Original subtitles

Our ancestors,

who traveled this land,

carved the names of Talmudic treatises on the trees

that they had just learned.

Deep in the forest lies a path that leads to

Jerusalem.

In ancient times,

there lived a goat that knew the way.

But people forgot everything.

There is a legend of a man who lived here,

who walked into the woods and lit a fire,

uttered certain words,

and could speak with God.

His son knew the place and how to light a fire,

but forgot the words.

His grandson only knew the place but not how to

light a fire.

And finally,

the descendant knew nothing at all.

Only what was exactly so.

And the knowledge of this.

That was enough.

Him?

What is it,

are you worried?

Ohhh,

no.

Never mind,

never mind.

Don't mind.

Listen,

do you,

if you're not ready,

nothing will happen with me.

You can wait in the woods.

What?

No,

I have to see them,

talk to them.

Let's go to the village.

There will be no back road.

And it's waiting.

Don't worry.

I will give my life for her.

I will definitely give my life for you.

I know.

Well?

Dem'

yan!

Thank you for being with me.

Let him want for the last time.

For the last time?

For the last time?

What do you mean by the last time,

Miller?

What?

What do you mean by the last time,

Miller?

This is the beginning of a new life,

do you hear me?

Go,

meet your father,

finally talk to him,

as they will tell him.

Everything will be fine,

don't worry.

I will go to Schneider.

Don't forget to breathe.

The teacher asked us what is common to all things

on earth and in the sky?

Is this life?

Wrong.

Do you think this is life?

Do you think Stones live?

You are too dumb to understand this.

Then tell us,

if you are so smart,

should we give the teacher the answer by Saturday?

We need an answer or he will get angry.

Teacher!

What the hell are you doing?

It's time for class.

Quick!

Let's go!

Amen.

Amen!

Here it is.

me?

What?

What do all things on earth and in the sky have

in common?

Here it is.

me.

Oh,

Mendele!

If you are here to cause trouble,

then you need to leave.

Why are you here at all?

How did I die of heat in this place?

This damn cesspool.

This prevented us from opening windows in the

summer because we shoved it in here to keep the

cold out in winter.

Mendel!

What's the life of an artist like?

You're so beautiful.

Your mother was proud of you.

She was proud?

You must be joking.

He abandoned his father.

Poor Shlome.

What a shame!

He abandoned his father.

Leave him alone,

damn it.

Go.

And kiss me,

Mendel.

So,

you found yourself a little Shiksa in Kyiv.

Don't kidnap our Yuna.

She's getting married to a poor man in four days.

And he's just as pathetic.

Honest lad.

Not one of those who leave the shtetl for good.

It's too late for you,

Mendel.

Enough,

stop it!

I see you didn't pick up many things.

Are you staying or going?

We miss you,

Mendele.

I would like to show you Kyiv.

Especially the film studio where I work.

What is a studio?

Imagine a rebuilt temple.

Even better than a temple.

Better than a temple?

You're making fun of '

going,

Mendele?

You know we don't have a penny to leave from

here.

That's why we live here.

Mendele!

Right now in America,

there are 10 million unemployed.

And they all know that if they drop dead digging

through the garbage,

it's all for the bourgeoisie and the profits of

important industry.

Take aim,

Soviets.

They brainwash us all day long.

And I find it interesting what they're saying.

Oy vey,

then grab the red scarf,

that's the deal.

Why not?

I would go with Mendel.

You're a communist,

aren't you?

Not exactly.

Anyway,

not today.

Well,

Mendel,

we need to go.

Stay on the porch.

We're still happy to see you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for watching!

Mendel!

Mendel!

Mendel!

Mendel,

you're very lucky.

Kyiv,

modern world,

cinema.

You will be very happy.

Yes,

you will become a great man,

a cinema mechanic of the army brigade.

It's not like playing for you.

I'm nothing without my musketeers.

If only you could come with me.

Kibo,

think about your mother.

She would want this.

And soon we will be together.

And meanwhile,

show the world what happens when our genius takes

on cinema.

And don't say genius.

Genius.

Genius from the village.

You know,

Mendel,

she is telling the truth.

You have to take that road.

And us too.

Whether one or two villains,

my father will manage without me.

Believe in yourself.

You will succeed.

You're just delaying us.

I will come back myself to take you.

You see,

I'm serious.

But what about us?

You know,

I can't leave my mom alone right now with that p

' yanula.

It's okay,

we'll manage.

The brother will return from the army soon.

He will replace me.

Take care,

comrade.

The train won't wait any longer.

Goodbye.

My love.

Let's go.

Wait,

wait.

It's for you.

It's not something big.

But it will make you think of me.

We have the same dreams,

right?

Be careful.

This can bring trouble.

Get going,

don't forget.

See you soon.

He made his choice.

He broke all ties.

Hoslo prayed.

Unlike others,

he made the right choice.

But do you also want to go?

You know that's impossible?

You embarrass us all.

But don't worry.

Let's just forget about it.

We must trust each other.

Stop pretending,

it's obvious.

You're just jealous.

You're mistaken.

I like this guy.

And you?

What about me?

You're reader.

But I respect,

Tanner.

Are you serious?

Yes.

I knew you were as restless as foliage.

But it's not true.

This is Dancing Doe,

historical,

and had a fresh tantrum.

No,

it's you,

naive You know what?

I would never marry such a Hasid like you Irzvoni

- obscurantists,

swindlers,

wheeler-dealers You always looked down on my dad

Because he's not the kind of Hasid you are But

you'll never reach his level of knowledge Only

Mendel is equal to him Mendel understood the beauty

of our sect before falling in love with you Maybe

you drove him crazy You became his obsession He

was always in love with me,

and I with him And you always made fun of him

And?

Instead of dreaming of becoming a rabbi You should

have stayed with me.

A candle,

like your father,

soothe his soul.

Maybe at least I serve my people.

You're all alone.

He won't come back.

I'm very sorry for you.

Who else could it be?

Tarasik,

there you are,

you damn Kyivan.

How's things going over there?

And you?

And you?

You seem a bit agitated.

I need to find carpenters for the construction work

with the Soviet officer.

But no one wants to work for the Soviets,

especially the religious ones.

I told your uncle Vinok that times have changed.

The old Polish lords are gone,

and we have new ones now.

Besides,

Soviets pay with goods,

and it helps sustain the shtetl.

What did Medyachko answer you?

And can't he help in any way?

Tell me,

where is he?

But they all seem to have lost their minds there.

They have only one thing on their minds.

Just tell me,

where is Medyachko?

He's hovering around with bitterness,

near his workshop.

Mendel's council do not joke.

It is better not to refuse them,

trouble may come.

Don't worry.

Alright,

see you!

May God protect you.

Thank you.

Take care of your son's health

.

What are you doing,

scoundrel?

Have you seen your wife's

face?

Glad to see you,

Dem'yane.

.

I will keep you in mind too,

Voli.

How did her two mothers do?

How's mom?

Your past,

Mr.

Thank you.

What's up with you?

Is this for her?

Yes?

My sister is fetching firewood.

Dark-browed Dem'yane awaits,

awaits!

Have you seen Mendel?

Mendel in a state?

Stop jesting?

You're the one jesting.

I don't know what you're talking about.

He arrived today.

He will go to him.

I'm sure he will be happy.

Next time,

tell your sister to send a man for clothes.

He's in the army.

He doesn't change the topic.

I was never called up.

You neither?

Bastard.

Hope to see you at my wedding.

Let's have a drink.

Is that you,

Mendel?

Dad?

I've been waiting two years to see you again.

I feel like I'm looking at your mother.

It's a godsend.

You finally decided to come back home.

I just came to see you.

Sorry,

Dad,

I wanted to come earlier.

Mendel,

my son,

I'm too old not to tell you what I never said.

You already know this,

but your mother,

reassure her soul,

she didn't love me.

She,

like you,

wanted to leave the shtetl.

She dreamed about America.

She would have been proud of you.

Do you remember how she used to take you for

walks on Sabbath and holidays?

I thought you'd be better off dedicating yourself

to religious texts,

like the Torah,

Talmud,

it was all so easy for you.

You know I'm your mom.

Dad,

I don't want to talk about mom.

Of course,

you're here to talk about mom.

I'm your father,

I know why you came.

What kind of father would I be if I couldn't read

my son?

Don't judge me,

dad.

You don't even know what I do.

You know magic is forbidden for us,

right?

Magic?

Dad,

I don't know anything.

You are my guide.

You're a communist,

and that's worse.

Be careful.

I'm a film director.

A film director?

Yes,

a film director.

Do you know what every sorcerer said?

Isaiah said to the courtesan,

forgotten by all,

take your harp,

walk around the village,

learn to play well.

The sorcerer said,

direct yourself on the right path,

and music will come to you.

Tattoo,

I am not in music.

I will never be a slave.

To each his own,

but youth.

And what about youth?

She is beautiful.

She still leads me.

When I think Folia is going to marry her,

it's too late.

What do you plan to do?

Go,

be like your mother.

Do you think freedom means breaking rules and laws.

But these laws have freed us from barbarism.

Mendel,

you are sensitive and intelligent.

Explain what prevents you from studying Torah?

It suits your qualities so well.

Why did you become so worthless?

I have nothing against Torah,

Dad.

I just don't want to dedicate my life to one

story.

I want to tell other stories.

Just one story?

For Torah,

there are as many readings as there are readers in

each generation.

Do you think Thor is just a myth,

made up for entertainment?

No.

You're twisting my words.

It's impossible to talk to you.

You Hasidim listen to no one.

I wonder,

do you listen to the Rebbe?

The Rebbe is no longer as he once was.

His convictions no longer make sense.

Hunger consumes him alive.

He's eaten alive by it.

He never hesitated for a second before giving his

hand to his daughter Foylie,

this son of a merchant.

He doesn't have a penny.

The rabbi is insane.

And my son is leaving me to become a gentile

magician.

A Gentile?

I am still a Jew.

Mendel,

I beg you,

stop causing me suffering.

Remember who you are,

what you are.

Don't go!

Tetl forgets who he is.

And what's happening around him.

People here live in poverty and fear.

In their bellies.

It's calm here now.

And the villagers are not causing trouble.

But where will the next trouble come from?

Dad,

we need to lift our heads from the books.

If you think we here in the shtetl are only blind

and miserable,

well,

my boy,

occupy yourself with your movie stories.

You will not make a complete person out of

yourself.

If you really want to help me,

please give up your plans.

I'm just like Mom.

I never give up on anything.

I miss her so much.

She would know exactly what to say to you.

She probably wouldn't say anything.

She would just smile.

But you will never understand,

because you never knew how to smile.

So,

are you all abandoning me?

One by one?

Mendel,

turn around!

As always here,

Menakhem?

Mendeliuk!

Who are you playing with?

Elijah the Prophet.

Got it.

No one else plays with me since you left.

Do you know how they treat me there?

Not Jews,

Jews.

No one loves me.

They say I'm possessed.

Do you know how they treat me there?

They just didn't appreciate me for serving the

Emperor during the Great War.

And now these bloody kids throw stones at me.

When you were a child,

people pitied me,

protected me.

Now I must surely be lacking.

I beg for a bowl of soup while the children study

at the heder.

Come on,

God!

Play!

I noticed Dem '

yana.

Don't even try to convince me that you didn't come

together.

I met him on the way.

What are you thinking,

old fool?

Here!

Why did I leave?

You've always been a bad chess player.

Tim doesn't matter.

I'm very glad to see you today.

Gershon,

stop him!

Gershon!

Someone stole the knife!

Gershon has gone crazy!

It's been a month since he hasn't eaten my meat.

sauce.

At first,

he was sick.

Then he stopped liking it.

Just pretend.

And now even funnier.

No more ritual sacrifices.

He categorically refuses to kill animals.

My husband is a butcher!

No longer wants to be a butcher!

Dirigo!

What's going on,

Gershon?

Say something.

I don't have that damn knife.

Besides,

there's almost nothing left to kill.

We're almost out of animals.

This is a sign that I've killed enough.

What?

After five days

before Foli and Yuni's wedding?

This is sabotage.

No knife,

no meat.

No mea

t,

no wedding.

Without a knife,

all is lost.

You're out of your mind,

Gershon.

Return that knife.

Do you want your boss-m

eat slicer to fire you?

This is no coincidence.

This is a sign of the apocalypse.

Don't listen to this insane gibberish.

Bloody superstitions.

The knife must be on him somewhere.

Let's find this mad gibberer.

Let's find a knife!

Searching for a knife!

Strange things are happening.

What things?

Men disappear from most victims.

Unknown where.

They say Red takes them away.

I even heard that a few days ago one of them

disappeared.

He - a village of non-people.

During the night all Jews gathered and left.

And since then,

no one has seen them again.

Even Polish peasants are taken away.

Even Poles.

I believe that men are disappearing.

They have been recruiting them into the army for

the past few months.

But the whole village?

Someone sold you the Eiffel Tower.

No,

I swear.

I was told this by a non-Jewish trapper.

He's been selling furs in villages for three years.

And I believe him.

Something is happening.

I have been dreaming this dream for a long time.

The red sea gathers above us.

Beware!

Shlemiel is coming here!

Be careful,

Menachem.

I heard it all,

old fool.

What's the problem?

Are you persecuting poor helpless people?

Do you think this befits you?

Listen to me,

thief.

You haven't even tried here for an hour,

and everything is already in chaos.

Do you think I will believe this is a coincidence?

You are a hypocrite,

like the evil Hasids.

Mixing with the real ones to corrupt the community.

Come on,

show me your bag.

Brus Yettu And you consider yourself a true Hasid?

When I was told you became a rabbi,

I expected at least more maturity.

I don't care what you were expecting there.

I am responsible for maintaining peace in my

community.

What?

What are you really responsible for?

Keeping Koreans and cattle on a short leash?

Telling people what to think?

We already have real ribis for this.

A poor idiot with his Russian boots and his fancy

job.

Can you imagine how the Soviets are pressing us

here?

Soon they will close the synagogues.

Because of people like you,

we will have nothing.

Neither traditions,

nor culture,

nor language.

We will all speak Russian.

Even you will lose everything.

Maybe this is the end of this world?

You came for the maiden,

didn't you?

Yes.

But it's too late.

She is mine.

I'll drive you away with that knife you stole when

I find it.

We must only live so long.

Why not just kill me without a knife?

That's your specialty,

isn't it?

I would not sink so low.

But just you wait and see.

My dear Nebysh came to visit me.

Without warning.

Oh my God,

you look so much like my sister.

Bless her soul.

Sit.

How are you,

uncle?

You know,

I ran into Taras.

He complained that you are not enough.

Oh,

that damn Taras.

I am very irritated.

It's impossible to maintain the Shtetl with all

these mouths to feed and a small number of

workers.

Torah's words do not smell like honey to me.

They smell of musty paper and poverty.

Our new reality is work.

With the help of the Soviets,

our Shtetl must be transformed into a kibbutz.

Unfortunately,

our youth has retained the mentality of the elders.

Look at these boys here.

Did you swallow your tongues?

Are you still going to the bait-midrash?

So,

are you going?

We wanted to go to Yeshiva,

but you need a higher level there.

When the Soviets started closing spiritual schools

even in the village,

we don't know how long we can continue our

studies.

The school will definitely close if you provoke the

Soviets by refusing their work.

Besides,

you're poor,

you're risking your life.

They worry what people will say.

Do you know that you can follow the Torah and

work?

That's what I do.

For me,

the Torah still tastes like figs and honey.

It accompanies me every day of my life.

The Talmud says you can be both,

not just one or the other.

The path of the Torah is progressive.

Who cares for both truth and children,

and the elderly,

observes all the commandments of the Torah.

Are you Mendel?

The one people still call the youngest talent of

our Scriptures?

Of course,

he is.

He is my nephew Mendel,

idiots.

No wonder you were not made for Yeshiva.

So,

do you want to work or not?

Mazl Tov,

long live Mendel the tsadik!

Well,

we're up ' for it!

What did I say?

Look here!

To top it all off,

you corrupt our youth?

Monster!

Forcing our students to work?

Exploiter!

Mendel is right!

Our youth must work!

Too many women thrive here,

not enough men!

Anyway,

what's your business?

Do you know what?

I have a proposition for you!

What?

Let these poor kids work,

and we will go study with you!

Zmііuko!

You're crazy,

that's forbidden!

What's wrong?

We also want to study the holy Torah!

Enough of tales about food for women!

Teach us Hebrew!

Teach us wisdom!

Money!

Chico!

You have a rotten mind,

just like your mother!

Her dybbuk must have possessed you!

You will end up like her!

An old lunatic who lost her mind!

And then her life!

Everyone knows how she died!

So what?

Afraid of the truth?

His mother ended her life by suicide!

She doesn't belong in our cemetery!

One word!

One word from me and you will cease to exist!

Do you understand?

One word!

So you're the informer,

huh?

Not only are you preventing young workers from

feeding their families,

but you're also insulting a soldier's mother!

Take that!

Consider me merciful!

Next time I will shoot you!

Look!

Here it is!

The influence of religion on a person!

Through it only differences,

discord,

and chaos!

What are you?

Haven't you heard about comrade Stalin?

There will be neither peace nor freedom until we

all unite for our Soviet homeland!

Cradle of world socialism!

Only it still protects you from fascist and

capitalist onslaught!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Hooray!

Mendel,

my dear,

what are you doing?

Mom,

mom,

look!

Why are you playing here?

I don't know,

I like it here.

Mendele,

come play with this snail.

Look what I have for you.

Wow,

it's a rabbit,

rabbit.

Yes.

Oh!

Here.

Now it's yours.

We will take care of him.

Okay,

Mom,

thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you,

Olen,

with love ' you.

The world is opening up to you.

Thanks to the birds' singing.

The bright light of this world.

Can you hear that,

my dear son.

My heart told me,

That you can hear this song.

And at the dawn of the day,

You will grow even older.

Mendele,

Mendele,

Promise me one thing.

Learning is a thought in my mind.

Where will I sit.

I will always be with you.

I will always be relentless.

Wherever I am.

R tease.

Remember.

I will call it Yeon Central forever.

Ole Mama?

Mama?

Mama?

Master of the Universe Well,

we'll agree.

Oh,

well,

we'll agree.

You know what the deal will be.

I'll tell you.

I will give you all my sins.

Oh,

father!

The Egyptians proclaim their God as God.

No,

I say.

The Persians proclaim their God as God.

No,

I say.

My God!

Atheists proclaim that there is no God.

Yes,

I say.

And I.

Mendele!

Mendele!

Blessings!

He's not the one who raises the dead.

What?

How are you?

I could ask the same of you.

What is this?

Probably,

the Soviet garrison was conducting some tests.

You're risking talking to me here.

Everyone can see us.

Forget it.

No,

Mendel.

Nice to see you again.

I think differently than others.

Maybe you're mistaken.

Everyone is convinced that I'm a thief or a

hooligan.

Or crazy like my mother.

Mendel,

you're not crazy.

And Beilke wasn't crazy either.

Then why did you turn away from her and let her

die?

Instead of protecting her.

Just because she was different?

I understand your anger,

Mendel.

But you can't blame our whole community.

Then who should I blame?

Often RESPONSIBLE are those who stand by and do

nothing.

You know,

it's better than me.

And the top of it all.

My father wonders why I don't stay here and be

with him.

But how can I live among these egotists who are

heading towards their own destruction?

I don't know.

I don't know anything.

Sometimes I look at the electricity as it burns.

And I think to myself,

there is no God.

There is only electricity.

But that makes no sense.

Is the light bulb God?

The light bulb gave Moses the commandments on Mount

Sinai.

The light bulb punishes the unclean and rewards the

righteous.

And if I unassembled the light bulb,

is there no more God?

Is all this chaos?

Or is it all chaos?

What lies behind all this?

Here,

right now.

Here,

right now.

Men are going to the army.

At that time,

the old bearded Jews were loudly breaking the laws

of Shabbat.

You are the best of us.

And you fled to Kyiv.

What's going on?

Who needs all this?

Comrade Stalin is undoubtedly a great man.

And Comrade Lenin is the same.

Yes,

they are both truly great men and protect us from

the Germans.

But what do they know about sacred things,

huh?

Maybe they will even become righteous among the

nations?

So what then?

Is Moses,

our teacher,

a piece of linen?

Is David absolutely not that?

Is holy Baal Shem Tov an empty place?

You know,

sometimes there is a flash of lightning in this

world.

And you want to escape to a cool room,

hide behind a big stove,

and put an end to all this.

I know nothing more.

I know nothing more.

Take care of yourself,

Mendel.

So,

Mendel,

I see you're studying Brachot 17.

That's good.

You haven't changed your mind yet?

Yes.

But animals are not obligated to perfect and

correct their flaws.

Humans are obligated to perfect and correct their

flaws.

King Solomon condemns those who say that human

superiority over animals is completely meaningless,

because all this is vanity.

A person must devote their entire life to give it

a higher purpose.

Rabbi Nachman says otherwise.

He says that true saints reduce themselves to

nothing in the sense that man was the last of the

animals but the first in God's design.

Through their actions,

humans can and should achieve a very high level,

while animals will perish.

You are making a serious mistake.

God saved one lonely man and his family,

but he saved all the animals on earth.

You think I'm a fanatic fool,

but you're mistaken,

Mendele.

All species have equal rights to life and require

our respect.

This is the never-ending responsibility towards the

so-called lower species,

as relied upon by the sages of the Talmud.

You are lecturing me as if I am deaf.

Yes,

because I am tired of you.

How long can one listen to the son of a donkey?

?

Oh,

my God.

Now we are on the road,

so let's see if we can remove the standing

standing standing.

Subtitling by Nicolai Winther Comrades,

you need to leave the shtetl in the past.

Our leading working class needs you.

We must build our own country,

the Great Soviet Union.

Do not fear charlatans and fanatics who impose laws

on you that have no place in our new world.

.

The only true way is the path laid out for us by

Comrade Lenin,

which is led by Comrade Stalin.

Only Soviet power will make us citizens,

comrades,

will make us free.

Comrades,

our advanced working class needs you.

Free yourself from Yiddish,

this archaic language.

Shabbat!

Shabbat!

Shabbat!

Shabbat!

No priests,

no rabbis!

It's Shabbat!

Stop,

it's Shabbat!

Shabbat!

Get out of here!

Go!

I have to close,

I have to close the tavern.

Why?

Because you are on their side?

I have nothing to do with this.

It's just time to go home.

My wife and children are waiting for me.

Let us drink so there won't be trouble.

Sabbaths,

it is Sabbaths.

Saturday is Saturday.

We can't do anything.

Who raised you like this?

Shame on you!

Hey,

I know your parents since birth.

Hooligans!

You hooligans!

Are you serving the cause by persecuting an honest

worker?

Your mom made this for you.

You know what we do to independent workers?

Get out before I report on you.

Well?

What scoundrels.

Don't come back here again.

Comrade,

Junior Sergeant Pravy.

It's not nice to treat a working person this way.

You can close today.

Thank your friend.

And soon we will change the old ways.

What?

Good.

Now we can drink.

What?

Don't worry.

It's just heart to heart.

A little tradition I've always had with friends.

Don't worry,

it's kosher.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Instead of laughing,

help me shut down.

Thank you.

Thank you.

What are you doing here?

Is it true what they say?

Go there.

I'm just visiting my dad.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

But you've messed everything up.

Because of you,

socialists and Hasidic Jews will be fighting for a

long time.

I just wanted to rid students of problems with the

authorities.

That's all.

Yeah,

rid students of problems.

At this rate,

you'll have to stop being Jewish to live in peace.

Stop.

There is a golden mean in everything.

We'll adapt to remain as we always have been.

And will you be here to take care of it?

You know,

I understand you.

I also lived in Kyiv with my brother when I was

younger.

Do you have a brother?

We discovered many things there.

People with different stories.

From different countries and cultures.

There is something more in the world than just

Seattle.

It was fun.

I could have lived there,

but I came back.

I don't know why.

Maybe I lacked the courage.

I knew nothing there.

Here,

I know everything.

And your brother?

My brother?

He is in Paris.

I haven't seen him since.

After he left Seattle,

there was no turning back.

Absolute rejection.

Not like you.

If he were in your place,

he would have left quietly,

without unnecessary noise,

with the young lady.

But you're different.

He was in your place.

Something else made you come back.

Don't worry about me.

Age makes me talk nonsense.

Well?

Shabbat,

Shabbat.

It's time to go.

Nice to see you again,

Mendel.

Me too.

Good Sabbath,

Shmulik.

Good Sabbath,

Mendel.

Good Sabbath.

Music plays Music plays Music plays Music plays

Music plays Music plays Mendel,

sit,

sit,

dear.

Leaving the hall,

I swore never to go to the movies again,

because I didn't want to expose myself to such

emotions.

I told myself,

there's nothing divine about this.

Nothing,

because it's too human.

But,

Rebbe,

were you touched by the beauty of the story,

weren't you?

No.

It's all the same.

Think about the humanity embodied in a character

like Tarzan.

This shows that movies can have a benefit similar

to our sacred texts.

How?

What sacred texts?

No.

What do you mean?

Like many stories,

films can show us people grappling with moral

choices.

For example,

Tarzan teaches us to respect nature,

love,

family,

and understand where our true place is.

And where,

really,

is your place?

And where,

really,

is your place?

In Kyiv,

I think.

Maybe at the film studio.

But not here,

Rebbe.

I'm sure,

not here.

Maybe.

Maybe I can understand why you need to explore

other cultures.

Out of curiosity.

That's not what concerns me.

I'm worried about this passage from the Talmud.

Remember.

Just as people have different faces,

so too do people have different thoughts.

Do you understand?

Yes.

But why does it bother me?

What does it mean?

Just like you acknowledge that your companion has a

face different from yours,

recognize that he has different thoughts than you.

However,

I cannot accept it so easily.

Here's just something.

I can understand that.

When you are constantly surrounded by communists and

intellectuals,

like my Hasidim,

it's hard to see your own usefulness.

Rabbi!

These subsidies specifically?

I doubt it makes you a true Rabbi.

Yes,

I'll sit.

I am a real Rabbi.

There's something you should know,

Mendel.

Young,

God willing,

will marry a folie.

I know.

Do you know where from?

It's a small shtetl.

When you left,

he became the only suitable match for my daughter.

And he will become my successor.

Leaves?

Yes,

I know,

I know.

Leaves may not be so outstanding,

but I believe.

I hope he will take care of her.

Isn't that right?

I left because of Yuni.

What?

What did you say?

Without her,

I wouldn't have had the courage to pursue my

dream.

She is the only one who saw it in me.

So is that the case?

Exactly.

Mendel,

Mendel,

you know how much I loved you,

right?

I will always love you.

Rebbe,

be strong.

Without you,

who else could guarantee peace and balance in this

community?

Between the Hasidim and the communists,

so self-assured,

the shtetl would have been in ruins even before

the end of the week.

Yes,

yes,

maybe,

maybe.

But I think you are needed by your father.

So stay.

It's almost Shabbat.

Stay.

What is it - what is it - what is it?

What is it - what is it - what is it?

What is it - what is it - what is it?

What is it - what is it - what is it?

What is it - what is it - what is it?

What is it - what is it - what is it?

What is it - what is it - what is it?

Mendel!

What's the matter with you?

Let me safely take Dad home.

Oh,

don't worry.

We'll make a poor shlomo.

We want you to leave immediately.

We know what you think of us.

Obviously,

you didn't come back here to relax.

You already smell of shame,

so don't ruin a reputable person's reputation.

I'll go when I'm ready.

This is my home.

Stop this circus,

Sheigetz.

What were you doing in the synagogue?

Thought you could see Juno?

How dare you?

She is my wife.

She is not your wife.

Not on Shabbat.

Stop,

Folia.

Never understood what Rabin saw in you.

Maybe he saw Mendel as more talented than his

future son-in-law?

How can you not be ashamed to attack one of ours?

Especially in front of his father.

One of ours?

This cushion?

This atheist?

This communist?

Like those who thought they were French or

Israelis.

See where your assimilated French Jews are now?

Under the Germans!

For others,

you always remain a Jew.

My roots in heaven.

You are nobody to me now.

The spirit has left you.

A righteous man should live in the city,

interact with others,

not shut himself in his faith.

And how dare you?

Do you think you are righteous?

No.

I merely quoted a comment of the Rebbe from Kotsk

on Genesis.

Genesis?

But you renounced all of the Torah.

You think you gained something,

but in fact,

lost everything.

And now you want to seduce Yunu.

I know it.

I see it.

The time has come for the unclean,

the defamers of prophecies.

At least he's not a sham.

He is one of those pioneers who defiled the

Messiah,

settling in Palestine.

You and your rabbis are to blame for all our

troubles.

Hence so much darkness.

Men are learning,

while you make our women work to satisfy your

needs.

I hope the Soviets will correct this.

Yes,

exactly.

Our families need four hands,

not two,

to feed themselves.

Cowards,

long live Stalin!

I would rather be Ukrainian.

Just like Jews became Czechs thanks to Masaryk.

Who changes flags,

and you join their ranks,

you poor bastards?

These are the same people who have been killing

our brothers for decades.

Do you know how many Ukrainians have Jewish blood

on their hands?

Do not paint them all with the same brush.

Look at Taras.

He has always been on our side.

I have many Ukrainian friends.

I believe in them.

You,

Hasidim,

must make us equal,

not drag us down.

Or not of the past.

You resemble those idolatrous Jews who forced Moses

to break the tablets.

Be cursed!

Don't you understand that we have no alternative?

Communists don't care.

Whether we are Hasidim or Buddhists,

to them we are all Jews.

That's it!

We are all Jews!

Maybe this is the only way!

We are going to Palestine!

And how do you plan to get there?

Which ship?

For how much money?

On wings of eagles,

huh?

I didn't say it will be easy.

Have you really gone mad,

Zishe?

How did Mendel brainwash you?

So they'll bury you in the Jewish state.

But until the Messiah comes,

such an idea is blasphemy.

Blasphemy?

What do you mean?

I am as devout as you are.

I just want to live.

Enough of being under the rule of non-Jews.

Enough of being a slave.

A slave?

You are nothing but idolaters!

Blasphemers!

Blasphemers!

Blasphemers!

You,

Mendel!

Spread chaos!

Don't say that!

Quiet down,

do you hear?

Rebbe!

Quiet!

Listen.

I am a rabbi for all of you.

Yes or no?

Yes - yes.

All of you.

Not just Orthodox ones.

Not just Orthodox ones.

I will give you a secret.

The secret of color.

Jews love only one color.

Grey.

Why grey?

God began with grey when creating the world.

True grey contains Kabbalah secrets.

Mystery.

Mystery.

Mysteries.

Of all colors.

All of them.

It depends on us.

It depends on us.

Understanding this knowledge.

Understanding this knowledge.

Do it right.

And you will see.

And you will see.

Hidden worlds.

Hidden worlds.

But go too far,

and all will turn dark.

Darkness.

Look around.

What did God not create?

Do not destroy the world,

young people.

Do not follow those who wave flags of brutal

colors,

and whom the blind crowd greets loudly.

Mendel is not Amalik.

That pagan king who wanted our death.

Mendel?

Where is he?

Where?

Aren't you a supporter of the new order?

No?

Ouch.

Doesn't matter.

We are not on solid ground here.

We should be.

But we can't.

What did he say?

Holy Best.

What did he say about Moses when he fought against

Amalek?

He sometimes said we feel uncertain in our faith.

And the only way out of this is one.

Begging.

Begging God to strengthen,

strengthen our faith in Him.

Without this,

we fall into the hands of evil forces.

We must strengthen our faith.

There is only one true evil in Amalek.

There is only one real evil.

It's apathy.

That's it.

Indifference among the Jews.

Yes.

That's why Moses stretched out both hands to the

sky when facing Amalek.

To teach his people not to divide.

Unity.

This is the only thing that matters in the fight

against evil forces.

Unity.

Yes.

Unity.

But in faith.

You missed with faith,

Mendel.

Rebbe.

Rebbe,

I'm afraid faith will be not enough.

What do you mean?

Without faith,

there are only doubts.

Doubts.

With Mendel's doubt,

you can't do anything.

No.

How will we fight evil forces without faith?

How?

By using film?

Stories?

With Tarzan's help?

How?

With weapons.

With weapons,

Rebbe.

I'm just curious if you will make it on time.

Take me home,

son.

I'm tired.

Take me home.

Take me home,

son.

I'm tired.

I'll have to take a pill 140.

Mendel,

my son,

you can't imagine how my heart sings when I see

you.

All my life,

I refused to look around,

thinking that only the Torah contains the truth.

I was wrong,

Mendel,

so wrong.

The truth comes not only from the text,

but from the one who knows how to read it.

You and your mother,

you always knew this better than me.

Forgive me,

Mendel,

it is hard to admit that your love is killing

you.

What did I do wrong?

How could I be so blind,

so selfish?

Maybe she needed some bit of humanity,

but no.

How could I leave her?

She was so miserable.

I did nothing.

It's my fault.

Completely my fault.

And I will pay this price.

Loneliness.

Sorrow.

And the hatred of my son.

Dad,

I don't hate you.

I was older than your mother,

so I expected that I would be taken to heaven

during some storm.

My death could have saved her from sorrow.

From the forced marriage we had.

But when your mother left,

like Baal Shem Tov,

I thought,

I expected to be taken to heaven,

like Elijah in a pillar of fire.

But now it's impossible.

Because I am only half human.

Stop,

father.

Stop.

Mendel,

do not blame the Shtetl.

Do not burden him with the weight of her guilt.

This is only my sorok.

So,

finally,

I beg you,

do not deny your own personality,

your own soul.

And to the Shtetl,

this is your true self.

Are you laughing or crying?

What is happening?

You just made me think of Tarzan.

I am opening my heart.

And all I hear in return is that I sound like

Tarzan.

No,

father,

no.

I still don't believe it.

I still don't believe it.

Forgive me,

son.

Alright.

Tell me,

did you win in the lottery this summer?

Demy,

did you go to the seaside last week?

Is that so long?

Don't touch me,

Dem' it.

How's it going?.

How about the car.

Okay.

Shall we go?.

Where are you going?.

Became a Nongrado person in your town.

Gossip,

exactly,

my friend.

Past,

but still ahead.

Offensively.

Offensive,

but I still love you.

Good,

good,

good.

At least you're not worried.

Well,

now we just have to hope it works,

right?.

Are you joking?.

Of course,

it will work.

I know how long you have been thinking.

It's sad for me to say goodbye to her.

At any rate,

I couldn't think of anything better than your

stupid idea.

Now that the marriage is settled,

she has no time for loneliness.

Honestly,

I still don't understand how we manage to get into

such messes.

Get the marriage sorted with that idiot.

I didn't always seem so smart.

Dim '

yan,

Dim ' yan,

this is a folly with his cronies.

He suspects my time.

Whore scares.

She'll have to distract them for everything to work

out.

If you hadn't made a commotion in the glass,

everything would have worked out,

Mendel.

Let's go tomorrow.

No,

no,

we'll do everything now.

Trust me.

It can't be,

Mendel.

It can't be tomorrow.

I have an idea.

Mendel.

Cut yourself,

bro.

I'm not worried about myself.

How are things,

Mendel?

I recognized you right away.

Once you were my friend,

long - long ago.

We also studied together in school,

side by side.

I can imagine the teacher with a cane in the

hand.

Oh,

how we wish to go back to those years,

to that wonderful age,

that beautiful youth.

That life,

so far away from us now.

Oh,

how we want to go back to those years,

Mendel,

my friend?

So,

where are you going,

prodigal son?

You're not sleeping at home?

This is not the way out of town,

is it?

What a fool you are?

Not your business.

Not my business?

After all your words,

you still think I'm an idiot?

Tell us,

why are you really here?

You think you own the young lady,

but you will never have her.

You'll never understand who you've become,

Sheiget.

I'll show you the way out!

You scoundrel!

Good Shabbat,

friends.

You are not engaged in any secret business here,

are you?

Are you alright,

Mendele?

Mind your own business,

old fool.

The old bruiser lost his knife,

but he still has a dagger.

And I'm just as good with it.

Let him go.

After all,

you never know how an old fool might react.

I couldn't stand your father-merchant.

at all.

Don't listen to him,

boys.

He's right now.

Fight me.

Now come on.

Come to me.

Go to my boy,

Gershon.

Now come on.

You'll regret it.

Get out of here,

you useless cowards.

Get out!

Young man!

Good day.

Young man!

Young man,

wait!

Hey!

Hey!

No!

This is forbidden!

You can't see my daughter right now!

It would be a sin!

What's wrong with you,

my boy?

Dina,

I need to talk to her.

Let me go!

Swear on your life.

You shall not pass.

Not for anything.

Polly,

you must be out of your mind.

Open the door.

I need to talk to my wife.

Hey!

Hey!

Open up!

Hey!

Hey!

Polly,

by law,

she's not your wife yet.

You know,

as well as I do.

So I urge you to leave now.

Please let my daughter rest until the wedding.

Storbritannia 아 에이 에이 Child,

child,

where have you been sleeping,

my dear,

little cat?

Svanskog Team'

Where is Mendel?

Do you know,

maybe,

here?

What,

got lost on the road?

Mendel!

Mendel!

Hey,

who did this?

It's nothing,

I'll tell you later.

Are you okay?

Mendel,

I missed you so much!

Are you okay?

Oh,

Kotri,

let's go.

Before Dawn.

Let's cross the river,

I know the way from there.

But you can't go out at night,

because there are swamps there.

And do you know what?

I have something.

My way.

Are you sure?

Zikhare,

zikhare,

do you know how many messengers I chewed on?

I went into this forest,

wandered around until I found this hut.

You might think I'm a forester?

Clearly,

I'm not a forester,

so I want to celebrate.

Come on,

drink.

What about you?

Like in dry land.

Try.

What will life be like now?

Beautiful,

incredible,

happy life.

But war is approaching.

No,

stop.

This cannot be avoided.

No,

don't stop,

we don't know what's really happening.

Guests,

did you say goodbye to your father?

Yes.

And you?

Did you talk to your parents?

What about me?

What was I supposed to tell them?

Dad is an old fool who only knows what whiskey

is.

And mom never says anything to him.

You know,

I've long wanted to quietly work.

You're back with them again.

But now,

Mendel,

not only will you be a great film director,

I will also be filming stories for people,

for the nation.

I will introduce you to Donskoy.

And you,

young one,

you will see Dovzhenko's studio.

And me?

And then I will be the next Kosheverova.

I will be a woman,

a great Soviet film director.

Millions of people will watch mine.

Do you believe everything?

There are millions,

maybe the two of us with Mendel.

What?

Do you want to fight?

It's me,

when we are free.

Mendel.

I saw you talking to all those men before.

But,

Mendel,

it was so strange to see you like that with my

father.

Forged in this fury.

You were so restless.

Yes,

Mendel,

just a tongue hanging in the right place.

I don't always work.

I look at my father.

Does it excite you?

Damn '

it,

you're disgusting.

Damn '

I know!

This is not the last beautiful thing we will hear

from him.

But if that's the price to pay to get rid of the

foil,

is it worth it?

Perhaps we will see them all again someday.

Foil and others.

And we'll make peace.

Mendele,

we haven't even left yet,

and you're already planning to come back?

I'm just saying that maybe one day we'll come back

and see them.

I think we will sleep the price of alcohol on Sp

'

yaninnya.

I still have arches.

He was still here.

Mendele,

I have something for you.

It's not much,

but it made me think of you.

We have the same dreams,

right?

Only now.

I won't have a problem with this anymore.

Mendele.

Mendele.

Mendele.

Too bad I didn't come back sooner.

I needed to return earlier.

What's important is that you're here now.

She's right.

And now let's drink,

brother.

Cheers.

Good.

Here's to my mom.

Here's to our new life.

L'chaim!

L'chaim.

Once more.

Once more.

Isn't this not right?

Isn't it wrong?

Why didn't you know?

Just?

Oh,

so I don't know.

I don't know.

Svanskog Thanks for ating med.

Dem

yan,

Dem yan,

Dem yan,

Dem yan.

The Germans are here.

Here's what's happening.

What time is it?

Go with Yuna.

I need to take Tishtek.

Tishtek,

if the Germans don't make it here in time,

they won't make it.

Let me go.

We don't have time for conversations.

Do as I say.

Save yourself.

Young,

dear,

I can't leave.

You.

Dem '

yan,

take her,

Dem ' yan.

Mendel.

I have to warn Shtet.

Folia!

Folia,

listen,

Germans!

I will kill you!

Subtitles by DimaTorzok Son,

you have returned.

© transcript Emily Beynon © transcript Emily Beynon

© transcript Emily Beynon © transcript Emily Beynon

© transcript Emily Beynon Oiven,

oiven,

sitzen zweien Tumba,

tumba,

tumbaba Nid sei heften,

nid sei neien Tumba,

tumba,

tumbaba.