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The Ox

A true story told by Sven Nykvist...

No!

Have you gone out of your mind Helge?

What am l to do? We have to eat.

How could you? How could you do it... to Svenning?

Svenning has another one. We must survive.

Help me.

Stop whimpering and help me.

What's done is done.

Help me. You don't want Anna to fall ill and die do you?

Dear friends.

In times of hunger and need there aren't many good tidings.

"When were we last blessed with good news" we ask ourselves.

The meager crops which we've had for the past two years now

have resulted in sickness and unrest throughout the country.

Right here in our parish the old and young are dying.

Evil and false rumors are going around

promising abundance and easy gain elsewhere in the world.

lt is of the utmost importance that we are not led astray.

We who have remained are needed here.

Thank you.

Thanks Helge. I'll take care of the rest.

They're waiting for you. Svenning is waiting on the coachbox.

Merry Christmas Helge.

-Merry Christmas. -l appreciate your help.

Soon you can slaughter the fatted calf and make yourselves merry!

-You said that last year... -Do you not believe me?

Thunder sounded when winter began. That is a good sign!

But in America there is but coughing and pissing of blood.

Have you had your Christmas stirring yet? If not come to me!

What is the matter?

Can't you even keep your peace on a day like today?

I'm afraid we'll have to make do with what little food we have.

-You look pale Elfrida. -She doesn't get much sleep.

The baby cries and fusses. She's hungry too l suppose.

And for you a little comb.

-Here's a nice present for you. -Thank you.

Shall we see if there is something else for you?

-There. - And this is for you. -Thank you.

And some milk for Anna. - Merry Christmas Anna.

l can't take you on right away as things are. l can't afford it.

Maybe in the summer.

Svenning what have you done with the other ox?

What are you saying?

There's only one out there. They usually stay together.

What a time to disappear!

-I'll tell them. -Do you want Anna to die?

Helge we'll go look in the bog. You know where they normally are.

l think Anna's running a temperature.

She is not well.

We'd better go home.

l want you to know that we'll do our best to help you.

Thank you.

I'm sure they'll find the ox soon and Helge will come back.

Merry Christmas.

We'll have to stop. It'll be dark soon.

Why don't we go look near Krokhult? That's where it came from.

Come on.

We didn't find it.

We have sinned before God...

... before the law...

... and before Svenning our own master.

We could at least have asked him first.

You knew that we would both be guilty in the eyes of the Lord.

You should have asked the vicar...

Be quiet!

What do you want me to do? Give them back the meat?

Eat slowly so that you don't throw up.

Eat so that you can suckle her.

Salt. We need a lot of salt. Otherwise it will spoil.

-How do you do vicar. -How do you do Flykt.

-Knives? Axes? -I'll wait till after the holidays.

-l know who stole the ox. -Do you now?

Roos. Helge Roos.

lmplacability leads nowhere. Do not deepen the enmity between you two!

That old story about Roos' wife is a thing of the past.

Leave her alone and you will all be happier.

l saw him in a pasture a few days ago stealing the salt of the cows.

What do you think he needs that for vicar?

l don't think you should cast the first stone. Goodbye.

I'm a little short of money but...

No credit I'm sorry.

They've been broke for six months. Now they're off to America.

I'll give you credit. Long credit against the clock and the spoons.

Don't stay here Silver. l don't want you around.

You do not look so bad Roos. You seem to have all you want.

We mustn't eat anything today. We're starting to look too healthy.

Svenning is coming.

l can smell real food.

lt's a hare. l finally caught a hare.

-Do you want to join us? -No save it for your own family.

I'll be eating at home soon. But...

We have to fetch timber tomorrow. Could you lend us a hand?

Yes.

Good.

Enjoy your meal.

Off you go.

Go on! Go on you lazy ox!

If we don't get it to the mill we'll lose our winter income.

-Can't we lighten the load? -That damned thief.

If l got my hands on him I'd give him hell!

Have l done anyone wrong? ls it some sort of revenge?

-ls Abraham Larsson present? -Yes.

And how about Flykt the soldier?

-The drunk got lost on the way here. -And on the way to the war too.

And Märta daughter of Daniel with her daughter... Britta?

Yes.

Our congregation gets smaller every week but we have a newcomer.

Anna daughter of Helge and Elfrida Roos. Born on October 1 2th last year.

l suppose nobody knows where the farm-hand Johan Nilsson is.

l saw him in Seftabo. lt's true! Selling all sorts of things...

Are you ill? Helge!

They stare as if l were a killer...

"Give us today our daily bread." What is that Silver?

All the necessities of life.

Food and drink and money and clothes.

Woolen cloths and linen and buttons and smelling salt.

Brass buttons and nice weather and respectability...

Thank you that's very good.

Who can tell me the 7th commandment? Kajsa Johansdotter?

-"Thou shalt not steal." -What does that mean Jöns Petter?

We shall fear and love God so that we not

by trading deceitfully rob our neighbour

of his money and possessions...

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against the wife of thy neighbour."

"And thou shalt not kill..." be it one thing or another.

l know of someone who... has done both this and that.

l know.

l know!

Not only Flykt goes his own way.

lt looks as if one of Svenning's oxen has gone off on its own.

Let us hope it can be replaced or found.

Helge.

l know that you are not an evil person.

Get away from here!

Damnation!

-That's why the dogs went wild. -lt must be God's will.

God has nothing to do with it. We just didn't have enough salt.

Not all the salt in the world could have prevented it from spoiling.

We'll just have to starve again then.

-What's that? -Some bread and butter.

Have you been out begging?

We have to live.

But we don't beg!

-That's all we have left. -We can't eat that.

There's the market in Jönköping.

Maybe we can sell it there.

-l might meet someone l know. -Not if you take the cattle paths.

You'll only meet cattle there. The market is in a week.

-I'll think about it. -What else can we do?

l said I'd think about it!

Good afternoon.

-What do you want? -Can l have a drink of water?

-l've been walking all day. -l don't have any water here.

There's a pail there. You're welcome to fetch some.

-Thank you. -Before you leave...

Would you please read this to me? My eyesight is very bad.

lt's from America.

"Minnesota March 4th 1868.

My beloved wife. We are of sound health.

We hope that the Lord has granted you the same good fortune.

At the very bottom of your trunk...

At the very bottom l ask you to place the order bill."

Helge?

l thought it was you Helge.

-Where are you off to? -I'm going to the market.

Really? So am l. Why don't you go with me?

Yes...

-Why are you going there? -l was forced to...

To what?

May the Lord forgive you Helge. I'm speechless.

What are we going to do about it?

Won't you finish the letter?

Go ahead finish reading it.

"... and the three pairs..."

"... of long underwear l didn't think... I'd need over here.

But which l do need.

All my love. May the Lord watch over you.

Gustaf Samuel."

We'd better go to the courthouse at once. You do understand.

We have to settle this matter.

l was on my way to the governor to ask for relief.

And then this happens.

First-rate silver and copper. Half price!

Hurry up and buy some before it's all gone.

Come near dear friends!

You'd better take that with you.

Easy now.

Helge...

How could you do this to Svenning Gustavsson Helge?

-He's done so much for you. -l thought "we're going to die".

And then it was like l was someone else.

Someone else held the sledgehammer.

Are you blaming the devil?

Think Helge.

If we were all to go around slaughtering in times of hardship...

In the end we wouldn't restrict ourselves to the cattle.

We'd slaughter each other.

We have to gather strength and courage to fight evil.

-Don't we? -Yes.

-You confess? -Yes.

Have you anything to say for yourself?

Yes...

You see...

Have you or have you not anything to say for yourself?

Not.

Next.

lt'll be all right. With God's help.

Roos Helge Wilhelm.

The sentence of the court is:

Helge Roos has confessed that he unlawfully slaughtered and ate an ox.

lt was his attention to sell the hide at the market in Jönköping.

In accordance with chapter 40 section 3

and chapter 43 section 1

he shall be punished by flogging 40 blows

and subsequently forced labor for life.

Take the prisoner away and execute the sentence.

I'll do everything in my power to have the verdict changed.

-l hadn't expected a life sentence. -Don't tell Elfrida about it.

No.

No!

-So who the hell are you? -Roos Helge Roos.

That is not something to look forward to.

Well Helge... Tell me about your misfortune.

l killed an ox.

l suppose you'll get out before Christmas then.

I'm in for life.

Oh for life. Because of an ox?

Christ! - Did you hear him?

-He's in for life because of an ox! -Shut up! I'm trying to sleep.

l just wanted some food for the child.

The child? What a bloody injustice.

A life sentence is a very long time. At least in this hole.

If you want to stay alive then just mind your own business.

You can't come in without permission.

Permission? Why? You and l are best friends.

Go away.

Look what l have here.

The infant hasn't eaten for several days l suspect.

You've stolen it from one of our traps.

There now little girl.

l know what you need now that you won't see your man anymore.

By now the whole parish knows that he's in for life.

Come now Elfrida. l've seen the eyes you have been making at me.

l know what promises they hold.

Elfrida? Come in...

-Why...? -Go inside.

Why didn't you tell me that Helge got the life sentence?

My dear Elfrida it was Helge's own request. To make it easier for you.

Can't you help me please? l have to go and see him.

People in Helge's situation aren't allowed to have visitors.

l would never forgive myself if anything happened...

Elfrida! I'll try to persuade them to reduce the sentence.

Elfrida don't give up! l promise to do my utmost.

-Stop! What have you got there? -Clothes! Are you planning to escape?

-No. -What's this then?

-Who does it belong to? -Somebody put it there.

The one with the red beard.

-Fucking informer! -Traitor!

-Squealer! -Just wait...

You'll pay for this!

Traitor!

What are you doing? What are you up to?

Karlsborg September 1 4th 1868.

My dear beloved wife...

I'm writing this letter full of grief

In Karlsborg Prison.

Forgive me.

The awful thought of havlng left you and little Anna in poverty

tortures my soul.

Not untill now do l see what a terrible thing l did to Svenning.

l owe him a tremendous apology.

My days here are long and strenuous. And the nights are far too short.

I'm constantly tired and drowsy.

As I'm an upstart I'm a victim of the others ill will every day.

My warmest love to you dear wife and my daughter Anna. Helge.

Do you want some food?

We are decent navvies. There's no need to be shy.

We'd better find you another job.

-He deserves a harsh punishment. -Yes but life sentence?

His wife and child can not survive on air alone.

He worked here for 8 years was like a son to me and yet he did this...

l do not want to sign a petition.

-Sometimes we suffer without cause. -Without cause?

The future of my farm is at stake. Why should l be punished?

l just want a fair treatment.

For whom? Helge or me? Can you tell me that?

The spiteful believes himself just.

But in the eyes of the Lord we are all sinners Svenning.

And as for Helge and Elfrida l ask you to have mercy on them.

Do not punish them further.

Almighty God. Forgive us our sins.

Show your great and unfathomable mercy.

For the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Help us mend our ways

and grant us eternal life with Him.

Amen.

Come on.

I'm convinced that if we all joined forces

we could put together a petition and send it to the courthouse.

-Do you want my name vicar? -Yes please.

-Are you willing to help? -Sure.

I'd like to send the petition as quickly as possible.

Roos!

Roos you rascal.

l haven't seen you outside. Are you on bread and water?

Or is it true you're at the blacksmith's now?

Do you think you can earn your freedom?

-Why are you here? -Sins of the flesh Roos.

Too many womenfolk about. Not fitting for a soldier.

Your wife sends her greetings.

Believe it or not we're the best of friends now.

Believe me or not but she gave me soup last week.

She gave a treat of a dessert...

You are incurable... Swine!

Elfrida! Here you are pillaging the garbage like a beggar.

l always thought you were a wise and proud woman.

l am so sorry that Svenning can't forgive you.

-I'd like to help you. -l can't accept any help.

Not even if it was offered.

l beg of you. Go and talk to the vicar.

Elmostorp. May 1 9th 1 869.

My dear beloved Helge.

My eyes overflow with tears

at the thought that we'll never see each other again in this life.

I'll do my best to help Anna remember her father.

The vlcar has managed to get me some work for the other peasants.

He says he hasn't lost hope that Svenning will forgive you.

What you did killing the ox

has given me food for a great deal of thought lately.

Forgive me for harbouring doubts for so long.

l know lt's a great sacrlflce to act against one's conscience.

l wish you God's peace and blessings.

My dearest and most heartfelt wishes for you my dear husband.

Elfrida and Anna.

That's right...

Come on.

That's good.

Good.

Yes...

At last there's a man in the house again.

Helge.

lt's good to see you again Helge.

l got special permission to come and see you today.

l wanted to tell you personally that a retrial is under way at last.

-There's just one obstacle. -How are they vicar?

-Anna and Elfrida? -They're well looked after.

-But there is just one thing... -Have they been ill?

Don't worry. They're fine.

But listen to me now. We only need Svenning's signature.

When l get that it's a question of days before the verdict is changed.

Tell me about Anna vicar. She must have grown.

She's scampering about playing and laughing l suppose.

-ls she happy? -Yes.

Yes Helge she's a fine little girl.

Will you give Elfrida this?

lt's a cross.

Tell her that...

... it's from the bottom of my heart.

l have asked everyone to try to understand and forgive you.

l've asked them to help me persuade Svenning to sign.

There aren't many left in the parish

but most of them are willing to do what they can.

As long as your are set free Helge.

I'll convey them your gratitude.

And tell them you look forward to coming home.

"My dear beloved Flykt. You haven't written to me for a long time."

Let me see!

I'm not going to show you my love letters. lt's a woman from back home.

She's married but writes anyway. You probably know her.

Give me that letter.

Jesus! He is growing horns like the devil himself!

lt's my letter. Give it to me!

"Thou shalt not steal." Or so it says in the Scripture.

-"Thou shalt not kill" either. -Give it to me or else!

Open your mouth! Give me the letter!

-Give it to him! -Yeah kill him!

-Kill the bastard! -Give it to me! Open your mouth!

Yeah that's good! A fucking squealer!

Karlsborg May 20th 18 73.

My unspeakably beloved wife.

The act which set us apart keeps haunting my thoughts.

Maybe we would have managed on relief.

But l was so worried that Anna might get sick.

l also remember that l had been feeling ill at ease for some time.

We were getting on each other's nerves because of the starvation.

l should have foreseen that l couldn't get away with lt

and that l would be punished severely.

And that lt would end up hurting you and Anna... later on.. and terribly.

But what l don't understand ls that when the vicar caught me

l was relieved as if a great load had been taken off my back.

l still hope my sentence will be reduced.

l can't stand much more. Pray for me.

All my love to you my dear wife Elfrida and Anna Helge.

Roos Helge Wilhelm.

Both the commander and myself can attest that

you have behaved as they say "properly and in an orderly fashion".

Except for that incident not so long ago.

This decision is based on the recommendation of my superiors.

They release you from your duties at the state prison.

In other words you're a free man.

The plaintiff Svenning Gustavsson has signed the petition too.

lt rather seems as if the sentence was a bit severe.

Come and dance with me.

She's afraid of me. lt's been too long.

Yes...

Too long.

Who is the boy?

Who is the boy?

Who is he?

lt was a navvy...

We'd have been dead otherwise.

What... what is this?

What is all this?

-What is all this? -The peasants paid my work with that.

Did he give you these too?

ls this his chair?

You probably lay there laughing at that imprisoned idiot!

Lying there with your legs in the air!

-Are you back already? -We have to find Helge.

He's back and they've argued about the boy.

Helge?

Helge!

At last Helge. Welcome home.

l suppose you've been home. Come and sit down Helge.

-I'm going to America. l can't stay. -You mustn't do anything rash.

Listen to me. lt's so easy to condemn people. You should know.

You acted as you did to save Anna.

And so did Elfrida.

l was imprisoned.

But Elfrida has waited for so long not knowing if you would be freed.

Yet she hasn't stopped loving you. And now you have a son.

He can't help the way he came about. And he needs a father.

-How can l stay here? -You're wrong Helge.

l've talked to everyone in the parish and they have forgiven you.

Now it's your turn to forgive.

You knew it all the time. But you never told me.

l trusted you vicar.

Would it have done you any good to know about it in prison?

Helge and Elfrida had eight children. They all behaved well.