STAR MEDIA presents
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, Valeriy 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, Svetlana Litvinova
Casting by Anastasia Leonova
Postproduction producer: Artiom Yeliseyev
Produced by: Yelizaveta Troitskaya
Executive producers: Vitaliy Bordachev and Vlad Ryashin
Monsieur Barsky…
And it’s good that you see Mosieur Barsky here. Misha, it’s no good not
to keep the door unlocked when the time is so unhealthy.
How do you know this place?
And how do I know all things in the world? When Yasha Palchik asked about
a flat in a quiet place, Barsky was instantly approached and told that
Misha Yaponets decided to start a pad.
Are you here to talk about Gepner?
Old Mendel wishes that you do Gepner.
What interesting you know about him?
Yovl Lazarevich Gepner is a man of… A sugar refinery, two stone mansions, a
summerhouse at the Primorsky boulevard - it’s number one…
What is my interest?
Your interest, Misha, is that Gepner has made pretty money for sugar and
that Gepner distrust banks.
He distrusts banks?
Well, maybe he’s right to and one should keep all his money home,
especially if one has a safe from Goering & Co. And there’s 1 million in
it. And it will be kept there for two more days and then it will be gone. So
Gersh thinks that it should not go in vain.
I’ve heard you.
Misha, change the lock. Because what you have attached there is ridiculous.
Are you nuts?!
You’re already dead, Mayorchik.
Good willing to see you in such a marvelous place! When are you saying
the wedding will be? Ah, the day after tomorrow.
So, bring in the gift. Be careful. Yasha, where’s Sioma the Sailor?
Not sure. Hasn’t come.
Gentlemen! Hold it please! Yovl Lazarevich, I have to say but I don’t
have any talent to say it in famous worlds. So, I’ll say it from the
bottom of my heart. What can one wish such a man as Yovl Lazarevich having
the head of gold when he has everything needed? One can wish him to
have plenty. Not money! Friends! Who did come to congratulate him on his
anniversary!
Mazal tov! My compliments, Yovl Lazarevich. I beg my pardon. I have
honor to congratulate you on your birthday. This is for you.
Yovl, what are you waiting for? Call the police immediately!
Quiet, calm down, shut up! Misha, although we never met before, I’m very
glad to see you in my house. Maybe, you will put down what you’ve brought
and have a drink with us? Of course, your friends are welcome too.
Misha, I’m, of course, sorry, but this thing weighs 100 pounds.
Then put it down, why holding it?
Misha, you have intrigued all of us. What’s in the box?
Yovl Lazarevich. Don’t scratch the instrument. Kostik, open up.
I don’t understand.
You don’t? Kostik, the folks don’t understand. Explain them what kind of
machine this is.
Well, it’s a machine by Hiram Maxim, .303 caliber, rate of fire 500 rounds
per minute.
That’s the thing.
Why have you brought this thing here? If you are here on some business, you
could have come and had a talk as intelligent people do.
We will talk on business. A bit later. But now we’ll talk about your
conscience. Ladies and gentlemen! How can one drink and eat when the working
masses have nothing to put on the plate. Given that they have dethroned
tsar and you have not. -It’s my birthday today.
My congratulations again! But what should I say to the workers? We work.
Why is it so quiet here? Play something.
You have birthday party, don’t you?!
It’s no good. No good at all. Again and again, day by day.
Monsieur Prul, you see the times we live in, don’t you? You’d better stay
at home. Thanks.
You are welcome.
Well, mister…
Izya, Izya, give Dr. Morgulis’ chronometer back to him. Gynecologist
is proletarian much like my father. And we don’t touch proletarians.
I apologize.
Merci.
Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for your kind generosity. Your modest
donations will go to horny hands of workers of Moldavanka and Peresyp.
Yovl Lazarevich, now we can talk about our business, just as you advised.
Well, shall we go to another room? Come on, please.
You have killed me. A year of work for nothing! You are burying me alive.
Monsieur Gepner, take it easy. It’s money, nothing more.
Izya, is it really money?
You have killed me, Misha.
Oh, come on, Yovl Lazarevich. Is it the last year you work? Or you drink
tea with no sugar?
We’ve locked them all! We need to get away.
Are there much money?
Yovl Lazarevich, we have cut your telephone line, so, don’t even think
of sending a man to the police. That’s going to be a big mistake. Ah, I
almost forgot… May I ask you for a favor? Something’s got stuck inside
this machine, so it cannot fire at all. Absolutely. So, tell the
metalworkers at your factory to see it with their skilful hand.
And I will specially appreciate it.
I’m late. I beg my pardon.
Misha, it’s Gepner’s manager.
Where’s music? Music!
What are you doing?!
Help! Help!
Misha!
By my mother’s grave! You’ll be buried next to him.
Misha!
Take him to the hospital to mend him up like new one.
Who are you to bark here? Eh? You were pissing in the cradle when I did jobs!
People know me! Got that? You son of a bitch!
Yasha, clean here. Go figure out how.
What are you waiting? Take this scum away.
And what will the world say? What? That Misha Yaponets did a wet work?
And, Liova, which is the key, for no reason at all. A bullet in the
stomach! How’s that? In front of public!
And there were lots of people there.
You hanging about him again?
May I not?
I’ll pin your ears back when I see you with him ever more. Got that?
Osya, why are you nagging at me? I’m no little boy anymore.
Osya, are there any problems with criminal elements?
Well, Gepner’s managers rumor that someone’s taken their master’s safe.
Really?! And now’s Gepner?
Gepner keeps mum.
So that’s all to it. Why are you looking at me like that? How do I have
to do with this? Maybe, the managers lie?
Well, Misha, maybe they do. Only, why did Gepner not leave for his factory?
And the doctor was called to his wife?
What is it with her?
A fit. Some trouble with her heart.
Oh no, she must have eaten something bad.
And this guy who caught a bullet…
What guy?
Gepner’s manager. He served at the dinner and caught a bullet.
Heard something? His name is Yosef. I visited him in hospital.
What did he say?
Nothing.
Then that’s all to it.
He died.
How died?!
Badly. In throes.
A good habit indeed to kill living people! Damn that bloody gangster!
Madam Berchik, I’ve brought money for you, Madam Berchik. As Yosif have been
serving at my refinery for entire 12 years. Here’s the money.
I put it right here. And God will punish this Yaponets.
He will, like no one else on earth.
Monsieur Gepner.
Hooligan’s mug! Gangster! May the earth spit you out!
A good habit indeed to kill living people!
Just stop waving your hands or you’ll get cold. Aunt Pesia, it’s me, Misha.
Here! Aunt Pesia, if you need my life, then you may have it. But everyone
make mistakes. Even God himself does. It was a terrible mistake, Aunt Pesia.
Was it not God’s mistake to settle the Jews in Russia where they suffer like in hell?
Would it be any worse if we lived in Switzerland now where the
lakes are clean, the mountain air is fresh and the French are all around?
But everyone make mistakes. Even God. I didn’t kill Yosef.
I cry for him as for my own brother.
What impudence! What outrageous impudence! He mentions God! He…
Shame, Monsieur Gepner, what safe you’ve hidden your shame in?
You had heart to give those miserable 50 roubles to the mother of our late
Yosef, didn’t you?
But… But you have taken everything I had from me. You have.
Everything? Well, maybe we visit your refinery and I feel what remained out there?
Well…
100.000! You give her 100.000 in a lump sum and shall pay a pension to
her to the end of her life, and may she live 120 years and have funeral to
the highest standards! And if you have something to object, then let us out from this room.
Geben zdoku. Geben zdoku. Gentlemen Jews, give zdoku.
Jews! Food of mercy, true mercy, is to give the last honor to the deceased.
As our sages said: “El drahim shein’l sheur.”
I have to say a couple of words.
Well, speak up.
Ladies and gentlemen! I did not know the deceased well, but I’ll say
wholeheartedly. What have our dear Yosef seen in his life? He’s seen a
couple of trifles. What did he do? He counted other people’s money. How did
he die? He died because of other people’s foolishness. So, there are
people who know how to drink vodka and there are people who know not, but
still drink it. And the first kind takes pleasure in sorrow and in joy,
and the second kind suffers, not knowing how to drink vodka, for the
ones who do. Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, after we say our prayers
for Yosef, please give the last honor to Sioma the Sailor who you don’t know
but who is already deceased. This shallow man showed Yosef his way to
God. And God will seat Yosef beside Him. And Sioma…
He will decide how to treat Sioma the Sailor.
King indeed.
So, shall we?
No. I go alone. And you go home.
Home? And what about you?
I’ll somehow cope with it. And tell Yasha to take the money from the
wallets and get round Moldavanka to distribute them among the people.
Why should he?
Let him visit the poorest - Kravchenko, Makhorsky too… you know
who he should visit. Let him say that Misha Yaponets sends them the money.
Misha, I thought your talks of the aid to the working people were nothing but tales.
Misha, why should we give away the money?
Mayorchik, when people have nothing to eat, one should not fear about the belongings.
All the more, if they are someone others’. Just do that.
And the people will thank you.
Give this to your guys.
Ain't that a bit steep, Mendel?
The guys had their first job. Let them enjoy themselves as they wish.
Sit down. You can work on.
Do we really need him? Gersh, do we really need milksops like him?
I say you can work in town.
And I say do we really need milksops like him?
Yes, he’s done Gepner, so what of it? I could have done him as well.
I’ve got that many men that there ain’t that much job for them.
There’ll be enough job for everyone at the times like these.
One should stick up to his turf.
I don’t know why we need him.
Cut the cackle, Shark. Mendel’s said his word…
So what? What of his word? Maybe, he’s too old to make out a worthy cause
from zilch. Maybe, the company doesn’t want that Yaponets.
Gypsy, you need that Yaponets?
Shark, you’re too noisy. You may work. Or the company doesn’t want him to?
Gypsy?
He may work, Gersh. Let him work.
Grip?
Let him work.
What say you, Shark?
Let him work. But let him stay away from Peresyp.
I won’t have anybody in Peresyp. Hear what I say, Yaponets?
I’ve heard about Peresyp.
I told you to stop tailing me, haven’t I? Are you stupid?
Tags after me just like a puppy.
Let him go, why forbidding him?
He’s pestering me with taking him to a job. Just think of it!
No, you don’t need to take him to the job.
That’s what I’m talking about. He even learned to nip.
He did my cigarette case so gently, that I didn’t feel he did.
He needs good bashing.
He does. Never mind. I know it’s Savka who teaches him doing pockets.
What Savka? I’ll show this Savka when I catch him…
Yeah, Savka needs bashing too.
Wait. Look over there.
Berchik, come here. Come on, don’t fear me.
You boasted you’re a great nipper, eh? See those young ladies?
The taller one with dark hair. Can you do her purse?
Kidding? -Can you do that or not?!
Piece of cake. -Then go.
… or all tables at Fanconi will be occupied!
They won’t be. All the more, we need to buy Mesaxudi tobacco for Dad.
But Tsilia! Let’s get it after, eh?
Sofa, stop nagging.
Tsilia, they’ll be occupied indeed.
That way.
What a beautiful dress! It’s so nice! Want one like this?
Whoops! Just look at this nimble lad!
Mister, let me go please! I’ll never do that again!
You down-and-out! Just be gone. May I give your purse back to you?
Thank you so much.
Ladies, how can you be so careless? Nippers are all around here.
Well, I don’t know how… How he took it out…
I have pleasure to introduce myself: I’m Mikhail Vinnitsky. A businessman.
Nice to meet you. I’m Tsilia. And this is my little sister Sophie…
Sophie. -Nice to meet you. -Me too.
Well, if you are on a walk, we’ll join you. Or someone may steal something from you.
I’m not sure… Actually we’re going shopping… -And to the café.
Café? We too are going to the café in the Boulevard to have some pastries.
Let me introduce my friend: Lev Maysky, reporter.
Nice to meet you. I’m Tsilia. -Lev. -Do you work for a newspaper?
I do for now. But actually, I’m a writer…
Oh, it’s so interesting! Tsilia, lets go to the Boulevard and have some pastries.
Well, beg your pardon, you yourself look like meringues.
So what? You don’t agree? Eh?
Mr. Vinnitsky, could we meet somewhere before? Could we?
You know, Odessa is a kind of city where everyone met some day. Let’s go.
Let’s go. -Tsilia, let’s go. We go.
I beg my pardon. Wait for me here just a moment. Liova, keep the ladies entertained.
I’ll be right back.
What do you write about?
Well… Eh… Different things…
And about love? -Sophie…
Tsilia… -Of course, about love too…
Do magazines print your works?
Well, I’ve sent them… To several ones…
So what?
Nothing. Misha…
This is for you.
Oh! It’s so beautiful! Tsilia, just look how nice it is! Look here!
Oh, a watch! Is it for me?
Yes, it is.
Sophie, give this all back to Mikhail.
Sophie, no way. It’s from the bottom of my heart.
Mr. Vinnitsky, we apologize, but we cannot accept such an expensive gift.
Why not?
It’s improper.
Oh, come on! Let’s take a ride to the Boulevard to have some Seltzer and
pastries and I’ll persuade you that there’s nothing improper in it.
Tsilia, come on! Ouch, give it to me! It’s fell down!
What would you wish? We have delicious profiteroles and éclairs.
It’s something glorious. Also, Sheridan’s and Cointreau liqueurs, Champagne,
of course, from the Prince Golitsin’s winery, Clicquot, original one
of course, just delivered.
So? I beg you not to be shy. Don’t stint, we have money.
I’ll be right back. -Misha, I go with you.
Bring it all… If you will excuse us.
Tsilia, like the watch, eh?
Just stop talking about the watch. It’s improper.
Good afternoon, Sophie!
Oh! Afternoon!
Good afternoon. Yeah… What a gorgeous cavalier. Yes, he is… Hem…
Does your father know he courts you?
Why do you ask?
Well… Such a cavalier. Not a trifle.
What “such”? -You don’t know? -No, I don’t.
He’s Misha. -Yes, he is Misha.
He’s Misha Yaponchik.
Come.
Tsilia, wait, they are going to be back right now.
I say, come. Excuse me, Naum Solomovich…
Leave the doll and the watch here.
Tsilia!
Just do what I say.
Good bye.
Excuse me once again. Good bye.
Eh… Yes, the ladies left. Must be having some business.
They even didn’t touch the treat.
What? Gone? I was right saying there would nothing…
Just stop showing your wit, will you?
Don’t panic, Misha. I know what I’m talking about.
He knows… I’ve remembered her since my teens.
She was in my dreams when in prison and everywhere.
Misha, of course I understand you, but she…
What?
She will never marry to a raider…
Won’t she?
No, she won’t.
The point is what size of that raider is.
Misha.
What, Monsieur Zhirmunsky?
I’ve got a matter to talk over with you, one of extreme delicacy.
It’s about your last visit. It wasn’t the last, was it?
Well, I’m not sure. Maybe, I’ll visit you in a few days again.
Yep, just as I thought… I will speak straight. The point is that my wife,
she’s young and her heart is weak, and when the house is suddenly burst in
the midst of the night by the men like you… I mean such likeable men like you
and your friends, she gets nervous and I worry.
What do you worry about?
Misha, I worry about her, this is why I am ready
to give you some money in advance.
In advance?
Yes, Misha, in advance… So that you don’t bother yourself, and she doesn’t
writhe in hysterics all night long. I’m even ready to make further advance fees.
So that you don’t bother yourself.
Aha. In advance?
In advance.
All right.
“So, let it rain, and let the sun rage. A back to lean is not so bad.
When you are sound, you can be happy. You have one sock, and have one galosh,
You have one sock, and have one galosh,
And some two pennies in the pocket, When you are sound, you can be happy.”
Ladies and gentlemen! You know I seldom cry with sorrow. What’s the
point? But I often cry with feelings because it’s is the kind of man I am.
When I see a noble young man help the grieving mother whose son died, I cry.
When I see this young man give money to a widow so that she has stuff to
put in her kids’ plates for dinner, I cry again. I cry and take off my hat
to this young man. -Misha! Well done, Misha! -And now mademoiselle Rosa
will sing for this noble knight the same in his native language.
Mayorchik, was the letter delivered?
Yes, by Marek.
And?
Nothing. It’s been three days now.
That’s a pity.
Maybe, it isn’t going to pan out?
What?
Making them pay of their own free will? Raiding is another pair of
shoes: you come and take the dough and the stuff. All’s fine and all’s clear.
But having them bringing money of their own free will - nothing like
this ever happened before. This Rukhimovsky thinks it’s been a joke
about 50.000.
Mayorchik, no, it hasn’t, but it will. I’m no boy to run around them nights.
And they will feel easier too: once you paid, you may feel free and safe.
But Ruknimovsky didn’t respond.
It was his mistake.
And if he plays Rothschild, let him not weep when we come.
Hands up! Hands up!
Don’t shoot please!
Have you received the letter?
L-l-l-letter? What letter?
The one from Yaponets.
F-f-from Yaponets?
Are you a stammerer? Did you receive it?
Y-y-y… Yes.
Then why did you not respond? Did you prepare the money?
I thought it was a joke.
A joke… Nice way to joke indeed.
Tell me why 50.000? What for?!
For being safe and untouched. And now, mind you, this is going at higher cost
for you. What are you waiting? Go work.
The trinkets. And the money too.
Take them away.
Excuse me, you wrote: 50.000 and no more.
But you didn’t respond.
No, I didn’t.
Look here, Rukhimovsky: you will fork out 10.000 every month. -How so?
Stop howing. 10.000 are quite reasonable for you.
10.000 reasonable?! 10.000 a month! When the trade’s so low!
Then tell your riches to get prepared.
Ruvim Yakovlevich, no need to show us the way. We’ll find it.
I see.
Ouch. Reboyne-sheloylem, what for?!
Wait! It doesn’t give!
Then push it!
It doesn’t!
Push it!
I do, but this scum doesn’t give!
About to drop it!
We should’ve put a billet under it!
A billet! It gives, gives!
God help you.
My eyes almost burst. Come.
Shall I pin it?
Yep, pin it up! Motia, go and cook something to eat.
Ah, our hands are not so strong as before.
What’s that new trend to collect money from people?
It came to my mind after a thinking: let them pay.
We benefit and they feel safe.
We are no police to collect baksheesh from the people.
No, Monsieur Mendel, we are no police; we do better: we ensure order. Is it
really good running around at nights like boys and making people worried?
What for? It’s better to come to deal. We visit the ones who disagree only.
There hasn’t been such a thing in Odessa before. I’ve lived a long life.
Well, that’s may be a good thing indeed.
I won’t mind, but we need to hear the company’s word.
Monsieur Mendel, the company’s going to be satisfied.
A half of our collections will go to the pool.
Really? “We’ll see”, said the blind one. Motia, hide this away to some place.
I see the point when I pay to the police; I see the point when I pay to
the customs office. I saw the point when I had to pay to the gendarmes
when my Borie got into the mess with those damned socialist
revolutionaries. But what should I pay to the gangsters for?
It’s a thing unheard-of!
Yes, used to be robbed before Yaponets emerged.
We did. And we used to be robbed pretty well. Was there anyone who was
not robbed? But now we must pay in advance. In advance!
No, this is hard to take in.
You pay, Monsieur Rukhimovsky, and they will not come.
Aron Izrailevich, it’s easy for you to say that! He doesn’t touch you!
You’re a gynecologist!
No, he doesn’t. This Yaponets is a man of principles.
Principles… Monsieur Averman, have YOU received a letter from Yaponets?
Gentlemen, I haven’t, you know. I haven’t.
And I am surprised why I haven’t.
You haven’t? -No, I haven’t.
And he demands that I pay him 50.000. as if I print this damned money out.
My good man, will you give me cognac? The Shustov one. And some chocolate.
Monsieur Prul, say something. Have you received any letters?
I have.
And?
20.000. They wrote a man would come to me and I should give the money to him.
20.000? And he demands that I give him
Just cut that, Monsieur Rukhimovsky! Don’t compare your income to mine!
Yaponets does know who is a millionaire and who… well… yes…
Will you pay?
Gentlemen, it’s between you and me: Captain Radziyevsky,
my brother-in-law, serves with the police.
So, he tells an ambush should be laid.
You’re a brave man, Monsieur Prul.
I won’t give a penny to Yaponets.
Mr. Prul! Monsieur Prul! Mr. Prul!
May help you?
I have the honor to introduce myself: I’m Ensign Korsakov.
Captain Radziyevsky sent me.
Just a minute, coming to let you in.
Vadim Bronislavovich told me to give you instructions about the ambush.
Please, come in.
How can an owner of the pawn shop be so unsuspecting?
Monsieur Prul.
Oh, Yasha…
Kostia, will you drop your tricks. Monsieur Prul, no need in much
ceremony between us Jews.
If I had held you for idiot, I would have lettered you as an idiot. But I
don’t know that about you - God forbid that I know you as a one. You ought to
be ashamed: you were lettered as a man of decency: “Dear Monsieur Prul, ”
“Will you…,” “Would you be so kind to…”,
and you hurried to complain to the police!
Misha, it was a terrible mistake!
And, the main thing, you fancied out some ambush…
I...
What?
I’m shocked!
All right, I turn a blind eye to this for the first time. But God forbid
that you would conceive such a thing ever again. Do you understand me?
I’m all understanding, Misha!
May I?
You may.
So, deal? Deal?
Of course!
5.000 every month.
Deal!
Good bye, Monsieur.
My understanding is that Yaponets is an upright guy. He’s doing things with
good skill. He’s taken pretty money, benefitted the company, arranged that
trade interest is paid in his part. So others should pay too - in Peresyp,
Lanzheron, Fountain… Will you do that?
As you say.
Wait, Gersh. Why should he work in Peresyp? Peresyp is my part.
I’ll lay all of hem under tribute so that they’ll pay even more.
Yes, Peresyp is your part, but the money there will be collected by
Yaponets. He will do that in such a manner
that people will not hold any offence.
Whatever you say, Gersh, I disagree. I disagree!
I don’t ask whether you agree or not. The money will be collected by Yaponets.
Lechaim!
Why sticking around like stupid? -What? What? -Come.
What is it, bro?
That damned Yaponets. He aims at Peresyp. Bastard.
I don’t get it. How?
Give me. -How so?
Yes, he does. And Gersh fusses over him. Never mind.
Used to pit and bathed in blood ones of better guts.
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