Original subtitles

Ah, that gypsy gang. It was not like this in the past.

And now that they built the new orphanage, they sprout like mushrooms.

You have grown a lot. Well done!

Your grandfather was a good person, but...

He drank a lot.

Everybody drinks a lot here.

Be a dear, and mind your own business and give the boy your condolences!

Hi, Victor.

You ran far from here.

You've done well.

Go with your father.

Can I have a coin?

Get out of here!

Two men...

...together.

Your grandfather and I, I mean.

Do you know how much I spent on the renovation of this house?

Huh?

You don't know. How would you know?

All because of your mother's whim...

- And now? - Now, now?

Now as before. But without your grandfather.

If I would've known this would happen, I wouldn't have built this house.

Because of grandfather?

Because of your mother.

Should we buy a watermelon?

They're very sweet. Picked them myself today.

Where have you picked them from?

From the field, where else?

Try it.

Try it...

Sir... You are not from here, right?

No.

So sweet!

- I'll take two or three melons. - Alright.

Greek?

No, I'm not from Greece. I was born here.

- This looks too ripe judging from the stem. - Alright, alright!

Enough with the "Alrights"!

If I recite the entire alphabet, will you give me a tip?

А, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J...

Put them in the back.

Back in the wagon.

Tip me a cigarette.

A tip? Who told you I was giving you a tip?

K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T...

Have you learned it?

Of course.

Ah. What a smartass you are!

Alright!

Alright!

I won't forget your face! We'll see each other soon.

Summer after summer...

The first time I tasted freedom was here.

No homework, no worries...

We had summer reading assignments back in school,

but who even bothered...?

This is a bike!

Not Korean, not Chinese, not even Russian,

much less American. Moto Balkan, the Bulgarian one.

It was my grandfather's.

May the Earth be light to him.

That's fifteen leva.

- I'm out of change. - It's OK.

If you take this motorcycle to Madrid,

they will die of envy.

Balkan!

Hey, friend!

I know him.

The vine is so beautiful!

Everything remains the same.

Well... grandfather is not around.

You were crazy about him.

Why did you love him so much?

Why did I love him?

Mhmm.

That's a very sad question.

Why did you take so long to come back?

You haven't set foot here in twelve years.

Next time it will be at my funeral, Won't it?

Corazón, water it a little. I'm going to have a smoke.

Water, water.

How much longer are you staying? You told me it was for a few days.

I'm staying a little longer.

Do what you want. You don't care about anything.

We'll talk when you get back.

You have to help me more at home.

Jose, do you miss me?

Of course. I have so much to do, Victor!

And you left right in the middle of our home repairs!

What tiles are you going to use?

You don't even read my messages...

For Victor. For him to read and not be a dummy.

Happy 6th birthday. From grandfather Vladimir.

How are things over there?

Fine, fine...

Fine?

My father has renovated the house.

Really? Why don't you invite him to Madrid to help us

and you can finally introduce us...

What would your mother say?

Good morning.

Good morning.

Whose are you?

It will start. I fixed it myself!

You don't know how to drive it. You probably broke something.

Good morning, Master.

Oh, the foreigner!

I told you we'd meet again.

- Stop bothering us and get out of here. - Master, good morning!

What are you looking for?

Do you have any work for me?

Work? For you?

What can you do?

I'm a hairdresser.

I want to open a salon abroad.

Hairdresser?

What are you doing here, then?

I want learn new skills just in case.

I want to go to Germany. It is full of Turks there.

- Turks? - Immigrants, well, in general.

So in general, gypsies, right?

I have to send money to my Ilyana. She is going to make me a father.

Aren't you too young to be a father?

Master, I want my son to go to kindergarten, to dress properly...

Get out of here.

Before I blow your brains out and soil my garage!

You are all like rats.

I bang your head and one less rat.

Master, I just come to offer myself as an apprentice.

That's how you'll end up, scum.

Dammit!

Excuse me, do you have National Lottery tickets?

Of course. Which one you want?

Well... the national ones.

National?

Yes. Two, please.

They are all national here.

Excuse me?

Magic Fruits, El Dorado, Goldfish, Golden Week, Wild West,

Mega Cash, Golden Pyramids... Which ticket do you want?

They are all national.

To be honest I don't know. My father sent me.

Well, come back when you know.

Golden Fish. You said "goldfish," didn't you?

- How many? - Two.

Who is your father?

Kaloyan, Vladimir's.

Bring him Pyramids. Two Golden Pyramids.

Your father buys those.

They're 6 leva.

Thank you.

Hey, my friend!

Come over here!

Just a sec. I'm going to close this, if I don't, that bastard keeps charging me.

Let's have a coffee.

But you invite. I can only invite you to watermelon.

Well, I can't even invite you to watermelons anymore.

How do you feel?

Don't worry, someone always looks out for us from up there.

I'm in a bit of a hurry. My father is waiting for me.

Wait, have a coffee and then you go, man. Do you have a smoke?

Do you have Facebook?

What was your name?

Victor.

I am Liuben. Born here.

I was born here too.

Victor, what else?

Victor Kaloyanov Petrov.

Can you write it for me, please?

Is that you? Seriously?

Look. This is my Facebook.

I uploaded some photos from the fair and a German girl is speaking to me.

I got on that ferris wheel.

You feel as if you are ascending to Heaven!

I don't want to go to Heaven yet.

You come from Heaven, my friend.

I want to go beyond Heaven. You have to try everything, right?

And that's the German girl. Such a piggy.

Her skin and nose are like a little pig's. But she's hot.

Why are you hiding?

All I want is for my son to be born safe and sound!

He will study... and he will drive a BMW!

Oh my God! He wants a BMW! You can't even shit because you're starving!

Forgive me, boy.

Do you know how I feed all these men?

With two pounds of flour for the whole month.

You're not going to get anywhere with these watermelons.

How will I feed this baby with just two pounds of flour?

I will get a job.

Where is that job? There is no job for us.

And there are no subsidies for us anymore. I will give birth in Greece.

It was a paradise! Playing all day...

Victor!

Victor, wait!

Wait!

This is not Madrid.

There is nothing good to do at night in this village.

It won't be long. I need some air.

Don't wait up for me.

Grandfather used to take a short five minute nap, after eating.

It was the only time when we had to be quiet.

After that we had the rest of the afternoon to keep playing.

In the middle of the afternoon, my grandmother,

with her hands, rough from working the land,

would prepare bread with oil and sugar

for me and for uncle Milen.

And then, we would carry on playing...

Do you remember when you were a child?

Just take me there.

- Please, my friend! - No, no. Forget about it!

Look what I look like. I can't go back to the orphanage like this.

They are going to ask me what I have been doing

and what am I going to tell them?

My father built the second floor for me,

to move here when I get married, with my wife and children.

Your father has golden hands.

I've never seen a house like this, only on Turkish soap operas.

Thank you.

The bathroom is there.

Be quiet!

Are you out of your mind? It's two in the morning!

- Sorry. - Stay still.

Can you turn on the hot water for me?

Wait, wait!

You need a haircut!

I turned a blind eye for you all.

How many times have I caught you smuggling fuel?

Don't you remember?

From Zil trucks and Lada cars...

You're lucky I'm a friend of yours.

We bought one of those little trucks for Victor when he was young.

All that is needed for corruption to prosper

is for good people to do nothing.

A philosopher said that, I think.

Confucius.

I'll tell you what the second Confucius says.

Then, Bulgaria is full of good people.

Nobody does anything here and corruption spreads and spreads.

Where could that little truck be? I've gotta find it.

There is no better country than Bulgaria to push its citizens over the cliff.

- Here we go, the second Confucius speaks. - The third... I'm the second.

Ah, yes.

A green one? I didn't like it at all...

All the kids had the same green truck back then.

Did you throw it away?

I could have used it as a pot and plant some peppers.

I am sick of this feudal system.

Democracy they say? Debauchery everywhere!

Look what happened to my workshop.

Come on, stop whining. All day whining!

I want to cry. My workshop is in ruins!

It was deliberate. Somebody wants to fuck with me.

Don't you see, they also took my money from the jar!

It must have been an accident. The money could have burned.

The workshop was full of gasoline, oil and all that stuff.

And the machines were very old.

It happens.

Did anyone see anything?

With the gypsies around here... What are we going to do with them!

I still don't know if it was an accident or if someone did it on purpose.

If they are discovered, they will pay...

Do you want more lemonade, my dear?

Those are the curtains I bought on my first trip to in Madrid.

He hasn't changed them, nor will he ever change them.

Show me the living room.

But why did he tear down the walls?

Why does he want such a big room?

Honey, don't move the camera so fast!

I'm getting dizzy!

That lamp is not bad, It's nice.

He has spent my money on that.

Mommy, that's enough.

Truth is the company is doing quite well.

They are doing a lot of work, especially in the city.

Show me the yard. Let's see who he's with.

If your father sees you, say you are talking to a friend.

Look at them! Drinking like fish.

Good thing I got you out of there in time.

Where are you going so late? The town is dead at this hour.

Don't be impressed, these cars are used.

Thank you.

The bigger the fuss,

the smaller their dick.

Have you hooked up with any of them?

Are you crazy?

Well just one...

and his brother.

Or was it his cousin?

I can't remember.

And do you know who he is?

You recognize him?

This is Petarcho.

If you don't come back,

I will join you.

I will join you.

Do you want to see how I get cigarette smoke out of my ears?

I'm going to take a puff And you are going to hug me from behind.

and you are going to squeeze me as hard as you can.

Don't stop looking at my ears, And you'll see the smoke coming out.

His mother and child died in an accident.

A truck crashed into the Trabant.

They were returning from the countryside.

He's not that boy anymore.

He is a man who has already lost his mind.

He drinks Rakia day and night, or whatever he can find.

I wonder what you're doing here.

Why don't you spend your vacation by the sea, or in the Balkans, in the city,

and you get stuck in this congested village. It does not suit you.

I'm not here on vacation.

Oh, the Spaniard!

Did you walk here?

Oh, no!

On the Harley.

And have you already ridden this girl?

On your motorcycle, I mean.

Asshole!

Do you know him?

So is this your wife?

She's just a friend.

Just a friend, Do you fuck her?

I wandered the world a lot,

I saw many sorrows and torments,

But your eyes,

they still burn me.

And I curse my days.

And I drank my money.

I pray and learn

how to forget you.

I don't feel like drinking anymore. Do you want a ride home?

...they still burn me.

And I curse my days.

And I drank my money.

I pray and learn

how to forget you.

I've grown gray and old.

But I still carry you in my heart.

I'll be yours for a lifetime.

In the flame and begging.

You are all my treasure.

You took my soul away.

My angel...

Get out.

Sorry! I overdid it with the rakia. I was an idiot.

- Let me upstairs with you, please. - When you sober up.

It always has to be what you say, right?

(speaking in Romani) It always has to be what you say, right?

I fell asleep watching a movie. Is it over?

Why don't you sleep in your bedroom? You'll have a backache if you stay.

Yes. You are right.

The movie probably isn't over yet. I'll watch some more TV.

To catch the end at least.

OK.

Good night.

How was it with Petya?

Fine, fine.

Fine.

Good night.

Good night.

Do you want to burn down my house as well?

I'm not sober yet.

Your father's friend, does he know anything about the fire?

He knows it wasn't an accident.

I don't want to get in any more trouble.

I used to do those things before, because I was a kid.

I was mindless. Now it's something else.

I have a wife, a family. I have grown up.

Are you going to sleep here?

Ilyana's stupid brothers got me drunk.

Forgive me...

One day I'm going to have a watch like yours.

Did you buy it in Madrid?

You don't know anyone in Madrid,

but you can sit down for a coffee in a bar full of people,

and even though you don't know anyone, and no one knows you,

you don't feel like a foreigner.

In this village I know everyone and everyone knows me,

but I will always be a foreigner.

They call me a gypsy because of my skin.

But if they spent all day under the sun, like me, they would tan like this.

Why did you run away from the bathroom last night?

And you...

when are you running away to Spain?

I'm not running away. I'm leaving.

So, I didn't run away from you. I left.

Tell me more about Spain.

When I arrived in Spain I was very surprised

because, people greet you in the elevator, without knowing you at all.

I didn't understand why Spaniards do that, if they don't know each other!

Here people greet each other only in town, because they know each other.

People there do not know each other,

but they are polite.

And, among all those people,

I am also polite. Very polite.

I wish I had gone to school.

But, the truth is I didn't like it.

And your son,

when he is born and grows up, don't you want him to go to school?

If he doesn't go to school, I'll slap his cheeks.

My son must become like you. Educated and so polite. Exactly like you.

Like me?

What are you complaining about?

You have it all.

Sometimes I fall asleep imagining that my parents never broke up.

And that I arrive in this same house, with my son...

I imagine that I am a father.

I visit my parents with my child and my... boyfriend.

My parents are playing with their grandson.

I sometimes imagine

my boyfriend with me. Sometimes it's Jose,

but sometimes it's another man...

Do you imagine yourself with another partner?

I thought I imagined I was a father.

I'm not kind to Jose.

I date other boys in Madrid.

You cheat on him? You are like any Bulgarian. Cheater. Nothing special.

I date boys I don't know

and I'll never see again.

I feel so hungry after each time

and I always go to McDonald's and binge on hamburgers.

Always.

What does a hamburger taste like?

Guilt.

You are fond of your boyfriend. What are you scared of?

And you? What do you dream of at night?

My dream is to become a hairdresser in Germany.

I want to live abroad, away from here.

Like most Bulgarians. Nothing special then.

I made a promise: "I will live if this child lives and lives with me in this world."

I'd love to have a father like that too.

I imagine him at the university.

But I can't enroll him in a kindergarten. Where shall I register this child?

In the orphanage?

Calm down, I'm with you.

Calm down, calm down, I'm with you.

I'm with you. I'm with you.

This child will rescue me.

I'm with you.

Hey.

You'd better go now. I don't want my father to see you here.

Take it, please.

Thank you so much.

Leave from where we came in, and be quiet.

I wouldn't have kissed you, come on.

I'm going to be a father.

Go.

Hey.

I'll ask my dad if he could hire you.

Thanks a lot.

Did you sleep here last night?

What are you doing here?

- Are you really asking? - Are you following me?

What are you doing here?

Did you sleep here?

Your brothers got me drunk on fake rakia last night.

My brothers... my brothers will talk to you.

And they slept at home.

Are you making sure the foreigner is happy?

He's not a foreigner. He was born here.

You should do so.

Ask for more.

It's your own business what you do to make him give more.

If the foreigner was a woman, this relationship would be tricky.

Tricky.

But as he is a man, I don't care much.

We need the money.

Ilyana, why do you want to go to Greece?

Please, don't go to Greece.

You must help me, Liuben. It's your baby too.

Come on, Ilyana. Just stay.

It's time for you to grow up.

We'll have everything we need. Just stay here.

What's the matter? You think I want to go?

Good morning!

It is so hard to love here.

If you lived here, you wouldn't be able to love either.

Please, don't do it. Ilyana, get out of the van.

Stop that nonsense, you don't know what I'm capable of.

Please, don't do it. Ilyana, please don't go!

Why didn't we ride the motorbike?

It wouldn't start.

I'll have my dad look at it.

I didn't want to take it to Milko's.

I could take it.

Cool trainers!

Do you get them for free when you buy pancakes near the orphanage?

For free? I bought them myself.

You got the jackpot at the Pyramids?

I bought them from those boys at the orphanage.

For no money at all...

They don't really know their price.

They deal in... They take things from a place...

Clothes, jewelry, stuff.

They even sell dental prosthetics.

I bought that keyring from them.

Dental prosthetics?

It's such a special place.

What's this?

A gift.

A gift? Why?

That's the usual thing on birthdays.

Especially when he comes of age.

No one should know I've come of age.

They would kick me out of the orphanage if they knew.

Thanks for the gift.

Well, it's used like the trainers. But it's almost like new.

A watch? Are you dumb?

Giving someone a watch brings bad luck.

To an elderly person, it's wrong. You are telling him that his time's ending.

I thought you wanted a watch like this.

There isn't a jewelry shop in the village.

I have no problem with time.

I stop it any time I want.

I have turned 16 each year for three years now.

It's so cool. Thank you!

Are you going to leave me too?

Are you going to leave me here?

That's what people who travel alone like you do.

Can you smell the clouds?

I can smell barbecue meatballs.

I'm a believer.

I'll wait for you.

I want to tell you...

Liubcho!

Why didn't you come with us?

You and the Spaniard are best friends now?

Like lovebirds!

And the watch!

I want one too.

Hey, foreigner!

Let's be friends. I'm better than him.

Look at him, he's just a kid.

Why won't you be friends with all of us?

Will you stop?

Leave me alone.

Hey, what's going on here?

Nothing, uncle Mitko. We're teaching the Spaniard how to dance.

Alright.

Just get lost if you don't want to spend the night at my place.

Fazan, where are you going, son?

Do you have anything for me?

Uncle Mitko, I've got nothing.

Do you want me to send you to the ER? Do you want to sleep there?

Want a kick in the balls too?

Fine!

Bye.

And you, son? What are you doing out here with these gypsies?

Get in the car, I'll take you to the village.

I'll get in if you take my friend with us.

What friend?

This one?

Do I look like a shuttle to you?

Your son Victor and that gypsy kid he goes everywhere with him

they set my garage on fire!

Granny Stefka saw them.

What gypsy are you talking about?

They took my bread and butter, mine and my family's.

I'm gonna smash their heads as if they were watermelons.

You, trash,

get out of my house, don't you dare walk on my street.

Go away, now!

Fucking bastard!

Stop all that crying.

I'm sick of your complaining

and your sorrows.

Don't come near me, I don't wanna see you around!

Get lost!

Careful, don't move too much, I just washed the car.

No, thanks. I don't smoke.

You quit?

Yes. They make my throat sore.

Now what? Tell me.

Does your father know?

That I went to the fair?

Acting dumb, hah?

Is there anything else your dad doesn't know about?

OK, you'll tell me who plays the wife and who is the husband next time.

Last stop. Come on, get out, I'm picking new passengers.

We'll talk again.

Good evening!

Is this your first time here?

I told you I didn't like going to school.

Come.

Still up?

What happened to the bike?

- Dad, did you break the mirror? - No, Milko.

He came over very angry.

I guess you know why.

What did he do?

You're looking at it.

The rest I did myself: kicking him out and fixing the Balkan.

Dad, a friend needs a job. Maybe, in your company.

Victor.

I don't want to hear anything about your friend looking for a job.

And what about the guy who lives with you in Madrid?

He already has a job, thank you.

No, no. You have not understood me.

You could bring the boy next summer.

Or even earlier,

at Christmas.

He's older than a boy.

He could be my father.

Your father?

Don't be silly, Victor.

Jose is your... partner.

Your boyfriend.

Or whatever you want to call him.

But he's not your father.

Victor, a father loves his son more every day,

even if he's not around.

It's how it works.

Boyfriends love differently.

Why don't you ask Jose for a job for your friend?

Maybe I'll listen to you and take him with me to Spain.

No, I know what you're gonna do.

Treating Jose like you treat your father,

avoiding talking about what's wrong with you.

Are you gonna tell him what you did here? How you felt?

What I've done and felt?

We haven't faced each other for twelve years.

It's hard to explain how I feel through Skype.

I built you a house like a palace.

- You built me a house like a palace? - Yes, for you.

Have you ever asked me where I want to live?

And you? Have you asked me where I want to live?

Why don't you tell me what's wrong with you,

sleeping on the couch every night in front of the TV?

I don't want to have to save your ass

from the trouble you get into all by yourself.

You are a big boy now.

You didn't do it when I was little,

you don't have to do it now.

I used to mess up all the time

when I was younger.

If I didn't stay

in this village

I would still do it.

Hey, cheers!

I've got a whole lamb here for you to take it to your wife.

Boys will be boys.

Can't change that.

Youth...

It's nature, Milen. Their blood is boiling.

You are also taking a bottle of rakia.

My brother brewed it. It's last year's plums.

What will Europeans think if they know what happens here, in their own union?

Have you choked on your lemonade?

Or maybe we don't need to go so far away.

Maybe the police in Sofia would be interested.

Victor, please, eat your lamb, son.

Where do so many pregnant women go on the same van?

You'd better talk less

and stop hanging out with that trash.

The other day at the fair, thank God I was there.

Did you tell your father?

What's there to tell me?

What do they do in Greece?

How should I know if they go to Greece or where they go?

- You were talking to the van driver. - Victor, please.

Your son is cheeky and empty-headed, you know.

Mitko.

What do they do with the babies there?

Victor, stop it!

Come on, let's go to the basement.

Wait...

I'll go with him for more wine.

Crazy stuff... He's lost his mind.

No one is freer than the crazy.

He can do whatever he wants.

What are you doing here?

Why have you come back from Greece.

Where's my son?

- You haven't got any son. - How come I haven't got any son?

You haven't got a son. He was a still-born.

My son is dead?

And what about those workers?

What did you do in Greece?

What do you prefer?

You may go to live with your mother in Spain

or her coming to visit you here in jail?

Jail?

Damages and arson.

With fire.

There are witnesses.

It's five years in prison.

Now, get rid of that sour wine

and pour a jug of rakia.

What did you do? What did you do?

I'm going to tell on you.

You're going to tell on me, Liuben? Me?

Wait and see!

Fazan!

Fazan!

Fazan, he wants to give us away!

Who are you going to give away?

Me?

I am. You'll see!

As a child, I was very afraid of the dark,

and my brother slept next to me at night, on the mattress in the orphanage.

And he sang to me.

He sang a lot. Boy did he sing!

That's all I remember of my family. My brother is gone.

When I close my eyes, I'm afraid of opening them again.

I am afraid of ceasing to exist.

Liuben Mihailov

So sad he left that young.

Thanks.

See, people like him end up like this: Buried so fast. Be careful.

Anyway, they would come back later to get them.

Here.

I'm so sorry.

That's Liuben. He was a deadbeat.

He has nothing.

He does, he does... I saw he had...

Help, hold the lid.

Found it!

Nice watch.

Victor!

Victor!

Come here!

Thanks.

Victor, take this jar to your mother.

She is dying to have some carrot jam.

It's homemade. Nothing to do with those in Spanish stores.

Don't tell her I gave it to you for her.

Where are you going?

You are going to miss your flight.

I won't be long.

Victor...

Please promise me you won't do anything stupid.

I'm afraid that just a farewell is not enough...

and that's it!

I want you to be with me!

That haircut, who did it? Your father?

Tell him the military ended long ago.

I can't wait to show you the apartment after the renovation.

You are going to love it, you'll see.

Is everything okay?

Jose.

Yeah?

I've learned a song in Bulgarian.

Are you going to sing it to me?

It's better to say goodbye here.

No, no, no. I don't have any coins.

Stop it. Hey. Stop.

Victor, where are you going?

Victor!

Victor!

I will always love you.

I love you too.

To my parents, Mariana and Dimitar.