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THE MOTHER OF FOUR

Based on the novel by
Kazimierz Brandys

Written by

Starring

Featuring

Music

Good morning, doctor.

Go inside.

- Mom, what’s wrong?
- Get the doctor. Quick.

Klemens, come!

Call Cyga.

Excuse me. I’m a doctor of law,
not a medical doctor.

Get out of here.

Kids, come on!

Boys, go away.

Director of photography

Take it easy.
It’s not your first child.

I’m not the father.

She did it!

Is it a girl?

It’s a boy.

A boy...

My son.

I’ll name him Staś.

Directed by

“Dear Mr. President.

I’m Łucja Król. I’m writing
to you to ask for help.

I’m a widow with four children.
My husband died in an accident.

I can’t find a job in a factory.

I’m not able to support
four children by myself.

I had to leave my apartment
and move to a basement flat.

It’s a damp hole.

Bread goes mouldy here.

I’m writing to you, Mr. President,
as to a father.

Please find a job for me
in a factory.

I want to raise my children
as honest Polish citizens.

Address: Royal Castle in Warsaw.

From: Łucja Król, Solec Street.
An unemployed widow”.

Well?

Good.

I’m saving money for a plot.

Land is land.

In two years we could buy a cow.

We could get married.

You’re a hard-working woman.

And you’ll keep drinking.

You’ll drink and make babies.
Go to sleep.

Go, Cyga.

I’m not sure you’ll get an answer.
But it’s worth sending.

People told me to go
and see MP Buchner.

But he didn’t know my husband.

- Buchner?
- You met him?

No. But I’m sure I will.

Don’t lose hope.
I’ll take care of it.

Thanks for washing my linen.

You could clean my apartment
starting tomorrow. OK?

Thank you. Goodbye.

You want to make contact
with Buchner?

That woman has a problem.
I want to help her.

- Is she a party member?
- No. Just an acquaintance.

It’s about a pension or allowance.

He husband died in an accident.
She has four children.

It’s personal.

Be careful who you contact with.

It’s our party duty.

Buchner is a renegade.

That’s all I ask.

It’s no big deal for you.

You could pay your rent.

You can find me every day
at Daniłowiczowska Street.

Third floor, room 31.
Commissioner Jagosz.

- Third floor. Mr. Jagosz.
- Discretion is advised.

I’ll do it just for you, commissioner.

What are you doing here?
Go home.

- Why?
- Go to bed.

You rascals!

The police.

It’s better not to mess with them.

They want to search your apartment.
I promised to let them in.

Get rid of anything suspicious.

That commissioner asked
who visited you.

He promised to pay me.

You must leave at once.
Disappear.

Maybe they’ll let go.

Don’t worry about me.

I’m worried about you.

You’re right. It’s better
not to mess with the police.

Jagosz will dance to my tune.
You’ll see.

Tell me...

Is it something serious?

Grzegorz informed us
that you tried to contact Buchner.

You put the party at risk
for your own interest.

Grzegorz was picked up today
near your house.

I was away in Vilnius.
I defended Manczuk in a trial.

I came back
and you call me here.

You talk about Buchner.
I don’t even know the man.

I’ve never seen him.

What is this about?

Go to the waiting room.
Sit here.

Wrong door.

It’s OK.

You claim you have
nothing to do with Buchner.

But it looks like you’re
leaning towards him.

You can’t deny comrade
Grzegorz’s words.

His words, my words, your words.

We all say something
that can be turned against us.

If that’s somebody’s intention!

I did try to contact Buchner.
It didn’t concern party matters.

It wasn’t me.

- I didn’t do it.
- Good evening, Łucja.

Don’t be upset.
This arrest is illegal.

This gentleman wants me
to go with him.

I have an arrest warrant.

Sorry, it happens.

“Dear doctor.
You’ve been away for so long.

Klemens keeps asking
when you’ll be back.

Life is tough now.

In spring Roman and Zenon
will work at a locksmith’s shop.

Staś no longer runs a fever.

Cyga, the carrier,
doesn’t come anymore.

They say he lost his job
and is ashamed to show up.

I don’t know
if I’ll ever see you again.

I’ll always remember you.

I don’t believe
you could do anything bad.

It must be a mistake.

Best regards, Łucja Król”.

ARMED POLAND

“Clear the country of Eastern
miasma, said MP Buchner”.

Thanks.

Wiktor!

Grzegorz!

Wiktor...

Hello.

Thank you.

What’s your name, comrade?

- Renard.
- Grzegorz.

What are you here for?

I took part in unemployed protests.

I got five years.

I see you got a food parcel.
The party didn’t forget you.

It’s mine.

Thank you.

Do you exercise?

No.

You should keep your body fit.

Have a regular routine.

Even in prison.

We must be ready
when we get out of here.

Let’s have a lecture in history.

Comrade Lewen will highlight

the main theses of Marxism
against idealistic philosophy.

- OK, Wiktor?
- OK.

Mom!
We’re going with Zbyszek!

Hello.

I wanted to take the boys.

Take where?

- For an outing.
- In a cab.

Will you go with us?

- Me?
- Yes.

I don’t have the time.

OK. You can go.

Goodbye.

- Come on, boys!
- Zbyszek, here!

What happened?

The party has been dissolved.

It’s a lie.

The Comintern dissolved our party.

I couldn’t believe it myself.
It’s a fact.

If this decision was made,
it was the right thing to do.

Most of us betrayed
our party’s trust.

We must do everything now
to regain it.

We must work harder and better.

Find guilt in ourselves.

Comrades, let’s start
with repeating yesterday’s lecture.

Go on.

I’m listening.

“A tip, which the authorities
got from a cleaner,

whose window overlooks
the prison courtyard,

helped thwart an escape attempt.

The prisoners and their leader
Wiktor Lewen,

serving a 7 year term,

were penalized
with severe measures.

The latter was not sent to

a camp in Bereza Kartuska

because of his failing health.

As of today prison guards

will receive double ammunition”.

Mom! War broke out!

Go stand in the corner!

Did you steal my money?

- Don’t you get it? War.
- You stole my money!

How will I pay my rent?

We’ve got coal.

Zenek, go and help.

Don’t interrupt, mom!

- How much?
- Fifty.

- What?
- Thirty.

People! Run!

Sir, I have children.
My son is at home.

Please let me go.

My little son.

My papers are in order.
I work as a maid.

Please let me go.
My children are waiting.

“My dear son.
Everything is fine at home.

Roman got a rickshaw
ready for Klemens.

He drives it around
the city all day long.

He comes back before curfew.

Later he pores
over books until dawn.

I quit my job with Majewska.
All kinds came to her.

Staś wasn’t well. He’s OK now.

Roman goes his own ways.

My life has become empty.

Zenon, I hope you’ll come back
from forced labour soon.

I saw you in my dream once.
But I couldn’t utter a word.

Don’t forget me.

Your loving mother Łucja”.

- Clean this place up.
- I’ll make it shine.

It will be clean.

No! I’ll explain.

I have to clean the floor.
Wax it.

That man in the hat...
No! Don’t touch me!

I have to wait for wax!
Let me go!

Sir, I haven’t finished.
I need wax.

I have a little child at home.
You promised.

Please let me go.
I beg you.

See this shoe?
My little son. Have mercy.

Go home. You can go home.

Stop!

You forgot this.

My Kennkarte!

- Good evening, Łucja.
- Good evening.

We don’t know who each
of us is separately.

But together we want
to impose on the world...

It’s late. What happened?

Nothing.

“I” for me stands for my part
in the revolution.

It’s my “yes”, my confirmation.

It’s my similarity. I don’t want
to be different, have doubts.

Our goal defines our actions.

Just like light defines objects.

People die, they get killed.

They sacrifice their lives for a cause
they don’t understand.

For vague reasons.

With undefined hope.

This happens when a person
has no control of his fate,

is not aware of his goal.

I didn’t realize it was so late.

It’s almost curfew.
See you tomorrow.

Don’t take notes.

Comrade Wiktor,
I don’t understand that part

of your article
about Buchner’s group.

You carry it in your purse
like lipstick or powder?

Here, about political betrayal.

Every one of us - you, him,
me and Kogut - has a weakness.

That’s why any strange idea,

any thought different than
the party line becomes

an objective obstacle
for our cause.

If you hear “no”, always think
who said it and why.

Somebody can always
use your “no” to his purpose.

- That’s about it. Is it clear?
- Yes. Thank you.

Leave one at a time.

Did you know I was a member
of Buchner’s group?

A long time ago.
It was called “Unity” then.

Who would have thought
it would take a turn like this?

I had a hunch and I got out.

I’m good at hunches.

- Madam... Majewska?
- Yes. Third floor.

Madam Majewska
lives on the third floor.

- You Jew...
- Jesus! No!

Stop!

Staś, go to bed.

Jesus! Roman!

What are you doing?

Go to the janitor and ask
if he heard anything.

If he did, tell him
I sent you to find out.

You understand?
Go!

Sit down to supper
as if nothing happened.

Kogut!

Nobody heard anything.

Hans Koenig, 23 years old.

Born in Królewiec.

Don’t! It may come handy.

Kogut, you live near Cyga.

Tell him to come here.

Jesus! It’s curfew.

- It’s my fault.
- Hush.

- It’s my fault.
- No.

- It’s my fault.
- It’s not true.

- Where are you off so early?
- I have to go.

- What about breakfast?
- I’m not hungry.

No breakfast?

Klemens!

Don’t go out.

Stay home, son.

Wiktor!

Klemens!

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

Koenig’s uniform fits perfectly.

Pretend we’re strangers.
Speak German.

Run!

Kogut!

Take him to a hospital!

- They’ll torture him.
- Don’t worry.

We’ll find out something soon.

Please don’t leave.

It’s party orders.

Comrade Wiktor must move
to another address.

Łucja, come with me.

They may trace this apartment.

Klemens may be unmasked
during the investigation.

Somebody can recognize him.

It’ll be better if you move out.
At least for a few days.

I have to wait for him.
He may need me.

Thank you, Łucja.

For everything.

- Here. Take this.
- No.

They don’t let people out for free.

I don’t need it. Thanks.

Staś! Wait!

Klemens?

It’s you Zenon?

- Zenon!
- Mom!

- You’re back!
- Mom!

You’re back, son.

I walked for two weeks.
Roman is with his wife in Warsaw.

You look tired, mom.

Come, have some soup.

- Don’t be upset, mom.
- I’m not. We’ll fix everything.

Staś? He’s grown.

Don’t be afraid.
It’s your brother.

- What are you afraid of?
- I’ll be back.

“My beloved son.

I don’t know how you are doing.
You visit me so rarely.

Roman came by last week
and said you got married.

I couldn’t believe it.
You didn’t tell your mother?

Now I believe it’s true.

There’s no room for me
in your life anymore.

Only for the woman you chose.

You didn’t choose a mother.
I hope your wife is good to you.

Tell her she’s always
welcome in my home.

She visited me
when you were in prison.

You can always stay overnight.

No tenants were quartered
into our apartment.

Zenon arranged a certificate
from the housing office.

I put it up on the front door.

I keep a copy inside just
in case somebody takes it off.

Roman works in
a confectionery factory.

He was awarded
a bonus and an order.

Staś has grown up. I don’t know
when he does his homework.

People say we’re in
for big changes now.

I hope they’re not for the worse.

I managed to raise you.
It was my responsibility.

I hope you have
a better life than your father.

I read that Wiktor Lewen made
a speech in the new parliament.

Give my regards to him
if you see him.

Tell him that I’ll always
remember him.

Your mother”.

Wiktor!

- Is your mother alive?
- Yes! My brothers, too!

I knew you’d survive!

The Gestapo prison was horrible.
And later Auschwitz!

Tell your mother that
as soon as I have time...

It’s simple.
The achievements of the 5 year plan...

I see Klemens is here.
Hello.

What?

- No.
- Take it.

Zenon and Klemens gave me some.

Great. I’m glad.
The proletariat rules now.

I don’t want to rule.

Others can rule as long
as they do it well.

My son can be a doctor now.
Was it possible before?

That’s why you named him
after Stalin and Bierut?

- So what?
- Nothing.

Why doesn’t Klemens admit
that his wife has bourgeois roots?

It’s besides the point.

That’s right. Marta is Marta.

Really? Why all the talk about
having the right background?

Tell me!

Zenon! Why complain?

You have food, a place to sleep.

Too much to die, too little to live!

- Both Klemens and Roman...
- Stop it, mother!

If Roman convinced you
that everything is all right,

write a letter of thanks.

It’s possible to change something
when you torments others

or when others torment you.

- Like Stalin or Jesus?
- Leave God out of it.

There is no God now.

- Roman!
- Look at him.

That’s the way it is.
You’re kept on a tight leash or...

Stop it!

- You’re going?
- Thanks for everything.

- Klemens...
- Quiet!

Communist my foot!

Mother, where’s the bottle?

I don’t know.

You look tired.

You could use a holiday.

I don’t have the time.

All I need is four hours sleep.

A habit from partisan times.

- Did you see this?
- The Palace of Culture.

- Do you know Klemens Król?
- I’ve known him for years.

I spent the worst days of occupation
in his mother’s apartment.

- Is he reliable?
- Sure.

New blood.
He was raised by the party.

He survived interrogation
by the Gestapo.

They let him go?

No. He was taken to Auschwitz.

He referred to you
at the Control Commission.

- Hello, Colonel.
- Hello.

- When is the meeting?
- What? Excuse me.

Klemens Król referred to me
regarding what?

Kogut’s case. His death.

The Germans killed him.

Communists didn’t die
of twisted bowel then.

Wait, comrades. I need a drink.

Damn it.

- Come here.
- We’re here.

Come closer! Everybody!

Is it only that case?

Buchner’s group “Unity”.
Remember?

Sure. I exposed their activity
during the occupation.

They cooperated with
the Polish government in exile.

That’s not all. We know they
had moles inside the party.

The Germans didn’t kill Kogut.

- Four minutes!
- Didn’t I tell you?

- Comrade, you did great.
- Really great, comrade.

It’s a record-breaking feat.

- Comrade Klemens Król?
- Yes.

They’re waiting for you
at the ministry.

- But...
- Come with us.

- I’ll just give these flowers to...
- Your wife will do it.

He’ll be back soon.

Klemens!

- Is it tasty?
- Don’t.

Can’t you wait?

Happy birthday to you...

Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you...

Klemens!

Don’t lose hope.

I understand.

Maybe I understand too much.

I’m not going to break down.
He taught me not to.

Sometimes he even
called me Miss Bourgeois.

- Any news from him?
- He wrote he’s fine.

I believe it’ll all clear up.
They can’t hurt him.

I’d like to know...

Do you think he’s guilty?

Because if he is...

If he’s guilty,

I’ll be strong enough
to wait for him.

I have to know
that there is something

I can hang on to.

Comrade Wiktor,

I’m afraid it’s no longer there.

Anything can happen.

I’ll do everything possible
to speed up the investigation.

But we’re dealing with a wider
spectrum of problems today.

It’s necessary to take
a stand towards them.

His case is in the hands
of honest people.

Any kind of malpractice
is out of the question.

Otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting
behind this desk.

There is always
a possibility of a mistake.

The party is not free of them.

It’s made of people.

We all grope in the dark,
make false moves.

But we believe that finally
we’ll reach our goal.

That is why...

Yes, of course.

- Don’t lose hope.
- Thank you, comrade.

Sorry that I don’t visit you.
I’m busy.

I know.

It will all clear up.
But it’ll take time.

I’ll let you know
as soon as I hear anything.

Don’t do anything on your own.
It could make things worse.

Thank you, Wiktor.

- Don’t worry, I’ll call.
- I’ll be waiting.

Come in.

He’ll call. Did you hear that?
You have a phone?

He’ll let me know.
I’m sure he will.

What got into you?

- Have a seat.
- I prefer here.

What can I do for you?

I’m here regarding
the case of Klemens Król.

I have nothing to add to it.

I don’t know anything
about his contacts.

He worked with Kogut.

You want to know what I think?

I’m not sure you did
the right thing to arrest him.

We usually don’t arrest
people for no reason.

Come in.

Sometimes the reasons
are insufficient.

- Sugar?
- One.

You’re on a diet?

I’m a lawyer. I know everything
about investigations.

Somebody may have
entangled him in this.

That’s right.
We’re not excluding any possibility.

We expect the same from you.

You say somebody
may have entangled him. OK.

But you don’t exclude
other possibilities.

During the occupation he may
have had all kinds of contacts.

- That’s what it’s all about.
- What?

Your suspicions may just
as well be addressed to anybody.

Let’s say...

Mr. X or Mr. Y.

You can’t blame people
for what could happen.

They answer for their actions.

Practice shows that some things
happen to some people, not others.

There are different possibilities.
And they become a fact.

People are responsible for facts.
That’s what practice shows.

There are two kinds of practice.

One draws on experience,
the other is created.

That’s all for now. Thank you.

Why don’t you quit
your job as janitor?

I’ll help you be
an elevator attendant.

You can’t teach
an old dog new tricks.

I’ve been cleaning for thirty years.

People are gaining new skills.
Old women are learning to read.

- I finished a driver’s course.
- But they confiscated your car.

That’s the way it is.
They give some, they take some.

That’s what they did to Klemens.

They say it’s not so bad
if you were a thief or a murderer.

But if you had different affiliation,
you’re done.

That’s between him and God.

I heard they’re coming down
on their own people.

Why? They should stick up
for one another.

Klemens came here
with his colleagues from Lublin.

They were all involved.

I’m too stupid for this.

I’d rather be a horse.

How will I pay you back?
I owe you a lot already.

You don’t have to.

You fool.

You were always a fool.

I told you comrade Grzegorz
is busy.

You know why I’ve been trying
to see you for three weeks.

Go on.

Skip the introduction.

It’s about a man whom
I’ve known for years,

whose honesty I can vouch for,

whose guilt I don’t believe in.

They’re asking questions
which are absurd.

It looks like he incriminated
himself during the investigation.

Don’t you think
it could be a mistake?

The results of investigations
are unpredictable.

Sometimes they can surprise
the party leadership.

All I ask is that you tell them
my opinion.

I can vouch for him.

I lived with him under the same
roof during the occupation.

You never had any suspicions?

What about you?

I have nothing to do with it.

I never met Klemens Król.

I found out about Kogut’s death
when I was a partisan.

Poison seeps deep.

We’re all a bit poisoned.

There are complaints about you,

your contacts with Buchner.

I can’t help you. You must trust
the party leadership.

We didn’t know
much about people then.

That’s why we’re in this mess.

We have to trust the party
more than ever.

I trusted the party all my life,
Grzegorz.

Our architecture
was designed by a bank clerk

who saw a photograph
of the pyramids.

It’s a harmful limitation
of Marxist aesthetics.

Comrades, we talk about
progress and development.

And we ban criticism.

Progress and development
can’t exist without open criticism.

Meanwhile criticism
is suppressed in practice.

Comrade Graj
will now take the floor.

The party, comrade Renard,
will accept any criticism

if it’s constructive.

It should reflect
our socialist standpoint.

Criticism can be destructive,
malicious.

The party rejects
this kind of criticism.

In my opinion, comrade Renard’s

speech contained anti-party,

alien and outright hostile elements.

Our basic duty, comrades,

is to trust and help the party.

Comrade Lewen’s speech

was deeply true and justified.

I wonder, however, why is it
so easy to change one’s views.

Comrade Lewen should say:

“Learn, comrades.

The party, the working class
should learn from my mistakes”.

But he didn’t say that.

Why Cracow?
They should go to Poronin!

I wanted to see you about Staś.

Everything is fine now.

Staś is a sensitive boy.
He finally understood.

What happened?

It concerned the arrest
of your elder son.

His colleagues from the youth
organization demanded

that Staś take
a standpoint in public.

You understand?

He was to speak
about it at a meeting.

The boys are very ideological.
Luckily everything ended well.

Staś got up and said that
he no longer had a brother.

He said that?

He said he didn’t want a brother
an enemy of People’s Poland.

He won’t be expelled!

Everything is...

You disowned your brother?

Yes.

You disowned your brother!

Calm down.

Mom! That’s Mr. Lewen!

It’s him!

No, it wasn’t him.

Wiktor would have dropped by.

- He’ll come. I’m sure he will.
- Yes, mom.

- Mother Most Pure.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Most Chaste.
- Pray for us.

- Mother of Christ.
- Pray for us.

- Mother of Divine Grace.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Immaculate.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Most Pure.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Most Amiable.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Most Chaste.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Untouched.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Most Amiable.
- Pray for us.

- Mother Most Wondrous.
- Pray for us.

- Mother of Good Counsel.
- Pray for us.

- Mother of Our Creator.
- Pray for us.

- Mother of Our Redeemer.
- Pray for us.

- Mother of Church.
- Pray for us.

“The interrogee Klemens Król
broke down

after being shown
materials indicating that

he was engaged
in spying for Grzegorz.

He said that it was hard
to believe that

people like Grzegorz
could harm the party.

He was informed that security
authorities have evidence

that Grzegorz cooperated
with the Gestapo.

The interrogee asked for

permission to write to his mother.

Permission was denied.

There are evident ties between
Grzegorz’s group and “Unity”,

a reactionary group of
the London government-in-exile,

headed during the occupation
by former MP Buchner”.

God, they fixed you up.

What did you tell them?

Speak. You can tell me.

I’ve been here several years.

In prison there is no difference
between Poles and Germans.

Here, drink this.

You were in Auschwitz?

Haven’t I seen you before?

You were interrogated in Warsaw!

Is it possible that you can curse
the best days of your life?

As a child I was taught to obey
authorities and carry out orders.

Now I’ve been tried by foreigners.

They don’t understand Germans.

They show me
ten thousand Jews and Poles killed.

I was just carrying out orders!

Help!

No, that’s not right.

You shouldn’t tell Klemens
what happened.

Write that everything is fine.
He needs good news.

Say that Roman is working,
Staś is studying.

- Send him our love.
- OK.

- Mom?
- Yes?

We need to talk to Lewen.
Only he can help.

Wiktor will help.
We have to wait.

He’ll let us know
if he has any news.

You’re drinking again?
You’re impossible.

Mom, Zenek is right.

We need to talk to Lewen.

Maybe Marta can do something.
Talk to her.

Klemens is my brother.
I’ll have problems all my life.

What are you saying?

I tried hard to get
something from life.

Meetings, work. Work, meetings.

I was as faithful to the party
as a dog.

Don’t you get it?
If I fall, no one will spare me.

- Łucja Król?
- Yes.

- It’s about your son.
- What is it?

You won’t have to feed him.
Your papers, please.

Where did he sleep?
Where are his things?

He didn’t sleep here.
His things are not here.

We’ll check.

What do you want?

You’ve tormented him enough.
Get out!

Calm down.

- Your son didn’t sleep here?
- No.

- He told us he lives here.
- When? It was a long time ago.

Really?
Staś Król, 19 years old...

Are you OK?

Mom! You don’t look too good.

Why did you do it, son?

Will I serve time?

The lawyer said you’ll get out.
After the trial.

You won’t graduate this year.

You’ll go back to school
in autumn.

Everybody in school
feels sorry for you.

Promise you’ll never do anything
like this again.

Even Zenon forgave you.
At first he was mad at you.

You know what, mom?
I won’t go back to school.

Don’t speak to me like that!
Don’t!

I’ll tell you something.

I gave it a lot of thought.
Listen.

I know...

- What?
- Visiting time is over!

Go on, son. Tell me!

Tell me!

Sir!

Please save him.
He’s a good kid.

Good? He took part in a robbery.

Staś wasn’t aware.

They all say that.

They robbed because
they saw how it’s done.

Did anybody show
those kids a different way?

You talk like a gang leader.

That’s the excuse they give.
Don’t get hysterical.

I have two sons in prison.

It’s normal nowadays.

I don’t have any money.

Excuse me.

If he were alive, he’d help us.

Let him rest in peace.

He wouldn’t understand
what’s going on.

I’m sure he’d tell me
if it was my fault or not.

The defendant...

Staś Król.
Please stand up.

Do you plead guilty?

Yes.

I feel morally responsible
for what happened.

My friends were
under my influence.

Nothing justifies what I did.

I ask for the highest sentence.

Your friends claim that you
joined them at the last moment.

That you tried to stop
them from robbing the store.

And now you want to take
the whole blame on yourself?

I couldn’t abandon them.

I will allow further evidence.

The court will hear a witness
without oath-taking.

What can you tell us?

I was passing by and noticed
this guy here in front of a shop.

He was making signs to me.

“What is the problem?”, I asked.
“Nothing”, he said.

I reprimanded him
and he just laughed at me.

So I asked him:
“Why are you fooling around?”

The defendant pointed
behind him and said:

“They’re robbing a store”.

Why did you do that?

I did my citizen’s duty.

What if the policeman
was not passing by?

Do you intend to continue school?

Of course.

What would you like to do
after graduation?

I want to be a citizen
of People’s Poland.

You know, Zenon...

The more I think about it,
the more doubts I have.

They must have a reason.

What reason?
They’re doing one another in.

They don’t put people
to prison for nothing.

Klemens must have been
mixed up in something.

Go and rat on me!
Somebody rat on him!

Stop it.

You think I’m not human?

You think I’m a swine?
We all have the same mother.

You, me, Staś and Klemens.

Look at her.

Look what they did to her.

Will you put up a word
for Klemens with Lewen?

No.

I don’t want you to go there.

The party doesn’t accuse
people for no reason.

Wait!

I’m sure he didn’t know
what he was doing.

He got involved in something
during the occupation.

But now we’re fighting
for our ideology!

We must take responsibility
for what we did or didn’t do.

Klemens taught me
to trust the party.

Can’t you understand?

No.
I don’t understand.

Girl, what have they done to you?

In my world a woman
always stood up for her man!

Let’s go, mother.

It’s Łucja Król speaking.
I’m here to see comrade Lewen.

No, I don’t have an appointment.
I’m sure he’ll see me.

OK. I’ll wait.

Is comrade Lewen...?

Yes. I’ll wait.

You won’t get in without a pass.

If they don’t know who you are,
it’s no use waiting.

I have lots of time. I’ll wait.

Eventually they’ll come down.

They’ll take the back stairs.

Comrade, please leave.

- Why?
- Everybody is gone.

It’s Łucja Król.

Please leave!

He went out?
I’ve been waiting.

Who does he think he is!
How long can a person wait?

“In course of the investigation
the interrogee Klemens Król

admitted his guilt in the murder
of comrade Kogut.

He expressed his regret.

‘I was a passive tool in the hands
of the government-in-exile group

and I’m responsible for his death’.

Are you surprised?
We were.

Capitulation is hard.

But we’re not completely sure.

This testimony is a shock for us.

Come in.

Comrade Lewen, you were close
to him during the occupation.

Nothing raised your suspicion?

No.

Think about it. Well?

No.

Why don’t you trust us?

We’re an organ of people’s power.
Don’t keep secrets from us.

Is that clear?

Yes.

What is this all about?

We have information.

Do you remember who Klemens Król
contacted before the war?

He was just a kid.

- So you don’t remember?
- No.

Come in.

Do you remember
the dentist’s room?

Before the war you admitted
in my presence that

you had contacts with Buchner.

Thank you.

When did you first meet Buchner?

“I, the undersigned Łucja Król,
residing at Solec Street in Warsaw,

am writing to you, Mr. President,
with a request regarding

my imprisoned son Klemens.

I don’t know what he is guilty of.

I don’t know his whereabouts.
Nobody informed me.

My son is a member of the party.

He was in a Gestapo prison
and in Auschwitz.

He served in the army
and studied in a party school.

They say that simple people
are going to live better now.

Why am I suffering?

I am sure my son has been
accused unfairly.

I appeal to you, Mr. President,

if you cherish the memory
of your late mother,

to look into my problem
and resolve this injustice.

MP Wiktor Lewen can vouch
for my son Klemens.

He is a member of the party.
Respectfully yours, Łucja Król”.

Let us unite our efforts under
the leadership of the working class.

Long live
the worker-peasant alliance!

It’s you.

Is anything wrong?

We heard you got an apartment.

- Who told you?
- Zenon.

Let’s go, mother.

Come in, mom.
Please.

- This is the small baby room.
- Great!

I’ll show you around.
This large room is for my wife.

Over there is the maid’s room
and my study.

A study?
I didn’t know you did any work.

A nice study indeed!

You’re drunk as a skunk!

You have a maid’s room?

What about a room for your mother?

Zenon!

Soon you’ll have a separate
room for your awards.

Lay off!

Zenon! Go home!

Out!

Some respect!

“The interrogee Klemens Król
withdrew his testimony.

He claims that all the evidence
against him has been falsified.

He was confronted
with his wife Marta.

When she said that she carried
out Grzegorz’s instructions,

he replied: ‘ They deceived you’.

He heard Lewen’s statement
about his contacts with Buchner,

and about Buchner’s contacts
with comrade Kogut,

who was killed in his presence.

He reacted:

‘Even if my mother told me
I was a traitor,

you’ll never break me’.

Therefore the trial of Grzegorz
and his collaborators

will have to be postponed
to a later date”.

- Please eat something.
- What’s your point?

You haven’t taken
in any food for a week.

My dress!

What have you done?
I have a date tonight.

Don’t be upset.
You’ll have a great date.

They’re deceiving us.

Do you understand?
They’re deceiving us.

Who are “they”?

For thirty years
I used to say “we”.

But in each of us there
is somebody else.

So I say “they”.
“They” means “us”.

You think you’re not involved?

Why don’t we know things
everybody is talking about?

Everybody except us.

We don’t know because
we don’t want to know.

You have no right to say that.

What about Klemens Król?
Does that ring a bell?

I know he’s dying.

He was beaten at interrogations.

The blood of our blood.
The hope of our party.

He’s dying and keeping silent.
The doctor gave him pain killers.

She was fired for being biased
towards prisoners.

I can’t go on like this.

Do something. Call somebody.

Appeal. Make a speech.

Klemens Król...

It’s not possible.

You don’t believe me?
What are you hanging on to?

What have you got left?

Memories? An apartment? A car?

Your desk with telephones?

You’re afraid of disgrace?

It’s too late.
Simple people despise us.

Do something!

I will.

I will. Thank you.

WE WANT PEACE, WE FIGHT FOR PEACE,
WE’LL DEFEND PEACE

Staś!

Staś!

All aboard!

Staś!

Mom!

Mom! Don’t worry!
I’ll be back!

Don’t forget about Klemens!

Klemens!

“This case must be seen

as a manifestation of unusual
resistance,

never met in practice before.

The last interrogation
lasted all night.

The interrogee uttered
the following words,

which he repeated many times:

‘I’m going to bear everything.

I can’t give in.

I won’t betray my party’.

He asked to say goodbye
from him to his mother,

wife and brothers.

The interrogation officer
said he could see his family

when he signs his testimony.

The interrogee refused,
saying that it would deprive

him of the right to see
anybody anymore.

This is what he said
about Wiktor Lewen:

‘I owe him who I am.

If it wasn’t for comrade Lewen,
I would be lost today.

You won’t make me slander him’.

Klemens Król went on a hunger
strike and died of exhaustion”.

Long live Wiesław Gomułka!

“Dear Mr. First Secretary.

I, Łucja Król, am writing
this letter to you.

I have to leave my apartment
because it’s too big.

That’s what I was told in a letter
from the housing office.

I can’t. I’m waiting for my sons
Klemens and Staś to return home.

If I move out,
they won’t find their mother”.

You had a tough life.

Not as tough as others.

Cast

English subtitles: Iwona Morenc
STUDIO PUBLISHING