1988—The Afghanistan war is in its ninth year.
Krasnoyarsk, Siberia—1988, day one
Don’t cry, please.
Two years. It’s only two years.
—Vorobiev! —Yes
—Chugainov! —Yes.
Okay, go now
Is Ryabokon here? There he goes. He’s over there.
The enemy won’t pass!
Mama
Well? It’s time to say goodbye.
This is for you.
Brothers, the border is locked And the key’s in the pocket.
Come on! Go! Quick
Put your stuff on the table! Quick!
Bags here! Beer, vodka, and other booze on the table!
Is she your girlfriend? Have you fucked her, at least for one last time?
What? Hasn’t she given it to you?
Alright. Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.
There are many nice boys out there. They’ll take care of her.
What’s this? —Paint.
Warrior, what are you going to Draw there? Wheel of a tank?
Have you brought the easel, painter?
Gioconda
Next.
You think she’s gonna wait for you? She’s gonna get fucked in two holes while you write her love letters
What do you want from me What have I done to you?
Oh, you can talk! So maybe you wanna punch me in the face? Come on.
Come on. Bitch.
Relax, son. I’m gonna make you a real soldier.
Do you know the first rule in the army? A soldier should firmly
endure toughness and difficulties of army life.
Say, why did you wear a suit? You think there’s a party here?
I have no other clothes.
Let’s switch. I’ll give you mine, plus cigarettes.
You don’t need it anymore, right? And I need go out to the city, disco, and girls
Can you understand?
Yes, nice military service you’ve got.
You bet. It’s like a beautiful dream which you don’t wanna wake up from.
So, deal?
Of course. —That’s my boy.
Take the sheet away, Sure.
Beautiful dream, you say Yeah
Hold it motherfuckers!
Hold it, I said!
Relax, son.
What you said there about enduring toughness and difficulties, huh?
Let go of me, Let go.
Remember?. Can you remember?
Finish your hairdo yourself.
Guys, is this the Sixth Unit?
And where you think you going‽ Fucking Rambo, piss off
Chill out, Chugun. What?
Nothing. What’s the name?
Volodya Vorobiev
Lutayev Oleg, for short: Lutyi (Fierce)
This is Ruslan, Gioconda
Stas, Seryi
It’s good to see you.
Volodya
Ryaba (Pocky), Chugun (Pig-iron), that’s it.
Move, mate
Sit, Vorobey (Sparrow)
Continue, Ryaba
In short, I wake up in the morning
My head’s exploding
Open my eyes with my fingers Look around …. What the hell’s this house?
How the hell did I get here?
There’s a girl sitting next to me.
Smiling
Naked!
Woo-hoo.
And her father. Stands above me Like above a dead man.
He says, dude, you real fucked-up. The girl is under 18. So decide. Either registry office.
Or police.
And the slut covered her tits with the blanket. And looks innocently
Like nothing happened.
And ugly …. Like a bulldog.
But I said no, papa
I would rather lie under tank wheels.
than with her. Grabbed my feet and start running.
Hoping I get here first before he gets to the police station.
And I got married yesterday.
The wedding and the send off at once.
What? Congratulations.
Pretty boy.
Alright,she said,now I am yours. Come on, we can do it now.
She thinks I am a fool. I open the door I’m gone for two years, while she enjoys herself here.
She yelled all night long. How come I didn’t touch her.
But I said, when I get back. I will check it.
And if it ain’t there—I’ll kill you bitch
Left it as is.
That’s him. That one.
Wearing a suit.
What’s wrong with you, sucker? Who are you pointing at?
Quiet, quiet. Go have a rest.
I’ll crop your dumb head myself now. These are Afghan Units, dickhead.
Come on, bitch.
Ahh … Oh …
Fergana, Uzbekistan, day three
Where are you from?
I am from Grozny.
Where?
Grozny
From Grozny. So you’ll be called Pinochet now
—What? —Pinochet.
Why Pinochet?
I don’t know. Why not?
Is he coming for us?
Whatta face.
Where are you from, clowns?
We are from Siberia, Mr Commander.
I am Lieutenant Dygalo
What?
Are you hard of hearing? Come on, get up.
Get up quickly.
Stand in a line quickly.
Put your hats on
Attention.
I don’t think there’s anyone blind here. That’s our mountain there.
Beyond it is Afghan.
And for you to not die The first day you get there.
I will train you for three months, twenty-four hours a day.
From this minute on. Any questions?
No questions.
Turn right.
Follow me to our camp.
Run …
When I order to run. You should bend your arms.
Go.
Name?
Private Ryabokon
Name, Private Chugainov
Soldier’s straps are not for holding the balls, warrior.
Name, Private Bekbulatov.
N …. Private Stasenko
Private Petrovsky
It’s you, our painter.
That’s me, Comrade Lieutenant.
What are you doing here, son?
Should’ve stayed at home.
To draw naked women or flowers.
You see, Comrade Lieutenant. Accordingly to Dr Freud
Any painting is a sublimation of subconscious instincts.
Including the instinct of violence. But you can dismiss this.
Because Soviet science does not recognize the bourgeois doctrine of doctor Freud.
Very clever.
Sorry, I’ll fix it, With your help, Comrade Lieutenant.
Rule №1
Paratroopers should be always ready for a sudden attack.
Very good. Name.
Private Lutayev
Rule №2.
Brighter than a lieutenant Is only the First Lieutenant
Forget who you were and what you knew.
Remember, clowns.
You aren’t good and aren’t bad here.
Not bright nor stupid, Not even a painter. You are nothing.
You are not even humans. Here you are shit.
I’m the one who will make humans of you. With my bare hands.
Clear?
Yes, sir!
I did not hear it.
Yes, sir.
Louder.
Yes sir!
Fill it up!
Comrade Lieutenant, how come the first unit runs with light equipment.
Take your girl to the bushes. with light equipment.
Here, the more ammo you bring, the more chances to survive.
The mission is, beat off the armed enemy.
Take the height, confirm your position and report me the situation.
Comrade lieutenant. The second unit is ready.
The preparation for the mission is done.
Stand up.
Run, forward.
Forward, forward.
Forward.
The mission failed.
You are all corpses. You, you and you.
Cargo 200 in the black tulip.
Piece of shit in a zinc coffin.
The convoy that will go here …
… encounter the enemy’s ambush
Do you know what’s the meaning of one machine-gun?
Up there, on the height.
Huh!
Do you know?
Get up, dead men. Put on your helmets. Run down.
I said, run, run.
I wish to get to Afghanistan already.
Sparrow.
Whatcha want?
Take my dick to piss I’m so tired, can’t get up
Him‽ Nah …. He’ll overstrain himself.
Look, Snow White comes.
Come over here.
Snow White.
Snow White, come over here, sit with us.
Snow White, come here. Come over here. Don’t be afraid.
Dammit, now it’ll be hard till morning.
Who’s that?
Were you born yesterday? This is Snow White, the paramedic’s daughter.
Half of Afghanistan has fucked her.
They say she’s always hot. Even if she doesn’t like you, she fucks you.
There’s such a disease How you call it?
Get outa here, scholar.
Can you try to arrange it with her?
Why to try?
She’s non-refusable, just like Kalashnikov gun. Grab and go.
How we gonna get her through two sentinels?
No, Guys. I think it’s bullshit.
The previous call up leaving in couple of days.
And we will stay here for three months.
If you get caught—it’s your end.
Listen, Lutyi. Would you sleep with her after forty men have been with her?
No.
Me neither. It’s better to die than eat from garbage cans.
Yeah? I ate. I ate.
Have you ever been starving so bad, that you even can’t sleep?
So shut your fucking hole!
Our dinner was three spoons of carpenters glue.
After eating that, we were wandering around the city
Looking how you and your bitch sit there in a restaurant.
Hoping to get your leftovers after! Understand?
And the bitches I had were all like her I can’t have something else, fuck-face
Guys, stop it.
Shut up whelp! First smell a woman. Then talk.
Quiet, quiet.
How to be quiet? You don’t touch mine …
… and I won’t touch yours.
Pick from the garbage cans ….
Maybe she’s better than all of your rich sluts.
You bastard, one more word from you and you’ll eat shit. Got it?
Who is the Soviet paratrooper?
The Soviet paratrooper
Is the glory, power and pride of the military forces
Who is the Soviet paratrooper?
The Soviet paratrooper is the assurance of all units and people.
Who the hell are you?
We are the shame of all units and you personally.
Listen.
Listen, he is an idiot.
Nah. He’s cool I don’t get only one thing.
Why the first unit is always in the front?
Run with light equipment and have an hour to sit and smoke.
While we eat shit here.
We have done nothing bad.
Should be by turns. One time for them, one time for us.
Yes, it because their Lieutenant is sane.
And ours Dygalo is an idiot.
Making his ranks on us, bitch
No, he was hurt badly.
In the head.
He lost all of his men in Afghanistan.
He’s the only one who survived.
He’s been reassigned here.
But he writes letters to the minister, wants to go back.
But with his head injury Who needs him there?
So he’s going crazy on us.
We are in the deep shit guys.
Company get up!
Put on your uniform.
Stand in line.
Why do you move like you’re pregnant? I don’t get it!
What’s taking so long?
You are not soldiers, but pregnant cockroaches!
What’s the matter girls, is it heavy?
Is it because of your skirts?
What the hell is this line?
Dismissed.
Come on, help our cripples!
Get up.
How you are you going to fight like this?
Go back, clowns.
Take Chugainov up.
Run.
Go!
Dismissed.
Lower, lower!
Keep your ass lower, dammit!
Stand up.
Lower, Lower.
Raising your head like this is a gift for a sniper.
And your mothers get condolence letters then!
I said faster!
Faster!
Dismissed.
Turn back.
You screwed-up soldier. After dismissal, come to my office
Get up, Run.
Hold up your weapon.
Quick.
Second squad, come back.
Run back.
Lutaev, Ryabokon, pick up the soldier.
Remember, never leave your comrades behind.
Forward, I said forward
Ten minutes, rest.
Take it.
Shit-head.
Tell me Sparrow, I need to carry you like this every time?
I’ve got enough shit of my own
So, kill me, come on, kill me.
Sod off.
I can’t stand it anymore
Then fuck off, step forward and tell everyone, the ceremony is tomorrow.
Yeah, I will tell! What‽ You despise me‽
I don’t give a shit, I don’t care.
Olya’s waiting there for you, she can’t wait anymore.
Tomorrow I quit too, guys.
Got a letter from my mom.
It’s been a while already, she is sick.
If I die, then she has no one.
Didn’t want to quit first, like some scum-sucker.
Okay, guys, is there anyone else?
I heard from the first call-up …
… In Afghanistan you make one week out, Two at the base.
And here Dygalo will finish you even before you get to the war.
He’ll destroy you.
What do you say, Ryaba?
Sparrow, then we’re decided, yeah?
We quit together, okay?
Eyes to the centre, attention!
Comrade Colonel,
The regiment is ready.
—Hello, comrades paratroopers. —Salut, Comrade Colonel.
At ease.
Everyone of you, voluntarily.
Has made the decision to serve in Afghanistan.
Now I must ask you one question.
Is there anyone who has changed his mind?
I don’t ask why.
Your will be merely reassigned to another division.
Who doesn’t want to go to Afghanistan?
Thanks for your service.
For the Soviet Union.
Harder.
It ain’t no girl, but an iron gun
Kill him.
Don’t fear, kill, don’t fear.
You only have one strike to save your ass.
Crush the ribs, rip the guts.
Take ’em down.
Give it to me, like this, look.
Like this.
Right, kill him.
Come, soldier, kill him.
Kill.
Vorobiev.
Yes.
Come here.
Yes, Sir.
Stasenko.
Come, take off your weapon, put down your bag.
Come on.
Soldiers.
Take the stuff away.
Beat him, punch him in the face.
You are going to war, come on, son.
That’s how you’re gonna pet your girlfriend.
Punch his mug!
Full contact, quick! Both of you.
Sparrow, Hit first.
Yeah, that’s it.
Come on Sparrow.
Don’t back off, don’t fear.
One more try.
Get up.
Come on Sparrow, hold on.
Get up.
Come on, come on.
Come on, more.
Get up, warrior, punch him!
Finish him, Stas.
Get up, when he falls down, you must finish him.
Only dead men won’t shoot you in the back.
Sorry, Sparrow, forgive me.
Sparrow, good done.
Let’s continue.
Looks like plasticine.
Everybody touch it.
Touch it, feel it.
You see, it’s soft.
It can take any form.
Looks like a harmless toy, that everyone of you had.
Every one of you moulded, squirrels, rabbits.
But in a fact, in your hands …
… you hold a powerful weapon.
Plastic explosive.
Stas!
It has its chemical formula.
But we do not need to know this.
Plastic explosive is irreplaceable.
It’s a necessary item in equipment of every paratrooper.
The question, why.
First, in this condition
It’s absolutely safe, easy to store and always available …
… as they say, to hand.
But in war.
It is very efficient …
… and has enormous destructive power
But you’ve got to be skilled, in using it.
Warriors.
There are two simple rules.
First, the more you squeeze it, the more it powerful the explosion.
Number two, don’t stick it everywhere!
But by itself this thing won’t work.
For it to blow we need what?
Detonator.
Exactly.
We need to insert the detonator.
Your name soldier?
Private Petrovsky.
You screwed-up, soldier I’ve got to report you to your commander.
Come in.
Comrade Lieutenant, private Petrovsky.
Come in.
Well moulded, quite realistic.
Can you paint?
I learned painting.
A portrait, large.
I could.
I’m here …, The girl’s writing ….
We met before the war.
She wants my photo.
What am I gonna do? Send her a picture of this?
Can you, like … without it … more handsome?
Yes, I just need some time, couple of days.
I certainly won’t go to see her after war.
Just let her write for the meanwhile.
Attention!
Go!
Goddam tractor drivers ….
Eat this.
Look.
Pissed his pants
You laugh? My bed is under Sparrow’s bed.
So what, birdy, do I need to sleep with an umbrella now?
I don’t get it, soldier.
Did you see something?
Nothing, Sir.
And you?
I misunderstood, sir.
Then tell me what’s it all about!
I also wanna share your joy.
You can swallow your snot. Can call your mama.
Piss your pants, but your mission …
… must be accomplished, Die but do it, and he did it.
Turn back.
Basic knowledge of your communication with locals, …
… you can get from this.
But …
… the first thing, you should remember when you cross the border.
Is that you’re in a Muslim state.
Islam is not merely another religion.
It’s another world which has its own laws.
Another approach to life and death.
A Muslim isn’t afraid to die fighting the infidel, in other words—us.
If he gets killed he goes straight to heaven.
Where all he was missing in this life, is waiting for him.
Water.
The fruits in the garden, beautiful maids.
How Muslims treat women it’s another topic.
The most important holy thing for muslim is his house, Ḥarām.
From which derived the word Harem.
The second meaning of it: “forbidden”, “prohibited”.
Looking at the muslim women is Ḥarām.
Everything regarding sexual intercourse is Ḥarām.
Ḥarām to show a muslim indecent gestures.
Those you all are so used to.
For this you can get a bullet even from a common peasant.
Another important thing, a Muslim will never profane his house with blood.
That means when you enter their village, you are their guests.
To kill a guest, even an infidel—Ḥarām.
So, you must remember this one.
As long as you’re in the village, you are safe.
But after you leave the village.
The same man, who’s been drinking tea with you five minutes ago.
May shoot you in the back.
Because it is a glory to kill an infidel.
It is a stairway to heaven.
I’m saying this for you, soldier.
Ah …
Afghanistan is a multinational country.
Over 20 nations live there.
Tajiks, Turkmen, Uzbeks.
Pashtuns live along the Pakistani border.
In the north, live the Hazāra and Mongols.
The word Hazāra means one thousand in Persian.
Am I boring you, soldier?
Comrade Captain, Does it matter who you shoot?
During the whole of history.
No one has ever succeeded in conquering Afghanistan.
No one, ever.
Squad, Get up.
What are we doing in Afghanistan?
Fulfilling our international obligation of helping our Afghan brothers
to resist the aggression of imperialism.
Fire!
Private Ryabokon, done!
Private Chugainov, done!
Right, down.
You pull the trigger too sharp
Very dense, but too high Breath slowly.
Okay.
Have you ever shot before?
No sir, I’m a painter, I have a very accurate eye.
Over here.
Okay.
Give him.
Private, Vorobiev.
Yes.
Put down the gun and come here.
Yes, sir!
Here. Put it there.
Yes, sir!
Run!
Oh, cool, Gioconda!
Cool!
Listen, Gioconda, tell me honestly.
Why did you come to Afghanistan?
You could sit at the headquarters and draw. They even offered you.
You won’t understand.
So make it simple.
Simple?
Do you see the tank over there?
Beautiful, isn’t it? What power!
And nothing superfluous, not a thing.
Weapons are the most beautiful,
the most beautiful thing that mankind has created.
So what?
There was an artist named Michelangelo, in the renaissance.
One day, someone asked him how he sculpts his works.
He said, very simple, I just take a rock and get rid of the superfluous parts.
Understand? Beauty is something without anything superfluous.
Without any crap.
In war, there is only life
and death, nothing superfluous.
War itself is a beauty.
Listen, Gioconda, I don’t understand you.
Are you a fool or what?
What is so beautiful?
When guts are twisted around the tank tracks?
You think it’s kids play?
I said you won’t understand
Fuck you, freak!
Guys, letters.
Calm down!
Stasenko, it is mine.
What day is today?
Wednesday. Third!
Sparrow, mine.
Lutaev, mine.
Suvorov, me!
Ryabokon.
That’s it.
That’s it?
My friends asked me out to a disco.
But I will not go without you because I love you!
Give it to me!
But tonight I found two nice boys ….
You fucking got tough—bitch, motherfucker.
Come on! Come on!
Come on, sparrow!
Ah …
Attention, soldiers!
Stand at attention! You screwed soldiers!
You two come to me later.
Very good!
Very good, man.
Stand at attention!
Turn back and march!
March!
Okay, guys. Listen carefully!
March steady. Don’t fan out.
To the top of this rock.
Sparrow, Stas and Ryaba, you guys hold their legs and push them over.
I don’t give a fuck how, even bite ’em
Pinochet, Chugun, Gioconda, you guys come with me.
All come with me!
March!
Be steady!
Hooray.
All squads, stand up!
Stand up, I said!
Come out, lie down!
All down on the floor.
Creep, I order you!
Creep quickly! All! What?
What did you say? I don’t understand.
Stand up.
I don’t understand what someone said.
Who said? Who?
Who said? I don’t know.
Who?
Is it you?
I don’t know who said.
Who said?
I don’t know.
Go there, you!
Do you want to tell me?
Tell me. Tell me what you know Tell to my ears!
Whisper, I will forgive you.
All of you! Come on, I’m alone.
Come on, you and me. No one will know.
Are there some normal people here?
Or just fucking freaks?
Was it a bad dream?
Aha! Maybe I dreamt something.
Looks like a breakdown.
Wait! I heard that he wrote a request again to headquarters.
He wanted to go to Afghanistan with us.
He was refused.
Hold on. Who’s there?
What are you doing? Stay where you are!
Come on, quickly! Silent!
Hold this.
Is there any pot left?
Hush!
Heh! She sings again!
Did you see it! she comes like a machine gun.
Guys, Dygalo won’t be looking for us?
Nope!
Why?
Because ….
Lutyi, I thought I smelled something good!
Something left?
Take ….
I’m gonna fuck tonight so hard, that I won’t get hard for the next year-and-a-half.
Man, let’s smoke some more.
Ah, Sparrow, bird!
You know how we used to smoke in orphanage?
Like Gypsies. One joint for all. Wanna see?
Show me.
Look, what they doing!
Hey, guys, you are so good. I love you all.
Bird had enough! Don’t give him more.
Otherwise we’ll need to cary him again.
Alright.
I’m going.
Tell me, are you a man?
No really, tell me, are you a man or what?
Let’s not, Oleg.
What?
I have a girl, Olya, you know how she is.
Ah, Olya.
So love your Olya. Everyone has his Olya.
We all have, but do you remember what you were?
Now you’ve become a real man, but there’s one last test left.
You must, bird. You gotta!
It’s not a resort we are going to
maybe this your last chance.
You can’t go to war a virgin.
It’s a man thing, understand?
Come on, Sparrow, go for it, come on.
Maybe she doesn’t want me.
Are you a fool‽ She likes you the most.
Really? You kidding me.
I swear, ask the boys. I am not kidding.
C’mon c’mon, go!
She has seen you many times at the camp.
But you paid no attention, she felt hurt.
No, I can’t do this before you all.
Well, drink in the meantime, I’ll be back.
Are you so special?
Better than others, I don’t get it!
Shut up, I’ll explain you later.
You need help Sparrow? Want me to hold your legs.
Sparrow, just go.
Go fight! Take the sword out!
If I don’t come back.
Say, he died bravely.
Warriors, forward.
Stas, what’s the matter?
Why are you so sad?
I miss my family, toss me one.
It’s scary a little, isn’t it?
Honestly, without any bullshit.
Scary.
Not to die ….
If it happens fast, It’s not that scary.
The worst thing is if you get crippled.
When I was in Tashkent, I went to that hospital, and some soldiers were there.
The whole ward.
Each one occupies only half a bed ….
I knew a guy who came from the battlefield.
He is good, except his bladder is cut by splinter.
He’s got a pipe coming from his stomach, and a bag tied to a leg.
They call him bagpipes ….
What’s up with Sparrow? Is he sleeping or reading books?
Wait, I’m going to see.
You are brutes! Understand, animals!
You all are like animals, don’t care with whom and where.
I can’t do like this, You all are animals.
I wanted it to be good ….
What are you looking at?
Have anyone told you that you are very beautiful?
Are you in love with me? So marry me, and they will come visit us.
You must know it, you are so beautiful.
Are you an idiot?
Artist.
Aphrodite.
Aphrodite, coming from the sea!
Aphrodite!
Goddess of beauty!
The sea washes away all the sins!
Eternal purity!
Goddess!
Everyone worship her!
On your knees, you freaks!
Guys, I love you.
Rank.
Comrades …. At ease.
We’ll ….
Turn left.
Run towards the plane, move.
Krasnoyarsk.
Is there someone from Krasnoyarsk?
Krasnoyarsk.
I am.
Where are you from?
Kraza.
And I’m from Yershovka, my countryman!
Just stay cool.
Okay.
I got back, you’ll come back too.
Here, this is an amulet.
Take this.
Four tours, 28 missions, and not a scratch.
Wear this, don’t take it off, do you understand.
Yes.
Countryman, don’t take it off.
Then pass it to others when you come back, just wear it.
Aye.
What’s your name?
Oleg, and you?
Kolya.
Look there, guys.
Commander, from the right.
No brakes.
Keep it steady.
Help me.
—Melkumov. —Yes.
—Sitroylov. —Yes.
—Ryabokon. —Yes.
—Vanifatiev. —Yes.
—Demchenko. —Yes.
—Bekbulatov. —Yes.
Go to the Fourth Company, follow me.
Bye, guys.
Take care, bye.
So long, man, bye.
So what’s your story, junkies, alcoholics, and sex maniacs.
You are in the Ninth Company.
Follow me.
Oh, fresh meat is coming.
Get hanged, ghosts.
Attention.
Stand at attention.
Warriors, congratulations for coming to the Valiant Ninth Company.
I don’t get it, Warriors.
Welcome …
… To …
… The Ninth …
… Company.
Hooray, hooray, hooray.
Fuck it Hohol. Take them outside and wank them there.
I am Lieutenant Pogrebnyak, Forget all you’ve known.
Here you aren’t bad and aren’t good. Here, you’re nothing.
Yes, brothers, we’ve already heard it in some other place.
I will be on you day and night, until you become good soldiers.
Is that clear?
Yes, Comrade Lieutenant.
Huh?
Yes, Comrade Lieutenant.
That’s good.
Private Chugainov.
Why is it so gnawed?
This machine gun is Samyilin’s, He heroically died.
He killed eight ghosts by it.
And got a medal.
It’s scratched a bit, because he died of a grenade.
It’s not such a big deal, Glue it.
The barrel is skewed, How am I gonna shoot?
You are very lucky, dumbass.
This gun is special.
You should feel proud, instead you’re bitching here.
Comr …. Solder! Sign here!
Turn left, move.
Who was your former commander?
First Lieutenant Dygalo.
Sashka ….
I thought he retired. He slept there.
Been screaming whole night long, going to a combat, no one could sleep.
Then they took him to the hospital. To Tashkent I guess.
Aha.
Was a good guy, joyful, Used to laugh a lot.
He had some illness, hey doc, how’d you call it?
It is called contusion.
I thought you’d say something clever what a dickhead.
Oh, shut up!
Is that Snow White girl still there?
Snow White’s there.
Say, painter.
Is this good?
More or less.
Some boy here made it by memory.
Listen, Hohol.
Pomidor—this son of a bitch, gave him broken Samylin’s gun.
And the new one probably washed out and sold ….
What? He trades weapons?
Some die at war, and some profits from it.
Sir, I heard that we’ll go into combat in two or three days, is that right?
Not combat, but we go out, our mission is occupying a height.
Hold the line of defence, protecting our convoys.
Is this all?
Yes, what did you think, that it’s Stalingrad here?
He’s so monumental, I’d make him a statue of bronze.
Kagraman.
What?
Kag·ra·man.
Dushmans call him so.
It means angry giant.
Our commander is the only one in the whole Afghanistan
whose been nominated for hero three times.
But each time he returns from a combat He beats shit out of some brass hat.
They don’t take him to the martial court, though.
But he ain’t getting his star.
Afanasyi, who are them?
These are the Green.
Afghanistan Army, Damn Allies.
There is nothing worse than working with them.
When it gets a little tough, they run.
While you think they’re covering your flank, they’re far behind.
Three kilometres away.
We got surrounded once because of them assholes.
Where does the Dushman territory begin?
After the block station.
There they are.
They say “Russians are our friends and brothers”
But when the night falls they dig out their guns.
And go “Allāhu Akbar”, and shit.
So do not rush to join this war kids. You’ll get it anyway.
You probably already made. a bet who kills a ghost first.
Of course.
Bet what?
A Marlboro pack.
Ill add another one.
Who was the first then, Lieutenant?
Samylin, He killed the first ghost.
He also left first, in the zinc, What remained of him, the pieces we could gather.
There they are, savages.
The Frontier Guard.
We’ll drop some ammo and food and go on.
You gonna take it with you?
Of course.
And when it grows?
Take it with me ….
And eat it?
What am I? A Korean?
Is it good?
Good.
Has it fermented yet?
Sure, With a sun like this Better than a Crimean winery.
Let’s get five litres or so, for the kids.
So, boys, Let’s drink for our encounter. Okay.
Say, what are the girls wearing now?
He hasn’t been out for half a year yet.
Well, dresses and jeans.
I know that they not wearing helmets, I asked …
… what kind of dresses, describe to me in detail.
This summer, they’ve got those skirts …
… totally transparent against the sun.
You can see their legs, so charming.
Like this?
No, longer.
It’s kinda broad.
Waves in all directions.
A little breeze, and everybody grabs their skirts.
And Gorbachev? I’ve been listening to the radio.
Couldn’t understand a thing. Perestroika and stuff ….
What do people say?
Hey won’t you shut up? I’m trying to have a conversation here.
So, she walks, the skirt’s waving to-and-fro.
To-and-fro.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Just like that?
Just like that.
I’ll be damned.
How long have you all been here?
Year-and-a-half.
15 months.
Look, I can count without you. Stupid Ukrainian.
The only good thing to do with you is eat shit. You won’t let me open my mouth.
Calling me stupid Ukrainian‽ And who the hell are you? Barbarian!
Only yesterday out of a cave.
Here was your first time you’ve seen a toilet.
If you keep pissing me off like this I’ll fucking piss you ….
Hey, hey fellows! Break it up!
Be quiet, let’s drink to our discharge.
Moscow time is 22:00, We begin our program by your requests.
So gentlemen. Let’s go shooting.
Get down.
Hello.
Hello, guys.
—What’s up? Are they moving? —Moving.
How many of them? Five or six, I don’t know.
Above the “tortoise”, 30 metres left from the “big tooth”.
Right under the “elephant”.
Here they are.
Ladies and gentlemen Make yourself comfortable ….
Beside your radios. —They are five.
Ahmed.
Ahmed, is that you?
Ashet! As-salāmu ʿalaykumm my dear.
Ahmed! You’re still alive? You worthless shit eater.
Fucking whore, fart sniffer.
I’m gonna kill you now.
Ashet! Me your guts cut, your throat strangle.
Me your mother “fuk”, Your father “fuk” brother, sister “fuk”.
Your “dik” hasn’t grown yet ….
Fire ….
And now your favourite tune, by AC/DC, bring it on.
They’re leaving.
Thank you for choosing our program, see you next time.
Let’s go fellas.
Halt! Halt! Halt!
—Lesha? —Volodya.
Voloda, salāmu Voloda.
Are you Ahmed?
Ahmed yes.
Me go soon. You is no wait long.
Very soon.
Business Tashkent? Papa, mama Tashkent?
Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Oh, cold.
Girl have Siberia? Love?
—How call? —Olya, —Olya? Pretty?
Yes, very.
Me too, have pretty Fatima.
Very much love.
Bride? —Yes, bride.
Next village.
Bride, wife, love.
Voloda.
Me go.
Soon, go.
Voloda.
You shot? Where did he come from? Look!
These ghosts got some nerve to come here like this.
—This is Ahmed. —Say, Patephone, he’s your pal, right? —Cut it out!
Stinking freak, let me see his face at last.
He killed three of our men, Bitch.
Well, congratulations! Let’s make a mark on the butt.
This is yours, Sparrow.
Farewell, our dear friend, we won’t be seeing you again.
But the memory of you will remain in our hearts forever.
Let’s go, guys.
Convoy, stop.
Arrived.
The train has reached its final destination, please clear the carriages.
—Rock —Rock
Come on.
Occupy the height, and strengthen the line.
Come here, —Rock.
Unit one, I am unit nine.
Unit one, I am unit nine, I’m in the position.
Freeze, two steps back.
What’s up freak? Are you walking with your girl in the park? Huh? Don’t look under your feet?
Don’t you see? There’s a petal.
The worst mine of all.
It’s ours, the ghosts don’t have them.
We plant them, and then we blow up on them.
If you step on it—your feet are gone.
Step back all.
The Paktyia province, Hill 3234, day 181
Bring a big one.
Get that rock there.
Pile here
Come on, come on.
There, put it there.
On the right! —Fire to the canyon!
It’s us!
Salut, Comrade Captain.
Look.
—It’s our Ryaba. —Fellas take the soldier.
The far cordon’s been wiped out, Only he survived.
Ryaba ….
First.
First, affirmative.
Second. —Second affirmative.
First. —First, affirmative.
Second. —Second, affirmative.
I’m sor … I’m sor ….
I’m sorry. —What? What’s up, Stas?
Had a nightmare?
Get up, bitch.
You know how it happens? Huh?
They come here, right here, and knife, knife 30 kids.
One by one, knife.
Cut like this, Stas; from ear to ear, like they were slaughtering pigs.
Because of one motherfucker like you That fell asleep on his watch, Stas.
This is not a school! This is battlefield It’s not an “F” you getting here! Here you get killed!
Take this piece of shit away.
Vorobiev! Take his place. —Aye.
Afanasyi Kurbashi, with me.
The Paktyia province, Hill 3234, day 210
—Cool. —Listen, draw one for me too.
Come on.
—Gioconda! —Yes
—Hohol is calling you. —I’ll finish when I get back
Comrade Lieutenant private Petrovsky has fulfilled your command
Look at this ace.
And this …
Gimme the money, dickhead
—You’re two minutes late, have you got it? —Yes
—I don’t get it —Are you sneering me? —No sir, no one’s got it
—It’s all that’s left. —Do you know when the next supply comes?
In one day? Two? Maybe a week? How long are we gonna be here?
You have one hour to get me two full match boxes, clear? (5 rubles)
—Where am I gonna get them? —I don’t give a shit!
—Find, steal, make! Is my order clear, soldier? —Yes, sir
Go
—Once more. —Okay, dumb-fuck.
Stas, got any matches?
Bachar! Bachar!
Halt!
I said stop, bastard.
Halt!
Hey, bachar.
Bachar.
Halt!
Matches, understand, matches, matches.
Me …. For you …. This.
Tasty, tasty, me, this, for you, tasty.
You, for me, matches.
Forbidden. Forbidden.
Ḥarām.
Forbidden.
Walk, walk.
Get here, who allowed you to leave the position?
Being a fucking hero? You’ll be punished.
—Aye, Comrade Captain. —Picasso, God dammit.
What took so long? We were ready to storm the village.
Have you got it?
Very good.
Your country will not forget you.
They’re coming!
How many ….
Ghosts!
Fire.
Get ready to fight.
Arrow, arrow.
This is falcon.
Do you read?
Over.
Arrow, do you read?
Over!
From the left!
Cover me!
Don’t, don’t!
No!
There they are.
Curbashi! Cover me!
Behind the rocks!
No!
No ….
Stas, take the Captain.
Sparrow, Lutyi, Gioconda come with me!
Kurbashi, Grab him.
Pull back!
Fellas, me first!
Get down.
I said get down!
Sparrow, get down!
Let’s go.
Get down.
Hold it!
Oh! Sparrow ….
Where’s your gun?
Let’s go, they are in the village.
Hohol, the centre is yours.
I’ll come from the right.
Got it.
Go!
Chugun, Curbashi, the right yard.
Stas, Lutyi—go straight.
Where’s that?
Stas.
Where the hell did you go? What were you thinking?
Stop shooting!
Stop.
It’s okay, it’s okay.
It hurts, of course it hurts, but it’s okay.
Hohol, let’s pull back.
The artillery is about to strike.
Where the hell you going?
Hold on, hold on, Kurbashi!
Come here, Stas got wounded, quick.
Come on, pull back.
Stas, Don’t close your eyes.
Everything will be okay.
Stas, hold on.
Stas.
Don’t close your eyes, Stas, look at me.
Afghanistan, day 237
Let’s go.
Catch.
Look, what they doing, dammit!
Okay, let’s go.
Hey you, what the hell are you shooting?
Guys, get down.
What freaks, huh?
Your own soldiers will shoot you for a box of canned meat a months before discharge.
Discharge for you, is like walking to China backwards.
—Me and Kurbashi gonna pack soon, —Guys, we shouldn’t have ….
It’s not right, maybe they needed to deliver it to some garrison.
—Yeah, right, teach us how to live. —Guys, do you know what kinda man is Sparrow?
—Tell ’em, bird. —I should feel embarrassed?
—I went to college, studied philology. —Sparrow is a teacher
—Why is it so funny? —If I got you in school ….
—Teachers were afraid to come to our class. —How many guys you were at the course?
—Three. —And girls?
—You probably had all of them, huh? —Come on, guys,
He’s got his Olya
I swear, I’ll visit you especially, just to meet this Olya. What’s so special about her?
Wait, what you saying is ….
Sparrow gonna stand with a pointer near the board, like some woodpecker.
It’s clear regarding Gioconda.
—Kurbashi will lice people. —No I won’t, I had enough of this shit.
I’ll be a vet, horses, sheep.
What about you Hohol? Whatcha wanna do after you leave Afghanistan?
—Drink. —Yeah, sure, for a week or so, but after that?
Drink again.
—And then? —Still drink.
Till I forget all this.
Then I’ll rise, wash my mug.
And start a new life, if I can.
The Paktyia province, Hill 3234, day 267
Faster bird, because of you we’ve missed the New Year, by Krasnoyarsk time.
It’s okay, in Vladivostok they’re all rolling drunk already.
—Say, Chugun! —What?
What have you done to the booze?
—Nothing. —So where is it?
—I forgot it, —Yeah right, forgot. You intended to drink it all alone, under the blanket.
—Brothers!
—Pinochet.
Pinochet! Pinochet!
Fellas!
Hello, drop it here.
—How did you get here? —I’ve been reassigned to your unit. —Why? What you done?
—I broke some motherfucker’s teeth. —He said, you chew like a pig.
You see, for us, muslims, the Pig is an impure animal we might kill for such words.
—Give me a drink. —It’s a pure alcohol.
Go ahead.
Let me introduce.
Afanasyi, frightening man.
Kurbashi, medic.
This is Hohol.
For some Hohol … and for others Comrade Lieutenant.
Come on, man, he’s one of us, Dygalo’s disciple.
Hello.
Well, let’s sit down, fellas.
—Pour it …. —Guys! Gorbachev’s speech starts! Turn up the volume.
For the passing year.
Let all the bad things stay behind.
Come on, Pour the second right now.
—For discharge. —Hooray, Hooray!
This year we discharge, guys.
Pour what’s left!
Brothers, the third toast
To our fallen comrades.
To Samylin To Nikita Balashov, To Potap.
To Ryaba, to Bold, to Kostyan.
In short, for all those who didn’t make it.
To Stas
Troopers! —Come on! Yeah! Hooray!
Wake up! Dude!
Guys! Ghosts!
Get ready to fight, company!
—Radio the Falcon, quick. —Ammo, Chugun!
It’s a major bummer! These bastards gonna fight to the fucking last one of ’em.
Come to me!
Don’t let them close.
Come on.
—Shoot, Shoot. —We have two wounded
Where’s Gioconda?
Bastards!
—They pulling back. —Mortars … incoming!
Get down.
Falcon! Falcon!
Where’s the Captain?
Sparrow!
—Sparrow! —Aye.
—Get to the Captain’s dugout! —They all drunk as a skunks in there.
Get the mortar!
In the crevice, among the rocks, 150.
Aye 150.
Fire!
Excellent—you hit it!
Get the wounded here!
—Captain’s down. —Are there any officers alive?
Anybody?
—Company, listen to me. Figh ….
—They are coming. —Get ready.
Come to me!
They’re running, hold the centre.
Don’t let them get any closer.
For nothing. No one is there.
Don’t waste the rockets, we might need them later.
They must come sometime.
If we haven’t made contact all day.
Seryoga ….
Why do they use only the machine guns?
It seems they ran out of mortars.
But they got plenty of R.P.G.s.
They’ll save them for the convoy won’t spend them on us.
Meanwhile.
Hey, Russian! Come out! Alive be.
Be patient, it won’t be long.
Our troops will come here soon.
The choppers will take us
to Tashkent.
There is good, warm.
Nurses in white coats.
—How long we sit here? —Three hours.
They’ll start soon.
Get down!
They’re firing grenades!
Fire!
Kurbashi! Get Kurbashi here!
Kurbashi!
Allāhu Akbar!
Crawl over here, Sparrow!
Go, go.
Sparrow, crawl.
Sparrow!
Is there anyone alive?
Fellas, any ghosts left?
All clear here.
Bastards!
Enough. It’s over. Everything is over. Enough.
Is there any officer alive?
—Is there? —No.
Listen to my command.
Number off.
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
Go get all the ammo that left.
—I have two rockets. —I’ve a half magazine.
Two grenades.
Shit. It ain’t enough for even one attack.
They start again.
They’re going to attack. —We are fucked ….
Company get ready.
Listen to my order.
Forward.
Our troops!
Comrade Colonel. the Ninth Company has accomplished the mission.
The convoy may pass securely.
There’ll be no convoy, we are leaving.
Comrade Colonel, we hold the height.
The convoy may pass.
Can you hear me, son? Doesn't the radio work?
Why don’t you understand? Can you hear me?
Asshole!
Afghanistan, Chaugani, 9th February, 1989
We were leaving Afghanistan.
We, the Ninth Company. Have won our own war.
Back then, we hadn’t known a lot of things.
We hadn’t known, that two years later the country we had been fighting for will vanish.
And wearing the medals of a non-existent country will become unfashionable.
We hadn’t known that Lieutenant Dygalo would stay in the army.
And train recruits somewhere near Tula.
He will die of a stroke, a year later. During a night march.
We hadn’t known that Snow White, with her mother and lots of other Russian families.
Would stay in the abandoned army city on the Afghan border and disappear.
And we ourselves will be scattered ruthlessly, by a new life.
Some to the top, and some to the very bottom.
None of this we had known then.
We even hadn’t known that we were simply forgotten in confusion of the army’s withdraw.
On that remote height.
We were leaving Afghanistan …
the Ninth Company
We, we won.
This film is based on events that took place on 8th January, 1988 in Paktyia province, Hill 3234