Original subtitles

Previously, on We Were the Lucky Ones...

General Anders is assembling a Polish infantry.

You have been summoned to fight by his side.

We're hearing it everywhere, death camps.

Halina's parents are still at the factory at Pionki.

Get them out.

We're trying to find Poles who are willing to cooperate.

I have a couple names I can give you.

Panie Górski?

I can't believe Addy is 31 today.

- Addy. - Caroline.

I'm moving to Krakow.

Fighting will erupt, it's a matter of when.

There's a job waiting for you in Krakow, if you can make the trip.

Pinkus, how much more will this get us? It's very valuable.

Yes, Mila, we will get Felicia back.

- We have no zloty left. - Herr Den. I'll take the train.

- Is that safe? We meet back here tomorrow.

This exact spot, this exact time. Okay?

I understand that mistakes happen. This one can be fixed quite easily.

My name is Halina Brzoza.

I came from Warsaw at the request of my employer, Herr Leopold Den.

He works at the bank on Rynek Kleparski--

You are a Jew.

I-I am not a Jew.

I'm not--

I'm not, I'm not a Jew.

- I'm not a Jew, I'm not a Jew.

- I'm not--

Please, please, please! Please.

- Please, please.

Stop lying!

Your friend, Pinkus, must not have liked his new coat.

- He was very quick to give us your name.

I don't... don't know anyone named Pinkus.

That sounds like the name of a Jew.

I'm not friends with Jews.

Why would a Jew turn in a Jew?

You ask me to understand the mind of a Jew?

I ask you to use common sense.

I traded with the boy for some potatoes. My-My family was starving.

What was I to do?

Tell me who you are, and this can all be over.

My name is Halina Brzoza.

That is not your name!

Ask my husband.

He will disagree with you.

Do you like poetry?

Yes, I do.

I once lived in a home...

filled with it.

This will all stop if you tell us the truth.

You are a Jew.

Halina.

- To future adventures.

I will be waiting, whenever you decide to make the trip.

My name...

is... Halina...

Brzoza.

They're getting rid of us... erasing the evidence.

Frau Brzoza?

Your discharge papers.

It seems your arrest was invalid.

You can retrieve your belongings on your way out.

Understand?

You're free to go.

I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner.

You-You didn't know.

Your husband has been searching for me for months.

I stopped going to the bank when I saw the signs.

A colleague got me a note.

When I finally located you here, I informed them of their mistake.

S-S-Saw the signs... of what?

The Soviets are close. The Germans on the way out.

No one can declare it yet, but...

the amount of damage they will inflict as they make their retreat.

The executions are happening q-quickly now.

I-I almost, I almost told them.

I, I should have told them.

My name is Halina Kurc.

Halina...

will you speak for me if the time comes?

I don't want to leave.

- It's your first day.

We're going to need the money.

I'm alright.

- You don't look alright. - Thank you.

I-I'm a bit out of my depth,

but Mila says it was worse when her stomach was empty.

Anna said the same thing.

Anna was...?

The first time didn't take.

The second time... she was so close to telling Daniel.

Almost ready to be sure.

I was the only one who knew.

And now you.

Uncle Jakob found this in one of the apartments.

I'll read it to you if you'd like?

Why are so many of the apartments empty?

Um, everyone was sent away.

They weren't given a choice.

Would you try a few bites, my love?

It hurts.

I think if you go slow--

I'm not hungry.

It's just down this road.

This spot is really tucked away.

Rahel knew what she was doing.

- I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. - Adam, you-you couldn't--

Felicia was so ill, we had to get her out of Warsaw.

You were absolutely right.

No, I should've done more.

You did everything.

I'm the one who got caught.

Halina.

My God.

The reports from Warsaw, we were certain that--

There has been so much bad news.

Halina.

My love.

Papa.

It's alright.

No reason to be nervous.

- Do I seem nervous? - Mm-hmm.

- Just a normal Tuesday. - And after that, Wednesday.

...I wish that Franklin D. Roosevelt

had lived to see this day.

General Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany

- have surrendered to the United Nations.

The flags of freedom fly all over Europe.

For this victory, we join in offering...

They're pouring into the street!

...through the dark days of adversity

and into light.

Much remains to be done.

The victory won in the West must now be won in the East.

Addy, come here. The whole world

must be cleansed of the evil from which half the world has been freed.

United, the peace-loving nations...

- have demonstrated in the West

that their arms are stronger by far

than the might of dictators or the tyranny of military cliques

- that once called us soft and weak.

The power of our people to defend themselves

against all enemies will be proved in the Pacif--

We look for everybody.

Tomorrow, I'll go to the Red Cross

and double-check that all of our names are registered.

Kurcs, Tatars, Eichenwalds. Everybody.

I'll look into the DP camps...

try and find out when we can access a list.

I'm almost certain that Genek and Herta were sent to Siberia.

Maybe Selim too.

There may be records they weren't willing to show us before.

- Countless men were conscripted. - Addy might still be in France.

I want to go back to Radom.

If the boys were able to, they will have written.

Perhaps something made it through.

Hello.

Forgive the intrusion,

- but this apartment-- - What do you want?

Sorry, my name is Nechuma Kurc,

and this is my apartment from before the war.

- I know nothing of that. - W-- Uh-- Well, uh, no, you wouldn't.

It's, uh-- I wouldn't imagine they would inform you of the family

- they illegally [chuckling] evicted. - Hm, we are legally renting.

Alright, even so, have you received mail addressed to the name "Kurc"?

- I was wondering-- - No, no, no, no, no, do not

- let them inside. No. - We-We have sons--

- This is our home! - Listen, listen, listen, listen!

We have sons, Genek and Addy Kurc, they have been missing,

- it's possible they sent letters here-- - She will say anything to get inside.

You think I lie about my sons?

- They're Jew thieves. - We are the thieves?

Uh, we-we will go. There's no need to, uh--

It would-- shh, cost you nothing to let me check the mail.

Mother. - If you could just please

open the door and--

We are calling the authorities.

This is my house, my house!

Did you paint those walls?! Is that your furniture?!

- Mother... you-- - Did you give birth here?!

Nechuma. Hey-- - Your son burn his hand on that stove?!

- Your daughter play that piano? - Mother, Mother!

- This is our home! - Mother, listen--

- Our home! - Stop, stop!

- It's not worth it. - It's not.

It's not worth it.

"As a spokesperson for the voice of Polish Society,

I advise all Jews to get out beyond the borders of Radom county."

They give us a date, August 15th.

Now they accuse us of collaborating with the Soviets.

How? It defies reason.

We don't belong here anymore. It's time for us to go.

Józef!

It's my Józef!

Józef, my husband.

Józef, Józef.

Józef.

I wasn't able to save much,

but she wore this almost every day the first few months.

It's hard to imagine needing a cap.

I feel like a furnace all the time.

I think this child may be actual fire.

Don't worry, that will only get worse.

Selim loved to tell me the science behind it,

as though science would help me sweat less.

Jakob?

Hi.

Are you alright?

There was a new list.

They're on it, my, my family.

They're gone.

They're gone.

Who did you find?

My mother... my father...

my sister, Mania...

my nephew.

There was no information.

I don't know... what they, or-or how.

What was the point of it all?

I felt such conviction...

the Underground, my contribution.

But if I had focused on them, on my family, the way that Halina--

Please don't do that. Don't do that.

There's no reason anyone survived this.

- Hm. - Hm.

They didn't want us... to survive this.

None of us should be here.

- What do I do with that?

I don't know.

Excuse me.

Sorry, sorry.

- Hey. - Hi, I got in a fight.

You got in a fight?

- Is it impossible to believe? - Mm, a bit.

- Well, some things are too enragin'. - What happened?

I just can't believe it sometimes.

The apathy.

The survivors out of the camps, those horrific images.

There was a representative from the immigration office today

who said that due to their suffering he can't imagine they would have

the capacity to contribute to Brazilian society.

So, yes, I got in a fight.

Everyone says they wanna help.

They would just prefer it to be from a distance.

- Sorry. - Why are you sorry?

I'm ruinin' this. It's supposed to be a happy day.

- It is a happy day. Señorita Carolina?

Mm. Señorita Carolina?

Believe that's you.

Oh, shoot! Here, I'm here!

I always forget I'm "Carolina" here.

Carolina...

should we get married?

I think we should.

- Good morning. Morning.

Morning.

Halina! I'm sorry, I'll just be a minute.

Come here!

S-Sorry, excuse me.

- Sorry. - It arrived yesterday.

- Thank you. Thank you. - It's my pleasure.

- Thank you.

Thank you, thank you!

Thank you, thank you.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Mother?

Tata?

- Are you okay?

- Where's Mila? - Mila's doing Felicia's lessons.

- Wh-What is it? - Mila, Felicia!

Come!

Mathematics can wait!

Thank you for that.

What is it?

"With Selim...

"and Herta in Italy.

"Find us through Polish II Corps.

Signed Genek Kurc."

R-Read that again.

"With Selim and Herta in Italy.

Find us through Polish II Corps. Genek Kurc."

- Our boy.

Our Genekca. Genekca.

And Selim, Mila.

- Selim. [sighs] Oh my. Oh.

What's he like?

Very kind.

A bit serious.

Smart.

He had so many ideas when you were born about what he wanted to teach you.

Mm... what he thought you could be.

I'm sorry I haven't told you more about him.

It was so long since we heard from him, I--

- It's alright, Mamasiu.

I understand.

I can't wait for you to meet him.

- Will he like me? - He will love you.

The children at the convent, they thought I was strange.

You're not strange.

I look strange.

Fefe...

you are exquisite.

We should avoid as many civilian checkpoints as possible.

We avoid all checkpoints.

Crossing any official border right now, the risks are too high.

I think our safest option is to go on foot, over the Alps.

We can find transportation, hitchhike our way to Graz.

Mm-hmm. - Then, we walk into Italy.

Oof. - As simple as that?

I know walking isn't an option for you right now,

but you have a good job.

Save your money, have the baby, and once you are ready,

we'll figure out a safe route for you to join us,

or I will come back and bring you myself.

- Halina, that's-- - No, I promise you, I will.

No, I know you will.

I know, but, uh--

Tell her, she'll understand.

Tell me what?

America?

My uncle Fred lives in Chicago.

He's agreed to sponsor us.

That doesn't guarantee a visa.

No, but it gives us a chance to leave Europe.

We thought we could settle,

and then sponsor the rest of you, if you want to join us.

Okay, even so, no ships are allowed to sail from Europe to the States.

No ships from here.

There are ships scheduled to leave from Bremerhaven.

Germany? Are you insane?

- We have the baby in Poland-- And then you march

straight into the belly of evil?

- We will go to a DP camp in Stuttgart. - And you trust that?

They are still killing us in Poland.

You-You think that Stuttgart will throw you a parade? No, no.

- No. No, I forbid it. - You can't forbid it, Halina.

It's not your decision to make.

We cannot spend our lives running from risk.

It's everywhere.

So, then it's decided.

You want to take your baby to a stranger.

To be fair, everybody's a stranger to my baby.

Funny.

He's my uncle, Halina.

He's the only family I have left.

Not the only family.

Oh.

I know that.

- You have to know, I'm so grateful-- - I don't need you to be grateful, Bella.

You will always be my sister.

Which is why I know you understand this.

Do you think they can do this?

We've done harder.

Here, Tata.

- You okay? - Yeah.

Ooh. Who wants to try my trout?

Felicia? Huh. I worked hard for this.

- Come on, just one bite for Zayde.

- Huh?

Do you remember that ugly carp

you brought for your first Passover with us?

- Of course, it cost me all my zloty.

When I saw that fish...

...I knew you wanted to marry my daughter.

- Oh. All that from a fish? - It was an excessive fish.

- It-It lived in the bathtub.

- Until it was time to, uh...

It's the humane way to do it.

Not according to Addy. Addy called it an assassination.

- But he still ate it. - Our brother, the sweetest hypocrite.

Yeah.

Addy was gentle from the minute he was born.

Entered the world with barely a sound.

I saw him once.

Addy.

In prison.

Talking to me.

A memory, I think.

I hope.

I've sometimes wondered if it means he's--

All of us here.

Jakob, Bella, Genek, Herta...

Selim.

What right have we to expect more?

Hope... is not a crime.

I think it a necessity.

My pants don't fit anymore.

Excuse me?

I-I have to undo the-the top button.

All this hiking, basic provisions,

but...

this determined little stomach just keeps growing.

Do you think it's time to make our marriage legal?

Mm.

- Probably.

Shh.

Uncle Addy's song.

Puts me to sleep, too.

- Do you need some help? It's a complete mess.

This is cleanest place we've lived for seven years.

Scheisse!

I'm not used to having things...

- Mm-hmm. - ...drawers, space.

It's too quiet here.

I'm crawling out of my skin, I can hear myself think all the time.

- I know it doesn't make any sense. - It does make sense.

Julia doesn't want to come.

Ah.

I got a letter.

She found her sister in Krakow.

She's going to join her, help with her niece.

Well, that's wonderful that, you know, she found her.

So what kind of a monster am I?

Being upset that she, after everything,

Otto...

she found her sister, her family.

I just miss them.

I miss my family.

I dreamt about this moment for years.

Freedom. And now, all I can feel is an ache in my stomach.

I know.

There's no manual for how to do this next part.

I thought finding my family would [inhales] fix everything,

but...

We have to start our lives now.

- We're so old. - I'm old.

You're... you're stunning.

You're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen...

and you still look the same as the day I saw you on that chairlift.

Or maybe that's because you still have your deluded memories.

She asked me what she should call him.

She's nervous.

She doesn't know him.

Do I know him?

You give it time.

You meet him again, you say hello.

Try not to worry so much.

Let's wait over here!

Kurde, I'm too damn short.

Sorry.

Can you see anything?

No, not yet.

Genek!

Genek!

Mila!

Genek! Genek!

Stay there! We will come to you!

Genek! Mother, Mother, you-you greet him first.

You greet him first.

Genek! Genek.

Excuse me. Excuse.

I've missed you so much, Mother.

- Hey!

Hi!

Oh, my God!

You were no bigger than a kitten when I saw you last.

Would you like to meet your cousin?

A cousin?

- What? - This is, uh, Józef. We call him Ze.

You remarkable woman.

- A grandson. Hello.

You have a son.

I do.

You have a few wrinkles.

You too.

Is he here?

I don't know, I-I can't see him yet.

I, uh... I didn't, I didn't wanna interrupt.

I--

- Selim, I-- Mila.

Um...

Felicia...

I brought something for you.

I got this from a young family in Persia

after I helped deliver their baby.

Do you see the lion?

And-And up here, this is the Farsi symbol for the number five.

To me, though...

it almost looks like a heart.

You see that?

I, uh... I saved this for you.

What a very special gift.

Thank you, Papa.

Would it be alright... if I gave you a hug, Fefe?

Oh, you-- Oh, you just think I'm very funny.

Oh, you-- [gasps] Oh.

You think I'm the most hilarious mother who has ever lived.

- Bella. - Oh, oh!

Oh.

It's time. Okay, okay.

Okay. Here. Yeah. Yeah.

- Go. Go to Daddy. Hi.

Hi.

Thank you.

Okay, okay.

Okay. Okay.

Everyone...

gather together.

What are you doing?

Look at me.

Yes. Smile...

if you want.

Open?

Open. Open.

The adventure begins, Victor.

Until next time, Polsko.

I can't believe.

It's stuck.

Does it need to come off?

It's cuttin' off my circulation while I write.

Eh, perhaps a sign to stop writing.

Alright.

Let me see.

Hm.

Get some sleep.

I can barely sleep anymore.

Your child has a lot of opinions at night.

Sorry.

- Would you like a necklace for it? - Yes, please.

I wonder if we've focused too much on Europe.

- We haven't just focused on Europe. - What about Shanghai?

Look how far you traveled, maybe they did the same.

What about here?

The States? - Mm.

It's possible, but without a family member to sponsor,

they would be caught up in a long visa process.

I'm not talking about my family.

I'm talking about our family.

- You wanna move to-- - I want to build a life somewhere

that means something to you.

We just moved in here.

Well, we might want to take a moment to find employment first.

Practical.

Halina used to accuse me of being too practical.

Thought it doomed me as an artist.

All due respect to Halina, but I think there's a lotta space

for dreams in between being practical.

For the record, I'm not movin' to Nebraska.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

You're late!

What do you think of "Eddy Courts"?

I think it sounds too American.

Exactly.

I want my family to have a chance to start fresh.

I don't want assumptions, I don't want to be--

Vulnerable?

Mm, I thought for sure you'd go back to Poland.

It's all I used to think about, but what is Poland now?

I want my memories as they are.

This time of year, Radom, there'd be snow.

Spend our nights at the cinema, maybe skate at Stary Ogrod Park.

- Hm. - A mug of my mother's cocoa.

Sounds magical.

It was.

- Move to New York with me and Emol! - Mm.

Think about the music, the clubs!

Our kids can be best friends.

Or hate each other. It will be amazing.

- Apologies, I wasn't trying to listen,

but, um, am I to understand you're Polish?

Ah... I'll have to work on my accent in America.

- Do either of you know an Addy Kurc?

- Ha! Well, there aren't so many Poles

in Rio, and, uh, I've been having trouble tracking this man down.

I think we have an old address.

Probably because I moved with my wife a month ago.

Y-You're Addy Kurc?

What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into?

- I'm not sure, you tell me. No trouble at all, sir.

I work for the Polish Consulate. We have received a telegram for you.

A telegram? Who's it from?

Well, I can't divulge that information until you come to the embassy,

- but the office closes in 10 minutes, so-- - Eliska, I-I--

- Go, go! No, sir.

- You will never make it. Run!

Wait! Wait, please! Please.

We are closed, come tomorrow. - Please, I've received a telegram.

Please, please. I-I cannot wait one more night.

Thank you, thank you.

Santos is in charge of incoming telegrams.

Keeps the ones he hasn't filed here.

- Name? - Uh, Addy Kurc.

- With a K? - With a K.

Ah.

Looks like this came in two weeks ago.

Could you do me a favor? Can you please read this to me?

"Dear brother,

"Overjoyed to find you on Red Cross list.

"I am with sisters and parents in Italy.

"Jakob is waiting for visa to U.S.

Send news. Love, Genek."

Good news!

They're... they're alive, they're alive.

- Ah. - Oh.

Oh.

It's time to go.

Just a moment more.

Kathleen wouldn't want you to be late.

If Kathleen really felt that way,

she would've picked a different day to arrive.

- Here you go. Hey, sweetie-pie.

I'm sorry we can't go with you.

Nervous?

I know I shouldn't be, but eight years...

What will they think of me?

I think they'll just hug you.

I will be back with more family than you will know what to do with.

Sorry, excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me.

Olá!

Addy, Addy!

It's your home, Caroline.

I can say the blessing, but... it would please me very much

if you would light the candles.

I know, uh, it is not how we usually do it,

but I have asked Herta to light a Yahrzeit candle

for those who are not with us.

My parents, Henrietta and Abraham Seifert...

my sister-in-law, Lola...

and my niece, Lize.

My parents, Haim and Fajga Kajler.

My sisters, Szyja, Hela, and Dworjra.

And my brothers, Jakub and Fajwel.

My parents, Lea and Wolf Eichenwald,

my sister, Mania,

my nephew, Elie.

My sisters...

Reisl...

Estera...

and Gitla.

My brothers, Chaim and Izreal...

and my sisters, Dwora and Cypra.

Are you ready? Right. Now, it's like we practiced, Fefe.

Come to the chair. You stand on this one, be careful.

- Uh, uh, can I have everyone's attention?

- Someone here has a question.

Okay.

Huh? Okay, close your eyes.

Ze, close your eyes, Fefe.

- Addy, close your eyes.

- There you are. - I would like some more, please.

- You would like some more?

- Yes.

Chag Sameach!

Chag Sameach, Jakob!

No, no. How-How is Victor?

- Victor is asleep.

How is the weather, the weather--

I can't hear anything anyone is saying.

Bella, do you miss me? You-You haven't said so yet.

- Halina, could you just stop talking?

How's my favorite brother, Jakob?

- We miss you.

Okay, they're all talking over each other.

- Some things never change, so... - No, they-- What?

Okay, now, I'm gonna set this timer on.

And then, I'm gonna go over there

and we're gonna try not to laugh and crack up...