Original subtitles

- Where is the village? - First you walk down, and then up again.

The end of the 70s. A village in Albania.

Based on actual events.

Good day. Where's the school?

Just walk down a bit to the right, and then straight up again.

Thanks.

What are you doing there? Get out of there!

Hi.

Hi.

Are you the new biology teacher? Are you from Tirana?

We've been waiting for you. My name is Djin.

I'm the geography teacher and ocassionally the school bench repairman.

- My name is Pashk. - It's good here, better than in Tirana.

- It's nice. - This damn lock.

It's better than I expected.

The biology lesson begins at 12PM.

You've got the best class room in the district.

Albanias marxist-leninistic friends are coming to have a look at it.

We use it for the faculty meetings too.

You're lucky. It's a big honour for you.

Come by my office afterwards.

You too, Pashk.

"According to the regulations and traditions here are two new slogans."

"Dear Andr�, you can choose between:"

"The American Imperialism is a Paper Tiger," -

"- and 'Get the Revolution Spirit Up!'."

This is Diana, french teacher.

Hi.

Have you chosen?

Don't you have any comments on the slogans?

Do you want to know how we make them?

I have never laid them before, but I'm sure I will learn.

Pashk will explain the method to you and the technology behind the production of slogans.

Since you are new, you can choose.

- I shall choose one of them? - Yes. Which one?

I don't know. They're both interesting.

- I agree, but two are too much. - And Diana shall also have one.

Make up your mind. It's not hard.

I don't like people who hesitate.

The first one is: "The American Imperialism is a Paper Tiger."

The other one: "Get the Revolution Spirit Up."

What's it gonna be?

I'll take the other one, the one with the spirit.

It's easier for me to concentrate on that.

I see Pashk has been a good mentor.

So, this will be your first slogan.

Diana, you get:

"The American Imperialism is a Paper Tiger.."

Why are you sulking? I don't understand it.

I understand how comrade Diana feels.

She would rather have had a more lyrical slogan.

But the party comittee have decided that this is how it should be done.

And if we think, this is the best way to do it.

- Good luck, Andr�. - Thanks.

Comrade Sabaf is the math teacher.

Among other things.

He is also the party secretary in the village.

So he's got the responsibility for us and all work for the party.

You forgot your protocol!

Be strong, comrade Andr�, strong.

Congratulations. You had a good start.

What dou you mean? I know nothing about slogans.

I just wanted to help Pashk. He have me a sign.

What a fool!

Corruption! It's nothing but pure revenge.

Stop ringing the bell and come in now.

- God day. - Please sit down.

THE AMERICAN IMPERIALISM IS A PAPER TIGER

Sit down, children.

I'm happy to finally have met you.

- My name is... - Andr�!

- Together we'll learn... - Biology!

Andr�, which slogan did we get?

Wait a minute.

Maybe it was: "Get the Revolution Spirit Up"?

Correct!

Really good. Only 23.

- 23 what? - 23 letter, Andr�.

I hear you're the new teacher.

That's that.

Have you got a cigarette? I'm out of tobacco.

I haven't got any matches.

How many animals have you got?

- Last year I had 27. - And now?

Festim, my son, knows that. He likes to count.

Selman.

My name is Selman Tosku.

The cigarette tasted very good.

Look here.

How are you?

So so.

Let's go out to the field.

How do you like that?

- Whose slogan is that? - It's teacher M'ira's.

THE MOST DANGEROUS ENEMY IS THE ONE THAT IS FORGOTTEN

Teacher!

Can I have the I's?

- How are we supposed to divide the others? - After the alphabet.

The easiest ones to the girls, and the dot over the i's or the commas to the sick ones.

And the m's to the good students. The hardest ones are the S's.

- It's hard to make the curves. - Then let's do it after your plans.

I'll also have a letter.

No, no! You'll overlook the placement.

If the letters are crooked, the slogan will be compromised.

And it will be a shame for the village!

Shall we begin?

- Good work, teacher. - Thanks.

That's all. Thank you everybody.

Can I help you?

No, it's not necessary. I can do this on my own.

Please. Go now!

I'm sorry.

You and Pashk could always get together.

Diana.

What does "The American Imperialism is a Paper Tiger" mean?

"The American Imperialism is a Paper Tiger" means...

That we should do our best.

- Is your brother dead, Lesh? - Yes, comrade Sabaf, he is dead.

- May you live long. - My friends too.

Is your brother dead, Lesh?

- Yes, Pashk, he is dead. - May you live long.

My friends too.

Is your brother dead, Lesh?

- Yes, Djin, he's dead. - May you live long.

My friends too.

Is your brother dead, Lesh?

Are you the new teacher?

- Yes. - What's your name?

Andr�.

Yes, Andr�, my brother is dead.

Condolences.

My friends too.

She hates me.

Forget it. The most important thing is to be liked by the ones who's got the power here.

Especially by the Party.

There are some things you must understand.

Do you know what happened last year?

A headmaster was caught red-handed -

- while he made love with a female teacher who had a bad reputation.

It lead to the slogans being exchanged.

"Long Live the Proletariat's Internationalism," was exchanged with:

"On Guard, More on Guard, Always on Guard."

Damn!

Koli, give me a new bucket!

The sick leave is high.

Bring out your notebooks. I want to see your homework.

Tami.

Where's your homework about metamorphose?

I haven't done it. I was tired, Andr�.

- And you? - I didn't do it.

Hasn't anyone made their homework?

It takes me one and a half hour to walk home from the slogans.

- And you? - Same thing.

If it were only one, two or three...

But the whole class!

What do you think I should do? Tell the headmaster?

- No, Andr�, please don't! - Forgive us just this one time.

You have used my kindness. You're not my friends.

I'm your teacher, not your friend.

- I'll tell the headmaster. - No.

But I did my homework.

Rascals! This is collective sabotage!

Maybe it's my fault.

Sit down.

Really. So you're insulting the teacher?

He didn't insult me. He just didn't do his homework.

And you, who's so calm?

You too.. Where's you homework?

And you, little brat, haven't you done your homework?

Who said that?

Stand up! Stand up!

Rascals!

Just tell me if this happens again.

Thanks, I don't think so.

It won't be necessary.

Not everybody's going to the capital.

Come on. I'm not going that way.

Get lost! Pig!

We're not here to collect the dung you left.

Good afternoon.

Have you got a cigarette?

Go on.

China and Albania are friends, tied together with a band of steel.

Kina is a revisionistic country.

That's enough. Silence.

I'm sorry, I said wrong. China is socialistic.

It's the Soviet Union that's revisionistic.

Thank you, sit down. It's good, very good. You get a B.

Good, Djin. This boy puppy Tosku has let the mask fall at last!

- What dou you mean? - You know what I mean.

I was waiting for you to inform us.

What do you mean, comrade Sabaf?

Goodness, you're really playing naive today.

If Djinn doesn't want to tell us what happened, -

- I will.

Festim Tosku -

- comes from one of the most revolutionary families in the district!

Selman Tosku and others like him.

Yesterday Festim said quite loud in the lesson that China is a revisionistic country.

Oh, yes, that. Now I know what you're talking about.

You're misinformed. I know what really happened.

Festim Tosku is one of my best students.

He often talks too fast because he's learned his homework by heart.

Instead of saying that the Soviet Union is revisionistic, he said China.

He corrected himself instantly. He knew that he said wrong.

I know that he's from a doubtful family.

But even if the family did not participate in the national freedom movement, -

- the boy did not act deliberately.

You mean that he's a good student, but I'm of a different opinion.

I often give him hard letters that he deserve!

Also you're trying to make excuses for what happened.

This is an extraordinary and regrettable event for our school.

I will have to inform the Party Comittee in the district about this.

Comrade Sabaf, I repeat:

It was just a mistake, an error.

This act was not politically motivated.

Just ask the other students.

That's exactly what we're going to do.

But first we'll hear what Festim has to tell us.

The children are much more honest than their parents-

- and other hypocrite adults.

Great. Let's do it, comerade Sabaf.

After that we'll discuss this in a faculty meeting.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Diana, wait a moment.

Diana, let me give you an advice, -

- for your own good:

Do not show your distrust openly to the party secretary.

But it's incredible!

A small schoolboy barely 10 years old says that China is revisionistic, -

- and he's suspected to stand behind a political conspiracy! It's unbelievable.

Unbelievable or not, it's not our problem.

The truth will come out sooner or later.

I'm only concerned about what's best for you, Diana.

You must understand that these things can cost you very much.

What do you mean?

You know better than me, how risky it can be -

- to get permission to travel home for a few days.

You know how it is -

- when you get a long slogan.

You know what it means to have a very long slogan!

You know very well, how important he is, who makes the decisions in cases like this.

- What do you mean with that? - I mean... I mean.

Come on, Festim. Hurry. The whole faculty is waiting for you.

Festim, come here.

This is absurd.

Could you tell teacher Sabaf and us -

- who told you at home that China is a revisionistic country?

Nobody told me, neither at home nor in other places.

Festim...

Nobody here means to hurt you. Just look at how nice I am right now.

Nothing will happen to your father or you. Just tell us who told you it.

I just said what the book said, that China is a socialistic country.

We did not ask you to recite the book.

You must tell us who made you say that in the lesson.

Why does teacher Djin say that you corrected yourself?

I didn't say it! I didn't say...

I didn't say...

Now you better show some will to cooperate!

To be honest I have nothing against you or your father.

But who teached your father that -

- the soviet union is socialistic... uh... capitalistic?

- Revisionistic, comrade Sabaf. - Of course.

What do you say? Tell us now.

You've got nothing to win by forcing it out, comrade Sabaf.

He's got nothing to confess, and we're wasting our time.

Easy, easy...

I could use other methods!

Festim Tosku. Be careful.

You and your father know very well who comrade Sabaf is.

I know your family knows the patrol car that comes here.

Ask your father to meet me in my office tomorrow. Now get out of here!

It's my fault, comerade Sabaf.

I was not clear over the political aspects at the time of the event.

Oh, I know very well where these revisionistic hares hide.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Festim?

- What did I tell you? - Nothing.

- Nothing important. - Then why are you crying?

Colleagues, comrade Sabaf is back from the party comittee, -

- who's given new slogans.

Dear comrades, dear colleagues:

In one and a half months. a member of the party -

- will drive by on the highway that runs along our village.

I cannot currently tell you who it is.

Security reasons.

Maybe he'll stop by in our village.

Therefore we will start a campaign to renew the slogans.

Let's begin. Djin, this time we give you:

"Long Live the Chinese-Albanian friendship."

Thank you, headmaster.

Djin, -

- you'll also be in charge for the work with the slogans along the highway.

There it will read "Enver Hoxha", with as large letters as possible.

The army will help you.

Pashk, you got: "Long Live the Worker's Party."

I thank the party.

Andr�, -

- your new slogan is:

Work, think and live like a revolutionary.

Thank you.

And now it's your turn, Diana.

Because we praise your commitment, we give you:

"The Stronger the Dictature of the Proletariate, the Stronger the Social Democracy.

I knew it.

Excuse me, what did you know?

That you enjoy to give me mile long slogans.

Tell me, comrade, how long will you carry on this personal revenge of yours?

It's a shame using slogans as personal objects.

Diana, it's the party comittee that decides, not me.

And why would I want to take any revenge on you? Have you got anything against slogans?

I emphasize for everyone that this slogan -

- was made on the 7th Party Congress.

- Comrade, I have a suggestion. - What?

I'll exchange my "Chinese-Albanian" slogan with Diana's.

That's out of question!

We will not sit here and bargain with slogans just because someone has a whim!

- But... - No buts!

- It was just a suggestion. - No suggestions or protests!

The slogans are our political tasks.

But if someone is against slogans, thing's will change!

M'ira, since your slogan still is of current interest, we won't change it:

"The Most Dangerous Enemy is the One That Is Forgotten."

Thanks a lot, comrade.

Zana.

"The People Rise, the Party Forward."

Thanks, comrade.

That's all. Thanks.

Don't think about it.

I'll help you.

We could do it together. Or I could do it on my own.

It will only take me two Sundays.

Thanks a lot.

- God night, Andr�. - God night.

Come on!

Come on! Hurry!

- Have you got a picture? - Turn it a little to the left.

Welcome.

- Congratulations to the new TV. - Thanks.

Congratulations.