LOSSES TO BE EXPECTED
On Friday I got a whole liver.
I made liver dumplings with it.
Then on Sunday we had liver dumpling soup and roast chicken.
And there was still some left over for Monday.
I always make things with a lot of sauce, we like a lot of sauce and noodles.
I make things we can eat in a couple of days.
We have it again in the evening. -No, I don't eat anything then.
Only if it's schnitzel, because I don't like it the next day.
No, I don't like schnitzel the next day, either.
With roasts it's all right, but after a few days that goes all hard, too.
I usually warm up left-over roast in the microwave.
Now lights
I don't like either, but I make it sometimes and then I have a bit myself.
I eat it once a year. -We had it just the other day.
We're having a knuckle of pork with horseradish and roast potatoes.
Boiled knuckle of pork and horseradish? -Yes.
I make cabbage salad with that. -No.
I have horseradish with beef. -We have it with knuckle of pork.
LANGAU, an Austrian village
on the Czech border.
Josef Paur has been widowed for over a year.
The meals that his late wife had prepared
and put in the freezer
are now gradually coming to an end.
It's time for Sepp to look for a new wife.
Attention, a message from the mayor!
Tomorrow, 16th January, at 11.30,
the veterinarian will be coming
to innoculate all dogs against rabies.
All dog owners are called upon to participate.
I repeat: tomorrow, 16th January...
Fancy sending me such a heavy parcel!
Frantiček, what are you doing here?
What are you doing?
Killing a rabbit. -Have you got someone in to do it?
Can't you do it yourself? -No, I can't.
He can do it better, he knows how to cut it into portions.
You should learn how to do it yourself!
It isn't necessary. I just get somebody in.
Luzie, aren't you cold?
Hello, Mrs. Hutter.
Where are the children? -ln their room.
I've brought something for you.
Some clothes from Austria.
S'AFOV, a Czech village on the Austrian border.
Paula Hutterová, a widow, is one
of the inhabitants of German extraction
who were able to stay on after World War ll.
She hopes that the newly-won freedom
in her country will lead
to everything becoming like it is in Austria,
on the other side of the border.
In the market-place in Schaffau Stood a grey horse,
In the freezing cold, In the freezing cold,
The coachman's in the inn, That's how the story goes,
The reins hanging down, Grey horse hey nonny no.
Take me far away, Oh grey horse from Lindnerbeck
Gallop away, The stars are shining in the sky.
We' ll ride on to Pomitsch, Then you can rest,
There you'll have your oats And I'll have my booze.
Take me far away, Oh grey horse from Lindnerbeck
Gallop away, The stars are shining in the sky.
We'll ride on to Pomitsch, Then you can rest,
There you'll have your oats And I'll have my booze.
I don't have much hope.
Marrying again, living together with someone...
It isn't so easy, you have to try it out.
They all ask - have you got any money, have you got a decent pension?
None of them mentions work, because they don't want to work.
They just want to milk you dry.
No chance with us! -That's not what we're here for.
I can't just let someone take all my money off me
and then say in two months, you can go to hell,
and my money's gone too.
And I don't know how much longer I've got, either.
I could live another ten or twenty years.
Everybody needs a bit of money put by.
Exactly... one wants this and that, and the other wants a car.
You know, they've all got these ideas in their heads nowadays.
They know I've got a bit of money and they say
if you don't let a bit of money flow, then you've no chance with the women,
you'll still be alone in ten years. There's nothing you can do about it.
Who was your first love, Steffi? -I didn't have one.
I married my first love.
I lost my virginity to my first love...
in the pub... in the back room.
I didn't, I got married straight away. What about you, Paula?
Mine was killed in the war, Willi was his name...
The war ruined everything for us.
The Czechs came in 1945.
We were young and pretty then, but we couldn't speak any Czech.
We didn't dare go out of the house the first couple of months.
What did you need to speak Czech for?
We couldn't speak one word.
Can you see into my house with your binoculars? -Of course I can!
So you watch me every day?
But that's a long way.
Was the coal delivery all right? Did you manage to get it all in?
How much did you get?
25 centners, as they say.
Yes, you got let's say, 2,500...
Now I've got enough to heat my place.
Come over to my place sometime to warm up.
I've brought you some brochures. -That's very nice of you.
I don't need that junk anyway.
Now you've got something to read.
Give Rosa my regards. -And mine to you, Loisl's the only one I know.
Yes, I'll give your regards to them. We won't stop long today.
Coca-Cola 8.90 a litre, that's quite cheap.
Shampoo 14.90 -Soap, 29.90 a packet...
Lux soap. Have you tried Lux soap?
Gloria shampoo... -Shower gel, economy size...
'White Giant', 4 kilos, 89.90
That would last six months.
Attention, a message from the mayor.
A general clean-up will take place tomorrow in our village.
Bring your brooms and barrows.
General participation is requested.
End of message.
When mine comes home - it's clothes off and into bed first thing.
Then he wants me to join him but I tell him to get lost.
He says, but I'm fond of you, so come to bed.
So I think, you haven't had any for a month, so why not.
And he's here four days, and then you're ill for a week afterwards.
That's not true, I'm as fit as anything afterwards.
What do you know...
I'm not interested in that sort of thing any more.
D'you mean to say you haven't had a man since your husband died? -No.
You're past it anyway.
I don't need that any more. -Ahah, that's why Sepp's so cautious.
What can one do? -I'm not so bothered about it as you.
You have to make the man crazy for you again.
You haven't got anything else to do, you don't work.
Of course I do. Who does the housework for me, then?
That's work, too.
I look after two women.
Blow that!
Anyway, they don't give you anything. -I don't want anything for it.
I work the whole day.
Look!
Just look at that!
Look at those houses, they're collapsing.
Doesn't anyone live there? -It's terrible.
Haven't you ever been over the border before?
It's my first time.
Nothing's been done here for 50 years. It hasn't been touched.
Look at those roofs.
Losses to be expected.
Look over there, Loisl. That used to be the school.
The primary school. And that's the road over to Langau.
The food's good here.
It doesn't cost much, only 20 crowns.
It's a lot for us.
And a beer and two teas.
That doesn't cost much either.
I couldn't afford to come here every day.
That's why you have it brought to you. -Yes, "Meals on Wheels".
From the cooperative. -Yes, it's cheap.
If you came over to my place, Rosa... er, I mean Paula...
you'd save yourself the trouble.
You'd only need to cook for the two of us. Everything's there.
It's easy cooking for two.
Or perhaps you can't cook at all?
Of course I can cook. Just you wait till I come over to yours.
Have you got any meat in the house?
The freezer's full of food, all you need to do is cook it.
Apricot dumplings, plum dumplings... -Careful, or I'll be round to empty it.
There's beef roast, everything. -lt ought to be used up anyway.
You'd have it good at mine. -Who cooks for you?
No-one. I cook for myself or go to the pub.
You're a good cook anyway. You don't need a wife.
I wouldn't want to cook all the time. There's all the washing up, too.
That's not a man's job. -It's awkward work for a man.
So you go to the pub sometimes.
Here and there I get a meal, when I do a job for someone.
So I don't need to cook, and that's another day gone.
It's more the washing up...
Come over to my place sometime. You don't have to stay for ever.
Come and stay for a week and see what you think of it all.
A week? But I've got my dogs and the chickens at home.
Who's going to feed them?
Chuck a bit of feed down for them.
That's all right for two days, but not longer. -Then come for two days.
Look at that, the roads are all asphalted...
The houses...
Over there, that new house. They started in spring and it's already finished.
That used to be a shop. They've converted it because they've got two anyway.
That's how things are here. A complete conversion in one month.
Those cars, look at those lovely cars.
Look at that young jackanapes. What a lovely car he's got.
And you know the people here, don't you?
Look at those curtains and the lovely flowers.
That's where the butcher lives, a bit back from the road.
They must have loads of money. -Look, everything's been renovated.
I don't know whether to take my coat off or not.
Hello, Hedi.
What are you up to? -Hello.
I've brought my sister Paula with me.
What are you doing?
You know, working as usual.
It's Saturday today.
I thought I'd drive over with Paula so she can see everything.
I'll make you some coffee. -All right, but not too strong.
See, hot water, that's an electric whatsit and that's a whatsit for the dishes.
Nothing standing around in the way, it's all built in.
And there's a fridge somewhere in there.
That corner seat's so nice. We could do with something like that.
The pictures are lovely.
My daughter embroidered all of them.
Everything done by hand.
And look at that cupboard, it must be new. -No, it isn't new either.
It must have cost a fortune. -Well, you just have to save for things.
This is the bedroom.
Lovely, isn't it?
This is the bedroom. -And that lovely chandelier.
And the curtains. Paula, that's good...
That's handy, from one wall right to the other.
What do you wash the curtains with? -Ariel.
By hand? -No, in the machine.
But they're so white!
This is where I live.
The Communist Party made a complete mess of everything.
This house here, cracks everywhere in the walls...
Mice in the cupboards.
Radio, television, all broken.
I have a bed here.
Bastards, all of them.
They did nothing. I pay my union and party fees.
Dust everywhere, the window doesn't close properly.
If you close it a couple of times it won't open again.
Everything hanging off the walls.
That's how I live here. In this mess,
I can't stand it.
That, for example...
Whatever you touch... The stove smokes the place out.
One can't breathe or live in here.
Here, these photos, covered in dust and dirt.
Clouds of dust when you take them down.
It's cold, terribly cold. You have to stuff rags into the cracks.
Here you have to hold it tight and stuff it under here.
You close it like this. If that doesn't help, I use my coat.
If that doesn't work, I throw my coat over it.
Then it's dark. And the door, everything...
The Communists never did a thing, not a thing.
A mess like the inside of a tank.
You didn't know if your husband was always faithful to you, did you?
That wasn't the main thing, it was when he began to drink.
We were in love. But whenever we went dancing and somebody asked me to dance,
he'd go straight to the bar.
So naturally one starts to look elsewhere...
Like Steffi says, you start looking at the other men.
I said to him, if I went to bed with another man, that would be it for me.
Your husband didn't drink, but mine...
He didn't drink, but it's much worse
when they come home and tell you the things mine told me...
I tell you, the things he said...
Give me a drunkard any day.
They let it all out, and the next day they can't remember a thing.
Mine didn't drink, but that didn't make him any less stupid.
Good morning.
What are you doing?
And today, in this rain...
Is your wife at home? -Yes, she's inside.
I just wanted to ask about the wood. Do you still work in the wood?
Have you got a sore throat?
If that's all right by you, I'd like to order a load.
Can you deliver it to my house?
Well, what about Sepp, how are you getting on with him?
I'll have to think it over properly before I say yes.
He comes to the border, squeezes my hand and everything,
but he's never even bought me a bottle of wine or anything.
I'd soon show him what's what.
I should go across and give it to him straight...
He told me that he wants you.
"l like Paula; I want to marry her."
I mean, there are women over there.
But he doesn't want them. -They're different.
They're only interested in money. He said "Paula's not interested in money,
she'd be careful with money."
I told him I'd only marry him if I didn't have to cook.
He just wants a cook. I've got my "Meals on Wheels".
And he said he wouldn't eat that muck.
And he doesn't want to eat out all the time, either.
He said it's all right if it's just one person, but it's too expensive for two.
What an arsehole, I'd wring his neck.
One day he's like that and then the next day it's all different.
I'd say "Sepp, I'm coming over to yours tomorrow
and I'm staying three days, and we'll see how it goes.
Then I'll know straight away what you're like in bed and everything.
And if I like it all
then we'll get married and if not, then good-bye."
I won't go to bed with Sepp.
D'you think a man will marry you if you won't sleep with him?
He just needs a housekeeper.
He's just saying that. All men want is a woman for their bed.
He said he didn't. He just needs a woman for the cooking and washing.
You'll have to check whether he's got anything down there at all.
Have a feel. Ask him: "Sepp, let's have a look down there."
That's the way to treat men.
Come in and have a look. I'll show you everything.
Come in, wipe your shoes a bit.
Well, here's the kitchen.
It's much nicer than mine.
It's as clean as a new pin.
You've got another room. Yes, that's the living room.
Can I have a look? -Yes, of course.
It's beautifully furnished. Really lovely, everything.
Look, I've still got my wife's wig.
Oh, she wore a wig, then?
Have a look...
She only wore it once or twice. -She was ill, was she?
She had cancer. -lt was expensive, wasn't it?
It cost 4,000 schillings.
She only wore it once or twice. -Well, nothing you can do, is there?
I'm amazed.
I've still got my wife's clothes in there.
Crammed full...
Everything as good as new, so to say.
What can one do...
All for nothing. -You should get married again.
It's not so easy. -You're telling me.
I'll show you the room across the way. -Another room...
How many rooms have you got, then? -That's where I sleep.
Ah, yes, the bedroom.
It's lovely and warm everywhere.
Who's that, then?
That's my wife.
Ah, yes, the gold ring...
That's our wedding portrait.
Your wedding photo. I wouldn't have recognised you.
And they're your grandchildren. -Yes, my grandchildren.
I didn't think it would be as nice as this.
Everything nice and modern. -And that's the wife's bedlinen.
You've got everything one needs. -What good does that do me?
There's the TV.
Colour or black and white? -Colour.
We only get black and white.
You press that button for the first channel.
And that's the second channel.
You just lie in bed in the evening and watch TV. -Of course.
The chandelier...
You've got it nice here. I didn't expect that.
That's why I said to come over and have a look.
Come over here and sit down for a bit.
I've got something for you.
You could... It's a sort of free gift
from Appeltauer's.
On Wednesday.
Look, a free meal. Schnitzel and veg,
roast pork or similar.
Is that for one or two persons? -For two.
Sepp, I'll come over specially. When is it? -On Wednesday.
So, ladies and gentlemen, this is
our magnetic field.
Magnetic field treatment, who knows what that is?
Who's seen it before?
Magnetic field treatment, a natural method of treatment
which penetrates the body, reaching every individual cell.
Our magnetic field treatment has 20 settings.
Some have 10, some have 15, but ours has 20.
Setting no. 4, for example, is very good for sleeplessness and nervous conditions,
8 hertz for inflammations,
10 hertz for headaches, migraine, depression,
fatigue, vertigo, arthritis,
sclerosis of the arteries.
And here you can see it flashing. The higher I turn it -
those are the impulses the device gives off to the human body -
in the form of electroimpulses, er, electromagnetic impulses.
The higher I turn it the faster the impulses
become. That's why we have a special setting for everything.
If I begin at one, we get longer impulses,
which are given off... because it's got a different function.
So, 15 to 20 hertz
for sensitivity to changes in the weather,
rheumatic pains, sciatica, kidney disease, abdominal problems,
stomach pains, bronchial asthma, sponduladrosis, bladder problems,
varicose veins, heart disease, circulatory disturbances,
Iumbago and many other problems.
Clumsy...
Not as nimble as I was with my fingers.
Botched that, I did.
Yes, one grows old...
Your grip isn't what it used to be.
What do you do when you're alone at home?
What do you think? I watch TV...
I don't want to be alone all the time. I'm just being honest.
I've been alone now for a year and I can't stand living on my own.
I need a housekeeper. Everybody says that can't be difficult.
You'll find one, you've got a house, money and a good pension.
What good is all that when nobody wants me?
Well, it's not so simple with you either. You don't want the women who like you,
and the women you like perhaps don't want you.
And with Paula, you'll have to wait a bit.
She's got her house over there and she's afraid...
She says she's not sure yet, and with the boy coming back from the military soon...
Perhaps she'll come to stay in a few weeks and you can try it out together.
I've already suggested that. -And?
She said I could come to hers.
I can't speak Czech. It's different for her, she can speak German and Czech.
It's easier for her and she'd have everything she needed at my place.
I've got a good pension. She wouldn't go hungry.
We aren't like those stupid bitches who are only interested in money.
If I'm fond of someone he can be naked for all I care.
That's what I told her.
Some women are only interested in money.
You have to be suited to each other. There has to be a bit of sympathy there.
You have to get on with each other.
There's no point in my marrying if we just quarrel all the time.
You'll have to spend the night at hers and try it out.
It's got to work in bed, too.
If that doesn't work then the rest won't work either.
I know that she can cook. That she can.
She's neat, she keeps her place nice and clean.
She's my type, but everything takes time.
How long have you known each other?
We've known each other since we were young.
We were just young things then. They came over to our village and we went to theirs.
On market days
we went over there to the cobbler's...
We've known her since we were young.
You'll just have to wait. If it's meant to be, it'll happen.
You'll have to try it out with Paula.
On the border... -What do you mean, on the border...
We meet there and exchange...
all the latest news...
Sleeping together... -They often come over anyway.
But there's always somone with you. You should be alone with each other.
She's already been to my place anyway. -Alone?
Well, just for a visit. She visited me.
She was amazed that I've got everything so nice and clean...
I need someone to do the housework for me. It's getting on top of me.
Everybody can see that. A woman manages all that much easier than a man.
It gets on top of me, all that cooking, washing and cleaning.
I'm good in the garden...
but a woman belongs in the home.
Women should do the housework.
As I said, go over to hers,
stay a couple of days with her, night and day...
then you'll both see.
I've already told her: "Paula, there's no need to be afraid of me.
We'll get by on my pension. And I've got a little money put by.
You get a small pension, too.
And if we want to go away, we can go away together.
The few years we have left to live...
So that we can make our lives a bit more comfortable.
The few hours we have left..."
Oh, look, what's that?
That's cat food.
How much does it cost?
That's expensive - who can afford to give that to their cats?
That's all reduced. Those are all special offers.
Washing up liquid, baking powder. -We have baking powder, too.
You've got a big choice here.
Of course.
Look over here.
You've got the frozen food here: chicken, chicken wings, spinach,
fried fish. They're ready-breadcrumbed.
Oh, look, I could do with that. -What, toilet paper?
That'll last you quite a time.
I really need that.
Here are the paper handkerchiefs.
That's too much. I can't take any more.
You can't afford to pay for all that. -That's all right.
And can I have that as well? -Yes, have that too.
I can't ask you to pay for all that. -Well, it's just the one time.
What a lot of cars! When does the traffic stop?
It doesn't stop. -lt makes such a noise.
It doesn't stop. Some are driving home and the others are on their way to work.
What'll happen in 10 years? Where will they put all the cars?
They'll have to build something up in the air for them.
Who knows what'll be in 10 years.
What have they got here? -Cosmetics and things.
What are they all for? -Bath oils, scent, hairsprays...
There are the lipsticks.
There's the nailpolish... -I don't use that.
Those are all oils, hair oil...
There you've got shampoo...
You put that into the bath. Then you smell nice.
There you've got hairbrushes, mirrors...
That's for the bathtub.
So you can scrub your back when you're alone.
That's Taft, that's Glem.
There are the scents...
The ones up there are for testing. -You can test them?
But you have to spray it onto your clothes.
That one smells good. -I must try another one.
You spray some on me, but not too much otherwise it'll stink.
It's unbearable in the underground then.
Here, smell it on me to see what it's like.
But not too much.
Not towards your nose or your face. That's only for under your arms and...
That one's the best.
You can buy that one for me. -All right, I will.
I'll spray it all over myself in bed.
You can use it in bed if you want, but it's for outside,
for when you go out in public.
Look at you, Paula.
Careful, or you'll burst.
Go back a bit further.
Blimey. Look at me, I look like I'm drunk.
Look, they won't recognise me when I go back home.
I wonder if I can stand the weight when I come out again.
Hold on!
Over there. Get on that.
It's going too fast for me!
And the wind!
Look at him being blown up!
That's where we go in. Come on.
You have to turn it.
It revolves.
We're inside now.
We haven't been in here before.
You have to come up here.
Hold on.
It's all crooked... -I'm afraid I might fall...
That's what your hands are for, to hold on.
Is it crooked or are we drunk?
But it's going round. -No, it's not.
I'm getting all dizzy. -Don't worry, I'm here.
We're standing on our heads.
Hold tight. Hold on, grandma, the wind's blowing.
We're too slow, Sepp.
You should drive faster.
Look at that, Paula, she's doing it with a banana.
What's that? -She's got him in her mouth.
They're all cassettes. -Yes.
Choose me a good one. -You don't want one of those.
But I do. I want to see one, just once. It's incredible...
Just look at that, holding it open like that.
Don't look too closely, or you'll feel sick.
Those cassettes must be expensive.
Look, sexy underwear.
You have to have the figure for it. -Well, you have.
You can suck those.
I thought you wanted to marry me. I wouldn't need you any more with all this.
Spare parts everywhere you look.
You wanted to go in. Now you're seeing it.
Wait till I tell them back home.
Those are the penises.
You use one of those if you haven't got a man.
You can do without a man then.
You seem to know all about it. -Well, it's obvious, isn't it?
Your husband was a right one... -He was good fun. He liked women.
Yes, he came to me once... -I don't know about that...
Wanted to have me right there on the sofa. -Because he was drunk. -Oh, no.
I told him I'd shout for Paula.
Would you have come and got me? -I've got to have you, he said.
He was drunk. -Drunk at midday?
Keep out of my house, I said. -Wasn't I at home?
I don't know where you were.
He was a right one. I shouldn't say it, but your husband was a bastard.
When he'd had a bit to drink he liked the women.
But I could do what I wanted, too.
I could have anything I wanted.
I can't complain. He did his thing and I did mine.
But he didn't allow you to leave the house.
Well, could you go out anywhere, travel around?
I had enough work with the house.
You were lucky you were never ill.
That Christmas you were in hospital he said he'd hang himself.
He couldn't live alone.
He was used to being waited on, having his food shoved under his nose.
I needed to work. What should I have done otherwise?
Should I have let my husband wait on me, make coffee for me?
But aren't you better of alone now? -Of course.
Then sod the men! -But everything's broken. Nobody's around to fix the house.
Get Sepp to fix it and then throw him out afterwards.
At last it's getting exciting.
That's just gymnastics.
The gymnastics is the most important thing.
It depends, it depends...
It's... It's that...
aerobics.
Leave my blouse alone.
Go and look at some young meat
not old women.
3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 5 o'clock, I hear the chimes every night.
Do you sleep in the daytime because you can't sleep at night?
No, I'm out all day. -Why can't you sleep?
There's something wrong with you. -Of course there's something wrong.
When my wife died, my sister stayed with me for a few days.
She cooked for me.
And I tell you, I slept really well
because there was someone lying beside me.
It's very important, believe it or not.
I was used to it.
I often used to reach over in my sleep and feel that my wife was there.
That was comforting.
But now when I reach over I often wake up with a start...
Nobody there. Then I think she's gone to the toilet or something...
But she's not here any more.
I've had enough.
Blimey.
Good, wasn't it?
We'll have to tape that
next time.
Yesterday we had knuckle of pork,
mashed potatoes and soup with semolina dumplings,
and today I made fish with chips and a salad.
Then I made bilberry dumplings for dessert
and tomorrow... I'll have to think, tomorrow we won't eat at home.
We'll eat out, but on Sunday we'll have fried chicken with salad again
and rice to go with it.
I'm not so fond of fish. I fried some liver today
and tomorrow I'm making beef with a liver dumpling soup and noodles.
And on Sunday I'll make schnitzels and...
On Rio's strand, all alone,
Stood a young girl in an evening gown,
Oh my blonde aviator, come take me away,
Take me to my dear old home country,
Fly with me to the old country,
Fly with me over the ocean,
Fly with me over the sky,
My girl, oh do come with me,
Do you hear the engine, do you hear the song,
Do you hear it, Oh girl in your evening gown?
My blonde aviator, come take me away,
Take me to my dear old home country,
Fly with me to the old country,
Fly with me over the ocean,
Fly with me into the sky,
Oh my girl, oh do come with me.
Fly with me into the sky.
Oh my girl, oh do come with me.
Paula decided not to merry Sepp.
She prefers to continue getting her meals from the Cooperative.
Sepp is still searching for a wife.