Original subtitles

SON OF THE WHITE MARE

In memory of the Scythians, Huns, Avars and other nomadic peoples.

Once upon a time,

in a land far, far from here,

almost at the gates of Hell,

there stood a tall Turkey oak tree.

It had 77 roots and 77 branches.

On the 77 roots stood 77 dragons.

On the 77 branches sat 77 crows...

If you don't listen to my story, may 77 dragons steal your soul,

and 77 crows peck out your eyes!

Once upon a time,

there was a King.

And his Queen...

and...

they had three sons, each of them tall and strong.

Your Royal Highness, dear father... We were thinking...

Give us our fair share!

Dear father and mother, our King and Queen,

we would like to get married.

You may have your share of the kingdom. My palaces are open to you.

But do not enter those,

which are closed and locked!

There was a grand wedding banquet, behind the beyond.

And they lived happily, showered with love and peace...

until death tore them apart.

For the newly-wedded wives were too nosy!

They ignored the King's warning, and broke the Dragon's chains.

And hell was unleashed upon us...

The white mare had given birth twice,

but nobody knew where her sons had gone.

And then the mare became pregnant for a third time.

You cannot provide milk for a third son,

and so, your life ends here.

The white mare ran into the deep forest, and hid in a big hollow tree.

And that's where she gave birth.

A boy was born.

My dearest mother, let me go!

I'll settle those dragons once and for all!

All right.

Can you see that big tree, my son?

Let me see how strong you are!

Can you pull it up by the roots?

God bless you, Grandfather.

It's fortunate you're able to call me "Grandfather."

My son...

Why are you crying?

What's wrong?

My dear Grandfather, I wish I was strong enough

to pull out the biggest tree by its roots

and play with it like a stick.

Don't cry, my son.

You are very young.

Just go home.

And tell your mother

to nurse you...

for seven more years.

Then you will become much stronger.

Try to shake that tree once every single year.

And you will see that as the years go by,

and the stronger you become, the more it will move.

Mom!

Mom!

Mom!

Mom...

Mom, an old man told me to ask you to nurse me for... seven more years.

All right, my dear, go ahead.

I hope there will be enough milk for you.

Grandfather!

Grandfather!

My dear son.

I can see that you are trying hard.

Tell your mother to nurse you for seven more years.

Then you will be able to shake the tree one-handed.

You are a big boy, my son.

And my back hurts so much.

But I'm going to nurse you, whatever it takes.

Mom! Look, Mom!

Dear son, I'm dying!

Put it down! Heaven will fall upon us!

Mother!

You, Treeshaker...

Now you are strong enough.

Go to the Underworld.

I...

I'm going to die.

Mother.

Dear mother...

Mother!

Hey you! What are you doing?

Leave those mountains alone!

Watch out or you'll be the one rolling around!

Alright, I'm ready for you.

- Let's see who's stronger. - All right.

I'm a strong man, but you're even stronger.

Don't hit me, Treeshaker!

I'll be your loyal companion.

- "Treeshaker?" How do you know me? - I've heard about you.

You pull up trees, as easily as women pull up hemp in the summer.

Oh, and also we're brothers.

How is that?

From both sides. From our mother's and father's side.

From the white mare's lap.

Put it here, brother!

What's brought you here, ummm...?

My name is Stonecrumbler.

Well Stonecrumbler, what brought you here?

The same thing that brought you here, Treeshaker.

All right, my friend. Let's go together.

But two of us will not be enough.

- We must find a third companion. - I have a good brother.

Not far from here. He's at the foot of the Iron Mountains.

He tempers iron in a forge.

All right, let's have a drink to celebrate.

You've had enough for today, my friend.

Gah! That's hot!

My brother must be tempering the iron. Look, there he is!

God bless you!

God bless you, Irontemperer!

God bless you too, Treeshaker!

What brings you here?

I... um...

We are going to try our luck in the Underworld.

Do you want to come with us?

I will go with you, my friend.

But first I want to know who is the strongest among us.

Who is going to lead us?

Let's wrestle!

You see? I could've killed you if I wanted to.

Come and join us.

Give me your hand.

Yes, my friend, you are indeed the strongest among us.

Stonecrumbler and I will follow you.

Let's swear brotherhood.

We will vow to stay together at all costs.

My dear brothers, my mother told me

that the fairy princesses have been kidnapped by dragons.

We must find the hole the dragons used to enter the Underworld.

I would say...

Let's go that way.

Wait for me!

Wait for me!

Just... wait for me!

We'll set up camp here.

And we can start looking for the dragon's trail.

My friend, Stonecrumbler,

you were the first one I asked to join me.

So I ask you first to stay home, cook lunch and make a rope.

Hello, Stonecrumbler.

I am the seven-colored Gnome, my beard is as long as a hoe!

- What are you cooking? - Porridge.

- Can I have some? - No, you can't.

Then I will eat it off your belly!

H-h-have as much as you want!

Yummy, yummy!

Yummy.

Have you found anything, Irontemperer?

Not even a tiny mousehole.

What happened to you, Stonecrumbler?

You didn't make a rope, or cook the food!

So your belly hurts. Have you eaten our lunch?

My brother, Irontemperer, you were the second I asked to join me.

This time you will stay home to cook lunch and make a rope.

- Hello, Irontemperer. - Hello.

I am the seven-colored Gnome, my beard is as long as a hoe!

- What are you working on? - I'm making a rope.

I can see that! But what are you cooking?

Porridge.

- Can I have some? - No way, Gnome!

Then I will eat it off your belly!

No use crying, it's too late now.

I'm already eating! You can have some after me.

Are you sitting in our food?

I am sick, I've fallen ill.

I finished the rope! Don't you dare!

All right, friends, today I am going to stay home.

And you're going to look for that hole.

Good day to you, Treeshaker.

Good day to you, my friend.

I am the...

...Gnome...

Where was I...? Oh, yes, what are you cooking?

- Porridge. - Can I have some?

I'm going to have an even better lunch than the past two days.

I don't think so. I need it for my friends and I.

Then I'll eat it off your belly!

No way! You've had a feast for two days.

You've had the porridge off my friend's bellies.

You're not gonna have it off mine.

Hey! What are you doing to me?

Let me go! It's not nice to treat an old man like this!

You asked for it, buddy.

Hurry up! I've been waiting for you guys.

- You're not feeling ill? - No.

- Have you finished cooking the porridge? - Yes!

All right, let's eat!

My friends, I have found the entrance to the Underworld.

He was the one that showed me the way!

Have you got a knife, Irontemperer?

Oh, no, let me keep my power!

I'm begging you! No!

Nooo!

Irontemperer, you have strong arms.

Make me a strong sword!

Irontemperer, it's no good.

Make me a stronger one! A sword that won't break.

Irontemperer, you're a terrible blacksmith.

This sword...

...will not...

...break...

...in two...

...ever...

...again!

All right, my brothers, that won't be coming back anytime soon.

Hit it and chop it, my little sword!

Back to the sheath, my little sword.

Now it's strong enough, my friend!

Come on friends, let's go down one by one.

One of us will go down first to look around.

Who will it be?

Is this rope strong enough?

Don't worry, I weaved it, not you!

Pull me up!

Pull me up!

There are so many nasty creatures down there,

they almost pecked out my eyes.

It was so dark, I couldn't see my own hands.

"I couldn't see my own hands." You coward!

Send me down.

A thousand devils wouldn't frighten me.

Hey!

Hey, come on!

All right, I'll try my luck.

Pull me up if I shake the rope three times.

Hello, Gnome!

- Behave yourself! - Give me back my beard, please.

I can hardly walk.

My beard held what little strength I had.

You don't need it, my friend. And it will grow back, won't it?

I'll give you whatever you want, just let me have my beard back.

I'll give it back.

I'll give it back if you show me

the palace where the eldest princess lives.

I'll show it to you! Look to the right!

There is a revolving copper castle on the top of that mountain.

You can see it shining from here.

The eldest princess lives there.

But it's useless for you to go there.

Get off me, Gnome!

It's pointless, I tell you! You won't be able to enter...

It keeps spinning, and there's no way to stop it!

And a three-headed dragon guards the castle!

Castle, stop spinning! Or else, I'll destroy you!

Good day and God bless you!

What brought you here?

No soul ever comes here.

I am here...

I've come for you.

Oh just get lost, before my husband comes home.

My husband is the three-headed dragon.

And when he gets home, he'll kill you.

I don't care how many heads he has!

And how do you even know he's on his way home?

Woman!

I smell a stranger here.

Come on, you can't smell anything.

Whenever you get home, you always smell strangers.

Oh...

...my brother has come to visit us.

Well then, let's fight on the copper field!

By sword or by hand?

Let's wrestle.

That seems like a better idea.

Then come on, brother-in-law!

Oh, my sweet savior.

My father will grant you my hand in marriage

and you'll get half of his kingdom.

Get your stuff and let's go.

Where shall we go, my sweet savior?

You have two sisters down here who were also kidnapped by dragons!

Fine, let's go and save them.

Go and hide in the forest.

Castle, stop spinning!

Or else, I'll destroy you!

You are not my master, you cannot give me orders.

If I weren't your master, I wouldn't give you orders!

Greetings!

What brought you here? No soul ever comes here.

I've come for you.

Oh just get lost, before my husband comes home.

My husband is the seven-headed dragon.

He can throw his club from seven miles. When he gets home...

...he'll kill me, I know.

Yes, he'll kill you, right away.

My dear, I don't care how many heads he has.

Just give me something to eat.

I'm starving.

Who's here? I'll tear him apart!

There's nobody here.

Nobody?

My dear husband, don't hurt him! That's my brother, he came for a visit!

Oh, all right then! Nice to see you, brother-in-law.

Hey brother, that's a strong grip you have!

All right, let's have something to eat...

Shall we?

Go ahead.

Well then, brother, let's wrestle!

You dog! You must die!

My silver field is waiting for you.

Are you running away?

Ouch! Where are you going, my sweet savior?

On to your other sister.

Don't even think about it!

Her husband is the twelve-headed dragon!

He can throw his club from twelve miles away.

When he gets home...

Just show me the way to the third castle.

Castle, stop spinning! Or else, I'll destroy you!

I'm getting tired of this...

Good day and God bless you.

What brought you here? No soul ever comes here.

I've come for you.

Oh, my sweet savior.

Drink this potion, my love.

My husband's strength comes from it.

Drink up, every last drop.

My dear husband, do not be mad at him.

He has thrown your club so that you would know you have a guest.

I'm not mad, I have many more.

I know you, Treeshaker, Son of the White Mare.

I've known ever since you were just a tiny fetus

in your mother's womb, that someday we would do battle.

You have killed two of my brothers.

Even if you have a thousand lives, you'll die for this.

But first, let's have something to eat. Then we'll fight.

I see, you already ate my food and drank my wine.

Let's see, then, how strong you are. Join me on the golden field.

I can't go with you.

The rope might break, or my brothers won't be strong enough.

I'll go after you.

Dear God! How am I going to get up out of here?

The same way that you came down.

I won't!

My brothers threw me back down here to die.

They don't want me to get out of here, but I'm smarter!

I've tried my luck, and it's been

exactly as I expected!

If you give my beard back to me... as you promised.

I'll give it back to you as I no longer need it.

There is a high mountain nearby.

A huge griffin lives on top.

If you ask that old griffin, she will take you back up.

Thank you. Thank you, Gnome.

Please, tell me...

how can I repay you...

for saving...

my nestlings?

I just want you to take me up to the other world!

I would take you,

but I'm afraid I don't have the strength to make it that far.

But if you get me twelve oxen

and twelve barrels of wine,

then I'll be able to make it.

Thank you, Treeshaker, Son of the White Mare.

You've killed the three dragons and the snake.

I used to be the king of this world.

And now I have my power back.

I can see you brought everything I asked for.

Put them up on my back and we can leave right away.

- Are you ready? - I'm ready!

What was the last thing you fed me?

If I'd only known your flesh would give me such strength...

But you have been so generous in saving my life,

that in return I'll give back your leg!

Don't hurt them! They're innocent.

- Please, Treeshaker! Forgive us! - No! Wait! Don't hurt us!

We didn't let you down! It was too heavy!

Forgive me, my friends.

I beg you to forgive me.

Son of the White Mare, known as Treeshaker,

and his brothers got into an eggshell and rolled

to their home on the diamond fields,

where they loved in perfect bliss and harmony,

and lived happily ever after.

Based on Hungarian folktales.

Directed by Marcell Jankovics