Original subtitles

This is what I wrote in my diary:

"A soldier is warming himself in the sun.

"He is lying on the slope

"not far from the gate of the frontier post."

It is December,

and this is December 31st.

That winter, there were some sunny days.

It hardly ever snowed,

but there were some sunny days.

Because of this, all the passes

were open to traffic in all directions,

and none of us

could tell what each day would bring.

Meanwhile,

we had to get through the day.

Sooner or later, the year would finish,

and God willing, next year

it would all be

just memories -

memories of our dear ones, be they living

or dead.

His trench overlooks the Panjsher

and a foreign country.

And he himself is far from home.

This letter will take three months to arrive.

What time is it now?

- A quarter past four. - Thank you.

We often used to leave

the little valley, where the company

was stationed,

and climb, keeping strictly to the paths,

up and up...

Let's go the short way, shall we?

Can you imagine what your mum is doing today?

What would she be doing?

Celebrating New Year.

- Without you. - Yes.

We'll be stopping for a cigarette soon.

The hand with the stone means you have to do the carrying.

Have you got a stone?

If I get the stone, I'll do the carrying.

Otherwise, it's you.

- OK? - Yes, go on.

If there's a stone, I get to carry. If there's no stone, you do.

This one. You get to carry.

- No, you do! - What?

If you'd got the stone, you'd have had to carry.

But it's the other way round.

So, today you do the carrying.

In the mountains,

with each step we climbed

our lives were worth less and less,

but we prized them more and more.

You can't put anything in the drawer. It gets stolen.

One time, those big heavies

down by the river were on duty for 10 hours non-stop.

They were dropping with tiredness.

Let's make some tea right now.

The minute he got hold of it, it burst into flames.

The commander saw him, he was covered in dirt.

He told us to wash him.

Five of us had to scrub him with a rag in the WC.

But we managed it!

Come and eat, guys.

Come and eat.

Everyone must be responsible for himself.

Your section is well-organised.

Why give them back?

When I leave, each man must do his chores.

Everyone must have his responsibilities.

I'm a tank commander, so I'm responsible for my crew.

- I've found it! - Found what?

The shore!

Borya!

Stop it. I told you it had fallen.

Why didn't you pick it up?

Move a bit.

My family

still think I am in Altay.

- Where? - Altay.

My family don't know.

Most of us said nothing to our families.

I wrote I was going to be travelling around

in a car.

And that I'd be back in 4 months or so.

They'll be thinking, 4 months?

But he was supposed to be demobbed before New Year's Day?

According to my last letter, we're in Mongolia.

- What, you? - Yes.

I signed it.

They made me sign the contract.

The cook has done a good job.

The soup is excellent.

We're all cooks here.

Have some more.

No thanks.

Curtain, Elk 30 calling.

- Who is Elk? Curtain? - Curtain 30.

Situation normal here.

Have you got anything for me?

Yeah, a kilo of TNT.

A kilo of TNT.

A horned elk.

That's Bedin.

He hasn't been down here for a long time.

He earns too much.

He needed a sack to put it in.

He was paid for 2 months instead of one. Happy times!

Kesha, what's the matter?

No one wants to talk.

I'm fed up.

Why are you drinking it?

- Borya, look in the tub. - It must be half-full.

How much is there left in the tub?

There's still some.

About half.

Borya, bring me my bag.

- Your bag of medicines? - Yes.

- You want to take some? - Yes.

What do you want?

- To take some medicine. - For what?

My spots.

Fill the bowl half full.

Elk 30 calling, you're very faint.

Hearing you 2 out of 5.

I didn't get it.

This morning, he was loud and clear.

Now I can't hear a thing.

Perhaps there's no power.

So what? Their transmitter is crap.

The person in charge of this high mountain post

is allowed to have a personal dug-out

with a stove.

He is allowed to be alone, at least sometimes.

The night falls quickly.

The wind is very cold.

It gets a bit frightening,

not because of the darkness

all around,

but because you can't hear anything.

The wind is howling in the ravines.

It'll be New Year very soon.

As night falls

the clouds sink lower and lower,

closer and closer to the base.

- Happy New Year to all of you. - The same to you.

- Take the cakes. - I've nothing to put them in.

Use your hands.

They're a present for you.

- Well, see you later. - Give them our best wishes.

Yes, New Year is very soon.

Don't squash the cake.

A feast!

They bake cakes for themselves.

Wait, Sergei, I'll help you.

They've made a big cake.

But, Sergei, you don't drink champagne.

No, I don't, but...

Give me time to dress.

Fifty.

Forty-five.

Make a wish, it's nearly midnight.

What shall I wish for?

Got it!

- Where's your ring? - Thirty.

Eternal life!

- Ten. - I'll keep these horns.

Six, five, four,

- three, two, one... - Take cover!

Happy New Year!

- Too far. - Happy New Year 1995!

Civvy Street!

Happy times for all our boys

in Tadjikistan.

- Except for Rustam. - Hurrah!

Long live our Union...

Of Republics!

- Wonderful! - Two for tonight, guys.

Wait till two o'clock.

Two for tonight, and two at two o'clock.

The best would have been to open all four at once.

- Why... - There's no witch behind us.

Do you remember when they baptised us

with a club?

We were so happy.

- Courage! - How shall I do it?

How? You're the one who's cut it like that.

- I've cut it already. - Let's put it there.

How shall I cut it?

Cut it into small pieces.

We'll get one jump ahead of the enemy.

You'll give it the works. We'll do it properly.

We'll help you. We'll come and spew over them.

- That village is five minutes' work. - Three shells will do it.

Smashing! This cake is delicious.

Did you have a party like this last year too, Andrey?

- There are our friends... - Are they celebrating too?

- Shall we begin? - Is everyone in tune?

Oh you, great frost

Do not freeze me

Do not freeze my horse

We chose the wrong opera.

Give me a light.

Do not freeze me

Do not freeze my horse

My horse

Wlth hls golden mane

- What about "The Steppe"? - What?

"The Steppe"?

"The Steppe". Nothlng but steppe all round...

Come on, Igor. We're all mortal.

Courage.

Let's have a drink.

To absent friends.

Come on, Safar, courage.

You knew Andrey too.

Take it.

Take it. Let's drink.

Only milk.

There's only milk. No sour cream.

Hello, Santa Claus!

I've brought your present.

How is the watch?

OK.

No unauthorised activity on the border.

Anyway, I've brought you a present.

Thank you, Santa.

- What's this? - Thanks!

Thank you very much.

In the cold night, in the darkness,

to be sure,

there's not much pleasure in picking your way

across minefields.

We set off.

They were waiting for us up there.

- Happy New Year, lads! - The same to you!

We've been waiting for you for ages.

- Did you go to sleep? - We've only just been relieved.

Is everything all right?

Yes. Is everything quiet here?

So far, yes. We don't know what's in store.

- What time is it now? - Ten past three.

Can we sit and rest here for a bit?

No problem!

Come in, have a look... We've left you some champagne.

- Really? - It's symbolic.

- There's hot coffee. - Coffee, too!

If there's any left.

- Do you want some? - Yes, a bit.

- Champagne? - With pleasure.

Wait... where did we put it?

We'll have a bit.

You can film our life here.

A NATO soldier would have topped himself long ago.

Only our lads can...

- Just a drop. - I know, I remember.

A little drop.

- Thank you for coming up here. - God bless you.

The cameraman is cold. Pass it round.

Have a drop, Sergei.

- Alexei, would you like a drink? - Not now.

Not now? Then that's it.

That's all, then.

If there were more...

Damn it!

I wonder what it'll be like, 1995?

- Is there any left? - No.

No one wants to talk.

The day's over.

Tomorrow is another day.

We'll go through the day, same as usual.

Then it'll be the weekend and you'll come down.

- Is it Wednesday or Thursday? - Tuesday.

Only Tuesday?

I've lost all count of time.

Too much salt?

No, it's all right.

I've put too much in it.

- Is there any tea? - I don't know.

Let's make some.

There's none left.

The bowls need washing...

Any water?

No...

To wash the bowls with.

It's hot.

That's good.

One last smoke?

A very quick one.

- Come on! - No.

If I'm not smoking, why should other people?

It's dog eat dog in the army.

You have to show your teeth sometimes.

You don't have to. I never do.

Sometimes you can't help it.

I haven't got much longer to go.

- Just a bit longer. - Nearly there.

Nearly.

Just a bit longer.

Not much.

I'd like to go home on Shrove Tuesday.

Or on Frontier Guard Day.

Whatever the date, it will be a holiday.

Will you be staying till New Year?

This is the Year of the Pig.

They made a pig's ear of it, right enough.

Wait, wait...

A leap year.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

Curtain 7, Curtain 7, Maple 1 calling.

1, 2, 3, Curtain 7,

Curtain 7, Maple 1 calling.

Where are the strangers?

Where are they?

Hello, nose.

Good boy.

We'll be saying goodbye, then.

- We're going down. - Shall we come with you?

No, thanks.

Happy New Year again.

Sorry we disturbed you.

Best wishes. We'll come again tomorrow.

Goodbye and good night.

Goodbye.

Be careful on the way down.

Be careful.

Somehow I managed

to see the face of my watch.

It would soon be dawn.

The year

was on its way.

I had to sleep for at least a few hours,

and pack my things to go back

to Russia,

to Saint Petersburg.

You won't leave me, wlll you?

No.

Hello. Do you remember me?

I haven't forgotten you.

That's good.

Where are you golng?

Back home. I llve alone now.

It Isn't posslble.

Why? Everythlng Is posslble.

God won't let such a terrlble thlng happen.

- He does sometlmes. - God wlll protect her.

And what If He doesn't exlst?

I'm dlshonoured.

I'm a terrlble slnner.

No, you're not.

If you are a slnner,

what am I?

Your sln and your dlshonour

are made clean

by the salntllness of your heart.

Never let anyone say that It's better

to end one's llfe.

Do you often pray?

What would I be wlthout God?

And what does God do for you?

Nothlng...

You are too poor and lowly for Hlm.

Yes, it's time to go back to Russia.

In Russia it is still cold. Snow and silence.

And not a soul.

Subtitles: Alexei Jankowsky

Subtitling by TVS - TITRA FILM