Original subtitles

SUBTITULADO POR MOVISTAR+.

MOSCOW, JANUARY 1938

Sergey! Sergey!

Get inside, Olga! Get inside!

Sergey!

BASED ON THE BOOK "TELL ME WHO I AM" BY JULIA NAVARRO

TELL ME WHO I AM

Comrade Viktor Sóbolev?

Yes.

PHOTOGRAPHIC LABORATORY

Who are you?

Pierre Comte and Amelia Garayoa.

Papers.

Where are you going?

To the house of... Georgi Lavrov and Irina Lavrova.

How long are you thinking of staying?

Until the Party decides.

3-2.

- Pierre! - Yes, uncle.

Come in, come in!

Here.

- Yes? Are you sure? - Yes, later we'll shift the table.

- You're communists, no? - Of course.

Communism is sharing.

- Even in your own home. - Irina...

Spanish.

You want me to translate?

I speak a little Russian.

You speak Russian?

Let me see, let me see...

Comrade Amelia, have you eaten?

No.

Perfect. Perfect, perfect.

Your cousin's expecting you for dinner.

- Where? - I'll show you.

Let's go, let's go.

Pierre!

Why do you speak such good Spanish?

Thanks to the Revolution, we children of the proletariat

could go to university. I studied Romance languages.

That's how we met, from practising Spanish.

His parents worked at the radio station that broadcast

in Spanish to Spain and South America.

"Radio Moscow here

for all our listeners".

To my cousin!

The counterrevolutionaries blame the Revolution

that they can only eat meat one day a week

and we revolutionaries are happy to eat meat

- even if it's only one day. - Yes.

Before, many people lived in shacks, in... cabins.

- My family, for example. - Now we are more crowded, yes,

but with the cold in Moscow,

it's better. We're warmer.

Well,

where do you want to sleep?

In the bed, no?

Of course.

Well, I'll sleep...

...here.

Sorry about the noise.

It's fine.

They brought this for you.

What is it?

- They expect me tomorrow. - Where?

In Lubianka.

What's Lubianka?

The headquarters of the secret police.

It's fine, it's...

It's wrong, it's pure bureaucracy.

Thank you, uncle.

Good night.

- Good morning. - Sit down, Comrade Comte.

We shall discuss your relationship

with the traitor Krisov.

Write the names, ages, professions and residences

of all the agents and blind spies

in the network of the traitor Krisov of which you were a part.

They're all in the report I handed to Comrade Yuri.

Write the names, ages, professions and residences

of all the agents and blind spies

in the network of the traitor Krisov of which you were a part.

Good.

You will now be taken to your new job

in the 3rd section of the Dept. of Classification and Archives.

The Party called me to Moscow

to work on the International Congress of Intellectuals.

You'll now be taken to your new job

in the 3rd section of the Dept. of Classification and Archives.

In the department I've been assigned to

I receive reports from the cultural delegates

of all the Soviet embassies.

There we file them so that there's a record

of the cultural progress of the Revolution all over the country.

It's... very interesting work.

And the place is...

It's imposing.

Of course, Lubianka is...

the seat of the intelligence services of the international revolution.

And there's a canteen where they sell this shitty tobacco.

What I wouldn't give for a French cigarette.

But they made you come for the Congress of Intellectuals, no?

Yes, but now it's not until September and until then they've given me this job.

Yes, as a clerk.

All jobs are revolutionary if the Party sends you.

Look, the main thing...

is that it'll all be fine,

and all this...

was a false alarm.

But don't you remember what Krisov told you?

Forget that man, Krisov was a traitor...

who wanted to convince me to desert as well.

Did they ask you about him?

No.

That's it. You can go back to Madrid when you want.

No, I'm not going.

- But... - Something's clearly wrong.

I don't want to leave you here alone.

Look, Anushka told me about a possible job, so...

we'll wait and see what happens.

Forgive me.

Forgive me for everything.

FEBRUARY 1938

IVAN VASILIEV

Comrade Ivan Vasiliev.

Yes?

I sent them the reports from Madrid. Pierre Comte.

My code name was "Ezequiel".

I don't know if you remember.

You mustn't talk about that here.

You and I don't know each other.

OFFICIAL WAR REPORT

Walk.

You mustn't talk to me.

We were both Krisov's agents and they're watching us,

that's why they put us together.

They'll interrogate you again, maybe me too,

and they can be tough, very tough.

Tell them what they want to hear, whatever it is,

but keep it together.

The Revolution needs brave men like you.

Good luck.

"LEARN RUSSIAN"

- Get in the car. - Why?

- But wasn't he with you? - He didn't turn up.

Have you had dinner?

No, I'm not hungry.

Sometimes I get caught up at work and...

You? When?

He should've gotten out three hours ago.

He must've gone out for a drink with friends from work.

- He has no friends at work. - Relax, sit down.

Sit down. Have some dinner. You'll see, he'll turn up.

What's wrong?

Why do you have me here?

Nobody informed me of anything.

Come with me.

I want to know why I've been arrested.

I couldn't warn my family.

Someone will have to explain.

Sit down.

Sit down.

All the information you gave me is correct,

except that about the traitor Krisov.

You didn't put down his address in Argentina.

I don't know it.

On November 23 you met with

the traitor Krisov in Buenos Aires.

And I informed Comrade Yuri of this.

On November 23 you met with

the traitor Krisov in Buenos Aires.

Yes, yes.

- Where is the traitor Krisov hiding? - I don't know.

Where is the traitor Krisov hiding?

He didn't tell me.

For the third time:

- Where is the traitor Krisov hiding? - I don't know.

Alright.

I don't know where he is, I don't know.

We will help you to remember.

So what do you want me to do? Stay here waiting?

What are you going to do?

I don't know, something,

- go to Lubianka... - No!

I need to know if they've arrested him.

- If they have, it's for something. - It's better not to ask.

- For something? Why? - Counterrevolutionary activities.

What counterrevolutionary activities, Anushka?

- Pierre is a Communist! - Trotsky said he was too.

And Zinoviev and Kamenev and Bukharin.

And they all ended up admitting they were traitors.

Our police know very well what they're doing.

Of course they do, they're terrorizing the population.

- Irina! - Aren't you ashamed to say that?

I'm ashamed of having a son like you.

And a daughter-in-law like you.

Don't worry, we'll be leaving here soon.

Where will you go?

She's been promoted. And they're giving us a flat.

And where are you going?

- Amelia! - Where is Lubianka?

- No, you're not going anywhere! - I'll ask.

Amelia!

- Get inside! They'll come for us! - I need to know where he is!

Wherever he is, you can't do anything!

Amelia, think of us!

I'm a friend of Pierre's. Follow me. A few yards behind.

Get away from the windows.

You don't know who I am.

And it's better it stays that way.

Pierre Comte is in Sukhanovka Prison.

- Why? He hasn't done anything. - He was an agent of Krisov, a traitor.

What can happen to him?

They'll keep him there, until he confesses.

Confesses to what?

That he's an enemy of the Revolution, a Trotskyist,

that he plotted against the Party, participated in attacks...

- Whatever they want. - But...

how can confess to that? It's not true.

They'll force him. No one is safe.

Anyone can wake up a hero and go to bed a traitor,

without knowing why. Like Pierre.

But something can be done, no? We can talk to someone,

tell someone that it's unjust, that it's not true.

Don't even think about it,

unless you want to make things harder for him,

for you and his family.

Behave like a model Soviet civil servant,

and don't talk to anyone about Pierre.

Act as if you've forgotten about him.

And wait. Do you hear me?

Yes, but...

...wait for what?

That sooner or later common sense will reign again in the Soviet Union.

Go out after me.

Where is the traitor Krisov?

I don't know.

Where is the traitor Krisov?

I don't know.

Amelia.

What happened?

- I... didn't go. - Good.

It would've done no good.

Nothing can be done, Amelia.

- We have to wait and see if... - Yes. Yes.

SIX MONTHS LATER

Comrade Garayoa?

Comrade Garayoa, I suppose you've found out that next week

Moscow is to hold

the International Congress of Intellectuals.

Yes.

I understand that

you speak Spanish, French and English,

as well as a good level or Russian, of course.

That's right, Comrade.

The reports we receive

from your superiors say...

that you're a model worker:

effective, dutiful

and disciplined.

It's my duty to the Soviet Union,

which has so generously taken me in.

And since you also have

a pleasant and elegant appearance,

we've considered you

for one of the guides at the Congress.

It will be a great honour for me.

You'll now be at the orders of your new supervisor,

who asked for you,

Comrade Anna Nikolaievna Kornilova.

I believe you know each other.

Thank you.

I trust you.

And Mijail asked me to help you.

Now I only hope I don't regret my decision.

- Do we agree? - We do.

...and you must accompany each group of intellectuals

at all the programmed activities,

pointing out the enormous social, political, industrial

and cultural achievements of our glorious Revolution.

I'm convinced, comrades, that under the expert direction

of Comrade Nikolaievna, you'll do your best

to sign the praises of the Soviet Union.

Let us receive them.

Are you Amelia?

Yes.

I'm... Albert James.

We met in Madrid, with Pierre.

Yes.

Jean's here too, Jean Deuville.

Jean!

But I thought you were in Buenos Aires.

- And... Pierre? - He's working.

- Here in Moscow? - Yes, yes, in Moscow.

Jean, look, it's Amelia. Pierre's Amelia.

- Amelia, sure. How are you? - Good.

What a coincidence. How's Pierre?

We'll see you again, no?

- Who are they? - Who?

The men you greeted before.

Friends of Pierre.

Good friends?

Yes, good friends.

Damn!

Sorry.

And they want to see him.

Come.

- What did you tell them? - That he couldn't today.

Not today or any other day.

- I think they'll insist. - Tell them no, they can't, that...

Tell them he's gone back to Buenos Aires.

But you told them he was in Moscow.

Well...

tell them he had to leave the city urgently.

Do you really think they'll believe that?

Look, get your things and go.

If they ask, I'll tell them you're sick.

But if they come looking for me at home, it'll be worse.

I shouldn't have listened to Mijail.

You're not to be trusted.

Isn't that right, Amelia?

No, I'm feeling much better.

Where's Pierre?

I wanted to give him my latest book so he can lambast it.

You can bring it tomorrow...

and she can give it to him when he gets back.

But I thought he was in Moscow.

Look, Amelia's here. We can ask her.

- Hello, Amelia. - Good morning.

What's going on with Pierre?

- I can't talk now. - But why can't we see him?

Amelia, come with me. Your group's been changed.

Come.

Does he understand if I speak to him?

Yes, Comrade.

Perfect.

Here is your statement confessing to counterrevolutionary

and anti-Soviet activities

in the network of the traitor Krisov.

You need only sign it

and we'll return you to your cell.

Comrade Minister, Party Comrades, friends,

I'll speak in French because it's the language of most of you...

What's wrong?

Pierre disappeared 6 months ago. I last heard that he's under arrest.

Under arrest? For what?

They're accusing him of being an enemy of the Revolution.

- Pierre? - Right, it makes no sense.

I want to take this occasion to celebrate your successes,

this great people you have become...

He may be dead or being tortured.

- What can be done? - You, Jean

and everyone in the Congress you can convince must demand to see him.

Oh, a petition.

A petition, something like that. They've brought you here...

to praise the Revolution's successes, so they can't refuse you.

Please, please.

Dear comrades and friends

who come from all over the world to the socialist homeland...

It is for us a source of great pride

to present to you the celebrated Russian Choir.

The Party won't like it if your friends ask to see Pierre.

They'll look for culprits and turn their eyes on me

for choosing you, don't you see?

Is this how you pay me for what I've done for you?

Wouldn't you do it for Mijail?

Mijail is not a traitor.

Neither is Pierre. And it means his life.

And mine.

- Have you read this, Comrade? - No.

They demand to see Pierre Comte

and if they can't

they'll inform their respective newspapers, universities and parliaments.

24 participants in the Congress have signed it.

The Minister isn't going to like it.

He's not going to like it at all.

Kill me... Kill me...