Original subtitles

VLASIK THE SHADOW OF LONELINESS

The country was celebrating the coming of 1941 in a usual way:

champagne, New Year's toasts, and good wishes to each other.

Probably none of the people living a huge, great country, the 1/6 of the world,

could guess that the year of 1941 was to divide their lives

between “before” and “after”.

Europe's been at war for the last year and a half

but many thought that it wouldn't affect us.

"Hitler won't dare to attack the USSR,"

that's what common people thought.

In the Kremlin, people believed different.

Intelligence reports were becoming increasingly alarming.

They even stated the exact date of the attack,

June 1941.

But Stalin didn’t believe it.

He thought, Hitler wasn't crazy and wouldn't fight at two fronts.

Before attacking the USSR, he should sort the things out with the UK.

This was Stalin's fatal mistake.

And soon enough the country would pay a huge, enormous price for this mistake.

27 million of lives of the country’s best sons and daughters.

But it will come later.

For now, everything went on as usual in the country, in the Kremlin

and at Blizhnyaya "dacha" in Kuntsevo.

Part 10

They’ve been dating for half a year. Her name is Galina Bourdonskaya.

Her great grandfather was French, henсe the last name.

Well…

Where did Vasya find this French great granddaughter?

He stole her from Menshikov, the hockey player.

- From his friend? - Yes.

Such a bastard.

You said, half a year?

It’s quite a while for Vasya.

Well… She’s from a two-parent family.

Her father works in Cheka, her mother is a housewife.

She’s the only child. She’s a serious girl.

She is planning to enroll

in Editing and Publishing Department of the Moscow Polygraphic Institute.

She’s never stayed for a night yet.

This is not like Vasily.

I hope our calf will be able to eat our wolf.

Just don't ask me, Vlasik, who is the wolf and who is the calf here.

Let’s have some red wine. Come on.

Volodya! You have no shame! Why aren't you ready yet?

You know, Asya, I almost got it.

How I can... Just imagine...

Three hundred doves flying out of pipe

shaped of the young female athletes.

I am the genius,

Igor Severyanin.

Overwhelmed with my victory,

shown at every screen in every town,

renown by every heart.

Asya, listen!

Asya! I will do the greatest November demonstration for them.

They've never seen such things even in Germany.

You can't even imagine. It will be a true...

True "Triumph of the Will," you see? Even this ugly Leni Riefenstahl

has never seen anything like that.

First, Igor Severyanin is a forbidden poet.

Second, it is not only you.

Third, it is quite dangerous to compete with Fuehrer's favorite.

I am the genius, you forgot? And she's just a woman.

The women are stupid, and Fuehrer is a psycho.

Let's go.

Please.

- Lara! - M-m?

Maybe we should stop teasing the geese with the gems?

My darling! Sometimes you just have to tease. Let me.

[Who can compare to my Matilda Glittering with the sparkles of dark night]

Wearing diamonds is an art.

It is not mastered by everybody.

Here.

Let’s go. We’re gonna be late.

Yes, there is plenty of dust.

- Bless you. - Thanks.

Here.

For once, I decided to tidy up.

Oh, I found it.

I invite you both to a back-in-time trip.

Let's breathe some fresh air outside, you, feeble people.

Damn!

Heh, Klim, an empty head!

It is a mess inside of it.

It's better to be a lion’s tail…

...than... I am sorry, Valya. Than Stalin's ass.

He’s pressed Klim well back then, right?

This was... At Ezhov's times.

He found it during the search at Radek's.

And he brought it to me, just for fun.

So we had fun.

Why do I keep it?

Near Lvov, he pressed Leiba Trotsky hard.

He was his loyal henchman.

Karl Radek.

He was a very talented devil. Very talented.

And there are so many jokes that survived him.

It is hard to talk to comrade Stalin.

You give him a quote, he gives you a sentence.

Hits the mark!

He's been dead for a long time.

And we still laugh on his jokes.

It is funny.

And he was so well educated.

Here.

"My Struggle."

Adolf Hitler. Translated by Karl Radek.

1933 edition.

We made a limited edition of this shit for our political workers.

For internal use, so to speak.

So they could read it and be aware.

They are now.

They read it.

Thank you, everybody!

- It’s a wonderful beginning, Lara. - Well…

- Good evening! - Same to you.

It is such a nice surprise, Lavrentiy Pavlovich.

- Nino Teimurazovna, do you remember me? - Yes, Asya!

Look at you! You used to be this skinny big-eyed girl.

- And now you are... - Thank you.

- Thank you. - Yes.

- How do you like "The Queen of Spades"? - It's amazing.

- I just have no words. - Lemeshev is good.

Indeed. I agree.

As for me, I prefer Kozlovsky.

- Good evening. - Same to you.

Let me introduce my future husband Vladimir Stenberg.

He is from Kozlovsky team.

And I've been on Lemeshev team forever.

Yes. Unity and struggle.

In our family, we have the same musical story.

- Right, Lara? - Yes, my dear.

Stenberg. It sounds familiar. Where could I hear it?

The Arts Committee under the Education Commissariat,

- probably, comrade Beria. - Lavrentiy Pavlovich.

Of course, Lavrentiy Pavlovich.

Comrade Khrapchenko entrusted me to decorate the November parade.

Oh, right! He told me that he found a talented and keen artist.

Someone recommended him. I can't remember who it was.

Please excuse me. We have to go. My grandmother has an anniversary today.

Thank you very much.

- Goodbye. - Congratulations to your grandmother.

- It was a pleasure, Asya. - Goodbye.

Let’s go.

Go figure!

She was quite a mouse and now she is a real lady.

This mouse was my best agent.

Look at her! She is a bride now.

I really doubt that, my friend.

You could work in my agency. You see people through.

Including you.

Yeah.

Ah, Valya.

Thank you, Valentina.

Vlasik, in your opinion, what is the distance between these trees?

About a meter and a half, comrade Stalin.

I think it is a meter and sixty centimeters.

Let's check tomorrow which one of us has a sharper eye.

My comrades-in-arms were strange people.

They had to...

...unite and strike, so to speak.

All together.

That’s all.

And they would have won.

Instead, each of them tried

to prove that he was smarter, craftier and better than the others.

The fools.

They did it to themselves...

Go now, Vlasik. I want to stay alone.

By the way, what day is it today?

June 20, comrade Stalin. Friday.

Yes, tomorrow is a new day.

It will bring new challenges.

Vlasik, I am not going to the firing ground.

You go though. And report to me

whether this rocket launcher is really so good.

One more thing. See to it personally.

- The tubes should be 7,000 millimeters. - Affirmative, comrade Stalin.

This is the list.

And Lyuda asked you to buy this drug on your way home.

- Damp the fire down. - Yes!

- How did you just call the potatoes? - "Bulba".

- Oh! That’s how we call potatoes at home. - Where are you from?

- Belorussia. - Ah.

We are Belorussian too. Bulbash.

- So give me one more kilo of this "bulba". - Okay, will do.

Asenka!

- Hello, aunt Nino. - Hi.

You are so housewifely.

- Buying your supplies by yourself? - Yes.

- I am very happy to see you. - Me too.

It is very beautiful.

- No. Well, how are you, Asenka? - I am fine.

How is your future husband doing?

He’s doing well.

- Stenberg, right? - Yes.

- Here is your "bulba". - How much do I owe you?

- 48.50. - Here. Please keep the change.

- I’ll take this one. - Thanks.

- Have a nice day. - Goodbye.

I'll get you "dacha" in Crimea for the summer.

She'll breathe some air.

It is no good. Every year at spring she starts coughing.

It is a pollen allergy, Kolya.

And what is this cholera?

I haven’t heard this word from you for quite a while. Cholera.

Allergy is a distorted body reaction to… It’s a long story.

A serious disease. I hope we’ll be able to cure.

And thank you for the Crimea "dacha". It is very good news.

Do you want to sleep on a sofa?

No, thanks.

I have to wake up very early so…

I’ll go. Oh.

Thank you.

You can stay if you want to. This is your house.

- Hi, Asya. - Hi.

Can I come in?

Don’t. I didn’t come for this.

I should have come to meet you earlier.

To steer you to the right path, so to speak.

But I’ve been very busy.

State affairs.

Besides, I just didn’t believe this.

Well, Vlasik is a "Bulbash". One cannot expect too much from him.

But you? You?

Are you such an idiot? Really, darling?

You thought you could outsmart me with your security guy. Me!

What did you tell him?

What did you tell him?

But what did I know?

You have two options now.

The first one is to report me of his every breath and sob.

And to pass on to him any information that I tell you to pass.

The second option.

We’ll execute him,

and you, my darling, won’t survive for long in a colony.

In a men's colony, of course.

And forget about this marriage. Get back to business.

Your best skills are revealed in bed. Trust uncle Lara. He has some experience.

You have so much tenderness in you! I guessed right back then.

- How old were you? Seventeen? - Yes.

I am glad that you got me right.

Trust me, prison is not a place for the likes of you.

I gotta go.

Okay, next time.

Next time, serve yourself, uncle Lara.

I won't rat on Kolya, and do not threaten me with prison.

I’ve heard worse.

Operator? Hello.

Hello!

Put me through to Commander Zhukov.

Well, I am not asking to speak to the moon.

The same thing? It really depends.

Okay, I am waiting.

Oh, I almost forgot. Your sweetheart called at night.

- What did she want? - She wanted you to call her.

- Did you get him? - Not yet.

Get me some water.

We forced him into a swamp. He won't get away from there.

- Sedov is keeping watch with the agents. - Thanks.

And we came to get some help.

- Well? - They forced him into a swamp.

- And where is Sedov? - Keeping watch. We came to get help.

- Well done. - Where did I put it?

- What? - My book. I left with it, probably.

Don’t shoot.

Good morning, comrades!

Hi there!

What is your rank at Zhukov’s secret service?

- Major. - Major?

Gontar, Zinoviy Moiseevich. Call me Zyama.

- Mukhin. - Kuteyarov.

- Nice to meet you. - You knew!

Look at him!

Guys, bring something to warm ourselves up.

One moment.

Major, take the things there.

Hello! Vlasik speaking.

I have Sedov at the swamp.

Tell him to abort. Send him to the guards' cabin.

That's it. They got him.

- That’s it? - Yeah.

- Where is the cutlery? - In the cabinet.

It’s okay, I’ll take it.

Well…

Here.

Yet, I just don't get it! Why didn't the dogs smell him?

Your local moss overdoes any smell.

- How do you know? - Manchurian hunters taught me.

- What is this shit you’re wearing? - The Japanese jacket.

I took it at the enemy's territory. It's cool.

There was a Japanese inside of it.

Well, comrades, let’s drink to my commander.

- To comrade Zhukov. - To Georgy.

I thank him for granting my request and sending me such a pro.

Well done to you.

You've protected the territory well, guys, but if I could make it inside,

- someone else might do it too. - Huh?

I will show you how I passed your posts.

It will take us two days all in all.

- Are you in a hurry? - I am.

Come on.

Miron! Wait.

I am asking you as a friend…

- Where should I deliver the flowers? - Wrong guess.

Go to this address.

Take her from there and get her to the "dacha".

On the way there, ask her what she wants and buy it to her.

Get lost!

Oh, God! Why so fast?

Kolya! Kolechka!

Oh, God? Why so fast?

Eat shit!

Eat shit, you all!

Eat shit!

Vlasik.

What?

She wasn't home?

Then you had to ring and knock at the door.

Okay, I'll go there myself.

I have the key.

Fine. Thanks.

Asya!

Are you there?

That's me.

Asya!

Why are you hiding?

Asya!

What is this cholera?

Asya…

What is it?

Kolya!

Kolya!

Kolya…

He did this.

Kolya…

The war.

Beria killed her.

Let’s go. I need to see him.

Let's go. Now. Miron!

Help me. We have to take her.

Come on, Miron, help me.

Let’s do it.

Miron, we can't leave her here alone.

Miron!

Kolya!

There is a war!

There is a war, Kolya!

On June 22, 1941, at 4 AM,

Hitler's Germany attacked the Soviet Union without declaring the war.

In the very first days of the war

it became obvious that disrupted frontline defense

was not able to restrain the rapid advance of the Nazis to the USSR territory.

On June 22, Molotov addressed the nation.

To the surprise of many, Stalin kept silent for almost two weeks.

Despite the legends, on these days he was very active

but he was in a state of shock.

All those close to him could see that.

Comrade Stalin...

That’s the way the things went.

- We planned… - No, we planned!

And you screw it up!

Why didn’t people get weapons?

Because 80,000 rifles were stored at the arms warehouses.

You and General Timoshenko moved those to the border.

Smart asses!

And then these creeps left the warehouses to the Germans and ran away.

What are you going to fight with?

Or you are not going to fight at all?

I wonder what our well-respected General Staff is doing!

Examining the situation, comrade Stalin.

Well, if you do, share it with us! If you know what is the situation.

And if you don't know, what are you examining then?

Did you calm down, comrade Zhukov?

Sit down.

Yes.

May I, comrade Stalin?

- Later. Sit down, Timoshenko. - Yes!

Four days before it began, I ordered to put the forces

on full combat alert.

And you didn't ensure the execution of my order.

In the Western District, they just didn't give a shit about the order.

Stalin is not your nanny!

Dismissed.

Vlasik! Don't wake me up until 7 AM.

- Unless something serious happens. - Yes, comrade Stalin.

- Valya! - Yes?

Make me a hot tea with honey and lemon first thing in the morning.

And now? Maybe...

Go.

I am sorry, comrades. The typist is very sluggish today.

- Well, if it won’t work out… - It will.

He proposed something like that himself. But we didn't get it.

What did I tell you back then?

- You forgot. - Of course we didn't, comrade Stalin.

I understand.

Now the time has come and you decided to listen.

We've heard you, Joseph Vissarionovich.

Until we simplify the whole system,

we won't be able to change the situation.

And to break Hitler’s back.

Here, comrade Stalin.

The State Defense Committee, the GKO.

Draft.

Chairman — J. V. Stalin.

Deputy Chairman — V. M. Molotov.

Whose idea is this?

Well... You even prepared a resolution draft.

On organization of T-34 medium tanks production

at Krasnoe Sormovo factory. Manager — L. P. Be…

It’s a good name.

The GKO.

GKO.

It is like in Marshak's poem...

That my daughter used to read me a lot.

The GTO badge…

- It is the GKO in our case. - He's got GKO badge on his chest.

And no one knows the rest.

Which is a good thing.

Alright. Prepare the necessary documents

and a press release and...

- One more thing. Lavrentiy! - Yes, comrade Stalin.

Get my facsimile ready.

You’ll be using it to speed up decision-making.

- Okay, comrades, dismissed. - Yes!