Avantazh (1977) - full transcript
The action takes place during the socialist period in Bulgaria. The central character, nicknamed the Cock is an artistic personality, a man of strong character known as the king of the pickpockets. His keen sense of personal freedom comes up against the universally accepted norms of behavior. The Cock likes a game, adventure and danger, while socialist society needs obedience. The Cock makes a stand against this order; he does not want to play his games according to rules. He is telling his story of two decades: his imprisonment, his love affairs. To him love is a fateful meeting of two persons and has nothing to do with Philistinism. The Cock is an amiable chap though being an adventurer, trickster, and an artist by nature, irresponsible and asocial. In the mean time he wastes his gift on virtuoso thefts and monumental banquets which regularly land him in jail. The Cock, who used to live outside the law, now tries to play the rules of the game. He trades favors with the prison staff and ends up betraying his friends.In the end the filmmakers allow him to die a dignified death. During an escape attempt before dying he saves the life of a child. His dream of life comes to an absurd end.
BULGARIAN CINEMATOGRARHY
presents
UNACS TEAM
Two young friends are reading
for the Bar.
One?s very sharp and graduates
with first class honour.
The other one is a bad student.
But when they begin practicing,
the bad student very gifted,
the gift of the gab, so when
he begins:
"Your Honour, You remember
the baker?s case in France."
"I hope it won?t be repeated here."
And people say:
"That?s what I call a solicitor!"
The other one with the first
class honours
though he knows much more, but
hasn?t the gift of the gab, starts:
"Your Honour, in view of
Article such and such?"
And people say: "No good."
Datum for this movie is the documentary
book of Petko Zdravkov
"The story of one prosecutor"
- They prosecute me from 3 to 15 years.
Final conclusion ? hopeless.
"Have you got a solicitor?"
- No. I request the esteemed court
to have in mind
that I'll defend myself.
They begin reading the accusation:
Svetoslav Ivanov Dulgerov
Sentenced 15 times.
30 years in clink.
The youngsters are listening
without believin: "Did you heard that?"
"Sentenced 15 times!
30 years in clink!"
The judge points to the Bar:
"On this side you?re a defendant!
On other - a solicitor!"
Wanted to ridicule me.
I look a mug on the outside.
I go to the Bar.
My right foot was trembling
in the air.
Looked at the for a minute
and i start quietly:
"Your Honour,
I was born when "Aurora" announced
the first
socialist republic ? Soviet Union!
I was born in a small mountain
village?
At 6 month I was a complete orphan.
My mother and father died
in a thunder storm."
All lies?
"I was left all by myself,
from one family to another,
from street to street..."
"The street made me what I am now.
Criminal.
Long time ago,
one October day in 1938,
i was sent to Sofia prison...
Once I was imprisoned?
And there between the four
concrete walls,
I lay pale and thinking without
the fragrance of flowers,
without the songs of birds
for 30 years.
A life, a youth passed for nothing.
Script ROUSY CHANEV
GEORGI DJULGEROV
I lost my life without aim of future
Director
GEORGI DJULGEROV
Camera
RADOSLAV SPASSOV
and someday it'll end
in an old men?s home...
Music
BOZHIDAR PETKOV
Sound
MIHAIL KARIDOV
And so my name disappears.
Prison is a terrible thing.
Prison is a whore.
And now I?m nothing
but a dry vine-stock.
But prison is not a means
of reforming a man.
These are not my words, I say,
these are the words of the famous
novelist Victor Hugo!"
Let?em say Hugo wasn?t right.
A young psychologist comes, says:
"There are a few questions,
you?ve got to answer in writing."
Then I had cut my finger.
"I can?t write"
I can, but play the fool.
"Who is your favourite writer?"
"Botev - I say."
"Why him?"
"Botev was a revolutionist,
that didn?t write for money.
And nowadays writers only cringe."
He stares at me and stares...
Who paid Botev anything?
Nobody.
He had couple of more questions.
"Are you afraid
when you go stealing?"
"Don?t go to the woods
if afraid of bear.
When I enter a shop
I know it inside out."
"When you steal a lot of money,
are you happy?"
I tell'im: "Wouldn? you be?"
Stupid questions!
Another question.
"See two people
fighting. What will you do?"
"I'll disappear!"
"But this is heartlessness!"
And how many are in clink for
trying to break up the fight?
With 16 year sentence.
He went to stop them. Te one got him
and the other stab him.
I?d as soon disappear in thin air
as be a witness.
The time was very dangerous.
In short one could make a mass.
I?m very flexible
in this sort of thing.
Politically I?m very well briefed.
There was in Soviet reformatory
a dangerous criminal.
The chief of the reformatory
wonders what to do with him.
Once he tells'im: "Take this
check and cash 3000 in town."
The criminal draws the money?
and starts wondering.
Should he go back, or??
But reason gets the better of him
and he returns.
He put the money on chief?s desk.
The chief drops it in the drawer.
"Why didn?t you count it?"
"You brought it"- the chief says.
Makarenko was a pedagogue.
He knew that if something is wrong.
with the money, he wont show.
And know the guy stays in front
of him... Class criminal...
And he is wondering,
how he didnt knew about him till now,
as Makarenko trusted him so much.
This pedagogy is, you know?
Out of these criminals
Soviet chief made 36 generals!
And twice more engineers and doctors.
But we here, we have no such
pedagogues.
Who will cultivate us?
I?ve witnessed all communist
conspiracies in the prison.
I was in prison together with the
Red General Zaimov.
with Anton Ivanov, with Vapcarov,
with 18 parachutists.
The communists made me wash a hall
to see who?d take them away.
Around 20:30 right before the check
i was moping the saloon
and the warden get gen. Zaimov out.
General Zaimov was small, stout man.
The warden was twisting
his arm back...
Cut the waining! Stop barcking,
you are giving me headache.
Wait, Cock!
You know what will happen now?
ROUSY CHANEV
in the film
ADVANTAGE
"Avanta"(it.) ? profit, benefit
"Avantage" (fr.) ? favorable situation
We?ve got a prisoner ?
Lazar Stefanov Kasabov.
Nickname ? the Cock.
Born on 11.09.1926 in Burgas.
Education - primary. By profession,
technician - encyclopaedist.
Now write down, questions later.
Indipendent, divorced.
Sentenced 5 times, a pickpocket.
Hiking all over the country.
The greatest headache of
transport militia.
Cock, tell my students
how do you do it.
With these two fingers,
no other way.
I usually do a round
of the waiting room.
My mind takes a snapshot.
- He studies,
the psychological situation.
- Yes, always,
when I?m on a railway platform,
I always study
the psychological situation.
- And what is the most important
for you in such moment?
- In this moment,
for us the most important
is the psyhological situation.
Kasabov!
Show them how you steal something.
Now do you get your "shield",
your "curtain".
Take this one for instance...
Rangelov, please.
This wallet is lust right
for nicking.
Suppose you?ve already taken
the "shot".
You found out where he is.
- Yes.
Did you feel anything?
A little, but if someone presses
against me? And?
I think about it all the time.
- Cause you knew... Yes
As i think he is here as he doubts me,
if he reacts...
A pick-pocket can be accused
of only one theft.
The theft he was caught for.
But he?s been accused of more
than 35.
Lazar is an extraordinary case.
He made a complete confession.
More than that I exposed
my accomplices.
Thats quite interesting.
- Lets get this case in details.
Interesting, but i suppose
we wont have time.
Briefly, Kasabov.
- I?ve said it before too?
I wanted to save them.
I?d hang myself just to get rid of this
curse. Picking pockets is a curse.
Whoever started with it,
cant detach easy.
I know even old people,
heads of families,
but they have no peace
unless they do "a round".
Comrade Major, by your request
i deliver prisoner Milchev.
The inside pocket is probably
more difficult.
Yes, it is more difficult.
It?s usually in a tram or train.
That?s special.
Couldn?t you help a bit?
Suppose we?re in a tram?
Everybody?s holding the straps.
Could Ivan be my "curtain"?
Come here and cover me.
We?re swaying, the tram is moving.
Suppose he is a woman?
She: "What do you want!"
and starts chirruping.
You?re her escort:
"Leave the lady alone!"
What are you doing?
- Nothing - blackout.
The two of you
in the corner ? quick.
Sit down, colleagues. Let's continue.
Let?s hope it won?t last for ages.
Call the electrical company.
- Roger.
You can have your wallet back.
Go on!
- What for?
Why didn?t you steal from women?
Because it?s very easy. When they
start gaping. You can undress them.
I never handle women. But women have
handled me. There was such a case.
I was on a line for cakes.
I bend...
I feel somebody?s picking my money.
I turn round ? a girl nicking
my dough.
I tell her:
"Can I feel around your bra?"
"Can you what?"
I tell her: "Give me back my dough,
before you?re sorry for it."
And her tears start falling:
"What? Me, a poor student."
Come on, do it!
I take her by the hand and
buy her a sweater for 184.
Then a restaurant?
But I spent a lot.
Pinched two blankets and sheets from
the hotel and moved to firing-range.
"Let's play soccer."
"Advantage! Advantage!"
And she asks me:
"Do you want to marry me?"
"OK" I tell her.
And the frogs blow their whistles
like militiamen all night.
They? re gonna kill you, stupid!
Is it you again, Cock?
- Nothing special. You can go on.
It?s impossible for a woman to propose
and not to have anything in her heart!
No woman cam propose
and not feel a thing.
Everybody?s got something inside,
particularly a woman.
What?s the thing that makes us
like a woman?
That?s just what I wanted
to make out!
I found her. She was with
a lieutenant.
I became a captain immediately.
Made the uniform myself.
Duck trousers at 30 a yard.
The tunic ? ready made for 80?
And for 200 got the epaulets.
I love you! I love you!
It?s me, me.
How was it?
It?s a lot of dough.
- It?s for you.
Not now!
Does it make sense now, here?
My mother use to say:
"Don?t mix with bad friends ?
bird of a feather flock together."
And I ask her: "Am I a good boy?"
- "Yes!"
"Why shouldn?t I mix with
bad boys then?"
"Let?em become good ? like me!"
You haven?t found
the right friends.
Ask me what a friend is!
We?ve been in the prison together
for 2 years.
You?re speaking about the Major,
aren?t you?
And now you are together
again in the prison.
Well, women, friends all they say
is "Give me!"
Is that the way you see life?
Well, who knows maybe
I don?t understand it.
You know the life too well.
It's only from now on what
we'll have to discuss things.
To think only of yourself.
There?s nothing better, is there?
If it were true?
Help!
Help!
Help me!
I'll tell you what happened once.
I met a friend from Burgas.
She greater than he.
He'd run away from the school ?
no money, nothing.
And I swank at that.
Walked up to the 5th floor
to his girl friend?s.
Nearly killed me.
Let me see how much you?re worth.
I take'im full board.
Well done!
- What are you doing?
Do you think everything?s bought
and sold?
Oh, God, when you start like this?
You?re real man, keep it that way.
A real man must steal, mustn't?
To steal, my friend,
you need a hard ass!
That bill?s yours.
I lent you the money.
I?m going, you can stay on
if you want.
Why do you chafe him?
You stupid hens.
It?s the Cock that sings
in this world.
What do you think?
Hens such.
Take my quitar as a deposit.
Sorry, but I don?t need a guitar,
but mandoline.
The money that we spent.
I'll give it back to you.
I saw him one morning scrounge
the room: "Now, what going on here?"
I went after him and saw him from
distance going in a candy store.
But he opens it, like he owns it.
I told myself: "I will guard here
and we he went out I am gonna slap him
good, to remember it for life time."
In this moment a militiaman come
and boom ? right in there.
"Good job Lyubak, I am already seeing
you how you will went out
right through the showcase."
Militiaman wants cake.
Lyubo told him he is off working hours
and they will surcharge him 500 leva
and the militiaman will take
the food from Lyubo?s children.
The militiaman said: "Please, man, I am
coming from the province, I am out
all night, gimme something to eat."
And Lyubo gives him two cakes.
People start passing buy, it started
to be dangerous, there is no time
to think. And Lyubo is wondering
what to do, the saleswoman can come
any minute. And then? Part 183,
paragraph 2, from 3 to 10 years.
I enter the shop: "Why do you
sell before working time?"
The militiaman paid and left.
Thank you! Said my friend.
And when i got him outside:
"Why are you stealing, motherfucker?"
And i beat him good...
I gave him a trashing but do you
think it was any good? Ran away.
I had a friend. We were together
in the Air Forces.
He went on a night flight and
didn?t return. Crashed.
How awful. Was he
a good friend of you?
I like risking and won?t go away.
Once you taste high speeds
you can never give it up.
I?m single, my friend was married.
Nevertheless, he?s a good friend.
But this job was not for him.
It was me that put him on.
He starts asking: "Why should
you fly and not me?"
"I?m no less clever!"
And takes the risk.
But for him risk is an event,
and for me, let?s say ? routine.
I?m calm ? nothing to lose.
And he?s got a family.
When we start night flights,
his whole family don?t sleep.
And if the noise of the planes
stops, they begin crying?
One can?t fly if tied
to the earth.
The man gotta be a man,
thats the drama.
Come!
Welcome.
Class stand up. Attention.
The young pioneers are ready for
the grand meeting, named
"Honourable Defenders of the
Fatherland!"
My God, what should I tell him?
"Your teacher?s a liar!"
It?s not a pedagogical!
So I started.
Made a trip round the world!
Speak about the capitalism?
About the sea of
proletarian internationalism...
I shot down all American plains.
I caught all imperialistic spies.
Pioneers! Eagles!
Be ready!
Tomorrow ? operation 2 at 9 a.m.
Military secret!
God, nearly killed me.
Since life plays with me...
I'll play with him too.
The one that losses will win.
The one that loves ? will win.
I didn?t get you. The one that ? what?
The one that loves?
The hero's kiss.
Terribly arrogant and rude people.
Give me your hand!
That?s a farewell.
We'll never meet again.
I?m leaving tomorrow. So long.
Where are you going?
- I'm going?
? on a voluntary labour camp.
Wait. I'll come too.
So I went to National voluntary
labour camp.
You can't count the barrows
I pushed that summer.
But it was the Cock who raised
and lowered the flag.
I don't know anything about camp.
- You don't write things like that.
I the prison file.
Work, work ? but good food.
Sports, love and sports!
Good day.
- Good day.
Hello lieutenant, my name is Kasabov.
May I introduce our girls?
We?re from voluntary work camp.
We don't know each other much.
After all we are neighbours.
Sit, sit down...
Speak, comrades.
Now, why are we here...
We'd wish to set up relations
with you.
Let?s make friends.
We think it would be good for
everybody.
We have to be friends.
There's no need to have
an iron curtain between us.
After all we?re serving one cause.
- Yes, that?s how we feel too.
It?s good of you to have come.
But there?s a great shortage?
We haven't got enough boys to
invite the ladies at the dances.
It would be good if we took
the initiative?
We know yours is duty. Though?
An idea's just struck me.
A few explosives and
we'll blow up a few rocks.
For the ladies?
Impossible! Everything is
accounted for.
No. No way!
Do you want to listen a poem?
- Yes.
A Poem about the Flag.
"I?m not idealist, I believe in matter
I'd smash with my heel religion,
but if they tell me that the Flag
is matter,
material from the shop -
Oh, I don't believe it! I don't!
The Flag is no matter,
of no matter!"
Have you sent it to a newspaper?
- It?s too early!
Don?t you think it's too sentimental?
- No. it's good.
(Russian language)
"I"ll write about this and that,
but this is no time for
loving embraces!
The whole of my
strength of the poet
I'll give to you ? attacking class!"
Who is it by?
- What?
The poem.
Looks like it's by a Russian ?
a Soviet poet.
And what?s his name?
Comrade Vassiliy.
Mayakovsky, you stupid.
Maykovsky Stupid is his family name,
but first name is Vassiliy!
They pinched the flag!
- Let's go!
Stop!
Block his way,
he's from the other camp!
Stealing?s no good.
I have to prove that
a woman can also?
You want to win an extra point
on "vigilance"?
Is that the way to win the
emulation? But we don't sleep!
We keep a vigilant watch!
Give back the flag!
Calm down! Stop it!
Where are you going?
Give me the flag!
Leave her... Get up!
Calm down!
Do you hear me?
- I want the flag! Traitor!
What did you say?
- Traitor!
Please, wait!
I can?t accept being happy
on account of other.
You?re probably in love. I don?t want
to break your friendship!
How old are you?
- 20.
You read a lot of books?
- Yes.
What's Mayakovsky's first name?
- Vladimir. Why?
So that's it' you see?
God, it's a lot of tears
that fell on this Bulgarian flag!
When they did return the flag?
- Why should they return it?
I?ve written a poem too:
"We're first in emulation and
it?s us that raise and lower?"
What?s the matter?
Since I want to be honest
with you to the end?
I don't want people saying I was
talking behind your back?
I want to tell you
that I told the staff who you are!
- And who I am?
It's serious
and there's no place for irony!
You don't tell anybody you?re
an officer.
You said it was game so I thought
it was. Military secret.
I was against
the explosives venture!
Wasn?t I? I was against!
After what happened with the flag.
I started thinking thinks over.
The Commandant will call in
the militia to investigate your case.
He asks me not to tell you, but?
Now my conscience is clear.
I have a child. Please.
I am not a killer.
On the contrary.
They wanted to kill me.
'Cause I exposed?em at the meeting
Of our FF organisation.
Been suffering all my life
for fighting for justice.
Stand up. What are you doing?
Stand up. The kid'll get scared.
Leave me to die here, sister!
What sister am I to you?
You'll lade my stockings.
Look at yourself. Stand up.
Did you hit that bloody
thick head of yours.
It?s been much harder
for me than to you.
It was tougher for me...
I had no parents when I met him.
He studied to become a teacher.
That was my greatest mistake.
An intense love affair
and the unpleasant consequences
at the end.
He spoke of marriage?
But when we visited his place,
his mother and sister
didn?t approve of me,
they thought that
since he had a diploma
he could marry some
richer girl, educated.
I am a bit strange, I decided
since he didn?t love me?
Have you got a place to sleep?
- No.
Come with me. We'll go to
some friends of mine.
It's me, Rumyana.
There was a case ?
a girl was pregnant.
She went to a doctor. He agreed
but abortions are illegal.
She died on the table.
The doctor lost his nerves,
cut her up into pieces
and burnt her.
He lost his mind and gave up
to the authorities.
So there was no place for me
to go for checking up
and I remained pregnant.
He left me in the maternity home
and dropped me there and then.
We met once or twice.
I tell him:
"We're both responsible."
I don?t want anything from you
but to give a name to the baby.
He shouldn't be ashamed
of our mistakes.
Good night.
Are you asleep?
And what happened then?
We had to go to court.
He brought all the friends
to prove I was a? whore.
But our town is a small town and
all the whores are well known.
The court proved the paternity.
But I was advised
not to ask for anything else.
A woman like me cannot be the wife
of a man of a special circle.
Why don?t you come here
and stretch out a bit?
I am afraid I may touch your arm.
You are probably flaked out.
The factory?s got prefabs.
Many of us sleep in one prefab,
all unhappy people like me.
I'll make some room.
Come on, come here.
OK. Just a bit on the edge.
??? ??????? ???? ?????? ???????.
Where do you work?
- I am an officer. I buy arms.
What is your rank?
- Captain.
Why don?t you warm your feet too?
Feeling better?
- Don't you know it?
What's your name?
- Rumyana.
I'm Lazar.
- Pleased to meet you.
It?s faith that sent you my way.
I?m serious.
I?m very unhappy man, too.
My wife left me because
I was away all the time.
She started living with
a low-down type.
Now i got only enemies.
You saw what they've done with me.
I have nobody in this world.
I feel so low that I don't know
why I?m alive.
Honest.
It?s only a woman like you that
can pull me out of this maze?
You are not asleep, are you?
- No, no.
It?s very hot, I am all sweating.
I'll take my clothes off.
Why don?t you, too?
I don't want anything from you.
Only to have faith in me.
I'll take care of the kid too.
I'll give you as much money
as you want.
I'll buy you stockings.
They'll last you at least
two years.
I'll dress you up like a doll.
My hands are golden, I can do
anything with them:
locks, watches, bikes, pens,
accordions,
I can do everything.
And I?ve had women enough.
You?re my future wife.
You?re wrong. I?ve never had
such intentions.
I?m not the one you take me for.
This is not the right place
for such talk.
I swear there?re no cigarettes.
Do you want to dance?
Well, and who are you?
We? yesterday night?
- What yesterday night?
We got married.
Wow!
All right.
But we don't have to look
back on the past,
we'll only look to the future.
Thank you, Lazar.
That was very good,
wasn?t it, students?
Nobody ever helped me,
so how could I be a man.
When I go out, if they don't
start meddling, I will.
They will.
- Why?
I'll work.
But the militia will be after me.
Since you didn't want to help them.
That will never happen.
And why?
- I rely on you too.
To help me when you go out.
By splitting on people?
Splitting on people hasn't helped
any society.
But had I split on people
I wouldn't be here.
You?re wrong.
When they got Agapa, I was taken
in too. They let me off the next day.
The Prosecutor says:
"Come for a coffee".
In the cafe: "Agapa confessed,
but 30'000 drachmas are missing."
Should we arrange a visit?
As you're friends he may tell you
something.
So he wanted me to split.
You know he will be in trouble.
They'll get the money anyway.
You could help him,
them and yourself too.
Like getting him in deep water?
Isn't that splitting?
And suppose I tell you
we've picked up, say, the Cock.
Wouldn't you tell him?
- I suppose I would.
And isn't that splitting on me?
Aren't you getting me
into deep water?
It depends on the way
you look at it.
That's it ? a bull?s eye.
The side you're on today.
The side of the new society
or the other,
which means against us.
According to Soviet colleagues
the best prosecutors find
a common language with ex?
I refrain to say "criminals".
People that have committed crimes.
They take care of them...
Drenski!
...but also find understanding.
Did you get it know?
You unknowingly actualle helped. So
think about those questions once more.
It?s very difficult to win
their confidence, students!
They?ve a very strong sense of?
- Justice.
No, self-preservation.
The instinct works very powerfull.
Well, it is time to go.
Here they?re helpless.
But we don?t want to harm them.
I've told them: "If I want to
harm you, I can do it."
They shouldn't be afraid.
Zordan, can you interpret
this dream of mine.
It was like this:
Burgas ? the lake.
A yellow raft on the lake.
And on the raft
a few girls friends of mine.
One good friend. My wife.
They seemed to be calling me
and I run and run
but can?t reach them?
Is that your friend?
That?s me.
It?s like this:
You?ve discredited your friend
as a man.
And he'll have his revenge on you.
His revenge will be terrible.
The yellow colour?s jealousy.
Water ? sexual intercourse.
The wood of the raft,
that's man?s? You know what?
Your wife with him on the raft?
You're a complete idiot!
When things aren't your way
I am an idiot.
Cock, I?m not an idiot but?
Rumyana's been seen coming here
2-3 times. Watch out.
Where? Here?
To the Politician officer, man.
Be careful I tell you.
Mind what you?re going to say.
You too.
Some boys saw her coming
out of Politician?s office.
All dishevelled and blushed.
You criminal mug.
What did I say?
If one day I start killing all
swine, you'll be the first.
I Will crush you, faggot.
So we have a visitor.
- Can I stay on?
How did you come in?
- No problem.
You want me sent to prison too?
Send this to my wife, please.
First, I'll send you
to the cooler.
Take him to solitary confinement.
Didn?t know you were a poet!
"Now you?re in a morgue of life
your body?s slowly destroyed.
Destined to everlasting torture,
in agony you wait for
the blessing of Death."
Sir!
- Wait a minute!
Are you going to cry now?
What?s the matter?
What now?
Rumyana's unfaithful to me.
I'll kill her.
Can?t be.
She's having it off with you.
You're crazy, aren't you?
She brought this petition:
"To: The Officer in Chief I have
a two year old boy from Kasabov.
I kindly request you to permit
our marriage with Lazar Kasabov."
Anything to say?
Going to cry again?
Seems I've developed a tick,
might be I?m unwell.
- How long has that been?
Just before the last sentence?
In the militia preliminary.
I was there for a month
and didn't say a word.
And then they sent her
to influence me.
I?d turned my jacket inside out
to keep it clean,
hoped to get out.
To my frined Lazar,
one obstacle from oblivion
21.01.1954 Rumi
After that I took a typewriter,
25 pages, a whole novel.
Names, facts, dates, everything!
In the court ? 10 criminals
against me! I tell the judge:
With two inspectors as guards
I guarantee to catch
all pick-pockets on trains.
If I try to run away
let them shoot me!
Then an ex-friend of mine jumped.
"He wants to get us in deep water
to work out
an easy sentence for himself."
If that was right I'd confess to
the theft only which I was
caught red-handed for.
You?ve got children. Do you think
of their future?
"You, he said, leave my children
alone, think of yours."
Rumyana?d come with the kids.
You?ve been new to the game
and me ? an expert!
I gave it up once and for all
with a clear conscience!
"Conscience?", said the other one.
"Is it you that'll talk about
conscience, sucker?"
Sucker? Me? You?d turn a traitor
to your Fatherland!
Order a search of his house!
You'll find 2 back-sacks.
Wanted to use them to run away
to Greece with.
And the judge:
"Should we make a search?"
They confessed but only
as a gesture.
"Was it only a gesture buying
the sacks?", he asked.
Why are you looking at me?
What do you mean?
Do I deserve death by your laws?
As a traitor? That?s over!
So I deal with them one by one.
All?
- Yes!
Well, why?
Don't you see?
- No.
I explain it to your pupils.
That's clear but you tell me?
Is there anything else?
Because?
Sit down.
Now listen carefully!
You know I have a lot
of different cases.
The question is about a man
who's committed many thefts.
Whiz! No childhood, no parents?control,
a man who takes risk?
Now listen!
From time to time he disappears.
In Sofia, in a small street,
he plays football with the kids.
The militia's looking for him
all over the country and he?
He faces the question, why have things
been like this for some time
and then suddenly
he does the opposite?
Did you know yourself?
Don?t hit your head,
It took me quite some time
to arrange your thoughts.
Try to understand.
You?ve got another 4 years.
- Three and 9 months.
A woman and 2 kids are
waiting for you there.
But I can?t do everything.
The rest?s for you to do.
I'll do my best.
Well, what do we do now?
In the solitary till New Year.
In the meantime make
an application.
For a civil marriage.
Write about the kids, everything.
And we'll see.
May I take my leave!
Why did they put you here?
Tsetso writes to Petrana
from the woman?s section.
He tells me: "Take these
5 packets of fags to her".
I tell the stupid duck:
One for you, 4 for me,
otherwise I'll freeze you.
Won?t be able to smoke at all.
- But she told him.
The bastard stared a fight.
You know I don't hit
first, but when I do?
Writing an application?
- A love letter to Max, the Gypsy.
His girl friend was transferred
to another prison.
He doesn?t know.
He gives me fags to take to her
so I have to answer back.
Would you help me?
OK, sit down.
Write:
"My sunshine, joy of my life,
wonder of wonders!
I?m waiting for you
day and night.
When I cry I want a strong man
to dry my tears,
a strong man to take care of me?"
Oh, come on! The way you started?
Gypsy Max, a strong man,
just skin and bones.
I'll write like this:
"Got the fags!
I love you, I love you!"
To hell with it!
- What?s that?
I put the full stop.
Left circle?s mine,
the right ? yours.
If it goes into your ? you pay!
No, the other way.
Write fifty for me.
How long have you to stay in?
A lot! If they don?t
give me a pardon ? 6.
What would you say if?
Fifty for me!
And to give me an extra?
- They will if they catch you.
If we are allowed this marriage,
we'll have a lot more chances.
Rules are rules.
Your ideas are useless.
You?re dealing with criminals.
At least he had his mark
as a criminal,
and there are others that wouldn't
dare show a sign of life even?
We?ve got 3 people, the man at
the gate, the circle and the officer.
Five minutes before the
roll-call ? you in this bog.
Another one in that and
two more upstairs.
The warders do their rounds.
Everybody?s in the cells.
They check the bogs and
you finish them off.
In the meantime I'm with
the officer.
I ask for permission to
see the Politician.
He thinks I?m one of the birds,
he wants to keep working on me.
This one comes back,
meanwhile you got here...
I deal with the Politician
and press the bell,
You go that way and we
join the forces, there'll be 5 of us.
Three this way and two that way.
We keep close to the wall.
At the gate we'll finish
that one off.
We go out and
the jeep on duty is ours.
It's 2 ours drive to the border.
They'll know only in the morning?
And we'll sing them:
"Oleh cangaseiro?"
You know these aren't criminals
but small fry.
Nobody?s been able to
find their weak spot
and help them.
You don?t even know their names!
Why should you patronise
some of them?
That?s professional egoism.
Next thing, I'm an enemy!
Listen to me...
We can?t change things at once.
Step by step.
Agreed.
The other three though
shouldn?t know us.
Only one of us will know
them and they ? him only.
That one will risk a lot.
We'll toss a coin.
The fly.
In whichever circle it goes,
it?s him.
Me!
Do you have anybody in mind?
- When the time comes I'll tell you.
What?s the time?
- 3 o'clock.
Now tell me, will you support
the application or not?
Can we do it in the office?
It's more ceremonial here.
Here are the guests too.
Welcome!
Hello, Rumyana.
Take this sweet.
See who?s here?
Shall we begin or not?
Come on. We don?t have time!
Are you starving?
- No.
We?re sick quite often though,
but get well quickly.
I'll be out soon. Wait for me.
Come on!
I found them quickly, but had
to drink two bottles of vine.
From the best man to the bride.
What bride am I?
Could the children stay?
Isn't it for them that we
take all this trouble?
Why should we hide,
there?s nothing wrong?
Rumyana Georgieva.
- Yes.
Do you want to marry Kasabov?
- Yes.
Lazar Kasabov?
- Me, me.
Do you want to marry
Rumyana Georgieva?
Ain?t I here?
- Yes or no?
Yes, I do.
- Sign here!
Dear comrades!
Today?s your happiest day!
You start together hand in hand.
Family is the pillar of society.
So you'll make an united family?
Stop.
- Let me finish!
I wish you?
- Stop it!
Sorry.
Friends, to err is human.
But that doesn't mean
he's branded for life.
Though signed in prison
your marriage?s fully legal.
In future live in such a way
that these children shouldn't be
ashamed of you.
Let?s forget the past
and think of the future.
Have you finished?
Help yourself.
- Congratulations!
My boy!
This is for you.
May we come in?
Close the door!
See what the buggers're planning.
- What?
Escape with killings!
Your lad's in it too.
Don?t hold my hand so tight.
Please, don't!
Wait!
What?s this about going out soon?
You?re not running away.
No, I am not.
There?s something else
I am working on.
When the time comes,
I'll tell you.
The Boss likes me a lot.
And if I tell him about something...
It?s good for him and for me!
I am becoming part of "the team".
By the autumn I'll be with you!
- I couldn't get you at all.
It's the latest thing in
technology, Sir!
That?s all, Sir!
How old are you?
- 53.
The man with the young heart!
Agape, go to the door!
Here we are!
On the occasion of your wedding
we'll make a small show for them.
It?s too early.
Nothing ready yet.
Look! Better than a razor!
Each one knows what to do.
Your best man's on duty tonight.
Nobody'll suspect.
If you ask me, we'd better wait.
What's there to wait for?
For somebody to give us away?
What the hell am I doing
with you, kids?
So, you are backing off?
- Put that piece away, please.
Don?t be a mug, Cock!
Do you know how it's
at the border ? snow, cold.
It?s either yes or no. Is that clear?
Yes, it is!
- Cock, what about you?
Quite clear.
I haven?t said no.
Sir, an escape's underway.
I was to get rid of you.
????????? ????????
?? ???????, ?????? ???...
Don?t play with fire!
Kassabov's just informed me
of escape plan.
If you want the details?
No, I don?t.
Come and guard him!
Cock, Cock!
You kicked the milk bucket.
I did my best.
You kicked the milk bucket.
20 YEARS LATER
Gerchev, a doctor of Low
- Kassabov? Yes, I remember him.
But after so many years?
Well, yes. He?s got some prizes,
extra visits.
He even had some home leave?
He got 20 month remission.
Unfortunately what happened later...
I don't know.
He wrote to me once,
that he?d started work
as a photographer.
I can?t correspond with
everyone that writes.
That's a problem we've
still got to solve.
We lose touch after they
leave here.
If they write, yes, but we?
At a wedding in the country,
I hear over the loudspeaker:
And now for my ex-chief the song.
It was one of our ex-prisoners.
Then we had a chat. He said:
"I'll never forget your words."
What were those words,
I couldn't remember.
The thing is he remembers them.
Rumyana Kostova, ex-Kassabova,
Waitress
We got married in prison.
It was then he said:
"I'll be out soon."
He wanted to dupe a few
prisoners in to escaping
and then report them
to the militia?
I told him frankly:
"If they suggest to you to escape
and you tell the militia
that?s all right.
But you want to dupe them
and since they have no character
they swallow your bait and?
that?s not nice of you."
Then I met my husband
the one I'm married to now?
Yes!
Everybody liked him, my uncle?
He?s a good man.
Agreed to take me with the kids.
Though?
I had already given my
son from Kassabov
to some people for adoption?
Sorry.
Sorry.
For the children.
- Yeah.
Everybody was advising
me, so I thought it over:
Why should I be the hero
to straighten out a man!
Wont it be too much for me?
Suppose he drags me into it?
What if i cant resist...
I nearly went nuts.
I was wandering what to do.
One day?
just as I was hanging out the washing?
He came?
I nearly fainted.
He didn't notice that of course.
We weren?t divorced yet.
The case was still in court.
I told him it wasn?t just a game.
Everything was settled
once and for all.
If he proved he?d reformed,
only then I could?
But I couldn't waste my life
just like that.
He had bought a lot of things
for the kids.
He said: "I could do all sort
of things".
You can but what?s the use
when you don?t have certificates?
You'll get the lowest pay of all.
I was pressed to give away?
To give Kassabov's son for adoption.
I wanted to be straight with him.
Not to lie to him and to tell him
the truth. That was better.
And since I saw that?
I let him stay overnight.
There was nothing between us.
He was happy.
He wanted to prove his love.
Said I was his only true love.
I used to have a very good figure.
No matter how kind-hearted
I was firm?
In the factory I worked
there was a guy - a graduate.
Started telling me:
"He'll never get straight,
he?s not used to discipline."
The next morning my uncle took me
to the hospital?
to get a certificate
that he?d beaten me
so that I could get a divorce.
Here they are.
I'll cut her throat if you shoot!
He disappeared and
I?ve never seen him since.
I heard he was killed
while trying to escape.
P. Zdravkov ? author of the
novel ?A Prosecutor tells?
Kassabov holds a special place
in my memories as a prosecutor.
The film studies the conditions
that deform
the character of this unhappy man.
After the noble Sacrifice
which he made in the name
of the new life
he was striving honestly for
he felt disappointed and rejected.
This put him of balance.
After 6 month he escaped
and crossed the border.
How exactly he died is not known.
About the Cock? You?re not
filming now, are you?
Could I see the script?
Because I?m artist too.
I'm artist from Balkantourist.
We make some souvenirs. It?s
nothing much but life?s a lot of fun.
Well, I've just remember
something funny.
The Cock was telling me
a dream of his.
You'll find it interesting.
You film-makers fall for dreams.
The raft!
The raft?s going!
Comrade!
(rus.)
Don?t!
Listen to me!
Is that you again?
Run, run!
Special thanks to GEORGI DJULGEROV
and DIMITAR KAMBUROV
*** Beljata ***
The Cock ? ROUSY CHANEV
Rumyana ? MARIA STATOULOVA
Gerchev ? PLAMEN DONCHEV
The Teacher - RADOSVETA VASSILEVA
Girl Thief - PLAMENA GETOVA
Palikamara - VELJO GORANOV
Lubo ? DIMITAR GANEV
Zordan ? STEFAN POPOV
Keranka ? DIANA CHELEBIEVA
Rumyana?s husband ? VLCHO KAMARASHEV
Copyright ? UNACS TEAM 2015