NTV PROFIT presents
co-production NTV PROFIT - Russia
PRODUCTIONS LE PONT ROISSY FILMS - France
with the collaboration of
THE RUSSIAN STATE COMMITTEE FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY
the FRENCH NATIONAL CENTER FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY and CANAL +
producer IGOR TOLSTUNOV
presents
VLADIMIR MASHKOV Toljan
EKATERINA REDNIKOVA Katja
MISHA PHILIPCHUK Sanja as a child
in a PAVEL CHUKHRAI film
THE THIEF
I was born just after the war -
in 1946.
My mother was going lo see some relatives in Yaroslavl...
and she gave birth to me on the side of the road.
I never saw my father.
He came back from the war wounded...
and died six months before I was born.
But I thought about him...
throughout my childhood.
I tried to imagine him.
THE THIEF
In 1952, I was six.
My memory then confused...
what I saw and understood after that.
But I knew I'd remember that train...
for the rest of my life.
Get rid of one.
- What should I get rid of? - Hearts.
Hearts... I don't have any.
- Mommy! - What?
Can I go up there?
You're not allowed.
But there's nobody up there
There was just a stop, maybe someone's coming.
So who is the queen married to?
The jack or the king?
The queen?
That's enough, I've had it.
Hello.
Let's play some more.
Cards, huh?
Just like at home.
Come on.
I've been robbed!
- Where are you going without shoes? - What's going on?
A woman was robbed.
People.
Stay in your seat.
- I'm going, you slay here. - Mom, please!
Listen, squirt.
Here you go.
What are you doing? Don't worry.
Keep an eye on my stuff, okay?
Excuse me.
Excuse me, let us through.
Why cry? It's too late.
Shall we have a smoke?
Are you crazy!
What's your name?
Mine?
Katja.
Daddy!
Where are you going?
Well... I don't know.
We got off with Uncle Toljan in some random city.
My mom said that from then on we would live with him...
and that I would have to call him Dad.
We walked through the city...
looking for a room or a small apartment to rent.
Do you have a room?
The accountant and his wife live there.
An engineer and his daughter, there
Here's the kitchen.
The bathroom.
An artist lives here, my husband and I there.
Varvara teaches the accordion there.
A drunk woman lives in there, but she's harmless.
The room isn't mine, it's my sister Anna's.
She's in the hospital now.
And I'm Aunt Tanja.
Sanjec'ka.
Aunt Tanja.
I'll give you the down payment in a few days.
My housing money and passport are at the military headquarters.
You know how the army is.
Okay.
Whenever.
You're a father, a soldier.
- You're not a con artist - Thanks.
No problem.
Mommy!
What's wrong? Calm down.
It's nothing, honey.
- What's wrong, Sanja? - It's nothing.
He'll go back to sleep now.
Now Daddy will tie the chairs together so you won't tall.
He was choking you?
What are you saying?
I heard it, you know?
You were dreaming.
I'm sleeping here!
Not on your life!
Lie down here.
I'm staying with mommy.
Goddammit!
I sleep here.
If you say another word, I'll throw you out the window!
You don't believe me?
So?
Don't worry.
Put a nail up.
Why?
To hang up your uniform.
Okay, I'll put it up myself.
And what are these?
They're for you, I bought them at the market.
Just for me?
For you, for you.
For me?
It's for me?
It doesn't fit.
Stop it.
Stop it, get out.
And don't make any noise, or they'll send us away.
Your passport isn't at headquarters. You never went there.
I'm on leave. I have two days left.
If you bring it to the woman, she'll know I'm not your wife.
So what?
So what? She'll kick us out!
She won't kick us out.
You're Sasha?
My name is Inessa Pavlovna.
Are you the drunk?
No.
- I haven't had a drink in a month. - Sanja! Go out and play!
I don't want to!
It seems the girl liked me.
She thought they beat me up because of her.
In fact they beat me up because I was different.
I don’t want to live here! They beat me up!
What's wrong? They'll throw us out for sure.
Don't yell.
Why are you a tattletale? Show 'em.
What do you mean, Uncle Toljan?
I'm not your uncle, I'm Daddy! Go and defend yourself!
Defend myself... but how?
Use your fists, bite, kick.
This way, they'll remember.
If not, you're not a real man. Now turn off the water.
Caterina!
Are you there? Come and see what your son has done!
What a mess!
You shouldn't have rented it to them, with a child!
That's not a rag it's a towel!
Sorry.
Hey, asshole, come out here!
Listen!
Is this your son who's been hitting these kids with a stick?
He's crazy!
Discipline him, dammit!
Let go of his ear...
or I'll come down there...
and smash your lace in.
Go ahead, come on down!
They move in and you can't let the kids play...
in the courtyard anymore!
Okay, okay. Can't you take a joke?
I'm coming down and I'm going to smash his face in. Just wait.
He throws rocks!
Little brat!
If you touch him again, I'm going to smash your face in!
Are these the guys who beat you up?
Did you defend yourself?
Did he beat you up'! And you?
Punch him.
I said hit him!
Come on!
Again!
Hit him again!
On the nose, in his face!
Pound him!
Okay, okay.
Now calm down. We're leaving.
I should whip you. You flooded the whole house!
Sit down!
Get me the belt.
Give it to me, I said!
I forgive you.
Don't worry, I'm going to beat him.
Why do you want to hit him?
It's better to teach him the accordion. I don't ask for much.
What accordion! He's a pest!
Learning how to play the accordion wouldn't hurt.
But his father's a soldier. Today we're here, tomorrow there.
I would never have married a soldier.
Really?
Sure, she'd never have gotten married!
Look at her!
Touch it.
Harder.
Understand?
And this?
It's to scare people.
It you scare them, they respect you and they listen to you.
- And it they don't listen'! - Pummel them.
And if they're stronger than you?
Whoever it is, you have to tell yourself:
“I'm ready to kill for this cigarette,
for this ice cream."
The others understand that, and they will give you anything. Understand?
Is that Stalin?
Why?
He's my father.
Sure.
Really?
Sure.
And he... does he know?
Yes.
But it's a secret.
Don't tell anyone, understand?
- Yes. - It's a secret then, squirt.
I hope it's okay...
Feel how my heart is beating.
And you? Are you happy now?
Go tell the neighbors you're sorry before they throw us out.
Go on!
Go, Sanja.
Do you have kids?
We had them.
We all had children once:
Solomonich, lnessa, us.
Where did they go? Did they die in the war?
Yes.
Look, the sole has worn away.
They're old shoes.
Not like your father's...
made of calfskin, new.
He's not my father.
- So who is he? - Uncle Whatchamacallit!
Sanja, where are you? Come home!
You're an idiot!
You could have looked at his passport at least.
And what would I have done with it?
Anyway, he's a soldier. We can always call headquarters.
Good morning, lovely ladies.
Please, help yourselves.
Aunt Tania, have one.
- What luxury! What do we owe-- - We have lo celebrate.
Speaking of which, how do we want to celebrate?
To each his own.
It's better to celebrate together!
I'll be in charge of organizing it.
- And don't cry, Aunt Tania - I'll bring our daily bread!
No, no.
- None for her. - No way.
Comrades...
as a soldier, I travel a lot and meet a lot of people.
But I have never met people...
as kind and friendly as you.
For this reason...
accept as a sign of gratitude...
tickets for the circus!
For Saturday! We'll go together.
You're crazy to spend so much!
We are touched, really. We'd love to come.
Especially on Saturday!
To your health.
Why are we sitting? You men could ask us to dance.
May I?
I can't come to the circus. Why not?
I have a play on Saturday.
And then?
Some like to meddle in other people's affairs.
David Solomonich, a toast
I would like to toast...
the man who made this day possible...
and not just this.
To the good, the wise...
the best of all men.
To Comrade Stalin.
I also have to drink to his honor.
What is this stuff?
Water!
I know you too well. I've lived with you too long!
Know what I think?
When you're big, you're going to marry me.
Nice, huh!
What time does Olga usually come home?
It depends.
I understand.
Saniec'ka, I have to go out for a minute.
Don't go. Please, don't go away.
I'm just going to the bathroom, and then I'll be back.
You promised me we would go back
- I'm not coming! - Be good!
You're a liar!
Sasha, maybe we have to leave.
- Right now? And Uncle Toljan? - I don't know.
No... Stay here, I'll be right back.
- What did you come here for? - To get my things.
To get my things.
So take your things then.
You knew it, right?
What are you doing?
But what...
What are you looking (or?
What are you doing? I don't understand!
- Where is your Olga? - What fucking Olga?
Get the boy, otherwise we'll miss our train.
- So then you're not a soldier. - I am, actually.
They stick my rank on my ass, and they even give me a title!
And I thought that now...
we would live together.
I love you.
And you...
- I did it for the boy too... - Tell me about it later!
Let's go.
- Don't take anything, let's go. - What? Look what a mess!
I beg you!
I love you. We have a child 10 raise...
C'mon, we'll miss our train.
Why am I so unlucky?
Let's go, the train's leaving.
Think about it later. Now let's go.
No!
Then leave me the address.
Maybe I'll write you from prison.
You know
I have no address.
C'mon, squirt.
Here you go, chief. All set.
- Did you look at it? - All set.
- Mommy. - Be quiet.
Mommy, look!
This is mine!
Give it to me! Give it to me, I said!
Be quiet.
Leave them alone.
If they ask, it's not our stuff.
Would you like tea?
Everything's fine, Katiusha! Now we can enjoy ourselves!
Oh, my sweetheart
I love you so
Listen to my love song
You are my happiness
Oh, my sweetheart
I love you so...
I hate you!
Take it.
Never, ever.
You'll take it and then tomorrow you'll go to the market and sell it.
Me?
Here!
And so I saw the Black Sea for the first time.
Good morning, comrades.
Who's in charge here?
My wife and son are down there.
Comrade Captain!
- Comrade Captain! - C'mon, let's go...
Put the bags in the left luggage. Hurry!
It would have been better if you hadn't come back.
Liar!
"Shipr."
- What? - Shipr cologne.
- We'd like to rent a room - We're no trouble.
My husband is in the service, my son is well-behaved.
Yes, I understand, but...
we don't rent.
Too bad.
But there's a collective apartment in the basement.
I think they rent there.
Katja.
Are you sleeping?
No.
What's wrong?
What's wrong with her?
Bring her some water.
- Stop! You new here'! - Yes!
Hello...
- Don't you say hi? Your name? - I'll kill you, damn you!
Are you a new tenant?
Yes.
- Don't you say hello? - Hello.
What's wrong, Katia?
I'm scared, Toljan.
What do I do with it?
Drink it. Actually, go out and check things out.
Take a good look, then tell me.
Slop giving him lessons! Do you want him to become like you?
What's wrong with that?
Sanja, want to become a soldier?
Yes.
Good. Now get out!
You promised it was the last time...
and then we would have a normal life!
You were the one who said you'd write me from jail!
If I keep going like this I'll end up like you.
And who will I send postcards to? My son in the orphanage?
Don't yell!
I haven't made money in a while.
I always find poor people's houses. One good deal, and then I'll stop.
Just my luck!
Get rid oi this crap! I have a boy to feed!
- Here, Uncle Toljan! - I told you to call me Daddy!
Say it! Daddy!
Stop it!
I'll kill you!
Go ahead.
You know the rules of the game?
If you pull a knife, you have to use ii.
Go ahead.
Otherwise I'll hit you.
Leave me alone!
Sanja, are you in there?
Stay in there, it’s good for you!
Citizens!
Do you have an accordion? The soul needs music.
Do you have an accordion?
Good idea, putting the bed between two night tables!
Will you avenge me, my son?
Daddy!
C'mon, Comrade, play.
The night is short.
At least tell us why we're celebrating.
Really, Anatolij, please tell us.
It's my birthday.