Original subtitles

THIS FILM WAS INSPIRED BY REAL EVENTS

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Go ahead, please.

Mateusz.

Say something about yourself.

Mateusz...

My opinion is objective and professional.

-The boy is mentally disabled. -But you said...

-You have to accept it. -Earlier you said

-it may turn out he... -You think he understands everything?

Give me an example from your home, from any occasion.

He's excited when I prepare lunch.

-Very lively. -He salivates, right?

Just like my dog when its bowl is full.

And it wags its tail.

What is it, son?

You'll never communicate. You can place him in a special home.

-What are you telling me? -The truth.

His brain is not functioning. Can't you see? He's a vegetable.

I'll help you.

Mom, he doesn't want to.

A bit longer.

Try a bit more, son.

The doctor said he'd never walk.

We'll see.

You started walking very late.

A bit more.

You'll repeat the year at school.

-One's dumber than the other. -Don't say that to Mateusz.

He doesn't get it.

You're ashamed of him too.

Why don't you take him for a walk?

Ms. Talarczyk asked if he's alive.

You promised to repair it.

Hi, son.

There you go.

What is it?

You've been drinking.

Shh...

-Can I? -Wait.

-Mateusz. -Listen.

The time is 33 minutes past seven.

Mateusz.

PROOF

Mateusz!

Your head is filled with warmth.

Your body is filled with warmth.

I'm giving you the force.

I won't come again.

No point in torturing him.

I'm begging you. He's been better since last time.

Look...

Money won't help here.

You have to accept it.

It's fine, son.

You'd like to say something?

Are you hungry?

Are you thirsty?

You want to say you love me?

If only I could understand you...

Now you know the worst truth.

When you're a vegetable, no one understands you.

When a real man has had enough or disagrees...

he has to hit his fist on the table. Get it?

Go ahead!

Great!

Once again.

-What are you teaching him? -Zosia.

Look at this man!

I was waiting for the right moment to show them who I was.

Come on. And…

I decided to learn and see what would happen.

Mom, come here, please.

What? Just a sec.

What is it, son?

What do you want?

Easy, easy.

Are you trying to stand up?

I'll help you.

Beautiful! Look!

He's so light now.

What did you want?

Nothing.

Darling!

One...

Two...

And now...

Three. 13 spoons a day. 91 a week.

Almost 400 a month. Minus 30 that I spit out.

These were my math classes.

That man was jealous of his wife.

When he was away, she met that man.

That couple lived together but never spoke.

Watching neighbors was my social education course.

Parcels from Germany were my geography classes.

So?

It will last for a year.

Lovely smell!

Tomek, look!

These are for the boys.

Give him this one.

-You see this? -What is it?

It's for the fridge.

-How do you know? -It's for wrapping food.

Our neighbors have it too.

What is it?

Dad taught me design and technology.

Let it go.

-The knife will break. -I know. Hold on.

And never to give up.

You can take it off now.

My favorite class was anatomy.

Is Tuesday fine?

Tits and stars are God's two greatest inventions.

Space travel is no longer a dream.

Years of tests have taught us how to make use of physics.

We've created reliable spacecraft at the cutting edge of technology.

-Rocket science has reached... -Jeez, I don't know. Wait.

I don't know.

Cinema? Fine.

Yes. How should I know?

-Why did you turn it off? -You think he understands it?

How do I look?

I don't know. He said he's got it.

-Have you seen my silver brooch? -No!

Finally, the right moment came.

Mom!

Son, what is it?

You may hurt yourself!

Mateusz, stop it!

Can't you help me?

Hold his head!

It's fine.

It's all right now.

It's all right.

It's all right.

WIZARD

Look! There's Jupiter.

The bright one is the Big Dipper.

People think the stars are still.

But that's not true.

They move like mad all the time.

It's just us, down below, who think they are still.

I couldn't decide what Dad was.

First, I thought he was an astronomer.

Look how it's moving!

Then, I thought he was a mechanic.

Great.

Mom will sit down for a bit.

He's getting heavier after all.

I'll fix a new one. Don't worry.

I even thought he was a criminal.

He got interrogated by our neighbor, a cop.

He came home exhausted afterwards

and drank pickle juice for his hangover.

Put it there.

Ready? Hop on!

Engines on. Three, two, one.

Dad wasn't an astronomer, a mechanic or a criminal.

To me, he was a wizard.

Go, go, go!

Where do you think you're going?

Hold it. It's sticky.

Place it here.

Hold it.

On June 4, Poles voted in the first democratic elections...

since the Second World War.

The campaign was heated...

Sorry!

Sixty-two percent of eligible voters went to the polls.

Even nuns were allowed to vote.

Some people had never voted before.

Optimists notice the changes that were unlikely a few months ago.

The next election will be fully democratic...

See? We've succeeded.

I'll be back soon.

In 1989, Dad brought down Communism.

And now things were to be better.

-Where are you going? -The whole city's buzzing.

You promised to fix the lock.

Pawel.

Would you like to see the stars exploding tonight?

Would you like to?

Deal.

High-five.

It's just some crap.

See? It can't be fixed.

I need to buy a new one.

But your dad is broke.

-Is that enough? -Not a chance.

Let me go, son.

Everything's fine.

Look after this. Dad will be back in no time.

I won't even take it.

What kind of father you got?

Come for supper.

Put it away.

What are you doing? Let go!

Stop it! You may hurt yourself.

Mateusz. You'll hurt both of us.

Mateusz, calm down!

Did you see that? Huh?

Didn't I promise you?

I wasn't afraid he'd get hurt.

Nothing can hurt a man who can make the stars explode.

Mom.

We have to go.

I was left with what he taught me.

Never to give up.

And his catchphrase: "Everything's fine."

In 1998, I met Anka.

Every night, her mom invited in a different man

to help her fall asleep.

BOYFRIEND

Matylda dreamed of a husband. She went out hunting every day.

But people don't always get what they wish for.

-Hi. -Hi.

There's no one at home.

I've told you about my brother.

Hi. I'm Gosia.

All right, bro, get out.

They made worse noises than I did.

My brother made me realize I missed out on important things.

Rosiński intercepts the ball.

He dribbles past Maradona in the penalty area.

Will Rosiński score a goal?

Yes! Goal!

I've got my eyes on you, brother. Right.

I'm Anka.

Hi, Anka. I'm Mateusz. You're a nice girl.

"'Where did they draw the treacle from?'

'You can draw water from a water well,'

said the Hatter, 'So I should think

you could draw treacle from a treacle well, eh, stupid?'

'But they were in the well...'"

I finally knew who I was: someone's boyfriend.

I saw our future home and kids crawling on the floor with me.

You know what I mean.

I decided to kill him.

Son, what happened?

You want to sit by the window?

Look what you've done to your old Mom.

You're a bad boy.

Your mom knows you smoke?

-None of your business. -Drop it.

Don't piss me off. Drop it!

Stop smiling!

Drop the fucking cig!

Drop the... cig!

Why are you doing this?

Have I ever hurt you?

Oh, Mike Tyson!

Moron!

Calm down!

What did you do to him?

-Nothing. -I'm asking you!

-Documents! -No!

-Now! -Go away.

-Documents! -Fuck off!

It was a miracle.

But not the one I expected.

Mateusz? It's me.

We're going to my grandma's.

Mom wants to run away before he gets out of jail.

EVERYTHING'S FINE

Take aim... and bang!

You get a three-day pass if you score three tens.

Listen.

To those who are at sea!

-My dear brother-in-law. -Here's to you.

Eat something or you'll get drunk.

-Want a sandwich? -I'll take the onion off.

-What do you eat on the ship? -Tinned food.

-I'll try a pickle. -Thanks for the beads.

-Mommy. These pickles are delicious. -Don't butter me up.

Mommy.

We'll swap your single bed for a double one.

We have to be together now.

-And when I get back? -It will take a while.

-What about Mateusz? -We'll move him to my room.

To living in harmony!

Here's to you, kids.

You should think about Mateusz.

Meaning?

Who's going to lift him?

You're getting old.

-Shut up. -Don't argue.

-Stay out of this. -Take him with you.

-To my ship? -Who will lift him?

Mom has a sick back. Adam works all day.

Don't argue. I can manage him.

He's the only one who's ever mattered to you.

I needed adventure and change.

But I got the opposite to what I was hoping for. As usual.

Let me change your clothes.

You're so heavy.

I told myself: "Everything's fine."

"Everything's fine, everything's fine."

SMILE

-Take a look. -Light as a feather.

-You got the signal? -Very weak.

-What was that? -Hello? Can you hear me?

Maybe a sedative?

I was waiting for Mom. I had so much to tell her.

The wake-up call was at 6.30.

The bathroom was always occupied, though my sister didn't live here.

I sometimes thought they were at sports camp.

Or on holiday.

It felt almost like home.

Almost. Mom sewed for clients, but they sewed for nobody.

Yet, love looks the same.

Death comes in the same way.

I didn't like it here.

I waited for Mom to leave hospital and take me home.

Good morning.

You remember our neighbors, the policeman's family?

They send their regards too.

Oh, sorry.

Easy.

My little finger.

Son, I have to catch the train.

I'll come by on Monday.

I like you.

But I don't like you.

Grant us strength in suffering. God loves you, Leszek.

Grant us strength in suffering. God loves you, Marek.

Grant us strength in suffering. God loves you, Mateusz.

Thanks be to God.

What if he hated me?

Why so sad?

It's gonna be a lovely day. Life feels good.

I didn't like that witch.

She fed me when I was on my back. I bit my lips that way.

She had neither tits nor brain.

Hi.

I'm a new volunteer, I'm here to feed you.

Another one who didn't guess I should sit up.

I forgave her.

I came up with a ten-point scale.

My sister was the worst: a one. It's better to be a vegetable.

This one was a five.

Four. Out of pity.

Eight.

What's up? Are you okay?

Eight and a half.

Tomek's sailing the ocean.

He sent a postcard.

From Borneo.

I think it's an island.

"Hi, Bro, I picked coconuts from a palm.

And ate crab meat, Tomek."

I'm sorry, son.

I hated her.

Dad wouldn't have left me among those morons.

I'll come by on Monday.

That was how I got into a boxing team.

They finally understood I hurt my lips.

So they tried to help me.

Mirka was meant to clean it. But no, she's busy eating cake.

She's like my Aunt Stefa. Too fat to pick up a banknote.

A spoon for cake will dig your grave.

-Glad to see you. Follow me, please. -Wait here, Mateusz.

Hi, Bożena. Look here. See? It's clearly visible.

-It's an aquarium. -And below?

-Don't you see it's dirty? -Yes, it's dirty.

You can't turn an old woman into a girl.

I'll tell you what I currently have at my disposal.

-What? A dirty pinafore? -Water. Buy chemicals and I'll clean it.

Dad said if a man had had enough, he should bang his fist on the table.

Fuck!

Mateusz, I'm talking to you!

I smiled for the first time for many months.

Everyone wanted to talk to me. What a great feeling.

Everything's fine.

Leszek, retardation. Marek, hydrocephalus.

Mateusz, cerebral palsy.

Take a deep breath and you'll be fine. So?

Seventy-five percent of new volunteers quit after I bring them here.

It's a test. So?

I thought, "Maybe tits aren't that important?"

Have I grown up?

WORDS

Old witch.

A bit more.

Shall we eat together?

Your turn.

I play this piece when I'm sad.

I pretend I'm a ballerina.

He reacts when I talk to him. He understands me.

Why didn't you shave, man?

You playing the ball?

He reacts.

He reacts.

It doesn't mean he understands.

You don't need words. A look in the eye is enough.

Maybe.

Coffee?

Maybe not.

We developed a special bond.

We no longer spent time only in bed.

Chocolate flavor, your favorite.

Tomek sent a postcard.

From Mauritius.

"Am sitting under a palm, drinking a toast to you, Bro."

-Hello. -Hello.

I'm Magda. I help with Mateusz.

Hi.

Hi.

Today's his 25th birthday.

Sorry, I don't have a gift.

Will you join us for the cake?

I don't want to bother you.

Happy birthday.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

Would you mind if I take him for a walk outside?

Would you like to, son?

I have a gift for you.

Sometimes you want a moment to last forever.

It was such a moment.

Ahmed says in Polish, "I'll be the guide to Mount Sinai.

Our group name will be Adam Małysz."

The Russians were 'Putin'.

Good evening.

Hello, everyone.

Can we join you?

Certainly.

Thank you.

This is my dad, who I told you about.

Hello.

And this is...

-Wanda. -Wanda.

My stepmother.

This is Mateusz.

My fiancé.

Happy birthday.

Thank you.

You remember the anniversary of Mom's death?

He's an adult.

Will you try on your own?

Here's to you, Dad.

So every ten minutes we hear, "Adam Małysz, come!"

It's the Bedouins who want to take us to Mount Sinai.

-For 150 dollars? -170.

Let's sing for Dad, shall we?

Happy birthday to you...

Thank you, baby.

She's always had original ideas.

Now you don't approve of cripples?

-It's not that. -So what is it?

Your name's Mateusz?

I'm sorry for my daughter.

What about your next companion?

A homeless guy last year, him today, who's next?

Stop it.

-Magda? -Stop it.

-Let's talk... -Stop it.

Magda!

Wait a second.

What did you do to her?

You puked on her or what?

She quit.

Mateusz?

Happy birthday to you...

Casablanca.

It took it four months to get here.

Where's this Casablanca?

In some Arab country, I guess.

There are Arabic letters and a flag with a green star.

Matylda will come next time.

Her husband left her so she has to look after her kids.

Ms. Talarczyk says hello. She was in hospital.

She's at home now, recovering.

Her son's a policeman, like his father.

Mr. Talarczyk lost four kilos. He was so worried about his wife.

Maybe he lost even more.

Everything will be fine.

I know.

HUMAN BEING

I like you.

Here are the symbols.

We will use them to communicate.

Bravo! You've blinked once.

This is a symbol for 'warm'. I'll ask you if you are warm.

You blink once and I'll open the window.

I'll ask you if you are tired.

You blink once and we'll stop. You blink twice and we'll go on.

'Warm'. Are you warm?

What do we say?

You've blinked twice. Great! You're not warm.

I will not open the window.

'Drink'. You want a drink?

You do? You've blinked once. I'll give you a drink.

I'm on my way to get a drink.

One day, Ms. Jola came to our Center.

I'll give you a drink because you blinked once.

So you said, "I want a drink."

Can you hold it?

Mr. Jarek.

Adela, see you soon.

See you soon!

Lie still.

Easy.

What's going on?

Calm down.

They'll take care of you.

-What is it? Good morning. -Good morning.

What's up?

Easy!

Hold him!

Silence!

Relax.

Injection!

No, wait!

You want to tell me something?

-We'll learn... -But he was tested.

Mateusz, remember? You blink once for yes.

This symbol?

'Sister'. Sister?

Finally, others wondered who I was.

Dad was right. Everything's fine.

That's the one?

What's here? 'Brother'? Great!

That's how I became "our Mateusz".

Professor, this is our Mateusz.

He couldn't communicate for 26 years.

Please, go ahead.

This symbol?

Mateusz! 'Goodbye'?

This column?

Yes.

This symbol?

'Not'.

-Easy. -Not too fast?

Yes, this page. Ask him.

This page, son?

This column?

This symbol?

This symbol?

It's 'I'.

You want to say 'I'?

So we have 'not' and 'I'.

-Let's go on. -Shall I turn the pages?

Go on.

-This one. -This page?

Yes, this one.

This column?

This symbol?

'Vegetable'.

Not I...

Not I vegetable?

Ask him.

You want to tell me you're not a vegetable?

What did they do to you?

Open your eyes.

-You like it? -Jola, where shall I put it?

Mateusz?

-Here. -Mateusz, is it okay?

The reporter is here.

Hi, I'm Ewa.

I'd like to write about your story.

Don't worry.

I'll start with photos. May I?

You may.

It's simple to use.

Everything is here. You can find what interests you.

One click and you talk to the world.

To someone in the US.

Homecomings are peculiar.

Objects look the same. Yet, something doesn't fit.

LIKE A BUTTERFLY

You're the one who's changed.

So you've met your uncle.

Oh, you have a tattoo.

Take a look!

You like it? I'll make you one.

What has changed in the house?

It was nice to come back.

But it wasn't my home any longer.

Hello!

-Mrs. Zofia. Could we talk? -Good morning.

-Something wrong with Mateusz? -Let's sit down.

The head office read the article.

They say if he's normal, he shouldn't be here.

This is the Center for the Intellectually Disabled.

He isn't one.

They want to transfer Mateusz to a different center.

They will interview him.

Take a look. It's a lovely home.

There's a park.

See this avenue?

There are no mountains, I know.

But look at this lake.

I know it's far away.

I'll come and visit you.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Go ahead, please.

Say something about yourself.

This page?

This page?

This one?

Tell us what day it is today.

Thank you, that's all.

He's a moron.

Let's go, that's enough.

Today is August 11, 10.30 p.m.

The sky is clear with a new moon rising.

Mercury and Venus are bright.

It will be a lovely day tomorrow.

MATEUSZ DIDN'T MOVE OUT

HE STILL LIVES IN THE CENTER FOR THE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED

IN MEMORY OF EWA PIÊTA