Original subtitles

It knows us, this place.

Our young friend

watching as we grow old.

A mirror to our years.

Pulling us back.

Our center, our gravity.

Thank you, sir.

We have three days to get to Milan.

We can take as long as we like, can't we?

I'm afraid not.

We have an appointment.

What do you mean?

What kind of appointment?

Surprise.

Consider it your wedding present.

- Excited? Me, too. - Yes!

Thank you.

Aren't you worried that your modern houses will spoil the landscape?

Viktor, we know this.

Mr. von Abt's in Stuttgart.

- Could I have an autograph, please? - Of course.

Thank you, Herr von Abt. We find your modern designs quite amazing.

There you go.

So,

Frau Landauer,

your husband tells me you're in need of a house.

What did you have in mind?

Something like this?

Not exactly.

Why not?

- It's a wonderful room. - Yes.

But of its time.

Two rich, young newlyweds.

Why should I bother?

Are the poor and elderly queuing up for your services, Herr von Abt?

You will have the funds you need,

and the chance to do your best work.

The site is a problem.

- The slope. - Yes.

But the slope gives height. It faces south.

And the view of the city, it's wonderful.

What do you want from this building?

Simplicity,

clarity,

light.

A home true to the age.

And are you true to the age, Frau Landauer?

It's not so easy.

We're pulled to the future, but yearn for the past.

The cave, the darkness.

Are you ready to live in the light?

I once had a Landauer, Viktor.

The best car you ever made.

I adored it. A '45.

- The Torpedo? - Yes.

Well,

I'm afraid I aimed it at a bus that sank us both.

Don't you have something to show us, Herr von Abt?

Poor Liesel looks faint with anticipation.

Indeed.

I'm a builder.

I deal with physical problems. Not in style or form.

Form is not the goal.

It's the manner in which a problem is addressed.

So...

From the street.

A single story. Low, discrete.

The servant's quarters behind the garage, here.

And here, an opening a glimpse of the city.

We enter not at the bottom, but at the top.

There are bedrooms, bathrooms.

The hallway encased in frosted glass.

And the staircase, down to the heart of the house.

A single space,

large.

Areas to talk, to eat, to be alone.

Each one separate, and yet joined.

Part of the whole. Glass and steel.

Skin and bone.

Walls melt into air, into trees and sky.

It lets us move.

It changes as you walk.

It will take the breath away.

There is more.

I talk about the weather. I ask about their holidays.

As little as possible about the work they pay for.

That's my rule.

You, Liesel, are the exception.

Because you know what you want.

And now

we are in a race to see who will be first to give birth.

I think we know who's going to win.

It's as it should be.

You'll be a family.

Hmm.

You'll bring the house alive.

A family's an interesting problem.

And why is that?

We aim for clarity, transparency.

Freedom from compromise.

Can we construct a family through that design?

Can we still have what we want?

Come to my room.

Rainer!

Forgive me. Uh...

As I say, an interesting problem.

Not one that can be solved.

Are you in love with him?

With Rainer?

For heaven's sake.

Hana, I've only been married five minutes.

So?

And look at me. I'm like a whale.

No!

You're divine.

I've never seen you more beautiful.

He kicks like a horse.

- He? - Or she. Maybe she.

Shall we find out?

Back and forth for a boy.

Round and round for a girl.

My God, look at you.

Can I touch it?

If you really want to.

Your architect wrote to me.

He wants to take me to dinner the next time he's here.

Do you mind?

Why should I mind?

The glass is superb, isn't it?

Almost nothing.

Quite the opposite, it's everything.

- Liesel, it's beautiful. - Thank you. We're very happy.

And what does my little Otilie think of this?

I don't like the look of this.

There is water on the terrace.

I promise you that the terrace and roof are waterproof.

But we can add a pitch too, if you like.

- Couple of towers and a... - I made him bring me.

Please, don't be angry.

I would hate to spoil this for you.

Ladies!

The ebony for the curved partition is already in the workshop.

For the second partition,

I have a proposal.

It's gorgeous!

What is it?

Onyx. From the Atlas Mountains.

Mmm-hmm. How much? - Look, Viktor,

the veins, the color.

Like something alive.

And when the sun sets, it'll glow red, like a flame.

The beating heart of your home.

- How much? - $15,000.

You're insane.

You can buy an entire house for $15,000.

Viktor, I know it's a lot.

Liesel! People are already talking about it.

- Our extravagance. - Let them!

Rainer's built something extraordinary.

Something that will outlast all of us.

Let him finish his work.

You're in Die Bildung again.

Critics adore its fewer lines and austere harmony,

but what kind of life is possible in Herr von Abt's modernist masterpiece?

Bloody cheek.

How do you and your brother like it, Mrs. Lanikova,

- to live in a masterpiece? - Very pleasant, thank you.

As long as I don't have to wash the windows.

- Should I take her up? - Thank you.

Excuse me.

- Have you seen him? - No.

Have you forgiven me?

He talked about you incessantly, by the way.

When he wasn't talking about himself.

He turned out to be surprisingly dull.

- I hate being cross with you. - I know.

But I probably deserved it.

I think I'm pregnant.

My God! Really?

- And are you pleased? - Of course.

It's just rather soon.

Well, you do make it look terribly easy.

It's not that easy for everyone, you know.

We tried and tried and tried...

But it seems I just...

I just can't have children.

Hana,

I had no idea.

You think it would be a disaster.

No, no!

You should have said something.

You're my best friend.

I know how lucky I am.

And I'm really, really happy for you.

Promise never to think that I'm not.

- That I don't love you and your beautiful children. - No.

Martin, it's Marika's turn.

- Watch me, Kata! - Yes.

They left with nothing. Just got on the first train.

Things she saw.

The kosher butcher on the street had his throat cut.

Beatings. Old men made to scrub the pavements.

But there are thousands of them.

Aren't you scared?

It won't happen here.

But, what if it does?

Liesel, we are both married to Jews.

It's happening 50 kilometers away.

Bring the fish, will you?

I sometimes go like this.

I used to look at all this

and imagine everything out there was calm.

Shall we? Three copies.

Transferring ownership of the firm to your father-in-law.

It's a formality, but a sensible one.

And I've spoken to Bohmer. He's transferring funds to Zurich.

Do you know when you will go?

I still hope we won't have to.

The tricky part will be knowing the moment when it comes.

The tricky part will be persuading my wife.

She refuses to discuss it.

She's rather lovely, isn't she?

- I'm hungry. - Let's go!

There you go.

- It looks very nice - What about this?

No, it's lunch. Now is not the time.

You can go out later.

Can you pass me the food, please?

- Oskar, so annoyed you stayed for lunch. - My pleasure.

Otilie, stop it.

Come on!

Viktor.

Viktor?

Ah, you, you can't come in, I'm afraid.

Oh, I didn't know where you were.

I won't be long.

Where you off to today?

A recital at the Philharmonic.

- And then drinks at Hillshire. - Hillshire.

Of course. Life goes on.

You're taking her away.

Listen, I know how much you mean to each other.

When do you leave?

We're still in negotiation. But soon.

What about Kata and the girl?

They'll come with us.

Liesel insists.

There you are.

I'm sorry.

Shall we go?

- Yes. - I won't be late.

I've told Kata I'll pick up the children on the way back.

Save them trudging through the snow.

Damn it! I've forgotten the tickets.

Sorry, Lanik. we'll have to go back.

Why?

They'll let us in, we'll explain.

There's plenty of time.

But, Frau Landauer, the snow.

Lanik, please. I'd like to go back.

- Liesel. - Not now!

Hey.

It's cold outside, Kata. Mama says we can have hot chocolate.

Okay.

You came back.

I forgot something.

Does he like it? That noise you make?

When did it start?

In the summer.

August, I think.

I'm sorry.

I... I... I don't understand.

- I tried to be your friend. - I know.

I gave you a home, you were safe.

I know. I'm sorry.

Did you feel some sort of obligation?

No.

I wanted it.

It was wrong.

And I was grateful to you. So grateful.

But that wasn't all I was.

Your grateful refugee.

It wasn't what I needed.

Take Marika.

I beg you. Take her with you.

Did you hear what she said?

She wants us to take Marika with us when we leave.

What are we going to do?

I don't know.

Coward.

The tickets are picked up. I won't stay.

He doesn't deserve you.

I know.

But the children, they do.

You can't stay.

You have to persuade him,

- and if you can't, then... - I will.

We'll come and find you.

I can't.

Take the page.

Fancy them leaving it so late.

Will they let them go?

Of course they will.

It's what they want, isn't it?

They want to get rid of them.

He wants this covered up.

Says he doesn't want someone turning it into ashtrays.

But these are worth a bit as well.

What if they come back?

They are not coming back.

Miss, I'm sorry. It's just not enough.

That is perfectly in order.

It was issued by the League of Nations.

Move along, sir.

- Come on. - You.

- Wait just a moment. - Christ, we don't have time for this.

I'll catch you up, Marika.

She's with us.

Come on, Viktor.

- Come on, sir. It's time to go. - Please. We're waiting for someone.

For Christ's sake, get on the plane!

Come on!

Viktor!

Halt! Come back!

Leave me!

Someone else is missing. I have to get her! Leave me!

You'll kill all of us, Viktor!

Why'd you do it?

Get up!

Go!

Where's Marika?

Get in, Martin. Go!

It's a horrible old pile.

But it's on the lake, and there's a garden.

Children like it.

There's a rowing boat and skiing in the winter.

If we're still here.

Look, Mama, look!

I can see, darling. That's very good.

I make it sound like a holiday.

But a holiday only lasts so long.

And when it ends, you go home.

Viktor spends most of his time in Zurich.

I gather there are visits to the German consulate,

and I see letters addressed to every kind of relief organization

or refugee committee.

He's trying to find her.

I have a feeling it's all he thinks about.

Of course, the matter is undiscussed.

What on Earth would I say?

Dear God, I miss you.

Can't you come?

Our accounts are frozen.

They took Oskar's firm and handed it

to a Sudeten halfwit called Schneider.

There's a word for this procedure.

They call it Aryanization.

I must be careful with what I write.

Things have changed in the protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia,

this proud and grateful corner of the German Reich.

What does Hana say?

It's about Kata.

She needed money.

Just enough to get her and Marika to Prague.

They're putting children on trains to England.

Mothers and fathers are putting the children onto trains

and waving goodbye.

Can you imagine?

Where is she? Where's Kata?

I don't know. She doesn't say.

I go there in my dreams, across the hallway,

everything just as it was.

Down the stairs, 12 steps to the turn.

And it's the strangest thing.

You are there.

Always.

It's as if I am visiting you.

You're there, waiting for me.

Waiting for me in the classroom.

Are you reading this?

It's months since your last reply.

And still I write, not knowing.

The Landauer house?

I know it very well. I watched it being built.

Liesel Landauer was my greatest friend.

The house was empty.

I have given it a purpose.

I'm an engineer.

I have a team, draftsmen and designers.

More than that, I'm not permitted to say.

They took everything.

The paintings.

The Klee, the Miro.

It was all very polite.

One of them was once a clerk at the firm.

Oskar asked after his wife and children.

I could have scratched the little shit's eyes out.

And your gift,

you remember?

I hid it from them. It's safe.

Oskar hasn't left the apartment in almost a year.

He won't.

Not with the star on his jacket.

But he took good care of me, didn't he?

For all those years.

Now, I must take care of him.

And so, to my news.

Wherever you are, whenever you might read this.

I've been to the house.

In the company of its new occupant.

There is more.

No, thank you.

It was very good.

This was the children's room.

Do you know their names?

No.

Otilie and Martin.

Am I supposed to feel guilt for their absence?

You could look a little embarrassed.

I do my work.

The circumstances are far from us to choose.

My husband is a Jew.

I know.

The caretaker thought that I should be told.

Is it good to be back?

It's terrible.

You chose Liesel's room.

Did I?

So this is your work?

- Airplanes? - You shouldn't be in here.

I see what you meant.

It's all very lovely.

One could almost forget what it's really about.

The bombs and the killing.

There are no supporting walls here, did you know that?

Everything is suspended from the frame.

I knew the architect. We were lovers.

My staff will be here soon.

Tell me about your wife.

I don't have a wife.

I saw her picture.

She's dead.

I'm his whore.

This is how we live.

An entire country doing what it must.

And you're here, somewhere.

That's how I keep you close.

Three years,

how is it possible?

As if my life here has been happening to someone else.

We're far apart,

Viktor and I.

We play our roles, of course.

For the children.

For one another.

But I'm alone.

And so is he.

Except that every now and then,

he asks me to spend the night with him.

He's thinking of her, of course.

And I...

I think of you.

They're taking him away.

All he can do is wait his turn.

Please.

I wondered when this would come up.

Where are they taking them?

I don't know.

Why should I have any more idea about it than you?

You can help us.

You know the people to talk to.

Should I tell you about the people I talk to?

The people I talk to

want to shut this place down and send us home.

What do you mean?

- What happened? - We're governed by morons.

All of them terrified.

Looking for someone else to blame.

I'm sorry.

So, no, I can't help your fucking husband.

You should have left with your friends.

I know.

For Christ's sake, shut it!

Get out of my house.

This is not your house.

I think you should leave.

This might be the last time.

Is she watching it?

Your poor dead wife.

Don't ever come back.

It's a miracle, Liesel.

Or a joke.

Excuse me...

I'm under arrest.

For profiteering or sabotage.

They can't seem to decide.

Why did you come?

It doesn't matter.

Please.

You're pregnant.

Am I the father?

Or wasn't I?

There was a child.

It died inside her.

I thought we could carry on.

The day she leaves hospital...

She ran a bath.

Used my razor to open her veins.

I wish there was something...

Forgive me,

but,

I think I'm glad.

Is this her?

The one with the Jew husband.

Oskar, isn't it?

You don't have to worry,

it's Herr Stahl we're here to see.

You should run along home.

Home to Oskar.

Did they come?

Did they take him?

There was no answer.

They broke down the door.

Oskar!

Oskar!

Take it down.

Someone said you had baby milk.

Have you got money?

It is a sculptor called Maillol.

There's his mark on the base.

It's worth a fair amount.

Liesel gave it to me on her wedding day.

What is it, Hana? Bronze?

Bloody hell. Better come with me.

Let's get in here.

Martha!

Christ, Martha!

Martha!

Martha!

Martha!

Have I found you?

Not Landauer, but Landor?

Elisabeth Landor. Is that you?

Perhaps in the end you choose to forget.

Or do you remember it still?

The house on the hill.

Those bright, foolish days.

The old friend who loved you too much.

- Oskar. - All right.

- This is for your mom. - Thanks.

A special delivery from state security.

Hello, I received a summons.

I sent that six months ago.

As you can see, it suffers in your absence,

your beautiful house.

Whose house?

Whose house?

Can't I write to my friends?

Your friend's a cunt.

Well, you write,

"The address is the same.

"Although the apartment is a little smaller now,

"there's a wall down the middle.

"Our neighbor is dying.

"I hear him coughing through the night.

"He was once a professor of theology.

"But then they sent him down to coal mine

"to complete his education."

This is the bit I like.

"I longed for you.

"I felt you

"here and not here,

"like a missing limb.

"Ached for you in every nerve and muscle."

They tried to get it back in the 1946, did she tell you?

She stopped writing to me.

Out loud.

Go on.

I want to hear it.

You don't want to read it?

You're a school teacher.

And you've got a son.

I gather he's a good student full of plans, I'm sure.

Full of hopes.

I might have some people around later. Is that all right?

Oh, that's okay.

I'm going out, remember?

Shit. Yeah.

Good luck.

You look great.

There's a woman upstairs.

Something to do with the Department of Urban Planning.

Said she's a friend of Grusa.

There seems to be a problem here.

Only when it rains.

Maybe Viktor was right.

He never really liked the idea of a flat roof.

The reception doesn't start till 6:00.

I hoped I might have a look around first.

Didn't Grusa warn you?

I'm writing an article.

What kind of article?

About the architecture.

And the story.

I never knew what all the fuss was about.

Is it true that half the people of these things are informants?

Half of them?

That seems unlikely.

- You are late. - Hello, everyone.

Over here. Move it.

Lanik.

Yes, sir.

Very interesting.

There's a place for such opinions, of course.

Although, we must avoid confusion.

We mustn't allow the public to become demoralized.

We must speak up for our achievements.

People like...

You're just a vicious...

You're trying to destroy us.

You are trying to destroy everything that this party has done.

You are leaving?

I think I've seen enough.

This article, what's it going to say?

That the house is falling to pieces.

Mostly that.

Mostly, I advise against embarrassing the party.

Well, Lanik.

Don't you see? It's all over.

Who knows what will happen, comrade?

Not me. Not you.

You know better than anyone

how the house was made,

what was intended.

I can't imagine going back.

The event, we hope you'll attend,

will launch a charitable foundation

seeking funds around the world.

The house has countless admirers.

It will operate as part of the city museum.

I'm grateful for your visit, Mr. Vesely.

But I'm not sure how I can help.

There's one other thing. An article

written by a friend of yours...

Someone else who remembers the house as it was.

Hana.

She gave me a letter.

Insisted that I put it in your hand.

Could I have a moment, please?

Ma?

Mr. Vesely. Martin. So sorry I'm late.

Your mother asked for a moment alone.

And you're here, somewhere.

It's how I keep you close.

This is Oskar.

My son.

Oskar. I'm so glad to meet you.

Welcome back to Czechoslovakia.

It's bigger than I remember.

Maybe it's too big.

Maybe they're right to turn it into a museum.

I realize something terrible.

I never knew Lanik's first name.

What do you suppose will happen to him?

I don't know.

But he'll manage.

You can be fairly sure of that.

Do you think he'll let me stay just for tonight?

I don't want to sleep in a hotel.

I'll make sure of it.

I thought we should have some more of this dreadful wine.

He built himself a yacht, was out on his own.

Squall...

It felt...

Like the end of everything.

Good evening.

Hi. Nice to meet you.

We sat here. Do you remember?

Of course I remember.

I never stopped thinking about it.

How you wanted me, how I refused.

Because I had to leave and thought I'd fall apart.

And now I'm afraid it's too late.

How could it ever be too late?

The Russians. Ma, we've got to go.

Oskar found a guy who can take us to the border.

But we have to go now.

I know.

Ma, we've gotta go.

Please, wait.

I can't go.

If I stay,

will you have me?

Of course.

The house, the plans. None of it's gonna happen.

I know.

Doesn't matter.

It was so beautiful.

Yes.

Yes, it was.

She said, "Rainer,

"My clothes? Where do I put my clothes?"

I said, "It's a weekend house.

"You only need one dress.

"Hang it on the back of the bedroom door."

Wait.

The sun.

Come on.

Any moment now.

Let's see the wall.

Look.

Here it comes.

Here it comes.

It's beautiful.