Kutya éji dala (1983) - full transcript

Társulás Stúdió presents

A film by Gábor Bódy

DOG'S NIGHT SONG

"On the Road."

Particular attention
and care is required

when travelling today.
- Hey, you never marry?

So as to feed another one?
What does she have a mother for?

You playing tennis?

You're no Taróczy!
- Of course not.

Jancsi!

János!



Can you hear me?
I can't turn off the tap.

Little one,

which way to the church?

That way.

... gone the days so glorious
You'll ensnare the women no more

Nor steal a kiss, nor break a heart
My Adonis, those days are o'er

Nor steal a kiss, nor break a heart
My Adonis, those days are o'er

You really want to go to church?
- Sure. I'll do your hair.

... Believe me!

You're not so special, believe me!

It's a long-distance connection

It's long distance love
It is indeed!

Hello. Is this place free?
- Yes!

Where are you heading?
- To the sanatorium.



My poor father is ill...

Do you know where the bus-stop is?
- 'Course. Can I come along?

If you have the time, yes.
- Good. Thanks.

"On the Road." And again,
some recently reported accident:

Between Szeged and...

Why do old people disappear?

Don't tell!

But why shouldn't I?
- What?

I went into the room, he was sitting
there, watching TV. Dead!

Oh, my word! Oh my God!

Hey! Hey!

Come here quick!

Looks pretty bad!
- Where's a telephone?

At the observatory.
Or in the village. That's closer.

Call the doctor!

I'll stay with him.

Almighty God,
you're sorely testing me...

Give me the strength
to help this poor man!

And help me to...

I am dead.
I died.

Amen.

Who are you? Let me die in peace!
- A servant of the Lord.

Can you move?
- No, damn it!

Try it!

You see!
No movement!

They moved.
- You see! They won't move.

No movement in 25 years.
Why should they move now?

Go away!
Leave me to die in peace!

Kill me!

Kill me!

Crush me with a stone!

To the hell with it!

Excuse me!
Does it hurt?

So it was no accident?

My whole life was an accident.

To the hell with this damned world!

Why are you interrogating me?
Go away! Let me die in peace!

Easy now, brother!

Stop with that brother stuff!
What are you? A priest?

I am a servant of the Lord.

Then give me extreme unction.

I don't have my equipment.

I've just arrived here.
I'm taking over the parish.

I believe it's been vacant for years.
- And no one cared about that, either.

How were you injured?
In the war? Or in a work-place accident?

Nonsense!
In '56 I caught a bullet.

My legs were ruined...

During the battles?

There were no battles here.

Only one shot was fired.

Through the window.

I phoned around to make sure that the
school children would be picked up.

An accident at work, you might say.
- Do you know who did it?

There are lots of candidates.
I have enemies even now. Lots of them.

For example, the children
who go to religious education.

They might have got a weapon.
Or... maybe a poacher.

Luckily no one else has weapons here.
Here they poison each other.

Where do they get the poison from?
- They have it inside themselves!

Poison does for everything.

You speak figuratively.

I'm speaking Hungarian. What else?
Should I speak Latin?

How late is it now?

After ten, probably.

Did you call a doctor?

Someone's fetching him.

No one will find him. At this time
he'll be with his whores in the town.

Turn the wheelchair round!

And give me a shove.
Perhaps it'll work this time.

Father... Mother!

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done...
- Hey, Dubina, the green one!

Give us this day our daily bread.
- Hey, you, help us do the labour hard

We pull it, and pull it
- ... But deliver us from evil.

And move it

What wickedness!
- Amen.

The First Epistle
of St. John the Apostle.

Brethren,
If a man say, I love God,

and hateth his brother, he is a liar:

For he that loveth not
his brother whom he hath seen,

how can he love God
whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment
have we from Him,

that he who loveth God
love his brother.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

It is thus that love,

charitable love in particular,
is central to our thoughts now.

What does this word mean?

Saint Paul names its varied aspects

in his First Letter to the Corinthians:

Love is patient, modest, unassuming,
simple, peaceful, unselfish,

gentle, pure-hearted, persevering,
merciful... and so on.

If love means all this,

then it must be
the name for all virtues put together.

Love is the substance, so to speak,
from which come the gifts of grace.

Love is always a sign of rebirth.

In the words of St. John,
"Everyone that loveth is born of God,

and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God and God in him."

My dear Christian brethren,
in our deeds we have strayed far

from the love preached by Jesus.

We bear grudges against one another
and we lack that forgiveness

which we daily pray for
in our prayers to God the Father.

Or are you not like that?

When you deny light and warmth
to a man who has lived amongst you

for more than half a century?

A man you've left burnt out,
parched and gasping for love,

rolling down a long slope

to a voluntary death.

If somebody says that he loves God
but hates his brother, he is a liar.

That was the text of my sermon.
Free yourself from delusion.

Begin a new life,
brethren, together with me.

Become true, charitable Christians...

Christians who dare
to love even their enemies

for they have nothing to fear.
God is with them.

They have the protecting might
of the infinitely merciful

and charitable God and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.
- Amen.

For God's sake!

Why can't you leave me in peace?

Why can't you let me sleep?

Jancsi, dearest.

Aren't you coming to bed?

I'll never come home
from the barracks!

I swear it's worse here than there!

There at least you know
you're carrying out orders.

Don't you understand?

When you're at home,
you think you can do what you want.

Whatever you feel like.

Sleeping...

Don't scream or you'll wake the kid!

What? The kid!

But anyone can wake me up, right?

You say you can't do what you want!

You wanted to go to the pub
and you went there!

You wanted to stay till closing time
and you did!

You wanted to get drunk, you're drunk!
- I was with a friend, all right?

You get it? Understand?

I hadn't seen him in five years!
Five! He's my best friend!

How much have you seen of me?

Do you want a slap?
- You can't give me much else.

Don't mess me about!

I've got a short temper.
- I know.

You weren't always like this, when you
knocked me up at 16 you were different.

Because I'd just got out of prison.
My cock was ready to explode.

If only I'd fucked the wall
and not you!

You pig!

You dare talk to me like that, you pig!

See?

You won't give me a break
till you've worn my patience thin.

Did it hurt?

Sorry!

Why can't you ever go easy?
- Because I love you.

But if you love me...

why won't you understand
that I need some peace?

Because I saw that you were
having bad dreams and not sleeping well.

I know what's good for me.

Do you know what I think about
day in, day out?

You have no idea!

Do you realise that my work...
- Your work, always your work!

Yes, my work!
- Your stupid work!

It's my work that supports you both.
- I work, too!

Right! Painting your nails
for two thousand a month.

And you?

You put on your khaki pyjamas
and go off to your stupid work.

And if you bother to come home at all,

you're exhausted or dead drunk.

I am a soldier.

A soldier is someone who fights for
his country and carries a weapon.

To protect his people.

I have an idea what you're getting at:

Faith, hope, love
and love your neighbour!

Endure in peace!

The only thing is, the clergy always
used to fatten themselves on love.

And the people fought to survive
like dogs do for bread.

Life in this system is a lot better
to be sure.

Even you have a little paunch now!

And it'll grow, too.

Just admit it:
This system is much, much better!

There's television...
Admit it, it is better!

I didn't live under the old system.

I think a lot of things
must be better today.

But people still fight each other.
You too were attacked.

By your wife, even.
That is what you said, right?

I recall:
She once said that she loves me.

I wish she'd never said it.

But she still stands by you.
- By me? It's my pension she stands by.

I get three times more pension
than she can earn.

She stands by me
because of the pension.

And because it's all she can do.

How long have you lived together?
- 30 years.

And 26 of them in a wheelchair...

She exploits my situation.

Once
I said I'd give up smoking.

So she's been hiding
my cigarettes from me since.

Her grocer brother-in-law
has also been told not to sell me any.

And I have many enemies in
the village.

She knows that I am too proud
to ask strangers for a favour.

Of course, this is all for my sake,
so as to look after my health.

Course! To protect my pension!
Hence the suicide attempt.

That's why?

That's why.

Don't worry,
not because I'm a coward or...

No.

That's really why?

That was part of it.

You alluded to me in your sermon...
Have you got a cigarette?

I've got sweeties.
- Oh, the nice uncle with the sweeties...

Sweeties... love...

Alluding to me in your sermon!

You know what?
Go get yourself another playmate!

Catch me!
Catch me!

Catch me!

János!

Come to bed!
- Must I explain my whole life to you?

Give me a drag!

I didn't go to the army college
to become another Marshal Zhukov!

Sorry! I paint my nails
for your sake...

There just wasn't the money...

I will discover new forms of fuel!
And then the bosses will see that...

I know you graduated
as first-lieutenant with honours.

It's enough.

I don't want you to become a colonel.
I wouldn't even mind if they demoted you.

And I don't want you
to blow yourself up again! Give me a drag.

Go get one yourself.

Promotion doesn't interest me.

The money would be handy,
but it's not the main thing.

It's not. But we could use it.
- Do you remember...

Do you remember our
housewarming party?

I told everyone that
I wanted to use my brains.

And that's just the problem.

If I'd gone to the Soviet Union...
- You didn't because of me and Janika...

I'm not reproaching you.
I never have and never will.

I didn't want to.

My word is my bond.

What false talk! You are not supposed
to give your word, but rather your love!

Love?

What does that mean?

Don't I love you?

I don't like it
when you make me feel helpless.

When you hurt me.

All is lost.

Nothing's lost. Everything is fine.

You'll be promoted in autumn,
the work is going well, you say.

Leave me in peace!
- You've almost done it!

By New Year you might be able
to blow up the whole world. Keep it up.

What if I do?

What's worth saving, anyway?

You're a louse!

A louse? Me?
- Yes, louse!

I'm a louse. You're a louse.

Where are you going?

Why aren't you asleep? Lie down!

Sleep!

I have to go, I've something to do
for a couple of days.

Papa will look after you till then.

Everything will be fine.

Sleep!

Where are you going to?
- Budapest.

Come on.

Stop with your rubbish.

You know that there isn't a bus now.

Let's talk it over.
- I'm leaving.

This won't do!

Don't you worry about how I get there.

Wait for me!

Get to base, Comrade Lieutenant.

I request permission to leave.
- Granted!

My Papa... Hungarian. From here.
- Where is your Papa?

Oh, he is, er dead.
Kaput.

He has... big castle.

Er... castle... no, summer house.

Little summer house.

Er... Dorogi. Papa.
Papa Dorogi.

Baron Dorogi.

Many fairy tales.

Many fairy tales.

Is that your car?
- Yes, sure.

You know where the cake shop is?

Good cream cake?
Cake.

Europe is America

Asia and Africa

Europe is America

Asia and Africa

And so I sing my song

And so I sing my song

Europe is America

On the double and...

And I'm just standing here

And I'm just standing here

Europe is America

And I'm driving to the country

I'm driving to the country

Europe is America

Asia and Africa

Europe is America

Asia and Africa

And so I sing my song

And so I sing my song

In Europe and America

You're not far away

My sense of distance

My sense of distance

You're not far off

Asia and Africa

The director?
- He's there, in the corner.

A cognac!
- We've only got dessert wine.

Fine.
- And coffee?

No.

A 30-man orchester?
In this little village?

Natives?
- No, no, from Budapest!

Johann Strauss.

Kálmán Imre.

Virág... Virág!

Virág sings here!

Virág? Who's that?

How much is the ticket?

I don't know.
Ask the cashier.

The superintendent, if you please!

What film are they showing?

A new Hungarian one.
- In colour!

I'll have, you know

that I have the means
to get rid of you.

JOURNALS

GRAVITATIONAL REFERENCE POINT

PROPERTY OF THE STATE INSTITUTE
FOR GEOPHYSICS

DAMAGING IT IS A PUNISHABLE
OFFENCE.

Well, what's, up, Janó?

There's this... priest from the
next village. His Trabant broke down.

He's here in Mátraszentimre
and wants to visit you.

Is he down there?
- Yes.

Show him up.

Okay.

We are all God's slaves.

We can't throw off his yoke
no matter where we go.

I feel it's better
to voluntarily accept His trials.

You'll not see
much money from these folk.

They spend it all in the pub.
Right?

They spend it all in the pub...

There's always drinking
going on there until midnight.

Go to the priest's car.

You say I should go?

Let us know when
the tow-truck arrives.

I have my Trabant
from Caritas aid money.

How many flowers
grow in this churchyard!

They seem to like the soil.

I came here by bus.

By bus?

Our Lord Jesus covered
areas as large as lands on foot.

Didn't you have a Mercedes?
- I used to.

I donated it for missionary work.

There you are.

So your family is from Sopron?

And who were you ordained by?

His Eminence himself, of course.

This isn't his diocese!

There were
some other countries involved.

I came here
obeying an inner voice.

"A scandal for the Jews, foolishness
for the Greeks", as St. Paul says.

So what is your diocese, then?

Oh, merciful Lord.

Open up our hearts and our souls,
so that we can follow Your call!

Take away our lassitude so we can
follow with promptitude! Amen.

Amen.

It's in vain.

Under these conditions,
one becomes more and more insensitive.

It gets harder and harder
to hear God's word.

And God speaks more rarely to us.

God's writing is clear
but the lines crooked.

We can't do everything alone.
We must leave some things to God.

If we do so,
He will charge us with even more.

And He gives us strength
to see it all through.

When they asked me
in Rome to run the...

Congregatio de propaganda fide...
- You refused that... fantastic offer?

I thought
I shouldn't run missionary affairs...

but become a missionary myself.

The land of St. Stephen, our homeland,
dedicated for a millennium to Maria,

has become a land for missionaries.

Taiwan... Japan...

Nigeria...

How do you like Chinese food?

What are you doing?

I'm putting this cassette in.
- A musical cassette?

No, it's got a light-sensitive plate.
- What for?

To collect the light of the stars.

I've got a cine camera.

Really? Or are you having me on?
- No.

Who's it from? Your Papa?
- No, from a German boy.

Have you made any films yet?

Yes. I've already finished two rolls.
But I can't look at them.

Why not?

They explained that to me
but I didn't understand them.

Bring them here tomorrow!

The films and the camera!
We'll have a look at them.

Okay. Can I look at them too?
- Sure!

Why do dogs bark at a full moon?
- I don't know.

Maybe they don't know.
Maybe they remember how

the first moon fell to earth,
sank Atlantis and caused cataclysms.

Maybe they want to break out of

the vicious circle
of canine existence.

Why are you the
Galloping Coroners?

That's just how it is...

We came to the name

from the conclusion
that there's no more life left on earth.

Not officially,
because life is sponsored,

But... humans...
human self-realisation...

The possibility of...

What do you think?
- It's like this...

The name of the band firstly means...

Do you share this view?

I can't stand it,

being the roof of the universe.
It's not enough.

Not enough.
Everything is dead matter.

Everything is a coffin
from which the corpse has fled.

Life is a wave
in the midst of nothing.

You're the singer...

Man's achievements are superficial,
he fights only the symptoms

of a deep-seated illness.
Deeper than anything else.

You aren't alive to crawl about,
shit, like a spider.

We can't record this!

You aren't alive to crawl
round and round like a teddy-bear.

Live, die or perish.

All you have inside
is lust, passion, aggression...

In one second man can realize
all of his potential

and leap forward 50,000 years.

50,000 years, if you realise
your potential in a second.

The fancy stuff has to go!
Only nature counts.

That's the way
to realize your potential.

Excuse me,
are you the founder member?

I am not a founder and not
a member of a sect. I am a human being.

How long have you been in the band?

Since 1956.

Since I was born.

...EDUCATION
REACHES THE COMMON MAN

"WE'VE REACHED THE
PROMISED LAND!" Sándor Petöfi

"My dear little star,

since you've been gone the house has
been empty for the little one and me.

And my soul is sad.

I think a lot about the two of us.

I concede that I often
and without reason

reacted badly
to your well-meant attempts.

And above all, I didn't take your
life seriously enough.

But you were so impatient, my heart.

The group manoeuvres are soon to end.

My dear Marika, come home!

You'll see, everything will be fine
if we both want it.

The group manoeuvres are soon to end.
In the future I'll make sure that...

"both of us will be at home...
on the top of a hill..."

"I will be with you both.
We will remain together."

"With both of you."

"I embrace you.
Your faithful man... companion, Jancsi."

Comrade Lieutenant, the exercises
are over. Permission to leave?

Granted!

"My dear friend!

"I have grave problems

"that I cannot solve...
I need you...

"I will soon be in Budapest.
If you're not at sea, write to me.

"and we'll meet at the Nájlon!
Until then, stay cool! János"

Wherever I am, the starry skies

Look down on me like a friend

Wherever the wheels
of the carriage roll

You're always
looking towards me

Be it in streets or on snow-capped peaks

Be there storms or lightning,
my dove

Attila!

Attila, it's me! Hey!

Attila, it's me.

Where are you going?

Attila, it's me...

Can I stay here?
- No.

Let us finish what's over!

I'll fix you up, Attila!
The value that is assigned to you...

Stop with this Jesus routine!
Am I Santa Claus?

I am here to work!
No one asked you to come all this way.

I'm fine without you.
- Hear me out! Be fair!

Down on all fours!
Down on all fours! Down on all fours!

Forgive me, Attila!
Everything will be as you like.

As far as I'm concerned,
you can camp here forever!

Father, my last confession
was a month ago and...

I have sinned against God.

I have stolen nothing,
done nothing.

I was at mass every evening...
Almost every evening...

Except when it was impossible.

And there's nothing else
bothering you?

No, nothing.

That's how you regret your sins!
- I've been a widow for 21 years.

I regret all my sins
and promise to be better.

I request absolution.

Father,
I last confessed at Easter.

I have sinned against God.

Sometimes I failed to say my prayers.

My prayers were wrong at the end.

And sometimes I didn't attend church.

I committed no other sins.
I regret all my sins,

because I insulted you, God,
the all-merciful.

I stole, blasphemed,
Swore false oaths... took no care.

What I stole I gave...
I did not give it back.

And...

I never obeyed the words
of the priest..

I committed no other sins.
- Drunkenness?

Excuse me?
- Drunkenness?

I went drinking once or twice.
That's all.

When were you last at confession?

Your soul must be very burdened.

Forgive me, God, that I...

have not sinned.

My last confession was in spring.

I'm a driller,

that's why I can't often
go to church.

Well, I work day and night,
twelve-hour shifts,

and I forget to say my prayers.

I swear a lot,
because I've got two left hands.

My colleagues...
Well, it happens quite often...

that I speak rudely to them.

I can't think of any other sins.

I regret all my sins,
and having offended the Lord.

I hope to never sin again.

I request pastoral advice.

And anyway...
Why aren't you in uniform?

I didn't think it appropriate
to enter your apartment in a cassock.

Take a seat.
- Thanks.

You are right about that.

My wife has already heard
from the Party

that it's not good
if I receive a priest.

They're afraid that I...

will become a church-goer
on a Party pension.

Well, their fears are unfounded.

But it's right, anyway:

It's better
if you don't return here.

Your movements are also followed.
God pays attention to you.

Doesn't it look bad for you,
being friendly with me?

The local priest...
- The archdeacon?

He's not an archdeacon.
- I don't really understand such things.

I just think to myself
that he's... just a weakling.

A reactionary.

He was almost arrested for
giving forbidden religious education.

I can't stand reactionaries.

I've brought some cigarettes.

American ones?
No, thanks! These are better.

No, please!
- Symphonia.

From the top shelf?

What, you smoke?
- Oh no, no.

Only because of you. From curiosity.

Oh yes?

You can't be a reactionary.
Just your...

fingers are so smooth and thin.

Tell me honestly and truthfully:

Are you a reactionary
or a priest for peace?

Well, I'm a friend of peace.

As for reactionary, to tell the truth,
I don't even know what it means.

You don't know?

Whoever turns back
the wheel of history

or prevents progress...

is a reactionary. And of course
we won't be of the same opinion,

our world-views are different.

Does this resemble your Lord Jesus?

Not much.

There were saints and martyrs
who looked like him.

Saint Ladislaus, for example.

Or more still, the early popes.

You know,
I have even kissed this picture!

So. Not when he was officially
our father,

but when he was got rid of.

Without him they'd never
have won the Second World War.

Never!
And yet they got rid of him!

I kissed him out of rage.

To make sure that someone loved him.

Christened with a cross.
- It was meant to be pulped.

I'll give it to you, if you like.

Like Saint Sebastian.

To make sure that someone loves him.

Love...

You've caught me out.

I also have secrets.
- The Church, too, has secrets.

You'd be a good Catholic,
just a bit reactionary.

Reactionary? Well really!

Don't tease me!
I almost suggested to you that we...

go for a walk.

Better we take the air!

Did you actually ever try
to move your legs?

For two years doctors tortured me
with their therapies.

And the result: Nothing!

I know that the first time
I met you,

you moved them a bit.

You remember?

You can't remember?

Give it a try!

Well?

Go on!

Stand up! Go on!

Go on!

God da... God in heaven!

Aren't you ashamed of
making such jokes at my expense?

Comrade Stalin... whose flag...

will always be victorious...

Who's that?

Our band.
The Galloping Coroners.

What do you do?

We play.
And enjoy ourselves as we do so.

Who do you play for?

A couple of friends.
But more for ourselves. That's the point.

Waited too long, the snow is too deep

I am too happy, I am in misery

Now it has come, the time

The future is no longer lost

No shame is greater,
than waiting in vain

Nothing is more vital than rushing

Headlong through the wall

When everyone rushes, everyone falls

Music?
Is that what you call it?

What?
- Come on! A. E. Committee are playing.

They don't interest me, okay?

Listen... give me a cigarette!

Watch out: I'm going to
the Europa Kiadó.

You coming?
Or are you staying here? Come on!

Spare me the like in future!
Take this.

Get in!

Fick, fuck, fick, fuck...

Licentious embankment
Licentious embankment

Neutron bomb magazine

Fick, fuck, fick, fuck...

It peeves, strangles, deceives me.
It rips my love to shreds.

The whole day I only dream

I yearn, light-hearted

Friends I have none

More, more, Baby!
I need nothing

More, more Baby!
More, more Baby!...

More, more Baby! I need nothing
Only the bloody, only the bloody

Red great love, love, love

More, more Baby!
More, more Baby...

More, more Baby! I need nothing
Only the bloody, only the bloody

Red great love, love, love

Love, love, love...

Love, love, love...

Love, love, love...

It makes you spit

It makes you spit

Love's come around once again

Once again I have moist hands

Why? Why?

Once again I think only of her

Once again I just want to...

Why? Why?

Once again I see her everywhere

Once again I hear her everywhere

Why? Why?

Love, love, love...

It makes you spit! It makes you spit!

Love's come around once again

Once again I have moist hands

Why? Why?

Once again I think only of her

Once again I just want to...

Why? Why?

Once again I see her everywhere

Once again I hear her everywhere

Why? Why?

Love, love, love...

Give me, dearest, your tender hand!

Who knows if we'll meet again?

Who knows if my arms will ever
again hold your...

... The moon behind silvery clouds
A hundred thousand stars glimmer

Silvery moon ray

A moon's ray shines through the night

How my heart

hungers for a girl

How gladly I'd embrace her...

What have we got here!
- 85 forints!

I've never seen the like!
- Oh, thank you.

Great shirt! Where did you get it?
- You like it?

It's from a fashion-show,
we each have one.

Oh, you're models?

It's so exciting, always lively...

And here? Is it hard for you?
- Well...

Could I be a model, too?
- Of course! With a figure like that...

A bit of make-up, wash your hair...
It'll work out!

Do you have to sleep with everyone?

Nonsense! That's just a story.
- Just talk!

I thought so.
- Yes, just envy...

And how much do you earn?
- More than you get here, for sure.

What do you earn here?
- About 500 forints a day.

Well, then we'll
start working here too!

- Excuse me!

Two packs of Kent, two of Marlboro,
and one of HB for the group, okay?

Come over, then we'll talk it over!
- We'll help you.

The clouds, they cross the broad skies

And behind them the heavens are alight

Give me, dearest, your tender hand!

Who knows if we'll meet again

How come you're here?
- You were easy to find.

You think you can hide?
- I thought nothing! What's up?

What are you up to here?
- I'm working.

You call that work?

What else?
- Do you sell cigarettes and yourself?

You're crazy!

Come home!

But I feel fine here.

With that gippo?

You think you're Hungarian?

There may be
Romanian blood in me, too.

But I'm no Roma!

But you are impotent, scabrous,

and lately you couldn't
even fuck me normally!

Jancsi...
- Don't call me Jancsi!

What's this, you looking for trouble?
- What's this? What's this?

Alright, then...

Then... then...
I'll take care of you later!

You know that I could...

blow the place to smithereens!

You confessed yesterday...
did penitence, were washed free of sin,

I sensed no relief.

Yet you confessed everything
sincerely and completely.

I didn't say everything.

I request pastoral advice.

When I told that boy
that I'd left my husband,

it wasn't quite the truth.

My thoughts were repeatedly of him.

I kept that secret.

And now you're telling the truth!
- I even kept it secret from myself.

I actually
wanted to live with two men.

As if one
couldn't exist without the other.

Yes.

I left my husband
so as to not lose him entirely.

I can't stand to lose anything.

That's what caused
your lungs to bleed.

I didn't sin!

You sinned good and proper!

You damaged the holy
band of matrimony.

But I've already absolved you of that.

Amen.

Amen.

It was the only way I could keep Laci.

He's the only one I keep in my heart.

Look here, take this pin.

Look into my eyes!

And when you feel
that the truth is eluding you,

then prick yourself with it.

That was too hasty.

What did you just say?

He's the only one I keep in my heart.

I kept him in my heart.

I kept him in my heart.

Yes, in my heart.

Yes, in my heart.

I too have a heart.

Do you now feel relieved?

It's a bit better.

Look here...
I'll give you this pin.

And who is Laci?

My husband.
- Your husband?

This guy, Laci.
- And why did you leave him?

Because I can't live without him.

Help!

A bit of focus.

Indiscretion!

Dome.

Cupola.

I am the world. And you?

The focal point of the universe
concentrated on itself.

A worm!

A worm in focus.

I have no condom against the world.
- Well, take me along in your spaceship!

The skies seem to be clearing...

They are suddenly pure and transparent.

From the lake a trumpet calls.

On the edge of each lake is a conifer.

Primary ones even have several.

If you want to look at yourself
in the lake, you hear trumpets.

The closer you come,
the louder they are.

And before you see your face,

the water foams and it's full-moon.

I want to have your child.

The priest is everything to everyone
but has no one.

And were it otherwise,
it'd only open up wounds.

The secret of our reality
is conserved searching.

An... active inside,
like a dilated magnet.

What?
- You heard correctly.

Don't pretend to be a vipera aspis!

Catch me!
Catch me!

Shall we call the priest?
- That's only for the living.

Excuse me. She's been completely
obsessed with that stuff recently.

What things?
- She often saw him several times a day.

Whom? The priest?

Which priest?
- The new, young one.

Young?

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

This evening we're singing you
this song with Marietta. Marietta...

is singing it for the first time
this evening... now.

Love's come around once again

Once again I have moist hands

Why? Why?

Once again I think only of her

Once more I really want to...

Why? Why?

Once again I see her everywhere

Once more I hear him everywhere

Why? Why?

Love, love, love...

It makes you spit...
It makes you spit...

Which one's your stud?

I have none.

Are you sleeping with the whole band?

I sleep with no one.

Don't lie!

I'm not lying. And anyway
it's not your business what I do.

Oh no?

And the child?

I've been saving.
Next month I'll rent an apartment.

And?
- And then I'll send for the child.

No you won't!

I'm the mother!
- And I'm the father!

The child belongs at home!

It's not a home to any of us anymore.

You weren't often at home, anyway.

You left!

Come on, the boss is waiting.
- One moment.

No, really come on!
You have to come!

Don't harass me!

Come on, come on!

You have to understand
that I do what I want.

Okay.

Jancsi, don't be angry, I have to go.
- Okay, go then!

I see the camera's running.
I'd like to ask about the concert...

A few people will be there, not more.
- Make yourself at home!

A huge home, but...

How do you feel now after the concert?

I don't get why no one's drinking.
- To and fro...

No one want a drink?

Everyone makes for the fridge...

I say explicitly...
- Before the fact it's...

I'm speaking with the
Galloping Coroners...

here in the "Young Artist's Club,"
after their concert.

That's why you paint yellow stripes...
- And then the next step:

We have to try
not to cover up these things...

You should...
- That's a yellow stripe...

Sorry?
- All the music is in this matchbox.

I want to say what I want to say!
That's what I want.

Your music, then,
is the size of a matchbox?

Not always.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no...

That's all Czakó wants to say.
But he can't. He can't!

I can't...
- It's inside. In the magical...

Aah...
- Tomorrow it'll be...

Aah...
- Please give me a...

Either a big palace
or you chose the other one...

That'll be your
most recent composition.

What's its name?

Stop! Stop!

What did you say?

But say it! Say it...!
Say: Aah! Say...

Wait a minute! Wait!
- Wait!

No!

No, I'll never take her back.

Never will I take her back!
- Whom. What are you on about?

She's in here!
I...

Who's in there?
- She is!

Here! Here! She was here.
But she...

Inequality of will and representation!
You needn't maintain the balance

because you're the officer!

If you're no officer,
then take off your uniform!

That you don't want!

Waiter!
- Well then?

Here, look!
For a guy like him...

What?
- Him!

Little school girl

... the flowers sit... on your...
- In the light of the rising sun...

There at the lime tree...
- There at the oak...

I wait so often for you...
- I have waited...

There we were happy.

On the bank of the old Tisza
- Let go!

Smelling the scent of the lime tree
- Let go, waiter!

Do you remember, my love?
- Let go!

There we were happy...
- Waiter!

"On the Road" wishes you a good trip.
Sadly we have no good news.

What are you doing here?
- Excuse me! I'm going to work.

You're a musician, right?
- What makes you think so?

I saw you in Budapest with my wife.
- What wife?

The new blonde singer. Remember?

Oh, the blonde frog!

You won't find her here!
- Then I know your son!

Who?
- Your son.

He's often at the observatory.

He helps me, we chat...

You work at the observatory?

This is a long-distance connection

This is a long-distance love

It is indeed!

That's what I need!

Well, what's this?

Do you know him?

This time it worked out.
- What did?

Last month he was more clumsy.

Oh, I see.

Where can I find a phone?
- Stay here! I'll take care of this.

Well, what's this?

What's happened?

I came on the 7:50 bus.

I think that the astronomer...

Well, how does it look?
- I'm having the church watched.

I've only just got back.
No one's seen him since yesterday.

Fine. Keep looking!
- Will do.

I don't like that God-botherer.

He regularly meets with two people.

Following which the woman in
the sanatorium stabs her heart...

with a hat-pin.

And this old-timer...

commits suicide...

Suicide.

Two suicides on one day.

No witnesses.

And the priest vanishes.

Well...

You regularly attend church, right?

I'm very religious.
Can I say that?

I went to church
when I was still a child.

And I'll carry on till I die.
- You still go?

I still do.

And what was your impression
of the new priest?

We got very fond of him.

So fond that...

Wasn't there
something strange about him?

No. No. No.
- Nothing strange?

And did he talk about politics?
- No, not at all. No. Never.

His hair was.. shaggy,
but otherwise he was decent.

He did lots for the church.
Although he was new.

Well...

I didn't know him at all.

Only recently.
Since he came here.

And since then, how was he?
- Well, pretty bearable.

Bearable?
Was there nothing strange about him?

Didn't you notice anything?

Yes, I did!
- What was that?

He didn't preach the way
he was supposed to.

No? How did he preach, then?

He would sometimes skip a word or two.
- A word of two. Do you know the...

From the... thingamy, the epistle.

You don't mean you know it by heart?
- I do.

Did he speak about politics?
- No.

Never? Not even outside the church?

He never talked of it.
- And drank?

Excuse me?
- Did he drink, the priest?

Was he a boozer?
- No. No.

At the altar, he'd always...
- Communion wine?

He always mixed
the communion wine with...

With palinka?
- With a drop of water.

And that's how he drank it.
- Ah, that's how. I see.

He was virtually a saint?

He still is.
- Is he?

The good priest would always

push Uncle Miklós in his chair.

And the priest would always let go...
- Let go?

Yes, and Miklós...
- Downhill or on flat surfaces?

Er, mostly... downhill.

Downhill?
- And the priest would have to

catch Miklós, because he was afraid.

And did he?
- Yes.

And what happened then?

Then...

There...

Then they went away
and I didn't see them anymore.

What time was this?
Was it already late?

Well, er...

Around seven.
- Around seven?

You're still out
and about at that time?

Yes.

Does your father know?

No, no one was home.
- No one. I see.

Listen, kid,
I don't buy your story.

I even recorded it
with my super 8 camera.

A super 8 camera? You yourself?
- Yes.

And where did you get it?
- I got it from tourists.

Got it? Yes? Didn't nick it?
- No.

No?

And what else...
did you see on your rambles?

Down at the mine...

these UFOs...

What?
- There were UFOs there.

UFOs?
- Yes.

What do they look like?

Like two saucers
one on top of the other.

Yes? Two flat saucers?
- Yes.

And did they fly?
- Yes.

They flew away from there

as I was playing.
- And...

when you saw them fly away,

what did you think about?

It was as if I were standing
on my mother's belly.

There, between her legs...
between her legs.

As if I am there... were there.

As if you were there.
- Yes. It was very soft.

You felt that when the UFOs flew off.
- Yes.

The story sounds a bit
confusing to me.

UFOs don't exist!

And why were you
at the mine so late, anyway?

You should have been at home!

For fun.
- For fun?

What do you know about the priest's
relationship to Uncle Miklós?

Well...

Their relationship was good.
He spoke to him, it wasn't bad

No?
- No.

What was their relationship like?
- Well, quite bearable, decent.

What did they do together?
- Well, they spoke together. And.

Were they often together? Often?
- They were often to... together.

And everyone had seen this?
- Yes.

It wasn't just in the evening.
- It was mostly in the evening.

Mostly in the evening.
- Evening.

And where did they go?
- Between seven and eight.

Yes? And where did they meet?
- There in Bagolyirtás.

Where?
- Bagolyirtás.

Where is that?
- That's there...

Down in Bagolyirtás there's a slope.
That's where they played.

Did you play too?

No, I was collecting nuts.
And I saw them.

And did the priest
often push Uncle Miklós like that?

Yes.
- Yes?

Often enough.
- Often? Every evening? Always?

Not always, sometimes.
Every two or three days.

But always in the evening?
- Yes.

And did he always let go?
- Yes, always. And then catch him again.

I see.
And what did Uncle Miklós say then?

Uncle Miklós...

He didn't say anything,
he was just very afraid.

And he told the priest
to catch him.

I see.
And when Uncle Miklós was found

was the priest anywhere to be seen?

He'd been missing for days.
No one saw him.

First time here.

First time.
Good air, hm? Good air.

All film.
Good?

Who did the filming?
- Sometimes Olli did...

The German?
- Yes.

And sometimes I did.
Or we asked someone else.

All film.
All.

Okay.
Now for the cake shop?

Cake? Okay.

Music, hm?

Europe is America

Europe is America

Did you also go to church?

Pioneers don't go there, you know?
- I know.

That was their castle, but now
they have nothing left, the poor dears.

Don't tell me you've been abroad!
- It wasn't me.

Olli simply left the film with me.

Aha. With you.

Who are these people?
- Attila.

What Attila?

My friend.
- Your friend?

Yes.
- And where do you know him from?

I often go into the observatory.

And then we look at the stars.
And the moon.

He works there?
- Yes.

That's a punk band!
Do you know what punk is?

I do.
- What is it?

Well, it's when
they jump all around the place.

Yes? Aha.

And who took the film?
- This one? He did himself.

Himself?
- With my camera.

Where was this filmed?
- I don't know.

Is that of Olli or Attila?

No, I don't know.

What's the porno in aid of?
- Sorry, boss.

It's case evidence.
- Oh yes?

Yet there were moments...

that even seemed strange to me
back at the time.

He didn't know the Salve Regina.

Every seminarian knows it!

Maybe even you do.
- Maybe.

And yet...

The faith that he exuded
I found very contagious.

I'd go further.

I'd even say, he moved me.

And what was the thing
about being a missionary?

He said that he...

felt he had a vocation.

He said
he wanted to become a missionary.

To go to a distant country,

and take his mission to the people.
The natives.

He explained to me,

that he thought that maybe

he could best realise
these aims in this land.

I understand.

Do you know anything about what
relationship he had to Miklós?

Nothing?

Fine, thanks for having come.

Goodbye.
Go with God.

Did something happen?
- No, nothing.

Nothing.

On the contrary,
everything is alright.

I was able to complete my mission.

Then I'll go and get changed.

Almighty God!
- Almighty God!

I thank You.
- I thank You.

Because You
allowed me to do my duty.

Because You allowed me to help.

Amen.
- Amen.

In my last dream, St. Francis Xavier
appeared to me in a shower of gold.

The wall opened up,

in his eyes
dull jaden lights shone.

At his command, cherry blossom...

IBUSZ-travel?
- Lorry.

In Constantinople
friends are expecting me on a ship.

I now only need money
to pay my passage.

But in hard currency.

That's all.

God will pay it back in kind.
Like last time.

You are listening to "On the road."

Sheer weight of traffic
on the Budapest...

S-9000 to T-90! We've got a report:

In the Mátra region a confidence
trickster impersonated a priest.

There were two cases of suicide.

Both victims were closely associated
with the popular priest.

The priest disappeared
without a trace.

In both cases, murder...

Hey, that's the priest
from our village.

The man in question is between
30 and 40, tall and black-haired.

He is presumably
in a cassock or a dark suit...

IN SEARCH OF THE FAKE PRIEST
MYSTERIOUS DEATHS

"Police treating case
as potential murder."

"They are looking for a tall man
between 30 and 40

dressed... in a dark suit...

... conspicuous, angular movements."

If only I were a kamikaze

If only I were a kamikaze
If only I were...

Are you a priest?

No.
- I recognised you.

Then fine, I'm a priest to you.

I wanted to say...
I was so frightened...

Run away!
I called the police.

Nineteen hundred and ninety-three,
thirteenth of August

Hard to say if it's Friday
I am alone

Hard to say if I'm alive

Now I am entirely alone

Now I'm alone, quite alone
I'm flying alone

Now I'm flying alone...

The sewage system of the capital
is in part over-worked.

Which is why, in the vicinity
of Rózsavölgyi underpass...

Did you see nothing?
- Let's try it!

Okay, good. But my things!

In the area of Váci út,
progress is currently very slow

since the tram lines there...

Traffic control...

Good evening. An ambulance, please!
My wife is going into labour.

A birth you say?
- Yes! Quick! Last time it went fast.

Your name, please!
- János Szabó...

What do you want here?
- To have your child!

What do you want here?
- To have his child.

Yes?
Stay there, young man!

Damn it!
Stay where you are!

T-90 to 00-Zero.

Two suspicious women
are following a suspicious man.

S-00-Zero here.
Leave the women be!

There's been ten reports of
the fake-priest in the fifth district.

Good evening.
Come quickly!

Good evening.
Bring lots of cars.

There's been a bus accident,
lots of casualties...

17th district, Dózsa György út,
and be sure to wait

on the Baross utca junction.

Lots of casualties, around thirty...

S-00-Zero here. S-00-Zero here.

T-90, come in!

Hey, that's forbidden!

This isn't a race track.
- Leave it be!

Attila! I want to have your child!

What?
- What do you want?

From me?
- I?

I want that?

What do I want?

It's like this: one...
- One, two, good things come in threes.

Where are you?
- On the blind spot of your soul.

Four.

S-00-Zero to T-90.
We received a report from West Station.

S-00-Zero to T-90.

T-90 here.
- Head quarters!

Where are you going to?
Hey there!

Attila! Attila, it's me!

Did you see him?
- You again? -Go to the devil.

Did you see someone
running along here?

I did. I did. I didn't.
Yes, I did. I did. I didn't.

What's that?

Came in as urgent?

Here S-00-Zero.

We followed every trace of a clue.

Who are you?
- I want to confess something.

Who are you?

The girlfriend of the roommate
of the woman with the pulmonary illness.

What about her?

She died.

How?

I killed her.

How?

Let's go over to one side.

Chef, a dubious couple...

How?
- I went into her room.

She was praying again.

She was always praying.

I hit her on the hands:
"What? Praying again?"

What? Are you praying again?

She had the hat-pin in her hand
that you had given her.

It penetrated her heart.

What do you see in that device?

Animals, people, houses.

A man doesn't nose around, you know?

A man act, thinks.

You can read, can't you?
- Yes.

"Zhukov".
That's my book!

"How the Steel was Tempered."

My favourite book!
Come with me.

I always read it
when I was a schoolboy.

I'll send this device to the person
that you got it from.

Okay?

Still want to be a hussar?
- Yes.

I've got a surprise for you.

Press this button!

ATOMIC POWER IN THE SERVICE OF
PEACE AND PROGRESS

And now the other!

Well, what do you say?
How do you like it?

And now the other one!

Come on.

Come on, do the fourth one.

That's it! Come on.
Well, come on! Come over here.

Well, what do you say to that?

Well, what do you say?

You'll be a hussar like that one day.
You see?

Oh, and you'll be seven years old!

No eight!

Eight?
Fine, come here!

Then this here is for you!

Come on!
Well, what do you say?

Come here!

You see?

Still want to be a hussar?
- Yes.

Jancsi Pilinszky recounted a dream
in the year he died:

On Golgotha the crowd
demand of the crucified one

that He get off the cross and prove
He's God's son by performing a miracle.

All are watching
the Saviour in excitement.

No one sees that the thief on the left
quietly descends and creeps off home.

Mankind awake

from your deep dream!

You'll be freed

from drudgery

Salvation is at hand...

BASED ON A NOVELLA BY
VILMOS CSAPLÁR.

CONSULTING: SÁNDOR ERDÉLYI.

DIALOGUE BASED ON TEXTS BY
ZOLTÁN ÁRMOS AND THE CAST

Camera: Johanna Heer

Assistant directors:
Zoltán Bonta, Vera Baksa-Soós

Actors:

Featuring: "A. E. Komitee"

and the "Galloping Coroners".

Production design consultant:
Plusz Stúdió

Music consultant:
László Vidovszky

Music:

Sound: István Sipos

Editing: Anna Kornis

Lighting: Árpád Szirmay

Team:

We thank József Szabad

and the inhabitants of Mátraszentimre
for their support.

Production management:
Judit Ordódy

Studio manager: István Dárday

subtitles:
BABELFISCH TRANSLATIONS