Original subtitles

'Armenfilm' Studio Productions

We are Our Mountains

Avag!

Avag... When did these get mixed up?

- We're going to eat meat... - I'm sleepy...

Are local and pedigree breeds really any different?

Ishkhan... How many states are there in the world?

Well, there is us, Germany... who else? Turkey...

...USA, France...

...and Austria, Hungary, the Czechs...

...India... so there'd be about a hundred.

But the most important is us and America, no?

Austria!

It's us and America that's important!

Austria is a small country...

The small ones have it easy...

I'm just sorry for us and America...

Small countries just laze about...

We keep sheep here...

- And why did they kill that poor Kennedy? - Why do you care?

Good evening!

What're we going to eat, man?

Give us yogurt if you've got it, if not, then we won't eat barbecue...

Will it poke your belly?

Say... if he governed poorly...

...they should've fired him from that job...

Why did they go and kill that man?

As in "you're not doing what we want"...

Eh... he had an Armenian's luck...

Pavle can skin a sheep in five minutes.

He can't!

It's what I've seen, and he say's he can't!

What're we going to eat Pavle?

I can't be bothered...

Coz a stray sheep got mixed in with the herd.

I thought if I cast it out, the wolves will eat it...

It's native... fat...!

And we still got those skewers from Ando...

Ok then!

The skewers!

Salt, water, wood!

Fire!

I said I can't be bothered...

Come here...

Whoever's gonna eat the most, raise their hand!

Stop jabbering son, if you gonna butcher it, then do it.

It tortured me the whole day...

He who doesn't have an appetite, raise their hand!

No, that won't do Zaven! Artistically please!

Artistically... The "Aleppo"...

The "Aleppo"...!

Yes!

[Quoting from Shakespeare's 'Othello'] "Once upon a time in Aleppo..."

"...Aleppo..."

"...Aleppo..."

"...Aleppo..."

"...fifty Turks..."

"...were beating a Venetian and cussing the Republic..."

"So I grabbed that circumcised dog's throat and cut it..."

"...just like this..."

Aleppo, Aleppo, Aleppo...

Yes... Aleppo...

Aleppo must be in Poland, near Lodz, no?

Aleppo is in Arabia!

Around that way...

Don't know...

Polish girls are pretty...

How would you know?

Should I say they're not pretty when they are?

Don't stir up Avag's pain.

Avag?

It's not decent, man!

Revaz? What are you doing?

Me?

- What are you doing? - I'm eating barbecue.

You call that five minutes?

It took an hour, you buggers.

Was this your barbecue...?

Come back tomorrow too, there's two more sheep.

- Good night. - Good night.

"Guys!"

"Guys, I forgot to say, I've lost four black sheep..."

Native ones?

"Native ones, with the left ears cut off... four dark sheep..."

"Two of them four years old, the others – two..."

"Three ewes and one ram – castrated..."

Come again?

"I'm saying I've lost some sheep, have you seen them?"

"One castrated and three ewes...."

Come again?

"I'm saying I've lost one castrated ram and three ewes... have you seen them?"

Say what?

"Sheep... I've lost sheep, have you seen them...?"

Speak louder!

- "I'm saying... did you hear that?" - Yes!

"The sheep... did you hear?"

The sheep what?

Cut it out, can't you hear he's saying he's lost some sheep?

- And what was that you were eating? - Call him over.

- But should I? - Yeah...

Come, come. I've got something to say.

You're not hungry still are you, Revaz dear?

- No, I'm full. Why? - We're also full, dear Revaz.

So you're happy then?

I've lost my sheep... been on my feet all day in the mountains...

But why do you need sheep, why do you keep sheep?

Revaz... this barbecue... it was probably your sheep...

You've really screwed up...

Yeah, brother. We're guilty and you're the judge.

Now tell us how we've screwed up.

You stole something and ate it. That's how you've screwed up.

Wow...! Isn't he a real judge!

Watch it, or I'll bash you in.

Who's the thief, you bastard?

Really?

You slaughter my sheep and then shout at me as if I'm the thief!

Well, it's just dumb Pavle, what does he know?

Instead of saying sorry... or it was dark...

...or we didn't notice...

Instead of saying something decent, you want me to beg...

Go on your way, go! We haven't seen them!

But that's not right Othello!

This man is good. This man isn't complaining,

you wanna force him to complain?

- ...31 [rubles]... here, take that and go. - Well, I'm trying be decent with these...

- Go, go... - Wait, wait!

You go, go... he's coming.

You were calling from over there, no?

You were asking if we'd seen your sheep, right?

Yeah...

So go and ask again, and we'll say we haven't seen them.

Go on your way, you'll find your sheep.

- The world is... - Othello! Wait!

- Othello! - That won't do...

Go away, you're not here!

- It was just him that was here! - Be good Othello!

I'm here, you're here, we're all here.

We've slaughtered and eaten two of your sheep,

and we'll eat the other two tomorrow if you let us.

Got it? There's forty of us. We could pull off your pants and put you in new ones.

And you're one of us, so take your money and go!

- C'mon, go! - Yeah, go...

Revaz...!

Couldn't you wait til autumn?

We'd have given you some honey, wheat and stuff... so the kids could eat...

Four sheep?

No...

Black ones...

What's a sheep again?

Ah...

Sheep!

No, they weren't ours.

Back in grandpa's days, there were about a thousand...

Wait!

I'm a mechanic myself,

tractor and combine driver...

That's it!

That's a photo camera.

But sheep? No!

And how to explain, citizen Revaz...

that your wife's sheep were stolen, when you didn't own any sheep?

- Perhaps this lady isn't your wife? - No!

She's not my wife.

I don't remember...

- I don't have a wife. - So whose wife is she?

Who knows?

And why're you shouting at me?

Maybe she's Churchill's!

Do you know that by withholding evidence you're considered the fifth offender?

They were mine!

I sold them, and I'm not complaining!

Hello guys!

Ah, welcome comrade lieutenant! Good to see you!

Comrade lieutenant! Will you take our photo?

Why not? I will.

Come round, come!

Once more!

I'm going up to the mountains...

Your people have butchered some sheep or something...

They would, they would, comrade lieutenant,

they're thieving, good-for-nothing people!

Be careful lieutenant! They also slaughter people.

The cat farted and he listens!

- Why're you just standing there? - What should I do?

What should you do? Blow your horn!

Come and help! Hold it by the horns.

- Do you have a long rope? - I do.

- Where is it? - Where? In my pocket!

But it'll be easier with a long rope...

Right, right...

Pull!

I was pulling a log, then it stopped and wouldn't go any further.

Khndzor [Apple] the ox refuses to move...

Khndzor, my bro...

He's been poisoned...

Will you be able to hold it?

Just a sec...

Hold it, hold...

How was he poisoned?

Don't know...

He's tired of this hard life... wants to die.

The anti-revolutionaries have poisoned him.

I'm doing this for your sake, coz you can't hold down an ox.

He accidentally ate some poisonous grass...

- Are you Ishkhan or Avag? - Hold tight.

Oxie dear...

My bro...

Oxie dear...

I'm Ishkhan.

- Did you butcher some sheep? - Damn right we did.

- Revaz's sheep? - Revaz's.

- Has he complained? - That's not important.

And you just got up and came over?

Well...

Well, it's good that you've come.

You think it's easy to turn over an ox by oneself?

A single man can't even turn over a woman...

...let alone an ox...

Consider this ox the police force's gift to the Antaramej village society.

So the gasses will pass through the pipe?

That was the idea...

- And what'll happen now? - What?

I'm saying the ox is now useless. How will you bring the log down?

As long as you and I are on our feet...

Two healthy men...

What about the yoke?

...And the oxes... the chain...?

- What about them? - They'll be stolen.

Pft...

Then how did Revaz's sheep get stolen?

I slaughtered Revaz's sheep, we ate them, paid him and he left.

He left a little reluctantly...

But if I said my axe costs one kilo of gold, would you believe me?

- How much did he want? - He wanted his sheep back.

But you'd slaughtered the sheep...

He knew we were in a tough spot, that's why he wanted more.

- And you didn't give him a good beating? - That would be shameful...

How many children do you have Ishkhan?

I got four kids. The eldest is a reporter in the city.

He writes this and that... earns money...

This government is very uneconomical...

It gives out money to anyone...

Ishkhan...

- How're we gonna do this then? - What?

I don't know...

It's a log, and we're just carrying it...

There's foot and mouth disease from Ghazakh...

It'd be good if it rained...

The hay would be spoiled.

How much are your son's wages?

Well, it's the city... the moment he gets them, they're gone.

If my son didn't drink... his wages would be enough...

But it's the city, what else is there to do?

The World... and fire...

...and wood, and God...

...and women, and clouds...

...and cold, and wheat...

...who created it... the World?

The world full of fire! The planet is turning,

and shows you its ass!

Ok, get up, get up now!

Guys, since we're all here, lets make a decision,

and work out why this man has come?

Comrade lieutenant?

Comrade lieutenant, you're from the city, I've got a question and if you answer it,

I'll butcher a sheep for you.

When was Columbus's trip?

Dude, even I don't know that, how would the lieutenant know?

He's here on the matter of the sheep.

- Revaz's? - Revaz's.

The ones we paid for and then he left?

No, the Revaz that we didn't pay and who didn't leave.

Well, if he's here, he's here...

Let's decide since we're together.

This man has come all the way from the city.

Well, we paid the price for the sheep.

He's right. We gave him the money and he left.

We even paid city rates!

Why're you getting involved? Who asked you?

But I also ate the meat and butchered one of the sheep...

And how many sheep were there?

- One! - Eeeh, you're mixed up.

You butchered one, and didn't you butcher the other Pavle?

Now, now! Pavle has five kids!

Don't involve him. He's got five kids!

Why shouldn't we? We want to remember who butchered them.

Pavle did. He's the best butcher among us, he did it.

Whatever. I was tired, otherwise I'd have skinned it in three minutes!

You can't even take your clothes off in three minutes!

He can butcher it. You remember when the reporter was here?

The reporter was blown away!

What kind of people are you?

This man has come from the city...!

He's tired and beat.

There were four sheep. We butchered two and left the others for later.

So what say you? Make a decision!

Let's give this man an answer.

Why is he tired and beat?

- We carried down a log together. - Why, are the oxen lost?

No... ox Kndzor got poisoned, I pricked his belly.

- Where is the vet? - In Jerusalem or somewhere.

This is grass, and this is a scythe.

The scythe cuts the grass, the cow eats it,

the cow gives milk.

Alik drinks the milk,

grows up, and learns his lessons.

'G' – grass.

Where is it?

'G' – grass...

Grass...

"Well, they didn't complain about each other at the time."

"And do you know what happened after you returned, inspector Hakobyan?"

"One smashed the other's head with a bottle and cussed at his wife".

"Let's just say... sit,"

"and listen!"

"- Whatever I say, respond yes. - Yes."

"Here's something that happened to me. Meaning I did the questioning myself."

"There was a couple. A man and wife. They lived together for 20 years."

"They were husband and wife for 20 years."

"One body and soul."

"And then this man took his wife's ring and sold it,"

"and used the money to get drunk."

"What is this man doing now, huh?"

"He's doing social work."

"Meaning, he mines stone in a labor camp."

"- Ask why? - Why?"

"His wife only had one ring. After that one theft, there was no more ring."

"His wife had one coat. After another theft, that would be gone too."

"And what would he steal next, do you think?"

"If there were no more ring or coat, I remind you."

"He would've had to steal my wife's ring,"

"your wife's ring, society's ring..."

"...the Government's ring! Meaning: big crimes start from small ones."

"Meaning – there are no small crimes!"

"You sat together and partied!"

"Sister!"

"Where is the head of the village committee?"

He'd be on the pastures most likely.

What do we do then?

About what?

We have to call someone down from the mountain.

- About a police matter? - Yeah.

To tell the truth, I could call them...

What for?

- There's an issue... - What issue?

- They've butchered some sheep. - Who?

Aval Hovhannisyan, Ishkhan Antonyan... Pavle, Zaven...

Have you got nothing better to do?

I was last here in 19... What's that? A bee sting?

Yes, they got me.

- Has he filed a complaint? - It doesn't matter.

It's us and our Revaz. Why would he complain?

Well, that's how it is, dear.

Wait, what I'm telling you now is my own experience.

Meaning I investigated it personally.

A husband and wife. They lived together for 20 years.

They slept together in one bed, had kids...

But the husband was a bit of a drunkard, he liked to drink. It happens.

One time, there was no money, so he took his wife's ring.

It's his wife. The ring is his wife's. So the ring is practically his own.

What right do we have to get between their fingers and their ring?

But it turns out that we do have the right, and this man is now in a labor camp.

- It's tough. - It's not easy.

But maybe Revaz didn't own any sheep, so which sheep could we have butchered?

No dear... Everything from the journals of the village

committee to the journals of the UN shows us,

that Revaz Movsisyan had four black sheep,

and he doesn't have them anymore.

- Something else might've happened. - What?

There could've been some sheep, but they weren't with us.

- If so, then how did you butcher them? - Butcher what?

- The sheep. - What sheep?

The ones you butchered and ate.

- What's this about butchering and eating? - 20 of you ate them.

What 20 people?

Stop annoying me, you're a grown man!

So if 20 of us ate, why did you only bring me in?

The sheep got mixed in with your herd. You took them, butchered them and ate them.

I'm not aware of that. I'm completely unaware.

- Really? - Yeah...

- And if the expertise confirms it? - Who confirms it?

- The expertise. - Ooh, I'm so scared.

I'm really scared!

What d'ya want? We butchered them, paid the price and he left. What d'ya want?

- Tell me the truth in detail. - I won't!

- Sit down! - Just who are you trying to scare?

You.

40 of us ate them, why have you only called me?

You started it.

I was in the mountains, true? When it hailed I was in the mountains, right?

Then when the sheep came, I was still in the mountains. But you weren't there. No?

And when we butchered them, then you got up and came, true?

You came after we butchered them...

You should've come before and told us not to butcher them!

- So you did butcher them. - Damn right we did!

I don't regret it! You should've come and prevented it.

- Who did the butchering? - One of them was me.

- Right, who else? - Me, me again!

- You ate four sheep by yourself? - Yeah!

I overate, would you like me to throw up?

Well, if you ate them, you ate them.

The others will avoid prison and you'll take the responsibility.

You don't have an ounce of humanity in you.

I swear...

There's nothing to think about.

Sign it, so we can let it rest.

Beat me. Until you beat me, I won't say a thing.

Soviet police are against beatings,

beatings are not allowed in the Soviet police.

- If you won't beat me, what else is there? - Sign it and go.

I'm illiterate. Don't recognize the letters.

Come back!

Why're you shouting? You shout and call yourself 'Soviet'!

I'm Soviet! What kind of Soviet are you?

I herd sheep, shear wool, cut hay!

Avag is Soviet, who doesn't have a wife and doesn't have the time to get one!

I make cheese and butter,

- bathe sheep... - And butcher the sheep of others!

And what was that Soviet Avag doing?

Yeah, and I butcher others' sheep! You bet! What's it to you?

You steal and call yourself 'Soviet'.

You bet. What business is it of yours?

What theft, what sheep? I was in the city that day.

Go and prove it!

I keep 800 sheep...

They got mixed up... But it's not theft, coz we didn't sell them. So it's not theft.

Pavle can prep the meat in five minutes, but we bet that he couldn't...

So then we gave it a try... Thus, it's not theft!

- And then Zaven... - So Pavle butchered them first.

- Yes, Pavle butchered them... - Right, and then?

- What then? We butchered them and ate. - You said Zaven...

I said Zaven? Ah... yes, I said Zaven...

But I've forgotten now...

Forgot what? Maybe you'll remember through questioning?

Zaven was reciting... "Once... someplace... a bastard Turk..."

"traduced my nation...", I forgot where that place was...

What's the name roughly? We'll work it out.

A city, nearby.

- Tbilisi. - Nah...

Berlin then...

- Paris or Rome? - Neither Paris, nor...

- What did you say? - Rome...

Rome... Rome..., nah.

Never mind. It's not important.

What was Avag doing then?

Everybody was doing something, who remembers?

- But what was Avag doing? - Would you remember if it was you?

I would, if it was a major incident.

How was I to know if it'd be a big enough incident to remember it?

But you were butchering another man's sheep...

Here we go again...

This other man was with us, he ate with us. So they weren't another man's at the time!

Ok. Who else was there?

- Everyone was there. - Everyone meaning who?

- Me, one of them was me. - And the next?

- Pavle, Zaven, Avag and Vasil? - No!

No. Not in my opinion.

Avoyan Asatur of Gevorg, Abovyan Yeghish of Grigor,

- Should I say the dates of birth too? - No!

Abovyan Harutyun of Artavazd, Abovyan Mikael...

...Mikael! Of Geovrg...

Abovyan Vachik of Levon, Abovyan Manuk... Note it down, I'm serious.

Abovyan Ashot of Vagharshak, Antonyan Ishkhan...

That's me... Ishkhan of Sahak, Barseghyan Sahak of Sargis,

I'm saying what happened. I can't make things up.

Although, I respect you a lot.

Barseghyan Toros of Takvor, Badaghyan Bagrat of Matevos,

Brutyan Margar of Tigran, Minoyan Asatur of Arakel,

Gevorgyan Varazdat of Gevorg...

and Movsesyan Revaz – a gift for you.

Stick around in our village five months,

try and confirm that 40 people, plus Revaz Movsisyan

ate two sheep, and will eat another two after shearing and invite you over.

Very well. I'll sit here for five months

and prove that the sheep got mixed in with your herd.

- And then you gave them up for slaughter. - The herd isn't mine. It's the farm's!

Excuse me? You gave them up for slaughter, you held their legs, Avag butchered them,

Zaven held their legs and Pavle butchered them.

That's four of you and that's enough.

The rest will go about their business, you will go to a labor camp.

No! Pavle butchered them, Toros got the skewers,

Sahak stuck the meat on, Sako marinaded it,

Vasil paid for it, Vanik lit the fire, I ate,

all of us ate, Revaz ate, Revaz said thank you.

But they got mixed in with your herd, you held their legs, Avag butchered them,

Pavle butchered the other while Zaven held its legs.

And Revaz got diarrhea, Sako said thanks, while Barsegh ate his full.

It was Avag and Pavle who butchered them!

You're weird! If Pavle is our best butcher, who else was to do it?

With your knife...

Damn... really... damn...

Hey, smart ass...

Was I supposed to use your knife?

You were in the city,

I butchered with this knife, coz I didn't have your gun.

What am I to sign? Let's see.

Darn...

I didn't have the heart for this...

You got up and died...

Lucky me...

Where have you put the darn keys?

Why the hell aren't you working?

Ishkhan...

- Would you soap my back? - That man is waiting, Avag.

- Which man? - The inspector.

Ah... yes...

It's impolite...

Man... you could've waited till the evening,

I would've told the wife to give you a bath.

Harder, harder!

Well done!

Well then? Is he a good person?

Ishkhan, Ishkhan!

I'm serious. Let's find a wife for this house...

That wretch, she went and died on me...

Man, can't you see it's cold! Careful!

Hello! Welcome!

I'm really grateful to you!

If you hadn't called me in, I'd never have bothered getting a bath.

Mmm...

This water isn't going to be enough.

More...

But she's really young, Avag. With two kids in tow too.

You need a barren woman,

and Haykanush is still the most fitting, but she's groom-shy.

How do you know Haykanush won't give birth?

Well, she's a woman of 50, 55. Her time's passed.

Eeeh, but she doesn't have any hips!

He wants a wife, he wants her barren, and wants her with the goods too!

You want her with the goods, huh?

How old is this woman with two kids that you say is too young?

She has two kids under ten,

and Avag is 58.

She'd be 30 then. That's ok for marriage overseas.

Overseas, a 60-year-old can marry a 20-year-old girl.

Aren't they ashamed? That's indecent!

I think it's OK if she's from another village.

Well, she'll come and have two or three kids with him,

then kids again at this age, getting clothes and things again...

If so, then finish and I'll tell you.

What is it?

There is a prim woman working at the savings bank.

She's not married, and she's barren.

She'd be coy because of the village, but she can be convinced.

I'll do the convincing, once we wrap up this business.

What business?

The sheep business...

- There'll be a case opened regarding the sheep? - How else is a case opened?

I'm freezing! Bring some water!

I'm really grateful to you, comrade lieutenant.

Wait til I find you a good wife. You can thank me then.

- When we wrap up this case... - The sheep case?

The sheep case...

Revaz's?

Revaz's.

Should I tell you what Ishkhan told you to say?

That you don't have any information.

- Why? Don't I have a tongue of my own? - I know you guys well enough.

Ishkhan, leave.

It's just procedure...

By law, I have to question you all separately.

What's this?

- Are you questioning me? - It turns out that I am.

Don't lie down. You're falling asleep.

Eh, I'm not sleeping. C'mon, ask away.

Surname, name, patronymic?

Hovhannisyan Avag of Hovsep.

That's correct.

You're a shepherd, 58 years old, a widower.

Were you at the scene on the day of the incident?

What incident?

The day the sheep were slaughtered.

- I slaughtered them myself. - Very well.

- On whose instructions? - We butchered Revaz's sheep and ate them.

I know that, but it has to be detailed.

Detailed how?

How did the sheep get to you? How many?

Who saw them first? Who said to butcher them and who said not to?

Who took them out of the herd? Who butchered them?

Who held their legs? Briefly – the order it happened.

Don't lie down! You're falling asleep!

I butchered Revaz's sheep, we ate them,

- paid Revaz and Revaz left. - Ok then.

I'll ask, you answer.

What were you doing that day?

- I was herding sheep. - More specifically.

- I was herding sheep... - I'm reminding you...

You were bathing the sheep.

We were bathing, shearing, mowing too...

also milking... yeah...

So you were bathing them. Then what happened?

I slaughtered Revaz's sheep... we ate...

...we paid him... the price... he left.

To remind you. Pavle butchered one of them.

You the other?

When you butchered them, Ishkhan held their legs?

And when Pavle was butchering them, Zaven held their legs?

Pavle's good at butchering... he'd be the one...

Ishkhan held the legs?

Maybe...

And then...?

We gave that man his money and he left...

When Pavle was doing the butchering, Zaven recited something?

Who? Othello?

What did he recite?

- Who? - Zaven.

"Aleppo"...?

Then?

Then...

The cat farted...

Go!

Go you wretch!

Zaven! Zaven!

The inspector is calling the shepherds, the inspector is calling you!

Go tell him to fuck off!

The inspector is calling...!

I heard! I'll come down!

I heard, I heard!

Come come, you're in the right place.

"And the fire, and the wood, and the women!"

"and God,"

"and phones... Who created it all?"

When this case is wrapped up, Zaven, I'm gonna bring my friends to your valley,

and throw a real bad-ass feast. With zurna!, and drums!

Smash a bottle on the trees!

- Can you drink? - With barbecue, and fireworks!

And the chief of police... And fire, and women...

- Don't you have a place in the city? - No!

It's real nice in nature, in grass, near springs. Sit.

Hey man, is true that you recited that "bastard Turk" while you were butchering?

- What's it to you? - What exactly?

- In general. - You mean the "bastard Turk"?

- That too. - Well...

It interests me because you recited it while you butchered Revaz's sheep.

What's it to you?

I'm the interrogator here, man.

What do you have to do with Revaz?

How so? He lost his sheep and I'm looking for them.

Revaz looked for his sheep and found them.

Slaughtered.

Maybe the bears ate them.

No, we're talking here about Revaz, his sheep and you guys.

We've known Revaz for a thousand years.

You came and met him today.

Wipe the dirt off your shoulder!

It's not dirt. It's dung.

You can't even tell apart dirt and dung.

You're right. Of course you're right.

I respect you. Your work.

They say you even want to go to university.

Do you really recite so powerfully, artistically?

But this is how it is my dear. Revaz is your Revaz, of course.

You're of the same land and water. You laugh, fight and then make up.

But here's the thing, my dear.

This happened to me personally. My own investigation.

A husband and wife.

Lived together for 20 years.

For 20 years, this man did his wife...

Well, you know... they had four children.

This man was a bit of an alcoholic.

This man stole his wife's ring and drank it away.

Now then.

Her ring, her husband.

It's clear. Yet, the investigation established,

that what he did really was theft.

And where is this man now?

He's in a labor camp.

Even though it was his wife, and his wife's ring.

What did you recite while you were butchering the sheep?

Something about someone choking someone this way and that way?

Did you write that?

That's because you're ignorant!

Enough! I had it with you people!

I don't want your interrogation! Go eat an ox too!

Eat a buffalo, eat each other while you're at it!

I'm fed up! [in Russian]

"A ring, an alcoholic"!

"Twenty years..." What an example to impress people with!

Be silent at least!

Instead of being ashamed...

- What is it? - Nothing!

It's nothing!

I'm grateful to you for the interrogation, thanks!

And we're grateful to you.

And where are you during lambing?

- And when the sheep... - Enough!

There's no need man, I'm not questioning you.

If you're not questioning me, then pack it in and leave our village.

So it's private property now!

"Pack it in and leave our village!"

No, the city is yours and the village too. And I'm your servant.

Bollocks... Neither the city is mine, nor the village.

- And I don't need thieving servants. - If you say that word one more time...!

- Which word? - Thief!

If you've stolen something what else should I call you? Benefactor?

Darn right we did!

We herd 10,000 sheep and you don't prosecute us for that,

- We butchered one and you've opened a case! - Two...

We butchered two and we can butcher another two.

- If we let you, you will. - Well, I don't give a damn...

- I will go to university... - Yeah...

Of course, go to university.

Learn to recite. Then you'll read good books and butcher sheep...

...according to what they say. – I'd made one comma mistake...

Yes! I'll also butcher sheep according to books.

- What business is it of yours? - And what is my business?

- Maybe you'd tell me what to do? - Finding lost rings!

"Alcoholic husband!" "A ring!"

Zaven, don't make me get up!

What if I got up?

Well, go on! Get up, get up!

- What? - Two times two equals four!

When you're summoned, why don't you please us by coming down?

Why don't you come when you're summoned, huh?

When you're summoned! Why don't you please us by coming down?!

Why don't you come when you're being summoned?

- Why did you break it? - You're playing at being a worker?

Why did you break it?

Why don't you bother to come when summoned?

- He'll come after the work is done... - Shut up!

Nobody's asking you!

He's your father's age, what way is that to speak to him?

He's playing at being respectful now!

Why don't you bother to come when you're summoned?

Mr. Minister!

Or were you waiting for me to send a helicopter after you?

I was working. I was going to finish the work and then come.

How many days was I meant to wait for you?

You aren't doing anything important, so what if you waited a couple of days?

Isn't it grass that you mow, you animal?

- Ok Pavle... stay calm... - Let me go! I'll do his...

Let me go! Let go!

Let go! I'm telling you, let me go!

You've really worn me out!

They've stolen something but think they've done charity work!

He's nothing! I'll strangle him with two fingers!

- Hold it together Pavle... - He's clawing around like a broad!

If he's got something to say, he should come and say it properly!

But what for? He knows you won't let me waste him, that's why he's cussing!

Is that a way for a man to behave?

Just look at his neck! You call that a man?

- No! Are you acting like a man! - Yeah!

Showing off with a revolver on his hip!

He doesn't know that I'll take it and...!

You butchered the sheep, that's why! Got it?

Darn right!

We had sheep, so we butchered sheep! We couldn't butcher you, could we?

- You stole! - Just let me...

You're the thief, you freeloading bastard!

Not good, Pavle!

Is that a way to speak to the State?

Who's the State? That guy?

You're the State coz you freeload on its bread, that makes you the State?

- Let me go! - Just let me...

- Let me... - Let go...!

Stand down! [in Russian]

Hey... isn't your job just cutting grass?

Isn't what you crop just grass?

Was it time for you to die, huh?

What am I to do now?

You found an easy place...

Just came and laid to sleep...

...forever.

If I bring in a new wife,

to look after the house, the gates... and even me...

It'd be indecent...

People would laugh at me.

And you'd probably get offended...

You were sensitive from your girlie days...

And if I don't find a wife thinking it's indecent...

who would look after the house and the gates?

I came and saw the dog...

...there was no one to feed him, it died.

And the pears have also fallen and rotted...

And I'm down to my last clean undies...

Don't be vexed about your gravestone.

I've ordered it to be hewn.

It's a 600 ruble blue stone,

from your village's quarry.

And the craftsman knew you,

He remembered you from childhood and sang your praises.

They've called me up to the city.

I'm going to city today with the boys.

How many times did I ask you to bring me a daughter?

It was for this day that I asked!

Each of your boys stashed their wives

in the city and shut the doors.

A daughter wouldn't be like that.

Well then... I've got business. I should go.

The guys are waiting.

When they dropped the bomb on Japan,

the creator of that bomb, that man really wanted...

...I don't remember his name...

...that man really wanted America to win.

So what did he do? He thought about it and invented the atomic bomb.

They dropped the bomb on a Japanese city,

and Japan surrendered.

Thus, this man defeated Japan by himself.

He was made a hero and stuff...

Then they suspected that this man could've invented a stronger bomb.

But he hadn't.

So they put him on trial.

Did they prosecute him Othello?

Yes, they did – for not inventing the hydrogen bomb in the first place.

- That's correct. - Go, damn you!

All countries need prisoners...

- What? - I'm saying all countries need prisoners.

There're difficult workplaces...

Who'd go and work there for money?

Prisoners are needed.

How would they jail them if there was no crime?

Crime's not going to disappear, it can't.

One man's wife is pretty, the other's isn't pretty.

One is too lazy to work, but wants to eat...

One has 20, but the 21st wouldn't go amiss.

Well, look at our case with the police.

Ours is about sheep. It goes any way you want it to.

And then there's wolves. If they eat sheep, then that's that.

A wolf won't say "I didn't eat them".

It leaves behind a leg, a thigh or a little blood...

Now, take this man's case.

He's been caught red-handed, but claims that he's not a thief.

"I'm a philosopher" he says. So go and prove otherwise.

Have you caught him red-handed?

Then get the stick and beat him until his tongue is tangled!

Then let's see what he philosophizes with!

- Who are you so angry at uncle Avag? - The world!

Once we get back, I'm going to throw you a grand wedding!

- The sheep are on me! - You have more?

Yes, about 15 more.

You're rounding it up man. It's probably 18.

If that's the way it is, then it was 23. We wasted 4, so 31 remain.

I'm giving 3 to Avag's party.

- It's not decent, man. - Why is it indecent?

Overseas, they don't get married until they're your age.

What are we going to do with the goats and the dog?

Where did the dog come from?

It's been with the herd. It's an old dog.

Around 18-20 years old...

And half an hour before the wolves come, one can hear its old bark...

I think it just senses... Its hearing has faded,

its sight too, and it's got no teeth in its mouth...

And it should've lost its smell by now too.

Don't know...

It just senses...

But with what, only God knows...

Satan says, let this sheep graze here for ten days,

and then take it down to the city.

A ton of grass costs 150 rubles.

150 rubles makes 4 sheep.

Pavle mows 1 ton of grass every day.

The best mower was Harut's son Vanik.

He was unbeatable. He was a tank.

Then there was Rafik Matevosyan.

Then, Avag's son Suren.

I was eighth in line.

We'll tie the goats and the dog in my brother's garden until this case is done.

Citizen Ishkhan Antonyan,

Do you find yourself guilty in illegally butchering Revaz Movsisyan's sheep?

- I... - It's alright.

Think and give a considered answer.

Ishkhan's thinking!

Don't interrupt!

Well...

Citizen judge... it's true, the sheep were Revaz's, not mine,

but when you eat meat every day, is that your sheep's meat you're eating,

or somebody else's?

We pay for kilo or two of meat, bring it home and eat it.

So then, this time, it was us who paid and ate.

Citizen Antonyan. But you paid post factum, so to speak.

Citizen judge...

- And do you always... - Cash.

...do you always pay cash, or does it happen that...

- On credit. - ...you eat on credit?

Well, we eat when we have it, and if we don't, we don't eat.

We live in a village, money comes in straight away... and a lot of it too...

Till then, we might even take a loan sometimes.

I agree, citizen Antonyan.

But citizen Movsisyan's sheep...

How was it Zaven? Not cash, the other...

- Credit. - Before butchering the sheep on credit,

You had to strike a written or oral agreement with him, stating that

he agrees for you to butcher his sheep,

with the proviso that you pay him later.

No, citizen judge. I knew that he was going to sell his sheep, and so I bought them.

Citizen Movsisyan, did he know that you were going to sell your sheep?

And that you'd sell them on credit?

I was going to sell them sooner or later...

Maybe even on credit.

As for Ishkhan knowing...

Which villager doesn't know that a sheep is for selling?

Citizen Movsisyan,

are you sure that if you hadn't happened to be at the scene

they'd have paid you the cost?

Maybe they wouldn't pay...

but if we think 'what if', then a lot would be different...

What if Hitler fell off a rock as a child?

- Citizen Antonyan, what if... - Defendant!

- Defendant. - Defendant!

What has he done to be a defendant?

Defendant...!

Defendant Antonyan!

If citizen Movsisyan hadn't arrived at the scene,

would you have paid the cost of the sheep?

Well, if Revaz...

...hadn't arrived, how would I know whose sheep they was in order to pay,

or not to pay...

...the owner...

Defendant Antonyan, do you know your own sheep?

I know them all.

Whose sheep do you have the right to butcher?

My... sheep...

Whose sheep don't you have the right to butcher?

Revaz's sheep...

So why did you butcher somebody else's sheep?

Maybe they weren't Revaz's sheep,

maybe they belonged to some scientific-research institute,

and were specially injected with some kind of microbe, for very vital experiments?

The guys were hungry, so we butchered two sheep.

What's with this scientific research stuff?

Butcher your own sheep if the guys are hungry!

Why use another's bride to make the groom happy?

My sheep are tailed, and those were fat-tailed, their meat is tastier.

Zaven Kocharyan's wife is young and pretty,

yours is aged and dried up. So go and grab Zaven's wife.

What a scandalist!

I keep 500 sheep for 12 months a year!

Don't I have the right to butcher two sheep?

You keep 500 sheep, and the state pays you every dime for them.

In the mountains... under rain, under hail...

You receive a special rate for working in the high mountains.

And the State has given you a coat for the rain.

As for wolves, the State allocated you a 5% loss allowance,

but the wolves don't cause even a half percent worth of damage.

You outdo your quota thanks to the wolves, and get rewarded for that too.

Was I rewarded for this too?

Did the state tell me to fight a bear, which I did risking my life?

How many sheep have I rescued?

Well, tell me? How many would a bear kill?

The entire herd.

So I save the herd, but can't butcher two sheep?

I did darn right. I rewarded myself.

Put your clothes on, son, you won't cut it as a defendant.

Zaven!

Put me on trial!

No. I think a mistake was made somewhere and it continued.

I'll just say that... I didn't have sheep!

What do you mean? You're saying this man is committing perjury?

The guilty are guilty...

But our State will pardon us.

It'll say the crime is minor and will pardon us.

But how's it minor, huh?

Why is it minor?

If it was a sheep that was accidentally lost, and not an ox,

then the crime is minor?

Pavle,

you try and judge, let's see what happens.

- Ten years. - That's a stretch!

You understand very little.

Don't speak.

He's right. You're playing it down.

Why doesn't he understand? His job is the law.

Lieutenant, why don't you judge?

Wait a sec.

I'm going to judge.

Get up!

I'm the judge.

The defendant is the lieutenant.

You are Pavle Davtyan.

- Defendant Pavle... - Pavle!

The lieutenant will kill you with words.

Let it be him and Zaven.

I'm the judge, and I'm questioning you.

Sit closer.

I'll stand for uncle Avag.

Defendant Avag Hovhannisyan,

do you plead guilty?

- Yes, Mr. Judge, I'm guilty... - No!

Citizen judge, I don't plead guilty.

- Why? - A thief operates alone,

or they work in pairs.

And if you're talking about an organized gang – then it's 10, 20 men...

...or even 70.

I don't think that you consider us a gang,

because... don't think it immodest, but,

up til now, we've provided the State

with 50,000 of our own bred and grown sheep.

30 of us ate the sheep.

Can there be a crime with 30 men – shepherds, cattlemen, mowers,

for you to be calling me a thief?

That these sheep were someone else's was known to only four of you.

Our Revaz isn't complaining.

You've threatened your Revaz.

Put 100 policemen around Revaz and ask him if we've threatened him.

Then you've bribed him.

Our bribe would've been 1000 rubles or so.

Give him 100,000 and ask if we've bribed him then.

He won't confirm it, because you're neighbours, or relatives,

and he feels sorry for your families.

Which means, he's our Revaz.

Yes, he's your Revaz. That's why he won't confirm it.

We ate our Revaz's sheep, not yours.

You've been caught stealing the sheep of your Revaz.

If we don't condemn you now,

you'll commit a bigger crime next, and...

you probably won't get caught for that either.

That's why it's necessary to isolate you now.

Yes.

Isolate me please.

Because you get a shower every ten days in jail.

You get fed three times a day, given books and newspapers.

You don't get to tell us what your sentence is.

Answer. Do you plead guilty?

Yes.

Jail me.

The court has decided to sentence you...

to be shot.

Why?

Because...

Our State pays the doctor very little,

pays the shepherd very little,

pays little to everyone...

so that it can use the savings to turn this place into a proper country.

But you steal those savings,

like mice stealing seeds.

Like a fox stealing a hen.

Is it raining?

It'll be like this for 15 days...

The hay will be ruined.

The cattle won't see good grass this winter.

Damn it, if only one could be a judge and take care of our country...

I'd build communism in two days and show it to the world.

It was wrong not to send that kid to study law...

I sent her to the pedagogical institute.

Rain is good for the plants, why would the grass be spoiled?

Harvested hay, harvested!

Can hay be spoiled?

It rots.

We harvest it rotten, to use as cattle feed,

then the animals don't eat this hay. The animal loses weight, breaks down.

- Breaks down... - Yeah...

No, why does it break down? Long live the State.

The Soviet Union is big. It's raining here, but it's sunny in Siberia, in Ukraine.

Ishkhan, Zaven, me... 40 people.

We yoke 40 carts, go down to the station,

and tell the State, "we're your soldiers, give us some food for our herd."

And it gives it to us!

They say, it's OK. Take the feed, and next year,

during the hay harvest, you'll give back wood.

It's shameful. You go begging, bowing your head.

It's not shameful...

Shame is nothing. I'm just sorry for the State.

It loads up wagons from Siberia, spends millions,

and brings it to the station saying, "dear Antaramej, here, take this, eat."

Do you think that's right?

Driving sheep to the city like this?

First off, we're not sheep sellers. The State is the sheep buyer.

We're sheep keepers. We shouldn't go to the State

asking "will you buy these sheep?"

The State should come to us and ask for the sheep.

Also, it should come to our door with 100 trucks,

put the sheep in cars and get them to the slaughterhouse in an half and hour.

It's 830 sheep...

...a 70 km road takes two days...

Each sheep will lose at least two kilos during those two days.

830 times 2 makes 1660 kg...

1600 kg of lost meat.

1600 divided by 20,

makes 80 sheep. If someone hands the State that many more sheep,

the State labels him a hero.

They print his picture in the Moscow papers and award him 1000 rubles on top.

But when 1600 kg of meat is lost in front of our eyes, nobody is blamed for it.

Meanwhile...

there should've been a court case.

What a case you've made up!

Found a case to open!

Your situation is good...

You...

I'm late three days with this assignment,

"Why are you late?", they'll ask.

"I was bringing the offenders down from the mountains."

"On foot..."

"Why were you bringing them on foot?"

"They were delivering their sheep for procurement, so I came along."

"The thieves were delivering the sheep to the slaughterhouse?"

"Yes!"

"They were..."

"What kind of thieves deliver the reserve sheep?"

They may not even put you on trial...

...and I'll be the culprit.

"Where are those sheep from...?"

"Whose sheep are they?"

From Anaramej village...!

"Is Avag with you?"

They're the shepherds from Tsaghkashat.

Yes, yes!

"Come, let's eat."

"Let's eat barbecue...!"

Wait till we send down what we've eaten, then we can...

Thank you! We've got business. We're in a hurry!

"What business?"

"What business?"

We've got to be in court... In court!

"What? What?"

In court! The court!

"What for?"

"What for?"

We butchered some sheep... We butchered some sheep...

"What? What?"

We've stolen... we've stolen...!

Theft... theft...

Lieutenant – Sos Sargsyan

Ishkhan – Mher Mkrtchyan Pavle – Khoren Abrahamyan

Avag – Azat Sherents Zaven – ArmenAyvazyan

Revaz – Artavazd Peleshyan

Screenplay by Hrant Matevosyan

Directed by Henrik Malyan

Cinematographer – Karen Mesyan

Production manager – R. Martirosyan

Art department – S. Andranikyan, M. Arakelyan

Composer – Tigran Mansuryan Sound – Karen Kurdyan

Costume design – G. Isayan Make-up – Kh. Zalyan

Editing – A. Melkonyan

Production head – Vahagn Badalyan

English translation and subtitles by Vigen Galstyan

© National Cinema Centre of Armenia 2022

The End