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The National Film Archive Presents

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Manasse Based on Ronetti Roman's stage play

Screenplay Cinematography

Cast

Directed by

An Apollo-Film Production

The town of Falticeni.

In the Jewish quarter:

In a modest home there lives the old Manasse.

Friday night.

Sorrow fills old Manasse's home. Sara has died.

At the home of Nisim Cohanovici in Bucharest.

"Mr. Matei Frunza & Mrs. Natalie Frunza."

Telegram Sara has died, Manasse

Nisim and Ester leave to Falticeni.

Sara's funeral.

It's too late.

Meanwhile, the youth in Bucharest forgets about the sorrow of those in Falticeni.

Mr. Matei Frunza & Mrs. Natalia Frunza

The dead with the dead, the living with the living.

Manasse prays for Sara at the temple (Kaddish prayer)

Act II After Sara's death, old Manasse

decides to come to Bucharest, accompanied by Zelig Sor.

As per their agreement, Sor meets up with Emil Horn

at the train station in Bacau.

An old gentleman that refuses to give his name has arrived.

"Ah! Dad! Welcome! What a surprise!"

"Glad to see you, my children!"

"Zelig Sor! What wind brings you here?"

"Your dad is a wind?"

"I brought Zelig along with me. I didn't want to make this trip by myself."

"Still as wild and lively as ever?"

What Manasse does not like....

"Tell me, Nisim, what is this naked lady fighting with a young man doing here?"

"It's a scene from the Bible. It's Joseph with Potiphar's wife."

"You couldn't find anything better in the Bible?

And you even have a maiden in this house!"

"No, Nisim, this is not appropriate for a Jewish home."

Meanwhile Zelig...

"That is one nice gal! Young too! Didn't have 10 kids yet, like my wife!"

"Aren't you going to wash your hands, Sor?"

"No. Everyone calls me filthy anyway, why waste any water?"

"Zelig, are you already eating? Without praying beforehand?"

"Did Adam pray, in Heaven, before eating the apple?"

"I don't like this type of jokes, Zelig. The Jews should be Jews!

"And the Christians should be Christians, it's better this way."

"But you kids don't know what disaster struck Calman, the pawnbroker!"

In Falticeni, Calman has a small pawn booth.

In the home of Calman, the pawnbroker.

Rasela with Iordache Tafna, a subprefect.

"I'm coming to take you tonight. Be ready."

Iordache Tafna kidnapped Rasela and baptized her in the village's church.

The news spreads quickly in the Jewish quarter of Falticeni.

"Calman, the pawnbroker's daughter was baptized!"

"What a tragedy!"

"God is everywhere, He will punish her!"

"I would like to see Rasela so much!"

"To see her? You, Leia?"

"Why not, grandpa? Doesn't she need someone to talk to?"

She should look for support from those she left for, not from us Jews.

"Glad to see you grandpa!"

"Grandpa, I want you to meet my best friend:

Mr. Matei Frunza, High Court judge."

"Lazar told me so much about you, Mr. Cohanovici.

I almost feel like I know you already."

"If you say that you know me, then why do you blemish my name?

I'm called either Manasse or Cohen. I'm not ashamed of my Jewish name."

"So now you've become a Doctor of Philosophy, Lazar!

Now, tell me what is a Doctor of Philosophy good for."

I understand that a Doctor of Medicine feeds off the sick

that a Doctor of Law feeds off litigants.

But what does a Doctor of Philosophy feed off.

Didn't I tell him that philosophy isn't of any use!

"Of use, Nisim? What is actually of use?

When I will pass this world's border to the other side,

it will be only knowledge that I bring with me.

And once I'm there I will proclaim:

God, you have sent me into the world with a hollow head

and I bring it back to you filled with your wisdom."

"So you're studying to become a Doctor of Medicine?"

"Is it true that you cut all sorts of dead people up? Big and small?"

"And are those dead people naked when you cut them up?"

"Naked? Bare-naked?"

"YES!"

That's not right, if the shirt on Thorn ages, we don't get rid of it, as it's still Holy.

And the body in which God's soul has been mantled is Holy and not to be disgraced.

Act III

Even with all of their religious differences,

Frunza and Lelia fell in love, so they meet up by the road.

...Meanwhile, at home, Zelig Sor introduces Emil Horn.

"If both you, Nisim, and Ester agree, I won't say no."

Why haven't you told me about this Emil Horn?"

I feared you might cast an evil eye on him..

Such a nice, handsome groom red & white, dressed up to the nines.

Sara insisted on Alter Korn's son as a worthy candidate for a son-in-law.

"Alter Korn? What dowry could he provide?

Half a bankruptcy and a mortgage on his mother's grave?"

"Such a beautiful lad, just as a man should be

and a businessman on top of that, you won't find many like him !.."

"So it's settled, Lelia: Tomorrow I'm coming to ask for you hand"

Sor has finally convinced Nisim & Ester about Emil Horn,

when.. a guest is announced...

"Mr. Matei Frunza."

"I want to talk with you."

"Do you need some money? Did you lose at cards?"

"I don't play cards !"

"So you came in need of a promotion then.

I'll talk with the Minister of Justice, he's a good friend of mine."

"I was just promoted yesterday as Court President."

"I want to get married. But there are religious obstacles.

I want to marry a Jewish woman !"

"Wonderful! Among civilized folks, who even cares about this anymore?"

"Then I'm asking you for LELIA'S HAND!"

"Anything else by any means, Mr. Frunza,

but this request, as you can already see..."

"This happens when someone enters into a business without a middleman!"

"You should be ashamed !"

"I have yet to win a penny with shame!"

"Bring Emil Horn here at around 3 o'clock."

"Business is booming !"

"All alone, Mr. Sor?"

"Alone, just as I was in my mother's womb.

Actually no, scratch that, I wasn't that lucky either,

I even had a companion back then."

"You heard that Frunza proposed to Lelia?"

"Don't utter one more word about this,

you know that a love affair between a Jewish girl and a Christian is..."

"Are you talking about Calman again?

May God protect any Jew from such a disaster...

"What about you. Lazar, why don't you say anything?

Why don't you pray at least once? For its beauty, if not for other reasons.

Just take a look!"

But Lelia loves Matei though,

and she cannot conceive a marriage with Horn,

whom she only met once in Falticeni.

"You want people to point their fingers at me. And say:

That is Nisim Cohanovici, whose daughter is baptized?"

"How many times do I have to tell you that it's not about baptism?

He doesn't ask for me to baptize."

"Forget about these dreams, my dear child,

and go get dressed, Emil Horn should arrive soon."

"Has the storm passed?"

"What should I do, brother? Advise me!"

"What advice could I give you? Be faithful to yourself.

Look into your heart for what you really want and let the people talk."

"You're right. Lazar. Tell Matei to forgive me

and that, starting now, I will love him as a brother."

"Lazar, you do what you do, sell even the shirt on your back,

but make sure you become rich.

As long as you're rich, you won't have to resort to being a middleman."

Spare me your ramblings and leave me alone.

Act IV Hello, hello, excuse me for being late.

When you have to deal with authorities,

you're as good as the thickness of your wallet.

Now look at this suit fabric!

"Lazar, there's a door for us too!"

"I've agreed on all matters with your parents.

Now I want to hear your opinion as well."

What do you want as a wedding gift? A brooch, earrings, a diadem?

"I dont' wear jewelry!"

Although it is, indeed, dead money, you will have to wear it.

Do you want people to say that I can't afford to buy you jewels?

"I read that you're playing a concert with Frunzescu on Saturday.

Who is he?"

"His name is Frunza, Matei Frunza, he is Court president.

But the concert won't take place !"

"Now, my dear Emil, this is my middleman fee.

2 percent of 500.000 lei makes for exactly 10.000 lei."

"I'm not paying more than 2.000 lei, and that's after I get my share too !

And please don't call me Horn anymore, I am MR. HORN to you!"

"Then you call me Mr. Sor too,

because I was also born out of a salted fish & olives shop !"

"Care to serve some tea?"

"I can't stand it. Tea is an upstart in my eyes.

It's just dyed, sweetened, phoney water that feels like a hotshot all of a sudden.

I am MR. TEA from now on."

As per their agreement, the engagement ceremony takes place this same evening,

so Esther and Lilia leave for Vienna the day after.

"Be merry, Leia!

Starting now, you will have obey and love the man you bind your life to.

You will have your own home. Make sure it's a Jewish home!

"Mazel Tov!"

"I entrust you with my one and only daughter.

Do not forget what home she comes from and how she was raised!"

"Congratulations! I am the one you should tank, miss,

for it's me that actually brought him for you."

But Lelia's thoughts wander towards the one she loves.

"Lazar, I am happy now, I am engaged. Congratulate me."

The wedding day.

The train that is supposed to be bringing Esther and Lilia

back from Vienna is greatly delayed.

Meanwhile, Lazar and Horn are waiting at the train station.

Keep in mind there are 5 trunks in total, so make sure none get lost!

What could've happened since they haven't yet arrived!!

"Didn't I tell you not to cripple my girl

by forcing her to marry this mackerel-stenched fellow!"

"Why didn't you write to me to cancel the engagement?"

"This wedding must not take place."

"It's impossible. The guests are arriving any minute now.

What will they all say?"

"Dad."

"If you guys don't have any sympathy for my sister, then I do.

I'll step in and save her. I will make a scene!"

Who do you think you are to make order in my own house!!!

On the wedding day, old Manasse comes to Bucharest too, along with Sor.

"What do you need?"

"My name is Jorj. I'm the head waiter."

"How long have you been called that way?

And when did you leave the "Itic" at the end of your name?

Aren't you the son of Abner, the miller from Hartop!"

"Please don't call me that, you'll get me into big trouble !"

"Well then, It... I mean Jorj, bring our luggage into our room."

"The trunk with the wedding dress is missing."

Act V

The guests' arrival.

"You're looking better, Lelia.

Oh, imagine how happy we'll be tonight, just the two of us, in the hotel room..."

"I want to talk to you, Mr. Horn."

"Meanwhile..."

...Lelia runs to Matei Frunza...

"Wasn't Lelia just here?"

"She was, maybe she went to the other room !"

"A young lady sent me here with this letter."

My Dear Parents,

I had the choice to either leave this home or leave this life.

You love me and you will be grateful to know

that I refrained from the latter at the last moment,

and that you will find me at Natalia's,

instead of finding me dead somewhere.

Please forgive me, I had no other choice

Give me some time to calm down.

Thousands of kisses, with eternal love, Lelia

"How could she do something like this to me?

Can you believe it? God forbid!

Running to her lover on the wedding day!

The news of Lelia's departure spreads among the guests,

who are starting to leave.

"I had a discussion with the preacher.

He told me a parable regarding Jacob's marriage to Lea

and about Laban's dream...

But where are the grooms? Haven't they arrived yet from the city hall?

"Please forgive me, Mr. Manasse, but I need to tell you something."

"You wretched drunkard! How dare you? Get out of here!"

"I'll go, I'll go, but ask anyone else.

Everyone knows already, it's no secret.

Look at all the people leaving."

"Is it true?.. MY DEAR LEA?.. It is true!"

"Tell me, Lazar, do you love me the same way your sister, Lelia, loves Matei?

"Do you want words from me, darling?

Look into my eyes and read them, guess my thoughts,

listen to my heartbeats when I'm standing next to you,

and be as happy as I am now.

"There's some kind of merchant waiting in the hall.

He says his name is... Chore, I think.

He's looking for you, Sir.

"Let him in."

"Sor! What happened?"

"What about grandpa, how is grandpa doing?

"The old man, that's where the real trouble is."

"What do you want?"

"I want things to work out well for everyone, including you.

Old Manasse's sorrow is as heavy as a mountain

and a part of it is toppling on me too.

He's the only person in the world I bow my head to.

We need to make it right for him as well.

"Mister Manasse."

A door! I need to get out fast. I don't want him to see me here!

"Mr. Frunza, you surely didn't expect to see me here.. neither did I."

"I came to talk openly with you. You have well defeated me!

Your knee is on my chest, alright. You've got my neck in a noose, alright.

Now tell me: what do you really want, lay it all out."

"I want the parents to agree to my marriage with Lelia."

"I understand. How much? I'm not going to haggle.

Here are a hundred thousand lei, a part of my whole life's earnings.

I'm giving them to you.

This way you'll both get a dowry and get rid of a Jewish girl."

"Mister Manasse, you're very lucky that you are Lelia's grandfather."

"I see that you're not after the money. But what kind of life will you both live?

If you had any faith, you wouldn't marry a Jewish girl.

You won't have a good time.

We will always pop up like spectres to split you both up.

You won't find solace with your family either."

"A Jew's daughter will forever remain a Jew!...

A storm might bend her, but it will never pull her roots out completely...

never!.."

"Lelia is now mine forever!"

"But where is Lea now? I would like to see her.

It would be a huge blessing for this old man."

"I don't want to scold you in any way. We all make mistakes!

But a child is obliged to obey his parents.

"Parents should not ask for what is impossible.

Even obedience has its limits."

"Where are you now, Lea? In a stranger's house!

What world were you about to enter?

A world dominated by the hatred against me,

against you, and against everything that is Jewish.

I'm talking on behalf of the parents that you are trying to renounce."

"You are beautiful, Lea!

He is hungry for your beauty, and for your flesh.

Tear this blossoming flesh off your body, tear it off now.

Deface yourself."

"Grandpa, have mercy, Don't torture me anymore!"

"She's lost. She is lost!"

I shall stand on Sara's grave, drop my head to the ground and scream:

"Sara, Sara! Our offspring, Leia, is forever lost for us!"

"Nisim, you are her father, and this child is a minor.

The law gives you the right to take her away."

"Even if I swore to, I could not kill my own child."

"You can't kill her?! But you can kill me ?"

"I gather you are giving your consent then!"

"Not for the moment!!"

"For the moment?.. I understand now!!"

"Dead! The old man is dead!

You have no idea who just died! I was the only one that really knew him!"

A righteous man has passed away.

Both of his feet were on the ground, but his mind reached beyond the sky.

I caused him pain and he did not love me, but I will honor his memory forever.

The End.

Ambient Accompaniment

Subtitles made by StefanCinema for KG & CG