Original subtitles

What are you staring at?

An honour guard for your Skoda.

Your bet, Jacek?

13.

Your figure, Mr. Braun?

- What for? - The pools.

- Number, not figure. - What's the difference?

How can you!

Make it 6.

Your figure?

17.

Funny... People hardly ever pick 1 or 49.

Like in a game of darts

they focus on the center, as if the corners were no-win.

Right. What was my pick?

- 17. - I picked 6.

- I have principles and no change. - We'll lend you some.

- You'll lose anyway. - We'll win and you'll regret.

Fat chance.

Here's our designing hall.

The next section's more important.

- I explained as best I could. - They'll take you to India.

Want a pear? I have two.

- Fresh from home? - Yeah.

- What are you doing on Sunday? - Who?

You and Krystyna.

Playing matchmaker?

Any plans?

- Not really. She may want to study. - How about a trip to the mountains?

- Are you going? - I might.

Hello?

I will.

You're wanted at the personnel.

- Any idea why? - No.

Here we go. I can smell India.

- I thought you wanted to see me. - Yes, hold on.

There's a message for you.

Bad news?

FAMILY LIFE

Written by

Starring with

Music by

Director of Photography

Directed by

- Did you wire back? - No. We'll get there sooner.

- How old is your father? - Sixty-something.

That's no age.

But he's never really been ill...

Make a right.

- What do they make here? - Glass.

It was crystal and lab glassware before the war.

I'll get you some water.

If I could be useful with the car, I'm in no hurry to leave.

Anybody there?

- So you've come. - Yes.

- No hello, nothing? - Good morning.

Good evening, you mean.

I couldn't make it earlier.

Just a statement. But I rather expected you tomorrow, if ever.

Why "if ever"?

- Some question! - Let's not fight again.

How's Dad?

- He's asleep. - But what's the matter with him?

- A little bit of everything. - Like what?

I don't know. Hard to say.

What are the symptoms?

When you talk to him you'll see.

- He's in his bedroom? - Yes.

Caligari!

He doesn't bite but he's flea-ridden.

It's not his fault, you know.

So many people come and go.

That's no excuse for looking so lecherously at me.

Damn it!

I failed.

I wanted to disconcert you. You brought the goods?

No, I brought Wit.

How do you do? I'm his sister.

Izabella.

No, it's dirty.

I just picked it.

Thank you.

The dog's deranged! It's hereditary.

No water?

No. The pump unit broke down two years ago.

- Can't be fixed? - Of course it can.

So much water? Anyone fainted?

Wit!

Hi. How are you?

Hello.

The prodigal brother is back!

Stop acting crazy.

I'd act sane, if I were acting.

But I won't.

- Will that do? - Yeah.

Won't you ask him in?

I must be on my way. To Warsaw, then to Chorzów.

- Why Chorzów? - I work there.

My God, how people work!

You'll stay for tea.

Aunt!

We have a visitor!

How's your father?

Heaven knows.

Please come in through the front door.

Come on, let's go.

I met Marek at the university.

- How do you do? - Our darling aunt!

Come on in!

Don't pretend you're not looking around.

It's only natural.

Wit told you nothing about our home?

Funny, you being friends...

It has seen better days.

Our beloved mother. Aunt's sister.

Completely different.

Mom is a beauty.

Only Dad can't tell them apart.

Especially in the dark.

- Can't you clear your clothes away? - Not with this hand.

Some accident? Father's also wearing a bandage.

More than an accident.

A catastrophe!

Why isn't he in the hospital?

Why?!

Ask him yourself.

- Who's attending to him? - Doctor Romer.

- He's too senile for that. - But he's good at bridge.

At losing to Dad, I mean.

Get him a good doctor.

Don't you know your father?

I wouldn't be surprised if Wit didn't remember.

Six years since he was here last.

And he left promptly after an argument with Dad.

- Let bygones be bygones. - No.

- I must go. - Not before supper.

- I really should... - Tea's coming!

Stay if you can. Till we find out how Father is.

Nobody's there at his bedside?

- He'll call when he wakes up. - What if we don't hear?

- You said his condition was serious. - It is.

It beats me how you can leave a sick man alone.

We're not taking proper care of Dad.

Did you hear what Wit said?

He should've worried last winter when frozen pipes broke

and his dad had to carry bucketfuls of water.

I didn't wash for two months.

Who says you have to live in this house?

Take it easy.

Wit's manners may be unconventional...

But we love each other.

Especially when apart.

What's he like these days?

Be careful you don't topple over.

I won't.

Come on! What's he like?

- I couldn't squeal on a friend. - Oh, come on!

And I tell you about him.

I'll squeal on my brother!

He was such...

...a cute little boy.

The apple of Mom's eye.

Diligent and well-behaved.

A perfect altar boy, too.

And he just loved animals.

Then he was sent to a Catholic school,

fell in with the wrong crowd...

And decided to see no more of us.

Look, this is him.

And myself.

He looks like a little angel.

Which he still is deep down.

He might even pray for us in private.

Him?

He is a Secular Society activist.

An activist?!

- Bella! - Watch out!

Look what you've done.

The whatnot.

Just sold.

To an antique dealer. The clock likewise.

The silver candlesticks are gone too.

And this rug will pay for our coal supplies.

Are you shaken?

No.

Perhaps we should've consulted you? It's yours too.

Mom's up for sale too.

She'll go for a song - not old enough!

Unless we put in a halo to make her pass for Madonna.

Icons are selling very well.

Some Yankee will get our mom.

Bella!

Am I the only one to do housework here?

Why not?

- You're so good at it. - Don't get fresh with me!

Can't you see I'm slaving?

And you show up on a whim like you didn't belong,

whenever your disreputable drinking set kicks you out.

It was a hint at my supposedly high life style.

- You should know she doesn't work. - Because I don't like to.

- I know what you like. - Need anything from the garden?

- Guess why she won't work... - Anything from the garden?

Some dill and lettuce.

- As you see, nobody's normal here. - Including the dog!

Why wash our dirty linen in front of my friend?

He's a normal guy. Let's keep our skeletons in the closet.

Stop nagging. You brought him here yourself.

- He brought me, as a matter of fact. - No car of your own yet?

Maybe soon.

You're hungry? Have some.

- No, thanks. What's that? - Must be Father. Let me check.

Caligari!

Come on!

It's a wonderful garden.

Grandpa wanted a kind of Eden here.

But his exotic flowers froze and died.

This used to be Lovers' Corner.

With the Goddess of Love.

See these apartment houses? It used to be our land.

They're going to build here too. We're selling out bit by bit.

What does your father do?

- He's not a priest, is he? - No.

He's a hick.

Farmer, you mean?

Yes. A peasant.

So nobody's giving you a hard time.

- Neither me, nor Wit. - Because Wit's so special.

Caligari!

Come on!

- You lock it because of Father? - Not my idea.

He asked me to.

- Still drinking, is he? - Still!

Don't you know he was in an alcohol rehab program?

- How is it now? - Now? I don't know.

What do you mean you don't know?

Spare me your solemn talk.

My place is with the pots in the kitchen.

Talk to Father when he gets up.

- When he gets up? - For supper.

No lettuce today!

- Why did you lie to me? - To make you feel responsible.

Caligari has ruined the lettuce. And there's no more dill.

- The dog should be chained. - Over my dead body!

Only heartless people do that.

Who sent that message?

- Bella did. - Don't let him in.

- He doesn't bite? - No. Get him out!

He'll be back...

Shut the door!

- Did you send that message? - Yes.

What if I did?

Brute. Lady abuser.

The damned dog made a go at my hand.

I'm Braun.

Sobota.

- Wit's university friend. - How do you do?

Please come in.

Sit down, please.

So you're my son's friend?

Go on, my dear, get supper ready.

Our guest must be hungry. Bella, sit down properly.

So you're a friend of the man who used to be my son?

Surprised I'm using the past tense? This man's not dead,

legally he's still my son.

As he is biologically, my flesh and blood.

- Only Mom knows for sure. - Stop being funny or you'll go.

Your friend has given up his duties.

And thus he has ceased to be our son.

He thinks he's freed himself.

That's only a delusion.

He simply ran away.

- He apparently lives in Chorzów? - Yes.

What are you after?

What's this man after?

- A railway guide. - Where are you going, sir?

I asked where you were going.

- Speaking to me, Father? - To you, sir.

To Warsaw. What difference does it make?

No one's sending you away.

Once in six years you can have tea in your former home.

I must go. I have to be back at work in the morning.

- Supper's here. - I'm sorry, I can't stay.

If an old stranger may ask you for a favour, then do stay, please.

There's no need to ask him.

- He won't go anyway. - Why not?

Because it's dark and you have no lights.

- No head, rear or stop lights. - What's happened to them?

I took out the fuses.

You don't believe me? I know how to do it.

Stay if you like, I'll take a train.

Wit!

Stop this play-acting.

Is this show my idea?

You ruined the scene Father's been imagining for six years.

Can't you see you're ridiculous? Spare us your theatrical gestures.

Sorry, these are family matters. Your friend did wrong.

An unbiased witness might help.

He's getting more and more like myself.

Particularly now.

How old are you?

You ought to remember that.

I'll remind Dad when you were born.

By commie standards we were eligible for extra tenants.

In the autumn of 1945.

So the doctor said Mom was going to have twins.

And Wit saved us from a tight squeeze.

He's still our only hope.

Want to wash your hands, Marek?

Show him to the bathroom.

I will.

Come along.

Did you know about the wire?

You did...

Or did Bella act on her own?

You're hurt. What happened?

Tell me what's going on. Are you dying or not? Need any help?

You're disappointed? No funeral...

Stop it.

Tell me

why you had me come and what I'm to do.

So much for now.

There are worms around here.

They come out after rain and Caligari loves to lick them up.

Hideous, isn't it?

Have you ever seen

human skin under a microscope?

Pores like craters.

Also hideous.

- Ugly hands. - I know.

Don't worry.

I like hideousness.

That makes me truly human.

I like human beings.

You understand?

Yeah. I do.

Don't try to be smart. It takes a lot away from you.

Bella!

Receiving visitors in the bathroom again?

Why "again"?

Am I to answer?

This lady is an interloper.

She's an upstart.

Beware of that girl!

Jealous witch.

Please take a seat.

Nothing fancy, I'm afraid.

My wife's abroad, so things are going downhill.

Sit down, will you?

Give us a drink. We have visitors.

- Not for me, I'm driving. - You'll sober up overnight.

I wouldn't like to inconvenience you.

Come on, there's plenty of room!

You can go in the morning.

What did I ask, my dear?

Please help yourself.

I don't drink, I told you.

No pressure.

- Here's to our guests! - Cheers!

Dad's about to make a spectacle of himself.

Pardon me?

It's a secret.

Some manners! Share it with us.

I lamented over what we're in for.

Lamented.

She's always unhappy.

A permanent victim.

- She mentioned her time in jail? - Dad!

Just asking, no story to follow.

You also did time in prison.

Two weeks. As a preventive measure.

At the time of nationalization.

That was a common procedure to prevent sabotage.

Has Wit mentioned that the factory used to be ours?

No.

My great-grandfather Alfred Braun

came to Poland fleeing religious persecution.

He started a workshop here.

History comes full circle: From one workshop to another.

His business grew to twenty employees on the eve of his death.

Look, that's a view of the plant in the mid-19th century.

The plant was then taken over by my grandfather.

He expanded it further.

But he was no exploiter, as your Marxist teachers would assert.

Before the war I launched

laboratory glassware production.

I even acquired a license from Zeiss.

Today their focus is

on heat resistant glass

and thermal treatment technology.

They export a great deal.

To Holland and France.

Heat resistant glass is a basic thing today.

Even for Sputniks. Stop it!

The piano needs a tune-up.

Dad pioneered some groundbreaking technologies.

Bella has squandered her talent.

- Her mother's very musical. - Mom's extremely musical!

My children are wasted. Wit too.

Why? You don't realize that Wit is a top-notch expert.

No need, Marek.

I yearn to walk through fire

into shadows immersed

in the crystal-clear abyss of nonbeing.

Bathed in bliss that life cannot deliver.

Made free by the eternal element of fire.

How do you like it?

It's not my cup of tea.

Never mind. Who's the author?

Słowacki?

Byron? Schopenhauer?

I don't like poetry.

See, Dad? He doesn't know.

I'm the author.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

No.

I had it published at my own expense, no harm done.

Back then writers didn't get state subsidies like today.

But instead of becoming a poet I went into industry.

Go upstairs for my pipe.

You want to smoke two at a time?

Replace this one then.

Not you. You're a guest.

You must be very tired.

I'll make your bed.

Don't drink, Father.

Why not?

What right do you have to forbid me things?

The right of a son?

You renounced it yourself.

What do you mean I renounced it?

Must a son love what his father loves?

This garden, this ramshackle house?

- Is this a package deal? - Yes.

I'm a wayward son then.

You wish!

You overestimate yourself.

- I know you'll come back in the end. - Oh yeah?

You see me as a loser? That's heartless.

I also tried to get away once.

To leave behind this place, these people.

And you resemble me.

You kind of take it for granted. Ask if I want to resemble you.

You know I don't.

A man is as big as his size and no bigger.

You think too much of the human will.

Of what the individual can do. Is that the Marxism they teach you?

You talk of the individual, and his will power,

overlooking the social, class, biological, historical context.

I did change my context, remember?

History took care of it. You couldn't have done it alone.

Don't forget you were always privileged one way or another.

English classes, a nursemaid.

Could a farmer's son match you?

But I relied on my scholarship throughout my studies.

Plus food handouts from peasant friends like Marek.

I wasn't used to getting up at dawn

or to living on potato soup day in day out.

You'd never have faced up to it if we were rich.

I understand why you have to say these things.

- But I have an advantage over you. - Namely?

I don't care if I convince you.

You're very selfish.

All you care about is saving yourself.

But it's counterproductive.

You can't live without roots.

I've met many who get ahead without looking back.

Ahead? To achieve what?

You're an engineer, maybe a gifted one.

How far can you go? Up to a manager's post?

Remember how I treated my managers?

Don't pretend you're so focused on your career.

Your driving force is denial.

Your live to prove me wrong.

To contradict me, Bella, your aunt. And this place.

And when we're no longer here, you'll be left with a gaping void.

Fetch some wood, we'll light the fire.

Why, there's enough.

Go get some, please.

Where is it?

In the shop.

Excuse me. Can I get the shop keys?

Climb through the window.

I'm serious. Let me show you.

Bella! What did I send you for?

A pipe of yours.

Just forget it. Help your aunt with the dishes.

Meanwhile I'll talk to Marek.

Dad wants to talk to you.

What's up, Marek?

You wanted to talk to me.

Yes, indeed.

- You must have travelled a lot. - Yeah.

To India, several times...

Sounds extravagant today.

In my day you'd simply take a train or a plane

and go anywhere you wanted.

Like India.

- My father didn't travel much. - Mistake!

Well...

By the way, if we're lucky, our firm might land a building contract

in India or Pakistan.

Good.

Yes.

A chance to travel.

When did it happen?

Two days ago.

Only Father was injured?

The employee was off.

What happens now?

What a silly question! Ask me another.

- You forgot to lock the car. - So what? It's a piece of junk.

You never know who hangs around.

I see.

Is the shop insured?

If it were, Father wouldn't have called you.

So it was you after all.

There you are, Wit. Apologize!

For everybody to see.

- You know how it came about? - Leave the room, Bella.

Do you?

Leave, I said.

He should know if he's to help out.

- Tell him what landed you in jail. - Insulting the authorities.

Not only that.

Immoral behaviour.

Now listen how the story goes.

Father made moonshine in the shop. Aunt wasn't supposed to know.

- And it exploded. - Liar!

Stop it, Dad. I was there when it happened.

Put the boys in my bedroom.

I'll sleep on the veranda.

Al right, Al right...

Get out of here.

My end is near, Wit.

Father...

There's so much I wanted to tell you, never mind now.

Today you said

it was good to have me.

I could stay on, you know.

Or, if you like...

I'm getting married soon.

You could move in with us.

You wouldn't be so lonely.

What do you think?

Tell me.

No.

- Come on! - I don't want your compassion.

Go away.

You fled your home like a rat.

I said go away!

You always

impressed me one way or another.

This Polish-built ship will be the pride of our commercial fleet.

An Indian delegation has visited southern Poland

with the intention of purchasing complete production lines for steelworks.

The guests have shown interest in how top quality steel is made

and what working condition standards are maintained in this country.

Many issues of mutual interest have been discussed.

The visit ended with a wreath laying ceremony at the Uprising Memorial.

The European Cup game has started in Warsaw in torrential rain...

Leave it open, or we'll suffocate.

To invite burglars?

What is there to steal?

You're just like your sister.

She too leaves the windows open. Maybe hoping to get abducted.

But no one seems willing.

Does Mother write often?

Regularly. Once a month.

- What did she write recently? - Same as usual.

She's very matter-of-fact. Like you.

- When is she coming back? - Coming back?

Where? To this ruin?

Who told you she was coming?

Father did.

Her coming back to him!

He imagines that he ever meant anything to her.

I have a better view of it.

- What's in the letter? - The usual.

About socks, non-iron shirts for resale.

Ends with "Love to all, Zula."

It was a trendy name. On the stage, I mean.

- She knew how to be trendy. - What's wrong with that?

Nothing...

Unless at somebody's expense.

- I don't get it. - You're stupid! Like father, like son.

Just think what I "owe" to her.

This ruin and my toil-worn hands.

- Really? - Yes.

I was hoping to join her someday.

She was younger, prettier.

And she had a way with, you know...

Your father knew everything about her.

But it turned him on, and how!

Actually,

you're very much like him.

Good night. I'll turn off the light.

Sorry I kept you waiting.

I should

apologize for all

you had to witness today.

Just take it easy.

You can blame me for never telling you

anything about my family.

It's late. Let's go to sleep.

There's a flashlight downstairs, but no water.

Little Bella's lost her towel.

Let's get it without waking her.

How the Renaissance kitten purrs.

Now little Marek will get into bed beside her.

Little Bella's asleep?

I'll be in the garden.

You can leave through the window. But mind the nettles.

What are you looking at?

Swine!

Drive carefully, you're loaded.

Don't worry.

Listen...

Did I say I was sorry?

- Did I or didn't I? - That's not the point.

I did say sorry and there's nothing left to say, OK?

"Drive carefully", "bundle up"...

What's with you? Can't you just punch me in the face?

No guts?

In the dorm

I had no secrets from you. I told you all about my folks...

But you - never!

When that message came I felt I had to come too.

To see what? A circus! "Bella", "Caligari"... Some home!

Your father's sick, your aunt's work-worn. But you just made off.

- You don't give a damn. - Why yell like that?

I'm outraged at the way

I was treated in this house. Like...

So long!

One more thing...

When you're back, forget about our friendship.

You screwed up.

You were always so superior.

While I...

- You need a push to start up? - No, thanks.

My regards to your sister. I won't tell you how it came about.

You'd never understand.

I might.

My foot. Bye!

Do you want to come with me?

- Where to? - My place. To a normal home.

Nice of you.

Al right, I will.

Get in.

You think that you can whistle me up?

That I've no one to go with?

Get in and off with you.

So long.

A hole. I'll fix it.

Why are you waking him?

To say goodbye.

So you're going?

Yes.

Dad! Wit wants to say goodbye.

No answer. He thinks it's some delivery.

Go in.

Blind drunk.

Must have broken into the bar last night.

- You left the keys around? - So I did.

Wit...

If you stay and take over the shop,

in six months you'll have a car of your own.

I see.

Please do me a favour.

No matter what happens - don't let me know.

Forget I exist.

Your sleeve will come off.

Let me fix it.

No need, thanks.

I think I'll probably go abroad anyway.

THE END