Is everything under control?
There must be no mistakes.
Our big test is coming up.
- Jan. - Yes?
Have we got pictures of the houses, the hovels and the ruins?
Yes, even those that are gone.
Good. Powerful images.
- Has the water been pumped? - It's been done, sir.
Good. What time did you get up, Jan?
Half past four, sir.
I hope you'll be able to get up later now.
- What is this list? - People attending the meeting.
Cross him off. Him too. I don't want to see them here.
Have you seen this, sir?
What's this?
Who wrote this?
Keep that journalist out of here.
- Jan. - Yes?
- Will the people outside come? - Yes.
They're coming of their own accord. They want this, too.
Think I don't know it? We're working for them.
They want it, but you'll have to get them here.
That's your job, see to it.
Quickly, in rows of four.
Here, four by four.
IN THE LEADING ROLE
FROM THE SHORT STORY BY ROMUALD KARAS
SCREENPLAY BY ROMUALD KARAS AND KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI
DIRECTED BY KRZYSZTOF KIESLOWSKI
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SLAWOMIR IDZIAK
Let's go to the town.
THE SCAR
Five provinces want this factory
and there have been dozens of commissions.
The decision must be made soon.
I have some pictures to show you.
You can see from the photos
how people are living in this town.
They need a place to work.
Our province has always lost out
on industrial development.
This is our big chance, we can't let it go.
Not everyone agrees.
An article in this paper criticises the location.
We must take public opinion into account.
Have you read it?
No. Public opinion, you say?
Here.
This is what they're saying.
Come look, Comrade.
The Minister should see this too,
and so should all those who lecture us about the beauty of nature.
Everyone wants work in the factory.
They need work. Look at them...
...and look at the photos.
- Is this my coffee? - Yes.
Congratulations on the window idea.
We will build here, and soon.
Comrade, who will be the director?
Has that been decided yet?
I don't want to...
Excuse me, Comrade. My colleague Lech.
- Have we met before? - Yes.
We have a local man in mind.
Someone with great experience.
Sure. What's his name?
- Hello. - Good morning.
- Did they play well? - Yes, you know how they are.
- What was the score? - They lost.
No, the director won't be in today.
Your plane ticket to Warsaw.
They called.
- Do I need to take anything? - No, just yourself.
- How long for? - They didn't say.
- Did you ask? - Yes.
Stefan!
- You're here? - Hello.
- Changed jobs? - No, I'm still there.
How do you like it in Silesia?
They forecast rain and it's fine.
It did rain a bit.
Listen, this is important and it's my baby, as usual.
You haven't changed.
Well, listen to this. Prepare yourself, this is big.
Go ahead.
You'll be the appointed to Olecko.
- Really? - Yes.
We're late for the meeting, your plane was delayed.
Why did Eva come?
It's only for a few days.
She must rest.
She's not well.
An abortion?
That girl!
Stefan, calm down.
What about the Warsaw trip?
Olecko.
I'm not going there. I don't want to go back.
No one there is going to remember an event from 20 years ago.
Don't kid yourself. They'll remember.
- I won't go back. - I'll set the record straight.
We'll set the record straight.
Listen, if you did the wrong thing...
No.
- If you... - No, it's not that.
If people remember...
I did the right thing.
What about the dog?
I'll take him.
Who set you on me?
Come on, sir.
You know how it is.
I've got stories to cover
and this is a big one.
It's really huge.
Yes, it's big.
The thing is, I'd like to...
I'd like to go about it a bit differently. Let's just talk.
- Talk frankly... - Go ahead.
...about your problems, your difficulties.
Yes, frankly...
Plans always work on paper
but the reality can be tough.
Are you recording?
Then we'd better put it differently.
- Right. Cut. - Don't you agree?
Cut.
This isn't a feature film, no second takes.
Have you researched this area?
My uncle, Professor Michta, lives here.
I know him.
All right. Can I start?
Fine.
We are at a vast new building site.
A few months ago, it was forest.
Now the area is swarming with construction workers, bulldozers.
This is Stefan Bednarz, director of the project.
What do you consider to be most important here?
This is a great opportunity for the region.
Olecko is a lovely, historic town,
but it's been rather overlooked.
Tolo, look.
Only two months ago, the woodcutter lived on the edge of the forest.
Those trees are two centuries old, right?
The price of civilisation.
I've been in these parts before.
Six miles from here there's nothing but sand.
Six miles from here it's another province.
This place was underdeveloped, they hadn't invested enough here.
My God, where are we going?
I think speaking one's mind is excellent,
but your fears are unfounded.
Be patient and trust us.
Things are difficult and rather rushed,
but this development is useful and valid.
All that sounds fine, but why wasn't this discussed before?
Why wasn't there an open competition?
The factory's being built, but what are you doing for our town?
Do you have more projects with this architect?
We don't want them. We prefer our old town.
We see the harm you're doing.
Just walk around the Dzialki district.
Everything's being destroyed there.
Houses are being flattened.
Everything people worked on for their old age,
their gardens, their trees, everything's being destroyed.
I do understand, but we're talking about infrastructure.
What infrastructure?
That 1,600 feet of piping that's old and too narrow anyway?
Houses used to stand there. You demolished them in two days!
Citizens, your comments
are rather personal, lack perspective,
ignoring the wider social issues, the town's development.
You're airing personal grievances.
Don't insult us!
- Calm down! - This is the purpose of this meeting.
Order, please!
Straight to the point, sir!
Mr Chairman, citizens.
I must express my surprise and disappointment.
A forest of over 20,000 acres is being affected.
Before it has even been built, the factory is devastating the area.
What about water?
Some wells have been drilled, causing drought in the area.
These are facts.
Park over there.
Why Olecko? Why our town?
The somewhat questionable merit
isn't yours, Mr Chairman, no.
Director Bednarz is responsible.
He is no ordinary engineer and technocrat.
He's another breed, a genuine humanist.
He wants the town to flourish,
but he forgets one thing.
That he's won't last forever, and after he's gone,
he might be replaced by a pig-headed technocrat
with a philistine mentality,
who will destroy everything he worked for,
like the theater, for instance, and all that.
I've studied your face, Mr Chairman.
It's that of a self-satisfied man,
convinced he's doing the best for everyone.
So I'd like to ask you
if you've been paying attention
to what we are saying.
What is it?
Yes, Lech is with me, but he's very busy.
You'll have to sort it out yourself.
Well, Stasio?
I know there's been trouble between you two,
conflicts even,
but that was 20 years ago.
It doesn't concern me. It's your business.
Do I have to spell it out to you?
You know about it, I can't go into it.
I won't mince my words, Stasio.
I need you to work in Bednarz's team.
Is that you?
Who?
It's you.
Come on, come on.
- Good day, Director! - Hello.
The Chairman knew you were coming.
He's had the whole house cleaned up for you.
Just look.
Everything all right?
You used to live here, didn't you? Old memories, eh?
- Going upstairs? - No, I didn't plan to.
Tell my assistant to join me on the site.
Mr Bednarz?
- You sent for me? - Yes. Now listen.
Some young sociologists are on their way.
They'll be conducting surveys, questioning people
about the change in the town's character, changing mentalities.
They can get their PhDs,
but I need information on the general mood.
A deal with them?
You got me wrong.
I want information, not denunciations.
I want figures and trends.
- Arrange a dinner with them. - Right.
Is that all, sir?
Put them on the payroll. Pay them well.
Get them started right away.
What do you want? Why here?
Over my dead body!
Go on, crush me!
Crush me!
I won't let you through.
Stop! Stop the work!
Stop!
- I won't let you through! - Please get down, sir.
- Calm down. I've stopped the work. - I won't let you through!
I say no!
- We've stopped. - Sir, journalists...
- Were you filming? - No, I'm on my own today.
- Hello. - Hello. Thank God!
Break it up, please.
- In the future, let me know. - What's the point?
I said to let me know.
May he have a long life
A long, long life
Welcome, dear Director!
At last! Welcome.
It's just us here.
You know Jan, and Lech from Transport,
the chief architect, the director of agriculture,
the public prosecutor.
The work's going well.
The guest bedrooms are upstairs.
And here's something simply splendid...
The bathroom!
Sorry, Komorek. Don't mind us.
Fully tiled, very nice indeed.
This is our project.
It's a bad location.
- Mr Chairman! - Excuse me.
See, it even eats cigarettes.
Mr Chairman, take look at this.
It's no good.
You're funding it, though.
Yes, but it's your housing project. You're the construction manager.
We'll be blamed for it afterwards.
- Cigarettes... - OK, OK.
Only a few old houses are affected.
They're people's homes.
You've made a big mistake.
Maybe, but it doesn't change anything.
If we don't build here, we'll waste a year.
You'll need that housing for 3,000 people in six months.
- I'll manage. - How? You promised housing.
I'll transport people in buses.
We can build roads instead of houses.
Lech!
Lech is head of municipal transport.
Stasio, how are the roads after all this rain?
Right now, 55% of the roads are unusable.
- A drink? - Yes, please.
Let's drop the subject now. Drink up.
Dear Director, can we use our first names?
Of course.
- I'm Bolek. - I'm Stefan.
What are they doing?
She ate my whole pack.
But she won't say hello.
We have to get to know each other.
Let's have a drink with Lech.
We know each other.
- My cigarettes! - Son of a bitch!
- You don't want Lech? - Sure I do. Cheers.
FURNITURE
Which one is mine?
There.
Here we are.
Hello. You're moving in, I see.
This is the kitchen.
Bathroom. Your bedroom.
Your wife's bedroom.
And here's your study.
We can put a door in and join the two flats.
- What's next door? - Just two small rooms.
- Very good. - Sure is!
- Have you got the keys to it? - Sure.
- It's tiny. - It will do fine for me.
Just one thing. Can you fit some blinds?
I want to set up a darkroom.
No problem. There are lots at the school.
- Can you? - What slobs!
I'll have it all cleaned up. Well?
I'll take it.
Shall we go?
You go, I'll stay.
- I'm at home. - Bye now.
- Hello. - Hello. How's it going?
We're managing, Minister.
I hear you don't want Stanislav Lech?
The municipality is for him. So are we.
Don't be stubborn about it.
Can't I choose my own deputy?
The municipality doesn't want him, they're dumping him on me.
Two coffees.
Why say that?
Be discreet about it. It's a question of tactics.
Do I have to teach you that?
I've heard that your TV appearances are not being well received.
They don't want a motorway across the park,
or new houses in an old town.
Public opinion.
Don't make things hard for yourself.
But to get back to Lech...
His presence in the factory isn't a compromise, it's wise.
Aren't there more important matters?
Yes, that's the point.
Your coffee, Minister.
Your tea, sir.
Your phone is ringing. Shall I put you through?
- Not now. - Why not? Go ahead.
Feel free.
Excuse me.
Eva? It's Dad.
I want to see you. Are you free?
Let's say at six o'clock at the Kameralna.
Hello, Dad.
How are you?
You're hard to reach, Eva.
Don't call me there again, Dad.
Here's my new number.
Your new number...
44...
84...
73.
- How's the dog? - Fine.
This is your fourth number.
It's no way to live.
You have to know what you want.
What about you?
You change your work, your town, your house, acquaintances.
I don't know.
You leave Mum on her own. Is that the way to live?
She didn't want to come with me.
You don't understand her.
She just didn't want to.
You won't remember those days, but we didn't leave there on a whim.
Your mother ran the Party branch at the high school.
They fired Lech, a teacher.
Some small farms had been split up.
Times were different then.
We left in '56. So many years ago.
Mum still dwells on it.
You should see her point.
- Can you find her a job? - Whenever she likes.
In the same school?
Mum is sick of you being able to fix everything.
I'm sick of it.
I've wasted two years studying so that I wouldn't owe you anything.
- Drink up. - It's stuffy in here.
I do everything wrong, don't I?
No.
Maybe I should have left you alone.
Maybe your mother is better off alone.
- Name? - Witucki.
- First name? - Josef.
- Education? - School certificate.
- Address? - Wigury Street.
Do you want a flat?
- A flat? - Yes.
Next.
No pushing.
Don't push. You'll all be admitted.
- How many technicians? - Two.
- What about you? - Five?
- How many technicians? - Seven, nine.
- How many have you got? - Twelve.
- Primary and unfinished secondary? - 49.
- Unfinished primary? - 211.
- Good. Can I make a call? - Sure.
Mr Bednarz? It's going well.
So far, we have 32 technicians,
210 guys with certificates. Hang on.
What is this? Calm down.
Everyone will be seen. No need to shove.
Is anyone hurt?
Everyone will be seen. Move along.
As I was saying, 210 with school certificate.
And 680 without. Lots of people, it's a scramble.
Yes, on the other side.
All right with you? At four o'clock?
Is that definite? OK, I'll tell him.
Everything's fine. Yes, thank you.
They're starting at four o'clock.
- The director must sign here. - I'll see to it.
I did tell you...
What?
Yes. Fine.
OK. Goodbye.
- Who signed that? - Head of transport.
- What's his name? - Lech.
Stanislav Lech.
Get me the head of personnel.
Hania.
Will you call Piramowicz?
Hania, I'd like some tea.
- Me too. - Right away, sir.
- Will you be back? - Yes.
Get those pumps going. What? Yes.
And the frequency?
Cheer up.
Check the pumps. At last. Hold on...
Why wasn't I told we had a head of transport?
- How long's he been here? - A month.
The Municipal Council recommended him.
He's from the Board of Transport.
Yes... the frequency.
Why didn't you tell me?
We needed a good man who has contacts everywhere.
But why wasn't I informed?
The technical director endorsed it.
I just told you! Check the pumps!
I want to know who we employ.
You no longer work here.
Sir...
You authorised payments to sociologists,
who don't work for us.
You don't work here anymore.
Sociologists on the payroll?
- Yes, they are. - Really?
Yes? One moment.
The French.
Katowice for you. I said it would be quick.
Thank you.
It's me. Stefan.
I know it's you!
Sorry, just joking.
It must be late. What's up?
Quiet, it's my husband.
- It's 4am. - What's going on?
I could be asleep... What is it?
We're inaugurating the factory tomorrow.
You should come.
- What are you doing? - Now? It's my birthday.
Lots of useful things:
Learning English, doing housework... How's the dog?
He's asleep.
Listen... happy birthday.
Thank you.
Stefan.
Eva's coming to see you. She called me today.
She wants to bring her boyfriend, a photographer or something.
That's good news.
- Hello. - Hello.
This looks all right, doesn't it?
I have to shoot 20 minutes a month.
- Mr Bednarz. - What is it?
- We're ready. - Coming.
Goodbye.
My computer expert.
Doesn't he know too much?
He certainly does!
- A sight for sore eyes. - Listen...
- We had to get people here. - Forget about it.
Excuse the informality, Eva. From your father.
- Thank you. - Come and join us.
- Later, maybe. - We'll expect you.
Thank you.
Excuse me, sir.
Perhaps you might have a job for me...
I remember you when you were a toddler.
You're called Eva, aren't you?
Me and a mate were cutting down trees and he said...
See the head of personnel.
- It's better to see you. - Say Bednarz sent you.
You're a lovely girl. No offence meant.
No offence taken.
Here's to the Director! I say...
Have a drink with me.
Sergeant, throw that drunk out.
- Where? - Over by the buffet.
Do it.
Give me a job.
Hold on, I'm not going anywhere.
Look.
No one has the right to treat a citizen like this.
Why? Just tell me why?
You even lit up the hillside?
That's the cemetery, Eva.
Tell me, Dad...
...are you happy about all this?
Is the great Bednarz happy?
I'm doing my job.
You're a builder.
This isn't your job.
But why are you incapable of dealing with people's problems?
- You sound like your mother. - Stop it, Dad.
But still... you did treat Lech badly.
Why? Why not admit it? It's ridiculous.
Why?
You're strong, but you don't have the courage to say to him,
"I'm sorry. I was wrong."
Do you want to know what happened here 25 years ago?
No, I don't.
What I care about is today.
Did you see what they did to that guy you promised a job to?
- No. - You didn't?
They kicked him out of your fabulous party.
Don't you feel that nothing depends on you anymore?
Let's not talk about the site, let's talk about me.
What do you know about me?
Nothing, and you're afraid to find out.
Because, Dad,
break the ties that bind me, understand?
You think that's a solution?
Yes.
And this resulted in your two unborn children?
The UN Security Council in New York will examine
the deteriorating situation in Vietnam.
Now for home news:
The chemical factory in Olecko was inaugurated today,
after four years of hard work by thousands of people.
For four years Olecko was one of the largest
construction sites in Poland.
The inauguration was attended by government members
and Party leaders.
Medals were awarded to the director Stefan Bednarz,
head builder Jan Marcinlowski and coordinator Jan Wojcik,
by the minister of chemical industry,
in the presence of a member of the Political Office.
The factory must produce 32,000 tonnes of nitrates annually
for agricultural use.
A tour of the factory and a review of perspectives
followed the inauguration.
The workforce put forward a series of social improvements.
The day ended in festivities.
We will cover that in our next news program, Problems of Today.
- When did you get it? - Yesterday.
It's really something. A Sonar.
Yes.
- What's that? - Aperture control.
Superb.
Look.
Lovely horses.
I'm trying to listen objectively
and my conclusion is
that this investment has negatively transformed your once perfect town.
I must tell you, and there's no secret about this,
that I know this town. I've lived here,
and I know there were problems here.
People said other towns were developed, but never this one.
Is it true you're expanding the factory?
Yes, to three times its present size.
- What? - You're not serious?
You only have to look out of the window
to see the problems we're facing.
Your arguments are trivial in comparison.
Mere details!
Details! For God's sake!
This may seem drastic,
but in my opinion a wider view is called for.
Wider?
The doctor can't visit my sick child
because there's only one clinic
and ten times more people than before!
Is that a detail?
You're the expert here...
In the factory, not in the town, I'm afraid.
Why don't you want to see how we live,
come shopping, visit the nursery school?
You talk to us about society
but you take no notice of what we say in meetings.
You can't solve social problems by sticking slogans all over the town.
We don't put those slogans up.
Madam, I'd like to state calmly,
our management's attitude, our director's attitude.
We've listened to everything you've said
but it is all outside our province.
You must talk to the local council,
then perhaps we can help.
I think I speak for everyone here when I say
you should share our concerns
as we're all members of a socialist society.
- Right? - You're bringing out the big guns.
We don't need reminding of this.
We've covered a lot of issues
and we'll try to draw conclusions. Thank you.
Just what we expected.
- Right. Thank you. - Goodbye.
Goodbye.
Hania, sit down.
In the future, don't show delegations into Mr Bednarz's office, OK?
But it's not my fault, I just do what I'm told.
Yes, all very well,
but just don't let them in to see him.
Send them to me
or to Lech, preferably me.
- All right. - Mr Bednarz is too busy.
- Very good. - Thank you.
It's nothing.
Very interesting. What will you do with it?
I'm sending it to Polityka.
- With your photos? - Why with photos?
Create controversy.
A good career move, you'll be talked about.
I brought you here
to give you an objective view.
You can order different results.
You have the means to do so, haven't you?
You don't know me very well.
Lies don't interest me.
You write about resentment and anxiety
but when you question people in your surveys
don't forget what the issues are.
Look at the view.
I want you to be convinced.
I'm talking to you privately, not officially.
We've only just begun our work.
We're here because we believe in you
and in what you're doing.
All our research is a way to discover the truth.
But there's a difference
between the truth and what we believe.
We want the truth.
It prevents mistakes being made.
My mistakes?
No, mistakes in general.
I know it isn't your intention,
but this will be viewed as a list of my faults.
Are you going to publish it?
- Not necessarily. - If you approve.
I'll make you publish it.
But this isn't the right moment.
Hello.
Eva just had a baby.
When?
Last night. I took the first train here.
So she was pregnant when I last saw her.
She's given up her studies.
- And she moved back home. - To your place?
Yes, home.
If you need money or anything...
Come up on the stand.
Then we'll go for a meal.
All right. I've had no sleep.
A little girl?
- What is it? - Why is he here?
Who?
Lech.
He works for me.
I want to go.
- Stay for a moment. - I can't.
The concrete is disintegrating. The girders are breaking.
We must stop work.
The rain is bringing down tons of saltpetre.
There's no alternative. We need a huge funnel.
How far will the saltpetre spread?
- Four to five miles. - A vast area.
CLOSE DOWN THE FACTORY
I remember the time when the appointments were made.
Comrade Bednarz was made director of the chemical works.
The main reason
was the experience that had been gained
amongst workers in major industry.
In view of our Party responsibility
we have been obliged to inform the Party executive
of the difficult situation
confronting us in Olecko.
Over to the Secretary of Propaganda.
Comrades, the problem
is clearly set out in the reports and documents.
I'd like to emphasise one thing:
The connection between overall problems
and the ideological attitude of the factory workers.
The slogan written on the wall was an irresponsible act,
but it has led to an even more unhealthy atmosphere in the factory.
It has set tongues wagging all over town.
And you have acted with great inefficiency.
You could have erased it before ten or eleven o'clock.
All Olecko knows about it now.
You know Olecko well. You know everyone in the factory.
Yet conflicts will arise.
You've failed to create a good atmosphere
even though you work well.
Comrade Secretary of the Olecko district.
We're looking for an answer to this question:
how to improve the factory situation?
This question should be put to all the workforce,
as no one knows the root of the problem better than they do.
You must let people do their work
and make decisions, Comrade Bednarz.
But for some time now,
for quite a long time,
the director hasn't seen people,
or listened, or had faith in people.
You should have helped him, pointed it out before...
Just a minute.
Before you answer, Comrade Director,
I have one more question.
The cessation of the building work
also springs from a lack of ideological conscience.
You were one of the first people on the spot
but you didn't inform the Party branch
or the District Committee. You decided alone.
You can't act like that, Comrade Director.
You just can't.
But it was necessary, even if the sense of injustice was subjective.
- Comrade, I'd like to... - Go ahead.
Stefan, we worked together in Olecko.
I think that after I left,
you took on a lot,
that we used to share with the Party militants,
with the unions...
...and the administration, right?
People got into the habit of going to see Bednarz
instead of the Municipal Council.
Even when it wasn't within your province.
They got used to it and this is the result.
You never get far on your own.
You suffocate. Thank you.
One question for Comrade Bednarz.
Are our conclusions clear to you?
Will you work with the Party and the unions
to eliminate this negative attitude concerning the factory?
Yes, I will do my best to eliminate the problems,
which should be eliminated,
but I must warn you that I cannot change
the way I work or the form it takes.
I can't become someone else,
switch personalities.
Hey, Jan, what's going on?
- An executive meeting. - What happened?
- They told him off. - Really?
What for?
The usual things.
No change then. Is he staying?
- Of course. - Did they mention us?
- Your name came up. - What have they got on me?
How far are we from the factory?
About a mile.
- To be exact, 1.4 miles. - Thank you.
Will all that be cut down?
Yes, those trees are dead.
How far away are we really?
- Over two miles. - My God! Two miles!
It's a great opportunity for the region.
The funds aren't only for the factory.
All the local culture will benefit, too.
The factory will provide jobs, daily bread,
and we'll also build new neighbourhoods,
swimming pools, tennis courts,
even a theater.
- Is it a Nagra? - Yes.
The best recorder in the world.
We can change people's lives for the better.
Did you hear that?
Yes. Well?
I want to do a follow-up.
Do one about Kudelski, he's a success story.
We're just a colossus.
He's an easy subject.
Am I a difficult subject?
Tell me, in your view am I good or bad?
It's not so simple.
I've had that tape for six years.
I want to see how it comes across today,
how things have evolved.
What did your uncle die of?
He always had a weak heart.
Give me a little time.
Call me next week. OK?
OK.
Like to hear your boss's voice?
We must improve...
I'll tell him. Is the hotel booked?
I am happy to tackle this task...
Stop being silly.
Stefan!
There you are.
You didn't say you were coming, Minister.
Good day, my dear Director.
Lech has shown me the basics.
- Over to you. - Fine.
This way, Minister.
We'll come down to join you.
It looks good from up here.
It all depends on the men.
As you see, we're coping.
My three young engineers are better than the French we had.
- I hear you've made a clean sweep. - Yes.
What about the forest?
It's shrinking.
Do you want a word with me, Minister?
I thought you wanted a word.
I'd like to leave this job.
Is this off the record?
We haven't done all we wanted here.
I haven't either.
I think a mistake was made early on.
I don't want to make it worse and I don't want to lie.
Do you feel at fault?
No.
I just feel a fool.
You're very hard. I have to respect the principles.
What do we tell people who have staked their careers
on the factory, on production?
That's just it.
I don't want to have to tell them.
Don't you care about your own career?
No.
I'm worn out.
Do you accept my resignation?
No.
You must see the job through with your initial enthusiasm.
Why does it happen like that?
It's always the way. The truth won't get you very far.
You always lose out with the truth.
What you're going to say...
The old saying "Truth will always out"
isn't always true.
There are things a director doesn't know,
information that gets lost on the way to him.
Nothing gets to him, so he can't cope.
It's not just people withholding information,
it's more widespread.
The workers must be able to speak up,
to say what they really think.
Turn that off.
What?
Stop the camera.
- But... - I'm with the management.
Come this way.
Yes?
Are you from television? May I see your identity card?
Here.
Go ahead.
Thank you.
Do you have the director's permission?
I talked to Mr Bednarz and he...
No, that was a general agreement.
I'm the person to see about the details.
I have a list of skilled people
who I can authorise you to interview.
So I can't talk to them?
In a nutshell.
I'd like to listen to this tape.
I'm sorry, you can't.
And I'm sorry, but I must ask you to leave the factory.
All right?
Go back to work.
You won't let us talk?
It's not that... you can, just not now.
Sir...
A journalist for you, a Mr Galecki.
Shall I type that?
No. Is he calling from Warsaw?
No, he's downstairs.
Let him know I'm here, but I can't talk to him.
Still smoking, I see.
- I knew you'd find me. - Hello, sir.
Come in.
- Go ahead. - Please.
Three days ago, your assistant threw me out of the factory.
Yes, that's his style.
You want to go out?
Go in, please.
I'll just let him out. Excuse me.
Come on, come on!
See how he jumps!
Come on.
Sit. Sit!
What's this picture?
I took it.
- Do you like it? - Yes, it's great.
She was my uncle's lodger during the occupation.
That must be me.
I had curly hair then.
What about your program?
- Sorry? - Your program?
My reportage?
I wanted to call you, to talk about it,
but I couldn't get through to you.
Are you surprised that I won't discuss it?
I'm afraid of people who oppose me over a difference of opinion.
Can I help?
Yes, just hold that.
The other day in your office, you didn't seem frightened.
I thought you'd agreed.
We all have our moments of weakness.
Your film will be against me, my methods of work or the factory.
I had something more ambiguous in mind.
Not some shallow, one-sided piece.
A film about you as you are, as I see you...
- Right now? - Yes.
Can you take those in? I'll be right there.
- In here? - Yes.
Let's drink to my health.
And to mine.
So you were saying...
You see...
...I have the impression that the people here
don't feel like owners.
They fight you, they fail,
everything gets on top of them.
It's not about bathrooms.
They prefer things as they are.
You know what killed my uncle?
It wasn't his heart. He died of loyalty to an ideal.
He kept on fighting until one day his heart gave up.
Actually, I shouldn't tell you this,
but he was the one who wrote that slogan.
He was?
All on his own, at night?
Yes, he took a brush and painted it.
Crazy, eh?
Yes.
I think one day people will start saying
that their houses, factory, town and country are all theirs,
but everything is different.
Not necessarily worse.
Do they want to turn the clock back?
People can get used to anything.
Tell that to the farmers,
whose crops fail,
who queue up for every sack of fertiliser that I produce.
They're the majority.
You're tired.
We're all tired.
Listen.
The people you're fighting for are all asleep.
It's late.
Do you think I'm working against them?
But why is that?
Why didn't the people here, the clever ones,
want to participate in the discussions?
They chose this place.
So did your uncle.
Did you participate in those discussions?
Yes.
Have you got a clear conscience?
Not entirely.
INCIDENTS IN GDANSK
- Did you know about this? - I heard it on the radio.
What can we do?
If you need any help,
you can count on me.
All we can have is a clear conscience.
Going to the factory?
- Yes. - Get in.
Mr Bednarz.
Are there any journalists here?
No, just the film crew from the Hygiene Committee.
Get them out.
We're going down to see them.
You wanted to talk to me.
Very well.
Here I am.
Now listen.
I'll be honest with you.
We all know the situation our country is in.
I want you to know that I think like you do.
I'm on your side.
But don't forget that we must act wisely.
Not rashly.
Army T-4, can you hear me?
Crappy equipment!
Stefan, for heaven's sake! What are you doing?
You know we must stick to the program.
The Minister and lots of VIPs are here.
It must all go according to plan.
They don't like changes.
You know how it is.
The flowers are ready.
Are you moving in here?
Here?
My office is just the same, they're all the same.
All the same, eh?
What about a drink?
Yes, it's better than a pill.
Listen.
I want you to understand...
...I'm not involved in this.
It's just the way it goes.
Sorry if I'm interrupting.
Only for a moment.
In case we don't meet again,
I wanted to say goodbye and thank you for everything.
At least you're realistic.
Aren't you?
I hope you...
I haven't messed things up these last few years.
You're starting off on a firm foundation.
- Good luck. - Thank you.
Mr Bednarz, your books are here.
Yes, thank you.
Come on...
...walk.
I say walk on your own.
All by yourself.
Come on, come on...