Original subtitles

presents

a film by Jan Jakub Kolski

LEGACY OF STEEL

Starring

Written and Directed by

Forgive me Honorka, I spent 50 years with you, and only 50 days with her.

So I miss her more.

Brzozka, did you have to get hit by a Bolshevik's bullet?

Maybe we'd have been together until now.

But now?

I'm on my way to meet you. I'm ready.

You don't even know how ready I am.

Dad!

Dad?

Who's there?

Me...

''Daddy!'' Aren't you embarrassed, calling me like a little kid?

You should have your own rug rats calling you ''daddy''.

What's taking you so long?

When you ask a question...

Well?

This is a plum. Let's compare it to your apples.

A plum! It's as big as the apples. How does it taste?

Like a pear, unfortunately. I crossed it with a pear.

I just wanted the pear's size, but look what happened.

Compare it to my apples? I can tell it's smaller.

Keep working son, until you get

a plum that tastes like a plum, and as big as my apples.

- Lysenko was a hard worker. - Stop it.

Lysenko was a tall tale. I have my own methods.

- Was Miczurin a tall tale too? - Yes.

- He was a young widower. - What happened to his wife?

Apparently she fell off a strawberry.

Look Jakub, where's the justice?

Janek's educated, he can count, but doesn't have time to get married.

And you go to the latrine every morning and produce such fruit!

- What brings you here? - It's Saturday.

- So? - Saturday, Jakub!

Shit! Saturday! Why didn't you say so.

- There's interference. - So what?

It needs to warm up.

It'll clear up in a moment, because their waves get softer in the heat.

What waves?

What's wrong with you, Ignatko? The waves.

You know that radio works on waves.

On waves. Like Jakub says.

- Kotek, were you in the Legions? - I was.

What did you get from the Commander

for your bravery?

I got 5 hectares of forest.

- What'd you do with it? - I boozed it away.

- And you, Ignatko, in the Legions? - I was.

- What'd you get for bravery? - The commander gave me a sawmill.

- What'd you do with it? - I boozed it away.

And you...

You know, I got a liquor store. I also boozed it away.

Kotek, Ignatko, and you. We all boozed it away.

Look here, you fools! I still have mine!

And you said that I got the worse deal.

Oh yeah? What is it?

You'll bury me with it.

- It's beautiful. - From the thickest pine.

- The one I picked out? - Yes.

- Cut evenly 1.5 inches. - 0.5'' was planed off...

I still know how to subtract.

Sawn-timber, seasoned.

Beautiful wood.

What a smell! Like the forest.

Jakub, aren't you hurrying this?

I'm the oldest among us.

We should go in order.

Brzozka visited me at night, she called me.

That means it's time.

I'll go next. I'm second in line.

Second? No way! I'm second.

- What year are you? - 1902

- What month? - February.

You're second; I'm third.

Maybe you should wait until spring?

And have Janek's plum wine all winter...

It didn't work. His plums taste like pears.

Pear wine is good too.

You like anything.

Bronia told me that you even drank paint thinner.

Bronia said that? Paint thinner? What a bitch!

She's mad that I don't want her anymore.

I'll knock that bitch's teeth in. Paint thinner!

I've never drunk paint thinner.

Ignatko, vouch for me. For God's sake!

Never, vouch for me!

I swear that Kotek never drank paint thinner.

See there?

When you'll get there, Jakub, you know, there...

and you see our commander,

Will you tell him that Kotek never drank paint thinner.

And that Bronia is a bitch who needs a few teeth knocked out.

What are you doing, daddy?

I'm jamming Radio Free Europe.

Why?

What do you know? In summer, there's less jamming.

Their waves get soft from the heat.

I'm so used to it, I can't understand it without jamming.

After you make your big plum, what then?

Then?

I'll harden off saplings to cold and they'll grow at the North Pole.

Plums for Eskimos.

There's an international mission.

I don't care for politics.

They'll take your Radio Free Europe away one day.

What a hero! But you can't get a woman.

- Have you fed Kasztanka? - You're asking for the third time.

Answer your father! Mathematician!

Botanist. Yes, she's fed.

But I haven't been a bad father, have I?

What's gotten into you?

When a man is 73, he's got questions.

Well?

You know.

You worked for me, helped educate me.

I cooked, I did the laundry, I argued with your teachers.

Tell me the truth.

Why are you summing up your life? What's suddenly happened?

Nothing sudden about it. At 74, it's time to sum it up.

Brzozka.

Everything seems set, but I don't know how to find you.

Go up, I know. But once I get there?

What street? What house number? I don't know.

Can you wait for me at the gates?

What's up, chum? Are you going to cry?

Who are you?

Me?

No one.

A sergeant from that war.

Do you remember me?

No.

The Russian whose life you spared

in 1920?

You don't remember?

- It's you? - Yes.

You bawled for your mother and wife, so I spared you my sword.

Who killed you?

That other one, Kotek.

He killed me with a sword. But first he burned me.

With fire? The son of a bitch! He should really get it.

It's too late now, I've forgotten all about it.

It's been 50 years.

Should I help you up?

Is that why you came?

I see that you're struggling, hurting the horse.

So I came to help you up.

Get on my back...

Oh, darn.

Why are you getting dirty? You need to fly higher.

- I'm just learning. - Do it somewhere else.

And you are probably Jakub from Betkow.

That's me.

Why are you looking around like that?

- I'm confused. - Confused?

My whole life, I've seen farms in Poland, Germany, and Russia.

I wanted heaven to be a city. But it's a farm.

- This is the farmers' heaven. - What do you mean?

For farmers, that's all. City heaven is on the other side.

Who's at that gate?

That's me.

Only God is three in one.

Are you coming in or not?

I'm coming in.

You can't bring in the sword.

What if I meet the Commander without my sword?

Are you joking?

Jakub Szewczyk. Cavalryman. Two Battle Crosses.

I quartered the enemy, and you say I can't bring my sword?

Then I'd rather not enter.

Jakub, regulations. No swords allowed.

And you can't go back either.

Where would you go? To Betkow?

Kotek, Ignatko, and Gniewek are hitching up the wagon,

and putting on their good suits,

to fetch your corpse from the field.

What's there to go back to?

They don't want you in heaven? Damn their bureaucracy!

Come join us. Forget them.

It's warm where we are. The company's good.

Can I bring my sword?

Sure, bring whatever you like. And there's no distinction

between country and city,

intellectuals, farmers, we're all together.

Democracy.

Grandpa can bring his sword. What's the difference?

I can't. I have a document, it says...

Corporal Jakub Szewczyk...

At ease. What's the fuss?

They don't want to let me in with my sword.

Why do you have it?

But, commander, for the Russian colonel...

Yes.

But why do you have it here?

Don't you remember the oath?

''This honored sword, a tradition

will be passed on

to my grandson, I swear.''

Do you have a grandson?

No.

A son at least?

Yes.

Then where's the grandson?

He doesn't want to marry.

Doesn't want to?

Make him.

Find him a woman, take her to his bedroom.

Teach him how to do it.

- They let your sword in? - I threatened I'd go to hell.

- What about your grandsons? - We're talking about yours.

- Do you remember the oath? - Yes sir.

About face! Forward march!

Try to get a grandson and give him the sword.

Commander...

What else?

Brzozka, I mean Aneczka, she's waiting for me.

- Has she been waiting long? - Over 50 years.

Then she'll wait a little longer. Forward march!

But, we can't... he's on the list.

Cross him off.

Cross him off?

Yes, cross him off.

Kasztanka, I didn't get a chance to tell the commander that my mare

is a step-granddaughter of the commander's mare.

Now I have to explain myself to Brzozka.

What will I tell her?

What can I tell you?

First, I'm scared, because you're so young.

If I wasn't scared, I would have fought the commander.

And second, and order's an order.

Where are you going so early?

To get you, from the field.

What if I changed my mind?

That's dumb, Jakub.

But if I did?

Then we'll have to go back. The funeral was going to be so nice.

So nice, I bought a new suit and new shoes.

And the casket was so nice.

The old man got scared.

Supposedly brave, got medals in the war, but got scared of death.

Maybe the fear is still in his pants.

Marusik...

- Is this your bike? - Yeah.

Then get off it.

I'm off.

- Is this your rake? - Yeah, I just bought it.

Give it to me.

I was only joking.

I was only joking too. Otherwise I'd have used my sword.

And you fools?

Turn around!

Well then!

There won't be a funeral.

Are you sure our commander caught the paint thinner conversation?

I only drank a sip. A thimbleful.

Yes.

He said Kotek had to pull down his pants.

Yes.

If the Commander said so, it must be important.

Take this, you swine, for the Russian sergeant you burned.

I spared him, and you... damn you.

Sit with us, Kotek. Don't stand over us.

I'll stand. I've sat enough.

Sit down, there's an important issue, you can't think standing up.

I'll stand.

Sit down!

Janek has to have a son, my grandson,

so I can pass on my sword

and die in peace.

He needs a woman.

Bronia isn't too old...

Are you nuts?

We've all had Bronia, along with half of the village.

You'd like that kind of grandson for Jakub?

She has to

have wide hips, strong as a mare.

Mine?

Idiot!

No, the commander's.

The dairy needs to be ample, to feed well

A big dairy... I'm talking about big breasts.

Teeth are important.

A slim fetlock, a nicely arched back.

A tall gait, delicate nostrils, that can feel out the wind.

A pretty color, a high rump, a silky mane and tail,

Small hooves, well shod.

to ring out on the steppe.

And in the villages, girls with lips like blueberries,

and braids like wheat sheaves...

Barns full of fresh hay and a moon in the sky.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello?

Hello.

Miss Marianna!

- Class over? - Yes, we're out early today.

Your wonders are still bearing. Do they tolerate the cold?

Not too well.

You see this?

They're fine to 0 degrees, then they fall off.

Watch out, the stem!

They don't support the weight. I'm working on it.

It's a big one!

The plum?

No, the bump on my head.

The plum too.

Be careful.

Miczurin's wife didn't watch out and she fell...

off of a strawberry.

- What happened to her? - A few scrapes and bruises.

I'm here with a proposal.

Off a strawberry?!

With a proposal?

I would like to bring my students on a field trip to your orchard.

Please do. I don't have any secrets.

And something else, but please don't laugh.

I won't.

I'm also interested in botany. I'm an amateur, of course.

My work is similar to yours, but with vegetables.

Very interesting. What do you have?

What a bean!

You know what happened

- to Lysenko's wife? - Miczurin's.

I heard she got bruised up. I'll be off now.

She's not bad.

A little narrow in the hips.

- She's nice. - The dairy's weak.

- What's weak? - The whole deal.

But the bean's first rate.

Really something.

- Jamming? - Yes.

And the hen?

She began to listen along.

To the radio?

You really ask them...

Well then you ask. I see you want to.

What good are your giant fruit?

Can't you imagine?

No, I can't. I try and try, but nothing comes.

Imagine that it's Monday

and its time to go to market.

Ok, it's Monday, and I'm going to market.

You drive up to the orchard.

Load your cart, and off to market.

Get out of here, you fool.

Did they only teach you how to make fruit at the University?

No.

So you know how to breed animals.

For example insects?

A little.

Thank God!

So you'd know how to do it yourself.

What?

To breed yourself with a female of the same species.

Here we go again...

It's time to find a woman,

not cross-pollinate pears with plums!

The commander told me!

The commander...

Of the fire brigade.

What's he meddling in my business?

Don't yell.

I think I'll take away your Radio Free Europe.

Look, what bravery! Is Kasztanka fed?

That's the third time you've asked.

Is she fed?

Fourth.

Answer me, botanist!

Mathema...Fuck, I mean botanist. She's fed.

You said, ''fuck.''

I'm sorry.

Don't be. I'm not mad.

That ''fuck'' was nice to hear.

Did you do the reading?

Open your books to page 10,

and we'll read the chapter about

single cell organisms.

Hello.

Hello.

Just dropping by?

I was just passing by.

- Did you want to confirm? - That's right.

About the field trip.

- Do you remember? - Yes.

Very good.

- This type of lesson is... - An important supplement.

Very important.

Yes.

Thank you.

Asking someone to dance is easy, so I won't say anything.

It's important to listen to the drummer, he sets the beat.

In dance and in march.

The accordion makes the melody.

To dance, you stand like this.

What are you trying to teach us? Dance, march, accordion...

They have electric guitars.

They plug them into an outlet and...

If that's the dance, I'm not going. I'm no electrician.

Kotek knows the most, he'll go first.

Then Ignatko, Gniewisz, and me.

Remember -dairy , hips, teeth, and a general usefulness.

- Should we talk to her? - What for?

Janek is educated, we have to check that she's not totally dumb.

We're not looking for a brain for Janek, we're looking for...

I need something for courage...

I'll go. Just give me some of the conspiracy funding.

- What's up with Iwan? - Who's that?

Her dance partner, a blacksmith, he can lift a cart with one hand.

I heard he carried a horse onto a roof.

I've got the courage. I'm going to punch Iwan.

Don't you dare! No fights, or the conspiracy will fail.

Kotek...

Brzozka!

Kisses!

What about the jamming?

There won't be any today.

Why?

Because I've got internal jamming.

New method?

An old one, son. Old as time.

I heard the singing.

Singing?

Who was singing at 4:00 am?

How do you know what time it was?

You see...it woke me up too.

Let's go for a hair of the dog.

I forgot how difficult conspiracy was.

I won't say a thing.

Report.

She's smart.

When she squeezed me...

- A strong lady. - Suitable.

I like her too. Now, phase two:

Surveillance and putting the enemy out of action.

Put her out of action?

You fool! She's the ally. I'm talking about Iwan.

All right then.

He already got a little.

That was the opening shot. Now, its time for real struggle.

My little calf!

The third time, at the same time. Good for us.

- Did you make the fruit? - Yes.

- Big? - Yes.

Have you completely lost your mind? Who'll believe these are real?

You said big ones.

Well, sure, but Janek has to think they're real.

- They seemed too big to me. - Don't twist things around.

Who was telling us about

the strawberry?

Lysenki's wife fell off of it.

Miczurin's...

If she fell off a fruit, it had to be big.

I used that as a guide.

Well, why not? A strawberry, a pumpkin carriage,

astronauts in carrots, and Twardowski on a croissant...

with butter...

- Yeah, with butter. - About face!

I want new fruit. Don't use butter, use your heads!

Wait for me...

Hurry up!

I'm going to school.

We've still got the bike.

Cabbage and goat.

No way, the goat will eat the cabbage.

The wolf and cabbage.

Then he'll catch the leader.

So, it's the leader and the goat.

Goat and leader?

That's horrible!

Thank God!

Wayte.

You see how he spelled that?

Yeah, with an ''e'' on the end.

Exactly.

Karefull.

I can't stand it! He wrote it with a double ''l''!

Is that wrong?

What's up, son?

Why so sweet?

I don't know, just feeling tenderhearted.

I looked at your mom's picture, and at...

What are you doing?

The school's having a field trip, so I'm pruning.

I see you pruned your hair, too. And a tie...

My orchard and I are a pair.

We have to make a good impression.

Better show them something else.

What?

A plum, pear and apple growing on the same tree.

- And large too. - That's right.

- Only Lysenko could do that. - Don't be so sure.

I was walking by Hanka Somitowa's house today

and you know what I saw?

A flood, I bet and you ran in to save her.

- And what did I see? - Go on, tell me.

- I saw a fruit tree. - That is unusual.

Let me finish!

I see a fruit tree and on it a plum, a pear and an apple.

What could that mean?

Only that you hadn't sobered up after last night's party.

People have told me about it.

Go see for yourself, since you're such a know-it-all.

A goat can't go with cabbage, because, you know...

And a goat together with a leader also is no good

because they call the leader's son, ''Be-e-e-ently''.

Understand?

No.

You're no star in these matters.

- Did I hurt your feelings? - Yes, you did.

The fatherland wanted my sword, and my blood

not orthometry.

- Geometry. - Geography.

Jakub, Janek, look! Look, it's a miracle!

- I was walking by today... - It wasn't you, daddy?

I didn't have time to finish, it was Kotek and I together.

Together? And nothing surprised you?

What do you mean? These fruit surprised us.

Because they're on a cherry tree?

Cherry tree?

Well, I'll be! A cherry tree!

You see? I said you'd be surprised.

I don't know what this circus is. That a rural person...

I'm a soldier, a cavalryman, not an orchardist.

Well, if it isn't the dancers.

Hello, I thought Iwan was beating up someone again.

Ah, and Janek is here too.

What brings you here?

Just passing by.

But I'll be going now.

A beautiful man, that son of yours.

Worth marrying him off.

Truer words were never said.

If only it were so simple!

Isn't it? A woman has her ways.

If he made it to my bedroom, he's never return to his apples.

He'd prefer mine.

A model of the orchard. My own idea.

That's how I'll plant the trees.

Number 1 apple crate. Actual dimensions.

Microscope.

Where are the children?

I told them to count the trees,

I mean the fruit.

There's a prize for the best answer.

- You know how many there are? - No, but it works.

Not pedagogic, but it works.

Maybe...

as part of the botany lesson, you'd like a sip of my plum wine?

It's good.

Normally, I eschew alcohol, but this tastes so good...

I also try to avoid it.

And not only alcohol. You're never seen with anyone.

Are you seen with someone?

Me?

I haven't had time thus far.

What if I asked you out for a walk, or

to the cinema?

Why not?

Around 6:00 pm, I finished lessons and went to take a bath.

I saw him looking at me through the window.

So I threw a bean and the windowpane shattered.

And then with green peas.

I beaned him so hard, I knocked him over.

Hello.

Perhaps I'll be going, then.

But don't forget...

we have a date.

What a woman!

Mendelewski, from the paper.

I was supposed to be here at noon, but the busses...

I guess this isn't a good time? You're not feeling your best.

No...Yes!

Why don't you try my plum wine.

You can sleep here, and I'll sleep at my daddy's house.

We'll talk tomorrow.

Fine, thank you.

Hot damn!

What if he doesn't come?

He'll come.

Everything's worked out. Mathematically.

What if Iwan won't allow us to put him out of commission?

Give me something for courage, and I'll jump on his back again.

The conspiracy fund's exhausted.

I saw the mailman yesterday. The pension check's coming.

Tomorrow.

I told you...

Mathematically.

Hey geezers.

Oh geezers!

Don't try this game with me.

Not twice!

- The fool. - One ''l'' or two?

I can't watch.

Should I hit him?

Go ahead. We've got to fix him up.

Remember by those mud huts? I caught that little darkie.

She was hot. What was her name?

Lidka.

How do you know?

Because I had her too. Raven hair...

She was amorous.

No she wasn't.

Kotek, you too?

I didn't want her to waste away, even though she wasn't amorous.

Not you, right Jakub?

Jakub, no way!

He was then writing poems to his delicate one

killed by a stray bullet...

What do you want?

When you ask a question...

Where were you last night?

Asleep, upstairs. The reporter slept in my bed.

- What reporter? - From the newspaper.

We gave the wrong guy a good time.

In that case, I could've...

What do we do?

Untie Iwan.

Are going to lie there?

Sure am.

For long?

As long as I have to.

You'll get lumbago.

You can get kidney stones.

And die.

Do you like the coffin?

It looks great.

- Does it fit you? - Fits like a glove.

Fits like shit! Did you include the boots?

Yes.

So why do my legs stick out?

I don't know.

Maybe you've grown.

That's right. Maybe you've grown.

It happens just before death.

The hell I've grown! You didn't measure the boots.

What luck the commander didn't let me in.

I'd have been a laughingstock! I'm ashamed of this coffin!

I want it fixed. 10 centimeters longer.

What about Janek? Are we giving up?

Why give up?

We lost the battle, but the war goes on.

We lived so close for two years.

And it took such an accident

for us to meet.

- Accident? - Wasn't it?

Silly, I came up with that field trip idea on purpose.

Really?

Why didn't you do it earlier?

Earlier...

I was scared.

And...er...

Brzozka, my one and only. Is it you?

You say you love me, but nothing's changed.

What's wrong? You hit me not long ago.

I can't wait any longer.

I miss you.

If I weren't already dead, I'd have died of longing for you.

It's high time you made up your mind.

Do something so I won't have to wait any longer.

Do something.

Will you, Jakub?

Yes, I will.

I'll do it, Brzozka.

Take cover!

I'm still a good shot.

You're shooting at us?

You bet, this war isn't about Hanka, now it's about Marianne!

I'll shoot at everyone.

At me too?

What makes you any better?

Try it!

He did!

What's gotten into you? A forced marriage; she's unsuitable.

That's right, and she's suitable. Janek likes her beans.

- What? - Beans.

Is that enough to get married?

It's a good start.

What do you want from us?

Nothing. I need Janek.

Daddy, what are you doing?

Marrying you off.

Swear you'll marry her, or I'll shoot you!

- What about her? - She's already sworn.

- You swore an oath? - With a gun to my head.

What if there hadn't been a gun?

But there was.

Do you love me?

Do you love me?

Yes.

Yes, I love you.

Now...

Now?

Not yet.

Relax daddy, let's do it like men.

Now what?

The oath said to a grandson. I can't attach a weenie.

- What about Brzozka? - Yes, Brzozka.

Oh, Brzozka...

Who knows what she'll do.

Maybe she'll find another.

That sergeant gave her the eye. He used to be handsome.

Jakub!...with the enemy? She's not like that; she'll wait.

What if she doesn't?

Brzozka...

will you wait?

Translated by Olga Chwa

English subtitles Adam Szostak