Samuel's Travels (2021) - full transcript

[Forest sounds, pig oinks.]

[Latvian] Kirke: Piglet!

Come home!

[English] Narrator: It's better to die

in freedom from starvation

than to be satiated in slavery.

[Latvian] Piglet!

[English] Narrator:

Farmer's daughter Kirke

took a more pessimistic view

on the liberation.

Dwelling upon the likelihood

that the piglet

had already been torn to pieces

and devoured

by the local wolves.

The animal had no idea

that his first day of freedom

would soon end up

in the most ridiculous

and incredible accident…

To be caused

by the main hero of our tale,

Samuel or Chef Sam

as he liked to be called.

The young man had arrived in

a country that he had never heard of

to find his father

he had never seen before.

[English] Sam: Hey!

Hey, hey, hey!

- Do you speak English?

- No.

Do you know this man?

His name is Lazins.

Ladins... Hey!

Hey!

What the fuck!

Voice navigation:

Destination not found.

No, no, no, no! Come on!

[Eerie music.]

[Crashing sound.]

Fuck!

Fuck.

[Piglet oinks.]

You owe me, you know that, right?

Do you know Lazdins?

[Piglet oinks as if answering.]

What the fuck am I saying?

Just a fucking pig.

Hello?

[Sam pants.]

[Night sounds.]

[A branch snaps.]

[Eerie high-pitched sound.]

[A scream.]

[Piglet oinks.]

[Latvian] Kirke: Watch where

you're going! Don't drive so fast!

[English] I don't understand.

[Piglet oinks.]

Oh, it's alive...

English?

Do you speak English?

Pig is a money.

Fine.

I'll take you home.

I mean...

I even don't know where I am.

[Piglet oinks.]

[Frogs croak.]

[Piglet oinks.]

- He's suffering too much.

- No. He's just too happy.

[English] Narrator:

The only one disappointed

by the recent turn of events,

was the piglet.

He would have preferred

to be devoured by wolves

rather than return

to his boring, filthy life

surrounded by wretched congeners

and miserable human beings.

[Piglet oinks.]

Dammit!

Loose again.

Wait, wait. Let me do it.

Here you go.

And you?

I don't drink.

Okay.

Where are you from?

I come from...

...a noisy place.

Not like this.

There's almost...

...no people left out here.

Just pigs.

And we're selling them

little by little.

Maybe we'll have to

move to the city.

I guess you can't wait to do that.

No.

No, I want to stay here.

Just like my mother wanted.

Do you know a man named...

Ladzins?

Lazins?

La... La... Ladzins

Do you know him? You know him.

No.

You're probably tired.

I...

Don't be scared.

My mum won't disturb your sleep.

She was an English teacher.

This is the best place.

Stay as long as you like.

We have... plenty of room and...

...food.

That's very kind, but I've...

…got to get going

in the morning.

Narrator: Hot food, a warm bed

and the caring hands of a woman

are enough to soothe the brow

of the most frantic traveler.

Soon he would forget not only

about searching for his father

but also about his faithful

companion, loneliness.

Or as he called it, freedom.

Peace of mind was such a rare state

in the life of this young man.

Kirke tried very hard

to dismiss the thought

that soon she would

never see him again.

She was enormously impressed

by the nobleness

of the foreigner's manner.

And the feeling of empathy

she believed he had for her.

Indeed the young lady was grateful

to her mother

for such a generous gift.

[Latvian] Thank you.

[English] Hi!

What's going on?

[Latvian] Your mother

has to stare at his ass.

He is a good one, Dad.

He's strong. A real foreigner.

I want him to stay.

[English] Maybe if you

ask him about Lazins?

Ladzins?

Yeah!

Lagzdins!

Yeah.

You know where I can find him?

Jancuks!

[Latvian] He looks harder than your skull!

[English] Can you translate?

I don't understand.

[A loud bang, Sam falls.]

[Alarming music.]

[Pigs oinking.]

[Latvian] Jancuks: You said you were going

to feed him to the pigs.

Gustavs: Maybe I'll

give that piglet to you.

It'll give my foreigner

ideas of running away.

He'll burn down your farm.

Let's chop him up

and feed to the pigs.

Gustavs: The foreigner is mine!

I'll do what I want with him.

[Kicking sound.]

Your house is a mess, Kirke!

You are a woman and

women can't keep things tidy!

I've told you

what women are good for!

As if you knew

what women are good for!

[Jancuks kicks, Sam groans.]

- He's our property!

- Stop it!

Let's bring his things inside.

Don't you dare touch him!

[Sam groans.]

[English] Narrator: Jancuks

had grown up in these parts.

He had never known anything

but the sun, the trees

and the ambition to marry Kirke.

Neither the old man

nor his daughter

suspected the aspirations

of their frequent guest.

In some dark corner

of his tiny jealous mind,

he imagined Sam touching Kirke.

The graphic image he summoned up

irritated and aroused him

in equal measure.

[Latvian] Don't go to him, he'll kill you.

- Go home to your daddies.

- It's for your own good!

If you touch her,

I'll cut your balls off!

- Tell him what I said.

- Get lost!

[English] Let me go!

[Sam pants desperately.]

[Sam yells.]

Look at me!

Look at me!

[Sam spits.]

[Latvian] Gustavs: You son of a bitch!

[Punching noises, Sam coughs.]

[Sam sobs, a fly buzzes.]

[Chain clanks.]

[Pigs oink.]

[English] Now watch.

[Pigwash stirring sound.]

Mix.

And feed.

[Latvian] Alright, stop it.

Let him do the work.

[English] Like this.

[Latvian] Get to it!

[English] Please.

Do it.

You will get some normal food.

If you do what I say.

If not...

...my father will punish you.

Believe me,

I don't want it to happen.

This is for you.

I'm not your pig.

- [Latvian] You dirty...

- [Latvian] Dad, let him starve.

That'll teach him.

Tell him that next time

I'll feed him to the pigs.

[English] If you want to be happy...

...you have to obey.

[Pigs snore.]

[Sam coughs.]

[Sam grunts and pants.]

[Pig oinks.]

No, no, no, no!

Hey! Hey! Shh!

Shh! Hey! Shh!

Hey, hey!

Shee!

Shh! Shh!

[Munching sounds.]

[Pigs snoring.]

[Rooster crows.]

[Latvian] Marks: Gustavs, it reeks here!

Look at the pigs suffering

in this shithole.

[English] Help me!

Help me! Please. Help me!

Help me!

Narrator:

Brothers Vilhelms and Marks

were blessed by good health,

pragmatic minds

and senseless hearts.

These qualities were perfect

for managing and maintaining

a prosperous farm.

The brothers lived in harmony

with their chickens, cows,

turkeys and their faithful,

but clumsy Jancuks.

Please!

Please!

Hey, hey, help me! Help!

Hey, help me! Help!

Narrator: At this moment,

they had a great chance

of replacing him

with a better labourer.

Please!

[Latvian] Gustavs: Now he works here.

But Kirke and I - we just rest.

Marks: His arms and legs are

more impressive than his work.

Jancuks!

Come here!

- Show us your arms!

- Why?

Show us your arms.

We want to buy the foreigner.

- Don't! He's a dickhead.

- Shut up.

Dad, he eats a lot.

We'll take eight pigs

and the foreigner.

Plus half a ton of fodder

for you.

He was sent by God.

I can't sell him.

It would be

like spitting in God's face.

He'd take of fence.

We'll talk about that later.

I'll speak to God Almighty.

He is much kinder to us

than he is to you, Gustavs.

Okay.

This is a good one.

That one has a bent back.

We'll take it anyway.

Gustavs: It's a healthy pig.

Marks: It's got a weak back.

Gustavs: Jancuks, mark it!

[Fly buzzes.]

[Alarming drumming.]

[Door squeaks, footsteps.]

[Latvian] Shh! Quiet!

[Chain clanks, Jancuks pants.]

[Dog barks.]

Come on! Come on!

Come on!

[Jancuks yells.]

Come on!

Come on!

Before she starts screaming!

[Latvian] Kirke: Stop!

[Dog barks.]

He'll fuck you

and fuck up your farm too!

[Wolves howling.]

[Struggle sounds.]

I hate you! Dirty dog!

I'd rather die than be with you!

You stinky creep!

Hang on!

Come here.

Come here.

Come closer.

Come.

Come.

Kiss me.

[Jancuks screams, Kirke pants.]

[Kirke shrieks.]

Shut up!

I'll cut your nose off.

Even the pigs

will be scared of you.

[Choking sounds.]

[Gunshot.]

Get lost!

And thank the old men

that I didn't shoot you.

Old fool!

What are you lying there?

Get up, let's go.

[English] What did he say?

He thanked you

for saving my life.

I only saved your nose.

[Pigs munching.]

[English] Dad loves you.

Why did you lure me here?

You offered me the ride.

I never asked for that.

You tricked me.

You drank my vodka.

I never forced you to.

Now it's time to work.

[Stately early music.]

Narrator: The hard physical work

was a way to disperse thoughts

about the inhuman conditions

of his existence

to which Sam

had become accustomed.

The shower reassured the pigs

that someone

was taking care of them.

Cleanliness is to some a virtue,

to some a necessity,

to others - a luxury.

[Latvian] Gustavs: I'll give you

a new chain, Foreigner.

If you work hard,

I'll make the chain even longer.

So that you can get to the shed

and chop some firewood.

I only sold eight pigs

to those bastards.

We still need a pair of hands.

You see, Kirke...

She's a woman.

And I'm not as strong

as I used to be.

It's a serious business,

Foreigner.

Our farm was falling apart.

Life is not worth living

if I have to sell all the pigs.

Such a pity

you don't understand me.

It's not like you could

say a word.

[Birds singing.]

[Melancholic music.]

Hey! Come!

Come here.

Pigs, work.

Work!

Here!

Bang!

Slam!

Dead!

Pig - dead!

[English] No.

[Latvian] Tomorrow, a party.

[English] No. No, no, no. No. No.

[Latvian] Damn.

I'll have to do it myself.

Watch and learn.

You swing it back...

And - bang!

[Pig squeaks.]

Come here.

[Sam coughs and chokes.]

[Piglet oinks.]

[English] Mamma.

Fuck!

My mamma.

[Piglet oinks, Sam vomits.]

[English] Stop moving.

The party starts soon.

You're not sitting with everyone

until you're clean.

Dad wants to show you.

Make the brothers jealous.

What do I say to people?

I don't speak the language.

Put a smile on your face.

Look pretty, I guess.

Turn your back.

[Sam gasps in pain.]

Bend over.

You have to wash

from time to time.

Sets a good example

to the other pigs.

I'm not a pig.

I'm not finished.

[Latvian] Gustavs: Stop thinking too hard.

In this world,

a pig's destiny is a sad one.

We keep them to...

Nomnom piggies.

A pig doesn't have a choice.

You are reliable.

That's a rare thing around here.

I do regret selling those pigs.

But too late now.

Foreigner, eat well!

You deserve it.

You should be grateful

I invited you.

Easy. Our guy isn't

as smart as your foreigner.

I hope your dog teaches him

all about loyalty and obedience.

Try stealing my foreigner

and I'll feed

that dimwit of yours to my pigs.

Vilhelms: Oh! What a juicy bite!

Gustavs: See, you were wrong.

You should have bought that pig.

[Cheerful song.]

Hey, you.

You can have some too.

That bastard ruined everything!

I said, don't underestimate him.

You could have had it all!

The pigs and the whole farm!

You had to marry me with Kirke!

And who'd have had it all then?

We or you?

Are we like warty dogs to you?

Dad, I never said that!

Can you speak like a dog?

I always do

everything you tell me to.

On all fours!

Stop it.

Marks:

Do what the master tells you to.

And now, bark!

Bark like your father barked

in that fire.

I can't hear you.

I can't hear you!

[Jancuks barks softly.]

Can't hear you!

[Jancuks barks louder.]

And remember...

Never say what you really think.

Do what we tell you to! Got it?

Yes.

- Yes, what?

- Yes, Master!

In dog language!

From now on, you'll

be speaking dog language.

[Jancuks pants

and yelps like a dog.]

If you don't want them

to have your bone...

Show them who's the strongest!

Hands off, Foreigner!

Don't rush it.

You don't deserve her yet.

[English] You should go.

[Dog barks.]

[Sam barks.]

[Dog yelps.]

[Jancuks barks.]

[Chain clanks.]

[Latvian] The foreigner is running away!

[English] I was not gonna run, you idiots!

I have a chain around my neck.

[Lashing sounds, grunting.]

Narrator:

Despite Kirke's certainty

regarding the righteousness

of the punishment

she still took pleasure

in having a man beside her.

One who listened, obeyed

and even smiled sometimes.

[Gustavs coughing.]

Instead of finding his father,

Sam had met the first woman

who had succeeded

in making him suffer.

For now, the torment

was merely physical.

Mental torture was no more

than a promise for the future.

[Pigs oink.]

[Latvian] Jancuks:

Why isn't he helping us?

Gustavs: They're your pigs now.

You deal with them.

Let him sit on a shorter chain

for a while.

[Piglet oinks.]

[English] What?

[Piglet oinks.]

There's no way out of this.

Leave!

[Latvian] Hey, idiot! You lost one!

Try to catch it!

Go, Jancuks, go!

[Engine starts.]

[Piglet oinks.]

[Loud, sharp noise.]

[Pigs squeal.]

[Latvian] Faster!

Run faster!

[Pigs oink.]

[Kirke wails.]

[English] Narrator: The lonely heart

of an abandoned woman

is sad and cruel.

Kirke would prefer to die

rather than return

to her boring, lonely life

with the stubborn,

sickly half-witted father.

[Latvian] Stay at home!

[English] Narrator: The young lady

was horrified by the thought

that Sam could have been

torn to pieces by wolves.

[Kirke moans.]

If only she knew

the foreigner would soon return.

Driven by strong feelings

and exalted intentions.

[Sam wakes with a gasp.]

[Sam groans and pants.]

[Sam yells out.]

[English] Fuck!

Fuck!

Fuck!

[Sam sobs.]

[Piglet oinks.]

Where did you get this?

[Piglet oinks.]

Thank you.

[Wolves howl.]

You hear that?

[Piglet oinks.]

I dreamt of going home.

[Piglet oinks.]

No.

My real home.

Far away from here.

[Piglet oinks.]

[Stately early music.]

[Piglet oinks.]

[Piglet oinks.]

Narrator:

For the first time in his life

Sam had so many pairs of ears

listening to his every word.

Even though

they understood none of it.

Sam's heart burst with

a desire to care and lead.

But there was no one

he could love here.

[Pigs oink.]

You're a pig. I'm a human.

Before we ate the same food

because there was no choice.

Out here, things are different.

Narrator: Sam's search

for Lagzdins had failed.

He didn't have the strength

to go back home anymore.

No one was waiting

or missing him.

Kirke couldn't stop

thinking about him.

Remembering happier times

when Sam was chained up

staring at her

with his trusting eyes.

The only thing she could do

was wait and hope.

[Stately early music.]

Narrator: Love...

What changes it wreaks

in the heart of a man!

What strange actions,

inexplicable

to the unaffected mind,

has it caused

on so many occasions!

However... unlike a woman,

a man is never able

to admit this to himself.

[Piglet oinks.]

It's just...

I never experienced

such feelings.

You want to laugh and cry

at the same time.

Piglet: Kirke.

[Wolves howl.]

Narrator: Despite the persuasive

nature of his companions,

Sam had a determination

to go back to Kirke.

If only the pigs could've known

that soon they would meet

the singularly horrifying fate

of being burned alive.

You don't have to follow me.

[Piglet oinks.]

For me it is.

[Wolves howl.]

It's wolves howling.

[Gunshot.]

[Latvian] Marks: Stop shooting!

Bullets cost money.

If you see the foreigner,

let me shoot him.

Marks: Find the pigs, dimwit!

Pigs cost money!

Each minute it's more likely

we'll only find their bones.

Gustavs: When I find Foreigner,

I'll cut his chain short.

Can you shoot?

You take him out.

[Jancuks sniffs like a dog.]

Where are the pigs?

Pigs. Where?

Give me the pigs,

and I'll tell no one.

Or take them back to the pigsty.

Pigs. Home. Fast.

I'll make your chain longer.

Come on!

Shoot him in the leg!

- He'll show us the pigs.

- Shoot him in the leg.

- Where are the pigs?

- Shoot!

The pigs. Where?

Shoot!

[English] Piglet: Run!

[Latvian] Gustavs: Where are the pigs?

His hands are shaking!

Shoot!

Gustavs: Just run!

[Gunshot.]

[Pig oinks.]

[Pigs oink and munch.]

Careful... Foreigner!

Be careful! They...

They shot me in the leg.

[English] Easy.

[Latvian] Hang on!

Don't touch the pigs.

[Triumphant music.]

[English] Narrator:

Sam was grateful to fate

for honouring him with

the chance to return to Kirke

neither a slave nor labourer,

but as a conquering hero

in the aftermath of battle.

The foreigner was indeed

God's gift to all.

[Gustavs grunting.]

[Latvian] Dad, drink this.

It'll ease the pain.

I'm crying with happiness.

I sold the pigs

and got them back again.

Don't throw the pellet away.

I'll put it on a string

and show it to those bastards.

So that they know who is

the smartest cookie around here.

They crashed their truck too!

Your foreigner

is a real godsend.

Kirke.

Have kids with him!

May God give you

healthy children.

They will look after the farm

when I'm gone.

Have a sip, you'll sleep better.

No.

I want to live

to see your wedding.

I won't go to sleep

until you're married.

I'll keep an eye on you.

[English] My father

has lost a bullet and...

...asks you to help find it.

What you're looking for

might be right in front of you.

You understood

what my father said?

He said...

He wants us to marry.

Let's do it.

You're burning, Kirke.

Yes, I do, Sam.

[Dog barks.]

[Sound of fire burning,

pigs squealing.]

[Latvian] Why did you do that?

If he touched you,

I'll kill both of you.

Why did you

set fire to the pigsty?

I'll go back to school!

Why did you

set fire to the pigsty?

Let's run away from the parents!

[Sam coughs.]

[English] Sam: Hey!

[Panting and grunting.]

[Jancuks screams.]

[Pigs squeal.]

[Wedding music.]

[Latvian] Pastor: Dear congregation.

We have come here...

[English] Narrator: Despite being innocent

of the arson at the pig farm,

Vilhelms and Marks

paid compensation for the losses

and agreed to bury the hatchet.

Soon they would lose

all their livestock

to an outbreak of bird flu

and face bankruptcy.

They would later be found

hanging in the chicken coop.

[Latvian] Pastor: God bless your children

and your family. Amen.

May God bless you

and protect you.

Amen.

[English] Narrator: Gustavs never saw

his bloodline continue.

His old heart stopped beating

on their wedding night.

[People clapping and cheering.]

[Rooster crows.]

[Door squeaks.]

[Pig oinks.]

Narrator: The pig's farewell

filled Sam's heart

with an

all-encompassing sadness.

At this moment, he realized

his journey had been devoid

of any sense or meaning.

Having given up his freedom

and not having found Lagzdins.

[Pig oinks, wolf howls.]

Narrator: Suddenly,

Sam was racked with doubt.

He wondered

if he should abandon Kirke

and to continue his journey.

Even though in freedom

he would encounter

even greater threats.

[Wolves howling.]

♪♪♪