PASSENGER
Scenario
Cast:
Director of Photography
Director
Andrzej Munk was unable to complete his film
He died in a car accident on 20th September, 1961
We have no intention of adding what he had no time to say himself
We are not searching for solutions which might not have been his...
...nor seeking to conclude the plots which his death left unresolved
We merely wish to present what was filmed...
... with all the gaps and reticence...
...in an attempt to grasp whatever is alive and significant
Andrzej Munk was our contemporary
We shared his hopes and fears, and while not anticipating the answers...
... we may perhaps manage to present questions that he wished to pose
The story begins today...
...in a place where yesterday and tomorrow scarcely exist, only the present
This luxury liner is an island in time...
...and each of her passengers is an island, too
Worries and ambitions fade away during a voyage
A passenger isn 't part of a society...
...a nation or a group - free, without a biography
The world turns a smiling face to passengers...
... friendly, ready to serve...
...not too curious about where they come from, or why they are travelling
But we will not observe this idyll with such cheerful indifference
We shall give our attention to this passenger
She is a German...
... who hasn 't seen her country, or Europe at all, for years
Now she is returning with her husband...
... whom she married in a foreign, hospitable continent
England... the first port of call in Europe
What has Liza seen?
Her husband does not understand...
... why this encounter has upset her
Don 't call me "poor little thing"
You know nothing about it
My time in the camp...
... was not what you think, my dear Walter
I wasn 't a prisoner, I was an overseer
Don 't look at me like that. I didn 't hurt anyone
And if Marta is alive...
...it's only because of me
I haven 't told you much about my past. You were an emigrant
You'll never understand how we had to live and obey our leaders
Perhaps it's best for us both...
...if you hear it at last
I was sent to Auschwitz in the summer of 1943
I took charge of a command working in a storehouse outside the camp
I had nothing to do with the prisoners, only their things
Everything belonged to the Reich...
...and I was responsible for seeing that nothing was destroyed or stolen
There was a war on and we all lived as soldiers
Some were drunk with power, but I just did my duty
I always tried to help those women whenever I could
I had to select an assistant from a new transport
Work in my command was easier than elsewhere...
...and the treatment was more humane
I saw something vulnerable and childlike in Marta
I was sorry for her
She became my clerk
It was a pleasure...
... to watch her change back to a normal girl, a girl from freedom
I hoped that one day she would be really free...
...and I did all I could to help her survive
Then I discovered that her fiancée Tadeusz, was in the camp...
...and as we needed help with book-keeping, I brought them together
Thanks to me they met again
One day she fell ill and was taken to hospital
Conditions were not good there, we lacked medicines
We couldn 't cope
Anyway, our soldiers at the front were worse off
I decided to have Marta back in the block
I could care for her better there...
...make sure the doctor visited her
I got sulphonamide and vitamins from the SS dispensary
I saved her life
I didn 't ask for thanks, but at least I deserved her trust
She didn 't want to show it
When she recovered she was more withdrawn than ever
Whatever it was, it was something I couldn 't understand
Attention!
When I realised what it was all about, it was too late
She went to him of her own accord
She must have expected this visit
I had no idea what her offence was, but I knew...
... when Untersturmfuhrer Grabner came in person to claim his victim...
...nothing on earth could save her
Marta was taken to the death block. I wanted to see her once more
Before leaving for the Reich, I said I would like to see the death block
It was awful
Then I saw Marta
I, an SS Overseer, was as powerless as she was
Until now I was sure Marta had shared the fate of Tadeusz
Perhaps Walter will be touched and repeat "poor little thing"
But the response of the husband learning of his wife's past...
... that's not really important, the director probably used him...
... so Liza could recount her first, noble version of herself and Marta
The second version, she will keep to herself
There is a gap in the film...
... to be filled with various events taking place on the liner
Munk began to film these events...
...but never completed them
The motivations of the Auschwitz revelations would have been detailed
We are left with fragments - happy passengers...
... Liza, staring at Marta...
... trying to be sure it is really her
Under such tension Liza recalls the truth well enough
I was sorry for her. How naive I was
She didn 't give a damn for my kindness
I, a German, denied myself everything...
... I had no private life, no love, no rest from duty
She, a Pole, committed for a political offence, had what I lacked
She didn 't need me to be happy
It wasn 't my doing and it wasn 't by accident that Tadeusz was there
Prisoners exploited our trust. Those given tasks ran the camp...
...pulling wool over our eyes
Even some German foremen were in with the gang
He's not here
- What do you mean? - The Capo sent him to hospital
- Who's this? - He can take his place
- Another one of your tricks? - No, the other may have typhus
Decent Germans are at the front, not hiding in a camp
You stinking coward
In 1 936 I fought in Spain. I didn't get this uniform for cowardice
- Do you know the job? - Yes, I do
I let it go on
In the battle we fought...
...I knew that cunning was more effective than brutality
They played at love, thinking no one knew. They had no right to
But I knew, and if you know what someone really cares for...
...and you can give it or take it away...
...you are the master
I keep getting reports of theft
Confiscated items are Reich property. Prisoners are stealing, trading...
Yesterday a woman prisoner was caught lifting boots from the store
Today we found some buried gold
Ober, a simple soul, an idealist, was bewildered by such things
Yet in the end she said something sensible
"We must win the confidence of chosen prisoners and establish order
"Only the best in the garrison and the best of the prisoners...
"... can restore this camp's proper character"
This idea was not new to me
Overseer Weniger wishes to take command
Unfortunately, I had moments of weakness, too...
...and Marta was able to take note
Even dogs have temptations they can't resist
Major, lnga 's pet, was extremely fond of cheese
He wasn 't to know he would soon pay for that
A brat!
I mpossible. I'll have a look
Do you trust her?
I'd better check
What a lovely brat it is!
Another stupid joke by the Special Command
I was humiliated. Because of my weakness...
...Marta involved me in a dirty business...
...an accomplice in an effort to save a Jewish child
Then the fight for Marta, against Marta, began to excite me
It's my birthday today
No one here remembered my birthday...
...no one gave me such flowers
The roses came from the SS greenhouse
Prisoners from the men 's camp worked there
I decided to begin the attack...
...Iet Marta know that I could give her Tadeusz...
...Iike a sweet for being a good girl
Thank you, Madam Overseer, but it's impossible
Anyway, I'm not all that keen to see her
Still here? They're waiting! Hurry up!
He's got urgent work at the Commandant's villa
You know, Madam, we've got artists here from all over Europe
That's his girl... sketches for a medallion
He longs for her, but they can't meet, as you know
I was close to mastering Marta
I told her to take the numbers of those by the wire. She didn't react
So then I said...
... Tadeusz
She understood
But for that dog, Marta would have been mine
I GAVE MAN EVERYTH I NG
I disliked such spectacles - they soiled the dignity of our struggle
Of course, the punishment was necessary...
Marta 's gesture rather pleased me
I didn 't suspect that it was more than a spontaneous reaction
- Gruyère cheese? - Yes
The men did it
Who in the men 's camp could have known of Major's taste for cheese?
Who would take revenge on poor Weniger?
I decided to put pressure on Marta, but then...
Take over command! Strength 53, two in hospital
An international commission is coming. Your command looks best
Choose a prisoner to answer questions
- Your assistant? - She's in hospital
- Typhus? - No
Why not bring her to the block? Individual care... a good impression
One ofthe two was Marta...
...but I still fought for her
I'm ready for punishment
I had to see her
Here you see a typical barracks for women
Here's one of our convalescents
She is recovering, isn't she?
Yes, she's had medicine since yesterday
Only since yesterday?
How long has she been ill?
A week
It's war, even our soldiers at the front are often short of medicines
- How long have you been here? - About two years
Is this your first illness here?
Yes. I've checked her medical card
No illnesses in two years?
No flu? No cold?
Do you get letters regularly?
Of course. We don't limit their correspondence
It's not against the regulations
Do you allow visits by relatives?
That's forbidden in every country
These are political prisoners
Of course, we allow prisoners to visit each other sometimes
- When? - In cases of illness
Has anyone visited you?
Her fiancée is a prisoner, too
Another "political" - he visited her a few days ago
Well, Marta, did he visit you?
Yes
Congratulations! Promotion for sure!
Ober was pleased with me and my protégé,
She talked about promotion, maybe transfer to the Reich
I rejoiced, too
Marta had finally given in to me
I planned to take her with me when I was moved, to be my right hand
The life of the camp family rolled on, through weekdays...
...and holidays
I rejoiced too soon
Behind my back they behaved as though the camp barely existed
Perhaps they sensed it was their last meeting...
...but what did I care about such sentiments?
I should have finished her
This was the moment
I really saved her life this time
I deluded myself into thinking...
... she'd be grateful at last
Here
The Commandant wishes to see you
I'll deal with this
Roll call!
A note was found
Who wrote it?
Marta, step forward
Translate
I...too, am always close to you in my thoughts
Always close to you...
Louder
I don't even have to close my eyes to have you near me
You are within my reach
I like your hands, the palm of your hand...
Darling... my beloved...
It doesn 't matter that you can 't speak to me
I remember your voice
Although you're not allowed to be near me...
... I can talk to you yet
We can talk to each other, speak to each other
Darling... it must be autumn now
I lie beside you in the grass...
...among golden leaves...
... soon it will begin to rain
You will shield me from the rain, you will cover my hair
I walk in mud, without leaves
Darling, do you...
It's good that you exist
I kiss your lips...
... so they won 't be sad
I kiss your eyes, so they will bid me "good night"
The end
Go back
The note is stupid and unimportant
I won't report it if the author steps forward
If she delays she'll be sent to the Corrective Company
You'll all go there if no one owns up
The Commandant wishes to see you
You'll stay here all night if necessary
- You, too? - I've just been called
She's furious. She's been named as a war criminal
A broadcast from London gave details of the transports
How do they know what goes on here?
Why does she want us?
Inga, come in. Liza, wait
I didn't understand the language of the note...
...but a love letter would not have numbers and familiar German names
Your duty here is finished. You're posted to Berlin
You're posted to headquarters
Do you know that we must discuss a painful subject first?
Your command hid a Jewish child
That's impossible
Weniger was on duty then and admits it was possible
Well, if lnga admits she was on duty...
You must remember. I said it was a baby in that pram...
...and she brought a doll
I don't remember
It couldn't have happened in my presence
Liza, how can you...
Your word is enough. Your command is well-disciplined
I know Liza...
...she would admit an offence
An SS officer never evades responsibility
I know my duty. The command must be punished if it is guilty
I request they all go to the Corrective Company
Very well. Prepare your report
Overseer... the Blockmaster would like you to come to the command
Command affairs no longer concern me
Perhaps Overseer lnga, then, because someone's confessed
You're all going for correction
But I confessed. Please keep your word
Untrue. You couldn't have written it
You know I could
I don't know. It was just some lovesick rubbish!
No, you know it was me
She forced me to it
She wanted to destroy me, I had to defend myself
Those last words are not very clear
How did Liza defend herself...
...and influence Marta 's fate...
... the fate she recounted to her husband...
...and now prefers to end unfinished?
But we shouldn 't ask too much of the Overseer...
... she's admitted enough
Justifying oneself is only human
Anyway, what is this recollection of a game...
...between overseer and chosen prisoner?
An apology, an escape...
... from cruelty and evil, only too human?
In the vague, unreal background, people die, silently, casually...
...anonymously, as others perform their duty...
... victims trampled into the mud, over whom she walked, unseeing
Set on a liner, an island in time...
... this story can be concluded easily
The brush with the past did not last long
Marta, or someone resembling her...
... disembarked at the next port of call
The ship sails on
It's doubtful if the women will ever meet again
Liza won 't be challenged by truths buried in the mud of Auschwitz
Nothing can disturb Liza 's life among people...
...indifferent to yesterday's crimes, who even today...
Film completed by: