Jakubisko Film
in cooperation with Czech Television presents
a film by Juraj Jakubisko
Starring
AN AMBlGUOUS REPORT ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD
Also starring
Producer
Production Manager
Dialogues
Art Director
Winter will soon be over.
Sound
Music
Good rose-hip wine.
To the newlyweds!
Editor
A thousand years of happiness, a thousand children!
Director of Photography
To your health, neighbours!
Verona, have some wine!
l'm cold.
Come and dance, my bride
you'll soon warm up!
Written and Directed by
Wolves! The message is clear.
A beautiful cake, too pretty to eat.
l'll cut some, may your life be as sweet!
The wolves are here!
Holy mother of God!
Get the guns!
They're all drunk!
Goran, here's your cake.
Only two, thank God.
The winter was long and they're hungry!
They've lost all fear. Hurry! lt'll be dark soon.
Hurry up, innkeeper!
Let's go get them!
They're drunk!
Let's kill them off!
Teach'em a lesson!
They won't come around here!
Let's show 'em!
Save your ammunition, Mayor!
Faster, innkeeper! We mustn't let them get away!
Stop drinking, pope, and pray!
Jesus Christ, wolves!
More wolves!
Women, protect the children!
Mummy, where are you?
Wolves!
Janek!
l had a premonition...
Goran, the shutters!
Our Father, who art in Heaven ...
Hurry, they're here!
The beasts!
Those idiots took my gun!
Where's the axe?
My baby!
l'll hack you to pieces
Verona!
Granny, get out!
The innkeeper's wife is in there...
Janek, save that child!
The trapdoor!
Verona and the child are down there!
You're bleeding.
Don't cry, l'll bandage it.
They're eating the cakes!
At least they'll let us be.
Higher, quick!
Hurry, Verona!
Hold her fast, Goran!
They'll tear you up, Gran!
Don't go anywhere. Stay with Goran.
Janek, take my hand!
Save Verona, Goran!
Don't look! No! You musn't!
Verona, you mustn't look!
Lord, why did You allow this?
ls there anyone alive here?
Uncles!
lt's Semek!
-Here, in the well! -l'm drowning!
Search the houses, maybe someone survived.
We lost all the women.
l did shoot, sure as my name is Semek.
l barely reached the well.
Thank God she's a girl.
Want to see something?
Goran!
Let's go home, Daddy.
Go and see to the little girl.
Lord, why do you punish us? Mother of God, pray for us.
This is Veronika. When she grows up
she will be your bride, Goran,
because you saved us from the wolves.
TEN YEARS LATER
Veronika, this is your great day.
Your tenth birthday
and your engagement to Goran.
-Are you glad? -Yes, Mum, because you're glad.
-May l go? -Yes, go.
-Help yourself, Semek. -Thank you, aunt Verona.
How nice!
Keep pouring, make the inn a happy place again!
Goran, Veronika.
According to the fianc�'s father makes the first toast.
So few of us are left.
The gods have made you our future,
our hope and promise.
To your health!
A thousand years of happiness!
To you, dearest!
To an early wedding!
You have a lot of waiting ahead, Goran!
Silence!
Listen!
Wolves! The wolves are back!
Let's get them!
We'll kill them off.
Now we'll show them.
The message is clear.
Do you always greet people with guns?
ls there a war on?
-Who are you? -Ordinary people.
Hungry as wolves and mild as sheep.
So many women!
Circus artists!
l'm the Showman, their boss. We're en route abroad.
Give us some food, we'll pay you well, and then we'll leave.
Come closer so we can see you.
You have some fine girls.
-lrena's the loveliest. -l'm the Mayor.
lrena also holds the purse-strings.
Madina. That's my name.
Have you lost your way?
l bet you want to cross the border at night!
l love smart people, Mayor.
There are borderguards, but the snow's the worst.
l never want anything for free.
Thank you, lrena.
You don't understand.
Not even diamonds would help you in winter.
You'd need wings.
Any other ideas, Mayor?
We have some empty houses, also a mill.
Wait a few weeks untill the snow's gone.
A few weeks?
That's an eternity. And time is money.
-Don't go yet, Simon. -No, l've had enough.
Good night.
God bless.
Veronika, see Goran out.
And we're home.
l'll help you, Juzek.
See, my friend?
There are ever more wolves among the humans too.
What the beasts don't destroy, the humans will.
She could knock out a bear.
You promised a house, but you gave us ruins.
Joseph worked at the border. He can deal with the guards.
We should bribe the chief.
lt'll be expensive.
Just settle the price.
Stop staring, pope!
Our Jirinka is the tallest woman in the world.
She grew up in a convent.
lt's my lrena who keeps the circus together.
No money problems to shackle us to the ground.
The duo from La Scala, Margot and Fagot!
And Chocolate, the innocent flower of Africa!
You have everything. Women! We have nothing.
A Gipsy? That's not very kosher, Boss!
See those orphans, with my son Michael?
Their parents were stars!
Circus folk have short lives.
You provide the eats, we'll supply the art.
Let's roll out a cask of rose-hip wine!
-Three casks! -l'll bring some moonshine.
Moonshine? Never heard of it.
A few drops work wonders.
lsn't it poisonous?
lt's a cure, priest.
The only medicine for a sick soul.
-lt's liquor! -Right!
Those circus gals
are classier broads than ours were!
l wish Madina'd leave one here.
lf we get the Showman drunk,
l can win Marlyn at cards.
We'll make her village property.
l'll wager the mill, meadow and woods against Marlyn!
The message is clear!
-lsn't she worth more to you? -l'll throw in my house and pig
-Semek, shuffle the cards. -The message is clear.
Thirty, twenty, done.
You can't stay when they're playing cards.
There's nothing to fear. Our girl sleeps here alone.
Dad says there are wolves here that eat children.
-Your father is exaggerating. -No, he isn't.
He'll win it all by morning.
When he's wearing rainbow vest he never loses.
Maybe it brings him luck.
No, it's magic.
Ten...
And ten.
We're screwed.
What about you? Throwing in some more?
The ladies are still in the pot
We still have a church left.
Good night.
-What's your name? -Veronika! And yours?
Michael. Can l sleep in your bed?
lf you like.
Are you frightened? Scared of walking the tightrope, too?
l don't, my father forbids it.
-Scared of him, too? -Everyone is.
Of my mother, too.
Gotchar!
Twenty-one!
We have twenty-one!
Jirinka is mine!
Sorry, ladies, l can't get rid of you.
Two aces.
You're the devil!
Jirinka, l lost you!
That's enough. To bed!
You too, clown.
Wait, Verona! Now l'm playing for you!
l'll wager all the money l've got here and in my trunk!
Plus the circus!
The message is clear!
-And all the women! -For this shitty peasant?
So many women - paradise!
Verona, take it.
Right. We need women.
Let's play together, Matous.
Aren't you hot, Madina?
Take off your vest. You're sweating.
l don't mind a bit of sweat.
But l do.
Or wouldn't you win without your vest?
A wise guy?
lf you like my vest, we can play for it.
l'll add it to the pot.
Drunk old fart!
Enough.
Fourteen. That's not much.
Hell!
The women are ours!
We won! The girls are ours!
Verona, do you need seven slaves?
Take back your house, Mayor.
Give me the blonde.
We'll divide up the money tomorrow,
fight it out for the women now.
The message is clear!
First you marry me! Where's your church?
l'll show you in the morning.
She's mine!
The message is clear!
His pockets were full of aces!
l'm floating like an angel.
Marlyn, l'll be your motorcycle.
-You pig! -You can ride me!
-l have my human rights! -l have my human needs!
Jirinka, you're an arch in my temple of Christ!
My victory arch.
lt's our turn Let's go to the mill.
There's the pussy who smokes cigars.
The titsy cashier's for me.
How about me?
Take the old one. Even you can manage her.
The message is clear!
Be gentle, we're artists!
You saw through him, Verona.
lt's happy days like harvest-time!
Pity it's only for one night.
lrena and Max are gone!
So is the money! You have no circus!
This is what they left.
The orphans and me, that's all.
What's this hick doing here?
You should've seen the goings on last night!
Swine! ls this gratitude?
lrena, you ungrateful whore!
l risked jail to show your brother the ropes.
And you threw me overboard?
Degenerate clowns!
You can't even raise a tent without me.
l've lost my circus, my money, my vest!
ln this damn hole!
l hope you fall on concrete and don't die,
and have no money for a doctor.
l always come up on top.
l'll be stinking rich yet.
l can start again, even here!
O Lord, bless our seeds and let them grow...
Pull! lt's not a motorcycle.
Sowing poppy and hemp means ploughing deep.
Shit on this!
Oh no you don't.
We'll be rich soon.
Poppy and hemp! Drives me nuts.
Keep pulling, poppy-head!
lt might even grow.
Madina's said so, he know what's what.
See Goran, Michael? He has a horse.
When l grow up, l'll be his wife.
So what? Look, l caught it.
-Look at its feathers. -lt's a hemp tit.
lt's only a baby, let it go, Michael.
D'you know what it's worth in the city?
-What's this? -lt's called electricity.
-That's beautiful! -Don't burn yourself.
On windy days we have light like in the city.
l'd love to live in a city.
Look!
We don't need stupid horses like your husband does.
When l grow up, l'll live in town.
You can come with me, Veronika.
-Really, Michael? -Close your eyes.
Michael!
City people do this when they're in love.
-You'll really take me? -l swear.
So l'll close them again.
Electricity must be beautiful
if city people keep closing their eyes.
A FEW YEARS LATER
l'd get them!
Up to your old games again, Michael?
Get off my back, old fart.
Shut up!
The guards are gone.
Let's go, then.
Quiet! We'll be home in no time.
Hold the horses! Something's coming down!
Rocks are falling!
lt's an earthquake, kid.
Shit! ls this the place?
Smugglers! There they are!
Halt! Come back!
Next time stay home, Michael, damn you!
Get back! That's an order!
We're going, men.
Kiss our arses, guards!
Move, hunchback, they'll shoot your cock off!
What happened, Michael?
An earthquake. Otherwise, okay.
We sold the goods, bought horses and sheep.
Why did they shoot?
Did you give him less money?
Me? Same as always.
So why the shooting?
Some of the guards are honest, the swine.
Better talk to your son. He's been up to old his tricks again.
That was the last time, Matous.
l nearly died of fear.
lnnkeeper, did you swallow a ruler?
Matous?
He's dead.
Pour out the drink! Forty sheep!
Blessed Mary, what are you punishing me for?
You took my bride-groom, and now Matous!
That earthquake was a warning!
-Go to bed. -The cards told me.
lf we don't leave, more will die, Madina..
The cards never lie.
-Don't scare us. -She's right.
Today, the innkeeper. Who will it be tomorrow?
When bribed men fire at us it's time to stop.
The border won't be closed forever.
That's why we need to rake in a lot of money fast.
l don't mean to stay here forever.
We need a new plan.
Give me the gun.
We need a different set-up.
l'm sick of your cowboy games.
Don't hang around.
Take the money from Vayda and come home.
You shouldn't have let him go, Mother.
He wouldn't listen.
He wanted to give you a grand wedding.
l'm too young to marry, Mother.
When l got married,
l also thought l was too young.
ln fact, it was too late.
l don't want to leave you, Mother.
l'll help you.
Goran saved us from the wolves so l promised he could have you.
Promises mustn't be broken.
That's the order of things.
Don't cry, Mother. We'll help you, too.
God's rocking us!
Brother! Joseph!
The world is lopsided!
What's bitten you?
l have two messages! One is clear,
the other unclear!
But the clear message isn't very clear either.
l'm tipsy!
We're tilted over!
-An earthquake! -lt's from the poppies!
-The message is clear! -A fucking earthquake!
Why only our house? The others are upright!
Help me push it back!
Veronika, leave Katka and Jenik at Goran's.
That's what we get for not going to church!
lt's for owing Matous a twenty!
Matous, l'll buy some brandy and pour it on your grave!
The best slivowitz! Sacramental wine!
Just straighten our house, damn you!
He's talking to your father, Veronika.
Semek tilted his house!
He's crazy. He was bitten by wolves!
Hold my horse, give him water.
-Hello, chief. -God bless, Michael.
l've come for an advance on the horses, Vayda.
We want money. No bartering.
Money isn't everything.
What kind of smuggler are you?
Anyone with balls has a gun!
My old man has a gun... but this!
-l'll get you a smaller one. -l like it.
You don't call me your beauty any more, Mike.
Don't you want to marry me?
l don't have time now.
Make your choice, if you can't ride two of us.
Am l less important to you than your Veronika?
Don't spy on me!
l'm your destiny. Your happiness.
Enough!
-Go to hell, varmint! -As you wish.
Go to her, white swine, and you've had it!
You're finished...
Hi, Uncle Goran!
Katka! Jenik! My helpers!
l'm first on the swing!
Where did you leave Veronika?
Herding sheep to the chalet.
And your Mother?
She keeps crying.
You'll get used to it.
Just like me and Misha.
lt's better than the circus.
Martin's a fine mother.
-Hello, jazzmen! -Hello, Michael!
l have to go home.
Hello, ladies. Hello, Lucy.
Michael, can we brush the horse?
You can ride it, too.
Bring it back to the mill after the funeral.
The world isn't going to end. So you'll marry him, so what.
l'll never stop loving you.
You'd do better to help me. Stop it!
How can l help you?
You don't want to marry Goran,
nor make love with me!
lf you were to carry my child,
there would be no wedding.
You promised to take me to town
How about a snort instead?
Let's run away together.
lt's made from poppies, that's our living.
l'd rather die than marry Goran.
Dad says a man shot by the guards is a hero.
May you be remembered, Matous...
ln the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
Who'll be first at the inn?
Semek! Come and dance!
Vayda didn't pay much, but there's a lot here anyway.
This was the innkeeper's. We'll split it, too.
No, give it to Verona!
But after today we'll split the extra money.
She didn't shed a tear at the funeral.
She's beside herself, 'cause she won't get laid now.
l'll be a smuggler. Gimme!
You swiped it! Give it back!
-Just like the Mayor's. -You'll shoot your eye out.
The message is clear. You just cock it...
Take it away from him!
Then you pull...
Stop, you idiot!
What a hero you are!
You show off in front of the girls, and duck the crazies!
Get off my back!
lt's not my fault you could only get the nigger chick!
What did you say, shithead?
You junkie!
lf l blow your head off, l'll get a medal!
Stop it, Joseph!
-What's the hurry, Juzek? -Business is business.
You're nothing but trouble, you and your Dad!
lt's your fault they've forgotten how to sow oats!
We just smuggle hemp and poppies.
And stuff your pockets!
lf you can't hold your liquor, take Chocolate and go home!
l want a victory arch! At least ten times!
You'll wake the children.
-First show me your bird. -Two poppy tits.
-Three arches. -Five, at least!
Four, but quickly.
Your bird gets smaller and smaller.
Time enough, Jirinka.
The priest's playing cards.
And he's forgotten his promises.
l have to take care of him, the church and the fields.
l have to deal in birds to get an organ.
''You know this song? ''''He promised her kingdom come'''' ''
Shut up and start marching!
He promised her kingdom come then gave her his bare thumb.
The first arch!
Second!
Keep out of this, Michael!
l could keep the pub in funds like Matous did
and you'd save money.
For you, such a fine a widow.
l'm the one that fired, Semek!
The message is clear! l'll be a smuggler!
l'll smuggle sheep, goats, poppies and hemp!
ldiot! He'll kill us all!
The heathen!
We've said it all.
So go home, Michael.
l'll never marry Goran.
He's an old man!
Michael would ruin your life!
-l won't allow it. -l don't care!
Good night, all!
Don't worry, Goran.
l'll straighten her out.
l like crystal-clear messages.
l'll have to settle this myself.
A circus clown screwed my bride.
Veronika is a virgin.
And stop boozing.
Gimme that!
You'll ruin your life, Goran!
That remains to be seen.
Mother'll never forgive me.
Forget about her.
No! l don't want it!
You want me, not Goran!
Do it, quick! Even if l die!
l can't live without you!
-lt's Michael. -He overdid it last night.
l'll wake him.
Michael, your horse!
He's dead!
lt's my fault, son.
l let you get away with anything!
We should've left and let the devil take the money.
l'll find your murderer.
l promise, my son.
l'll avenge you, Michael.
Who knows who did it?
Whoever it was, hand in all your guns tomorrow.
l know who shot you, Michael.
The message is clear.
My Michael...
Give it to me, Jenik!
Be good, children.
Cheers to the newlyweds!
A thousand years of happiness!
Look, my tree is in pain too.
-They shouldn't have married. -Why not?
Veronika's not like you.
She doesn't have your strength. She should live in town.
And they didn't marry for love.
Did any one us marry for love?
You promised us off in our cradles.
My son should have married you.
He was only ten when l married.
Sow the seed in March or May.
Wheat ripens at the same time.
Veronika, Goran!
lt's your happy day! And they opened the border!
No longer shall we be living at the end of the world.
We'll become a crossroads!
Not even the wedding held them back.
-They hope for better pastures. -l'm off and away!
Joseph, Semek, wait!
Let's have a drink for the road.
We may be back in a week.
l'll send you seeds for American tobacco!
What's in your suitcase, Semek?
Right now nothing!
When l come back, it'll be full of gold!
Are you really leaving?
Who knows how long the border'll stay open.
Goodbye, Semek!
Good luck!
The message is clear!
Hope to see you again in this world, not the next!
She's forgotten you already, Michael.
-What is it, Misha? -A tummy-ache.
Have some water, it'll pass.
Goran, you're the only real man here...
Verona!
A handsome Gipsy boy
gave me a ring to keep. l took his ring and weep
l don't want a lover yet!
Michael had you, didn't he?
You were his.
They shouldn't have married.
An earthquake!
Misha!
The end of the world!
Calm down, folks. lt's just a storm.
Lighting struck the tree.
lt's not a storm. lt's a sign from God.
-l can't find Misha! -He was sleeping in the barn.
Go and find him.
Misha!
Here's his hat.
Misha!
What's wrong, lovey?
Blessed Mary!
lt was an earthquake!
All the houses sank into the ground.
The earth will swallow us.
Semek's house is straight again.
Don't go in there, children!
Do we sleep in the loft, Mum?
Lord, why do You try us so?
As usual. Nothing happened to Verona.
The inn's sitting there snug as an arse on a nightpot.
lt sank a bit, but we can still live in it.
Live in it, then. We're moving.
Let's take Semek's house, children.
'Bye, Daddy!
Don't be silly, we had a good life here!
They left and God straightened their house.
And we're in the shits again.
All these rose-hips, we'll have a lot of wine.
l'll be an innkeeper like my father.
-Blow on it, Mummy. -Show me.
lt's going to rain.
Let's run to the brook.
No.
What if we get drenched?
All right,
but whoever spills any hips, loses.
And... go!
l'm going to win!
She's cheating! She jumps like a goat!
l won!
Don't drink icy water, Jenik.
Do you hear?
l'm thirsty and l have a tummy-ache.
Blessed Mary! You're burning up!
Quick, he's dying!
We'll save him.
Lord, be merciful...
The prayers aren't helping.
The Lord has forsaken us.
Drink, you'll feel better.
The sacred herbs will help.
You Christians mouth prayers all day.
You'd do better to see justice done!
Even your blessed Mary's sick of you!
Not me, l'm half Jewish.
What about my son's murder?
l confiscated all the guns!
-Goran's too? -He didn't have one!
lf you suspect him, bring me proof!
l suspect you all.
The city police are here!
Oh shit!
-Where's the patient? -She just woke up.
You're our last hope, for the whole village.
You should have sent for us sooner.
My boy died, Doctor. She's all l have.
l'll pay anything.
Money's not all.
Just save her for me.
Sergeant, test this right away.
Don't cry, Jirinka. Your children are in heaven.
Let's have some fun. Make you forget.
lt's healthy, too.
Get out, you heathen!
God has forsaken me
because of your filthy mind, you lousy hunchback!
One more arch! You could have had your organ!
We've taken measures to stop the epidemic.
The infection is from animals,
probably smuggled sheep.
Yes. Shoot them.
Water...
Drink, Katka.
-Wake up, smuggler. -Are the sheep yours?
You're under arrest.
Why?
All the children are on your conscience.
He's drying hemp here.
Burn the filthy stuff.
He only minds the sheep!
-Martin, say something! -Be quiet, Lucie!
Doctor!
What is it?
She can't breathe.
l'm sorry, but...
How can they live here?
My children...
Katka!
Right, l'll accept that the sheep are only his.
But you're all growing poppies and hemp!
Nothing else grows here.
lf you can't live off the land we'll move you away.
This is a free country and you're under surveillance.
Sure, Captain.
lf you break the law again,
l'll have all your crops destroyed.
Yes, General.
No, Martin!
Lucie...
He's forbidden everything, even arse-kissing.
lt's Goran's fault for bringing them!
They didn't help us, anyway.
They lock away an innocent, and let a murderer go free.
Martin!
Lucie!
l'll wait for you, the baby and me!
lf they don't release him, Lucie won't last the winter.
He took all the blame.
He won't be back soon.
O Mary, Mother of God...
Don't let the innocents suffer.
You were a mother and you know what grief is.
Don't avert your loving face. Hear my prayer.
Martin, help me!
We three wise men have come from afar
to wish you happiness and good health
We three wise men we come to you...
May your goats and cows be healthy all year round!
Three wise men? There's only two of you!
There are no more left.
l know. Thank God for you.
Thank you.
Thank you, auntie Verona.
Blessed Mary, now l'm alone by your will,
at least bless Veronika.
l took charge of you as an orphan, and l shall do so again.
Come, my little star.
-Look what l made for you. -lt's beautiful.
Made for sweet dreams, my loveys!
-And when Martin comes back? -So he'll be here.
He won't believe what sweet girls he has.
But every man wants a son.
Sons are only yours until they're grown.
Girls are yours for life.
And twin girls are special.
They have amazing chances in life and in the circus.
One, two, three...
At last, we have a boy.
Look, Marlyn. A groom for your daughters.
Make more of them, Goran.
Lucie has two girls. So do l.
We need three more dicks.
A beggar with a big suitcase!
Who are you?
Semek, you came back!
You look like Jesus.
That's a Lollobrigida hairdo.
Have you been to America?
l drifted around the world.
The other side of the globe, too?
The world isn't a globe any more.
lt's a flat piece of dirt.
l travelled to the very edge.
A clear message again?
There are no more clear messages in this world.
How did you fare?
l searched, but l didn't find people like you anywhere.
So your suitcase was too small!
Show us your treasure!
Careful, it's gold!
Look what l brought you.
My friend Madonna.
l want to show her that only here is there peace.
People fight like monkeys elsewhere,
but there's peace here.
This is my treasure. Nostradamus.
Prophet, visionary.
He foretold everything - my return, a war in lraq,
one thousand years of peace.
The world will be smaller but better, more forgiving.
Grandma! More wheat than poppy seed
or they'll lock us up like Martin!
Move it, barber!
Leave her alone, Madonna!
When you grow as tall as me l'll teach you to plough.
lt works...
Come, my angel. You're beautiful...
-Whose is he? -Yours.
His hair - who does he take after?
Why can't we live peacefully?
Stop drinking!
This pancake of dirt is our earth.
The sea licks it like a sugar cube.
And it's getting smaller and smaller.
l suspected that the world wasn't round.
Everything's getting smaller. The sky, the stars, the sea.
Condensing into a globe, smaller but better,
as Nostradamus tells us.
And what then?
When the world's a globe again, things will move in circles.
Goodness and evil
will return to where they came from.
Meanwhile...
the world is like a billiard table.
-Who's that? -You, falling over the edge.
Why would l be at the edge?
Doesn't the murdered man haunt you?
What are you babbling about?
l'm thinking of Michael.
l saw it, Goran.
What did you see?
Remember how they threw me out
for having fired a gun?
l saw Michael going after your bride, Veronika.
l tried to tell you, but you ignored me.
Give me a gun, Goran!
So l decided to see to it myself,
but Verona threw us both out.
Then l heard a gunshot by the brook.
l came running. You were holding Michael in your arms.
l couldn't have killed him, l've never fired a gun!
So what happened? Remember, damn you!
l'm just telling you what l saw.
Michael!
Stay flat, pancake, don't rock!
Veronika!
Where's your blond brat?
You're drunk, you beast!
Hurt him and l'll kill you!
Don't fear for the child, fear for me.
After your father's funeral, l waited for Michael.
You never mentioned it, why start now?
l was unhappy and drunk. l wanted to hit him.
l may have killed him.
l really don't know.
lf that's the way it was,
can you ever forgive me?
l've already forgiven you.
But thank you for telling me.
You slut! You want another bastard from him?
l'll kill you both!
Stop it!
Do you want to strangle her?
Go to your mother, Veronika.
You'll get used to it.
Every man gets drunk at times.
Even your father did.
You couldn't have married a better man than Goran.
l know he saved us once,
but now he almost strangled me!
And he shot Michael!
My dearest...
who knows what happened.
You can't believe every yarn that old clown spins.
You must learn to love him.
A man is like a child, a woman must handle him right.
Some fall for tears, some for sighs,
sometimes a smile will do it.
You'll learn.
lt just takes time.
Veronika?
Goran!
l don't want to pry,
but Veronika is afraid of you.
That's not as it should be.
What is as it should be?
l can't tell dream from reality.
l don't know what l did and what l didn't do!
-l'm scared of myself! -You have nothing to fear.
l know you well, you wouldn't hurt a soul.
l don't want consolation.
Michael's death will haunt us forever.
l know...
What do you know?
l don't want to talk about it.
Take Veronika home and leave me alone.
l promised her to you, not to Michael.
To his murderer?
Don't keep saying that!
Control yourself, be a man again!
l want Veronika to be happy.
Because l couldn't...
Verona, what is it?
l've never seen you cry.
Veronika! She heard us!
Go to her. They're waiting for you.
Veronika!
She's not here!
The baby's gone, too.
Where would they go at night?
Goran darling!
Did she go to Madina's?
My God...
Warm me up, Goran.
-But, Mrs. Mayor... -Don't call me that. l'm Marlyn.
l've been waiting for you. l'm getting old...
Give me a boy like you!
Show me how strong you are!
Don't do that ...
l have to go home.
Go, then.
But you'll pay for this.
Veronika?
Father?
Your pipe's gone out.
Father?
You don't know what loneliness is.
You have a husband and child, count your blessings.
lf l had you all together again,
l'd be drowning in tears of joy.
Listen to your mother.
Everything will be fine.
l'm not coming back to you or Goran.
A woman's home is where she bears her children.
Michael, my baby's father lived here.
Never mind who his father was, but who will care for you.
You've arranged it all.
My entire life. You and Goran.
You should have married him, if you like him so.
Why did you force him on me? l'll never forgive you.
l know.
Stop it!
We may not see each other again.
Whatever happens, Veronika,
remember l loved you.
Why sit in the dark?
What a mess!
Verona!
lf your father could see you...
Come, drink with me.
Good evening!
Verona!
Don't scold us, it's All Saints' Day.
Have a drink with us.
Mother of God, how can you live in this pigsty?
Everything happens again and again, except life.
There's only one birth and one death.
As the Gospels say.
Veronika won't come back to me.
Don't worry. l'm going to town in the morning.
l'll set things straight.
Set what straight? And in town?
l came to say goodbye.
Not only you, but everyone
must know the truth about Michael.
There'll be peace at last.
Do you know who killed Michael?
You know!
You were drinking hard,
they all left, and we were alone.
Stop drinking, Goran!
Give me the gun!
l took the gun
and went to wait for Michael.
No, you don't remember. You forgot the gun.
You left it on the table and went out without it.
Matous's gun. Where did you get it?
You left and it was there in front of me.
l knew Michael was armed
and capable of anything. He could kill you.
When l found you, it was almost too late.
l wanted to stop him, frighten him off...
Not to kill him.
lt was as if l aimed from my heart.
You saved me from the wolves,
l repaid the debt.
l didn't want anyone to know.
You killed him because of me.
So l am guilty, too.
lt was fate. l would do it again.
We're in the same boat.
l have no one else but you.
That, too, may be fate.
Verona, my Father was right.
No matter when you sow,
grain ripens at the same time.
We belong together.
No, Goran...
Verona?
Verona!
Answer me!
Why did you leave this here?
That's why she kicked us out!
Juzek, saddle the horse.
What a night, they got together!
Verona, stop!
To hell with justice! There isn't any!
Nobody wants it, just like they don't want us!
Don't you understand? We need each other.
Even the rocks know it.
God would never allow it.
God wants us together!
l bring misfortune to those l love, Goran.
l must live alone and pray for forgiveness.
We three wise men come from afar
to wish you happiness and health
Happiness and health from Nostradamus...
With bells a-tinkling!
l knew you'd come back.
Verona!
lt's not me. lt's not you.
lt's the obsession of two sinful souls.
l waited for you every night.
To hell with her. She's like ice.
She has nothing of you. l love you.
l want you, Verona.
Open up, Verona! l know you're not asleep.
Let me in! lt's me!
Go home, Goran. You'll wake the whole village.
l don't care!
-l want you! -You're drunk!
l want you, l won't wait!
You have a wife. Go to her!
l want you!
No! l don't want you.
Forget what happened.
Stop tormenting me!
Open up, you love me!
You refuse me because of her!
Stop, or l'll kill you.
Where are you?
All this is because of her!
-You need me and l need you! -No! l don't love you!
God may forgive my other sins
but he won't forgive this!
l love you.
Greetings, Verona!
What a family!
Mother-in-law and son-in-law!
Worse than us circus folk.
With a hunchback and an ape!
Their nights must be quite a show.
What happened?
There's shit on the handle.
-lt must have been Juzek. -l'll wash it off for you.
l'll tear him apart.
Anyone could have done it.
Madonna! Marlyn!
Spying on me again, you hunchbacked pig?
Goran kicked us out. You're so beautiful!
You could play hanky-panky in an lndian temple!
l'm religious all right.
l'd let you into my temple, too,
if you found proof that Goran killed Michael.
Goran never had a gun.
That doesn't matter. Find proof,
get your own back. Then we'll pray for him.
They'll always stare at us.
We can live up in the rocks.
Where nobody's ever been?
My father took me there.
l know a place flat as a table,
with moss as soft as wolf fur.
At the edge you can hear the water down below.
Semek's sea at world's end.
Father believed that was where Paradise began.
Did he ever catch a glimpse of it?
No, there's only fog.
lt's like flying amidst the clouds.
Let's go away, far away.
You'll find me a woman,
l'll get you a man.
We'd only come back again, like Semek.
You can't live without your fields.
l can't live without you.
You're getting younger.
l'm not...
You liar.
D'you know why you look younger?
l know why you say so.
l can think of nothing else.
l want a son with you.
That would take a miracle.
What stinks in here?
Did you dream about manure?
That's a terrible stench.
Maybe Semek's monkey came back. lt's his house.
lsn't it enough that he lives here?
The hunchback crawled in.
Get out, you and your ape!
-You both stink. -What? l stink?
Are we some kind of a flophouse?
Build yourself a house!
Damn you!
Fight and draw blood!
The worse things are, the better!
The prophecy of Nostradamus is coming true!
A thousand years of peace will follow the bloodshed,
a peace the world has never known!
So it shall be!
Not until morning, Goran. l want to sleep now.
Me, too.
You were right, Nostradamus.
When the wolves don't kill, the sheep do.
When hatred doesn't kill, love does.
When people tremble with anger the earth shakes, too,
and houses collapse.
Get up, girls! We've sunk in!
What were you up to, barber?
lt was the wind, the earth shook.
One day all things will come together
like the vane and the church!
-What happened, Mayor? -We're the children of Job.
God punishes us for the sinners among us.
The vane's torn off the mill and thrown on the church - why?
Verona, look!
-Nothing happened to the inn. -lt sits on rock.
-Aren't they ashamed?
The worse, the better!
Come, let's set things right.
Poor folks...
That's what they get for the shit on the handle!
Madonna, where are you?
There's the proof!
Won't Marlyn be happy!
l'll do her like they do in lndia, and you can watch!
You're all dressed up. ls it a holiday?
Maybe. Come home.
-The field will wait. -What's happening?
You won't believe this, but a miracle happened.
Are you pregnant?
lt will be a boy.
This is Matous' gun, the barrel's sawed off.
How did we forget about it?
We're living underground, like rats. And why?
Because of heathens who screw around like animals.
Murderers. Half the cemetery is hers.
Give me some bullets, l'll take care of it!
lf you move into the inn,
l can move in here!
l can't stand my two women!
l'll take your house!
Our ancestors would banish the sinners,
make an end to misfortune!
lf they refuse to leave,
will you hang them?
Give us our guns.
lf they don't go,
we'll drive them out.
lnstead of spying on them
you should train on the rope.
You'll never turn me into a clown.
His father died, poor man. He's all alone.
They make an exhibition of themselves in public.
So what, they love each other.
Don't move.
What d'you want?
First love never dies. A present for you.
-Balm for your soul. -To give you courage.
-This is justice. -Now it's your turn.
Let's drink to old times!
Now'll you give me a gun?
l've decided to leave for the city, form a new circus.
lf l have my revenge, l'll lose Veronika and my grandson.
Will the spilt blood be worth it?
Remember the wolves? How frightened we were?
You were ten and l was seventeen.
We held each other like lovers.
Like now.
Maybe it was a sign from God...
And we didn't understand it.
But we did.
lt's all as it should be at last.
Father was right. The seed sprouted.
We'll have our harvest soon.
Have you ever thought about death?
l have a premonition -
as if the wolves were to come again.
l'm afraid people won't forgive us such happiness.
l've been drudging away for him and he kicks me out.
They've cheated me, Marlyn has, too.
l disgust them. They say l stink.
Do you know how many times l had to start over?
l haven't always lived like this.
l had a fine farm, a wife... and a son.
l had 3 horses, 1 1 cows.
l worked hard, no time even for church.
But my beloved wife
whored about with the teacher.
He wore glasses and a bow tie, he laughed in my face.
lnstead of having my revenge
l set fire to my farm
and joined the circus.
l became a useless man.
l won't make the same mistake.
l'll avenge you, Michael.
l won't be useless like you, Madina.
Let them find out who Juzek is!
Open up! l'll drive you out!
Where are you?
l'll kill them like they killed Michael!
Devils! Sinners! The seed of our misfortune!
Go away, and don't come back!
Help me, neighbours!
Here are the guns!
The others'll use scythes and axes.
Come to my house. They won't dare come there.
Goodbye, Verona.
Common sense only exists to justify passion.
Don't just stand there! They have guns!
Do you want them to kill us?
Don't shoot!
You want them gone, so let them run!
Get out of here!
She's done with screwing!
Are you crazy? lt's my husband and my mother!
You'll wait here! You, too!
Come on!
Why lock the door? Come, dear. He's gone crazy.
The bastards are in the barn!
The rats crawled in there!
Come out! We won't hurt you.
We want you to go of your own free will.
We'll give you time to think it over.
We'll count to fifty, and you'll crawl out, or...
1 , 2, 3, 4...
l'll show you!
40, 41 , 42, 43...
Shall we give up?
48, 49, 50!
Come on, you heroes!
Crawl out, you shitty bastards!
You circus bitch!
They'll kill you, Verona!
Lord in heaven!
Police!
Act like nothing happened!
They're burning our crops!
We must stop them!
Quickly, to the fields!
Go on, then! Cowards!
What are you doing, Juzek?
Put it out! You want to start a fire?
You can beat me, but just try to beat the fire!
You ungrateful bastard!
The Showman's here!
Michael would be pleased!
He caught it! They'll soon be ash.
l'm good for something after all!
Goran!
Are you alive?
Verona!
My God, Verona!
You murderers!
Goran, save yourself!
-We must get out of here. -l can't!
Leave me here, my love.
l'm going to die anyway.
l'll get you out! Think of the child!
You forgot about me!
Drop your gun and say a prayer!
Now l'm the Boss! Juzek the hunchback!
l'm not useless!
Lord, You never loved us. Why do You mock us?
l hate You! l don't believe in You!
Jirinka, be happy, everything burnt, even God!
We're happy orphans!
Glory to the people on high, and peace to God on earth.
Come on, pope. lt's time.
Jirinka, where shall we go?
When l was young, it was beautiful here.
Then it all turned evil.
A cursed place!
l've lived here all my life,
but better l had never been born at all.
Forget we ever lived here.
-Were you at Goran's? -Everything burnt up.
Nothing left of them?
Not even their bodies.
The only thing left was this.
We should have prayed to your God, Semek.
He'd have taught us how to forgive.
So you are staying?
l've been everywhere.
Veronika inherited the inn, we'll live there.
God be with you.
Think only well of us!
Unknown God who made all the gods.
Thank You for a thousand years of peace.
Also, for the big bed that holds us all.
l don't know where or what You are,
but read Nostradamus
so that You love us and forgive us.
May we all be equal, and never hurt each other.
Let us plough and reap,
each according to his abilities,
and eat, each according to his hunger.
Form boundaries around us to keep us from harm.
We thank You that this flat earth
will soon link up with the sea into one globe
and the thousand years of peace will begin
for the six of us living here.
ln spring we'll have to sow on your land too,
now that there'll be three of us.
You'll have to do without me.
You'll recover.
Tell me about the cliff.
ls there moss as soft as wolves' fur?
Soft as a feather-bed.
Green, silver, blue.
You hear the sea that divides us from Paradise.
When the clouds rise...
We'll see beyond the edge of the world.
You, me and our son.
Promise me something.
Whatever you want.
Promise you'll go back to Veronika.
Yes.
-Swear! -Yes.
l swear....
l swear...
l swear l'll never leave you, Verona.
Hush. Sleep.
A handsome Gipsy boy
gave me a ring to keep l took his ring and weep
l don't want a lover yet!
Blood has linked up the sky and the earth!
Thank God for a thousand years of peace!
For the six of us who live here
a thousand years of peace,
a thousand years of happiness!
Remixed Dolby SR at Studio Babelsberg by Manfred Arbter