Original subtitles

Mr. Seifert!

Talk to me. When did you swallow it?

Mr. Seifert. Won't you tell me?

Open your eyes.

You have to work with us. Can you hear me?

Bend your head forward.

Mr. Seifert, open your eyes.

Bend your head forward. Now open wide for me, please.

You have to swallow this now. - Swallow!

Don't fight it. Swallow, please. Breathe.

Swallow, please. - Swallow! Swallow!

Swallow! - That's good. Well done. Swallow!

Terrific. Keep swallowing. Open your mouth. - Work with us. Great.

Keep swallowing!

Don't fight it. Open your mouth wider and swallow!

And don't forget to breathe.

Yes! - Well done! - Great!

OK.

Nice and calm now. - This'll feel a little unpleasant. Good.

This'll be a bit cold.

Turn your head to the side.

Turn your head to the side!

Nice and calm... - And breathe. - Keep breathing.

That's it. - Great. - Fantastic.

Breathe! - Breathe in. Don't spit it out.

Swallow again.

Good. Head to the side.

That's OK. We can siphon off the rest.

Keep your eyes open. - Eyes open!

Keep breathing, it's almost over.

It's almost over.

Nice and calm now.

It's OK.

Is that it?

Everything's out.

This will feel unpleasant again. - Stay nice and calm.

Keep breathing.

See? It's over.

Why did you do it?

Why did you do it?

Won't you tell me?

No. I'm...

What?

I'm queer. I'm a homosexual.

Matthias.

That's nothing to cry about.

Don't cry.

My name is Philipp Klarmann.

I'm your new homeroom teacher.

Shit!

Sorry.

Water! Come on!

Hopefully it isn't broken.

Can you wet it a bit? - Sure.

That's too wet! - Sorry.

My God, I'm so embarrassed.

I'll be OK.

Now we're gonna have a drink. - Better not. - Come on.

Yes?

OK? - Yeah.

Amazing. - What do you mean?

I'm glad I bumped into you. I didn't mean it like that.

Let's go. I feel embarrassed, looking like this. - Why?

There you go. Two "foolproofs". - Thanks.

Cheers. - Cheers.

Like it?

Yeah? Give us two more.

What's it called? - "Foolproof".

I don't go out usually.

Just a sec.

Of course! That's him.

The optician where we met for the first time.

You stepped on my contact lens.

I think he's got something mercantile Asiatic about him, a certain something.

Stick to mineral water, if you can't handle wine,

my love.

I think these glasses suit you much better.

They make you so...

so imposing. - Really?

OK, let's party!

I puked it all up.

That's good.

I'd better be going. - No, stay a while.

Would you like some tea?

Do you want to take off your coat? - Sure.

Thanks.

Oh, yeah, the tea. It was nice tonight.

Sorry I got a bit... At the end...

We've never met in private before. - Yes, we have.

When? - At the college Mardi Gras dance in '82.

We even danced together two or three times. - What?

I was in the year above you.

You always used to dance with Britta Jumann.

I don't remember.

"I don't remember"! We all knew that you and Jumann...

What? - You had a thing going.

I did not. I never...

All the girls liked you.

I'll bet you painted the pictures.

They're really lovely. - Thanks.

You paint very good pictures.

You could just as well be a painter, in my view.

What about the tea? I... - I still like you.

Cheers. - Cheers.

In films they throw the glasses over their shoulders.

Romy Schneider, for example. Terrific.

You've completely ruined me.

I don't know what you've done to me.

Why did you go out with me?

No one goes out with me.

Would you want me?

I mean...

as your husband?

It's OK if you say...

And I thought...

My God!

My God!

Essay subject...

What moves me when I read this poem?

What do I move after reading it?

What suggestions can I make?

"I need no gravestone.

But if you need one for me

put the following epitaph on it:

'He made suggestions.

We accepted them.'

An epitaph such as this would honor us all."

Bertolt Brecht.

Fucking nigger!

Get over there.

Stop it, you bastards!

Bastards! Leave him alone!

Bastards!

Get out!

Shit!

Come on!

Pity...

A real pity.

You're usually such a bright bunch.

All I get from you is this boring, tired, innocuous junk.

I was expecting so much from this essay.

I thought we could get to know each other,

learn something about each other,

find out what really moves every single one of you,

what your goals and desires are,

your joys, your doubts...

and also your fears.

It's not about what I want to hear,

what you think I want to hear.

Because the teacher is the teacher and decides what's said and thought.

Don't you feel any anger?

No need to make an effort?

How are you going to improve the things that haven't yet been perfected?

How are you going to fight stupidity if you don't want to see it?

I have to go to my mom's. Want to come? - No, Redford's coming.

I'll go now. I'll be back in time. - Fine.

Who's coming? - Redford.

To look you over.

To see if I'm good enough for you?

He was my neighbor, a terrific guy.

That's why he's called Redford?

Jealous? - You bet I am.

I'll hurry. Behave yourself.

Didn't you want to go see your mom?

So you've decided to come at last.

I brought you flowers.

Not chrysanthemums, I hope.

Gerberas.

You brought chrysanthemums before, although you know how allergic I am to them.

I'm completely snowed under with work.

You could help out a bit: do the washing or the shopping.

Your sister's studying, I can barely talk to her.

Your father's always away lecturing. And me?

My God, I'm busy, too. I have a job, too.

I don't know...

You used to be different.

Baloney! I was a kid, I lived here...

Excuses, nothing but excuses.

I could've had a different life...

without kids.

Look.

So what?

Who's that?

That's her.

Who? - My girlfriend.

You have a girlfriend?

Since when?

A few weeks.

Well, you...

You have to bring her over...

How's that possible?

Do you want to marry her?

Yes...

We definitely have to talk about it sometime.

Could you wash the dishes and do the laundry and...

Well, I never...

Sure...

Well, that's...

Phili!

Jacob?

You know each other?

Yes, we used to be...

school friends.

You stupid old Redford, you. We should meet more often, huh?

Sure. Come by sometime. Tanja knows my address.

Maybe.

I guess you didn't get my letters?

It must be two or three years now.

Never mind. So long. - Bye. - Bye.

Is something wrong?

You're impossible!

Just for a short while, then it's winter again.

Sometimes it helps to just look at the sky.

It isn't an easy job...

not for anyone.

It isn't only the kids that make life hard.

It's one's colleagues as well: they gossip, become obsequious.

In any event, one has to show backbone.

It's important.

But I think you'll be OK.

I'm here for you if... - Thank you, Mrs. Möllemann.

And I see we have a new guest!

At two minutes past midnight!

Why are you so shy?

Come closer, young man. I don't bite.

Larry, dearie! Have you a seat for our new guest?

Just a sec, darling.

Achim, honey!

There's a seat at the bar, honey. Over and out!

But I just came in for cigarettes.

There's no need to be scared.

Everyone started this way.

Be brave.

May I buy you a drink?

You're too late, dearie, Larry's treating him.

But I...

Don't be shy, honey. Larry's OK.

This toothache's driving me crazy!

And I'm working all day on the new place.

Hartmut doesn't lift a finger to help.

The little diva. And the concrete. Yuk!

Anyway, I wore my first ball gown when I was 15 years old.

I found it in an old closet in my great-aunt's attic.

I put it on and stood in front of the mirror in the parlor.

My aunt was a farmer and always wore men's clothes.

What I didn't know at the time was that she was a lesbian.

She suddenly came into the room and said: "What are you wearing there?"

I replied: "A ball gown."

She came up to me and said:

"See: Nature's played a joke on us.

You should have been a girl and me a man."

There are no real women anymore!

And the women say there are no real men anymore!

But I'm telling you, there are no real women at all anymore.

...two young guys in leather.

Enchanting fellows.

He's a child psychologist and she's... The other one's a builder.

Don't drink so much, sweetheart.

What do you all want from me? I have nothing to do with...!

He meant: "I don't want anything to do with you."

There are no real women anymore. There just aren't any real women anymore.

There you are!

Listen...

I was so worried.

I almost went crazy.

Where were you?

See you later.

Good evening. I wanted to see Mr. Schrader.

Jacob, a visitor.

Well, what a surprise!

Hi! - Come on in.

We were just going to have some mulled wine. You'll have a glass, won't you?

I just wanted... - Let me take your coat.

Sure.

Have a seat.

Thanks.

Nothing's wrong with Tanja? - No, no...

She doesn't know I'm here.

I got your address from the phone book.

Well, I...

We went to school together.

He lives with Tanja now.

Did you tell Tanja anything?

Huh?

About the past.

About us?

That business?

You know what I mean.

That's why you came.

You haven't changed at all. Pity.

You're still just as ashamed.

No. Please, Jacob. I...

My God, that's the point!

Since I saw you again...

Everything's different.

This isn't real. - Not real?

Not real?

Stay here. We have no secrets.

We live together and we're not ashamed of it. Understand?

Jacob, please. - You're twisting things.

Just like you twisted things back then. So you didn't abandon me?

You didn't switch classes because the sight of me disgusted you?

Your parents didn't accuse me of inciting you to commit homosexual acts?

No! - And you don't know...

that your parents...

bought me a bike...

and a compass set...

as...

as a replacement for you.

And because we were a large family and my parents didn't have...

Hey, fag!

Get a load of him!

Hi, sweetie!

Let's get out of here.

A song from the ghetto.

My mother does not call me by my name.

My mother is dead.

My father does not call me by my name.

My father is far away.

And God does not call me by my name,

for God thought up a Purim play

and He plays the role of the dog in it.

And he wails so loudly, wails so loudly, wails so loudly in the night

that I drive him away with a stick.

He should leave me in peace.

Oh, heart of mine.

Rest a while.

When God has gone, rest a while.

When my body is stretched out

in patience.

Rest a while, rest a while, rest a while without God.

Rest a while, rest a while, rest a while without God.

I had a totally wrong impression of Lutz.

Much more withdrawn and childish.

He's really great.

I have to get off here. - You must be mad, in this weather.

And just for me. - No, for us.

It was your only birthday wish.

I have another wish. - What?

That you tell me when something's bothering you.

I mean if you have problems because of me.

I was so afraid.

I flipped my lid.

I went completely nuts. - But why?

I don't know either.

Excuse me?

How long have they all been here? - The first came yesterday morning.

I got here late this time, too.

We meet again. Funny.

Are you sure we...?

Aren't you mistaken? - You're called Philipp.

You...

It was you and the other guy?

My God!

I came to around noon.

I don't remember a thing.

Attention! This is your visitors' service.

Please get in line.

Customer numbers are being issued earlier today.

Tickets will be issued from 9 a.m. to persons with a customer number.

Barenboim last year and Celibidache, and maybe Abbado,

they made the greatest impression on me. I couldn't get tickets for Bernstein.

But in 1984, shortly after this place opened, I saw him in the flesh.

I'm telling you: it was fantastic, simply fantastic!

Let's go.

They haven't cleaned up!

They haven't done the dishes!

The old sluts!

It's the same every morning. It's enough to drive you crazy.

Oh no!

Just look at the state of this place.

What a mess!

What a dump. Those bitches, those old sluts.

Good job your "dump" is open. - Come to the counter.

I can't be running a marathon on Saturdays before my breakfast.

He's a good-looker, isn't he?

He was crazy about going to concerts, too. But rock concerts.

Holy music! The youth of today...

Twelve years ago...

No, 13 years ago he crashed into a truck on a Jawa motorbike.

He was my only son.

That's life.

He was only 19. How old are you guys?

I'm 20. Almost.

Well?

What shall we do now?

I have to go.

Pity.

Thanks.

For everything.

Tough luck, huh?

Whatever did you think of me?

What do you mean?

I was so drunk.

I was thinking of myself.

It's like that when you find out what you are.

You hang out in bars and drink just to drown all your problems.

I'm giving a birthday party tonight, in the same bar.

Please come.

That explains the champagne.

I can't.

It's impossible. Really.

You can. Come later if you like.

No, no. I...

You'll come.

I know you will.

Shall we go see a late movie? "Hannah and Her Sisters"?

No, an inspector's sitting in on my class tomorrow. I need my sleep. Disappointed?

No.

You're so jumpy. - I...

I just felt like seeing a movie.

Let's drink some grog and go to bed.

You can read to me.

Or not?

OK. Let's do that.

"I clicked my heels together sharply.

I winced in pain because my ankles struck each other.

Only then did I realize I was naked.

I hid my manhood with my hands.

I saw the mouth, fleeing from kisses, twitch with amusement.

My nakedness disappeared in the captain's ever constricting pupils...

Shame on you, Corporal. You're a chicken, not a soldier."

Please don't be sad.

I need to be alone for a few days.

Don't worry about me or try to contact me.

Philipp.

This is him: Philipp.

This is my mom and dad.

My sister Sonja, her boyfriend Carsten.

My cousin Ulrike.

Holger, Sebastian, Alex, Erika.

And Walter you know already.

You haven't all waited for me?

Terrific.

I've always wanted to live so high up above the city.

Don't your folks mind the fact that you came back to my place?

Why should they?

It's OK.

Look, a train.

Like in toyland.

Is something the matter?

You're so...

You're so quiet.

Hey, you...

Hey, you...

You're called Matthias.

I believe...

I've been waiting for you.

The past two years at least.

How do you know?

You don't have a boyfriend, do you? - No.

Really? - I don't have one.

Or maybe you do.

Me.

Yes.

Matthias, I don't think you coming here was a good idea.

So you do have a boyfriend?

Nonsense.

Don't you want a family? To have kids some day?

No. I don't want any of that.

Because I can't have it.

My grandma wrote poems when she was young.

Very...

Very erotic poems.

"The garland of swallows gently girdled the loving couple.

While she whispered:

'Come, my beloved. Come, dishevel my hair.

Rip off my bodice and ruin me completely.'"

Do you know the feeling...

when you're getting ready for bed?

The feeling...

that tonight maybe someone will ring your bell?

But nobody comes.

I'm talking nonsense.

But yesterday...

out in the cold, I noticed for the first time...

that I'd found someone.

Someone whose hand I could hold without freezing.

Then you're not alone.

Maybe.

Maybe it's possible.

I think you're incredible.

I've never been with a guy before.

Can I come again?

You don't look good at all.

Go see a doctor. - There's enough staff off sick at the moment.

Is something worrying you? - No.

Tanja's showing it more.

One might think she was pregnant.

What?

One might think so, I said. That's all.

You wouldn't exactly be overjoyed if she was, would you?

Has Tanja said anything to you about...?

Not exactly, but...

When a woman keeps getting dizzy spells

and keeps being sick...

If you say it's OK, then it's OK!

If you really mean it.

What can I do? Only you can leave!

I won't leave you in the lurch! Never!

Maybe it's my fault you suddenly slept with another woman.

No, I want you! It won't happen again!

Goddammit! I love you!

Shit!

I'm a stupid cow. Shit!

I'm sorry.

Thanks.

Philipp!

Hey!

Wow!

Why are you never home?

I thought something happened to you.

How are you doing?

Your champagne.

This concert was my last hope.

I looked all over for you.

I knew you'd be here tonight.

I've so much to tell you.

The champagne.

Yes, I... - What?

This is Matthias.

Hi. - Hi.

This is my Tanja, my wife.

Yes, this is Tanja...

my wife.

I see.

I see.

I wasn't deceiving you.

Not on purpose.

So now I know.

And I never even noticed.

I want to explain it all to you...

I... - It's totally idiotic.

I know. You...

I...

I... - "I, I, I..."!

I...

Do you know what would be the nicest birthday present for me?

If you disappeared.

Don't touch me!

Mr. Klarmann!

Do you know the time?

It's 9:40 a.m.

Your class started at 7:50 a.m.

I'll see you after school.

Johann Wolfgang Goethe: "Mignon."

"Dost thou know the land where the lemons grow?

Where golden oranges in dark leaves glow?

A gentle wind wafts from an azure sky?

The myrtle's still, the laurel's high?

Dost thou know it?

Thither! Thither!

I wish to go with thee, my beloved.

Dost thou know the house with pillars tall?

Where chambers line the gleaming hall?

Where marble images stare at me..."

Stop talking at once! It's completely disrespectful to him!

Time to go home, my angels.

Visiting time's over. Even the difficult cases have to go.

I'll go now. - Finish your beer first.

This isn't a state railroad dining car.

Have you seen Matthias around, the guy I was here with recently?

Do you know his address? - Do you know how many Matthiases come in here, darling?

Ask me another one.

Sorry. - Matthias?

Matthias? You mean the charming dentist?

He's very generous, by the way.

Doesn't he live in the suburbs? - He moved last August.

Thanks. I don't mean him.

I know, you mean the young guy who celebrated his birthday here.

He's never been back since.

But...

Someone must know his name and where he lives.

Here no one knows anyone's name or anyone's address.

Everyone's alone here.

And everyone's afraid.

Philipp, I... - Mom?

If you won't come...

Please, son.

I can't sleep anymore.

Don't look at me like that.

Why...?

Why does it have to be this way? - What?

It...

The way you are. - There is no other way.

And why should I have to justify being the way I am?

Why?

Is it better to pretend?

Lie to yourself? Force yourself to be something you can never be?

Make others unhappy because that's the only alternative?

Because nature made me this way and not another way?

Who am I harming?

Apart from my so-called reputation?

Don't we all have the right to live as we have to?

No, Mom. Please. - I don't know how I can help you.

By not starting to cry again.

I cried enough tears because of you when I was a kid.

When I noticed that you and Dad...

It did no good at all.

I just wanted you to be happy together.

Unhappy?

I'm only unhappy because of you.

Only because of you!

Coming?

Here? Or have you got a place? - Not here.

That was nice.

Bye.

Matthias!

Hi.

Is everything OK?

OK?

Is your wife out of town? Or are you taking a night off?

Come on, Lutz.

That's Philipp. This is Lutz!

Come on in to my parlor!

That's right! The later it gets, the better the guests!

Every little square makes my life so shitty, with all his talk about morality.

And what he thinks and does is plain for all to see,

he simply can't stand it if anyone's happy.

Then he says: "We didn't have that in my day!"

and I ask him full of modesty, with a smile on my face:

"Can love really be a sin? Do we have to keep it secret when we kiss..."

Seeing as it's my birthday today

I thought to myself,

I'll sing myself...

Don't touch me, you dirty old man!

That's not the way we do things around here. - Achim. It was a misunderstanding.

Hear that? A misunderstanding, nothing else.

Come on, sit down.

We've never tolerated brutality here, Walter. - I know.

Bring us a drink, Achim. Two large brandies.

I'm not serving him. One double, OK?

Two doubles, Achim. I'll drink both.

Right. Two large brandies for you.

Do you think we make a pass at every man we get a bit close to

just because we're gay?

Or couldn't we maybe

just want to be helpful and kind like other people?

Two large brandies for you, Walter. - Achim, the same again.

I'm not saying anything, Walter.

Better still, Achim, bring us a whole trayful.

Checkered, checkered, checkered, Kathrin sees everything checkered...

Stop blubbering!

Leave me alone.

Just leave me alone, will you?

At school she got a C in music

but always got straight A's in math.

No one was as perfect in adding up as her,

no wonder, because her books were always beautifully...

Checkered, checkered, checkered... - I'm scared.

I'm terrified!

I'm a teacher and I like being a teacher.

Know what that means?

A queer teacher?

There are worse things.

I won't say another word.

Just that we've ejected some people for being drunk.

That could still happen to you, Walter, at your age. Excuse me.

"Dirty old man!" Water under the bridge.

But hitting someone?

I've already been down that road.

I've had to pay my dues to sit here with you and drink and wait.

Wait like everyone else here...

for a man to smile at you.

Honest, loving, tender.

That's so simple nowadays.

Once...

Just once I really fell in love.

That was 50 years ago.

His name was Karl.

I was 20, he was eight years older.

We worked out an ingenious system for concealing ourselves.

One night...

I never found out who reported us.

We were dragged out of our tent, arrested and taken away.

They took us to Berlin, Dircksenstraße, Gestapo HQ...

Locked us up in jail on Alexanderplatz.

Karl and I were kept apart.

Solitary confinement.

They sent me to a concentration camp.

Sachsenhausen.

Pink triangle, scum of the earth.

But there I became a member of the Communist Party.

The comrades saved me.

Then...

I was an activist from the beginning.

We worked like crazy.

We abolished mankind's exploitation by mankind.

Now no one gives a shit

if the person you work with is a Jew or whatever.

Just the gays...

They forgot them.

I'm very sorry, Mr. Klarmann.

Certain events, which we'll have to discuss later,

force us to increase inspections of your classes.

Today, without you having prepared.

Be my guest.

Please get up and sit over there.

Mr. Klarmann!

Yes.

Subtitling by SUBS Hamburg Michael Hale