To our fathers and their children...
Once upon a time, there was a country...
and its capital was Belgrade.
April 6, 1941...
I'll kill them, my friend!
Careful, my friend!
I'll kill them!
Don't, it's dangerous!
lvan, my brother!
The Vice-President spoke of increased cooperation
between the two nations of Yugoslavia.
That's my brother...
and his best friend, Blacky!
Hooligans! Hooligans!
What can I do? They're all I... have.
Marko!
Come in for a cup of coffee.
Impossible, man, I'm in a hurry! My friend's tired!
I'm tired...
I'll buy you lunch tomorrow at "The Russian Tsar"!
Get off that horse and get in the house!
Vera, I'm a free man, you hear?
A free man? You're kidding!
Damn it!
Vera, I have something important to tell you.
Listen...
What?
Don't be angry...
We enrolled Petar in the Communist Party.
A whore-house rather!
He's one of us now.
Get inside!
Okay, just one last word to my friend.
Get inside. I have to sort things out with him.
See who I have to live with!
I love you. Let me kiss you.
Not on the lips, fucker!
Blacky! Get in the house!
She's like this every morning!
I'll leave you, just like Marko's wife left him.
I'm a free man...
Eenie, meenie, minie, mo...
Part One - The War
In the attic, a small apartment...
On the wall...
Looloo... Breakfast!
A small clock on the wall...
Is ticking... tick-tock...
In the attic... an apartment...
Does your mother obey you?
Soni!
That's it! Do it! Go on!
- Let go! - The best is yet to come!
Wait!
Fucking fascist motherfuckers!
How can you keep eating?
I can and that's that.
How can you, with all these bombs?
Out of spite!
You want me to die hungry?
My shoes!
Not my shoes!
You fat horse!
I've had enough.
That does it!
They're bombing my city!
Raiding my city!
My own city!
Where are you going, Blacky?
To "greet" the fucking criminals who've come to destroy my city!
- I know where you're going! - You do?
I know!
To see that whore!
What whore? You're crazy, you really are.
That actress.
What? I'm defending my country!
- Don't lie! - Vera!
You're defending that whore!
God, it's impossible to have a serious talk with you!
What are you saying?
You get on my nerves!
Here it is!
I'm saying what the whole town is saying.
What is it, my love?
You never leave that theatre!
You're in that theatre every night.
I know, I love the theatre.
You love the theatre?
You love the theatre!
So? What's so strange about that?
You love that whore, not the theatre!
If you weren't pregnant...
You'd what? You lying creep!
- Me? - Yes, you!
You, you scum!
What is it? What?
Shame on you, Vera!
Blacky!
What's happening?
Don't cry! I'll build you a new zoo.
Come on...
Look...
Get lost!
The survivors will be eaten, can't you see?
Here's some money.
Buy some milk for the baby monkey.
Come on, stop crying. The Germans will make fun of you.
National Theatre Clearance Team
Working hard, artists?
You bet!
Bato, sweets!
Uncle Blacky!
Are you avoiding me? Let's not play games.
You're dead right!
What do you mean?
You know very well what I mean!
No, I don't.
I don't!
You want me and Bato in a prison camp?
What?
The whole city is talking about it. You thief!
Me?
What's the town saying?
Don't try to act stupid.
You steal people's gold and money. You steal!
I only steal from the rich...
what they stole from the poor!
- Stop it... - You stop it!
Working hard?
Do you love me?
Well, yes.
Come on, give me a kiss!
You love me! I've been looking for you for days.
I'm scared.
You get on my nerves!
You get on mine! Have you seen this?
You're a wanted man.
Ten thousand!
Ten thousand for my life! Rubbish!
Franz!
Franz?
Fräulein Zovko...
Oh, Franz! Good morning.
I've been waiting.
We have a table waiting at "The Russian Tsar".
Yes... and my brother?
Seisenberger, do me a favour. Take this "vehicle" and follow us.
But carefully!
Franz...
Ivan, open up!
Stay there by the door and don't move!
lvan! My God, it stinks in here!
Vera, take a seat!
My brother's like Noah saving the world after the flood.
Don't move and keep quiet!
What are you doing?
Shame on you!
Always hanging yourself!
My God...
I've had enough of this life...
Enough? Instead of helping me and being a hero,
you hang yourself like a sissy! Shame on you!
An announcement from the Gestapo
to citizens of Belgrade and other towns.
Bandits robbed a train full of arms and munitions last night.
The attack was the work of the Communist criminals,
Petar Popara, known as Blacky, and Marko Dren.
What have you done?
Nothing. Last night, we roughed up a few thieves.
Marko, oh Lord...
Someone ratted on us.
Some bastard squealer gave our names!
Our comrades were arrested.
Was Blacky arrested? Taken in?
Arrested, my ass, just as they'll never catch me.
Come on, hurry up!
Why do I have to come?
Because you're my brother.
Let him go!
Come on, people!
No, it's nothing! I can manage!
Who is it?
It's me, grandad!
Who is it?
It's me! Marko!
Who?
Marko, for God's sake!
Who?
It's me, Marko! Open up!
It's you, Marko!
Yes, it's me.
Come on in! The Germans could be here any minute!
Go downstairs, I'll take care of your stuff later.
The cellar's behind the stove.
Let them through! Come on!
Where are you taking those animals?
It's not a zoo down there, it's a shelter for humans!
I'm closing!
This is horrible!
Horrible!
Where are you now, Blacky, you bastard?
Has it st... st...
Yes, it's started, it's started!
It's started! Grandad!
Marko!
Blacky's wife
...is giving birth! - Out of the way!
Please, quickly!
Bring some water, a sheet, any white piece of cloth...
Quickly! It's coming!
Don't worry.
Is everything all right?
It will be, but I need more light.
Right, lift up the bicycle! Come on, higher!
lvan!
I don't feel well.
Everything will be fine.
No, it won't. It won't.
If anything happens to me...
call him Jovan.
Vera!
3 years later, Belgrade was suffering
an open fracture of its soul...
Stop, stop, swift waters of the lbar
Why are you in such a hurry
All together!
I have my sorrows too
Deeper than you may know
The drinks are on me. It's my son's birthday!
Here's my Jovan! Look at him!
Handsome lad, Blacky! Congratulations!
He will be, Mustafa!
I'll send him to school in Moscow to be an officer,
not a thief like you. You motherfucking crook!
We're partners.
But for how long?
What's up?
Are you thieves getting jumpy?
My friend!
Happy birthday to your Jovan, my friend!
My good old friend!
Look at him. He's my spitting image!
With a hint of Vera.
You think so?
What kept you?
There's a traitor among us. We've got problems.
Those three are here.
I saw them. Hang around.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Good evening!
If you please, gentlemen...
I'm doing this for your own good.
Gentlemen, please...
Franz!
Flowers for Natalija!
He kills us and fucks her!
Excuse me.
Get me the biggest bouquet you can find.
Sure.
- What about the priest? - All arranged.
Perfect...
My friend, there'll be a wedding!
Now let's play fair.
Here's my gun, give me yours. That's fair.
This is gold. See it? This is gold, right?
How much did the gold bring in? Look at it!
How much did it bring in?
Look at it!
How much for the gold?
200,000!
200,000? Mustafa, you said 120,000.
Never mind.
Now tell me where the weapons are and we're done.
I swear on my mother's grave, the Germans took them.
Leave your mother out of this!
Motherfucker!
You steal my money? I rob banks, jewellery stores,
and you fuckers steal my money!
You dirty fucking thieves!
I'll kill you all, you bastards!
I'll clean Belgrade of scum like you!
Our comrades are shot in the woods, they eat roots and you steal...
You've gone crazy!
No, guys, we don't play this way...
Hold these, honey, please.
Faster and louder!
Here I come, my friend! Hang on!
Watch out!
Here I come!
Not in my ear!
Left! Left! Left!
I have to tell you something, you being the Party Secretary...
If anything, it'll be these thieves and criminals
who'll cost us our heads.
Right. We rob stores to buy arms and food for our comrades.
And the bastards steal from us!
"I'll kill myself.
"You say you'll kill yourself.
"But you won't do it.
"Are you so sure?
"Do you think a man can live..."
Quiet!
"...if he has nothing and nobody to live for?
"Are you capitulating?
"No, I suggest
"that we make peace."
He's entranced by her!
I'll kill him, I swear! The other actors don't interest him!
I think the Captain's excellent.
- Really? - Yes, look at him!
Quiet!
Hands off. This is a theatre, watch the show!
Good evening.
"Promise to tell me
"the truth and I'll forgive you in advance.
"Is Berta my child?
"I cannot assume the guilt
"for a deed I didn't commit."
Get out!
Have you no shame?
"Is Berta my child?"
I'm coming.
Bato!
Quiet!
Uncle Blacky!
Natalija is the best!
She is the best!
Franz!
- This is a scandal. - I know...
Captain!
Good evening, madam.
Captain...
Just a moment.
I am...
Berta's father.
I am the father of your child.
Please...
Do you understand?
Tie us together. Quickly!
I now have my Laura with me.
We're in love.
Hurry!
We're leaving your house so we can live together.
Please don't be angry.
- Finished? - Yes.
Thank you, captain.
I know this actor.
I know him... Where on earth from?
Good-bye, captain.
You act for Germans, you motherfucker!
Wonderful actor, my colleague!
Are these the mains?
Keep to your seats!
Hands up, traitor!
Hands up!
Is this the curtain?
It is but please, sir...
Uncle Blacky! Sis!
Uncle Blacky! Charge!
You want my sister?
Well, you won't have her. You won't!
Come on! Hands up, my friend!
They'll kill my brother!
Blow on that horn! I don't get married every night!
Congratulations!
Okay, Golub. Where's the priest?
I sent a boy to fetch him.
Congratulations, miss.
I'm not getting married!
Yes, you are. You just don't know it yet.
So, I ruined your life by killing Franz. Thank you, Natalija!
Who gets Bato's medicine, you or Franz?
- You only bring me stolen gold! - From traitors.
Come to your senses.
Listen to me...
I've never loved anyone so much.
But respect some rules. No collaborating with the enemy!
Right!
What do you mean? I'm just an actress.
The bakeries are working!
Yes, but you're not a baker.
You don't sell pies.
You sell your soul.
I personally will judge those who sell their soul.
First, I'll kill the manager of your theatre.
I'll strangle him with my bare hands... because I love the theatre!
Congratulations, Mr. Blacky!
Will this dinner eat us before we eat it?
Get that fish grilled properly.
No problem!
Have you no shame? Others help wounded partisans
while you perform for the bastards!
It hurts!
So now it hurts you!
I love you.
Golub!
Grill it!
Follow me, I'm going for a pee.
Watch my bride, my friend.
Let's go!
Marko!
Come on! Follow me!
I don't want to!
I don't want to get married!
Golub, I won't leave the partisans to sort you all out.
There's no need.
You may not know this
but he's not an electrical engineer at all.
No, he's a common electrician. A pole-man!
He spent his whole life on poles,
with pliers and cutters.
I'm the one who got him down and asked him: "Comrade,
"will you join our side?" "Yes," he said.
"Will you obey the rules
"and the orders?" "Yes."
Until...
he got rich!
Natalija!
An electrician?
A pole-man!
Natalija, you are our greatest actress
and our suffering people need you.
And you need a reasonable, intelligent,
educated man...
An intellectual!
You're right!
Comrade Leka will bring you to the disciplinary committee.
We expected the guns a week ago. Where are they?
On the boat. As soon as I get married, off we go!
They can hear the music in Belgrade!
Good! It's Blacky's wedding.
We've had enough crying.
Are these arms or what?
Once the priest marries me,
I'll be at the White Rock before you.
Comrade Tito!
When will you reach Uzice
"Your hands, so white
"So tender, so soft As the wings of a bird
"Oh, to see them fly and land on my face..."
That's enough!
Get out!
What are you doing to me?
We're just talking about the theatre.
What?
I'll kill myself, I swear!
Don't, my friend!
You know, I killed two men because of her!
I know.
Why do this to me?
- As for you... - It wasn't me!
Wasn't you?
It was me, then?
Are you my best friend?
I'm your best friend.
I didn't hear. Are you my best friend?
I'm your best friend.
Whose wedding is this?
Ours, my love! Our wedding!
Yours, my friend.
- Our wedding, sweetheart. - Ours, my love!
You wanted a ride, did you? Well, giddy-up, you stud!
Where's the priest?
He'll be here any minute now.
Is it moonlight at noon
Is it sunshine at midnight
From the skies above Light is beaming...
The Germans! A catastrophe!
Nobody knows, nobody knows
What is really shining
The two of you could make one good man!
You pest!
Get out of the cars! Spread out!
Left and right of the boat!
Marko!
Petar Popara!
You fools!
You can't play cat and mouse!
Franz!
Come out now!
And bring Natalija with you or I'll shoot you all!
How come? I killed him.
You didn't.
He wears a bullet-proof vest.
Aim at his head next time.
I'll smoke one more cigarette.
And then my patience runs out.
After that, I want you out in the open.
Do you hear me?
Don't shoot!
Catastrophe!
My sweet saviour!
My dearest...
Schulz, get out!
Now let's send
this shit-load of criminals back where they belong!
My little white dove!
Have fun, you idiots!
You won't forget me in a hurry!
Shoot, my friend!
Golub, don't shoot!
Catastrophe!
Shoot, my friend!
Where are the weapons, Blacky?
Where are the trains with the weapons, bastard?
Treacherous swine!
I'll fry Tito out of your head!
Well?
Is he talking?
No. He just keeps cursing.
Petar Popara!
Fucking fascist motherfucker!
You'll talk!
Keep on raising the current.
Marry uncle Blacky, sis.
He's the greatest.
Forget uncle Blacky!
Here's Franz!
Blacky's the greatest!
Stop pestering me.
What did he say?
He asked when he can be released.
Next week, my boy.
He can go to a sanatorium in Austria.
A sanatorium in Austria?
Yes, he'll be safe there.
I can't help him here. It's too dangerous.
Good morning!
Did the kid vomit during the night?
Yes.
No.
Did he...
or didn't he?
I don't know.
Well, he didn't.
Tell him
that he must not worry. Please, tell him...
Burst him!
Burst him like a paper bag!
Let go of him!
Like a bag!
Burst him like a bag!
You killed my Franz!
Is he dead?
Not yet!
Forgive me, Franz. I'm sorry.
Damn your Franz! Come on.
- What's wrong with this shit? - Put it on level 5.
It might kill him.
Kill me... my ass!
Let me try.
It doesn't work.
Switch it on.
Hey, man,
wake up!
Good afternoon.
Let's see what's going on.
What's wrong?
He tested the generator.
Is it working?
Yes, he's dead!
- That one didn't flinch. - He's an electrician.
An electrician?
A pole-man!
My friend...
Give me a grenade. If they catch me, I'll choose.
Here you are. Let's go.
Thank you, Marko.
Those crazy people are so sad...
Indeed.
We're all crazy, Natalija.
We just haven't been... diagnosed yet.
Where's uncle Blacky?
In the trunk, my boy.
In the trunk?
Uncle Blacky!
Fucking fascist motherfuckers!
lvan!
Golub!
Get some bandages ready! Hang on, my friend!
Bring the bandages, for fuck's sake!
Come and help. Hold Jovan.
Jovan!
Fuck the monkey, help the man!
Pedal faster.
We need more light.
Mind his leg!
God, Comrade Blacky, what did they do to you?
Fucking fascist motherfuckers!
Catastrophe!
Jovan...
Comrade Marko!
Call your grandad, he'll cure him.
The water from the well is medicinal.
Gently...
Tell the comrades about the arms.
Don't worry, I'll see to the weapons.
Look at Jovan!
Your son!
This is your dad.
Show him his dad!
Jovan! My son!
Give your dad a kiss! Kiss your dad!
This room is dedicated to me!
My room!
Right...
Yes!
This room and this house!
And this country and the sky, stars, rain, sun, moon and clouds...
even when the sky is bright!
It's all mine...
Yes. All of it!
- Who's bombing us now? - The Allies.
When it's not the Germans, the Allies bomb us.
Where are you going?
To the cellar.
Come to me!
Are you afraid?
Not when I'm with you.
Drink up!
You know I don't drink.
Don't be afraid, drink!
It's sweet, not strong!
Indeed...
"I do not know, my dear If this is a dream
"What year it is And what day
"And I don't know, my dear If I am yours
"Or if you are my dream"
Who did you write that for?
Confess!
For you.
You're lying!
You're lying...
I'm not lying.
You're lying.
I never lie.
Never!
Marko, you lie so beautifully.
Easter, April, 1944
The Allied bombs destroyed
what the Nazis had left of Belgrade...
Freedom!
...from our homeland. They try to tear out
part of our body.
With guns, we won the plebiscite!
With guns, we defended freedom!
With guns, we'll defend Trieste!
Part Two - The Cold War
Years passed, Marko became
a close collaborator of Tito.
In Belgrade, in 1961, he paid his debt
to his great friend, Blacky.
Comrade Marko...
I must ask you again... Could Comrade Natalija be in the film?
No.
But this film is based on your memoirs
and she is our greatest actress!
Exactly. The film is dedicated to the Revolution, not to us.
Will you at least visit the set? We'd be honoured.
That we will do.
Comrades...
it is my honour to inaugurate this Cultural Centre
as well as unveil the statue of our Hero, Petar Popara Blacky.
Blacky symbolizes our anti-fascist struggle!
His image and work will forever be remembered by us, his friends,
his comrades in arms,
and by future generations who from early youth
will come to this Cultural Centre
to inspire themselves with the ideas for which
our brother, our comrade, our friend,
our Blacky gave his life and youth.
I'll use this occasion,
even if it means taking your time, to quote some lines
from my last book of poems on the Struggle for Freedom.
"Why is the wind always blowing when we remember our beloved?
"Why does the wind beat the windows and doors of our brothers?
"Is the wind only blowing or is the sky crying with us?"
Petar Popara Blacky, our friend!
We honour your memory!
We honour his memory!
Is it moonlight at noon
Is it sunshine at midnight
From the skies above Light is beaming
Nobody knows, nobody knows...
The Soviet divisions are surrounded.
General von Kleist's armoured units have breached their lines...
That's it, girl!
More light!
Dad!
Bring some water!
What happened?
Nothing, my friend.
The Gestapo tortured me.
Fucking fascist motherfuckers!
Let me go out with you and the war will be over in 3 days.
- Not yet. - Why wait?
Tito orders you to wait.
Tito?
He said to me:
"Give Blacky my regards and tell him not to move.
"He'll be precious to me in the final battle."
- He said that? - Every word.
He sent you a watch.
No, Marko, I can't...
With a dedication!
To me?
To you.
Comrade Tito
we swear
to you
We swear to you
Comrade Tito
we swear to you
That we won't
abandon your path
Comrade Tito
you, the hope of the people
You're loved
by the old
and the young
Comrade Tito
our spring flower
Serbia
will not forget you
A blue violet
has bloomed
On the pillow where Tito's head rests
Congratulations, Blacky!
Shake hands with Comrade Marko. Not with me, with Comrade Marko.
Are we having a bath?
Aren't we?
Yes, a bath!
What about our business, grandad?
It's... difficult!
Are you working on the time?
I'm reducing the hours for them as you said.
Six hours per day!
Don't overdo it, okay?
In 20 years, I've saved them 5 years.
You can imagine what 5 years less
in a cellar means?
Air raid! Come on, comrades!
Let's go! Hurry up! Leave the weapons!
Everybody in the tank!
The aggressor is attacking again!
Don't panic! Where are you going, you donkey?
Hurry up, woman. We'll all get killed because of you.
Hurry!
Comrade Tito, we swear to you...
Tito, Tito, Tito!
Everyone sang the same song
and believed that outside
the fascists of World War II
were still in power...
What are you doing, Marko?
You'll see.
Ringe ringe raja Here comes uncle Paja
And now?
Natalija!
Natalija, Spring is coming
on a white horse!
Stop! Cut!
Cut!
Why stop?
What for? Why stop now?
Yugoslav, fuck you and that water! You call that rain?
Stop! Okay!
Will you ever simply say: act?
When'll you tell me to act?
Thank you, lads. Take a break.
Put the water back on!
Here he comes! Music!
Spring is Coming on a White Horse. Scene 34a, take 2.
Action!
The Germans!
Natalija, darling!
Spring has arrived on its white horse.
Rape!
No one will catch
Petar Popara, alias Blacky!
Natalija!
Long live the Communist Party of Yugoslavia!
Rape!
Cut! Stop the camera!
Comrade Marko!
Get up all of you!
Stop the rain!
Comrade artists, be happy in your work.
You are portraying...
great people
who are no longer with us.
We owe them a tribute. Future generations must remember them.
May you live long, comrade artists!
Music!
Cheers, Comrade Marko!
Comrade Marko...
allow me to introduce the heroes of your memoirs.
Get lost! Not now!
Are you me?
Marko! Yes, I am you.
Unbelievable!
He looks just like me.
Where did you find them?
Casting is half my job.
Really? Unbelievable!
We're cut of the same cloth and swapped our books for rifles.
"Shoot, my rifle, for mother to hear you.
"Never will I abandon my country to anyone."
Well, say hello.
What do you say?
She's so sweet!
Indeed!
Franz?
Franz the vampire.
It's very nice here but I feel someone is missing.
God, is he the real Franz or an actor?
Who knows?
An actor.
Yes, an actor...
Unbelievable! It's all just like that night...
When you killed 11 Germans, dived into the river...
- What a memory! ...and saved Blacky and Natalija.
Indeed!
Excuse me, please.
Blacky!
My friend!
God, Blacky...
Why did they kill you, my friend? Why did they kill you?
Can someone protect the actors in this film?
I've been burnt three times already!
Three times!
Comrade Marko, it will be a great film!
Are you afraid of God?
You mean, are we afraid of God?
You'd better learn that text as it's written.
Word by word. Understand?
Sleep tight.
What is this?
What you'll tell him
in the cellar.
This?
You know, trash like this,
whoever the writer
or the director may be, is still trash.
If they ask me what I think,
here's what I think!
You're a poet, Marko!
Stick to poems!
Natalija, what's missing?
What's missing?
The truth!
The truth?
Yes, darling!
You know, the truth...
No text, my dear, has any truth in it.
The truth exists only in real life.
You are the truth!
You!
You are supposed to be the truth.
There is no truth, only your conviction
that what you act is the truth.
No, art is a lie,
a big lie!
We are all liars, a little bit at least.
You scum!
They raped me, beat me...
What else did they do to me? What?
Does it really matter if those people in the cellar stay alive?
Yes it does, my dear.
You write heroic roles for yourself
and I get to play the whore.
Anyone can fuck your wife!
Get dressed and put the make-up on.
I said I'd rescue you in time for the wedding.