Original subtitles

Present a film by Jan Švankmajer

FAUST

Petr Čepek in the leading role

Cinematography

Production

Written and directed by

Hello, I can't find the marked spot...

Though I've explored philosophy, as well as medicine and law,

applied my efforts to theology,

yet here I stand, a foolish bore,

no wiser than I was before.

With neither property nor fame,

I am a man without a name.

A dog would not accept this role,

so to magic I'll devote my soul.

Faustus, Faustus,

leave behind this black magic!

Return your thoughts to theology!

Rest contented with the world.

If you live by the commandments of the Lord,

yours will be a heavenly reward.

Faustus, Faustus, leave behind theology!

Embrace instead black magic, the art of demonology.

Then to you will kings seem poor:

above them will your power soar.

Your Honour,

pardon my intrusion here,

but two friends of yours,

Cornelius and Valdes,

have just appeared, with news of great import, I fear!

I take my leave!

O foul-smelling life, nothing but the truth I speak.

Here we have a scholar famed for his knowledge and his wisdom.

His name is Dr. Faustus.

Wherever he goes, he keeps his nose buried in some weighty tome.

If I could only press a bit of sense into my silly head.

Hurray! Here's a book already open. I'll have a look.

Ego christian, ego istin...

I don't get a word of this. Let's see what else there is.

Here's a bit in the Czech tongue!

You can make old grannies young!

Into a large cauldron throw a pounded bat with alder leaves,

onion, a bit of caraway seed, berries as you need,

handful of nettles, bring rest harrow and the mixture to a boil...

In just a twinkle... how uncanny! Not a wrinkle left on granny!

It's too much for my feeble wit. I'll sit on it.

What my head can't comprehend, may well go in the other end.

You impudent rogue,

how dare you

sit upon this precious book?

Sefe cistin ego istin prima legura iuri.

- What's that you say? - I don't know myself. It's Latin.

Get down from there, before my master comes.

Goggle-eyed and blind. He could break my head or my behind!

You're a witty fellow.

Would you like to serve my master?

Why not? If you give me food and pay,

and a new suit, without delay, ask nothing in return, I'll play.

If you want to serve him, follow me.

I, Johannes Faust, do call upon thee, Mephistopheles!

Ivelum, Auiavitis Sammas Restascias.

Oh Adonai, Oh Jehovah...

Jesus, through the power of Thy Father be bound.

Mephistopheles, break free from thy fetters!

Mephistopheles!

Mephistopheles...

Now, Faustus, what wouldst thou have me do?

I charge thee wait upon me whilst I live,

to do whatever Faustus shall command.

Be it to make the moon drop from her sphere,

or the ocean to overwhelm the world.

I am only a servant to great Lucifer

and may not follow thee without his leave.

No more than he commands must we perform.

Did not he charge thee to appear to me?

No. I come here of my own accord.

Did not my conjuring speeches raise you? Speak!

That was the cause, but per accidents.

When we hear one blaspheme almighty God,

abjure the Scripture and his saviour Christ,

we fly, to claim his glorious soul.

But leave these vain trifles of men's souls.

Tell me what is that Lucifer, your Lord?

Arch-regent and commander of all spirits.

Was not that Lucifer an Angel once?

Yes, Faustus, and most dearly loved of God.

How comes it then that he be Prince of Devils?

By pride and insolence,

for which God threw him from Heaven.

And what are you, that live with Lucifer?

Unhappy spirits that with Lucifer conspired against God,

and are forever damned with him.

- Where are you damned? - In Hell.

How comes it, then that thou art out of Hell?

Why, this is Hell, nor am I out of it.

Thinks thou that I, who saw the face of God

and tasted the eternal joys of Heaven,

am not tormented with ten thousand hells,

in being deprived of everlasting bliss?

Go bear these tidings to great Lucifer.

I surrender him my soul.

And he shall spare me four and twenty years

letting me live in all voluptuousness,

having thee ever to attend on me,

to give me whatever I shall ask.

I will.

I read in one of Faust's books

that in this place one can catch birds without glue.

A special place, a single word... that's all you need!

Here is something that might suit me.

Is this the place? Indeed, it is!

And here's the word to catch the bird.

All you need to say is Pilookay!

Jester, why do you use this spell

to summon us from the peace of Hell?

I was only catching birds!

Come out of there!

No, you come here!

There I mustn't venture!

Nor will I venture out!

If you do, I'll tear you to shreds!

How clever to reveal your plot! Now I won't go anywhere!

Won't you stop that growling noise?

Padlookay!

Pilookay!

Pilookay!

What a fine lot you are!

Maybe I forgot to say...

Here it is! Padlookay!

I confused them! Padlookay, I should've said, not Pilookay!

What, you again? Hold on, I'll make you sweat: Padlookay!

Pilookay!

Padlookay...

Jester, enough!

I can't bear it anymore!

Padlookay!

I'll run away before he catches his breath.

What says Lucifer, thy Lord?

I shall wait on Faustus while he lives.

And he will buy my service with his soul.

But thou must write a deed of gift

with thine own blood.

For that security craves great Lucifer.

If thou deny it I must back to Hell.

Stay, Mephistopheles!

Aye, Mephistopheles, I give it thee.

Mephisto, how strange, I've lost my quill.

How careless of you, or have you lost your will?

Quickly, choose another one.

How strange, again my quill is gone.

Faustus, you are careless still.

Quickly, choose another quill.

O to explore the mysteries of the Earth in all

its infinite entirety,

the sun suspended, radiant,

and then the Universe, arched above creation

like the vaulted ceiling of a great cathedral.

Faustus, are you trembling?

Never! Pleasure throbs within my heart.

Transport me down to Hell

and then to glories up on high.

Do I intrude upon your rest? Or would you care to talk?

What you've shown me just confirms what I already knew,

that large and small are distinctions that do not exist.

The elephant and the tiny flea share the same complexity.

So still I seek the force that guides life's flow,

something more than mere external show.

This force cannot be known.

Why should that be so?

They lie beyond what words address.

We only grasp those thoughts which language can express.

- Words are mightier than we? - They are.

Then what of longing or affection?

All those feelings that rage within us like a storm at sea?

Only mist.

And all of us are wind as well?

What has made me thirst to know

what human language cannot speak?

Your thirst for knowledge is unnatural.

Live as millions of your brothers do.

Sleep, eat, drink.. Let that suffice for you!

Liar and foul traitor!

Where are the pulse and core of Nature you promised to reveal?

You lack the wit to see them in every blade of grass.

- Vile phantom! Lying fiend! - How dare you curse me so!

Now spite and venom deeper than the sea I'll vent on you.

Now I've learned

the devil knows no more than we.

The man who turns to Satan

in his search for peace, however he may see it, is a fool indeed.

I'm not in need of your enlightenment,

but our contract binds you. I'll have you serve me...

serve me like a slave.

And I'll exploit your tricks and guile

as long as you are mine.

Your loyal servant, Sir!

Get up!

The King of Portugal, I hear, will have a birthday.

Mephisto...

I'd like to display my skill at this merry celebration.

As you wish, Faustus. We'll fly!

I detect the smell of devils here!

Hurry, Jester! We'll follow your master to Portugal.

He wants you to bring good fare to his table.

If there'll be food and drink, I'm off!

What if I fall?

My loyal subjects,

once again, we gather here

to celebrate my birthday.

Stop tossing me around, you'll throw me to the ground!

Long live the King!

What lies before my royal eyes?

A little fellow prostrate on the ground.

What is your petition, friend?

Whence or what are you?

- I serve Dr. Faustus. - What? Dr. Faustus' servant?

At my mother's knee I heard of his unrivalled erudition.

- Bring your master here. - As you desire!

Long live the King!

Your Majesty, my name is Dr. Faustus.

Only say the word and I will entertain you with my arts.

Oh, gracious Dr. Faustus,

I would not like to impose on you...

Would you introduce me to David and Goliath?

This simple service I can perform.

Mephisto...

What is your command?

Set small David on my left and mighty Goliath on my right.

- As you wish. - Long live the King!

Have you no other wish?

Long live the King!

Oh, God! There behind that statue hides a demon!

Be gone from my kingdom!

Away with your devilish illusions!

Let us flee, my subjects, or I may die of fear!

So this is how the King responds!

But I'll avenge myself!

Mephisto...

What do you wish?

Visit on this cursed land a deluge.

Then I'll stride upon the waves, playing ninepins.

As you wish.

Enough of worldly pleasures.

When I behold the heavens, I repent,

and curse thee, for thou hast deprived me of those joys.

Thinkest thou Heaven is so glorious?

Not half as fair as thee or any man that breathes.

- How prov'st thou that? - 'Twas made for man.

Ergo, man is by far more excellent.

If it were made for man, 'twas made for me.

I will renounce this magic and repent.

Faustus, repent

and God will pity thee.

Romilo!

Assume the guise of lovely Helen,

quickly, while there's still the time.

Oh, Faustus,

I've come to see you from so far away.

Won't you even glance at me?

Oh, Faustus,

just a tiny peek!

So fair a lady! How she deserves my love!

Amor vincit omnia.

Devil, what have you done to me?

If you want to catch a bird, do not throw stones!

When midnight strikes your body and your soul are mine.

24 years have not yet passed.

You counted but your waking days.

But we served you day and night.

Twice twelve is twenty four,

and so at midnight your body and your soul are mine.

Run, master, run! Aha, you're resting.

- You won't get very far that way! - Why should I run away?

A man is out there calling, I'll drag Faustus down below!

Find two strong lads to guard me in the witching hour.

I'll pay them well, upon my honour.

I'll find you two rough fellows to make those demons cower.

Labourers! Hirelings! Gather round!

Labourers! Hirelings! Gather round!

I'll pay you well to guard my master's door!

Two ducats for an hour's work!

Labourers! Hirelings! Gather round!

I'll pay you well to guard my master's door!

Two ducats for an hour's work!

Labourers! Hirelings! Gather round!

I'll pay you well to guard my master's door!

Two ducats for an hour's work!

Labourers! Hirelings! Gather round!

Come, come, young man! I'll pay you well!

Ah, Faustus, you have but one bare hour to live,

before you're damned eternally!

- I'm Hammadam, Dr. Toastus! - I'm Fatterdam, Dr. Mostest!

Are you the two who'll guard me in the witching hour?

- For this reason we are here. - All right.

One will stand on this side.

The other one on the other side.

Take that! And that!...and that!

Oh, it strikes, it strikes! Now, body, turn to air,

or Lucifer will bear thee quick to Hell!

Take that! And that!...and that!

My God, my God, look not so fierce on me.

Adders and serpents, let me breath awhile!

O ugly Hell, gape not! Come not, Lucifer!

I'll burn my books! O Mephistopheles!