Original subtitles

[pastor] I came to the borderland to bring the true meaning of God.

To steer the poor souls from drink and deliver them from sin.

But I found here an evil I have never encountered before...

[barks]

[screaming]

...one that I fear I cannot conquer.

[growling]

[lowing of animals, twigs cracking]

Hello?

[pants]

Hello?

Hello?

[pants]

[pastor] It began when we arrived in Kengis.

NORTHERN SWEDEN 1852

God is with us.

[hinges and floorboard squeak, footsteps]

The baking cottage is yours as well.

You told me that life would be better here.

And it will be. Kengis is a wealthy parish.

[insects buzzing]

This will do just fine. Are there enough mattresses?

What's that Lapp doing here?

He's Jussi... my son.

Heavenly Father, bless us and these Thy gifts,

which we receive from Thy bountiful goodness through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

-[all] Amen. -[sniffs] Mm.

[distant shouting of crowd]

[yelling and excited chattering]

Knock him down!

Come on! Get him! Hit him, Roope!

-[yelling] -[laughing]

[groaning]

What is going on here?

[panting]

-Stay out of it, old man. -[laughter]

That's him. He's the new pastor.

[murmuring]

Yeah. I'll see you in church tomorrow.

[sniggering]

-[softly] Hilda, stop laughing. -[giggles]

Right. Let's get to work.

[laughter in background]

[bell chimes]

In the beginning was the Word.

And the Word was with God.

-And the Word was God. -[snoring]

But what is the word of God worth,

when the pastor preaches to sober drunkards,

-virtuous whores and honest robbers? -[snoring]

People who sleep the day away.

[snoring]

[grunting]

Many wealthy people are certain that God loves them.

They think that is why they've been given such earthly blessings.

On the other hand, the poor often blame God for having so little.

But is it not so...

that so many of the world's riches are acquired in unrighteous ways?

And is it not so that the poor often waste what little they've got

turning to drink, frivolousness and sloth?

Sin has many faces and God can see them all.

How am I guiding the sinner when I tell him that he's virtuous, that he's good?

To hell is where I'm guiding him.

Instead, a pastor ought to say...

"Awaken from the sleep of sin...

for you are at risk of falling headfirst into the burning depths of hell.

If you do not repent now, your soul cannot be saved!

But you disciples of Jesus...

lift up your heads now because your redemption draws near.

Now your tired legs will rest at last.

[murmuring]

All you who grieve and doubt, who weep and are without hope,

soon you will come to the Kingdom of God, where a bountiful banquet is laid out.

-Oh, oh! -[murmuring]

[pastor] There you shall hear the song of angels,

an ineffable cheer of jubilation from the blessed spirits awaiting us in Heaven.

There they all stand with smiling faces and joyful eyes,

full of admiration and praise for God.

[Kaija in Sámi] I ask for your forgiveness, oh, Lord!

I may not always have followed your commands, my Lord.

Forgive me!

Forgive me!

[breathes heavily]

[background chattering]

-God bless you, Pastor. -May the Lord be with you.

That old woman has lost her mind. Just a crazy old Lapp.

I think you should know that about her.

[in Sámi] You're ugly as hell, but you don't scare me! Drunkard!

-Get out of here? -You're Sheriff Brahe, aren't you?

Piece of advice. Control that woman.

God delights in those who accept his love.

[scoffs]

I already knew he was strange, but after that...

I think he's handsome.

[Hilda] Well, you're a bit strange, too. [giggles]

You ever see a pastor like that before?

[Sederin] He's nothing more than an agitator in cassock.

I've seen the troubles he's caused in Karesuando.

Folks get ideas. Lapps and paupers start speaking up.

And they also stop drinking, I hear. Can't even find a drop north of Soppero.

[Hilda] There he is. The noaidi boy.

Careful.

I've noticed how he's been looking at you.

-He has? -[giggles]

But if you take the Lapp, I'll take Roope.

You can have Roope. I really don't want him.

[giggling]

Hm?

Ah, is that you? The provincial doctor.

I just happened to be traveling through

and it's always a pleasure to hear such wise words.

And yet you've seen the house we're in.

Is your woman unhappy here?

I've been told that Kengis parish is wealthy.

Is it miserly, too?

The rectory was good enough for the previous pastor.

It ought be good enough for you.

Ironmaster Sjödahl, of Sörmland.

A pleasure. I've heard much about the mill.

-I look forward to visiting. -You're most welcome.

[Hilda] Okay, who's going to come with me? I'm tired of herding cows.

[Maria] Where exactly do you plan on going, Hilda?

[Hilda] I'll head south, as far as I can.

Jolina?

[Jolina] I'm not sure it'll be much better.

[Hilda] If we can't do any better than Kengis, then there isn't much hope.

[giggling]

Maria?

Are you afraid?

[Maria] I'll think about it.

[Hilda] Don't think for too long. Once you have children, it'll be too late.

-[grunts] -[giggling]

[grunting]

[squawking]

[buzz of insects]

[Jussi] Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungood...

[pastor] Of the ungod.

...in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the sinners' way.

Good. Go on.

-[insects buzz] -Ah.

[pastor] Go on.

[Jussi] Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful...

[buzz of insects]

Pitch oil?

[chuckles]

You always find the marsh Labrador tea.

-Ledum palustre. -What?

Marsh Labrador. Ledum palustre.

[sighs]

See these riches of nature? Come!

Huh?

Use your eyes.

What do you see?

A bog.

What about all this?

-Grass. -No. Sedges.

All right, sedges.

From just right here, I can see a dozen species.

-And look there. -Flowers.

It's marsh cinquefoil.

They're the bog's own little stars.

Potentilla palustris.

The petals and the sepals are purple.

The stamens are a bit... darker. Look carefully.

You can learn better when you use your eyes.

Why do you think they're so colorful?

Well, because God made them so?

That is true, but that answer won't get you very far.

Man can only make progress if he attempts to understand God's creation.

That's right!

Only when we look beyond what we can see can we can find answers to His mysteries.

[in Sámi] For every mystery, there's a what and a why.

[chuckles]

[sighing]

[pastor] I'm not doing this simply for my own pleasure.

Is that so?

[pastor] When my herbarium is complete,

there'll be nothing else like it in the world.

You and the children will be set for life.

I suppose we'll have to hope it makes you famous, then, dear Lasse.

[grunts softly]

But it would be nice if Jussi could help around the house while you're out.

The boy needs education if he's to become a preacher.

[door opens]

[Lorens] Father?

Pastor, you have to come.

-What's happened? -Our maid, Hilda, she disappeared.

[panting]

Have you alerted the sheriff?

At this hour, he's likely drunk. We trust you more than him, Pastor.

[in Sámi] Find her.

[exhaling]

[pastor] Mr. Alalehto, start from the beginning.

[Heikki] She went out in the morning... as usual.

[Hilda makes a gentle herding call]

-[gentle herding call] -[lowing]

Later on, the cows came home for milking and she didn't.

[lowing]

-[lowing] -[soft gasp]

-[cow bells ring] -[twig snapping]

[pants]

-[bellows] -[pants nervously]

[Heikki] Here is where she usually rests.

[pastor] What happened here?

Use your eyes, son.

She made a fire...

ate an egg and spilled her milk bowl.

Do you know that it was her?

No. But she was in a hurry.

She ran from here. She left her rucksack.

And her headscarf.

[Hilda panting distorted]

Good, Jussi. Mm.

She hung her headscarf to dry off.

It was midday by then, so warm that she was sweating.

She made a fire to ward off mosquitoes.

Was she alone?

-Uh, I think so. -[pastor] Why?

Were she with someone, she would've worn her headscarf.

Mm.

[breathes heavily]

[pastor] So, the girl runs away from here.

-You can see her footprints in the moss. -[crush of undergrowth]

When you run, your stride is this long. [grunts softly]

Bear. Bear!

[Albin] Hilda!

[barking and whining of dogs]

-[Albin] Hilda? -[girl] Hilda?

[branch snaps]

[dog pants]

[buzz of insects]

Hilda?

[woman] Hilda!

-[man] Hilda! -Hilda!

Hilda!

-[dog pants] -[Albin] Hilda!

[man whistles]

[dog barks excitedly]

[buzz of insects]

Would you look at that? That son of a bitch is hungry.

[bottle uncorked]

[grunts]

[breathes unevenly]

[groaning]

[boy breathes unevenly]

Can it be saved?

-No. I'm afraid we must amputate. -[groaning]

-Well, lucky it's not the right arm. -[groaning]

Erkki, see to it that he's paid for an extra month.

-Mm. -And find a new farmhand.

[maid] Madam Sjödahl, the gentlemen are here now.

Right.

[Sederin] I'll come back shortly.

-[Madam Sjödahl] Have you found her yet? -No, but we're still looking.

[Madam Sjödahl] Right. people are starting to worry.

Isn't that kind of behavior unusual for a bear?

[Sederin] It's a killer bear. He's after more than just blueberries.

[Madam Sjödah] How would you know, Doctor?

He was most likely hunting for the cattle.

And the girl was trying to protect them. It's happened before.

Well, she couldn't have vanished into thin air.

You found the carcass of a deer.

[Brahe] Bears can be rather sly.

They've been known to hide their prey, and return to eat it later.

My God. Poor girl.

[sighing]

Could it strike again?

It's probably afraid with all the people in the forest.

-Madam, might I have a chaser? -[sighs]

[clock chimes]

Anyhow, whatever this is, this must be resolved quickly.

We have a pastor doing the job of a sheriff.

Yeah, with that goddamn Alalehto and that crazy old Lapp hag around.

Damn! How did we end up with him?

Our shopkeeper has begun to hide the liquor.

He's worried about what the pastor will say.

This is not simply a matter of drinking habits.

The pastor is threatening the very existence of our society!

Ah, yes, but he's been appointed by the diocese.

Then they ought to change their decision.

And this, this shouting during service,

surely that can't be good Christian behavior.

Michelsson.

From now on, you will take note of everything that happens during services,

and we'll see what the diocese says about it.

[panting]

[pastor] Peace be with you.

I don't believe we've met.

I know who you are, Pastor. I don't go to church because of this one.

-[grunts] -Shut your mouth!

-[pastor] Everybody is welcome in church. -Right, how would that look?

-Shut your mouth, I said! Set those down. -[grunts]

[grunts]

He'd run off otherwise.

I'm here to talk about your daughter... Hilda.

Have they found her?

No, but I'm trying to find out what happened.

It was probably the bear.

-Is it possible that she ran off? -[grunts]

It's not unheard of for unhappy maids to run away.

That wouldn't surprise me.

She left me to look after her brother on my own.

She hasn't given us a penny.

Can you understand that?

Me, who brought her into this world.

We're here living on water and alms.

I will speak to the parish council about that.

-I've heard that before. -No one in my parish should be starving.

Madam, would you know... Does Hilda have any suitors here?

Uh...

Ask Lindmark.

The shopkeeper?

Mm.

He became an idiot. She became a whore.

And my old husband drank himself to death.

God be praised.

[child] Got you! Come back here!

Children, get away from there!

[rumble of thunder]

-Peace be with you, Pastor! -[villager] Good day.

[taps pipe]

-[footsteps, door opens] -Well, well!

Good day! Hello. My name is La...

I know who you are.

Lindmark. Welcome to the village.

Thank you. Writing paper, do you carry that?

Writing paper, actually...

Uh, I've had some difficulties getting hold of it.

Then I'll just buy a bottle of liquor.

Liquor? [chuckles nervously]

Yes, I'll be needing it for my writing ink. I'll mix it with soot.

Ink.

-I do have ink, the finest quality. -Thank you.

But I prefer to make my own.

Well, sorry, I don't sell any liquor here.

-No? -No.

[murmuring]

I've just been to see Hilda Wanhainen's mother.

She's suffered greatly, that woman.

Yes. I'm sure.

I thought that the next collection should go to the alms for her.

-Uh-huh. -Can I count on you?

Oh, yes, of course.

[pastor] Perhaps you know Hilda.

No, but I know the name.

I know who she is, but not much more.

Yes. Well, thank you. I'll be going.

-Thank you, sir. -Goodbye.

[breathes unevenly]

[fake growling]

Watch out for that bear.

[chuckling]

-Did I scare you? -No.

[Roope] Come on. You were scared. [chuckles]

[Maria] What's wrong with you? Where is your shame?

[Roope] It was just a joke.

Maria... you know I'm really fond of you.

Just leave me alone.

They're saying that what happened to Hilda must have been God's will.

And who's saying that about her?

Everybody.

You know what she was like, but you're not like that.

You don't know anything! Do you hear me? You know nothing!

[twig snapping]

-[groans] Damn it to hell! -[Maria giggles]

Why the rush?

[breathes shakily]

Hi, Maria.

You do talk after all.

My name is Jussi.

I know who you are.

What do you want?

-Take these. -Thank you, but my bucket's already full.

Oh, is it heavy?

-Because I'll carry it if you like. -No, thanks.

-Let me help. -Let go.

-Uh, but I can carry it. Let me help. -Let go!

[groans]

-[Jussi] I just... -Leave me alone!

[Roope] Hey!

What the hell is going on here?

Oh, so, you think she's pretty?

But she's not for you. You have to fuck your own kind.

Ah. So you want to fight?

No, Roope.

Come on. Let's see what you've got. I'll teach you a lesson, noaidi!

[grunts and groans]

[Maria] No! Roope, stop!

[breathes heavily]

-Let's go. It's not worth it. -[breathes heavily]

[spits]

Go on home now.

-Where have you been? -Catching fish.

All day?

You're not a child, Jussi. You have duties.

A girl's missing and they've asked for help.

A servant of God can't be out fishing now.

No, Father.

[whimpering]

[shushing]

[whimpering stops]

THE NEW TESTAMENT

[exhales]

[pants]

[pastor in Sámi] Don't be scared. Are you hungry?

Butter.

What's your name?

[Jussi] Jussi. Sieppi.

[pastor] And your parents?

Who looks after you?

Stallo's wife.

[pastor] We can call you Jussi. But your name will be Johan Sieppi.

Not Sieppi!

Right.

So Sieppinen. Johan Sieppinen.

JOHAN SIEPPINEN

[pastor] Do you want to join the Christian faith?

Yes.

Then I hereby christen you... Johan Sieppinen.

In the name of the Father...

the Son...

and the Holy Spirit.

Now you exist, Jussi. Now you exist.

[Maria] Jolina, have you heard any news about Hilda?

[Jolina] No, but we have to keep hope alive.

[Kaija] What could have happened to her?

I don't know.

Is the bear still there? Is it safe to go in the woods?

[in Sámi] I know the father of the woods. This was not him.

She's just a crazy old hag. Didn't I tell you that?

You can trust me, Pastor. I know this village well.

I don't need help finding the girl.

However, we should offer a reward to whoever can kill the beast,

if you wouldn't mind saying a few words on that.

-Are you certain that it was a bear? -But didn't you see the bear tracks?

Yes, I did see tracks. Perhaps not a bear's.

Weren't there bear claws?

-You must be Parish Constable... -Michelsson.

So...

Well, how about it?

[bell chimes]

-Where can I get some cognac? -Why do you ask?

There must be a brewer here.

You know this isn't Lapland, Pastor. And drinking isn't prohibited here.

No, not yet.

So why don't you handle church and I'll handle law?

Yes, fine by me.

However, you'll have to go elsewhere to drink.

[spits]

[clears throat]

[door closes]

[man coughing]

"Give, and it shall be given unto you."

In today's gospel reading, Jesus Christ talks about generosity.

But today, the preaching can wait. First, I would like to announce

a few changes here in the village, inspired by the words of our Savior.

As tradition would have it, my predecessor would pour a drink

to those who pay their tithes.

-This tradition I will not continue. -[murmuring]

-What? -[murmuring continues]

Brandy are cognac are Satan's piss.

They are the devil's liquid excrement.

They enrich the brewer, but leads the drunkard to perdition.

He ruins his own health and drinks away his children's bread.

[snoring grunt]

My worry is that some of you won't be willing

to pay your tithes, now that you'll no longer be promised drink.

But I'd like to offer you a different payment.

And even I will pay my tithe.

But instead of going to the church, it will go to Kengis's alms fund.

[man] God bless you, Pastor!

-[murmuring] -[pastor] Butter, cheese, fish, turnips.

I shall gratefully receive your donations

and I'll give a tenth to the hungry and homeless.

That way, you will help yourselves and your families,

but also your sisters and brothers who live in desperation.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you."

-[man] Thank you, kind sir! -[woman] God be praised!

-[excited chattering] -Oh, God be praised! God is good!

[Brita Kajsa] Are you the one in the kitchen?

Do you stretch out the porridge with lambs-quarters and couch grass?

-[pastor] Kajsa... -[sighs]

By all means, give your cheese away.

-I'm sure you can do without that. -The Lord sacrificed his son.

We can sacrifice our cheese.

If the villagers awaken and come to faith, if they stop drinking,

then the tithes will be greater, not smaller.

You're right, Father, but a good Christian gives without expectations.

He does so out of love for his neighbor.

[Madam Sjödahl] An unthinkable disaster has struck our village.

And no one can rest until we have taken vengeance

on the beast that has stolen our beloved Hilda Wanhainen from us.

So, ladies and gentlemen, I hereby announce a reward

to be given to whoever slays the killer bear.

-Ten riksdaler banco. -[cheering]

And 10 bottles of the finest brandy.

[whooping, cheering]

-We should get going. Come on. -[indistinct chattering]

-[Lotta] Someone's coming. -[footsteps]

-[Beronius] Hello! -[Brita Kajsa] Good evening.

-Might you be the pastor's wife? -Yes.

Nils Gustaf Beronius.

Hm.

-[lips smack] -[gasps softly]

It's a pleasure.

[sighs]

Mrs. Fanny Dickson of Härnösand.

[Brita Kajsa gasps softly]

Oh. Very exquisite.

Mr. Beronius, you so masterfully render light.

I humbly thank you, sir.

At the moment, I'm painting a portrait of Madam Sjödahl,

but I could make a portrait of the pastor in the meantime.

Yes. No. I... [chuckles]

I'm picturing... the pastor sitting here with his quill.

He's writing a sermon, the Holy Scripture by your side.

You're gazing out the window.

The evening sun shines in. A warm light envelops you.

An image of deep connection with the Highest.

Think about it.

I'll be staying with the madam for a few weeks,

then I'll be traveling south from here. I'm not sure I'll return.

Do you think they'll catch him, Pastor?

-Catch who? -The bear.

It's thrilling to imagine, the young girl all alone in the woods.

And then this huge terrible beast comes and lunges at her.

Tears her to pieces.

Death and innocence.

Uh, we still don't know if it was a bear, or what happened to her.

Could have been a man.

What do you mean, Mr. Beronius?

Don't you Lapps believe people can transform into bears?

[pastor] Jussi is a Christian. And Lapp myths are interesting,

but nothing more than wild nature combined with loneliness.

Such things have an impact on man's imagination.

Hm.

[Brita Kajsa] Mm. Mm.

[pastor] Mm.

You're not going to order a portrait, are you? Hm?

"I'm picturing the pastor sitting here with his quill in hand..."

[pastor chuckles]

-I'm hardly that vain. -Yes, you are!

-No. -Yes.

-No, not like that. -When did he get here, that man?

I don't know. Why do you ask?

It was odd how he spoke about Hilda Wanhainen.

Very lustful. Notice that?

And the way he looked at Lisa.

[footsteps]

-[pastor] Jussi! Get up. -[Jussi grunts] Huh?

[pastor] We have to find Hilda.

Where did she go?

The hunt set out over the rocky ground.

The dogs picked up a scent. What's that tell us?

That the bear was chasing her.

Hm.

Hilda was herding cows in the woods here.

Don't you think she should've left a scent behind her?

Yes.

So she very well could have fled into the bog.

Yeah, but then she'd get stuck.

Unless she knew which tussocks to step on.

Hilda's been herding for several years.

She must know the land.

[grunts]

[pastor] Look. There's a hay barn over there.

It's not long since the haymakers were here.

See how they cut the sedges?

[distorted shaky breathing]

-[Jussi] Someone's been sitting there. -Or lying down.

Lie down there.

See that?

That impression is deeper than mine.

Yeah.

Whoever was lying there was heavier.

Mm.

Lie down again, same place.

[grunting]

[pastor] Come on!

[Jussi] No! No! No! [pants] No, no. No! No!

[pants]

Get up!

[exhales deeply]

See? Now those impressions are the same depth.

Two people were lying there.

[in Sámi] Are you out of breath?

[Jussi] Must have been the haymakers.

Taste it.

-Blood. -Hm.

This is Hilda's hair, isn't it?

I remember finding the same hairs in that spilled milk.

But there are much more here. Why is that?

[whimpering]

[screaming]

Someone pulled her hair.

-But... but the bear? -Have we seen a bear?

-No. -No.

We've seen marks on a tree. That's it.

-The bear was chasing her. -No, Jussi.

The girl ran off. That's all we know.

She laid here in the hay with someone. Does that seem like a bear?

Use your eyes.

[grunts softly]

I think it's linen.

[pastor in Sámi] Hold it tight.

[inhales deeply]

[grunts, pants]

[grunts, pants]

[pants, grunts]

[pants]

[breathes heavily]