DAU. String Theory (2020) - full transcript

I understand everything...

Honest

*F is a closed 2-form

- Yes
- Which...

can be locally written out as a
differential of some other connection

Therefore there's a mapping,
not a local one

...acting from A, which solves
the Maxwell motion equation...

...into A tilde, which also solves
the Maxwell motion equation

That's because *F tilde,
which is F...

...also solves this equation...

- ...of course
- Wait, is this all happening on a manifold?



Yes, it's happening on a 4D manifold

We could carry on tomorrow

OK

And yet you somehow managed
to dodge the question

I mean, you wrote out a very
elegant general formula...

- ...for the Yang-Mills algebra
- Yes

And yet you considered a
strictly special case, which...

That's because we know almost
nothing about the general case

So why do you think the formula
is true in the general case anyway?

- Perhaps it's because...
- No, the formula is not true

In actual fact, if... It's
more likely to be false

A super Yang-Mills algebra would
be more likely to be true

That is, an algebra that, apart from
these even generators, also has...

...odd generators, which...



In actual fact...

I mean,

Turns out that in the case
of super Yang-Mills...

...it's actually - let's say,
if it's ten-dimensional...

...then it proves to be equivalent
to an algebra of this type instead

This cod liver smells terrible,
doesn't it?

plus we're still waiting for the bread

- Who's bringing the bread?
- Dasha and Semenych

- Have they been gone long?
- Yes

- So we shouldn't be waiting?
- Sorry?

- We shouldn't be waiting?
- No, we should

They seem to be serious people

I mean, not in everything,
but in general, serious

- It's just...
- So sometimes a serious person

shouldn't be serious?

- Or they'll go mad?
- Otherwise it's not appreciated

Right, we need a spoon

You know, what we need is onions

Dasha, we've been waiting
for you. Where's the bread?

It's coming

We haven't brought it ourselves

- Make it even finer
- Are you grinding the flour?

Even finer? Let me do it.
I can turn it into mush

Here, I'll do it with a fork

I just did that, but...

Losev, what's going on out there?

Nekrasov chopped the eggs

We went to the bio lab

- And the rats were...
- You don't like how I handle eggs?

What are you insinuating?

The rats aren't scared
of the current

We can just
mush it up

- We can do that now
- I don't eat that

Fine, I'll take it out

- I don't like it
- Me neither

Pickles would do nicely here

Why don't you eat olives?

- Alright, alright
- I just don't

Why don't I...

- Let's do it in a clean one
- This was a surprise

Olives with cod's liver, not bad

Let me just get a spoon

- What are you doing?
- We have a new dish here

- I'm sorry to...
- Hand-broken olives, made by

- An academician
- An academician, yes

Well, that's not bad

- I'll leave a spoonful
- It does smell a bit...

- Fishy
- Wet

- Wet?
- That's the cod liver

No, I mean the olives

I see

- I'll put them here
- It'll be easier

- Ira dear, sit down. Sit down, guys
- Really? I'm sitting here

- Blinov is fine over there
- I'll take another chair

You can sit with Blinov

- When it dries up outside...
- I'm going mad

- Then I'll sit here
- Then I'll find a different chair

- So... There, take that
- Thanks very much

- Right
- When what dries up?

- The soil, Losev
- The soil, I see

- Please, don't
- It's a bog out there, so slippery

Yes. I am worried
about it too

- Sit down, sit with me
- I am

- Absolutely right. The only reason...
- Dasha, here

- Please don't be angry with Losev
- We'll have bread in a minute

- I'm not angry with him
- Losev, pass me your plate

- That's the bread calling
- Nekrasov

- "Hello, this is bread"
- You want another helping?

- Of course
- Can I serve myself maybe?

But of course

My dear comrades...
Am I repeating myself?

No, no, say it again

Ira, you arrived
after my birthday, didn't you?

That's right

- I love you so much
- And we love you, too

Blinov. Come back.
It's an important one

Where's our vase gone?
Sorry, carry on

- The vase left...
- I repeat, I love you all so much

We love you too

- Let's not look for meaning
- To hell with it

It'll come to us
if it's there

Everything has
its meaning

But we won't look
for any specific meaning

Well put

But it's everywhere

We won't look
for any specific meaning

- Does it make sense?
- Yes. Well said

I'm glad to hear it

Taoists maintain that in the
beginning there was chaos

And God drilled eight
holes in that chaos

I've heard so many
interesting numbers today

There are several
hypotheses about that

- Dima mentioned nine
- I was just saying...

I thought there were seven

- Seven, you're right
- But actually it makes no difference

- Anyway...
- which hypotheses

- Anyway...
- are there

It doesn't matter
how many holes there were

The fact is that the world appeared

A world that can be
described and understood

Can we though?
I don't know about that

Maybe we don't need to

- Maybe we don't need to
- Right

- Good point
- You have to understand yourself first

Ira dear, how can one
understand oneself?

One has to try

Before talking about the world,
first talk about yourself

Actually there's no difference
between oneself and the world

- Yes, I agree
- Right

We...

I agree

"Don't you freeze me"

"Don't you freeze me"

"Don't you freeze my horse"

Why are you out here,
barefoot? What's the matter?

I just went for a walk actually.
Like the right bastard

What were you thinking?
You'll catch a cold

- Quick, hurry
- I don't want to hurry

I just don't

Stop. What are you doing?

- Wait a minute
- Here is our lovely security

We'll be given either a key
or a punch

They'll give us something,
that's for sure

- I'm a bit cold
- Of course you are, no coat on

Well, what else could I...

I'll keep it on,
is that alright?

Sure, that's fine

My slippers, I need to
take my slippers off

- No, stop
- They're covered in dirt

What's this? Glass? Blinov...

Katya here is completely frozen

Drink. I need something to drink

What are you on about?

I was given a car
but not the keys

I dreamt of the trumpets of Jericho

There was some already

- Try and open this with a spoon
- We have everything here

See? I opened it with a spoon.
Did you see that?

Here, cognac

And I'll have vodka
if we have any

- I'll drink cognac too
- So, to what?

To

- To the victory of Soviet science
- Over a Soviet man

Actually...

- I can't drink any more
- You don't have to

But Katya dear, you just
need to get warm

- I'll be fine without
- You need socks

- Just drink and you'll get warm
- No, not necessarily

Are there any matches?

- Matches...
- No, you drink, I'll find them

- No. Please sit down
- Matches are important

Dasha has the cigarette holder

- I need some matches too
- Fine

Fuck, what's all this...

Come on, let's go

Blinov, Katya

- Why aren't you drinking?
- I can't

Do you think I can?

We can. Women are
the weaker sex

Don't you start

- No, they're the strongest, of course
- It was said with love

It's not meant in a diminutive
or derogatory way or anything

But just with regards to the
consumption of liquor

So...

- We're not some...
- Please, don't take it off

It's fucking cold as it is

and you're all so thin

so adorably vulnerable

I mean, she's
just the best, isn't she

So, comrades

Cheers

Here's to things getting better

and more wonderful

No, it can't get more wonderful

- There's three of us here, you know
- Sorry, Blinov

- No, I understand
- We're mentally still in that car

- I get it
- We were denied the keys

We wanted to go for a ride,
or at least warm up

- Right?
- Yes

- So let's get warm
- Yes

Here's to everything being

always

You can't drink anymore,
well, don't

- Right Blinov, let's drink. Sit
- Let's drink

- Did we really eat all the liver?
- We did

- We ate everything
- The liver is gone

that is why

We are done

Take it, take it

Olives over there.
Katya. Please, give me some of that stuff

Well then?

- What?
- Another night's gone

- Already? No, not yet
- Yes, it has, look

- It's getting light. I hate dawn
- The dawn is here

- It's getting brighter
- And we never slept

No, no - not a wink

Although frankly, at first

I mistook the car hooting
for the trumpets of Jericho

Sorry, my dear fellow.
You see, it's just...

- No, it doesn't matter
- You get in the car, but...

You have nothing to start
the engine with. It hurts

On the other hand

taking, as it were,
a dialectical approach

to the issue of the
trumpets of Jericho

Yes

- I got, let's say
- Yes?

- an image into my head
- Yes

of a multidimensional
surface, on which

You're not drinking a
fucking thing. Just look at me

You're talking too much
bullshit. That's why I...

- Or taking too much
- Yes

That's why I'm not keeping up

- Sorry for spil...
- Not to worry

- It's not engine oil
- No, it'll dry out

That's why I got, let's say,
an image in my head

- of a multidimensional space
- Go on

across which a sound expands

the sound of the Big Bang

- You know...
- And before reaching the point

at which you can perceive it

that sound takes the
form of the frequency

at which I am able to perceive it

as the trumpets of Jericho

- If I were an acoustician...
- Please, I can't bear it

- you just look so cold
- What the hell does it matter?

No, you are beautiful and wonderful.
You are the best

You don't let me go

Give me your feet.
Both, please

Both your feet present
a great interest to me

No need to touch Blinov

I told you I was really jealous

Madly, madly jealous

- You can't be jealous
- I can

- Over three, or four...
- I can

- You can?
- Yes

- Well, that's a fuck-up, comrade
- I'm just a completely fucking...

- Selfish person
- A fucking jealous guy

- Who?
- A jealous guy

- That's the same thing
- No

- There
- No. It's completely different

Because if I love someone

- Someone? Lots at the same time?
- then I worry about them all

- No, that's not true
- Yes, it is

It's just a complete fucking lie

There now

- Mind the fucking table
- I turned the table round

How? With my foot

No, see, I put it here,
I cushioned it

Crusher

Blinov, you just went and
filled them up right away

Yes

- Why wait?
- You're right

- Why the hell
- Just a moment, Katya dear, alright?

Does it really hurt? From
that leg being bent down there?

- I don't give a fuck about it
- Good

- It's just physical pain
- Let's drink to Blinov

because he's actually
helping somehow, really

- He's helping you
- Not you? Then let's not drink to him

No, I'll drink to Blinov

- because he's helping me too
- No, no, Katya

- But now he's helping you
- No, you didn't understand me

Now everything is happening
through you

There's a lot of
responsibility in that

Frankly, things are
completely fucked, right?

Yes. I'm going to bed

- We all are
- Well, here's to being fucked over

Blinov, you're something else

You're fucking awesome,
you really are

- Katya, please don't go
- I'm going to sleep

- You think we have it easy?
- Nobody has it easy

Why did you throw down
your bag? What's all this?

And you threw my coat, and...

- Should I hang it up?
- No, you're cold

Don't you worry, I've got a blanket

Just a moment, I'll be
back in a minute

Fuck

- Alright, let's have a snack
- Let's

Nothing sweet though

But we have exactly
three olives over there

Right

- Let's form a threesome then
- Yes

What's going on with your children?

- They're all big, you know
- Yes. You see

- They're growing
- Yes

Well, they'll grow up eventually

- What can we do
- You see...

The day will come when
we'll be buried

- No...
- We'll be washed

Ptomaine will be washed
off our corpses, dammit

And the grave wax will

be used to fertilise potatoes

- Who knows?
- It makes me feel insecure

Almost everyone
here has grown-up kids

or they never fucking had them

And I fucking left them

- Nekrasov...
- halfway

Nekrasov,
you gave them life

Blinov, one is four,
the other is ten

Four might mean something

- But ten...
- She's much more mature

than the ten-year-old

He's just so sensitive

So she...

She doesn't even... Of course...

She knows how to deal with me,
how to put me in my place

much better than the boy does

simply because, well...

Right. You understand

Yes

Teach me, teach me how...

Right

That's all very well but...

Fine

No, Blinov...

You're simplifying things

- Yes
- Fuck

- Life is simple
- No it's not, it's all bullshit

The lack of simplicity

is in your and my

- personal feelings
- Yes

But those feelings are...

It's individualism

- No wait...
- You see? It's yours

- Why is my or your individualism
- Yes

less valuable than
anyone else's? Why?

It's not value,
but attitude that matters

Right, but whose attitude to what?

- Yours to yourself
- Right

- I'm a shit
- And my attitude to myself

- I'm a shit too
- No, you're not, Blinov

- We're shits
- I realised ages ago, you're not...

- We're shits
- No. You're amazing

- Shits floating around in space
- No

Well, that's true
in general, of course

- Yes
- Yes

We'll kick the bucket

and turn

into something new

- and again...
- Into smoke, steam, gas

Yes

No, that's not the point

Until we kick the bucket

- Yes
- We have a chance to pass on

some knowledge,
skills, understanding

But our feelings will die with us

So here's to them

- Nekrasov
- Alright then

- It's not helping
- To all the things

- In the last 24 hours...
- that ptomaine

cannot destroy

Listen, I just...

You know, it's not awareness
that matters

Why not? That matters too

- Doesn't it?
- It's just a part of it

- That's true, of course, but...
- What about feelings?

- Feelings? Yes
- Were those not feelings?

- Well...
- Are you telling me that all that...

You know, it's so much
more complicated

If everything was simply
about feelings...

Not simplicity, but feelings

- There was feeling of course
- There you go

But if there wasn't some feeling

pointed in that direction

- everything would be much simpler
- Then you wouldn't be human

- Why? Why?
- You wouldn't be as complex

or as interesting

So why does she,
the one over there

understand fuck all about it?

- Well?
- She understands

You think so?

- But maybe...
- But what?

- It doesn't match
- So you see

I'm very well acquainted with that

- Very well acquainted
- Unrequited feelings

It's not that it's unrequited...

It's just the levels don't match

Yes. That's what it is

And different levels of feelings

is a very strange phenomenon

It can't be analysed or doubted

or understood

And you shouldn't try
to understand it

- You just shouldn't even attempt it
- Why not?

- You should just feel and exist
- But people are, well...

They do understand. They
take comfort from it

It's granted to us every other day

- And at Easter
- But night...

But nights are ours

- Yes
- To do disgraceful things

But night is full of feelings

- But why should it be Katya's fault?
- It shouldn't

Well, it appears she's

got my whole supply

- of love and happiness
- And she's enjoying herself

She's not though,
she's suffering

I didn't give myself to her
completely

- There's happiness in suffering
- I think that's a male trait

People get their kicks
from lack of availability

I think that's a male trait too

- It's a female one too
- I think women can't...

It's not that they can't,
but they avoi...

- You think they don't need it?
- No, they definitely don't

Because they have to create

- a home, a family
- But only

- Yes?
- if the woman is simple

Simple to the point of losing interest

But if there's something in her

even just a little

- this very thing
- Right...

- Lights up
- guides them

- Carries them along
- Well, maybe you're right

and allows them to fly

Look, there's still a little left

our dear, precious vodka

- Just a little bit
- We'll divide it equally

Absolutely. Fuck

Without a second thought...
Wait a second

- I'm gonna light up
- I think I'll keep you company

- In lighting up?
- Yes

Because...

Because...

Because

This is fucked up

Yes. You think so?

Right. Here, I've found it

Is this called a roll-up?

- Or just a cigarette?
- Cigarette

Fine. I'll try a cigarette

Katya

Katya

That's a good echo, you know.
A good echo

- Up the lamp post?
- Katya

Where are you?

Could she be up there?

I think she's over there

The bins... Nekrasov

I don't know... Why is
everything annoying?

Actually, there's so much...?

For him to start to explain?

Me too

- What the fuck is going on?
- Yeah, something's going on...

It's just...

I just prefer the truth, it's not...

- What was it for?
- You see, the main thing...

So the truth exists now, right?

Yeah

So everything you're doing
is truthful - right now?

It's... Wait a second,
and I'll tell you

Men often say, you know...

...I love you

- But it's the same with me
- Ah, yes

It's not only men

- Well...
- But when they say this phrase...

...about...

...love, but they mean
something different...

- Well, yes, that's clear
- It's a different truth, yeah

It's the truth, but it's like it
completely shuts them off, right?

- Of course
- No, of course, but, no...

I don't want you to feel guilty...

...or try to... I'm not some
kind of victim, am I?

- I'm completely...
- No, no, you're just...

...like a queen, a princess... Basically,
you choose who you want, but it's...

...it's just strange...

You see...

...two months ago, everything
was completely different

You're fickle in love.
It's so obvious

But...

It's not...

Don't see it all as...

Don't see it as anything
at all from my side

The matches are in my pocket

The last batch in the house

I got it

This is all that's left

Once an arsehole,
always an arsehole

I am not Sofronov

- Close enough though
- The fucked up audience

- I'll sit here
- No, don't, it's wet there

- Can I... Why don't I...
- Why don't I just go somewhere else

No, really

Ira, may I have that for a second?

Thanks very much

Dasha, you just can't...

- Yes, I get it
- How can a skirt smell of cognac?

It can. Better it smells of
cognac than of that arsehole

Go, everything's fine

- Katya dear...
- Yes?

I don't really want to hear it

I was going to say
something else

Go on then

True. Have you decided what
you'll be speaking about?

- Yes
- Tell me, please

- I'll be speaking about Yorick...
- You're wonderful

- Who fucking cares about him?
- You're wonderful in every way

Hang on. There was Yorick

And Yorick had a...

- Yorick was actually a...
- Yes

- So this fact...
- What?

Everything we talked about

As all that shit was happening

Fuck, I asked you directly,
right at the start

- Right
- Be specific, enough bullshit

- Yes, yes, right
- I don't need that

- Right. And what did I say?
- Fine

- Dasha, you have a husband
- You acted bullshit

- And I sense this bullshit
- But...

- Fuck, that's it
- Calm down

- It's awf...
- So you sense the bullshit

Well, I got to the point where...

Well, now it's true

So all that happened...
I even asked...

But I can't understand
this ambiguous silence

The thing is, I don't even
want to understand

I mean, I don't want it to

- wound me, or hurt or kill me
- No

- I've no idea...
- Of course not

It shouldn't hurt you
or wound you or anything

- You...
- It's your life

- Great. Absolutely
- No, don't tell me...

Just don't do that, really

Now it just looks
completely stupid

- and dishonest
- But it is all honest

I never said anything dishonest

Not once

- Yes. So actually...
- Yes

Actually the whole
story is set in France

And it's about addition,
not multiplication

- Yeah
- And instead of the inspector...

And he asks

what's twenty times four

Not all men are the same

- Thank God
- Some can...

That's great to know

- Four, twenty
- Yeah

And he immediately realises

that it's noncommutative
multiplication. So...

- So that's the great Arnold
- Yes

I usually say that

addition involves simplification

I can't, my tummy really hurts

- Comrades
- Yes

- With the right hand
- Cheers

I suggest drinking to Katya

- I suggest drinking to Katya
- With great pleasure

Shit, I've fucking ruined everything

Sit down, Blinov. Listen...

I always ruin everything

Nekrasov,
you can't ruin everything

- I ruin everything I touch
- Not true

Wait, I don't get it

Are you looking at
homology generators?

No, the generators
in the ring of functions

Algebraic functions

Yes, but do you need
all loops for that?

- All the loops, yes
- All of them?

- So just the P1 generators?
- Yes, that's enough

Well then, you just...

You can plot
a certain figure

on the group with L2C

Placing the dots in
some kind of order

G1 - Gn

you just get an n-gon

But it is cut along
the diagonals...

But the choice of this graph
corresponds

to splitting this n-gon into triangles

Fuck, again

Shall we slice some bread?

It is sliced

Dasha, may I talk
to Katya?

Why are you asking me?

- No, I just...
- I don't want to talk

I don't want
to talk to you

Not to you

Not to you

Well, it's none of my business.
Do whatever you want

It's none of my business at all

But that definitely isn't
the way to do it

Why not?

Because you see, you stabbed her
with a knife and twisted it on top of that

And then you want
something from her to boot

It's your wife you need to
apologise to. Although that's also...

I don't know.
I'm not married, you see

Let's be reasonable:
what did you want to tell her?

- "I don't love you, dear"?
- Yes

Why are you saying this now?
Do you want her to have a berakdown?

- I didn't tell her I loved her
- It doesn't matter

People don't listen to
what they say to each other

- If we listen to what we say, then
- God

We tell lies all the time.
Everybody knows it

I didn't want to lie

It's the characteristic
of man psychology...

...the main is in words.

Words are filtered.

You can't divide things...

into words
and everything else.

In words do everything
nicely or anyhow.

It's not so in fact.

good that you did not say
that you love her

but its not important

Because when you love
someone...

...to say "I love you" is the same as
nice stroke on somebody's cheek

and no more.

You can do it
just to please somebody.

The value of these
words is trifling.

For me it means taking some
obligations onto myself

People are not machines

It's not a legal contract that you sign

When you become close to someone
you automatically take on obligations

Or you don't. Or you don't become close.
It's impossible to formalise

Nikita, can I have a word?

Nikita, tell me, please.
We're alone now

Is there anything I can do for you?

Nikita, I want you to know that...

You're going through
a hard time now...

- ...but you know, I'm always here for you
- Yes, I know

- So there we are
- Thank you

Bear that in mind, will you?

I'm not going to ask any
questions or anything

I'm here for you, ready
to help. Deal?

Thank you

This is double Omega 1

or a differentiation space

of A into itself

and all the mappings
of A into itself are such

we have the Leibniz limit

So, D(ab) is equal to aD(b)

plus bD(a)

So

There are all sorts of formulas here

Standard things
which are taught in first year

- I get it
- It all works

Now we see new phenomena,
which didn't exist before

We see phenomena for the form
and for the inert fields

For form, the phenomena
are such that

ordinarily in characteristic zero

which actually depends on P number

The simple number P,
obtained on polynomial

and this operation behaves the same

There is a sum, and it goes so...

And here this thing pops up

We could write the formula,
but it's a difficult one

Hence if there is a sum
of a few therms

we'll have another long tail

Impossible stuff

So one should try
and think about it

in an abstract way.
It's difficult to be concrete

Right. This was a general introduction

Now I have a specific question which

I don't understand how to explore

Wait, what about the
one-dimensional...

It's non-additive either

What you mean?

- Fine
- It is never additive

- Alright
- In the strict sense

When it's only one variable...

You're right

Non-commutative vector fields

I like the view you take

on the string theory,
in the sense that

the colleagues
I communicate with

they say it is very unlikely

but it is worth it
because of the beauty

So it is an artistic

- infatuation
- A creative one

- Yes, creative
- Do you expect results?

that experiments can prove
in your life time?

That you don't have much left of

20 or 30 years, realistically speaking

Say 30

- Fine, 40
- May be

I do expect it to

And if it doesn't happen
you'd get upset?

If I'm honest,
in 40 years I won't care

- And now you care still?
- I do

So by the time
it's proven

you won't care?

So why the hell bother?

Because it is not why I do it

I do it because of the beauty
that I see now

- For me the beauty is...
- So you're being a physicist?

It may... It may be
a flaw of mine

I've never experienced the joy

of the results proving the theory

I personally haven't experienced it

And for people
who had that experience...

And beauty makes you happy?

- And that's enough?
- Yes

You do what you do for beauty?

That's what you want it to be

I do what I do...

Well, no, wait a second,
I believe it is so

But we don't really know
what the string theory is

So saying either it is true or not

is too early

I have to say that

unlike my attachments to women
that you wanted to discuss

my attachment to the string
theory is the most lasting in my life

But you used to study something else

Cosmology?

It was all within the theory

- So it's the same...
- Yes

And do you ever feel
that you're doing the same thing?

Of course

Not different things,
that come one after another

- but the same
- It's an artistic gift

Well

- Wait, this is interesting
- It's quite a sore spot

- because...
- That's why I'm asking

I feel like
I repeat the same movement

that I do the same thing,
mentally I mean

and when I have the energy
I try to

steer away from it as well

- So you do feel that?
- I do, yes

I see

And do you have some idea
of your goal?

Of the mission you would
like to accomplish?

Science assumes
that one has faith

in what you do

no matter how pointless it seems

or the goal the authorities
present you with

seems to have little relation
to what you're doing

because you have
some other motives

You find pleasure in this activity,
you see beauty in it

but if you do everything
in a right and honest way

there will be a goal
and it will be reached

You said you are doing things
because they're beautiful

But isn't beauty forced
upon us by the society?

Science is communicative

Nothing exists until you tell
people about it

What is beauty anyway?

That's what I'd like
to know too

Things often appear
beautiful but then...

Do you know what I think?

Beauty is the construction

of the world we'd like to live in

Imagine if this world
was easy to explain

That is, being able to decode
everything without any trouble

Like a dozen wise men
got together and told us everything

And then we just keep living

But if you just keep living
you lose your creativity

You stop striving, you stop
confronting all those things

That's the question of freedom
of choice and of whether or not

you can predict the future

once you've understood
the laws of nature

But even knowing them
you can't predict anything

because those laws are probable

But what if they were
predetermined, those laws?

- Life would be boring then
- Well, yes

We're not designed to
live in an ideal world

- I mean, that's not the idea
- That's absolutely right

But the ideal world is
most likely to be empty

and uninteresting

It's a serious problem, that you
can imagine very many worlds

but you can't understand
why our world is the way it is

- Do you have a girlfriend?
- I have a wife

And is she the one
you dreamt of?

The one whose image you
subconsciously created?

Several times I felt that I
"recognised" a woman

I thought she was the one,
the ideal woman whose image

I'd created subconsciously,
just as you said

I was just absolutely sure
she was the one

And going forward

you either live and try
to make this thing go on

or you simply become disappointed

Either she turns you down

because you might not be ideal for her either

I still maintain

art can present us
with what we expect

and what we do not

In other words

I believe that the Black Square

by Malevich

as an example

is a terrifically sacral

picture

When I saw it
in Petrograd for the first time

I felt as though

I am standing
in front of an icon

There is a certain
mysticism

in this aesthetics

without hard work

without resources or talent

you can create a work of art

- Just intellectually?
- Yes

Whenever someone looks
at the Square

they are a bit shocked

Who's thought of that?

How can it be?

Anyway, it is interesting

It's an illusion

How do people look at it?

They see what they
didn't see in Rembrandt's works

What's shocking is that

you see a very intimate scene

that you can't talk about

A mystery that can't be shared

but he shows it to everyone

It's harsh and abrupt

but very sophisticated
at the same time

because

there's nothing really

just black and white paint

Does science have its own
Black Square?

No, Black Square is

an imitation

They tried to organize art
as science

What if you organize
science as art

For example, to create an institute

which will be like a theatre

It's the ladies' turn to
choose, Blinov

- The ladies' turn
- Yes, yes

Nobody needs you

- Asya's not asking you to dance
- Come on, let's dance

Palych is choosing all the
tunes. Denis, quick

That's not right, Asya

Is this a waltz? I've
forgotten how you do it

I used to be able to

Those were the hard times

when vodka was rationed

That's right

We managed to trade
in a load of ration tokens

for vodka

And had a party
in my friend's flat

So he failed
to do his revision

because

I couldn't save him from himself

That was not unexpected

but Petya, who didn't
take part in the drinking

Anyway. What are you all drinking?

We drink anything

- Anything that burns
- Riesling? Shmiesling?

Anything that burns. Cheese doesn't
so we're not having that

Head of a lab is someone who...

who either gets fucked
or fucks others

What the fuck do you think
you're doing?

Comrades, who's up for cider?

Cider

- Cider, that's a proper nighttime drink
- You'll have some, right?

Especially mixed with vodka

- Thanks, but I don't drink
- Just take it

It's refreshing

I want to explain...

We have a theoretical department

an experimental and
theoretical department

Blinov and I here

When I came here
after the war...

We... there was a time

when, between the two of us

we only had three screwdrivers
and two soldering irons, right?

- For example, Tourette's
- That's me

- Don't, there's no need
- But you'll freeze

It's not that far

What's this smell?

Maybe I'll put
the kettle on

Doing a bit of housework?

But of course. What's this?

Dedicated to Anna Grigorievna

We could read
the book out loud

It's The Brothers Karamazov,
as you may have guessed

It is pretty interesting

"As I start the life story
of my hero"

"I find myself
to be rather puzzled"

"This is because, although I'm
calling him my hero"

"I know all too well that he's
by no means a great person"

"I know there'll be a stream
of inevitable questions"

"What makes him
so remarkable?"

Well?

I'm in love with you, you know

Yes, well

Nothing new there

You didn't have to
take that long

Yes

It's a very juvenile feeling

but it will pass quickly

Sooner or later

Honestly

- Yes
- There you go

If on one side of the
scales you've got

your wife and two kids

and on the other side
you have

something incomprehensible

which affects a few people
at the same time, then...

You may have all sorts of feelings

but... how can I explain

It's great
they're there, but

no practical

outcome will come of it

Whatever happens, we should
define our relationship

- Do you want some tea?
- Tea? Why not

Something will explode otherwise,
either a kettle or...

You know, I haven't got

or nearly haven't got,
I don't know

When you're young
there's always the problem

of being possessive

If you've got some
object or other

that you have some
kind of feelings for

It's really torturous
if you can't...

If you can't have it

You need to have it

But I don't have this
problem right now

Or perhaps it just
seems so at the moment

I do have it

Well, it's...

I think so, anyway

I reckon, sorry, but I reckon

it's quite childish

and egocentric

a whim

Alright, so I know

you're in love with me

And what are you
intending to do?

Is there anything

that should change
in our relationship?

We see each other every day

Several hours a day

What is it that you're lacking?

You

This is what I really
want to know

Is it just me that you need?

Other five or six people?

That's what I'm really
interested to know

Not only you

Thank you

I don't know if there's anything
to have with tea

- There's the cake
- What?

- I don't want any cake
- Don't you?

What you're doing now
is testing yourself

You always have the most

difficult and painful
problems when you want

to have something

but you can't

Yes, it's always terrible,
painful and upsetting

but I don't have that
problem at the moment

Zoya, apart from our
wonderfully warm friendship

I also have purely physical
attraction for you

Maybe I shouldn't have said that

It might appear to be a simple problem

and an insignificant one

but actually it's not true

Wait and what does this mean?

That you can't have two triplets
with the maximum elements...

I'm going to introduce
new numbers for each triplet

We are going to call those triplets...
Can I write here?

And do we know anything about
the multitude of the maximum elements?

What sub-multitude of natural numbers
does it produce?

Or can any natural number be...

- They are simple numbers 1, 2, 5...
- 13, 29

No, I don't know anything about that

Mind you, 13, 29 and 5
have a remainder of 1 when divided by 4

and as you know
the field theory likes to distinguish

between the numbers
that have a remainder of 1 and 3

perhaps in this case remainder 1
should be fine but not the others?

Yes, possibly.
But I am not aware of that

You know, Nekrasov

you are doing well

You've got a wife,
two kids

and other people

to share all those

complicated feelings with

Don't you think it's a bit

wrong?

I am wrong to share
my complicated feelings with you?

Not for so long and
in so much detail

I... I get it

It's just that, really...

Alright... I get it,
I've got to be patient

So far I have
plenty of it

I mean...

It's not just about
the patience but for now...

I also really love drinking
and I love my science

Yes, that's...

That's very important

It really is something
to take into consideration

It's something I could get over

I think

Also, I have weird friends

That's true

It's ridiculous to talk about it, really

Can you imagine any

practical way out
of this situation?

- Or do you just want to wait?
- I think that...

Actually...

Nature will solve this

- All of my problems
- Nature?

Yes, something will
just happen somehow

Your nature is such

that you just want
everything at once

That's not quite right

It's more the circumstances

than my nature

What do you mean,
the circumstances?

You know, we do

rather peculiar work here,
in this institute

Perhaps it's the strange
working hours

I think it's ridiculous

to suggest that something

could be predetermined
by circumstances

Especially at your age.
Respectable age too

Seriously

Nothing is predetermined
by the circumstances

Have you really never been

in a situation like this before?

Like this? I don't think so

It's not about the situation

I don't think it's ever
about the situation

Perhaps you're right,
perhaps I've just forgotten

what with my respectable
age and all that

It's very simple then

Change the circumstances

So when you're with Tanya

do you also tell
her all the details

of your situation?

Tanya? Generally, yes

Do you also advise
her to be patient?

How does she take
that advice, I wonder?

Badly

- That's understandable
- Yes

Maybe it's time
to stop discussing it?

Stop discussing it? Perhaps

I think it would make

everyone's life a lot easier

Stop hitting the roof

and getting twitchy

or getting driven
up the wall

I'm now at a stage

when I don't get
driven up the wall

So is everything clear as mud?

Or are some things clear?

- I think I understand everything
- What exactly?

I doubt you'd be this way
if you did

You think?

It's clear to me
that I don't want to choose

Sounds extremely childish
and selfish too

Well, yes

It's a fact

Well, if it's childish and selfish

it will pass quickly

as all things childish do

One selfish desire replaces another

And what about you?

There's a few selfish desires
running in parallel

- What's the difference?
- These desires are

completely different

You're a man of a
very sensitive

refined disposition

- Yes
- Has no one ever told you that?

- No
- Hand made

With both hands

At the moment

I am in this
very fortunate position

I'll say it again

I honestly don't need anything

But if we imagine for a moment

that I had doubts

or was suffering and longing

to get something out of it

Then after a
conversation like this I would

- Would've told me to get lost?
- Absolutely

I get it

For good, too

We are opening a big conference today

dedicated to an issue
which is new for our Institute

Actually there are two main issues

One is quite topical at the moment

that is interdisciplinary research

that is interdisciplinary research

and the question of synthesis between
the natural sciences and the humanities

On the other hand

the humanities now pay more attention

to the synthesis of history, sociology,
anthropology, and psychology

and also to what in the thirties
was called

or referred to as
"anthropogenic energies"

Good evening, Svetlana Vladimirovna

Thank you

I've been entrusted to look after
the Academician Dau today

If you say so

I haven't seen you for a while

I wouldn't mind
sitting down for a bit

Choose where

Either here or there,
wherever you like

- That's your seat, I assume?
- No, this one

- Here?
- Here, there and everywhere

- Cognac?
- Have you already had some?

I'll join you then

I have a bit of a cold

There's something going around

Would you like to try
some foreign ones?

I prefer mine

Alright, what's the matter?

I just get nervous every
time I see you

Please. You really shouldn't

Maybe so

Ok, it's fine to be nervous

I think it's normal

When you see someone you get nervous

- Not always
- No?

but often

Who makes you nervous?

Me?

Who makes me nervous or why
do I get nervous? Not the same thing

- Are you nervous?
- Of course

I haven't seen you for a long time

You haven't written
for a long time

I was told

you don't care anymore

So I thought

why bother you
with my letters

You still haven't said
why you're nervious

I'm always nervous
when I see you

You still haven't said
why you're nervous

I don't understand why you're
nervous when you see me

- Because I have strong feelings for you
- Good Lord

Feelings, you say

This isn't true, Nikita

This isn't true

- It is
- It is not, I don't believe it at all

That's a different issue,
that's what you should say

- "I don't believe in your feelings"
- I don't

- And do you?
- I do

- But these feelings aren't only for me?
- No, not only for you

- This is another question
- The most important one

- It's important? How should I know?
- Of course it is

You don't say anything
about yourself

And this isn't the point

The point is your feelings

You don't react to mine

And I just find myself...

Why should I react if I know
about your other feelings as well?

Firstly, how do you know
about my other feelings?

- I can guess
- How?

Well, we spent some time together

Do you remember how we met?

I was holding your hand,
we were sitting on the windowsill

- in the house next door
- My hands were cold is all

- You have poor circulation
- Terrible one

And?

Nothing. I'm just a bit lost

And after that

I fell madly in love with you

But at the same time you're also
falling in love with Zoya

I don't get it, you want this
and that, can't you choose one?

I think you understand it very well

- No, not at all
- Really?

- Do you understand yourself?
- I thought I did, at least

Do you always know
exactly what you want?

No, I didn't say that

I'm just saying that right now
you have no clue what you want

- We are going round in circles
- Or maybe you do

but not telling me
because I don't understand

when you talk about
your wife, Zoya, myself

Where do I stand?

This is your position

- Are you smoking again?
- Yes

Give it back.
You shouldn't smoke at all

- Why?
- Because you don't smoke

- You smoke when you're nervous
- Yes

And I don't know
why you're nervous

Fine, you say you're nervous
when you see me

Let's sit over there

It's too formal at the table

Will you take the ashtray?

So when you stop smoking near me
it'll mean you're not nervous

- That will be our goal
- Right

Actually I started recently,
roughly around last night

No, I thought you used to smoke.
Didn't you?

- You're confusing me with someone
- So it's not because you saw me?

Haven't you ever been in love
with several men at the same time?

No

No

When you're in love with someone
that's where your heart goes

At the time of being
with that person

Yes

but if you are with someone else,
it goes to them

- So it's a moveable notion
- Yes

Very unstable too

I think it's stable

How can it be stable
if when you are with one person

- and you tell them you're in love
- Yes

- I can't live without you
- Yes

Then you say the same things
to someone else?

In my head
when people fall in love

they forget about
all the other living beings

- I doubt you think that
- I do

I have never been able to forget
about my wife and kids, that's true

Or was I going to

At least so far

- And you never will
- Most probably not

How can you love
someone else then?

You can want someone else.
This is a different thing

I normally can't want without love

Because you think
that you can want only through love

- Yes. That's me
- But it's not the case

I don't know.
That's how I work

If I want someone
I don't just want them sexually

I also want to
take care of them

to know them better

You won't have time for everyone

Are you concerned about my time?

About you, rather

I think if you're in love with me

you should at least pretend
that you've left everything behind

- and fell in love with me
- Pretend?

At least

instead of telling others

So pretending is better
than being genuine?

And I thought
I should tell my wife

- That you're in love with someone else?
- Yes

To hurt her?

So that it wouldn't be lies

- and hypocrisy, as you put it
- Wait

No, it's not fair at all

- It's to make you feel better
- Actually, I told you first

And then my wife

But you only told your wife

to make yourself
feel better

Right?

You've come clean
and feeling better for it

And she gets to suffer

You're fine,
and everyone suffers

I feel fucking awful

- And why is that?
- Because of all this

I am honest with everybody, but...

But I haven't achieved anything

You didn't get any?

Of course not

Funny, isn't it?

- Well, actually...
- You really wanted it and got none

Nekrasov, come on

- Of course I did
- You did

That's the problem

you turn "want" into "love"

Yes

You'll get some
if you say you want them

Don't turn it into some...
I don't know

Some love story. "I love you",
"I am in love with you"

Nobody will believe you.
You can't be in love with 10 people

You fall in love and forget
about everybody else

Or just say - I want you

- You drink a lot, Svetlana
- Less than you, or more?

- I'm larger
- Maybe, I am more nervous

- Why would you be?
- Because I haven't seen you for ages

because you're saying all
this nonsense to me

And you keep talking and talking,
I just can't listen anymore

Listen to me talk?

Listen to you talk
about being in love with me

I stopped because
I thought it started to bore you

- These things never bore
- Really?

Nekrasov, pick a direction

- Fine
- It's all very simple

- What is fine?
- What do you want?

- Me?
- Yes

I think the same that you do

Cognac. No?

Wrong guess

Not the widest bed

No, not the widest

Scared?

- And you?
- Nope

- Look at you, you little rebel
- I am too

- To what?
- To you

- To you
- To me? Dear God

- To what?
- To you

That would work

- Are you sure you'll manage?
- I am sure

- He's upstairs
- They're looking for him

- Who is looking for him?
- Everybody

It's about the plane

Well, he was upstairs anyway

Someone's looking for you

- What's the matter?
- Your plane

There's some information
about your plane

- May I sit?
- Of course

Cognac?

Why not

We must have a drink

What about the plane?
Is everything alright?

It's just the departure time

- What is it?
- 13:45

It's good time

- Wonderful time
- Excellent

- I'll be off then
- Bye

Svetlana and I talked

Although you said
you had enough of me talking

Well, you started already

Well

I did tell you
I have feelings for her too

- So I told her too
- Well done

I also told her about you

- And?
- Well...

She doesn't really care
about the feelings

but is always up for sex

And what am I to do
with all that?

Of course I wanted
to sleep with her

Well done

- And I would have
- Brilliant

- Anything else I should know?
- No

Lovely

So what am I supposed
to do with it now?

It doesn't change
the way I feel about you

I'm flattered

I can't say I'm surprised

Lots of people don't mind
sleeping with many people

It's a very well known medical fact

There's nothing unique here

in case you didn't know

I thought it was very important
to you that it was...

You know, "right"

It hasn't been proper for
a long time already

- Well, yes
- So the details don't really matter

You talk about it

as if it's a small problem

on the way to some goal

But we are not
going anywhere together

- It's not to me
- Well, there you are, why..?

I want to go together

How?

I think we'll find a way

I would love to hear

your various arguments

Look, listen...

That's exactly why
I am trying to be honest

so we don't bump
into anything unexpected

You mean I should be aware of

some caviats and
accept them, right?

If you can I would be happy

If you can't I have to do
something about it

Shall we go for a stroll?

Zoya, what do you want me to say?

Nothing, I've told you
thousands of times

I can't listen to all of this

anymore.
I have understood everything

That you cannot
figure it al out

that there are several people,
and that you're married

I cannot listen to it anymore

I know it all actually,
there's nothing new

- that you want me to be with you
- I do

So what shall I do?
This is your wish

Do you fulfil all my wishes?

- I know that you have such a wish
- I do

I don't know
what else is there to discuss

Really

Because like I said

this form of relationship
makes me physically sick

I just cannot do it

I think it's terribly false
and impossible

It's a true betrayal of oneself

Then we have to keep
figuring it out

Go on, figure it out,
what is it to do with me?

What is my role
in all this figuring out?

I need you, what can I say?
I realised that I need you

Long ago?

Who else do you need?
You need everyone, don't you?

Not everyone

Well, I do
but in different ways

- And why do I need you?
- Pardon?

- Why do I need you?
- You told me why actually

I'd love to change, you know

to be a normal man

with all the...

Live the life you want

I am not asking you to change

I don't present you with a choice,
leave the way you want

I can only be one way or the other

Otherwise it's a painful, endless,
senseless story

The main thing it's painful.
And it's getting worse

as you very well know,
I've told you that before

I've always thought... Perhaps I am wrong

But it seems

everybody talks about it these days

The most important thing
is to be honest

- So you were
- Yes

- And what did they say?
- That they'd rather not know

If I got it right that is

- So you regret it
- Not really

- It's not been long enough
- And what do YOU want?

- I thought everyone needed to know
- Well, they do

- Well, let's see
- They only know your version though

- Of course
- Is it at least close to the truth?

- Is there any connection?
- Truth doesn't exist

Is your version
close to reality?

- I think so
- It's similar?

I think they all lie actually

So...

Actually I think everyone gets turned
on by the fact everyone knows

So some have got used to it
and others haven't, right?

Those who haven't,
reacted very lively

Did they?

- So you got what you wanted?
- No, but it isn't important probably

What is important to you?

Well, like yourself, I think it's
important to understand

that you are in the world
that you picture yourself in

I can have my own idea
about any part of the world

I can think an apple is real,
I can think it's rubber

The first time we talked

your main problem was that

everything was not the way
you imagined it to yourself

I always think everything is
not the way I imagined it

Maybe this isn't acceptable
amongst the physicists

They act within the limits of
an established theory

They do reconsider,
but if the theory describes

some phenomenon, and if
a new phenomenon occurs

which is not descibed by this theory
the theory must be extended

But the new theory
must resolve itself into the old one

And if it doesn't?

Then the old phenomenae may
have been described incorrectly

So, they must agree

Sure. The old phenomenae
may have been described incorrectly

A new theory should describe
the old phenomenae as well

Yes, that's what we're talking about

The phenomenae are the
same all of the time

However, there is one thing
about human relationships

people change over their lifetime

- Unlikely, at our age
- Their wishes, moods

- They can change
- They can

Maybe the wishes they declared
were, in fact

not their wishes,
they were determined by...

That's what we're talking about

About the formula...

Yes, we were trying
to find the most honest

way of expressing our desires

And in general, to learn
something from our desires

But the problem is that

with this way of manifestation,
the reaction needs to be...

You express your desire,
I react in some way

And not necessarily by satisfying it

Well of course

There some fundamental desires
and some non-fundamental ones

but they are there

Or you may take non-fundamental ones
for fundamental

And the fundamental fact
is the very fact that...

In our relationship it's important for me,
firstly, that we have a relationship

And secondly that we can

honestly express everything

Our relationship isn't really a relationship

You mean there's no sexual subtext
from my part?

No, I mean there is no input
to our relationship from your part

You don't offer me anything,
you just want things from me

You might come and say,
"Darling, I've brought you all this"

And this part of your life
will have been organised by me

It doesn't matter what it is.
But this is your gift

Yet there is none

I'd like to still
be able to see you

Will you give me a reason why?

- I'm not always going to be an arsehole
- I think you are

Then we're going to keep on talking
in the same old way

You mean I'm going to
wipe your nose for you?

Yes, or...

You could explain to me exactly why
I'm the bastard in a given situation

I usually find fast, short, simple
explanations that are usually the case

Maybe I'll learn finally

Maybe we'll find another
reason to spend time together

Come on, find it then.
Think of something

It can come from you, can't it?
Some kind of plan

You cannot go on
feeding my sense of power

I can explain to you this and that

- Give you a litte nudge now and then
- Isn't this perfect for you?

It can't last long.
It's been long enough already

Why can't you round everyone up
and discuss it?

But it's something personal

It's your relationship.
It's personal for you as well

You're either going to
live this conspiracy forever

betraying one for another

or you have an open discussion

They will all tell you
to fuck off, of course

- including me
- Then this is my truth

It is

Call and ask all of them to come

Listen, we make late hours,
everybody's still there

- May I?
- Please come in

Thank you kindly

- Were you talking?
- Yes

- May I please not take part?
- In the conversation?

- Why?
- Because I've already talked myself out

- Are you just going to sleep?
- What?

- Are you just going to sleep?
- No, I'm not, I'm not sleeping

I thought you weren't bothered!

No, I went to get
some champagne. Here

Right

It's cold out

- Well, it's not May
- You're right

I'm freezing

- Would you like to have some cognac?
- Sure, to warm up

- Here is your glass
- This is mine?

- It is now
- Always

- This one? I don't know
- Mine as well

It's all yours

- Please talk Zoya into joining us
- I can't

- You have to make an effort
- I can't

Why me? Is it my relationship?

- Zoya thinks there's no point in this
- In what exactly?

In celebrating something here together
or on the contrary

Or grieving.
There's always some merit in grieving

- Do I have to grieve?
- No

Thank you

I don't think it's right
or productive

- Katya, dear. Two bottles of champagne
- Good evening

Of course, I didn't want to
come empty-handed

Neither with the left
nor the right

- Hello
- Come through

- Hello
- Hi

God, look at all this champagne.
We're gonna get drunk

- It's multiplying
- We don't have anything to chase it with

- Well, champagne is...
- This is nothing like a French novel

It's freezing.
I do have the cigarettes though

- Come on
- Why do you need this?

I want you to be there
next to me

I don't want to go anywhere
right now

How can I make you? Move
the chair with you in it?

- Shall I move the whole chair?
- No, Nikita. Don't. Why?

What if I don't want to? You
want it, I don't, that happens

Well, yes

We just realised we
nearly have a full set

- Only missing Tanya and Katya
- And maybe someone else

Zoya doesn't want to join us, I can't
persuade her and I'm not going to try

Katya...

- Katya left, it's impossible
- No, it was different, it wasn't right

Why?

Because I didn't have any feelings for Katya

Katya not have feelings to you
or you to Katya?

Katya did. At least that was what she said

- I didn't.
- But you said you did

I can't remember it at all

- If I can't remember...
- Then it didn't happen

Or these were the feelings
which pass

I see

This is also a way
to approach this issue

Let's drink for inexhaustibility
of your feelings

- And for the feelings which don't pass
- If they are of value for you, I

am ready

Right

Katya

- When I first came here
- Yes

the first person I fell in love with
were you

Right

And I tried to communicate it to you

in the way I could

And it seemed to me

that you were not interested

I'm really sorry,
as for feelings...

Well, I respect your feelings a lot

but there was not more
then a fancy

or interest

I was able to see in all your efforts
to show me something

Maybe

there was nothing else

Why talk about big feelings then?

I'm not talking about big feelings

So you took a fancy, it flatters me a lot

But this is...

But there's...

this is it

I just felt it would be right
to tell you about it

Don't forget I then witnessed

something that you can't remember any longer

your lack of feelings
towards Katya

That was a strange story

You wintessed it, and so?

It happened

Yes

I just remember it very well,
because Katya was

crying on my shoulder
and did not understand

you or your attitude

That's why I still remember

Well I see. Yes I'm guilty

She's not here so that I could apologise

If she was,
I would apologise again

Well, I'm sorry for asking,
I'm just interested

Fine, so we have Katya.
And who was next?

Katya was in the meantime, not after

Amongst those who are here,
Sveta was there all the time

And then Zoya, who
refuses to be here

And all of that time I was friends with
Lyuba, we became very close

So then, let's say
the time condensed

- Or was it all happening at the same time?
- It got mixed up

- No, well, some things overlapped
- Practically everything

I'm just trying...
I've been watching you for a while

- Why?
- Trying to figure out...

Well, how many years have we known
each other? 15?

- 14
- 14 years already

Of course, I've always cared for you

You are one of the people
I am always happy to see

when you come here to the Institute

I'm more happy to see you
then many others

I just cannot understand

Well, what do you...

I am always keen
to make people happy

It just can't... When a person
keeps making, for 15 or 14 years

the same mistakes

deeds, mistakes,
or he doesn't tell it completely

Then it means it's such a person

I'm sorry, you're not a 5 year old
to say I am what I am, love me

- Why not, by the way?
- Because you've outgrown it

Maybe I'm still 5 years old
inside, I don't know

Maybe it's easier to admit
you're a self-affected shithead?

- Well, that came out easy
- You're the one looking for an easy way

You think that's easy?

Of course. You are saying
"I am a shithead"

- Yes
- "Take it or leave it"

There isn't a better me available

- There isn't
- Well then?

If we didn't have time for you,
we wouldn't be sititng here

We love you sincerely
and whole heartedly

Perhaps, each of us

in her own way

And discussing your behaviour
doesn't mean

discussing you as a person

- No, I guess not
- It's not

Everyone makes mistakes
or does something indecent

But every person
consists of what they have done

Or have not done

- Sveta's sore spot
- It makes no difference though

Because not to do something
is also a deed

- Thank you.
- Of course!

- Don't prompt him.
- I'm sorry

Here's to you coming back
to us, simple as that

Thank you

Let's go, girls

- As usual
- Yes

Do you want this?

- Shall we go for a bit of fresh air?
- Why?

- We could go for a walk, we could not
- To blow away all these cobwebs

Which ones, I don't have any
cobwebs to blow away

These are all unconstructive decisions;
we could go for a walk, sit down, lie down

We can lie down

A lot of words, and movements
that don't go anywhere. It's just...

No?

Well, yes, but I think
we are getting closer anyway

- Why are we getting closer?
- Why?

- Why?
- Because I think we have...

Do you want me to tell you what
I'm feeling? I feel sick

I'm sorry, I am

I'm sick, physically

I understand

I don't really think we are
getting closer,

if four people come together

It doesn't really help
getting closer, from my point of view

It's not really my idea

Although yes it is I think

Generally speaking

Analysing this equation

Analysing this equation

allows you to carry out
certain calculations

that take you beyond the
standard version of perturbation theory

In which case your small parameter
is, naively speaking

not a coupling constant, such
as the electron charge, for example

but the electron charge times
the logarithm of nothing but the ratio

of some characteristic momentum
or other to the cut-off scale

This shows that it's the
electron charge

that makes
the correct parameter

Thus, you can write down a formula

for the effective charge
that will be valid

when the electron charge is
scaled to the electron mass

which is, in other
words, very small

and yet the formula will be
valid for very large scales

You'll discover that when
the scale is really very large

the charge becomes infinite

which means that your
description of the theory

in terms of gauge fields
and fermions is now wrong

Because terms with
higher derivatives

become more significant

- I see
- Comrade Demidova

the journalist, is here

Could you wait
in the Theoretical Department

to be interviewed?

- May I go to D1, to powder my nose?
- Yes, of course

- Shall we bring you some coffee?
- Good idea

I need some matches

- And cigarettes too?
- To light cigarettes

- There you go then
- I've got some cigarettes already

Look, what a pretty girl

So many cigarettes... I mean, so
many matches. Who'd have thought

- Anyway, come back soon
- I will

- Would you like some fritters to go?
- Sure

You would? Come with me

They are courgette ones

- Courgettes?
- Yes

May I have one? Do you
have any sour cream? No?

- Don't just...
- Thanks

Imagine the world

where everyone must know
the laws of physics

what law would you choose?

It's a strange question

The laws of physics are here
and cannot be eliminated

and what is not yet discovered
I cannot eliminate either

There aren't two laws describing
the same phenomenon

You have laws... You have

different ways
to describe physical phenomena

which are more or less precise

So the laws of physics are not

like the laws of human society

these are not some
rules of behavior

They are not the rules
you do or do not follow

These are just properties of nature

And natures' properties

which are more important
or essential than others

They are all important by definition

Alright, I will rephrase the question

Someone who has
no knowledge of physics

What should they know?

They should know
that nature can be described

So any observed phenomenon

can be understood and described

and later reproduced

From the scientific point of view?

Yes, experimentally, in the lab

What about
professional success and love?

Do they coexist
or eliminate one another?

A person happily in love, is more
likely to succeed professionally

Inspiration is such a thing that...

Do you think your wife
would have married you

if you had been a simple labourer?

Would this play a part
in her decision?

Well, that's an academic question,
quite an abstract one

Had I been a "simple labourer"

I wouldn't have met my wife
in the first place

Had she been a simple labourer,
then maybe

So you think what you do is not
that important for her?

Or is it a part of you?

I think it is a part of me

But if I did chemistry
rather than physics

it wouldn't have mattered

And if I were...

I don't know... A miner,
I'd have other interests

and maybe she wouldn't
be interested in me

I couldn't tell you for sure

Your destiny is...
You can't just change

one thing and expect
everything else to remain the same

Everything is interconnected

To some extent

Since we're on the subject

of marriage

What does betrayal mean for you?

In marriage?

Yes

And in friendship

Betrayal is always the same:
to leave your loved one vulnerable

in some kind of danger
or threat

or to push them
towards this danger

consciously

Or

to do something

which devalues your relationship

Such as?

Well, for example