling comrade shall bury my body deep]

[With a blade in one hand and a gun in the other]

[And with a merry song on my lips]

Kolya, wait.

Give me some.

We need to talk.

What happened?

My father in law was arrested.

You know, if he were an enemy, I’d do him myself.

He fought in the Civil War.

He stormed the Perekop.

The Turkestan campaign, you see?

Now he was working as a boiler-man

in the service staff's bath.

And where is he,

and where are the conspirators?

Lyuba, when you sing "Tuch Tuch Tuch",

I believe that the Russians are truly invincible.

- Thank you. - To you, Lyuba.

Thank you.

Thank you, I liked that a lot.

Do you believe yourself in what you say and do?

So stop fussing, and have a drink!

Make peace with Volodya Stenberg. You got nothing to quarrel over.

Or nobody.

Don't even know how to call her.

- Volodya! - Mironov!

Volodya! Stenberg!

I'm coming! Guys, I leave you for a sec.

- My beauty! - Come here, come!

Well,

I'm glad to see you.

What's the fuss?

- Lost a friend. - You don't say!

Gotta drink to that.

All right?

Please.

Was the friend really killed?

Nope. He fell in the hard class struggle.

Cheers!

To the friend!

Yes, he was at the first screening.

Wow, we've got guests!

So, Kolya,

I'm glad that our discrepancy has solved itself successfully.

By the way, I don't feel sorry for him.

All right.

Good evening, comrades.

Friends, enjoy yourselves!

It's bad.

Leave it, Vitka dumped so many men.

Not that. Yagoda's going to see me not at work but dallying with you.

The bitch will sell me out.

Vlasik,

what gives?

Here are the drawings, comrade Vlasik.

You shouldn't have come personally.

I'd have delivered them tomorrow.

Good, thank you, comrade Merzhanov, yes.

I really need them now.

- Well, thank you. - Yes.

Good bye, comrades.

I won't interrupt.

Enjoy the evening, while we're working.

All the best to you!

Comrade Vlasik

is a true man of duty.

Stalin’s ordered him to correct something,

he personally came here for the drawings.

Let's go.

- Have drinks! - Good evening!

Good, good.

Right, come on,

drink to my success.

Aren't you too hard?

Look here, look!

When is it going to be completed?

What did you punish the castellan?

He's just a worker.

Here, all is managed by Yenukidze.

Miron, you are a clever man.

Avel answers for his, we answer for ours.

Look at Peterson.

How long was he the Kremlin governor?

- Where's he now? - In Kharkov.

- Actually in exile. - That's it.

Do you want to go there? Neither do I.

And I want it even less,

if, God forbid, anything happen to the boss.

I see, you're that kind of Communist.

You don't mind the Cross?

[Tangerines!]

You know what?

When you’re in charge of such a man,

every protection is welcome.

Thank you.

Miron, maybe you go by yourself today?

I need to be somewhere.

You know what?

you should get back to your family, Kolya.

- I'm saying as a friend. - Get out of my soul!

Miron!

I guess, no one is waiting for me at home.

We didn't switch off the light again, Nadya.

Why is it raining?

It's September, daughter.

Why is it September?

September, just September.

So why is it raining?

Because it's autumn.

Daddy!

Well, girls?

- Is it bad without daddy? - Bad!

Rush to your room, I brought a tangerine.

Are you here for long?

Forever, if you don't throw me away.

Daddy, the tangerine smells good!

It sprinkles in the eyes! Can you peel it for me?

Don't take me wrong, comrade Stalin.

My family feels good with where I am.

With all due respect, neither Sergo, nor Nino

will not want to move from Tiflis.

At least for now.

Let's talk about it in the summer.

- Good. - I'll come to you, to Gagry.

We’ll breathe the sea air.

Maybe the sun will show.

We'll warm our backs on the pebbles.

Comrade Stalin,

you know, we’re happy to see you any time.

Hold it!

Come here!

- Hello. - Hello.

Where did you get it?

From the greenhouse.

Why didn't you get some cucumbers?

It's too early, comrade Stalin. They need to ripe first.

How do you know?

My dad’s an agronome, comrade Stalin.

All right, on your way.

Beautiful woman, comrade Stalin.

Everybody is beautiful here, Lavrentiy.

Here, so much effort

was put into the construction of this estate,

we've planned so many rooms.

Only Vasya wouldn’t come here, not even for candies.

All his friends are in the city.

Sveta, too, doesn't like to live here.

She prefers it at Svanidze's, in Zubalovo.

I've put a room for Kirov,

and it is empty, too.

Who should I invite there?

Comrade Stalin, it would be a true privilege for me, if...

Comrade Stalin, what school do you children attend?

I think, it's School 25.

We’ll need to replace the furniture in Kirov’s room.

- Lavrentiy? - Yes.

I’ve made some wine.

Do you want to taste it?

I wouldn't mind, comrade Stalin.

Come.

Raise up your hands. Not too tight here?

Why the heck should it be tight?

It can cover three more like him.

My man worked at a slaughter house, he was a big man.

Why do you sell the suits then?

Because his partner at the market wanted to replace my man with his son.

So, like that, here am I, selling it.

Good, good.

Hey, want a Macintosh? I can stick it in.

Half price for you.

Kolya, let's take it.

- Take it. - Try it!

I'll try it at home.

Thank you.

Why, Kolya?

It's good that we took the Macintosh. Not the same trench-coat all the time.

You started all this for nothing.

- We spent a lot of money. - Not for nothing.

Do not regret it.

You hold a position now.

Look.

- What? Our neighbours think

that you're a depot foreman.

Please wear your uniform at your job.

In the life, please don't.

Embarrassing in front of our neighbors.

- Hold it closer. - Good.

A very nice thing.

You won't regret. I’ll give it cheap.

Please check that all things are in order.

Yes, no doubt, Lyudmila Viktorovna.

Matryona Vlasyevna will steam it and iron it!

Kolya, when are you going to spend more time with the family?

Soon, soon. That’s it, I’ll call.

Need to check everything about the drinking water.

At ease!

Guards at posts, checked. Security system, checked.

Comrades colleagues!

Starting planned inspection of the Kremlin building and area.

Group one,

basement of the first floor, right turn!

Forward march!

Group two, second and third floors. Right turn!

Forward march!

Group three, attic and roof. Right turn!

Forward march!

- Comrade governor! - Yes, comrade Vlasik!

When was the last change of the reserve tanks' locks?

- Last month. - More specific?

- On the thirds. - It's time to replace.

- Affirmative! - Do it.

Mironov, to the depot.

Why? This is Marfusha Peshkova,

my friend.

She visited here a hundred times!

Not allowed!

Daddy will show you!

Uncle Joseph!

Why the noise when there's no fight?

They won't let Marfusha visit us.

How? Why?

I was at a sport training today,

I forgot my pass in the pocket of the pants.

It's nothing.

What's the matter?

Comrade Stalin, the girl forgot the pass.

So what?

Comrade Stalin, a direct order of comrade Vlasik. No one without a pass.

Especially to your place, comrade Stalin.

What if we

quietly breach

this order of dreadful comrade Vlasik? Let’s go.

He'll have me court marshaled.

Nonsense, he won't.

I'll put a word for you.

- What is your name? - Glukhov, comrade Stalin.

Comrade Glukhov, let's allow Marfa to come in today.

She will never forget her pass in trousers again.

- Correct? - Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

Comrade Kuznetsov,

when you say was the last maintenance of the vehicles?

Just before your arrival, comrade Vlasik.

Why are you lying, you perky face?

I've checked myself now.

Come with me.

Come. I'll perk in your face now.

- As you were! - What's wrong with him?

- He's nervous. - Why the heck?

The heck is, dear comrade,

they don't discuss a new constitution every other day.

Especially in public.

Hooray to comrade Stalin!

Well, comrades,

have you marked all the enemies, or are there any left?

There are a few, comrade Stalin,

but we'll never let these diehard scum get you.

- Right, comrades? - Right!

Good afternoon, comrade Stalin.

Good afternoon, Nikolai.

- Are you going to Paris? - Yes.

Why? Are we canceling it?

No, why canceling?

We need the Karl Marx archives

very much.

The more so as the French sell them cheap.

Is it cheap?

One can say, cheaper than their offer to the Germans.

Way to go,

those French.

Nikolai,

I wanted to tell you something.

Take her to Paris,

take your wife there, huh?

Why not?

She is young.

She'll love a journey.

She'll see Europe.

The Party isn't going to go poor for a ticket for your Anna.

Why would I need the wife in Paris,

Koba?

It's better to visit Paris without the wife!

A frog quacks in the pond.

Er, what?

A frog quacks in the pond.

This is in Georgian,

I do not understand Georgian.

And in Russian,

you've stopped understanding me.

Well, if you don't want your wife there, no need then.

Come.

Vlasik's going to be mad.

- Ready? - Affirmative!

Heated first class!

I ordered Dubinin to steam up new whisks.

It's beautiful.

Have you attended the plenary meeting?

Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

Have you seen

those ferrets?

They are sure that I will

dance to their drums.

Looks like...

Comrade Stalin, should I take away the chess?

- The chess? - Yes.

I always forget to tell you,

you should develop your culture.

Visit museums,

galleries,

lectures

of wise professors.

You see, Lavrentiy takes offense

because you've played master in his house,

and removed some paintings.

You thought they were redundant.

While he had there

pieces by Aivazovsky,

and Shishkin was hanging, too.

Visit Poskryobyshev tomorrow,

Beria's left a museum guide for you.

Also, engage your colleagues in it.

Yes, comrade Stalin, engage colleagues in culture.

Very well,

you'll have your holiday.

You've canceled my decisions.

And I'll cancel you.

When the time comes.

And will it come.

Comrades, this exposition certainly is worth of your attention,

but we'll return to it a bit later.

For now, please enter the next hall.

- Citizen? - Yes, what's the matter?

Excuse me, whom did he draw here?

Oh Lord, they paint, they don't draw.

I don't care much. Tell me, by and large...

- There! - What's there?

There, by the entrance, you can sign up for a tour,

and an experienced guide will tell you everything.

I have no time for signing up for tours.

- I have a job. - So quit your job!

This is Judith.

She's just freed her people from conquerors.

Judith is a Judaic patriot heroine.

When the army of Holofernes the Assyrian invaded her native town,

she dressed nice

and went to the tents of her enemies.

Let's move further.

Paintings are better appreciated from afar.

You can see better.

When she went to the tents,

Holofernes noticed her.

He invited her to his tent.

There, she got him drunk off the heels with love, games and wine.

And when he went to sleep,

she cut his head off.

She brought the head into her native town,

thus saving it.

Come. I'll show you some more, if you are into it,

and no one wants to help you.

What is it?

Are the lists of comrades local Party secretaries ready?

Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

This one from comrade Eiche,

from Siberia, 407 people.

This one is from comrade Kosior, from Ukraine.

Nikolai,

I do remember.

Which of them and where from.

Is this made by Khruschev?

Affirmative.

In Moscow, how many...

...diehard saboteurs.

Have you local troika committees ready?

Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

Upon your first word.

Where are

your lists,

comrade Yezhov?

Where are your personal lists, Nikolai?

There's not a single artist with a self respect,

who wouldn't want to tell the story of Judith

in his own words, his own colors.

You understand me, right?

Yes.

There's a wonderful work by Sandro Botticelli

where Judith is painted pregnant.

She's got pregnant right away?

Well, this is a simple job.

An Austrian artist Gustav Klimt

painted a number of works related to Judith.

You know, his Judith is so sensual,

so transparent, so magical, a true courtesan.

Adelle Bloch-Bauer was posing,

a wife of a Viennese banker.

She always posed naked.

With time they fell in love.

The banker got lucky.

Shocking, sincere and realistic...

Regarding the depiction of the murder after the intimate relations,

the painting of the German artist Franz Von Stuck...

Excuse me, won't you harm yourself?

- Meaning? - Meaning...

Not that I can't spare it,

you just ate so much sweets,

not to swell the belly.

Excuse me.

Don't worry, I have excellent metabolism.

- It's true. - Okay then.