Original subtitles

I swear by God a solemn oath.

My father wants to meet you.

Where do you translate?

Against SS officers who served in a camp.

I want to ask you to leave.

If the trial goes by quickly, I'll be back home in six weeks' time.

Is there something you have to confess to me, my daughter?

This is the first time I'm seeing a prostitute.

- Will you go back to the bunker? - Maybe.

In 1943, my husband Josef and my two girls, Ruth and Miriam, and I

were deported to Auschwitz.

None of you knew anything, right?

You also didn't know about the gassings!

Mrs. Cohen!

I thought I'd forgotten the whole thing.

Primary Defendant Mulka. You were the aide-de-camp.

I only worked in the office.

He owns a business now. And his wife is here as well.

We don't patronize establishments owned by snitches.

How do you know them? How come you know Robert Mulka?

This is the Boger family.

Diana?

Father!

You... will have to wait a little longer.

What do you mean?

Well, uh...

Good news?

Father says he won't be out by February.

Good evening, Wilhelm.

Listen, I'm sorry. They're dragging this out.

These are first-hand assessments.

We had prepared a surprise for you. We booked the trip to Berchtesgaden.

You'll have to go without me.

We wouldn't want to go without you.

Can you still cancel?

Yes, I'll try.

Wilhelm, I'm starting to get worried.

There is absolutely no need, Therese.

I'll go out for a drive.

Again?

What's behind...

your recent obsession with driving?

Practice makes perfect.

♪ We've got a dance in Liverpool ♪

♪ The cats and chicks all think it's cool ♪

♪ It started off with just a romp ♪

♪ Now they call it the cavern stomp ♪

♪ Keep your jive and your rock and roll ♪

♪ Do the cavern stomp... ♪

Let's just elope!

"Earlobe"? What about your earlobe?

It means we'll run away together, to the South.

That's where I've just come from.

All right, then we'll go further north until we see penguins.

We can't. This is your father's car.

You may steal a man's daughter, but never his car.

Mm-hmm.

He would never forgive me.

Let's be responsible.

You're too good for this world, Aldo.

You're good, too.

I have no idea how I'm supposed to tell my parents.

THE INTERPRETER OF SILENCE

The FATHER

- Have a safe trip home. - Thank you. Good night.

Goodbye.

I've been looking forward to this all day.

I... Don't you think that looks a bit too posh?

I don't know, Edith.

But we have a washing machine now.

Almost like the Four Seasons.

Yes, but... I mean, I don't like it. It looks...

It looks as if we're trying too hard, doesn't it?

Why are you women never satisfied?

If we were as complacent as you men are,

there would be no hope for humanity.

Well, so far we've managed just fine without those tablecloths.

- But we have to go with the times, Ludwig. - Gosh. Eva, what do you say?

How come you know the Mulkas?

What do you mean?

The couple that came in just now. He's the primary defendant.

In the courtroom, I already had an inkling that I had met this woman before.

Well... You must be mistaken.

Why would we be involved with those people?

I saw him spit at your feet, Mom.

- I don't have to put up with this. - We don't understand it either.

Eva, we don't know these people.

- That's not what it looked like. - Eva, my child.

Just believe us, please.

Hello?

Good morning.

What are you looking for, Miss?

I wanted to see Mrs. Cohen.

You dropped her off, didn't you?

Are you related?

No, I just have her coat.

This was her den for several weeks.

She left behind mountains of glass bottles.

Those people don't understand hygiene.

And now I'm the one who has to get the lice out of the cracks.

Coaxing isn't going to work here.

We'll have to fumigate the room.

Did she leave?

She was killed in an accident yesterday. In front of the Gallus Community Center.

But... Wasn't it just a concussion?

Well, uh... This morning, some prosecutor guy came in...

a young man, he wanted to pay, but she had already paid, as you know.

Well, I only had to cover the cost of the anti-lice agent myself.

Or will you pay for it?

I can't believe that I had to see her again!

Let it go, dear.

That vicious person!

How can you remain so calm?

She almost had you on her conscience!

That was 20 years ago.

We have to leave.

But first, we eat.

At least one bread roll.

Do you know how many of these bread rolls I've already had? 128.

I'm chewing on this bread roll, and they're chewing on this trial.

You've been losing weight.

People will think you're nervous because you're guilty.

They'll read something into it.

Today, they will call Mrs. Masur to the witness stand.

Eat!

I sometimes see a crescent-shaped light, in rainbow colors.

Yes, that sounds like a migraine. It's called aura.

- Mr. Kübler? - What I would recommend...

Mr. Kübler?

- Good morning. - Mr. Kübler?

Mr. Kübler, the justice system has been harshly criticized,

especially by the political left, because the primary defendant is still at large.

He was released on bail.

- There's a difference. - Hm...

But I assume we can have this revoked after today.

Are you saying Mr. Mulka will go to jail today?

We're... well prepared.

- Thank you for your statement. - Thank you.

No. Morning.

- He'd never be able to provide for you. - Morning.

You'll have to bear that in mind.

- On the way back, he told me a story... - Hm?

Everyone already knows it. But he asked me not to tell anyone.

- Which story? - That he had been in the camp as well!

- I'd never heard that story. - As a child.

Ah, good morning.

- Not for long. - Right.

- Did you hear about Rachel Cohen? - Mm-hmm.

We have a serious problem.

What are we going to do with a dead woman?

Mrs. Cohen has no relatives in Poland

who could pay for the repatriation of her body.

We'll have to file an application with the city for a pauper's funeral.

Today, it's Mulka's turn.

The prosecutor's office is certain that his bail will be revoked.

Nebel said so, and he had been told by Kübler. Reserve half a page for this.

NO EXIT

The high court. All rise, please.

I hereby declare the 23rd day of the trial open.

Witness, your name is Anna Masur.

You were born on September 24, 1915, in Breslau.

What's your profession?

I used to be a secretary. Now I can't work anymore.

I used to be a secretary.

Now I'm unable to work.

Can you tell me your inmate identification number?

Could you tell me your camp number? I can't find it here.

Two, zero,

- one, six, seven. - Ah... One, six, seven.

Why do you have that?

That's incorrect.

I'm sorry. It's 33028.

Witness,

please describe your work at the camp.

Please tell us about your work in the camp.

I came to Auschwitz in June of 1942.

I was assigned to work in the registration office.

I had to issue death certificates.

Sometimes hundreds of them per day.

And those were only for the people who had died in the camp.

Those who were sent directly to the gas... No one recorded their names.

What did you put down as the cause of death?

What cause of death did you write there?

Heart failure or typhoid.

Cardiac insufficiency or typhoid fever.

In reality, these people have been executed...

- beaten or tortured to death. - But they were shot, beaten

or tortured to death.

Did you see the dead bodies, witness? How can you make such a claim?

Have you seen the bodies? How do you know that?

Everyone knew.

It was common knowledge.

- Why did you not refuse? - Why didn't you protest?

You are guilty of forging documents.

Silence in the courtroom!

Answer the question, witness.

Please answer the question.

- Once. - One time...

- Once... I was told to put down... - One time... I was told to put down...

- "cardiac insufficiency"... - heart failure...

- as the cause of a woman's death. - As the cause of death of a certain woman.

I refused.

I refused.

What was different about this woman?

Why that particular woman?

It was my friend.

She was a friend of mine.

Since childhood.

We had been childhood friends.

They brought us together.

We had arrived at the camp together.

- I found out how she died. - I learned how she had died.

In the Women's Infirmary Block.

Their doctors were looking for cheaper methods of female sterilization.

The doctors were trying to find an inexpensive way of...

- They injected some fluid into the uterus. - Sterilizing women...

They injected a liquid...

into the uterus.

That would harden like concrete.

It would then harden. Like concrete.

That one time, I refused.

That one time, I refused.

My boss said...

My boss told me...

"If you refuse,

you'll be sent to the gas."

Silence!

These stories about the infirmary blocks are merely rumors, hearsay.

Your Honor, I request to have the witness dismissed.

She cannot contribute to establishing the truth.

Denied.

Witness, I must admonish you to only speak about

what you have seen with your own eyes.

Please testify only what you saw.

- I did see him. - I saw him.

- Nearly every day. - Nearly every day.

- He was my boss. - He was my boss.

I conclude. The defendant threatened the witness with gassing her.

So far, he has claimed to have no knowledge of the gassings.

Um...

This woman is putting words into my mouth.

Defendant Mulka, sit down.

Defendant.

Is it true that you lived here with your family?

That's a bad illustration.

The registry office and the camp administration were here.

The gas chamber

and the crematorium of the main camp were here.

You had to walk past them, twice a day!

And you could see the building from your office.

It is simply not possible that you knew nothing of the gassings.

Your Honor.

The map is wrong.

I request the immediate revocation

of primary defendant Robert Mulka's suspended sentence.

As I've said, the map is wrong.

The staff accommodation blocks were to the east of the main camp.

And I couldn't see anything from my office.

There are different maps and plans of the camp complex.

By the Germans, the Americans, and the Soviets.

They all contradict each other.

The prosecutor's office has taken only the Soviet maps into account.

The Soviet maps were made right after the liberation of the camp

and on the basis of aerial photographs.

Thus, we have formed the opinion that they are the most accurate depiction

of the reality of the camp during the time it was still in operation.

But the Americans have superior surveying technology!

Your Honor, I request that these maps not be admitted as evidence.

Silence!

- We'll have to approve it. - Hm... Alright.

Sustained.

For the record... The maps may not be admitted as evidence.

Agreed.

And the motion for the revocation of the suspended sentence...

is denied.

We have to go there.

Your Honor, we request an on-site visit.

A delegation must travel to Poland to survey the location.

Your request will be considered.

Good evening, Miss Bruhns.

Say hello to your parents from me.

Mr. Grethke said

that I was copying Tommi's work.

That's not true, because Tommi was copying mine!

He got a C and I got an F!

- That's so unfair! - Yes.

Really unfair, because you're both equally stupid.

Oh, come on.

Eva!

We're having sausage salad.

Mr. Ungureit sends his regards.

I don't want him to send his regards, I want him to pay his tab.

Eva, this is so unfair! Tommi copied my work, and he got a C...

Rachel Cohen died.

And you said she had been discharged.

Who died?

Why did you lie to me?

I'm sorry, Eva. I just wanted to protect you.

Why would you need to know? The only thing that will happen now

is that you'll feel guilty. And guilt can eat you up inside.

I just don't want to be lied to!

Come on. She meant well, Eva.

The only place where you can and should be honest is the family!

The family is the place where people really screw each other over.

Annegret, what... Mind your language.

Is "gilp" an animal?

"Gilp"? Well... of course

- it's an animal. A formidable one at that! - Mm-hmm...

The "common gilp" is... They're really annoying, right?

Yes, they're super hairy.

- And reek of cold sweat. - Mm-hmm...

And they always go, "You!"

You!

And you!

You! You! You!

You! You! You!

We'll take it with us. We'll take it with us...

I want to show you something.

Mm-hmm.

You sound so solemn.

It's about a 10-minute walk.

I don't know why this is making me think of Little Red Riding Hood.

Here.

It looks like a church.

Is this going to be a baptism, a wedding, or a funeral?

How did you find this place?

I was a young boy back then.

Did your parents take you here?

I was among the children who were evacuated during the war.

To this area, to my uncle's farm.

And?

And...

I don't remember anything.

Neither do I.

Apparently, Annegret and I were sent to Juist. To my grandma's home.

Aren't you wearing stockings?

I am.

But they're so delicate. They were woven from angel hair.

Is that so?

Mm-hmm.

I ordered them from Neckermann's.

Just you wait, you're in for a beating!

How your heart is pounding!

I think it's yours.

I'll take you home, alright?

I have to go to the office and the shipping department.

- Can I ask you something? - Yes.

Do you not love me?

My God, Eva! I even want to marry you!

You can't get more love than that!

Then why can't you sleep with me?

I mean, that's part of a marriage!

- You should tell me if you... - Stop whining.

If there's something wrong with you. Before it's too late.

I'm just traditional.

Don't make me laugh!

I don't believe you!

Tell me what's going on. Otherwise, I'll cancel the engagement on Sunday.

I lied to you.

Unfortunately, I still remember everything clearly as if it was yesterday.

What do you mean?

I hated everything on that farm.

Especially my cousins.

One day, my uncle came up to me...

and told me that my mother had died.

She died during a US airstrike.

They said she was running down the streets like a human torch.

I wasn't there for her. I couldn't protect her.

I wanted to go back to the city to free my father from prison.

I ran away that night, went through the forest...

Here, and...

Well, and I failed miserably doing that, too.

I don't understand this story.

I mean, it's terrible, but what does it have to do...

with us?

It might be something psychological.

Men aren't machines either.

Your father and I, we had some problems in the beginning as well.

Please...

And we both didn't know how to...

Mom, please, I don't want to know.

I wanted some general advice from you.

Well, he says he's traditional.

Does such a man really exist?

Well, there are a few decent ones, of course.

But there are many, many, many...

who can't control their sex drive.

But I think it's a good idea to test before marriage

whether it all works out in the bedroom.

What's the point of a marriage if it's not consummated?

What if he intends to use you as a beard because he's not interested in women?

- Jürgen wouldn't do that to me. - Mm.

He wants to do it.

I can feel it. But somehow, he can't.

Schoormann's got it...

But he won't get it up.

Mom!

Get out the dessert spoons, they're behind the hatch.

I think he should go and see a doctor. It might be a medical issue.

And you can ask him to do that.

I mean, you do want to have children after all.

At least six. That's what you always used to say.

Do you still want six? Eva?

Or have you come to your senses?

Annegret made this, right?

Yes.

When she was eight or nine.

And where's that?

That...

That must be the house your father grew up in, on Juist.

That's where you lived during the war. With Grandma Ella.

Why don't I remember? I only remember starting school here in Frankfurt.

Eva, sweetie, you were very, very young.

That's us.

That's right.

- And that... - Maybe you remember...

the sea, the North Sea.

No.

One time...

A child drowned while swimming and was never found.

After that incident, you stopped going into the water.

Why?

Because you were afraid

that the girl's corpse was floating around and that you would touch it.

Yes...

And then Dad comforted me.

And he said that it wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.

On the contrary.

The parents would then have the chance to finally bury their child.

I think I'll just never move out of this house.

No, no, no. I don't think so. One old spinster in the house is enough.

Well, Annegret and spinster...

What do you mean?

An Italian!

- He's from South Tyrol! - It's a disgrace!

- He's a good man. I love him. - Everyone will be gossiping about you!

Our family's reputation will be ruined!

You'll put an end to this, now.

Before your father finds out.

We want to get married as soon as possible.

A proper German girl will not marry a foreigner.

And we'll get rid of that.

Right, I will call Dr. Glaubitz.

He's got to find a way to help us.

- He's got to... - No!

I won't do it.

- I'd rather kill myself! - Stay here, young lady!

GERMAN HOUSE RESTAURANT

COCA COLA, CANDY, DRINKS REFRESHMENTS

GERMAN HOUSE RESTAURANT

"Shot up." That's what they called it

in camp jargon.

The defendant

injected up to a thousand inmates

between July 1942 and August 1943 with phenol, which killed them.

At one point,

75 Polish children arrived at the camp.

Klehr and defendant Broad

murdered them together.

But that's not true.

- They were given an injection... - Slander!

Through the heart.

Silence!

First, you gave the children a ball.

They were playing in the courtyard between Blocks 11 and 12.

The children had such a good time in the camp.

- There was even a playground. Here! - Take your seat, Defendant Klehr.

The playground was here!

Lies! That's a lie!

The court has already ruled

that the overview map won't be admitted as evidence.

Continue, witness. What was your role in the camp?

During the preliminary hearing, you mentioned one particular incident.

I am referring to your father. Was your father in the camp as well?

Was your father in the camp as well?

Yes, one day, my father was led in...

I don't think it's going to happen.

In theory, the court would grant an on-site visit.

But in practice, obtaining the visas to enter Poland is a problem.

- Well, but we have to go. - Yes...

We have an enormous list of things

witnesses allegedly could not have seen because there was no window

- facing the Black Wall... - Miss Bruhns?

- I have to... - Did you leave anything behind?

I have to go to the file room. May I have the key, please?

You haven't finished translating the documents from Warsaw?

We need the translations by tomorrow.

They're done, I've already given them to Miss Lehmkuhl.

I'm looking for my notebook. It was a present. And it's an heirloom.

Hm.

Thank you.

What's wrong with her today?

It'll be the usual female problem.

And what about your problem?

What do you mean?

Uh...

I meant your spiritual welfare.

I've heard some rumors, and I'd like to discuss them with you, in a quiet moment.

Maybe we could go out for dinner at some point.

- Sure. - Maybe tonight?

I've already got a date tonight, unfortunately.

All right.

May I take the car?

Be my guest.

Awkward!

Shelf Eight.

"Brinkmann.

Brosek, Bruckmann, Bruckner. Bruhns, Anton Bruhns."

OFFICERS' MESS

"Bruhns, Ludwig."

Have you found your notebook?

What makes it an heirloom?

I found nothing. Nothing at all.

Well, sorry to hear that.

Was that your question?

No. I wanted to ask you if you could lend me 50 marks.

I don't know.

Here.

That's 20, but thanks.

I don't have more on me right now.

You'll get it back on the first of the next month. I promise.

Therese.

Wilhelm.

What's so urgent?

Do you want to talk about this stupid and irrelevant vacation again?

I've canceled the Berchtesgaden trip.

- Are the girls in good health? - Yes.

More than that. Diana got herself pregnant by a foreigner.

What?

It's because you're not here. Everything's getting out of hand.

Where does he come from?

From Italy.

How old is he? What's his job?

I don't know.

It doesn't matter, anyway.

I've booked an appointment at St. Elizabeth's Hospital.

With Dr. Glaubitz.

She refuses to go. You have to talk to her and make her go.

I'm...

I'm against the abortion.

Oh, you of all people?

How much money do we have to give away every month?

Six hundred marks for three bastards?

That's not the point here. And we can afford it, Therese.

A new life is being brought into this world.

- It was God's plan. - Let's leave God out of it.

By God, your daughter was shameless!

I want to meet the child's father.

Bring him along this Sunday.

All right, then.

You'll see for yourself that such a relationship would be inconceivable.

Goodbye, Wilhelm.

Goodbye, Therese.

Come on.

It's me, David.

Why don't you kick in the door next time?

It's the weekend. It's warm. I have the car, we could go somewhere.

To Lohrberg Hill, to the Forest Inn.

I see. Sweet.

But I've already made a good catch at the Four Seasons today.

How about some stargazing later?

I can show you four constellations.

I've got a client.

I can wait.

Suit yourself.

But don't you dare knock on the door again.

Or else I'll have to start all over again in here.

Okay.

Right, little Klehr. Where were we?

Goodbye. Have a nice evening.

Hey!

Mommy.

Is it the mister?

Do you know how long it's been since I last went to Lohrberg Hill?

What kind of car do you drive?

Do you know who that was?

A man who tipped me 30 marks.

He's one of the defendants.

A sadist pig.

Do you know what he did?

- He injected people's hearts... - I don't care.

You can't be serious.

Listen up, boy.

My family and I, we used to live in a village in Thuringia,

right by the entrance to the village.

I was 13 when the Russians came.

They had to go past our house.

And they went past again when they left.

I've lost all faith in humanity.

Deep inside, every man is a pig.

Now I can at least earn a living from this fact.

Are we going?

You know what I do.

Yes.

With that guy?

With that guy...

With a murderer?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Would you like to have curls like an angel?

Are you excited? I most certainly am.

Can I borrow your white blouse?

Gosh, it's really going to happen now, right?

The best day in a woman's life.

Is the engagement the second-best day then?

Or is that the day your husband predeceases you?

You know, there are women who only really begin to flourish

when their husbands have died. That's about 99 percent of all women.

Shut up, Annegret!

Get out!

Gosh, you're really nervous.

Don't worry, boy. I'm feeling fine today.

He slept really well. Three hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Don't talk about me as if I weren't here.

You're all lathered up. We can't even see you.

I just wanted to ask you, Father...

- It's really important... - Yes, yes, yes.

First impressions, I know.

First impressions.

You can never change a person's first impression of you.

You know, your mood can change quickly.

Otherwise, you'd all fall asleep from boredom.

What's with the puppy eyes?

What do you want? Do you want me to stay at home?

We wanted to ask you to take the diazepam that Bittner prescribed.

Out of the question.

I want to be sober when I meet the Bruhns family.

And, are we going to dress up? But nothing too fancy.

I don't want to give the impression of being a big shot.

But you are a big shot, father.

Fate forced me into this position.

We'll take the Citroën.

Hello, Mrs. Boger.

What's on the menu today?

It smells nice. Thank you.

Wait! Come with me!

After you.

What are they doing?

They're going to search him.

They have their reasons.

I didn't know I had so many hiding places on me.

Eva, do birds go to heaven as well?

Yes, all animals go to heaven.

We have nothing to be ashamed of. We lost everything during the war.

We had to start from scratch again.

We paid off our loans.

We didn't go on vacation.

We paid off our mortgage four years ago.

We have nothing to be ashamed of. People love to come to our restaurant.

Huh! What do I see with my swollen eyes?

It looks like a really posh family's home. Like Villa Hügel.

Or a mansion on the slopes of the Taunus.

Mom!

These cushions are hideous! Was there a clearance sale at a brothel?

You'd better take a look in the mirror.

Brothel! Brothel! Brothel!

Edith, try this.

Is it too much allspice?

No. It's good.

You could add a small spoonful of seasoning.

The roast needs a couple more minutes.

What meat is it?

It's a pork roast.

Was the pig once alive?

I would hope so! You have to eat well to grow big and strong.

You should enjoy the food.

You need to put on some weight, you tiny person!

Eva, could you get the knife banks from the kitchen, please?

This is Auschwitz, and we used to live there.

Stefanovich, could you get eight napkins from the restaurant, please?

We already have some.

Now. Go.

I'm not sure I understand, Eva. That's just something a child drew.

You made it, and it's us!

I get that you're stressed out, Eva. But now you've completely lost your mind!

Feel free to tell me when things have returned to normal down here.

By the way, our guests will be arriving in 20 minutes.

You have to tell me the truth. Now.

It was the best time of our lives, Eva.

We had a house there! And I...

It was the best time.

Before that, we were always separated.

I used to be a seasonal worker

so I either went to the sea or to the mountains.

But there, we lived together as a family for the first time.

We had a house. We had a garden. We had food.

And right next to us, people were murdered.

Hundreds of them, every day.

Sweetie, we didn't know! We thought it was just a labor camp.

For criminals and work-shy people.

That's what they were called back then.

We only found out long after the war that innocent people had died there as well.

You didn't hear anything, didn't see anything,

didn't know anything, right?

And why did Mulka have such a strong reaction to you?

He was our neighbor, and...

We reported him once to the Reich Security Main Office.

That's what it was called back then.

And why?

He made prisoners work in his house.

He didn't treat them well. That's all we knew.

We didn't know about the rest.

- And what happened then? - Nothing.

The war ended. He became a wealthy man in Hamburg.

And we had to keep working ourselves to the bone.

- Right, Ludwig? - That's right.

Right, if I don't go and check on the roast,

we might as well just bury it behind a dike.

And now, we'll look to the future, Eva.

Right? I'll go and get the champagne from the bucket.

Hello, Stefan.

I wouldn't go in there if I were you.

What's going on? Are they fighting?

They're arguing because of a picture Annegret drew.

I see...

Now I'm curious.

Translated by Danjela Brückner