In 1905 after the Highest Manifesto on Civil Freedoms
was proclaimed a wave of Jewish pogroms spread all about Russia. Over 300 people
were killed in Odessa with tacit approval of the police.
About a thousand of Odessa dwellers were robbed of their property.
Bubliks! Buy fresh bubliks!
What did you do, scum?! -I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!
You've spoiled my boots! -I'm so sorry! -Get out of here!!
Your Honor, forget about this fool! Come here and I’ll make it right.
Clean it, and be quick! -Just a moment!
To get spoiled such great boots! I have a German polish, from Lavalet!
It's as oily as oil it self! One can smear it on bread! – Just do that.
Ouch… Your Honor…
What is it with you?
My stomach… something wrong… -Where are you going?! Come back! -I'll be right back!
Remember the pogrom in Dolnitskaya? Bloody dragon!
Do I know a couple of things about life?
I was born from a mother, like all of you.
And this woman, our mother, wanted me to live
and not to suffer. She wanted me to live well,
and she was right, as right as a mother can be.
And you're saying I don't know life!
Stand still! Stop!
Yevgeny Tkachuk, Yelena Shamova
Aleksey Filimonov, Vadim Norshtein
Sergey Marin, Igor Artashonov
Valentin Gaft, Vsevolod Shilovsky
Aleksandr Ilyin, Rimma Markova
Anatoly Kot, Artiom Osipov
Aleksandr Lazarev Jr., Artiom Tkachenko
Oleg Shkolnik, Irina Tokarchuk
Yekaterina Kopanova, Valery Bassel
in ONCE UPON A TIME IN ODESSA
based on ‘The Odessa Tales’ by I.E. Babel
Directed by Sergey Ginzburg
Written by Maksim Belozor
Music by Vladimir Davydenko
Director of photography: Eduard Moshkovich; Production designers: Nikita Chernov, Yulia Sobinova, Svetrana Litvinova; Casting by Anastasia Leonova; Postproduction producer: Artiom Yeliseyev; Produced by Yelizaveta Troitskaya
Executive producers: Vitaliy Bordachev and Vlad Ryashin
Odessa, 1918
Please don't! -Give it to me! Now!
No! Leave me alone! – A gorgeous sight.
Why sitting out there? Cut him a bit!
Please don’t! Don't cut my face!
Guys! Why are you bothering him? He’s an artist.
What? -Misha…
Who are you talking to? -You, geezer.
Hohol, cut him. -Gulia, just look at that little yid.
Come here, dog's shit…
Misha… -Stay calm. Or I’ve never seen knives? -Gulia! -To the exit.
You too. -Hey, man…
Go, go.
Drop the knife.
Move it, rats! This is your last station. Get out!
How, bro? Where to? -There!
Misha… They’re going to die!
Vanya, don't spoil my upbringing.
Come on! -Jump, Hohol! Jump now!
What are you waiting for? Jump out!
Never mind, scum. We'll meet again!
Drop in, we'll be glad to see you!
See that? Still alive.
Oh, come on, Vania! These swift guys may come to Odessa ahead of us.
I they gave me a great reception in Kherson. I mean it.
I perform satiric songs, you know. Like: «I was kissing once
the skin and the bones». It’s about love of a skinny woman, you know.
Do you know my name? I’m Leyzer Vaysbeyn.
I perform under a pseudonym of Leonid Utesov.
Sounds great, isn't it? Leonid Utesov!
No, Mr. Artist.
We're coming back from a closed boarding house
for specially gifted boys. That's why we don't know your music.
Tell me, comrade, what is the mood of the masses in Odessa?
Mood of the masses? Come on! It’s absolute mess all around.
The Government, the Central Rada, The Bolsheviks got absolutely saucy…
With the Socialist Revolutionaries, and…
Give cigs to all, and you’ll run out!
Izya, ask Liovka for one! Or his aunt forbids him from smoking?
Tsilia, look at this puppy!
Give it to me too.
Liova! Liova! Where are you?! Liova! You’re idiot!
Maysky! I’m not to be treated like
that! Liova! I opened up my heart to him, my
soul and my purse! And he took my 25 rubles
and now took habit of hiding from me!
Liova! Liova! All right, I'll show you! You’ll see hell!
What?! What hell?! Just look at her! She'll show me hell!
I'm a man of decency, how can she talk about me like that?
Solomon Yakovlevich, say I am!
You're a good boy, Liova!
And if she thinks I need her 25 rubles,
let her choke on them!
Solomon Yakovlevich, the boy’s grown up!
The boy wants to play in the grass!
Mishka! Mishka!
Gorgeous puppy he’s become!
Moysha, welcome back!
Look who’s here!
Oh Lord! Sashko, just look who's here! Aunt Doba?
Is that you?!
Yes, it’s is me!
What?
Just look who’s here! Moisha’s back!
Oh, God!
Aunt Doba! Mary!
Moysha! Sweetheart!
Mum…
Come here, son. -Dad, you seem to have brown even wider.
Moysha!
It’s me!
Moysha!
Who’s he? Is it Berchik? Just look how big he’s now!
Easy! Easy!
How are the things going here?
Well, Palchik works as an accountant for old Raykovich.
Mayorchik works at the port with uncle Sanya. Hot?
What about you? Idling around?
More or less. I'm going to be a writer, like Lev Tolstoy,
but I'll be Lev Maysky.
Really?
Yes. I'm already writing for a magazine.
Even for two – “The Odessa Leaflet” and “The Seaman”.
Do they pay?
They do some. Enough to meet my needs.
My aunt died two years ago, so I live alone now. So?
Not much.
What about you? – Here. – Wow!
That’s what I think, Mayorchik: I have no other option but to gather a gang.
Odessa will hear about me,
and I'll have as much money as I wish.
As much as you wish?
Even more, Yasha. We'll work on bourgeois only. And no wet work.
It’s a law. And it’s going to be a gorgeous sight.
Misha, who promised you you're going to be that lucky?
Yasha, I myself promised it to me. The chestnut…
Put it down!
Mom, it’s not for me. Berchik wants it.
Berchik, are you nuts? Jews and bacon are way away.
Just give the boy a little piece, eh?
Shurik, pour it in!
Just look at this boy! He is a demon of a boy!
I’ve spent half of my health on that boy.
Mum!
What “mum”? Was it me who was expelled from heder?
Or it was me who was taken to work at the mattress workshop?
“Mum”!
Fira, take a seat. We're going to have lunch now.
Have in mind, we’ve got another gangster growing up in my house!
Fira, just stop putting on airs. You sit down and you eat.
Fira, go eat.
Doba?
What?
We'll have nobody to rely on when we're grown old.
It’s going to be tough.
Why? Misha is not a gangster. He was a political prisoner.
Will see. If he steadies down
then I'll be in peace. But if he wants to become a gangster,
then I wish him never come back.
Lechaim! – Lechaim!
This one?
Will do.
It won't.
No?
Why? This is a good suit.
Yes, but a bit too shabby. Yasha, he needs something… I don’t know… better.
Something fashionable. Like this one. Misha, how do you like this? – No.
Here. Gorgeous sight!
Misha, this is a tailcoat.
So what?
What? It's not to be worn every day.
It’s only worn when visiting a theatre… or at the funerals.
Don't talk nonsense.
Yasha, where is Misha? Didn't like anything?
Dad, here he is.
Don't talk nonsense. I see a real Lord Chamberlain.
And Misha, I beg my pardon, looked more like a lowlife.
Dad, this is Moysha.
Really? This is what a good and not over-expensive suit can turn a person into.
If made by a good tailor, of course.
Trade makes actors out of us.
I'd make a good comedian, wouldn't I? – Sure.
Such a nice young man cannot wear rags.
“A girl sang a song in the temple's chorus,
“About men, tired in alien lands,
“About the ships that left native shores,
“And all who forgot their joy to the end. “Thus sang her clean voice, and flew up to the highness…”
What? Asphodel?
Misha, it’s her pseudonym. – I see.
“The white and airy gown, singing in the light.
“And all of them were sure, that joy would burst out:
“The ships have arrived at their beach, “The people, in the land of the aliens tired, “Regaining their bearing, are happy and reach. “And sweet was her voice…
Liova, is it long?
“And only, by the Holy Doors – high on the vault, “The baby, versed into mysteries, mourned, “Because none of them will be ever returned.”
Bravo, Asphodel! Amazing verses!
Gentlemen poets, I beg your pardon. Zoya, this is for you!
Oh, thank you!
May I… kiss you?
May I kiss Zoya?
Did you like the poems, Misha?
I did. If you'd read another more verse I'd have burst out crying.
Why didn't you read yours, Zoya?
I wasn't in the mood to, Liova.
Besides, who needs my poems after Blok's?
Why not? Bolock is of no interest nowadays.
That’s just what I say.
Blok is a living dead. Bakovsky, a futurist.
Lev Maysky, reporter.
Nice to meet you. Would you have some vodka with us?
No, thank you; I'm here with a friend.
And you?
Sure!
Look, are these people the Avermans?
They are.
She’s become so…
Who?
The older one. Tsilia. What do you think of approaching them?
Stop it, Misha. You don't know each other.
So what? We'll introduce ourselves.
It's indecent.
What do you know?
Misha!
Tsilia! My compliments.
My good man, will you bring some more Seltzer. And do it quick, please.
You don't seem to be moving at all.
You’ll drink yourself sick!
I’m sorry! – Misha!
What was that?
Eat, Father, eat. It’s nothing.
Why so nervous? Take it!
Bug off! You can take it.
They confused me for a waiter in this tailcoat!
So what? Yes, they confused you, so what?
I told you not to come up to them didn’t I?
You do look like a waiter in this suit.
Misha, it was a joke!
Forget that, Misha! There’s no reason to be that much upset.
To my taste, her shape is so-so.
Liova, I don't care about your taste.
I mean she is too thin. All right, all right.
You don't understand. I came back for her only.
I don't need Odessa without her.
You won't succeed here, believe my experience. – We’ll see.
It’s easier to get the moon, Misha.
They won't even talk to you.
Will they talk to a king?
A king? Well, maybe they will.
I'll become king, then.
Let's go, king! The guys are waiting.
So, what do you think about that?
Misha, I'm in.
Yasha, say something.
Well, Misha… I’ve got some prospects before me, you know.
And you're offering such a thing to me…
As you wish. But don't ask of cut in afterwards.
It'll be a completely different pair of shoes afterwards.
Can you get us weapons?
I can.
You?
The barefooted one is Pindos. The other one is Marek from Moldavanka. So, they are friends.
Got ammo?
He’s grown so… I… Zoya, tell him.
Yeah, he’s so…
What? – So… strong and bright…
Right… he’s bright…
What’s he going to do?
He hasn't decided yet.
I've heard that he already has.
And?
Rumors say he gathers a gang.
Come on, Osia, what gang? Misha and the gang? Forget it!
Is that true?
Osia, as a cop you smell a rat in everyone. Nothing of the kind.
Liova, the only thing I ask you is not to get involved with him.
Let him do his business and you better mind yours.
Osia, stop bothering me! Zoya, tell him, please!
Osia!
or I’ll wring your neck. Got that?
Zoya, how many times did I tell you…?
Osia, women smoke nowadays!
Let them smoke, you shall not!
Osia, you're just like granny Raya.
Sorry.
Mr. Prul, why are you playing low all the time?
Don’t have any reason to play high.
Just stop making poor mouth.
The people in real need
come to our pawn-shop and pawn everything they have.
Oh, come on, Monsieur Zhirmunsky. What they pawn is such rubbish.
I've forgotten how golden cigar-cases looks like.
It's easy for you to say that.
You had a harvest of wheat this year good enough to earn a million.
So what? A harvest was good,
but the sales went so deep down. I’m out of pocket.
Gentlemen! Gentlemen, what are you doing?
Gentlemen and ladies! I have honor to greet you
on behalf of the Revolutionary Black Sea Fleet.
Tell me, is this a robbery?
Will you please keep silent for a while?
Or I'll have to do something
all of us will feel uncomfortable about.
This is not a robbery. It MIGHT LOOK like a robbery,
but it's an absolutely different thing.
I suggest you VOLUNTARILY donate some money
for the needs of the working class and the revolution.
The comrades will go around and collect what your have.
Gentlemen! – Quiet!
Please stay calm
and retain revolutionary consciousness.
May I have some cognac.
Take the ring off.
I can't.
Pindos! The guy can't take his ring off. Will you help him?
No, no need! I'll manage.
Yasha, how long are you with the fleet? Does your father know what you're doing here?
He doesn't need to know about such trifles.
Give me your wallet.
And, please don't tell my dad, for it will upset him.
Young man, please don't worry.
I’ve got a very serious talk to you.
With pleasure, but maybe some other time.
My comrades and I are leaving soon.
This talk is very serious. This Friday,
if you are not busy, of course. Preobrazhenskaya Street…
the entrance on the side of the City Garden.
It’s a very serious talk. Take this please…
Misha, we're done.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention!
Keep revolutionary calm
and don't move for about 10 minutes. Bye!
Hello, Aunt Doba.
Hello.
Get up. Get up!
Osia! Is it morning now?
Was it you who worked in the casino?
What?
Just stop pulling wool over my eyes!
Palchik was recognized. And you are talked about.
I was assigned to the case, so get dressed.
Kidding me?
Get dressed.
What if I don't? Will you call your dragons?
I'm a detective, Yaponets. Do you realize it?
I'm no fool.
You must disappear for some time.
Do you have a place to hide?
I'll find it.
Know what I don't want to do is?
I don't want to shoot at you some day when I’ll have to.
I don't want that to happen very much.
So what’s the problem?
The problem is that if I have to shoot I will. Bear this in mind.
I will!
Why coming?
The kid was awake all night long!
Why coming?
Moysha?
Rumors say you’ve robbed a casino. Is this true?
What casino?
Don't fool me! Everybody knows that you robbed the casino.
What are you talking about? Who is talking such nonsense?
Will you buy a dress for me? -What dress? -I saw a dress at the Shnevis' shop.
It's real cool! It is.
Look here! It's all lilac.
All of it?
With flowers here and ruches here. And laces here, real from Paris! Will you buy it for me?
Just give me a break. -Moysha!
Mary, go to your Mum. -I'm doing the dishes.
Go to your Mum, or I'll do you.
Mum! Do you hear what he’s saying?
This is my word.
If you’ve set up your mind to become a gangster,
then I don't need a gangster in my house. Then you’d better leave.
Leave right now. We don't need gangsters.
Dad, I don't understand what you're talking about.
What do you mean?
If you want to get into prison again, it’s your choice.
But I won't have any gangster in my house. So if you do so, then get out!
If you want to drive me away, I'll go away.
But you'll be ashamed afterwards.
You'll be proud of your son!
Leave him alone.
My good men. When I was very young I once told my poor mamma:
“Mum, I want to become a sailor.”
Do you think she started to laugh? She didn’t.
She gave me a good beat and then she cried for a very, very long time.
Then she said: “Honey, remember for long years: Serving with the fleet is not for a Jew.”
She was wrong. My dear poor mamma was wrong.
If you have a soul like the sea and the brains like those of admiral’s,
you can milk the fleet for couple of things. I…
You're reading my mind.
That's why I want to toast a man
who’s shown that the fleet and Jews may be well compatible.
I toast to you, Misha! Cheers!
I knew you’d come, Misha.
Please don't be so nervous.
How do you know me?
Knowing everything is what I do. My name is Barsky, Lev Barsky. At your service.
I'm sorry for inviting you to such a shabby place.
Two chairs - that's the only furniture I’ve found here.
So, I suggest to sit down.
Have you heard about Barsky?
Yes, I've heard about Barsky.
Then there is no need to tell you
that serious business in Odessa is always done with my participation.
This is my job. I help people do business right.
And they return my favor because I don't ask much for it.
I'm satisfied with 5%. It's modest. Do you think it is not?
Yes, it is modest indeed, Mr. Barsky.
So, Misha. I saw you work in casino yesterday.
Believe an old man – such work is pure boorishness
and foolishness. This is it and nothing different.
What would you have done if the casino owner
had chanced not to let the guards go to the wedding
of their senior man's daughter? What would you’ve had in this case?
Pure mess. Skirmish would have started and many people
would have been killed in that mess. It’s not the way to do the work.
Listen to what I say. When I was looking you work yesterday I thought to myself:
“My God, they are mere amateurs.” But then I thought:
“Barsky, this young man has a style.
Well, playing seamen, maybe, is an excess,
because a real Jew will never dress himself as a seaman.
But the key is that this young man has a good grip.”
That's why I'd like to make you an offer.
Of course, if it wasn't a caprice yesterday
and you indeed set up your mind to step into serious business.
I did set up my mind to step into serious business
Then this is my offer. Believe me,
Barsky doesn't make offers to everybody.
I only serve the very best.
I agree. Go on.
Then keep in your mind two things I will tell you.
You need right men. I'll send you a right man
so that you knew That Barsky isn't joking.
He is my nephew, a boy from a good family,
and he’s very bright. You'll take him to your gang
and you'll have a guarantee that Barsky is not joking.
And the last thing, Misha. Do you know
what may interfere with your career?
The fact that another more actor in the local troupe will be an odd one.
Because all thing in Odessa
are decided by old Mendel Gersh.
Therefore I recommend you go to see Gersh while it's still decent.
Mr. Barsky, I’ve got my own interest.
Swim! Swim!
Come here! It’s so good! Palchik? – What? -Look! Did you ask Pindos about the machinegun?
I did.
And what?
He doesn’t have one.
Doesn’t he?
You can ask him yourself when he comes back.
Don't you have a tongue to ask?
And what about Boutsis?
He said he had one. Though, it’s out of order.
But he promised to sell it with a discount.
You’re such a smarty-pants! What good is a one out of order to us?
Izya! It can be mended, and it's going to be cheaper!
Understand? So, will we take it?
Why not. Let's do it.
Yaponets, I’m here to see you. Barsky sent me. My name is Kostia.
A gymnasium student? -A technical school one. Former.
What can you do, student? Misha, do we really need ones like him?
What do you need?
Can you shoot?
May I?
Bastard! It costs 15 roubles! Got that?!
See that?! Six holes!
Really? Six?
Six, I bet! I’d kill you! -Sorry.
Where did you learn to shoot like that?
We had a self-defense detachment at our school
formed against pogroms. I was its member. I like weapons…
handguns and machineguns…
Mayorchik, will we take him in? What do you think?
Going to be handy.
Sorry! I’m sorry.
I take YOUR cap now.
Eat. You could stay at home at least from time to time.
You live God knows where! Where do you live?
He lives at Madam Basia’s saloon.
What? Only girls for hire live at Madam Basia’s.
Stop laughing! Do you attend those girls?
No, Mum. Mary’s kidding.
Where do you live, then?
Majorchik and I live like bachelors.
Why bachelors? It's time for you to get married.
It's not the time for me. But it is for Mary.
I'll die before she does. A man came yesterday, and what?
Mum, what are you saying? He is old!
Are you new? -He has three children! Do I really need that pleasure?
So what? He has three already, and you'll give birth to a fourth one.
What’s the difference?
I don't want to!
You have to!
The second course.
Thanks.
Fira, that’s it! An interval! Stop tapping!
M-me Basia! – Yasha you do know our rules. They say that all is to be decent.
M-me Basia, don’t hurt me. We're men of decency.
That's what I'm talking about. Raya, stop chewing!
What would young people think of you?
Especially, such a handsome man like Misha.
Why are you being so shy? It's life. Go to the rooms.
And if you need anything, call Frosia and she will bring you what you want.
So, which one?
This one.
Yaponets, it’s Yasha’s girl. He’s been attending her for a month now.
Choose Raya, and you are sure to appreciate her love.
No, I want this one.
Palchik, will you let me have her?
Feel free!
Why are you grinning? Come!
Right choice.
Why did you get up? You can sleep some more.
Sleep? I don't want to sleep.
Then I won't sleep too.
Well, don't sleep too.
Always call for me now, will you?
I will.
And tell Madam not to let anyone choose me.
Will you?
I will.
People are different. But I'm the best one at the saloon.
Are you?
I am. Do you know why? You don’t?
How can I know?
Look! Here.
See?
And?
And…
An arm, so what?
No mere arm. Didn't you see?
What was I supposed to see?
The wrist.
Did you see how thin it is?
My legs are the thin too. Look here. See?
My ankle is thin too. What does this mean?
What does this really mean?
It means that I come from the nobles.
How about a ride?
A ride?
Yep, by boat in the sea.
Who is there?
A man.
Don't move. Get dressed.
Where to?
There.
And what about the ride?
Next time, Rosie.
You'll have a ride in a hearse.
Button up your pants!
My respect, Gersh. Why pulling out of bed?
Eat. When one has a work ahead of him,
he must be well-stocked. Eat.
No good without oversee if you live like this. If no oversee, it’s going to be bullshit.
If one’s going to work here we need to know what kind of man he is.
Mr. Mendel, I want to latch onto a safe shore.
The shore that accepts me WILL benefit.
I don't like restless people.
Restless people bring nothing but disorder.
I’ll bring no disorder.
Try me.
All right. I will try you. I’m not sure,
maybe you make a good indeed.
I'll try you on Gepner.
Lechaim. -Lechaim.
A nice guy.
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