MOSFILM PRESENTS
THIRD ARTISTIC ASSOCIATION
SIBERIAN SAGA
POEM
THE CAST
VLADIMIR SAMOILOV VITALY SOLOMIN
SERGEI SHAKUROV NATALIA ANDREICHENKO
EVGENY PEROV MIKHAIL KONONOV
ELENA KORENEVA IGOR OKHLUPIN
NIKOLAI SKOROBOGATOV
PAVEL KADOCHNIKOV as the Eternal Old Man
Scriptwriters VALENTIN EZHOV
ANDREI MIKHALKOV-KONCHALOVSKY
Director of Photography LEVAN PAATASHVILI
Production Designer NIKOLAI DVIGUBSKY
Music by EDUARD ARTEMIEV
Sound Engineer VALENTIN BOBROVSKY
Directed by BORIS VELSHER FELIX KLEIMAN
Newsreels LEONID EIDLIN Editing VALENTINA KULAGINA
Chronicles Director ARTUR PELESHYAN Editor VERA OSTRIMSKAYA
Directed by ANDREI MIKHALKOV-KONCHALOVSKY
PART ONE
AFANASY
BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY
Hi.
- What's wrong? - Nothing.
Where did you get these dumplings?
Nowhere.
- Whose are you? - Nobody's.
Gotcha.
Now I'll make dumplings out of you.
You scum!
- Hey, guys! - Let me go! That hurts!
What the devil's with you two?
Let him have it!
- Give it back, scum. - No way!
Fine.
Dad'll teach you to go crawling around people's barns!
- Thief! Beggar! - You're a slut!
- Beggar! Thief! - Bloodsuckers!
- Sour scamp! - Bloodsuckers!
You're a wet louse!
- Your girlfriend? - Hell, no.
They're my worst enemies, the Solomins.
Red-haired puke!
Who's that?
She just hangs around.
Dad found her in the woods on the Devil's Mane, half-dead.
Eat.
They're good, Solomins's dumplings.
Darn.
- What does she want? - Don't worry.
Like I said...
she just hangs around.
So why are you stealing?
They've got lots of everything. They're rich.
There's bagfuls of dumplings in the barn.
I've stolen up to 500 a night.
Aren't you ashamed?
Look who's talking - a runaway convict.
How do you know?
It's obvious. You still have the convict label on.
Where are your folks?
Mom drowned and Dad's chopping a roadway through the woods.
What roadway?
- Where to? - Up to a star.
What star?
He doesn't know himself. Whichever's brightest.
He was the best hunter in the taiga.
But he gave it all up for the road.
- He's chopping it alone? - Alone all right. He's useless.
We Ustyuzhanins are all like that.
Once something's in our head, ain't no getting it out.
Afanasy, you be great hunter.
Fair too.
Everybody know Afonya in Khanta.
Ted get sables,
squirrels and martens.
Solomin take all. No give Ted nothing.
Ted hungry. Ted die!
He's nothing like Afonya, you simpleton.
How many times has Dad told you it's your own fault.
He won't cover up for you anymore.
Hold on, Kolya. What's this all about?
He always does this - swaps all his sables for vodka
and then cries afterwards - tries to get 'em back.
- You look like good man. Help Ted. - Stop it. Get up.
Hold on.
Don't go to Solomin.
Wait till Dad gets back. Wait!
We'll see.
Take the gun!
Hi.
You're the master, right?
Right.
You've offended a man greatly. Give the pelts back.
Give the sables back to the man.
Who's a man? Him?
Maybe we should, boys?
We'll give 'em back.
Don't be afraid.
Don't stand there. Take the pelts.
Ted no need nothing!
- Vasya, flank him on the right. - Stay away.
I've got a bomb.
Give the pelts back now.
Vasya.
You don't know me.
I could blast myself and all of you.
I could do that.
Pete, don't be stingy.
Go ahead,
take your pelts.
Leave a couple of them here. You drank our vodka.
Mine!
- I'll be back. - Where are you off to, you wet louse?
- Rodion, I'll be back! - Get him!
- I'll catch you yet! - Rodion, I'm gonna bring Dad!
I'll be back, Rodion!
Hang in there, Rodion!
You caught a cat.
Yeah. The bitch jumped on me three times.
- Ruined my jacket. - You're needed in the village.
- What the heck for? - There's a runaway convict.
He took the pelts from Yerofei and stuck up for Ted.
The Solomins want to strangle him.
- What kind of a man? - A stranger.
- Is he a good man? - Sure is.
- Let him be. - They'll do him in.
Let 'em.
What if he burns the village?
Damn your village!
I just want to chop through this forest!
Dad, what's that?
It's the sisters weeping.
- But it's only a tree. - A tree.
And it, too, is alive.
We tread on living things,
chop living things.
Pa.
We live off living things.
No. Right now, Vodka's worse for me than a bullet.
- I've been out in the cold for seven days. - Pour me some.
Seven days in this cold.
500 versts.
That's what, six goose flights?
I guess you rode them horses to death.
No horses. The wind carried me.
So it's the wind and no horses!
A bomb.
You've got some guts, Rodion.
Alone in the taiga.
I'm not afraid of the taiga.
Ours is a cursed land for an outsider.
We're used to it.
All done.
Get down!
I'll blast you all to pieces!
I warned you!
Hi!
What are you doing under the table?
Catching mice?
Yerofei, I caught a pussycat in the taiga for you.
Take a look.
Leave it outside. I'll make hats out of it later.
Have no fear.
That's my father.
I'm feverish.
What's that you have?
A chain.
I was chained to the wall for four years like Tommaso Campanella.
Some name.
Must be a Gypsy or a horse thief.
He was a scholar. He lived in Italy.
His dream was to build a wonderful city- a City of the Sun.
He gave his life for that.
I know this book by heart.
It talks about everything - how to build houses
and how people will live in them
- and what the city will be like - - So what will it be like?
A beautiful city, a dream city even.
With pictures and gardens all around.
Silence.
The streets will be laid with white stone - marble it's called.
It'll be clean everywhere.
Incredibly clean.
If your Tommaso spent some time with an ax in our snowy land,
he wouldn't be so queer, and there'd be some use for him.
It does a guy like that good to be chained awhile.
Why, you -
You all live in the woods,
and you worship the woods.
What happened next?
Nothing.
My hands are getting numb.
Too bad.
- We should send for the old man. - What for?
I'm already here.
You stay out.
Wait here.
- Are you the Eternal Old Man? - That's what they call me.
And why'd you come? who asked you to?
Shut the door.
- The bear understands. - Not a thing.
He's hibernating.
Listen, old man, why don't you give him to me?
He'll carry brushwood for me.
You still chopping?
Yes.
And the sisters weep.
Me too, when I chop.
You know where you're chopping to?
Don't matter where to.
As long as it's away from here. Far away.
You can't get away from yourself.
Well, are you giving me the bear?
You'll make him a boozer.
How can I refuse him a glassful
after a hard day's work?
If I pour him some, he won't say no.
Wanna bet on it?
Watch out, Afonya.
Your road leads straight to the Devil's Mane.
Gotcha!
Nastya, hey, let me speak!
You won't get away now.
It's not for me, Nastya. It's for Rodion. He's needs food!
You want dumplings? I'll treat you to some.
Have some berries, have some mushrooms,
and now some cucumbers to top it off.
Want more dumplings?
- Yes. - You'll have them.
Just strip yourself naked and run three times around the well.
- Chicken? - Me, chicken?
Here you go, Leshy.
Now get dressed.
You scared?
I'm not scared.
They're running!
Look over there!
They're riding it!
They're getting away!
- Hey, over here! - Oh, my God! He fell!
Give me a ride!
Wait, will you!
Hey, Solomins, want a ride?
Strip bare!
I'll chase you down!
Make way!
Go get 'em!
You lost mother-in-law!
The rudder needs to be fixed. Think you can handle it?
And the sail stretched.
You're mad at me?
I can't take you, Kolya!
It's not gonna be fun Where I'm going.
Who do you think I am?
Ajailbird? A thief?
No, Kolya.
I'm a fighter, a revolutionary fighter.
I have hands of gold.
I can make weapons, handguns and bombs of any type with these hands.
That's why they kept me chained in solitary like an animal.
You think it was easy for my comrades to plan this escape?
They've been waiting for me in Irkutsk for two months already.
They need a man like me real bad.
I want to go to Irkutsk with you. We'll make bombs together.
Come over here.
You know who I saw in my sleep last night?
I saw the City of the Sun. You don't believe me?
You and I were flying.
Below us were lakes, rivers, Dad's road, and suddenly- the Sun City.
Kolya.
Hands up!
Hands up.
Hands up!
- He's clean. - Search him.
He's a trickster all right.
Isn't that so, Klimentov?
Okay.
You've started making toys instead of bombs, huh?
You've lost some weight since you ran away.
Hold this, boy.
I actually feel sorry
just looking at you, Klimentov.
To the iceboat quick, Kolya.
And you?
Set the sails. I'll join you.
Let go.
All sprawled out here like this.
Tired, Safon?
We've been chasing after you for nine days, Rodion,
through the taiga and fallen trees.
And my health is not what it was.
Well, sickness is difficult,
but the grave is easy.
I wouldn't be surprised, what with my sins.
Now, Safon, taste my little bread roll.
Hit the ground!
Watch out!
- Nastya, come have some dumplings. - I don't want any.
You fool.
They're taking Rodion away!
- They're taking Rodion away! - We'll set you straight!
Uncle Vasily, they're taking Rodion away!
Watch it!
Rodion!
The Solomins burned your iceboat.
Stop!
Whoa!
One has to suffer for the truth. Truth is the dearest commodity.
Campanella died for his dream and the truth.
My comrades are dying in prison for the truth.
Many more fine men Will lay down their lives for it.
Remember,
the future will be
really beautiful.
And here in these swamps,
fantastic Sun Cities will rise.
Have faith.
Believe and wait.
Wear it and remember.
Let go.
Scum, let go! Let go!
I take my hat off not to you,
but to that future.
- Move it! - Giddyap!
Have faith, Kolya,
and wait!
ANASTASIA
THE TWENTIES
Kolya!
- Kolya? - Yes.
You gonna work or what?
Kolya!
What?
What are you doing up there?
Seeing if there's anything up ahead.
Miles and miles of marshes.
Cursed land.
Kolya, you son of a bitch, get down, I say.
- I don't wanna. - What do you mean you don't wanna?
I've chopped with you for five years. I've had enough.
You crazy?
Who wants your road through the marsh,
old fool?
Just you wait!
You're gonna get it.
- Hey, Pops. - You're gonna get it.
Just you -
- How did you - - Tell you what.
Just what kind of life
have you lived because of this damn road?
You -
Filth, swamps, mosquitoes.
- And no woman. - I'll show you!
Look at yourself!
The things you say to your father!
Maybe you're not my father.
Maybe Mom made me with Solomin while you were chopping that road.
Kolya.
Ouch!
Pa!
- I'll show you! - Pa!
- Oh, Kolya! - You'll strain yourself, Pa.
For God's sake, wait.
Pa!
Let me have my way or I'll get sick.
Hey, Nastya!
What?
- Phil Solomin's outside. - I heard. What else?
Nothing.
Off to the woods - to Kolya?
Be careful in the forest.
Please not before you're wed, Nastya.
I know how those Ustyuzhanins are.
Quick indeed.
What's with you, Father?
Let me be.
Where are the cartridges?
What do you think you're doing?
In the chest.
What happened?
- I'm thirsty. - What happened?
It's over.
We'll all go to hell now.
Where are the pelts? Let me smell you breath.
- You didn't swap it for liquor, did you? - It's the revolution, I tell you.
The poor are having a fling, marauding and killing people.
Thank God we got back alive.
What's this?
We grabbed what we could.
What came our way.
Where are you going, Sis?
- Let me go. - Go where?
Let me go.
I won't have you making out in the bushes
With that beggar.
What? Clear the way!
Clear the way!
I'm going to give you a berry.
I'll treat you myself.
Sweet berry.
And ripe.
Sweet.
Do you miss me?
Kolya!
Do you?
You do.
Life's no life without you, Kolya.
Where the heck are you?
I can't live without you any longer.
Come here.
What's new in the village?
- Our people are back. - Why so soon?
Some sort of a revolution.
What?
The czar was toppled.
Pa, the Russian people are uprising.
Where the hell have you been?
The czar's been overthrown. The people have revolted.
- Pick up the ax and chop. - Now -
Now -
Now...
We're gonna bring you down.
We've had enough.
We'll be on top now.
How long have you been smothering us?
And how long have you been crushing us?
Down with you!
A pig is no match for a goose.
Cool it. I may change my mind,
and you'll be an old maid.
That's enough. I can marry Phil Solomin.
- What? - You heard me.
They're the poorest in the village, but not mean.
Go on, you red-haired straw...
and never set foot here again!
Watch your step.
You might damage a nest.
What if I do?
The bird will fly away
and won't sing.
Without its singing, work will be dull.
Phil!
Keep away.
Phil!
You deaf? Some girl's calling for you.
Damn her. No match for a goose indeed.
I won't have her play with me.
Well?
- Come here. - What?
Oh, come on.
How about that!
Keep away!
Anastasia, shall I send
the matchmakers?
Yes, uncle Yermolai.
Phil, did you hear that?
Get down, Nastya.
- We'll talk. - What about?
Get down, I say.
No.
- Phil, hold it. - Phil, swing on.
Swing it yourself.
Faster.
Anastasia, you know me.
I just blabbed it out like a fool.
Nastya, I'm sorry.
Nastya.
Get lost.
And he gets it.
Hey, bitch.
What if I disgrace you?
I can, you know.
Drop on my knees in front of your gates.
- And I'll stay there. - Go ahead.
- I will. - Go ahead.
I will!
- Want some nuts? - Get lost.
The little flower came to be-
I bet you love me, not him!
I've forgotten all about you.
Phil, come here.
Swing.
Swing harder, harder!
Matchmaking, Yermolai?
A wedding. Just look at that wedding.
- See? There's gonna be a wedding. - A beautiful wedding.
- Dad, can I go with you? - Go on!
Yermolai! Sucking up to them rich men?
Our Phil's gonna marry Anastasia.
Anastasia,
come out now!
Anastasia,
or else I don't know what I'll do!
I'll wreck the whole place!
Anastasia,
come out or I'll leave without you.
Hey, Solomins, come out!
You're scared of the revolution!
Solomins,
it's curtains for you murderers.
The revolution is happening!
Don't whine. I won't touch you.
Go away.
Go some other way.
My heart's aching.
Aching.
Come on.
Bastard.
You know what? You'll never have Anastasia.
Take a boat, and go anywhere you want.
To the revolution or to your Sun City.
I won't go without Anastasia.
You're scared of the revolution. Scared!
Soon they'll bring you all down.
Anastasia's coming with me. I'm taking her.
Here we go!
Hold him!
Dad! I didn't -
I didn't mean to.
Get him!
Dad, I meant no harm.
Gotcha!
The hell you'll get me!
Let go!
Enough, Pete.
My turn now.
Clear the way.
- Not to death, Son. - Don't worry.
What are you doing?
Don't believe him, Nastya.
What was that about the czar?
Stay away!
Stay away or I'll kill you.
END OF PART ONE
PART TWO
NIKOLAI, AFANASY'S SON
THE THIRTIES
"Buried here is the body of God's servant Afanasy Ustyuzhanin”
The cannons were roaring
Our machine-gun spat fire
The bandits were defeated
We bravely pressed on
This is your homeland, son.
Nothing much, you might say.
But you'll never find a better one.
The time has come, O brothers
To do the butchers in
They didn't recognize me!
I stepped on some crap.
Why such poor shooting? Out of practice?
Why such poor shooting?
Out of practice?
- We were just scaring you. - Scaring? Why?
Times being what they are.
All sorts of men roaming around.
- So you're here. - So I'm here.
Where's Nastya?
Hello, my kinsmen.
Many thanks for beating me and throwing me out of the village.
No bad without good.
Yes, I've learned a thing or two. And now, this here.
Here's your grandson - my son.
Alexei Ustyuzhanin.
We came to you
to build a new life.
Open up.
Where is Nastya?
Nastya died heroically in the revolutionary storm.
Go home. Home, I say.
I come to her again,
and she says, " No way.”
Hey, guys, I wanna ask you -
Say, Nikolai,
have you seen my son Phil
in them big cities anywhere?
Hold on, will you?
First, let me ask you, fellow comrades -
What do you suppose our land Siberia is?
- Why ask? You're from around here yourself. - Try and find a better one!
A rough land, our Siberia.
That's right.
Rough, but not poor.
This magazine here has writing and photographs
about everything there is in our land.
Scientists say
that underground and in the marshes
great riches are hidden.
Oil, gas, metals, ore, gold and so on.
They've decided to develop our marshland.
Our village, Elan,
has a key part to play
on a world proletarian scale.
Here you see an English drilling machine
that was bought in England with gold.
They're gonna put it up next to Elan
and start pumping from the ground.
- Pumping what? - Everything that's there - to the bottom.
What if we fall down through?
What are you laughing for? He said to the bottom.
What are we Christians gonna hold on to?
They'll pump the good out and the shit will remain.
That's what you can hold on to.
Shush! Shush, I say!
Fellow comrades.
According to comrade Lenin's decree, all minerals, rivers, land, and forests
shall belong to the people,
Who are the masters of the Soviet Land.
Our task is to develop Siberian wealth.
Tomorrow we start cutting
a road through the marshes.
A difficult but honorable task.
We'll haul the drilling rig
along that road
so it'll soon start pumping
from underground for the benefit of all Soviet people.
Any questions?
Raise your hands. Who's for it, who's against it.
Who's for it?
- Hands! - No.
If there's anything you don't understand,
just ask me. Don't be shy.
A curious question.
- Will we be paid for our work? - Sure.
- How much? - Enough to buy bread.
What if I'm used to butter?
Get unused. You once robbed the Khanty.
- Enough. - That's right.
- They're gonna pinch tails. - Whose tails?
- Yours! - Mine?
- Yes. - Yours and Yerofey's too.
You forget how you crawled at my feet over debts.
- We did? Okay, take your debt. - What is this?
Come on. Hit him!
Quit it.
Quit it, I say.
Stop it.
That won't do!
What are you pounding your gun on the table for?
- Wait, Pete. - Why's he pounding his gun on the table?
As for the road,
I'm signing up first.
How about that!
Where are we making it to?
You know my Dad's road, don't you?
Sure.
We'll continue building it further.
But it leads to the Devil's Mane.
Not just to the Devil's Mane. It goes farther than that.
- People go nuts there. - They black out.
We're not going.
So what if we never went there before?
If necessary, now we will.
I'm for it.
Unanimously.
Thanks for displaying
a revolutionary conscience, fellow comrades.
We start tomorrow morning.
Olga, give that back!
What do you want, Spiridon?
We need to talk.
Don't worry, he's okay.
I want to ask,
What sort of heroic death
did Nastya die?
Alexei, step outside.
They burned her
near Argun.
White Cossacks.
She was captured together with the infirmary.
They doused her with alcohol in the freezing cold and set her on fire.
She lit up like a torch.
I'll never forgive you for Anastasia.
Oh, black raven
- Why are you hovering over my head - Don't oversleep tomorrow.
Well,
Kolya.
Now -
My son Phil
enrolled at an academy.
I bet he'll move up even higher.
He married a city girl.
Here.
Take a look.
Just look at him.
Who is this?
A chap who could have been your Dad.
My! I overslept!
Why didn't you wake me up? Didn't I ask you to?
I tried to, but you fought me off.
Is Spiridon here?
- He got sick. - He's just faking, the contra.
So he's sick.
We'll cure him in a jiffy.
Alexei!
Just look at you.
And it flew inside there.
And the frog atop a hedgehog trotted on.
So you're skipping public work, Spiridon?
Yes, Kolya.
- Afraid to go to Devil's Mane? - Dream on. I'm not afraid of anything.
- I just don't want to. - Stop messing around.
Look, people are waiting for you.
We're not joking, Kolya. We're not going to that cursed place.
You're not, are you?
We are free men, aren't we, Artiom?
So you won't fulfill comrade Stalin's instructions
to build a bright future with your people
and strengthen Soviet power?
Artiom and I, we screw your Soviets! See that?
Stand up!
- Stand up, you contra! - Alexei.
He's against Soviet power. To the wall, you contra!
Hi, nephew.
So, Spiridon.
I'm arresting you.
In the name of Soviet power, right?
Sure, right.
- And I'm sending you to the city. - About time!
Bastard!
They'll tell you what's what.
Yerofey, let's go outside.
Yes, sir.
Didn't Vasya tell you to leave?
Alexei, you guard the arrested.
Make sure he doesn't fool around.
Well, nephew.
Not robbing the Khanty again, are you?
- For shame! - Yeah, the Khanty too.
That's robbery.
The forests now belong to the people.
Only the Soviet government manages them.
- There's more! - No!
- What the - - No!
You think your mama died of typhus fever?
She was killed.
Alexei, come to me.
Alexei.
- Uncle Spiridon, I'll shoot. - Go ahead, Alexei.
- Go ahead. - Dad.
- Go ahead. - Dad!
Are we allowed to pick berries and mushrooms?
- For now, yes. - Thank God. We'll survive then.
Look, here's more!
Daddy!
What?
- I quit. - What's gotten into you?
- What? - Fix me a drink.
- Spiridon. - Daddy!
- Spiridon. - Get away.
Oh, black raven
Why are you hovering
Over my head
- Pour me some. - You will never get your prey
You sent me down the river and made a man of me.
Now you go for a ride.
No, black raven
- I'm not yours - You'll thank me afterwards.
Why do you bare your claws
Kolya.
O birdie
You got it all wrong.
Why are you hovering
- Over my head - You've got a stump for a head, Kolya.
You believe I am
Your trophy
No, black raven
I'm not yours
See that he doesn't run away.
No way.
It's a long trip.
Three days and nights without sleep.
He knows I'm a good shot.
I thank you all.
I bow my head to you.
It's okay.
Misha!
Dad!
Wait.
Dad, what's with you?
What's with you, Dad?
The Devil's Mane is calling.
Right. It's from the Mane.
It's messing with us, guys.
Listen, Kolya.
Maybe we could build something else for socialism?
How about a road, but in a different direction?
No, the Devil's Mane it must be.
- No, not the Devil's Mane. - What do you mean?
I mean what I say.
Khanty never go there. They're scared.
And we won't either.
Play something cheerful, Arkady.
For shame, guys.
Socialism shines all over the country,
but here we have darkness and prejudice instead.
Why are you hiding?
Cool it, Dad.
I'm talking to you, Dad.
I'll shoot all of you
like contras.
Give that here.
What ignorance! God doesn't exist.
Guys!
Hey, give it a break. No more.
What break?
We've got to get to the Mane.
- No matter what. - Dad!
- Easy does it. - Dad.
Guys,
let him be.
Let him be!
- There's no God, and no devil either. - Shut up, you half-wit.
You're so ignorant.
What's so scary, you fools?
What's so scary?
It's only a swamp.
Nothing but a swamp.
Why don't you go there yourself?
- I will. - And come back too.
Nothing to it.
- Well, shall we? - Maybe it's not worth it, Pa.
It's worth it, Alexei. It's worth it.
Dad!
You'll make 'em all mad.
Oh, Lord help us.
Well, where's this Devil's Mane of yours?
Where's the Mane?
Soon, Alexei, soon.
No, you tell me where we're heading.
- North or south? - I didn't go to any academies.
But I know the way without your help.
Pa, why don't we go home now?
What will we say to the people?
We'll say we were there, saw it.
Then what?
Then we'll drive the mindless masses here and start chopping.
Where to?
Where to, Pa?
Forward, just like in the song.
No, I can't tell lies.
I've got
to find out personally.
Okay, you go, but I'm not going.
- Yes, you are. - No.
Yes, you are.
Then I'll go without you.
I'm off, Alexei.
Pa!
What the -
No! Pa! Pa!
Pa!
Go away!
What's with you?
Alexei.
What's with you, Pa?
We'll never make it to the swamp, Alexei -
to Devil's Mane.
Why did I take so much upon myself?
I belong in the field hospital with the shell-shocked.
Pa.
So you're shell-shocked, big deal.
You'll pull through.
You figure we'll make it, Alexei?
We can make it.
Sure thing, Pa.
Of course we will.
Hey, Alexei.
Talk to me, Alexei, will you?
What do you think? What should we do next?
Nothing. Sleep.
We need to make a decision about the Mane.
Do we keep on chopping or not?
Chop.
Maybe we shouldn't?
I could go to the regional committee
and ask for help.
Tell them what's happening here, huh?
Go ahead.
I shouldn't have arrested Spiridon.
I shouldn't have.
He warned me about the Mane.
He was right.
He warned us, didn't he?
We must chop on through.
There's no way back.
Pa.
CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE GIVE THEM THE BEST
- Pa! - What?
Don't be so upset.
So you sent him to jail. He'll be fine.
He won't fall apart. He's not made of sugar, is he?
He, Nastya and myself used to catch fish together with our shirts.
We ran down the same trails barefoot.
You think it's easy for me
to give him a rifle butt in the back?
Pa.
Let's go back to the city. I want to go back to the orphanage.
I guess I'll boil some potatoes.
Pa!
Pa?
Let me go, Spiridon!
Where's Pa?
Pa!
Where is he?
Pa! Pa!
Alexei.
Pa!
Pa's dead.
You killed Pa?
Come back, Alexei.
- You hear me? - Get away!
It's no good hanging around orphanages.
- I'll leave here. - You can stay with us.
We won't abandon you.
I'll get you yet!
Pa!
Kolya, Kolya.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Pa!
KIEVSKY
GLORYTO THE RED ARMY
TAYA
THE FORTIES
ELAN VILLAGE
"Buried here is the body of God's servant Yerofey Solomin”
There he is.
Over there.
- Take him. - I'm afraid.
When he gets well, then you'll be afraid, you fool.
What's this?
Old man.
Hey, old man.
I know you.
You're the Eternal Old Man.
Eat what God's blessed us with.
Old man.
Hey, old man, is Elan still around?
Hasn't fallen to the ground yet.
Who do you want to see in Elan?
The Solomins, old man.
There are lots of Solomins. Which one?
Spiridon.
Spiridon's in jail.
- He's in jail. - He is?
He's been there over five years
for killing your father Nikolai.
I recognized you at once, Alexei.
You run away from the orphanage?
What's his term?
Ten years in jail plus five more of hard labor.
- Where's he doing time? - Can't be any farther than Siberia.
He still won't get away.
I'll get him when he gets out.
What are you staring at me for?
What are you -
Why don't you stay here?
Your homeland will give you strength and wisdom.
You nuts or something, old man?
I'm not gonna waste my sunny youth in your swamps.
Bye!
Maybe we'll meet again if you don't kick the bucket.
"Bolshevik Nikolai Ustyuzhanin
fell at the heinous hand of his class enemy”
You live in Elan?
- What? - I asked, do you live in Elan?
Yes.
I trudged 5,000 kilometers to get here.
- Swans? - Geese.
Geese.
ELAN VILLAGE
VOLGA - VOLGA
Then there's Sochi, then Tuapse.
The Black Sea is something.
In the evening, there's restaurants, music, women,
tango.
- What? - Tango is a type of dance.
Can you dance at all or not?
Want me to teach you?
Come here.
Come closer.
Closer. I'm supposed to hold you.
And you hold me. Like this.
- That's no tango. - Hey, I know what tango is.
- That's not tango. - Yes, it is.
No, it isn't. It isn't.
- Yes, it is. - No, it isn't.
You silly bumpkin.
Okay, teach me.
I know it's tango.
What are you grabbing for?
It's a dance.
Is that everyone?
I guess so.
Here.
As you know,
"On June 22, the Soviet Union Was attacked by Nazi Germany.”
- What? - Who attacked?
- When? - We beat them Germans once.
Don't you have a radio?
Yes, I do.
But it doesn't work.
We live on the edge of the world.
The war...
has been going on over two weeks now.
No luck I guess.
- Are you Guriev? - Yes.
Why isn't this oil rig in the registrar?
I don't know. We've been around over seven months.
Look, comrade,
We'll join you in five days on our motor boat. It's over there.
I can't allow it. Move on.
That barge of yours will take a week
to get to the recruiting center, plus a stop at every village.
And on my motorboat it's just five days.
Stop delaying. Move it.
Look at us. Look, I say!
Look at me.
We climb trees because of that gas. We sleep there.
The guys are half-dead, but we keep on drilling.
I have my orders, and I'm carrying them out.
It shouldn't be done like this. It's not too smart.
- It shouldn't. - How many days do you need?
Three days. Three.
We're gonna drill day and night.
I can't allow it.
I've been waiting for this moment for 12 years.
There's oil here, understand? There must be.
An ocean of it beneath Devil's Mane, understand?
Oil - it's needed for defenses, for the war.
- You're sabotaging it. - No.
Battles are going on near Smolensk, understand?
Near Smolensk.
What?
Wait!
Wait! Wait for me!
Has Berlin fallen already?
Sign me up
for war!
Sign me up please.
You're underage.
Open your eyes. My birthday is...
soon.
Come on. Sign me up.
Go ahead.
Alexei!
Taya!
Will you come back?
Will you wait for me?
I'll be waiting for you my whole life!
The storm was wailing The rain made noise
Within the darkness Lightning flashed
And thunder rolled on endlessly
And winds were roaring in the wild
Ah, kids.
THE CAST
Afanasy Ustyuzhanin VLADIMIR SAMOILOV
Nikolai Ustyuzhanin VITALY SOLOMIN
Yerofey Solomin EVGENY PEROV
Spiridon Solomin SERGEI SHAKUROV
Rodion Klimentov MIKHAIL KONONOV
The Eternal Old Man PAVEL KADOCHNIKOV
Anastasia Solomina NATALIA ANDREICHENKO
Taya Solomina ELENA KORENEVA
Alexei Ustyuzhanin EVGENY LEONOV-GLADYSHEV
Vasily LEONID PLESHAKOV
Peter ALEXANDER POTAPOV
Philip IGOR OKHLUPIN
Yermolai NIKOLAI SKOROBOGATOV
Frol GEORGY SHTIL
Prokopy GENNADYYUKHTIN
Darya VALENTINA BEREZUTSKAYA
Manka ANNA-MARIA GRAVER
Ted MAXIM MUNZUK
Guriev KONSTANTIN GRIGORIEV
Commissar ALEXANDERYAKOVLEV
Cavalry Sergeant Major ALEXANDERYANVAREV
END OF PART TWO
MOSFILM PRESENTS
THIRD ARTISTIC ASSOCIATION
FORBIDDEN AREA
Captain!
Water.
What's with you?
I've been screaming for two hours and you don't respond.
Water.
Here you go. Have a gulp.
Don't be a fool.
Look, if you spit it out again, I'll leave you here.
Yes, I'll leave you to die.
Oh, my.
Let me bandage you up some.
Just pull your guts in a little.
There you go. Otherwise you'll lose them.
You like vodka, soldier?
Sure, I drink everything, but I prefer champagne.
If we pull through,
I'll buy you a box of champagne.
Of course we will.
We'll pull through.
We're surrounded, Captain,
but I'm not sure if it's Germans or our own men.
Hey, Captain, you alive?
Water.
Our guys.
Our guys!
- Hang on. - Comrade member of the Military Council.
- Hang in there. - Phil?
- A very heavy wound. - Alive.
A very heavy wound in the abdomen.
Alive.
- Who? - Yaponin, Captain, sir.
Who rescued him?
This kid - private Ustyuzhanin. Dragged him all by himself.
Ustyuzhanin!
Come here.
- So you're Ustyuzhanin? - Yes, sir.
- Name? - Alexei Nikolaevich.
- You come from Siberia? - Yes, sir.
Well, Alexei Nikolaevich.
Alexei Nikolaevich.
Do you know...
who you saved?
Your country will never forget this.
Be well.
I'm happy to serve the Soviet Union.
THE MOTHERLAND WELCOMES HERVICTORIOUS SONS!
He's as innocent as a calf Only good for chewing brush
Walked me home But couldn't kiss me
- Hey, Ustyuzhanin, come here. - What is it?
- Want a drink? - Nope.
Beat it then.
That's it. It's over.
It's all over.
And now, definitely
a beautiful life will start.
SIBERIAN SAGA - II
POEM
THE CAST
NIKITA MIKHALKOV LUDMILA GURCHENKO
IGOR OKHLUPIN SERGEI SHAKUROV
RUSLAN MIKABERIDZE VSEVOLOD LARIONOV
PAVEL KADOCHNIKOV as the Eternal Old Man
Scriptwriters VALENTIN EZHOV
ANDREI MIKHALKOV-KONCHALOVSKY
Director of Photography LEVAN PAATASHVILI
Production Designers NIKOLAI DVIGUBSKY
ALEXANDERADABASHYAN
Music by EDUARD ARTEMIEV
Sound Engineer VALENTIN BOBROVSKY
Directed by BORIS VELSHER FELIX KLEIMAN
Newsreels LEONID EIDLIN Editing VALENTINA KULAGINA
Chronicles Director ARTUR PELESHYAN Editor VERA OSTRIMSKAYA
Directed by ANDREI MIKHALKOV-KONCHALOVSKY
WE HAD FAITH!
PART THREE
ALEXEI, NIKOLAI'S SON THE SIXTIES
Hey, Alexei,
I had no idea you had so many medals.
I'm a modest person, Tofik.
So, if you're modest, why wear them?
How long have you been away from your home in Baku?
Two years.
I haven't been here in my village for 20 years.
Elan is my homeland.
Reveille, everyone!
Ivan.
- The beer is here. - What beer?
Beer on tap. See the barrel there?
You and your jokes.
You have lots of medals, but little respect.
Let's see here.
Step back please.
- Here you go! - You bastard!
- Calm down, everyone. - What are you doing? I've got a sore throat.
You always have a sore throat after drinking, Ivan.
Get dressed, guys. My home's nearby.
ELAN VILLAGE
- Hold on, I'm first. - How come?
I have the right. This is my homeland, Ivan.
What with your hangover, it's all the same to you.
Just look at him.
I invite you to a reception at my family's mansion tonight.
The menu includes sturgeon soup and roasted goose.
You enjoyed the banya, Alexei?
- Sasha! - I'm coming, Alexei.
- Where did I post you? - What?
- Where did I post you? - What do you mean where?
- You know yourself how - - Cut the talk!
Don't forget where I got you out of. Just you wait.
- Okay. - Get back to work!
Tofik!
Wait, Tofik!
You'll be in charge, Sasha.
Tofik, wait!
It's not locked. Just push it a little.
Just push the gate a little bit.
What beautiful work.
They don't build like this even in Baku nowadays.
Come on, Alexei.
What do you mean, Tofik? Ustyuzhanin is back home.
Why foot it? This is a great vehicle. Let 'em get used to it.
Hey, what are you doing?
Why did you have to break it?
Greetings, fellow countrymen, from Caspian oil workers!
Stop scaring people.
Greetings to village workers from Bashkiria's workers!
New machines are plowing Siberia's expanses!
Lots of living space here,
and attractive women - none younger than 70.
That means we'll get some sleep at night.
Well, granny, how about a kiss?
What do you sons of bitches think you're doing?
What was wrong with it?
That gate was too old-fashioned anyway.
This gate was made by real craftsmen.
They made it to last for ages. Why the hell did you break it?
Take it easy, old man. We'll restore it for you.
And we thought there were only ladies of pension age in Elan,
like my new girlfriends here.
- Well, you're wrong. - Are you vacationing here?
- Wrong again. - I don't get it.
- You mean you're local? - Right.
Here's a little present for you. Go and rest awhile.
Local then it is.
So whose are you?
Not yours surely.
Don't be so sure.
We're not just here for a day, but for half a year, so anything's possible.
- So you're a Solomin. - How do you know?
Who doesn't know?
Everyone knows Solomin redheads are the best girls in Siberia.
I rushed here as soon as I found this out. That's all I'm here for.
Well,
let me introduce myself.
Okay, Alexei Nikolaevich.
Huh?
And we know if a skirt chaser shows up in Siberia,
it's surely Alexei Ustyuzhanin.
Medical battalion, Second Ukrainian front, 1943, right?
Wrong.
Murmansk, 1953, the Caucasian restaurant?
- It was terribly cold. - Wrong again.
I give up.
- Sochi. - Wrong.
- 1956, the October Resort. - Wrong.
You taught me to dance in that shed.
- Raya? - Taya.
Tofik, I'd like you to meet -
Dear Taya.
Tofik, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine.
Just look at her, shameless.
- This is my friend Taya Solomin. - Hello.
Very pleased to meet you.
This is Tofik Rustamov, my chief,
a renowned oilman from Baku.
Have you heard of him?
A hero of Socialist Labor. Only he's hiding the medal because he's shy.
A master of sports, an excellent family man.
Father of five kids. Three girls, two boys.
The oldest girl is 28.
The youngest, still a baby.
So here we are.
- Thank you, Alexei. - My pleasure.
- Watch the goat! - Leave me be!
- You should thank me! - Dream on!
- So you made it here, Nephew. - That's right, Uncle.
I've been looking forward to our reunion.
Well, here I am.
You look great.
Look at this hero of Elan.
Meet my uncle
Spiridon Solomin.
He killed my father, by the way.
Killed indeed. And paid to the Soviet authorities in full.
I fought in the penal battalion. I have a medal.
- I redeemed myself with blood, understand? - Sure.
- And I've no regrets, understand? - Sure.
What are you gonna do now?
Stab me
or shoot me?
- What are we gonna do? - Alexei.
We won't do a thing. We'll put up a derrick at the Devil's Mane
and drill till we find gas.
Then we'll demolish your Elan,
lay asphalt and build modern houses.
And we'll live with you in the same building, with all the comforts.
The City of the Sun.
Got it?
I'm not gonna unload those transformers.
- Let me smell your breath. - Ted!
You have a granddaughter, pops?
- Will you put me up? - You coming with us or not?
How are the lodgings here, pops?
Volodya, take the next hut. This one doesn't have windows.
- Sasha, did someone bring my dumbbell? - What?
- Did you bring my dumbbell? - Who needs it? Ask Pete.
Are you nuts? Hey, Pete, did you bring my dumbbell?
Get your dumbbell yourself!
I wish you had killed me then.
Look at that. What a beautiful thing.
How beautiful. Look, will you? Oh, my.
Oh, get over it.
Man, oh, man! I'll be right back, guys.
You monster! They're having their mating season now.
You came, cursed out the old man,
knocked down the gate.
Give me the gun.
So now you're going for the swans, huh?
Give me the gun. Go on.
- Taya - - Don't " Taya” me. Give me the gun.
Don't you know it's against the law to shoot swans?
You out of your mind or what?
- Why, you're so quick. - I'm quick.
I wasn't looking for you. You came of your own will.
- Why here? I live in a house. - The house is for later.
- It's starting to rain! - Here's a raincoat.
- I'll take it off myself. - Well -
You'll take it off yourself?
- Yourself, you say? - Don't scratch. Hey, you're scratching me.
Hold on. Wait.
Move over. We're on an anthill.
Move your leg, will you?
That was your gun, dear Alexei.
That scared me.
What is it?
My dearest, my sweetheart Alexei.
Alexei, dear, sweet -
And you -
You didn't recognize me. Forgot me completely.
Who could have known?
You were just a kid then.
And look at you now.
You don't look at all like a village girl. Not by looks or by manners.
I returned here six months ago.
Before that I worked
as a barmaid on a ship.
Deluxe rooms, restaurants,
velvet couches.
- You liked it? - You bet.
So why didn't you stay?
Too much of a good thing.
I have to look after Spiridon.
He's mean, but I feel sorry for him.
His wife's gone, so he's all alone.
And how come you're not married?
- Wanna know? - I'm listening.
Can't you...
guess for yourself?
Me? No clue.
Nope.
It's a long story.
Gee!
Oh, my! People are waiting for me at the banquet.
Listen, we should go back separately, okay?
People will start wagging their tongues and I have my work team, after all.
Okay? Great.
Well, I'm off.
- Nice to meet ya. - Ciao.
My heart is broken
That's enough, go away now
We are strangers
Forget about me
- Where's Tofik? - At the cemetery.
- Tofik! Let's go! - Where to?
What do you mean where? To Devil's Mane. Let's go!
Alexei, we're not setting up the derrick on Devil's Mane.
- Huh? - I know. I lured you from Tataria.
I know I promised we'd put up a derrick on the Devil's Mane and not here.
I need you and your guys.
I'm gonna work with you. Work, understand?
Yes, I know it was a cheap trick.
But the derrick will be right here, as designed.
I know you and your dad nearly died out there because of that gas.
I remember.
But we have no right to put it up anywhere else!
You know how it is. Some four-eyed ministry guy
pokes his finger on the map, and it goes from there.
Papers get moving, they put a stamp on them, then the machinery.
Alexei.
Do it.
Drill through the old man and the old lady.
Into the soul of the Holy Virgin! Drill! Drill right here!
Hey, old man! Wow! You're still alive!
- Hey, Alexei. - You're something, old man.
You've outlived your time. About time to die already.
Die?
It's not the old that die
but the ripe.
Apparently, I haven't ripened yet.
Is it a long way to Devil's Mane?
No one knows for sure.
I never go there, and neither should you.
I don't believe in superstitions. It's the 20th century, old man.
Well, sure.
Go ahead.
You're not in Azerbaijan now, Tofik!
So that's where they drilled.
Right here!
Pa.
Pa!
Pa.
- Alexei! - Pa!
Pa!
Pa! Pa!
Pa!
Alexei!
Sasha! Peter!
There's a pure gas outlet at the Devil's Mane.
Come on up. Here, chickie, chickie.
There you are.
Hang in there.
- Can I help? - I'm fine here.
- You're always fine. - Give Pete a hand.
- Okay. - Will you manage to drill in time?
No.
I hoped you'd be the first to drill in your homeland.
Oh, Taya!
Hi.
What brings you here?
I'm going to the cemetery for grandma's funeral.
Grandma died? What a shame.
I thought I'd take a look at you.
Sasha! Come here.
Go help the guys over there.
Well, then.
We're working here, you see.
You stepped out of the woods and forgot about me.
I've no time. There's a lot of work.
You could have found time during the month.
- How's it going, Elena? - I'm fine.
Your team demands your attention, huh?
Sorry, we're celebrating the test drilling today.
So see you some other time.
Bye.
Sasha!
Here, Spiridon.
What's with you, Spiridon?
What's with you?
Listen. He dreams of enrolling in a foreign language institute.
- Tofik, we are doing it! - Fyodor became a policeman.
Stepanida milks the nanny-goat, then works in the field and sings.
Relatives, huh?
Hey, what's taking you so long?
Come on, Ivan!
Hey, time to start!
Hurry up, will you! You're like a fly beating on a window.
Don't ruin my nerves. They'll never grow back again.
You'll live a long life.
I wonder what they do with all the money.
Oh, Kolya!
For the soul of your servant who has passed on,
save and protect her.
For the love of people.
I lived with love for you. Let my soul rest in peace.
Give peace to your servant.
For the love of people.
Who gave birth to children.
Save her soul.
Let your servant's soul rest within Christ's soul among the saints
where she won't know illness or sorrow.
Only eternal life.
Whose car is that?
Solomin's, the Regional Party Committee secretary.
Hello. Good to have you here.
Help them out.
Okay.
Hello, Philip Yermolaevich.
What's happened?
Not good. I've been to the State Construction Committee.
And?
The Ministry's proposal to build a hydropower station in our region
was already voted on by the State Planning Committee.
Permission to start preparatory work was granted.
They called a break in the morning, so I came to deliver the news.
But the session was scheduled for the 15th.
They made it earlier.
Who did?
So -
Clever move, fell as.
So it's that bad.
The soonest flight to Siberia is at 7:45 p.m.
What about the baggage?
Baggage to the hotel and cancel my flight. I'm going to the Committee.
USSR STATE CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
...prestressed concrete.
That about sums it up. I won't repeat myself.
As you see, we've developed enough
designs for three versions of a hydropower plant.
The 42-meter-high dam
can have a capacity of at least 8 million kilowatts.
As for the flooded areas - Victor, please.
These are areas
that are practically unsuitable for living.
Population density is one per two square kilometers.
Moving inhabitants to comfortable new homes
will only be advantageous for them.
And this is our city of the future, the Sun City, so to say.
If you don't take the floor, it's all over.
Too late. We've missed the boat.
This project means oil exploration is out of the question.
You no longer believe in oil either?
We ourselves need for someone to believe us.
But the Ministry and the Planning Committee don't.
Only one thing can save us now - real live oil instead of promises.
And the only place we can find it is in the flooded areas.
I've been hearing that from you for eight years.
You've made me a laughing stock.
They say there's oil only in your sick mind.
I've been rebuffing attacks on you for eight years.
Yes, my shoulders are broad, but I'm not what I used to be.
And I, instead of prospecting for oil,
have been trying to prove
that two dozen derricks
is nothing for a region the size of ours.
Our swampland alone is three times the size of France.
You got all you asked for.
Aircraft.
Transportation, derricks.
Not until after you intervened.
And before that,
people dragged those derricks through the marshes on their backs.
I can't put up a derrick without permission from Moscow.
As if from Moscow they can see if there is oil or not.
I wanted to speak, but they didn't give me the floor.
But I'm not going to give up. I promise to fight to the end.
A pig is no match for a goose.
Well, what? Why so late?
I've just come from the airport.
With this beauty, you'll now be in first place
in capital investment volume.
Won't he? Sure will. Congratulations.
Happy to serve the Soviet Union.
Congratulations.
But to be honest, it wasn't so easy.
Far from everyone was in favor of this project.
Who was against it?
- As if you can't guess. - Maybe I can.
The main thing
is that Siberia's development is given priority.
But God forbid you find oil there.
I dread to think what it would lead to.
Hello?
Operator?
This is Solomin.
The government line please.
Yes, as usual.
675-78.
It will be an important landmark
in the life of the people in the regions.
This project, the country's largest,
will attract attention by its uniqueness.
The plant's annual rated capacity
is 36 billion kilowatt-hours.
With a normal water level of 35 meters,
it will reach a capacity of at least 8 million kilowatts.
And regarding the land being flooded-
Hey, coachman
Don't drive the horses
I have no place to rush to anymore
There's no one for me to love anymore
FLOATI NG STORE Taya!
We really miss you on the ship.
- No wine on tap? - Exactly.
Do you have any earrings?
- How much? - One hundred.
- It's gold. - Too expensive.
We'll take them.
Are these for me?
Those look good on you.
Are these really for me?
A present on your name day.
Yeah, right.
Today's a great holiday.
The name day of Taisia, Thecla.
- Hold on. - Sorry.
You're too educated.
In our business, education's a must.
Hold on.
The ray of sun gets to me
Through doors shut so tightly
And suddenly my head begins to spin again
Love can't be understood
True love
Cannot be measured
Because at the bottom of the soul
It's like a still deep river
Ah, those green eyes of yours
Those deceitful eyes of yours
On this dark night
Made me go mad
Taya.
Did you miss me at all?
You were gone for two months.
- I've been working. - Bad ground, isn't it?
How do you know?
There are many "borerers” here.
It's "borers” not"borerers”. Though I happen to be a driller.
I'll remember that.
- Taya - - Don't worry. And thanks for the present.
- Taya, I - - What, want to come in?
Well, Taya -
I've got some time right now.
Okay, let's go.
Taya.
I like it. Lots of room and light.
You really like it?
I do, actually. I didn't expect that.
Very well. Step aside.
Listen, Taya, I -
Oh, it's over there.
We're not strangers, are we?
Of course not. We're all related in Elan.
That much I know.
- Taya. - Alexei.
You know nothing happened.
- Nothing? - Nothing.
- I beg your pardon? - There was nothing between us.
What do you mean " nothing”?
It was just a dream of yours.
- That's right. - You must be joking.
There's mushroom soup, fried potatoes.
Here's the soup.
- I don't want soup. - And pickles. I'll go get them.
I'm not hungry.
I pickled some cucumbers. You should taste them.
Taya, have you ironed my pants?
Taya?
Hey, what are you doing here?
What are you doing here, Alexei?
What, me? Oh, hi.
Having a rest before my shift. I need to go soon.
- Oh, right. - And how about you?
I was in the banya here. Taya's right.
The steam is just great.
A man needs washing, you know.
I take steam baths here.
- Since when? - For about a month.
- Have you read this book? - Nope.
Me neither.
Did you radio about the pipes?
- I did. - Okay.
You can stay. You're not in the way.
What are you doing?
What am I doing?
I'm looking for my pants.
And what's he doing?
He's reading an interesting book.
- And you? - I'm bringing some pickles.
Fine.
Making a fool of me?
Sure.
Make a fool of him. It's easier.
- Have a good steam, Tofik. - Alexei -
Why?
What a fool I am. I trusted you! Carried you with my hands!
I step out for a second for some steam
and find another man in your bed.
Now I know who bought you the earrings.
You think Tofik is greedy?
I could buy you dozens of them.
Tofik has given cars to women before!
You floozy!
I'll kill you.
Then kill him and then myself.
We've been sweating
18 months without leave.
Okay, guys, put it on.
And so the feats of our labor add up.
How could you, Taya?
And he calls himself a friend. He liked the steam indeed.
Serves me right. I believed him, left Tataria,
quarreled with that worthy man Rashat.
What a fool I am.
The hell with it.
I'll drill this hole and then go back to Tataria
and join Rashat again.
But what about the Devil's Mane?
No, I won't give it to anyone. I'll keep on drilling there.
If I fail, I'll go to Sochi.
Oh, Sochi For days and nights
We mess up our lives Doing nothing but sin
If you rush around all your life
in sin and with poor grub, when will you get well?
Come on! Move your ass! Quit wasting time!
I can't do it.
If you can't, go help the women carry the powder sacks.
Can't you get it in, Pete? No practice with your wife, huh?
Stop!
It's my fault!
My fault!
I didn't shut the elevator.
He kept rushing me. I signaled to you, you son of a bitch.
You kept driving me too fast!
- I'm telling you! - Quit yelling!
Quit yelling.
Call your Tofik.
Step aside.
You'll find him in Taya's banya.
PART FOUR
PHILIP THE SIXTIES
Worthless land.
I can imagine how proud and satisfied you are
as the Regional Party Secretary.
Why?
Well -
With the building of the world's largest man-made sea
and hydropower station,
your region will be among the country's leaders.
In the water category, I'm already a leader.
Pardon?
You can place three countries
the size of France in our swamps.
This isn't my first hydro plant.
But to be honest, I've never been so exited
because the scale of the project is so big.
It's about time we developed the Siberian backwoods.
Why do you say it like that?
Siberia is fairly developed.
But I agree
that this here is still backwoods.
Exactly.
Take a look.
How can someone live in backwoods like this?
In this hole!
Seventeenth century!
Yes, a hole.
This hole, as you say, is my homeland.
I was born in this village.
Old women are all that's left. The youngsters moved to the cities.
So I'd like to pay respects
to my folks.
And you continue on.
Pick me up on your way back.
Incoming.
You're our last hope. Help us out.
It's impossible to live around here anymore.
This here thing screeches and whines so we can't sleep.
Can't even have a normal calm cup of tea! How could you allow it? In your home village!
The bastards are getting close to the cemetery.
Once they find oil, you can say good-bye to the village.
I wish they'd find some.
There'll be nothing here soon.
What do you mean?
The whole place will be flooded.
And a sea will be made.
What do you mean a sea?
Well, a sea.
Water.
The world's largest hydropower plant.
Phil, can't you tell them in Moscow about us?
That's where the decision was made.
And thank God.
Great idea.
Just flood it all,
and the hell with it.
And nothing to worry about.
What are your shooting for?
The godson's here.
I'm gonna shoot you down as a saboteur.
Let go.
Let go, damn it!
I'll shoot him at point-blank.
You're wasting the land, all our riches!
Oil, gold, forests!
And you want to flood them?
Saboteur and wrecker!
I used to shoot enemies of the people like you.
At point-blank!
He almost shot you.
Why didn't I smother you, my godson,
in the cradle with a pillow?
I'll never forgive myself for this stupidity.
Don't listen to him.
- It's the vodka in him. - He's always been crazy.
Philip dear,
do you really want to drown us?
Drown us at the bottom of the sea, dearest?
Have mercy, dear. We want to live a while longer.
Don't listen to them, sonny.
Don't feel sorry.
I'm not, Granny.
It's wasteland anyway.
Cursed land.
But we don't have any other homeland, do we?
Screw it all. They'll decide everything and sign the papers.
They know better.
Flood it.
The main thing is that
you hold on to your post.
You're the only guy
from our village up there.
I, too, have no one but you all.
Oh, you!
Hey, women, you let him be.
Let him visit his folks' graves.
We're not bothering him.
"Buried here is the body of God's servant Yermolai Solomin”
Hey, old man.
Phil.
The earth
remains silent.
Did my herbs help you?
No.
An elk cow was hunted down
or shot to death.
Ah, people.
They can fly in the sky
but still haven't learned how to behave on the ground.
Aren't you sorry this land will be flooded?
It'll get rid of the gnats at least.
Phil?
I've ruined it. Ruined it.
Ruined this land. It'll be flooded.
This village, these graves,
all will be flooded.
I gave in
in a weak moment
when I should have grabbed hold with my teeth
and stood my ground.
I'm ashamed.
Oh, I'm so ashamed.
Ah, Phil.
Seems like a weak moment indeed.
Seems you forgot
that you can't be exiled farther than Siberia anyway.
Come on! Catch up!
- Howdy! - Hi.
- What's your name? - Is that necessary?
Listen.
Give me a hand here.
- What about him? - He's singing.
Come on. Keep singing.
- Give me a hand. - Fair enough.
Palma, come here.
Hold it. Got something in my boot.
You like the way he sings?
I do.
My man. He respects me.
By the way, he got out of jail a week ago.
- Want a drink? - No, thanks.
Hit it!
If you want a drink, have it now.
No drinking by the derrick.
Prohibition's in effect over there.
Tofik will tear my head off if he finds out.
- He'll tear it off, but we're carrying this there. - This is a special occasion.
I'm in for a good thrashing,
So I took the case, and I'm going to patch it up somehow.
What did you do?
- I wrecked some equipment. - That happens sometimes. Why beat a man?
I got all worked up and nervous.
When I saw those guys,
I got scared
and ran away.
Tofik's been trying to get the plug out
for two days already.
He's the only one who can get it out.
He's a great guy. After the war, we worked in Tataria together.
He earned the Hero of Labor medal there.
Why did the Hero of Labor put up the derrick next to the cemetery?
After all, it's a holy place for people.
You know -
Wait, wait, wait.
- Were you in Murmansk in 1952? - I wasn't.
Your mug looks familiar. Are you an oil boss?
Set it down.
- What are you, a boss or something? - Sort of.
So what's this bullshit about the cemetery?
Don't you know?
Some four-eyes in Moscow poked his finger at the map,
and then we come and find out where we're supposed to drill.
We're talking about full-scale drilling!
But Tofik, moved the derrick from the cemetery to over there.
If it wasn't for him, we'd be drilling through bones.
He'll get some heat over that.
Not if you find oil.
There's none there, I bet.
There's oil at the Devil's Mane for sure.
There's no oil here in Elan. Ever heard about the place?
I'm from here.
My father and grandfather are buried here.
I won't be. I'm leaving.
The name's Ustyuzhanin. My whole family's here.
- Nikolai's son? - That's me.
You knew my father?
Yeah, we've met.
No! Well, I never.
He sure wouldn't have let things be like this.
I meant to write
to the Regional Party Committee.
- Why didn't you? - Ah, you know -
You've no guts, unlike your Dad.
Excuse me. I don't know you.
I can carry the box myself.
I can give a hand.
Let's go.
You don't believe me about the Devil's Mane,
but I am still dreaming about it.
I was there with Dad as a kid.
How's it going?
Seems we got it.
Here he comes.
Look.
Thanks. I'll take it from here.
Bug off, will you?
There we are.
Hold on, hold on.
Come here.
Stand over here.
Play on.
Fell as!
I've come to say good-bye. I'm leaving tomorrow.
- Shut up, will you? - Tofik!
Hey, what's that for? I didn't do anything to you.
Tofik, I brought a box of champagne.
They've got a box of champagne here, and you're acting like strangers.
I got out of jail just yesterday, and you -
We've come to make peace with you. You came to us, and we came to you -
- Enough gabbing. - Isn't that so?
The won't let a man have a drink for peace.
- Hush up. - Stay away from them.
I told you they're gonna beat me.
Any minute now.
Hit it, Gypsy!
Keep it up!
Tofik, come on over and dance!
Oh, yeah!
Leaving? And who's gonna let you?
I, Tofik Rustamov, tell you, not until you clean up your shit.
I'll chain you to the derrick. Then we'll see how you dance.
You think you'll be a driller? No!
You're gonna carry clay and mix mortar day and night.
Until you undo all your wrongs,
no food, no drink, no sleep!
Shut up!
Hello, Rustamov.
Philip Yermolaevich.
This can't be.
What a treat.
The region's first party secretary
at our project.
Hello, Philip Yermolaevich.
- Is it true the place will be flooded? - You know too?
The radio girls told me the secret.
The whole region is blabbing the secret.
Will our team be disbanded?
Not just yours.
The 18th, 20th and 30th as well. The whole region.
You're joking, Philip Yermolaevich.
No jokes. No more wasting the people's money.
This is a promising location! You know it yourself!
- Don't you believe me? - Not anymore.
Give me some oil from this land. A bucketful at least.
- I'll give you two bucketfuls. - When?
I don't know.
And I need it now.
At least a bucketful right now.
I can't. There isn't any now.
There isn't?
You know why there isn't?
Because you've allowed anarchy all around,
irresponsibility and boozing.
Whose fault was the accident?
Mine.
You're a liar to boot.
Well, did you make up?
I'm a level-6 driller
with 42 wells to my credit.
Time to calm down, Ustyuzhanin.
I've got a right to drink to my dad.
Well -
Drink with me, party boss.
To a man like him, I will.
- Where might I have seen you? - Don't you recognize me?
You're the spitting image of your mother Nastya.
Yes, the spitting image.
If you remember, you owe me a crate of champagne.
Time for me to go, Alexei.
I'm leaving.
- Bye. - Write me.
I can't write. I'm illiterate.
Hello, Gypsies, so early in the morning
Forgive me for what I'm singing
Don't think that it's about you personally
I'm talking about all the Gypsies
I wish you happiness
To live happily
Happily with your family
With good people close by
You are a Siberian Gypsy
A Russian Gypsy
Hold yourself with dignity in society
I ask nothing more of you
Rour out, my dear song
Use joy to charm hearts
Go away, my trembling sorrow
- Give the full road to happiness - This is my taiga.
Open up your arms, my song
Afanasy's road.
Take me away to a starry place
Tell us that we brothers
Have only one mother
The beautiful land
Hello, Theodore Nikolaevich.
Hello,
Solomin.
What to you think you're doing, Philip?
What?
Last Wednesday we tried to find out
the reasons for the delays in the power plant construction
in your region.
And on that very same day- Have a seat.
On that very same day,
your regional paper featured an article
against
the construction
and, naturally, against
the decision that was made.
So,
you're sticking to your guns?
Yes.
- Philip. - Theodore Nikolaevich -
Philip.
We're old friends.
We've always seen eye to eye.
When you were a candidate,
I was the first to vote for you.
But now I know it was a mistake.
In wartime, I'd entrust a corps
or an army to you.
But I now see that some people were right.
You can't handle a region.
You don't understand
that it's also a matter of politics.
You're right. It is politics.
I was in Africa last summer.
The conditions are different there.
Poke your finger in the sand,
and oil gushes forth.
What does Africa have to do with this?
As I see it,
in this decade, oil will have
a bearing
on all international political issues.
You're in charge of a region,
not the foreign policy department.
Today they're becoming inseparable.
Otherwise,
we wouldn't be able to deal with national economic problems.
I'm deeply convinced of this.
Right after the revolution,
Lenin spoke of the need
to develop Siberia's rich natural resources.
For 40 years, we've been interrupted
by war, economic dislocation, rehabilitation efforts,
another war.
Now we can finally develop
our land.
But easier said than done.
We can't just poke our finger in the sand
like someplace in Arabia to get oil.
You've worked on-site. You know we need machinery.
Yes, okay.
Just think of it.
Oil, gems, metals, gold, gas -
all underwater.
Why all?
A total of 130 square kilometers.
The northernmost man-made sea looks nice in reports.
But why on our water-meadows,
rich floodplains,
400-year-old villages,
large tracts of valuable lumber
and our main wealth, oil.
Thank God I've no grandchildren yet.
What would I say to them if they asked me?
Stay there.
Theodore Nikolaevich.
I'll come later. Start without me.
And what if there's no oil there?
- There is. - But they haven't found any.
They will.
We just need to untie the hands of those
who have dedicated their lives to studying Siberia.
Without Moscow's blessing, they can't even put up a derrick.
- Too many babysitters. - This can be resolved.
As for the hydro plant -
Ted,
just think of the war,
and our marines.
We wouldn't have won if we hadn't taken chances.
You're a real daredevil.
Back me up.
You must.
That's the only way we'll win.
And what if there's no oil after all?
We can't be exiled any farther than Siberia.
Alexei Nikolaevich,
want to see the new core?
- What? - They pulled out a new core.
So what?
- What if they found oil? - Sure, right.
Just look at all this oil.
No oil around here.
You think this is Saudi Arabia?
Here it's just one word - Elan.
You owe us a bottle, Alexei!
It's our last day of slave labor, so don't forget.
Can I come in?
Come on in.
- The third shift is over. - And?
- I've been doing grunt work a whole month. - And?
- Am I forgiven? - Well -
Am I forgiven by everyone?
Tomorrow you can go back to your former job.
- So I'm forgiven? - Yes.
Then sign this please.
My resignation. I'm leaving.
- Leaving, huh? - Yes, leaving.
I, Alexei Ustyuzhanin, prospector- I have a medal -
a level-6 driller, did grunt work for a month.
Who gained from this? No one.
I can haul sacks if I have to, but if it's for nothing -
You want to discipline me?
- Why? The orphanage already did. - So, you're leaving.
Yes. But don't feel offended. It's just that -
Okay, we'll drill at the Devil's Mane without you.
You're lying. I don't believe you anymore.
You don't have the guts.
You tricked me into leaving Tataria.
Sign it, please.
Oh, you do have something to write with. Okay.
- Thanks. - Leave, but just do it fast.
Very well.
Tofik, my dear friend.
Now get lost.
I can tell you why you signed it.
I crossed your path.
It's that girl, isn't it?
Oh, Tofik.
Look, you bastard.
How long have you known Tofik Rustamov?
- Did he ever cross anyone's path? - Tofik.
Or offend anyone?
You can stay. I've never taken anyone's leftovers.
No, Tofik.
I'm going.
So what is this? You're leaving and I'm staying?
Why did you bring me here in the first place?
And what about the guys?
Hey, guys!
- He's leaving. - This is it, guys. Last payday.
- Petrov. - Right.
- What are you talking about? - Peter.
Alexei, I don't want you to leave.
Stepan!
- Alexei's leaving. - What?
Why, Alexei?
Don't listen to him. What are you talking about?
Alexei, maybe just one more time?
Are you kidding?
To your places.
Take your places.
Here we go.
Dance away!
Can't you stay, Alexei?
How about it?
Come on over here.
Taya!
Why are you so dressed up and with a suitcase?
It's an early winter.
The swans are flying south, and so am I.
- So you're leaving? - Yes.
I'm bored, Taya, bored.
I came here to let out a gush of oil like Dad wanted.
- As for holes, I can drill them anyplace. - Of course.
Off to Sochi, dear?
Yes, Sochi.
I've come for you. Pack up, Taya.
What are you looking at? I'll take you with me.
That's how it is.
Go on.
- You're very kind, Alexei. - Huh?
You're very kind.
I might marry you.
You're nice. I like you.
Do you remember
what you asked me?
- What? - Why I'd never married.
I waited six years for you after the war.
You're lying.
Six years.
Then I got a job on a ship
to try to find you in Sochi.
Yes.
But Salekhard is far away
from Sochi.
The opposite direction actually.
I've a confession to make.
I've never set foot in Sochi.
- Honest. - You're kidding.
I saw it in the movies, dreamed of it, but never had the time.
First the orphanage, then the war,
now oil drilling - poking holes in the ground.
It's a long way down there. I don't have enough money.
- Was that true, what you said? - What?
About waiting for me.
Yes.
Marry me.
I can't. And you won't have me.
Yes, I will.
- I will. - No.
I'm pregnant.
From whom?
Taya.
I'll take you the way you are without looking.
Is this your coat?
Come on. Pack up.
- There, take your things. - Alexei, I can't.
- It'll be fine. - Just a minute.
Well? Ready?
Good girl.
Pack up, Taya.
I'm not going.
I'm not going, Alexei.
I don't want you.
- Your child won't have a father. - You think you're the father?
No, no, Alexei, no.
I already have a baby,
and I don't need anything else.
And I certainly don't need you.
So there.
So you don't need me.
Only my country has always needed me.
And no one else.
Your luck, dear Alexei.
Looks like you weren't born with a silver spoon.
Okay, Taya,
God willing, I'll be okay. Take care.
What? You're leaving already?
You're a fool to let your chance slip.
Honey,
sweetheart,
leave quickly,
please.
Leave quickly.
- Where are you going? - No! It's no use.
Leave! The screw threads broke loose!
Get back!
- Everybody alive? - Yes.
Look at it.
Look at it gushing!
Alexei!
Alexei, dear!
Sasha!
Alexei!
Almost half of its territory is suitable for oil and gas exploration.
So why is it, that after investing so much
in the oil project in West Siberia,
and after looking at the geological map of the region,
we can't find the courage to say
that searching for oil and gas in that area is hopeless?
"The Elan site has yielded a gush of oil and gas.
Driller Alexei Ustyuzhanin died trying to stop the gushing.”
Even though it's sad,
let's face the truth
that there is no oil in West Siberia.
I, Tofik Rustamov, tell you, not until you clean up your shit.
I'm from here. My father and grandfather are buried here.
- I prefer champagne. - If we survive,
I'll get you a case of champagne.
Comrades.
Please forgive me. I'll say only a few words.
Here's a telegram.
It just came.
Siberia does have oil.
Plenty of it.
Why so quiet?
There was an accident. A man died.
Who?
A Siberian,
a war veteran,
a master driller,
a simple working man.
Ustyuzhanin, Alexei Nikolaevich.
Let's stand up to honor his memory.
Beacon, Moon calling.
Answer me. Over.
Beacon, Moon calling.
Moon calling.
Send an armored carrier over here. Do you read me?
That's the end of them Ustyuzhanins.
None left in the whole world.
Lived as a non-man and died as a non-corpse.
No, it's not the end of the Ustyuzhanins, Spiridon.
It's his baby that I'm carrying.
- Oh my! - Hold me up!
Who do you think you are? I was a Red partisan!
So what?
Let me go.
They won't let us pass.
- Why not? - Too much gas they say.
My grandfather's three brothers and daughter lie there.
All my relatives!
Hold off. It's your life they're guarding.
I don't want this stinking life
if I can't go to my parents' graves.
What are you upset about?
My friends, I've fulfilled my promise to your village.
We've upheld our native land.
Just look at that power and beauty.
The graveyard needs to be demolished.
- Without delay. - Are you nuts?
Oil may burst out any moment.
Right here.
Come on, Phil. Take charge.
There may be an explosion.
Comrade Solomin!
- Can't we save it? - Comrade Solomin!
- Just let me - - Solomin!
Comrade Secretary!
Go on, you!
- Go! - Hold it, Frol!
"Buried here is the body of God's servant Afanasy Ustyuzhanin”
SIBERIA
THE CAST
Alexei Ustyuzhanin NIKITA MIKHALKOV
Alexei in the prologue EVGENY LEONOV-GLADYSHEV
Taya Solomin LUDMILA GURCHEHKO
Philip Solomin IGOR OKHLUPIN
Spiridon Solomin SERGEI SHAKUROV
The Eternal Old Man PAVEL KADOCHNIKOV
Tofik Rustamov RUSLAN MIKABERIDZE
Theodore Nikolaevich VSEVOLOD LARIONOV
THE END