Okhotnik (2004) - full transcript
I just saw The Hunter at its Seattle International Film Festival debut at the Harvard Exit theater. I have always had an interest in Central Asia since doing a senior report on the area in college and as this film is from Kazakhstan I was compelled to check it out. The title of the film from the credits was written in Cyrillic script as "Anshi", not sure where the title here of "Okhotnik" comes from (perhaps one is Russian and the other Kazakh?).As for the film, the strengths were certainly the cinematography of the natural surroundings of mountains and plains, as well as the close up looks at how the Kazakh people live. One gets a strong feel of their closeness to horses, their pastoral culture, and their food and way of life. It's a powerful anthropological presentation. The voyeuristic peeks at a beautiful young Kazakh woman were also well received by this viewer.The weaknesses of this film, however, slightly outweighed those positives for me. For one, at times the language (particularly the Hunter) looked dubbed. Was it dual produced in Russian? That looked cheap. Also, the actors were not always up to the task. The young boy character had an annoying look to him, I was almost half hoping he would get put out of his misery. There isn't much of a story, and the actors frequently give poor performances. The director would do well to take a look at other films like Himalaya, Prisoner of the Mountains, Rabbit Proof Fence, or anything by Robert Flaherty for an idea about how to successfully direct non-actors.Finally, I must apologize to everyone in the theater as apparently I was eating my popcorn too loud. Towards the end of the film this old dude turned around and yelled obscenities at me before taking the lord's name in vain. So much for too polite Seattle!
THE HUNTER
You can't throw that six.
Can't you see it's a trump?
You'll lose again.
Hello.
- It's been a while.
- Are you free tonight?
- My door is always open.
- For everybody?
- For a guest who is a good man.
- I'm not just a guest.
Hey! Tramp!
People are looking.
Come in the evening.
Hold him!
They found you
in the mountains in winter.
That tramp isn't your mum.
She just took care of you!
Are you going to cry or not?
He won't cry. He's too cold.
Let's leave him!
MONDAY
Greetings.
How are you?
Fine. I see you're not empty-handed.
A male. From the Turtle Mountains.
It's a very nice wolf.
Beautiful.
It's too bad
there are fewer of them now.
What's new in the mountains?
I saw the lone wolf's tracks
yesterday by the riverbank.
There was one strange thing.
The print on the ground...
had five toes.
It's not a wolf from our mountains.
The herders say
he's from the Altai Mountains.
You came from there too.
You're chilled through.
I'll warm your breath up.
Hello, son.
You won't greet me?
Erken, did you greet your uncle?
Say hello to your uncle.
Why don't you greet our guest?
He's your guest.
You toad! I'm fed up with you!
Act your age.
Please say hello.
I'm at my wit's end.
He's naughty.
He's cold, unfeeling.
Hey, Sujindyk!
Go and start the car.
Wait a moment...
Do you have enough petrol today?
Did you fill up the tank?
Taking a break?
None of your business.
- Where is your son?
- He's sleeping in his room.
Let's have a look.
So where is he?
And your horse?
In the backyard.
And your rifle?
Attention, children.
Go straight ahead
and keep your eyes open
so that nothing escapes you.
Hello. Good idea.
I knew where you'd hide.
You oaf!
You wrecked the shop.
You frightened everyone.
Why did you do it?
I talked to your mother.
This is what we decided...
You'll either head for the hills with me,
or go to prison.
- Greetings!
- Hi!
How are you?
Look. Those are the Turtle Mountains.
They're always covered in snow.
Remember this place.
You'll come back here.
You'll hunt by the riverbank.
Greetings.
Greetings to you too.
It's nice to have guests.
- Get off your horse.
- Thank you.
Everything's the same?
Thank God.
- Come inside.
- Come on.
Go in, son.
Why did the herders come back
from the mountains so soon?
There's a lone wolf on the prowl.
He won't leave us alone.
Did you see him with your own eyes?
No, thank God.
Just his footprints.
Like these? Five toes?
That's right.
He gets too close to people.
Who is that boy?
He'll be a hunter like me.
God's willing.
Look, a wolf!
What are you sitting here for?
Stop him!
All right, little hunter...
Find your way to us again soon.
This is our first son.
Give him your blessing.
Grow strong and flourish.
God be with you.
There are people in these hills.
And the hills over there are empty.
Who told you that?
The mountains are never empty.
Look.
Listen.
That's a wolf.
Do you hear it?
The females respond.
Now I'll howl like a she-wolf.
Do you hear it?
You're like a wolf.
I'm not a wolf.
I'm an eagle.
You're a wolf.
Now you do it.
Hey, get up and do it right.
Bend your head back. Louder!
Hey! Come here.
Are you herding sheep
in the mountains?
Is he your father?
Why is he silent?
Is he mute?
He doesn't talk to women.
So who are you?
Hunters.
- Is she looking at us?
- Yes.
- What is she doing?
- She's loosened her hair.
WEDNESDAY
Give it to me.
Hold your breath when you shoot.
Look.
That woman we saw before
is coming here.
Bring the horse.
Her hair is down.
Hurry.
Give it to me.
Look. This is for two.
It has to be tight,
or she'll fall off the horse.
Is it dead?
It's stopped buzzing.
Give it to me.
It might be dead.
It'll come back to life.
It's buzzing again.
It flew away.
You don't have warmth inside.
That's why you don't feel
all the beauty of the world.
Hand me the knife. Come on.
Here.
Stand there.
I've raised this horse
since it was born.
- Do you hear?
- Yes.
Should I bring some water?
Give it to me. Hold that.
Bring some more.
This is beauty.
- You must press on it.
- I'm trying.
That's it.
FRIDAY
Keep going! Harder!
Kick the door.
Get up and come inside.
Is he your new hand?
He has penetrating eyes.
Your journey is short.
You'll part with him soon.
That's what your stones say?
He doesn't have a mother?
Nobody breastfed him?
I don't know.
His breath is cold.
You must warm him up.
I don't know how.
I'll explain it to you.
Kill it.
I'll let it go.
If you want to.
Its time had come.
You can't change that.
Quiet.
Don't move.
Don't breath.
Stay where you are.
Go and finish him off.
Come here.
Take the cartridge.
Why didn't you shoot him?
Were you scared
or did you pity him?
A wounded wolf plays dead
to gain strength for an attack.
- The hunter's come to visit us!
- Greetings.
Greetings to you too.
Sit down.
How long has he been
walking it like this?
You'd have milked a mare twice by now.
Maybe that's enough.
A young woman, at my age...
What for, without virility?
Greetings.
- Peace be with you.
- How are you? - Who's that boy?
- Is it quiet here?
- Yes. Thank God.
A lone wolf is roaming around here.
I'm following his tracks.
Maybe he's following yours.
Hey, Ajsha!
Get off that camel. Go home!
She's unhappy.
Did you see herders in the mountains?
They didn't scatter?
No.
They moved off
into the Turtle Mountains.
Drink your tea.
I'll be back.
Your face all aglow
Disturbed my peaceful thoughts
I regret that I met you so late
That I won't look at you forever...
Your hands are soft.
But why are they so cold?
I see the moon in your face
I love you dearly,
you are my spirit
If only I'd met you before
In my coltish younger days...
When I was still happy...
Get up! Get dressed.
Come with me.
Hurry!
A wolf did this.
Quiet.
Look.
You see him?
He has five toes.
Let's go. We're leaving.
Put lotion on my back.
Last night...
Did you enjoy it with that tramp?
Nothing happened
between me and her.
Nothing.
She said I have cold hands.
What's on your lips?
Nothing.
They're salty.
You have that tramp's tears
on your lips.
In time, women will love you.
Everybody says I'm cold.
I don't know why.
Last night I felt warmth
for the first time.
That woman...
She's very beautiful.
What's that drivel?
Look at me.
Now look straight into my eyes.
True beauty isn't a woman.
Beauty is fleeting,
seen out of the corner of your eye,
like the mountains or the sky.
Let's go.
Get on the horse.
Be careful.
He has a mind of his own.
Go!
They say a white deer
lives in these mountains.
No one has ever seen him.
Only the pure and innocent
can catch a glimpse of him.
What scared you?
- I don't want strangers here.
- You're a stranger here.
Look in the mirror.
Look carefully.
You never slept
beside your mother.
She's not your mother.
Come outside.
Find yourself a warm spot.
What are you reading?
A book.
HALF A YEAR LATER
Take your clothes off.
Lie down beside your mother.
Fool!
Warm her up with your body
or she'll die.
She needs human warmth,
not a fire.
Do as I do.
- Mummy...
- Turn around.
You've grown up.
Your hand is warm.
I'll go now.
The fear has subsided in him.
Come on, open your mouth.
Say farewell to the hunter.
We'll meet again.
Don't let your breath grow cold.
Get up!
Hands behind your back.
Come here!
Open your mouth.
Number three...
Number four...
Number five...
Number six...
Number seven...
Hands behind your head.
Move closer together.
Push into each other.
I said move closer!
FOUR YEARS LATER
Dress ranks!
Front!
Captain, Almaty juvenile
delinquent section assembled.
Attention! Eyes right! Front!
Eyes right! Stop.
Eyes right! Front!
Right face!
Quick march!
Come inside. We'll have tea.
How did the hunter die?
I don't know.
Nobody knows.
Some say the wolves
ripped him to pieces.
Some say his time had come.
The shaman found his belongings
and his horse in the mountains.
Go away! Go away!
Where do you want to take my son?
Go and don't come back!
He's my only...
Go away!
That's all of it.
The hunter's things.
A saddle, a rifle,
a knife, a harness...
a saddlebag, shoes...
I almost forgot.
Here's his notebook
or some kind of book.
Did he leave any debts?
Let's see.
Several boxes of ammunition,
horse feed...
- And a couple of small things.
- Put it on my bill.
All right.
Greetings.
Greetings to you too.
Where have you come from?
The Turtle Mountains.
I'm a hunter.
Drink.
Son, come and greet the hunter.
Do you recognise him?
Five years ago the hunter
gave him his blessing.
I recognise him.
How did the hunter die?
He hadn't visited for a while.
Drink your tea.
Do you know how the hunter died?
No, nobody knows that.
- Don't howl, you'll bring wolves.
- Thank you for the tea.
We could have prepared meat.
Are there many wolves
in the mountains?
Many. A lone red wolf
is roaming around here now.
He doesn't fear people or dogs.
He comes to kill the sheep.
This is our younger son.
Do what the hunter did.
Bless him.
Grow strong and flourish.
You can't throw that six.
Can't you see it's a trump?
You'll lose again.
Hello.
- It's been a while.
- Are you free tonight?
- My door is always open.
- For everybody?
- For a guest who is a good man.
- I'm not just a guest.
Hey! Tramp!
People are looking.
Come in the evening.
Hold him!
They found you
in the mountains in winter.
That tramp isn't your mum.
She just took care of you!
Are you going to cry or not?
He won't cry. He's too cold.
Let's leave him!
MONDAY
Greetings.
How are you?
Fine. I see you're not empty-handed.
A male. From the Turtle Mountains.
It's a very nice wolf.
Beautiful.
It's too bad
there are fewer of them now.
What's new in the mountains?
I saw the lone wolf's tracks
yesterday by the riverbank.
There was one strange thing.
The print on the ground...
had five toes.
It's not a wolf from our mountains.
The herders say
he's from the Altai Mountains.
You came from there too.
You're chilled through.
I'll warm your breath up.
Hello, son.
You won't greet me?
Erken, did you greet your uncle?
Say hello to your uncle.
Why don't you greet our guest?
He's your guest.
You toad! I'm fed up with you!
Act your age.
Please say hello.
I'm at my wit's end.
He's naughty.
He's cold, unfeeling.
Hey, Sujindyk!
Go and start the car.
Wait a moment...
Do you have enough petrol today?
Did you fill up the tank?
Taking a break?
None of your business.
- Where is your son?
- He's sleeping in his room.
Let's have a look.
So where is he?
And your horse?
In the backyard.
And your rifle?
Attention, children.
Go straight ahead
and keep your eyes open
so that nothing escapes you.
Hello. Good idea.
I knew where you'd hide.
You oaf!
You wrecked the shop.
You frightened everyone.
Why did you do it?
I talked to your mother.
This is what we decided...
You'll either head for the hills with me,
or go to prison.
- Greetings!
- Hi!
How are you?
Look. Those are the Turtle Mountains.
They're always covered in snow.
Remember this place.
You'll come back here.
You'll hunt by the riverbank.
Greetings.
Greetings to you too.
It's nice to have guests.
- Get off your horse.
- Thank you.
Everything's the same?
Thank God.
- Come inside.
- Come on.
Go in, son.
Why did the herders come back
from the mountains so soon?
There's a lone wolf on the prowl.
He won't leave us alone.
Did you see him with your own eyes?
No, thank God.
Just his footprints.
Like these? Five toes?
That's right.
He gets too close to people.
Who is that boy?
He'll be a hunter like me.
God's willing.
Look, a wolf!
What are you sitting here for?
Stop him!
All right, little hunter...
Find your way to us again soon.
This is our first son.
Give him your blessing.
Grow strong and flourish.
God be with you.
There are people in these hills.
And the hills over there are empty.
Who told you that?
The mountains are never empty.
Look.
Listen.
That's a wolf.
Do you hear it?
The females respond.
Now I'll howl like a she-wolf.
Do you hear it?
You're like a wolf.
I'm not a wolf.
I'm an eagle.
You're a wolf.
Now you do it.
Hey, get up and do it right.
Bend your head back. Louder!
Hey! Come here.
Are you herding sheep
in the mountains?
Is he your father?
Why is he silent?
Is he mute?
He doesn't talk to women.
So who are you?
Hunters.
- Is she looking at us?
- Yes.
- What is she doing?
- She's loosened her hair.
WEDNESDAY
Give it to me.
Hold your breath when you shoot.
Look.
That woman we saw before
is coming here.
Bring the horse.
Her hair is down.
Hurry.
Give it to me.
Look. This is for two.
It has to be tight,
or she'll fall off the horse.
Is it dead?
It's stopped buzzing.
Give it to me.
It might be dead.
It'll come back to life.
It's buzzing again.
It flew away.
You don't have warmth inside.
That's why you don't feel
all the beauty of the world.
Hand me the knife. Come on.
Here.
Stand there.
I've raised this horse
since it was born.
- Do you hear?
- Yes.
Should I bring some water?
Give it to me. Hold that.
Bring some more.
This is beauty.
- You must press on it.
- I'm trying.
That's it.
FRIDAY
Keep going! Harder!
Kick the door.
Get up and come inside.
Is he your new hand?
He has penetrating eyes.
Your journey is short.
You'll part with him soon.
That's what your stones say?
He doesn't have a mother?
Nobody breastfed him?
I don't know.
His breath is cold.
You must warm him up.
I don't know how.
I'll explain it to you.
Kill it.
I'll let it go.
If you want to.
Its time had come.
You can't change that.
Quiet.
Don't move.
Don't breath.
Stay where you are.
Go and finish him off.
Come here.
Take the cartridge.
Why didn't you shoot him?
Were you scared
or did you pity him?
A wounded wolf plays dead
to gain strength for an attack.
- The hunter's come to visit us!
- Greetings.
Greetings to you too.
Sit down.
How long has he been
walking it like this?
You'd have milked a mare twice by now.
Maybe that's enough.
A young woman, at my age...
What for, without virility?
Greetings.
- Peace be with you.
- How are you? - Who's that boy?
- Is it quiet here?
- Yes. Thank God.
A lone wolf is roaming around here.
I'm following his tracks.
Maybe he's following yours.
Hey, Ajsha!
Get off that camel. Go home!
She's unhappy.
Did you see herders in the mountains?
They didn't scatter?
No.
They moved off
into the Turtle Mountains.
Drink your tea.
I'll be back.
Your face all aglow
Disturbed my peaceful thoughts
I regret that I met you so late
That I won't look at you forever...
Your hands are soft.
But why are they so cold?
I see the moon in your face
I love you dearly,
you are my spirit
If only I'd met you before
In my coltish younger days...
When I was still happy...
Get up! Get dressed.
Come with me.
Hurry!
A wolf did this.
Quiet.
Look.
You see him?
He has five toes.
Let's go. We're leaving.
Put lotion on my back.
Last night...
Did you enjoy it with that tramp?
Nothing happened
between me and her.
Nothing.
She said I have cold hands.
What's on your lips?
Nothing.
They're salty.
You have that tramp's tears
on your lips.
In time, women will love you.
Everybody says I'm cold.
I don't know why.
Last night I felt warmth
for the first time.
That woman...
She's very beautiful.
What's that drivel?
Look at me.
Now look straight into my eyes.
True beauty isn't a woman.
Beauty is fleeting,
seen out of the corner of your eye,
like the mountains or the sky.
Let's go.
Get on the horse.
Be careful.
He has a mind of his own.
Go!
They say a white deer
lives in these mountains.
No one has ever seen him.
Only the pure and innocent
can catch a glimpse of him.
What scared you?
- I don't want strangers here.
- You're a stranger here.
Look in the mirror.
Look carefully.
You never slept
beside your mother.
She's not your mother.
Come outside.
Find yourself a warm spot.
What are you reading?
A book.
HALF A YEAR LATER
Take your clothes off.
Lie down beside your mother.
Fool!
Warm her up with your body
or she'll die.
She needs human warmth,
not a fire.
Do as I do.
- Mummy...
- Turn around.
You've grown up.
Your hand is warm.
I'll go now.
The fear has subsided in him.
Come on, open your mouth.
Say farewell to the hunter.
We'll meet again.
Don't let your breath grow cold.
Get up!
Hands behind your back.
Come here!
Open your mouth.
Number three...
Number four...
Number five...
Number six...
Number seven...
Hands behind your head.
Move closer together.
Push into each other.
I said move closer!
FOUR YEARS LATER
Dress ranks!
Front!
Captain, Almaty juvenile
delinquent section assembled.
Attention! Eyes right! Front!
Eyes right! Stop.
Eyes right! Front!
Right face!
Quick march!
Come inside. We'll have tea.
How did the hunter die?
I don't know.
Nobody knows.
Some say the wolves
ripped him to pieces.
Some say his time had come.
The shaman found his belongings
and his horse in the mountains.
Go away! Go away!
Where do you want to take my son?
Go and don't come back!
He's my only...
Go away!
That's all of it.
The hunter's things.
A saddle, a rifle,
a knife, a harness...
a saddlebag, shoes...
I almost forgot.
Here's his notebook
or some kind of book.
Did he leave any debts?
Let's see.
Several boxes of ammunition,
horse feed...
- And a couple of small things.
- Put it on my bill.
All right.
Greetings.
Greetings to you too.
Where have you come from?
The Turtle Mountains.
I'm a hunter.
Drink.
Son, come and greet the hunter.
Do you recognise him?
Five years ago the hunter
gave him his blessing.
I recognise him.
How did the hunter die?
He hadn't visited for a while.
Drink your tea.
Do you know how the hunter died?
No, nobody knows that.
- Don't howl, you'll bring wolves.
- Thank you for the tea.
We could have prepared meat.
Are there many wolves
in the mountains?
Many. A lone red wolf
is roaming around here now.
He doesn't fear people or dogs.
He comes to kill the sheep.
This is our younger son.
Do what the hunter did.
Bless him.
Grow strong and flourish.