Yes or No?
It's very expensive.
I have to pick up the mail.
Letters with those stamps always bring tears.
I'll be the one who gives Bwana the letter.
Good idea. You are his friend.
Sohrau, October 2nd 1940.
My dear son, It’s nice to hear,
that you had luck with your 2nd farm.
Emigrating has become impossible . Pretty soon
Hitler will close the borders. There’s nothing left we could sell.
People say that the Jews will be banned in ghettos.
In this case Greschek will send you our new address.
Walter, for the first time in my life I am worried!
Worried...especially about Liesel but as well about my own life
In Germany we feel like on a lonely island.
Nobody dares talking. It’s horrible.
My son. I send you this letter and the rose seeds you wanted.
May these seeds grow in the African earth
to bring Jettl Regina and you a lot of joy.
I always think of you! Your father.
They have made a big journey.
Yes, a big journey.
I want to enrol Regina at school as soon as possible.
Owuor?
Bwana!
Did you learn how to cook?
Owuor!
You found us!
Memsaab doesn't have a cook in Ol Joro Orok?
No, we don't have a cook.
How do you know all that? How did you find us?
Rummler has a good nose.
A bit of flour.
Thanks!
It's a young male and a young female.
They walked into the woods.
They are lost.
It's dangerous during the night.
That's an angel.
He lives in heaven.
And what's that?
Those are wings.
He needs those to fly in heaven.
Have you ever seen an angel?
No. You can't see angels.
You can't see your dead relatives either.
Yes. Angels protect us too,
if we are in danger.
I'm an angel...
and scare off the bad ghosts!
Come here!
No !
Hmmm, kids.
Come over here!
Go away ! Go away !
When you come back I wont be a child anymore.
Bullshit. i'll be back soon. Every vacation.
Next harvest I'll be back already.
Swear that you come back.
I swear.
I think that's him.
Study hard my dear!
Mum, I’ll be back on vacation!
Memmsaab dogo!
When I come back, I will tell you everything, Owuor.
Come, let's go home.
We are Jewish. He said that we should get out!
Quickly I realized what it means to be an outsider.
I was happy to have Inge.
She didn’t like the British games either.
I wonder how simple words lose their meaning here.
For example “tax return” Or “railway”
Sometimes I wonder why I still get dressed in the morning
I could just use a bag. People wouldn’t care.
I do care!
Do you still think I am attractive?
Yes ofcourse I do.
Did you meet someone in the hotel?
Do you think people should stay together their whole lives?
Probably not. Maybe we are just unstable because of the situation...
Why? Do you want to leave?
Sometimes I think my life could be happier.
I want to make it with you!
You are my wife. I love you!
I miss them all so much!
My mother, Käthe...
It hurts so much!
Owuor!
And? Isnt't that beautiful Jogona?
You can't speak with the night.
You are right.
You can't speak with the night.
But the woman who wrote this poem imagined that the night has ears.
It's beautiful to make music with words.
Your father is a smart man.
He speaks with thunder and lightning too.
He speaks with ancestors. That's something different.
You have to undress yourslef. You clothes are getting dirty.
No I won't undress myself.
I'm not a little child anymore.
You are stupid if you dirten your school clothes.
I'm not a child anymore.
You must not see my breast.
Your breasts arenn't different to other women's breasts.
Of course. A Mzungus breast is different than black women's breasts.
You must not show them.
Mzungus' schools teach strange stuff.
Are you even allowed to climb trees?
Yes.
But only if their clothes dont get dirty.
Wait Jogona!
Dad!
Ma!
My dears. We are very excited.
Tomorrow we have to go to work in Poland Don’t forget us.
Mother and Käthe.
They are not allowed to write more. 20 words only...
They used 19.
These aren't good days,
when the little Memsaab has to go to school.
Perhaps they want to try to escape through Poland.
Maybe they found a way.
Say something, Walter, finally! Please talk to me!
Your mother wanted you to know it. She wouldn’t have written if not.
Poland means death
Shall I tell you something? Sometimes I envy you because of this letter!
Now you can be sure! I have to ask myself every day,
if my father is fine. Where he is.
Where my sister is.
Every day the German army looses more And more territory in the east.
A lot of people died.
Since the Russian winter offensive began the amount of killed, wounded and German prisoners
increased over 400.000.
What's this?
This woman doesn't need your help. She wants to die today.
And her family leaves her out here?
The coyotes will pick up her corps during the night.
Kimani, I can't allow that.
I'm the Memsaab on this farm.
I want you guys to carry her into the house.
If she dies in the house it isn't clean anymore.
The family would have to make many sacrifies to get it clean again.
That's very expensive.
But still. I order it!
As soon as she's in the house those people will carry her out again!
This woman wants to die out here.
That's how tradition demands it.
It's ok Memsaab.
My mother won't die alone.
We're all with her. She isn't afraid.
From now on you can count your days. They call it “Operation J”.
The reorganization of the African forces
They really take Germans?
They have a good Chance to get in.
Just don’t tell them that you are bored and need something else.
They want to hear that you can’t wait to fight for the right side.
And Jettel?
I can’t believe that I get another chance in this war.
What’s up with you?
It’s not my war. I don’t give a shit about Germany!
I won’t go to Nairobi with you.
I stay here with Owuor. That’s my final decision.
For you alone it’s too dangerous.
You wanted to go to Germany and Rongai! But you never wanted to be there where we actually were.
And now you don’t want to leave.
But you’d meet a lot of peolple.
I don’t want this anymore!
If something happens to you...
They are sending men to Burma!
I can’t hang out here anymore. I’m feeling useless.
I understand that.
I stay here with Owuor.
Thank you!
Sometimes I don't see you a day...
and a night. Where are you then?
I'm visiting my wife and my children.
At the lake. Near Kisumu.
They dont see you often.
They understand that I can't leave Memsaab alone.
But your wife is always alone.
That's something different.
White women are helpless, black women aren't
How many kids do you have?
I have 6 kids and 3 wives.
3 wives?
That's a lot of work if you visit them!
I give them money. - 12 Schillings is not much.
It's enough. They have their Schambas,
With corn and beens. And fishes from the lake.
Do they respect you?
They respect me.
I'm working in the house of a Bwana.
I respect you too Owour.
Without you we would be lost in this country.
Could you help me out?
I'm a cook not a barber.
Please! I can't do it alone.
How are your corn fields? Are they fine?
Yes they are
Do you want to do an excursion?
I’ll wait outside then
Nice that you’re here!
This country is beautiful!
The allies landed with more than 300.000 men
in Normandy.
Bad for Hitler, so I’d say: good.
You don’t care what’s going on in Germany?
And you?
What?
What do I do?
Are you already there?
I was worried about you.
Regina. I showed your mother Lake Bagoria.
We were pretty close to your school.
What do you accuse me of? That I wasn’t here once?
Why didn’t you go with dad?
You are the one who doesn't want to leave the farm.
Bullshit. You don’t love him anymore.
Süßkind made an excursion with me. That’s it.
The other day in the hotel... In NORFOLK. Do you think I didn’t realize that?
You started an affair with that soldier.
He arranged this farm We were homeless!
And what can Süßkind do for you if you sleep with him?
Regina!
Did you see my child?
The Mzungu-Kid?
Over there in the house.
Regina?
I’ll be right there mum.
I often slept at Jogona’s place.
You didn’t realize it because I was always back at dawn.
My wild girl. You can’t just disappear!
It’s beautiful! I can understand why you wanted to have it
Because of this my dad almost sent me Back to Germany.
You didn’t wear it a single time?
We bought it at Wertheimm in Breslau. For 44 Mark.
And then we ate a piece of cake at Cafe Monheim.
I can’t even remember Germany.
Only if I eat nuts. Then I think of grandpa.
Mamma... why are the Jews so hated?
You and dad, you are not really Jewish. You eat meat.
And you don’t pray right?
In school they told us that the Jews killed God’s son.
For me and dad Jewish played an important role.
We thought we were as much German as possible.
The German culture, the language. That was our home.
Maybe we Jews are really different?
Aunt Ruth and uncle Salommon are different.
They obey the Jewish rules
Tolerance doesn’t mean that we are all equal.
If I learned something here, it's how important differences are.
Differences are good, Regina.
Smart people wont bother you Just because you are different.
Mum? Tonight we will celebrate Pokot
They slaughtered a lamb under the holy tree.
There will be beer and they will be singing.
You have to see that. It’s pretty different!
The war in Germany is over.
A couple of days ago I received a letter from a German teacher in Tarnopol.
From whom?
I don’t know this guy. He was a teacher before the war.
He knew my father and Liesel.
Father gave him my adress. One week before he died.
Father and Liesel hid in a school’s cellar.
2 SS-men beat father to death in the middle of the street.
One month later Liesel came to Belsec. With the 3rd transport.
No one returned from that one.
She married during the escape. A Tscheque
Erwin Schweiger.
He was a truck driver.
Wiesbaden, November 4th 1946. Dear Mr. Redlich!
We are glad to let you know
that we can offer you a job.
You will be used as judge in Frankfurt… …later on maybe as lawyer.
You will help building up the new judicial machinery in Germany.
We wish you and your family good luck for the future...
Dad!
How did you manage this?
You want me to show you my place? I am here and here is Inge.
There is the supervision, a girl from 9th grade.
Priscilla. A British bitch.
What’s going on, anything with mum?
Nah, don’t worry Everything’s alright.
I need your help!
I want to go back to Germany!
I know. You want to and mum doesn’t.
I thought about it very carefully. I want and I have to go back!
Please don’t make it so hard.
I could never forgive myself if I make you unhappy.
Why do we have to go back? Other people don’t have to go either!
Inge’s dad is going to be British next week. You could do that as well.
You are in the army. You could!
Maybe he gets a British passport.
Even though he is far away from being British. Tell me:
Can you imagine that your Headmaster will invite him?
No. Sure he wont.
A British passport isn’t enough for me! I don’t want to be a man who has a name,
which doesn’t belong to him. Here in Kenya I’ll always be an outsider.
Do you know what this means to me? I know that very well.
My brave girl.
Promise me that you wont be disappointed if we go back to Germany.
Promise me that you’ll trust me.
If we have to go back...
can Owuor join us?
Not this time.
Hello my friend.
Very good.
Where is Memsaab?
Out on the field with Bwana Süßkind.
Was Bwana Süßkind often here?
And then a corn cob drops out of his trousers.
Corn grew pretty good this year. The rain came exactly at the right time!
Gibson can be satisfied.
And I give a fuck about this corn!
Asante, Owuor.
I requested to get sent back home.
The army is obliged to discharge its men when the war is over.
For us this would be Germany.
They pay for our tickets.
So only you decided this? Maybe Regina and I want
something totally different!
Why do you do this? Why don’t you talk to me about things like these?
How can you think about going back to Germany...
Stay away! You are not going to destroy my family!
Do you know what your problem is? You don’t know who you are!
We are Jews, Walter! Even if it doesn’t mean anything to you.
Jettel.
I say this only once.
You know, if you want to stay with me you can.
That would make me very happy.
These are going to be the best "Königsberger Klopse"
you've ever eaten.
But you don't have Kapern
and you still don't know, what Kapern are!
I don't know what Kapern are,
but I do know, that Kapern aren't needed!
Happy new year, Rummler!
This have been the best "Königsberger Klopse" I've ever eaten.
Thanks a lot!
I think she prefers your Ugali.
Happy new year, Jettel.
We need more guards for the fields. A lot of corn is being stolen during the night.
Maybe you can talk to the guys.
Walter?
I need to make my decision. The government is waiting for my response.
I won’t go back to Germany.
You want to give up our family? -I don't understand why still believe in that country.
I am a lawyer! I love my job! And I have the feeling that
I could be useful in this „new“ Germany
Damn idealist! You think there are no more Nazis around there?
They are the murderers of our parents!
That’s not just bad language. That stands for the faith in mankind
Maybe that’s naive but everything else leads to death and destruction.
This country saved our lives. But it isn’t our country.
Can't you sleep?
No.
In Germany there's a lot of snow in the winter, do you see?
A lot of snow is very cold?
Yes.
I hate snow.
You do all the work for Owuor, girl!
Mum needs your help. Tomorrow harvest will begin!
The last couple of years she made it pretty good without me.
Sometimes I prefer to be in school than being here.
How come dad?
I don’t know.
Grasshoppers!
The grasshoppers are coming!
If they land on the fields they'll eat everything!
They’re flying away, they’re flying away mum!
Do you want some? It’s good for your voice!
Thanks for coming back.
You have to be careful. I am pregnant.
And I am the father?
Jettel, honey, I don’t want to lose you.
Can’t we sit like this all the night ?
Women and men in the village never kiss each other.
They don’t even know what a kiss is.
What a pitty!
Everything I love is lying in this bed.
The songs of the women went deeper into my heart than usual.
In the morning dad told me that mum Is going to get another baby.
I felt Owuor right behind me and I knew
that this news was good as well as bad.
The letter…. I’m going to destroy it.
Which letter?
I can’t go without you.
My parents have made their trip to Frankfurt.
The first night my dad was pretty drunk.
And my mother was upset.
I am so afraid of these people, aren’t you?
Yes I am.
Do you love me?
If you let me.
Then decide for us.
Owuor?
What are you doing here?
I am waiting for the sun.
And why?
Do you want to sell the dog at the market?
I didn't want you to see me.
Rummler and I will do a long safari.
Where this safari leads to, no one knows.
Say goodbye to little Memsaab!
A man has to do a safari if his time has come.
Shall I tell my little daughter:
"Owour is gone and didn't want to see you one more time?"
Shall I tell her "Rummler is gone forever?"
This dog is part of my child.
You were there, when Rummler and Regina became friends.
Little Memsaab will understand.
She always understands everything.
She has eyes and a heart like we do.
Please Owour! Say goodbye !
Dad. Owuor has to go. Or do you want his heart to dry ?
He doesn’t want to die.
If so he would have died long time ago!
Here is my black coat.
You forgot it.
I didn't forget anything.
That coat doesn't belong to me anymore.
But I gave it to you as a gift
as you saved my life!
You said:
"I don't need this coat anymore...
it's from a past life that I've lost."
Now you've found life again.
The life with the coat.
Please Owour, take it with you!
Without this coat you'll forget me.
I'll never forget you Bwana
I learned so many words from you.
Owour, you have to lift me up one last time. Like in Rongai on my first day.
You must not go.
You don't even want to do that safari.
Take care of Bwana. He's still like a kid!
You are smart. You have to show him the way!
Good luck!
You too! Thank you.
I hope you’ll be happy.
Take care.
Why are we stopping now? I have no idea.
Bananas, bananas, …
I can't buy anything, I'm poor like a monkey.
For the monkey!
Thank you.
My brother was born on July 6th 1947. Thanks to God Ngai the birth went well,
he was totally ok. He was tall and strong
My parents called him Max. Like grandfather!
>> Subtitles translated by team QiX <<