Torzók (2001) - full transcript
Áron is a happy child in his family. But at some point things take a different turn, and his mother starts to lose her health rapidly. As this happens, the man in charge decides what's best for Áron without consulting the young boy's opinion, and the boy finds himself thrown out of his warm home into an orphanage in the woods. He's utterly displeased by what's happening, without knowing he has yet to face much worse. After a hard time getting over the harrassment of his classmates and being accepted as one of them, another obstacle on the way to his peace of mind faces him: His obnoxious teachers. He has no intention of being bad, but it's beyond his ability to blend into the revolting place he's in. The nasty treatment of the teaching crew gets the better of him, and he's not all that calm and passive anymore. But that leads into unpleasant events which Áron himself wouldn't want.
present
a film by Árpád Sopsits
ABANDONED
starring
music by
director of photography
written and directed by
Those who lose what you've
lost, will ever roam
Soon comes the snow -
Woe to those who have no home.
Hungary, October, 1960
In memory of my mother
and my companions
Come here! Come here!
Now...
There...
Dad! Give it to me!
Give it to me!
Wait! Wait until it takes off!
Now you take over.
Great...
Come on! Give it to me!
Here.
Hold it...!
That's it
- Give it more line!
- Wow, that's great...
Pull on it..
That's it..
Don't...
- Hey! Higher! Higher!
- Don't let it go any higher!
Higher!
He's flying, see?!
He's flying!
It's up too high!
Watch out!
Damn it!
What the hell are you doing?
You want me to end up in jail?
You motherfucker!
- Mommy, I don't want to go!
- Shut up!
You won't get away from me.
God damn it!
You won't get away from me.
- I don't want to go there!
- Shut up!
Did you wet your pants?
Go piss over there!
- Good evening!
- Good evening!
- The new boy?
- Yes.
Come with me. The comrade
director is expecting you...
Does his mother know
you brought him here?
I have custody,
he's my responsibility.
Why were you given custody?
Because the house is mine.
His mother's...
she can't see very well...
And you brought him here.
I've been trying for half a year...
But he always wants to go away...
back to his mother...
Look,
I'm a poor man.
I want to remarry.
I don't know what to do
with him right now.
I understand, but we have to
notify his mother about it.
Well, notify her then.
- Give us her address.
- I don't know her address...
Then we'll find it.
Believe me, it's better for you here...
I'll come and take you out sometimes...
Come on then..
Csontos!
Ten raps on the knuckles
tomorrow morning! Sit down!
This is Áron Soproni.
Quiet!
After dinner everyone
goes back to the study hall.
Áron, you stay here.
Sit over theee, that will be your place.
Why didn't you eat?
You have to eat...
Things won't get better
if you starve yourself...
Come on, I'll show you to your bed.
Come on.
This is your bed.
Up there?
I've never slept...
You'll get used to it...
- What happened to your hand?
- Nothing...
Our Father, who art in heaven...
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
God, please let me be good.
Let Grandma get better
so I can get out of here...
- What did they bring you in here for?
- I don't know.
- What do you want?
- Nothing.
We just want to know
why you're here.
But I didn't do anything!
You didn't? You're lying
Not anyone here gets
brought in on a leash.
Where are you from,
which reform school?
Did you steal?
Get into fights?
Kill someone?
Come on, start talking,
start talking! Be a big Boy!
Stand up if you're so brave, stand up!
Sooner or later you're gonna
fucking tell us everything!
He won't last long now,
keep pushing! Faster! Faster!
Get off!
Get off, I said!
Stupid wimp!
Is he asleep?
Go! Go! Go!
Leave him alone!
He's not moving!
Just a little more...
Okay, that's enough.
He's not crying!
He's one of us now.
What are you doing over there?
Quit!
Fingernails!
Mr. Csapó, reporting for punishment, Sir!
Later.
They're dirty, Hajós!
I was helping Uncle Józsi
carry up the coal...
You're lying!
Let's double the amount then, shall we?
Teeth!
What are you stretching your neck for?
You ate poppy seeds!
Brush them again!
So you're the new boy?!
What's that blood on your ear?
Yes?
What happened?
Answer when I ask you a question!
Did someone hurt you?
No. I just never slept
in a bunk bed before...
Dear Mommy.
I'm scared very much here.
It's so good I can write you at last.
I miss you very very much.
The only good thing
about this institution is
that they found you.
I hope you are well and
your eyes're getting better.
I wish you could come
and see me soon...
Sure thing.
She'll rush in...
Kids are so stupid here...
and wicked...
The teachers don't like me.
I don't like them, either.
They haven't hurt me yet.
The time will come, boy...
I've not been hit
on my fingernails, either.
- We'll cross that out...
- I don't have any friends.
Mother! You will visit me
on Sunday, won't you?
The twenty minutes are up.
Please bring some sweets.
Millions of kisses,
your loving son, Áron.
A good thing the walls
aren't white as snow.
If you're really scared
we could swap beds...
No...
I'm not scared.
Do you pray, too?
No, but my father
taught me a rhyme...
Let's hear it!
Now I lay me down to sleep,
like a pig in mud so deep.
God damn am I freezing cold,
good night, good night I'm told.
Not bad! As a matter of fact,
it's quite good. We'll use it.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
like a pig...
How does it go?
Four times seven?
Twenty... six!
One more time.
Four times seven.
- Twenty... eight!
- At last! Six times seven?
- He's Nyitrai.
- Who?
Nyitrai. He used to be
an astronomer in Budapest.
He's done time for political
reasons, like my father.
He got out a few months ago.
He has a little girl.
- She came to see him once but they...
- Heltai!
Out here!
Go sit down.
- What was that whispering?
- We were talking about stars.
You can't talk about stars here.
Is that clear?
Everyone is to write this down
and solve it.
Well...?
Heltai?
Are you finished yet?
All right.
This is what I got,
because of this.
What does that remind you of?
This is how many of you
there are in this school.
This is the number of
weeks in a year, and
that's how many months your
father's got left in prison.
Áron...! Áron...!
My son!
What are you doing here?
- Go back to your dorm.
- I had a bad dream.
You're not alone.
What's that over there?
A telescope.
It's really big...! Is that what
you gaze at the stars with?
- Not any more!
- Never?
Never. Now...
Go back to bed..
Could I have a look?
You really must have
had a bad dream...
Well, all right, just this once.
You won't see much
because of the bars.
That's okay...
- It's like the barrel of a tank...
- Except we shoot for the stars...
Like this...
I can't see anything
but a big blur.
You can bring it into focus with this.
They're so close!
This is fantastic!
Slow down.
Now look for the brightest star.
It's to the right, above
the broken tree branch.
Found it!
That's the North Star.
That's where our adventures begin.
Where's the Dipper?
There are two of them:
the Great and the Little.
- Which one do you want?
- The Great Dipper.
Right now it's farther to the North
and a little to the right.
It consists of seven stars
but you can only see
them one at a time.
They're so shiny!
South of that is Cepheus.
But that's the moon!
A little to the left is his wife
Cassiopeia,
the queen, shaped like a "w".
They have a little girl
whose name is Andromeda.
Okay, enough for now.
Put that back!
I wasn't going to steal it,
I just wanted to look at it...
Steal it?
You wouldn't have any use for it.
It's a meteorite.
Do you know what that is?
A stone from space.
A piece of the sun?
Just a rock.
But it saved my life.
Where's it from?
I found it during my first walk
in a yard where no grass grows.
The prison yard?
How do you know about that?
From the boys...
The boys...
If you really are interested in stars
you can have that map.
But take good care of it,
I got it from my daughter.
Now get to bed.
STOREROOM
Shut up!
I wish I was soap lather...
...or a stream of water...
Look at those tits!
Well, Áron, do you like what you see?
All right, that's enough.
No, don't... no!
Well, Máté, you can go
to confession now.
- But not a word about this!
- Like the Virgin Mother...
Don't make me laugh...
- They'll be looking for us.
- They can kiss my...
What's wrong with you?
I want to touch her.
The way she is, naked...
You can't.
She's mine..
North...
No,
that's not right...
North...
No...
North!
Cepheus,
Cassiopeia...
Cassiopeia!
I found you!
It really does look like a "w".
This is a baby.
A baby? Are you crazy?
This, a baby?
It doesn't even have any hair!
Who told you that?
- My brother.
- You don't even have a brother!
I do too, and he's not stupid.
He knows...
How'd you do it?
It doesn't even smell like a baby.
- So? It's still what a baby's made from.
- That?!
- You said it was a baby.
- Right... No, no!
Believe me, this is what
a baby's made from!
Well, Hajós, maybe that's what
you're made of, but not me.
Line up!
Four to the left, three to the right!
It's gone!
It's gone!
The baby's gone!
Misi, Misi, do you hear me?
It's gone...
Again. Once more!
Again.
Come on, Csontos, this is
the least you can expect
for throwing bread around.
With your mouth only!
Not to worry, dear colleague.
You've seen worse, haven't you?
Stand up!
You can only eat it
if you reach it!
I'm not hungry any more.
You're going to eat it anyway.
Let's go.
Come on...
Eat.
It can't go on like this any longer.
I did it to teach him a lesson.
That was no teaching method.
- That was pure cruelty.
- That's where you're wrong.
It does make a difference
how we educate them.
With your mentality
they wouldn't survive out there.
It's a cruel world,
in case you haven't noticed.
I know more about that
than you do.
But these are kids...
I've been doing this for 20 years.
I know what they think,
I know what they feel.
I know their most secret desires.
And I'm the one who's
with them during the breaks,
while you go off
with your cello somewhere.
You hate kids.
I hate myself enough to outlive you...
I want to enjoy my hatred
a while longer.
The next time you interfere with my methods
I'm having you taken back
right where you came from.
Gentlemen, please...
- Did it hurt a lot? - I could've
taken the jumping a while longer...
- You shouldn't have tried to be a hero!
- Shut up, okay?
You always want to be something
different, you stupid Gipsy...
- Your mother's a Gipsy!
- She's dead. - Stop it, will you...?
Give her a hug... hug your mother...
don't pull away, you hear?!
Áron, my son...
your face is so thin...
Don't pull away, you hear me?!
- What is it? What do you want?
- Nothing.
- Today is my birthday, again.
- Hooray! Hooray!
Who wants a ride on the motorbike?
All right, but only one person can go.
One at a time, you know that.
Whoever gets back first
with a piece of coal gets to go.
On you marks, get set, go!
- Go, Hajós!
- Come on guys!
Hurry up!
Stay back. You hear me?
Stay back! I must win!
I'll kick the crap out of you.
- Stop!
- Fuck you!
Okay, Áron,
you can sit behind me.
You mother fucker!
Now I can wait another half
year until his name day!
Leave him alone.
I'm sick of you being the boss
around here! Did you tell him...
- I forgot.
- You bastard!
Don't you mess with me,
damn it, don't mess with me!
That's enough!
What's this? Get to bed!
Hajós, come with me!
It smells so bad in here even my watch
stopped running. Open a window.
Take off your nightgown.
These underpants are too worn,
I've told you before.
Here's a new pair,
put them on.
Put them on!
What are you waiting for?
Come here!
Closer!
Come on, come on.
Don't worry, I won't hurt you.
- You've been smoking.
- No! I haven't!
You will be honest with me,
now won't you?
Do you like it here?
- What about your brother?
- Nothing.
Are you sure?
He's being put in a boy's home.
I could pull some strings
and have him sent here...
Could you, Mr. Csapó?
Could you do that?
You tell me about everything
that goes on in here.
Only me.
I'll even take you for a ride
on the motorbike
one day.
All right, off with you now.
I have to write that down..
The walls are white..
The walls...
Cut it out, you know you're not allowed.
What are the candles for?
It's All Soul's Day.
Cut it out, hear me...?
The director's on duty.
We'll be all fucked because of you.
Christ the Lord, our loving Father,
I stand before you with
the trust of a child and ask you
to free my father and mother,
and forgive their sins,
some of which might have been
committed because of me.
Please admit them
to the glory of Heaven...
- Why don't you pray silently, to yourself?
- He has to hear you.
He doesn't hear you.
- He hears me. I can feel it.
- There is no God! Understand?
Nor will there ever be!
You need to look for a large white spot,
like a lopsided circle.
Some have several moons...
Could that be where God lives?
Look for him.
I can't find him..
I couldn't either. And I've been
looking for thirty years...
But could He be there?
All there is up there is dust and gasses.
It's extremely cold among the stars,
minus 270 degrees.
But most of all, there's nothing.
Then He doesn't even exist?
I don't believe so.
But then why does Máté pray?
To whom?
Máté says he feels God.
Why don't I?
Do you?
Me?
No...
But there's got to be something!
That's true...
It should be.
And maybe for you it's still possible.
I'm sure there's a place
or a person
- that is your innermost home...
- So then He does exist...
If he does,
He is also in this.
In that?
Don't you understand?
It's not the rock that's important...
It's really heavy...
God does not exist.
Keep going!
Don't even think of stopping
before a hundred!
Is that it?
You do know that you can't write
for another two weeks, don't you?
There is no God and
I won't pray to Him anymore.
The twenty minutes are up.
"They give us enough to eat here.
I got a beating again
but it doesn't matter.
We can hardly wait for the snow
so we can make a huge snowman
with a gigantic carrot for a nose.
Then I'll eat the carrot.
I like carrots,
Take care of yourself
and write soon. Csontos."
There's no salutation again.
No what?
Salutation.
Like "Dear Brother..."
or whatever his name is.
Balázs.
Then write: "Dear Balázs".
And cross out the part about the beating.
I said cross it out.
- "Snowman" isn't capitalized.
- But it's a person, a name!
I said it's not capitalized.
And don't sign "Csontos",
sign your Christian name: Laci.
But everyone calls me Csontos.
What did he call you?
I don't remember...
Pegasus!
Orion!
I found you!
You can't hide from me!
Dear Grandma, I dream about
them more and more often.
Maybe if I had been in the car,
the accident wouldn't have
happened and Mom and Dad would
still be alive. You said
Jesus watches over me,
so they would still be alive.
Why was I at your house then?
I don't remember.
I celebrated All Soul's Day...
This kid's driving me crazy!
Nothing's enough for him!
You can't send this report.
What do you care about him?
You're ruining his life
just because he prays?
He's toying with my job!
If Csapó finds out I haven't sent it,
I've had it!
He censored it...
At least cross out that one sentence!
I most certainly will not!
Four years ago you would have...
for me...
Four years ago...
Here, you cross it out!
Go ahead!
If you're so brave...
You can come into me,
if you still want to...
Don't lose track now,
there's to be twenty-six of each.
This is only twenty-four.
Did you hit yourself?
Let me see..
- Hey, what are you doing...?
- Kiss me...
- Are you crazy?
- Why?
You do it with the director!
- I saw you doing it!
- Spying on me, were you?
- You whore!
- Miss Marika, stop! Stop!
- Sneaky, aren't you? You whore!
- Just like my mother!
What the hell do you know?
Do you ever see your daughter?
No.
She lives with my wife
in another town,
far from here.
How old is she?
7.
Why are you so interested?
I don't know...
Why do you come here?
Who sent you?
No one.
Father,
we had our pictures taken.
Everyone had to smile.
I didn't feel like it.
Then I thought you might be
happy if I did...
You can be cute if you want to, son...
My best friend's name is Áron.
Who's your best friend now?
- Friend...
- I miss you very much, Father!
Hugs and kisses, your son, Attila.
Christmas is coming
so I will draw you something.
- Can you guess what it is?
- This is a cunt! What a pig!
Sending that to his father in prison!
Cut off the folded part
and fold the paper in half.
Twist the top part around a pencil
and move it up and down fast.
Damn...
Over here!
Get him!
- I bet you can't get me!
- Right here!
Go on now!
You are to bring a crate of
coal from the store room.
Not a piece should fall out, otherwise
no one goes home for Christmas.
All right.
You can get up new.
I said, get up!
Everyone can go home.
Except Seprődi, Váradi, Hajós and Máté.
And you.
You can't home like that.
Here.
This is
my gift to the gang...
Go ahead, open it!
Well, what is it, little monkeys...?
God of comfort, God of mercy,
look upon your poor child
with merciful eyes,
who, left alone in this world
puts all his trust in your mercy.
Dear Heavenly Father, give me
a peaceful and patient heart
amidst all of life's bitterness.
Let me understand that
I will not be alone,
that your watchful eyes
are always upon me.
I gratefully see, dear God,
that you have provided people
who are good to me
out of their love for you,
and in this way almost
substitute my poor parents.
You said, God, that a mother
sooner forgets her own son
than You forget your children.
- That's why I place all my faith in you...
- What is this?
I therefore place all my trust...
Please don't forget...
- Stop that!
- ...and lead me...
- Shut your mouth, you wretch...
- ...under your protection...
Shut up!
You can't pray here, understand?
You want to send me to jail?
You stinker...
No praying, no praying, no praying!
Are you still here?
Back to your beds, all of you!
What did I say!
Back to bed!
Understand? Hear me?
Get to bed!
Get to bed!
I have faith in you and will
never be disappointed in you.
I want to live and die under
your holy protection... Amen...
You too!
You're Jewish!
Your grandparents died in Auschwitz.
All right,
you'll beat him up,
you were the ones listening...
Line up!
In front of your beds!
Horinka,
the lash!
You start!
And don't be gentle!
- I can't hit him.
- Then he will, and that's worse for Máté!
Seprődi!
Again!
Harder!
Don't you dare turn away!
Well, come on,
or do you want a turn too?
- I'm going to escape.
- How the fuck d'you wanna do that?
- I don't know yet.
- But there's got to be a way...
Others have tried, but
they were all brought back.
I don't care.
I want to see my mother...
I'm game.
I'll go with you.
So will I.
- Me, too.
- Me, too.
- I can't go.
- Chicken.
Because of my father, shithead...
Let's go, dickheads,
what the fuck are we waiting for?
Come on! Fly Áron, fly!
Áron! Áron!
Wake up!
- What is it?
- We're going!
- Going? Now?
- Csapó's on duty!
He took Horinka to the hospital,
he was coughing blood.
- Give me my shoes!
- Cut it out! Cut the crap!
- Where the hell is my hat?
- Up my ass!
- I'm going too!
- I was hoping you would.
- Where are the matches?
- I couldn't get any!
- What? Aren't you coming?
- I don't know where we're going.
So?
We're leaving, that's all
- You're chicken!
- I'm not chicken. I'm just not going.
I don't!
Don't fucking come then!
You go back to sleep!
- We made it! We're free!
- Yeah! We made it!
Fuck you Csapó!
- Macaroni is for dinner today...
- Shut up or I'll punch you!
Cut it out, guys!
Shit!
Someone's coming!
Get down, get down!
Misi!
He's never going to pay it back...
He set his dog on me.
And his wife encouraged him.
She's real trash she is.
During grape harvest
she started flirting with Bandi
and then poured a bucket
of rotten grapes down his back...
Just some animal...
...and almost pushed him in the press...
We'll reach the river by the afternoon.
The town's not far from there.
We have to get out of these uniforms.
What for?
We'll still look the same!
See this?
Everything worked out
because this was protecting us.
What the fuck is this?
It's a...
...a tiny star. From space.
- A meteorite.
- A what?
A meteorite.
That's what it's called.
From space?
Sure!
You stupid animal,
get it out, damn it!
Are you orazy?
Leave me alone!
Get it out, damn it!
It's important to me!
You're gonna take it out of the fire,
understand? You bastard!
- Get it out, damn it!
- Stop it! Look! Look!
Leave me alone!
It's putting the fire out...
It's cold as ice..
It is...
Wake up! The cops are here!
Out the back window! Out!
Get up!
Don't move...
Don't move...
You should be looking for the kids instead.
You should know that better than me.
You're the one who knows their souls
and innermost desires, aren't you?
God damn!
Careful!
This is where it's the narrowest,
let's cross here.
This is dangerous.
Let's not do it.
But
we agreed, didn't we?
Okay,
I'm going.
Hey, we agreed on the order
and I'm first!
You come last,
you're the lightest.
And besides,
you're watched over.
Fuck!
Cross carefully...
This cold is nothing.
Up there, among the stars,
it's minus 270 degrees.
Leave me alone.
I'm gonna freeze to death.
Máté!
Máté!
Come beside me.
Come on...!
Don't be scared.
The others are waiting
on the other side, see?
Go on.
I'll go last then...
What are you guys doing?
Stop fucking around!
Oh my God...
Áron! Help! Áron!
Get me out!
Come on!
Get me out!
Help! Áron! Help!
- Get me out!
- Lie down on the ice.
Get me out...
Hold on, we're coming!
Hold on! Hold on!
- I got you... I got you...
- Get me out, God damn it!
- Get me out!
- Don't worry...
Help!
Help!
Attila! Máté!
Máté! Máté!
Attila...!
Leave me alone!
Leave me alone!
No... Attila!
We can't save him!
We can't save him!
- Máté, come on. Please...
- Attila...
Máté...
Máté...!
Please... pray!
Pray!
Now, now, damn it!
Why the hell don't you feel it now?
Why don't you feel it? Pray!
For yourself... for Attila...
Leave him alone.
You should be feeling it now...
God...
God...
God, please make him get better...
Please help him get better...
And if you do exist make him
get better and let him live...
- Bring Attila back...
- We have to get him to a doctor.
Where did you want to go,
anyway? Where?
You call this gratitude?
Who came up with the idea?
Step forward!
It's not fair to punish a single
person for what happened.
I don't care what the hell
you think, Nyitrai!
We've made mistakes too.
All right then, who came up
with the idea of escaping?
Boys,
you'd better tell me.
If you tell me, the others won't
get such a tough punishment.
It was me.
You?
Are you aware that Máté is lying
in the hospital sick, with a very
high fever, because of you?
And Heltai died because of you?
You'd better get used to the idea
of being a murderer.
A murderer...
Nyitrai!
Come...
Come, now...
Come...
Let me out!
Let me out of here!
Mr. Józsi, let me out!
Let me out!
Mother,
I didn't kill him!
It wasn't me! Was it...?
It wasn't me!
It wasn't me...
It wasn't me...
I hope you've found the time
to think things through.
We're taking you
to a stricter facility today.
There's no escaping from there.
You can go now.
Go on!
Come.
Miss Marika, I'd like to leave
this map of the stars here for Máté...
Okay...
What happened, Mr. Józsi?
Nyitrai died.
Hung himself.
Maybe he got some
bad news from home.
I have to pee.
Go ahead.
Mother!
You will see me, won't you?
I would be so happy...
They will make you get better, right?
They're taking me
to another institute today,
I can only have visitors
every three months there.
I'm bald.
I thought one of us
would make it home.
Máté is still in the hospital.
His fever went down but
he doesn't recognize anyone.
Not even his grandmother.
He just sits and prays.
The Credo.
Attila died...
because of me.
a film by Árpád Sopsits
ABANDONED
starring
music by
director of photography
written and directed by
Those who lose what you've
lost, will ever roam
Soon comes the snow -
Woe to those who have no home.
Hungary, October, 1960
In memory of my mother
and my companions
Come here! Come here!
Now...
There...
Dad! Give it to me!
Give it to me!
Wait! Wait until it takes off!
Now you take over.
Great...
Come on! Give it to me!
Here.
Hold it...!
That's it
- Give it more line!
- Wow, that's great...
Pull on it..
That's it..
Don't...
- Hey! Higher! Higher!
- Don't let it go any higher!
Higher!
He's flying, see?!
He's flying!
It's up too high!
Watch out!
Damn it!
What the hell are you doing?
You want me to end up in jail?
You motherfucker!
- Mommy, I don't want to go!
- Shut up!
You won't get away from me.
God damn it!
You won't get away from me.
- I don't want to go there!
- Shut up!
Did you wet your pants?
Go piss over there!
- Good evening!
- Good evening!
- The new boy?
- Yes.
Come with me. The comrade
director is expecting you...
Does his mother know
you brought him here?
I have custody,
he's my responsibility.
Why were you given custody?
Because the house is mine.
His mother's...
she can't see very well...
And you brought him here.
I've been trying for half a year...
But he always wants to go away...
back to his mother...
Look,
I'm a poor man.
I want to remarry.
I don't know what to do
with him right now.
I understand, but we have to
notify his mother about it.
Well, notify her then.
- Give us her address.
- I don't know her address...
Then we'll find it.
Believe me, it's better for you here...
I'll come and take you out sometimes...
Come on then..
Csontos!
Ten raps on the knuckles
tomorrow morning! Sit down!
This is Áron Soproni.
Quiet!
After dinner everyone
goes back to the study hall.
Áron, you stay here.
Sit over theee, that will be your place.
Why didn't you eat?
You have to eat...
Things won't get better
if you starve yourself...
Come on, I'll show you to your bed.
Come on.
This is your bed.
Up there?
I've never slept...
You'll get used to it...
- What happened to your hand?
- Nothing...
Our Father, who art in heaven...
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
God, please let me be good.
Let Grandma get better
so I can get out of here...
- What did they bring you in here for?
- I don't know.
- What do you want?
- Nothing.
We just want to know
why you're here.
But I didn't do anything!
You didn't? You're lying
Not anyone here gets
brought in on a leash.
Where are you from,
which reform school?
Did you steal?
Get into fights?
Kill someone?
Come on, start talking,
start talking! Be a big Boy!
Stand up if you're so brave, stand up!
Sooner or later you're gonna
fucking tell us everything!
He won't last long now,
keep pushing! Faster! Faster!
Get off!
Get off, I said!
Stupid wimp!
Is he asleep?
Go! Go! Go!
Leave him alone!
He's not moving!
Just a little more...
Okay, that's enough.
He's not crying!
He's one of us now.
What are you doing over there?
Quit!
Fingernails!
Mr. Csapó, reporting for punishment, Sir!
Later.
They're dirty, Hajós!
I was helping Uncle Józsi
carry up the coal...
You're lying!
Let's double the amount then, shall we?
Teeth!
What are you stretching your neck for?
You ate poppy seeds!
Brush them again!
So you're the new boy?!
What's that blood on your ear?
Yes?
What happened?
Answer when I ask you a question!
Did someone hurt you?
No. I just never slept
in a bunk bed before...
Dear Mommy.
I'm scared very much here.
It's so good I can write you at last.
I miss you very very much.
The only good thing
about this institution is
that they found you.
I hope you are well and
your eyes're getting better.
I wish you could come
and see me soon...
Sure thing.
She'll rush in...
Kids are so stupid here...
and wicked...
The teachers don't like me.
I don't like them, either.
They haven't hurt me yet.
The time will come, boy...
I've not been hit
on my fingernails, either.
- We'll cross that out...
- I don't have any friends.
Mother! You will visit me
on Sunday, won't you?
The twenty minutes are up.
Please bring some sweets.
Millions of kisses,
your loving son, Áron.
A good thing the walls
aren't white as snow.
If you're really scared
we could swap beds...
No...
I'm not scared.
Do you pray, too?
No, but my father
taught me a rhyme...
Let's hear it!
Now I lay me down to sleep,
like a pig in mud so deep.
God damn am I freezing cold,
good night, good night I'm told.
Not bad! As a matter of fact,
it's quite good. We'll use it.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
like a pig...
How does it go?
Four times seven?
Twenty... six!
One more time.
Four times seven.
- Twenty... eight!
- At last! Six times seven?
- He's Nyitrai.
- Who?
Nyitrai. He used to be
an astronomer in Budapest.
He's done time for political
reasons, like my father.
He got out a few months ago.
He has a little girl.
- She came to see him once but they...
- Heltai!
Out here!
Go sit down.
- What was that whispering?
- We were talking about stars.
You can't talk about stars here.
Is that clear?
Everyone is to write this down
and solve it.
Well...?
Heltai?
Are you finished yet?
All right.
This is what I got,
because of this.
What does that remind you of?
This is how many of you
there are in this school.
This is the number of
weeks in a year, and
that's how many months your
father's got left in prison.
Áron...! Áron...!
My son!
What are you doing here?
- Go back to your dorm.
- I had a bad dream.
You're not alone.
What's that over there?
A telescope.
It's really big...! Is that what
you gaze at the stars with?
- Not any more!
- Never?
Never. Now...
Go back to bed..
Could I have a look?
You really must have
had a bad dream...
Well, all right, just this once.
You won't see much
because of the bars.
That's okay...
- It's like the barrel of a tank...
- Except we shoot for the stars...
Like this...
I can't see anything
but a big blur.
You can bring it into focus with this.
They're so close!
This is fantastic!
Slow down.
Now look for the brightest star.
It's to the right, above
the broken tree branch.
Found it!
That's the North Star.
That's where our adventures begin.
Where's the Dipper?
There are two of them:
the Great and the Little.
- Which one do you want?
- The Great Dipper.
Right now it's farther to the North
and a little to the right.
It consists of seven stars
but you can only see
them one at a time.
They're so shiny!
South of that is Cepheus.
But that's the moon!
A little to the left is his wife
Cassiopeia,
the queen, shaped like a "w".
They have a little girl
whose name is Andromeda.
Okay, enough for now.
Put that back!
I wasn't going to steal it,
I just wanted to look at it...
Steal it?
You wouldn't have any use for it.
It's a meteorite.
Do you know what that is?
A stone from space.
A piece of the sun?
Just a rock.
But it saved my life.
Where's it from?
I found it during my first walk
in a yard where no grass grows.
The prison yard?
How do you know about that?
From the boys...
The boys...
If you really are interested in stars
you can have that map.
But take good care of it,
I got it from my daughter.
Now get to bed.
STOREROOM
Shut up!
I wish I was soap lather...
...or a stream of water...
Look at those tits!
Well, Áron, do you like what you see?
All right, that's enough.
No, don't... no!
Well, Máté, you can go
to confession now.
- But not a word about this!
- Like the Virgin Mother...
Don't make me laugh...
- They'll be looking for us.
- They can kiss my...
What's wrong with you?
I want to touch her.
The way she is, naked...
You can't.
She's mine..
North...
No,
that's not right...
North...
No...
North!
Cepheus,
Cassiopeia...
Cassiopeia!
I found you!
It really does look like a "w".
This is a baby.
A baby? Are you crazy?
This, a baby?
It doesn't even have any hair!
Who told you that?
- My brother.
- You don't even have a brother!
I do too, and he's not stupid.
He knows...
How'd you do it?
It doesn't even smell like a baby.
- So? It's still what a baby's made from.
- That?!
- You said it was a baby.
- Right... No, no!
Believe me, this is what
a baby's made from!
Well, Hajós, maybe that's what
you're made of, but not me.
Line up!
Four to the left, three to the right!
It's gone!
It's gone!
The baby's gone!
Misi, Misi, do you hear me?
It's gone...
Again. Once more!
Again.
Come on, Csontos, this is
the least you can expect
for throwing bread around.
With your mouth only!
Not to worry, dear colleague.
You've seen worse, haven't you?
Stand up!
You can only eat it
if you reach it!
I'm not hungry any more.
You're going to eat it anyway.
Let's go.
Come on...
Eat.
It can't go on like this any longer.
I did it to teach him a lesson.
That was no teaching method.
- That was pure cruelty.
- That's where you're wrong.
It does make a difference
how we educate them.
With your mentality
they wouldn't survive out there.
It's a cruel world,
in case you haven't noticed.
I know more about that
than you do.
But these are kids...
I've been doing this for 20 years.
I know what they think,
I know what they feel.
I know their most secret desires.
And I'm the one who's
with them during the breaks,
while you go off
with your cello somewhere.
You hate kids.
I hate myself enough to outlive you...
I want to enjoy my hatred
a while longer.
The next time you interfere with my methods
I'm having you taken back
right where you came from.
Gentlemen, please...
- Did it hurt a lot? - I could've
taken the jumping a while longer...
- You shouldn't have tried to be a hero!
- Shut up, okay?
You always want to be something
different, you stupid Gipsy...
- Your mother's a Gipsy!
- She's dead. - Stop it, will you...?
Give her a hug... hug your mother...
don't pull away, you hear?!
Áron, my son...
your face is so thin...
Don't pull away, you hear me?!
- What is it? What do you want?
- Nothing.
- Today is my birthday, again.
- Hooray! Hooray!
Who wants a ride on the motorbike?
All right, but only one person can go.
One at a time, you know that.
Whoever gets back first
with a piece of coal gets to go.
On you marks, get set, go!
- Go, Hajós!
- Come on guys!
Hurry up!
Stay back. You hear me?
Stay back! I must win!
I'll kick the crap out of you.
- Stop!
- Fuck you!
Okay, Áron,
you can sit behind me.
You mother fucker!
Now I can wait another half
year until his name day!
Leave him alone.
I'm sick of you being the boss
around here! Did you tell him...
- I forgot.
- You bastard!
Don't you mess with me,
damn it, don't mess with me!
That's enough!
What's this? Get to bed!
Hajós, come with me!
It smells so bad in here even my watch
stopped running. Open a window.
Take off your nightgown.
These underpants are too worn,
I've told you before.
Here's a new pair,
put them on.
Put them on!
What are you waiting for?
Come here!
Closer!
Come on, come on.
Don't worry, I won't hurt you.
- You've been smoking.
- No! I haven't!
You will be honest with me,
now won't you?
Do you like it here?
- What about your brother?
- Nothing.
Are you sure?
He's being put in a boy's home.
I could pull some strings
and have him sent here...
Could you, Mr. Csapó?
Could you do that?
You tell me about everything
that goes on in here.
Only me.
I'll even take you for a ride
on the motorbike
one day.
All right, off with you now.
I have to write that down..
The walls are white..
The walls...
Cut it out, you know you're not allowed.
What are the candles for?
It's All Soul's Day.
Cut it out, hear me...?
The director's on duty.
We'll be all fucked because of you.
Christ the Lord, our loving Father,
I stand before you with
the trust of a child and ask you
to free my father and mother,
and forgive their sins,
some of which might have been
committed because of me.
Please admit them
to the glory of Heaven...
- Why don't you pray silently, to yourself?
- He has to hear you.
He doesn't hear you.
- He hears me. I can feel it.
- There is no God! Understand?
Nor will there ever be!
You need to look for a large white spot,
like a lopsided circle.
Some have several moons...
Could that be where God lives?
Look for him.
I can't find him..
I couldn't either. And I've been
looking for thirty years...
But could He be there?
All there is up there is dust and gasses.
It's extremely cold among the stars,
minus 270 degrees.
But most of all, there's nothing.
Then He doesn't even exist?
I don't believe so.
But then why does Máté pray?
To whom?
Máté says he feels God.
Why don't I?
Do you?
Me?
No...
But there's got to be something!
That's true...
It should be.
And maybe for you it's still possible.
I'm sure there's a place
or a person
- that is your innermost home...
- So then He does exist...
If he does,
He is also in this.
In that?
Don't you understand?
It's not the rock that's important...
It's really heavy...
God does not exist.
Keep going!
Don't even think of stopping
before a hundred!
Is that it?
You do know that you can't write
for another two weeks, don't you?
There is no God and
I won't pray to Him anymore.
The twenty minutes are up.
"They give us enough to eat here.
I got a beating again
but it doesn't matter.
We can hardly wait for the snow
so we can make a huge snowman
with a gigantic carrot for a nose.
Then I'll eat the carrot.
I like carrots,
Take care of yourself
and write soon. Csontos."
There's no salutation again.
No what?
Salutation.
Like "Dear Brother..."
or whatever his name is.
Balázs.
Then write: "Dear Balázs".
And cross out the part about the beating.
I said cross it out.
- "Snowman" isn't capitalized.
- But it's a person, a name!
I said it's not capitalized.
And don't sign "Csontos",
sign your Christian name: Laci.
But everyone calls me Csontos.
What did he call you?
I don't remember...
Pegasus!
Orion!
I found you!
You can't hide from me!
Dear Grandma, I dream about
them more and more often.
Maybe if I had been in the car,
the accident wouldn't have
happened and Mom and Dad would
still be alive. You said
Jesus watches over me,
so they would still be alive.
Why was I at your house then?
I don't remember.
I celebrated All Soul's Day...
This kid's driving me crazy!
Nothing's enough for him!
You can't send this report.
What do you care about him?
You're ruining his life
just because he prays?
He's toying with my job!
If Csapó finds out I haven't sent it,
I've had it!
He censored it...
At least cross out that one sentence!
I most certainly will not!
Four years ago you would have...
for me...
Four years ago...
Here, you cross it out!
Go ahead!
If you're so brave...
You can come into me,
if you still want to...
Don't lose track now,
there's to be twenty-six of each.
This is only twenty-four.
Did you hit yourself?
Let me see..
- Hey, what are you doing...?
- Kiss me...
- Are you crazy?
- Why?
You do it with the director!
- I saw you doing it!
- Spying on me, were you?
- You whore!
- Miss Marika, stop! Stop!
- Sneaky, aren't you? You whore!
- Just like my mother!
What the hell do you know?
Do you ever see your daughter?
No.
She lives with my wife
in another town,
far from here.
How old is she?
7.
Why are you so interested?
I don't know...
Why do you come here?
Who sent you?
No one.
Father,
we had our pictures taken.
Everyone had to smile.
I didn't feel like it.
Then I thought you might be
happy if I did...
You can be cute if you want to, son...
My best friend's name is Áron.
Who's your best friend now?
- Friend...
- I miss you very much, Father!
Hugs and kisses, your son, Attila.
Christmas is coming
so I will draw you something.
- Can you guess what it is?
- This is a cunt! What a pig!
Sending that to his father in prison!
Cut off the folded part
and fold the paper in half.
Twist the top part around a pencil
and move it up and down fast.
Damn...
Over here!
Get him!
- I bet you can't get me!
- Right here!
Go on now!
You are to bring a crate of
coal from the store room.
Not a piece should fall out, otherwise
no one goes home for Christmas.
All right.
You can get up new.
I said, get up!
Everyone can go home.
Except Seprődi, Váradi, Hajós and Máté.
And you.
You can't home like that.
Here.
This is
my gift to the gang...
Go ahead, open it!
Well, what is it, little monkeys...?
God of comfort, God of mercy,
look upon your poor child
with merciful eyes,
who, left alone in this world
puts all his trust in your mercy.
Dear Heavenly Father, give me
a peaceful and patient heart
amidst all of life's bitterness.
Let me understand that
I will not be alone,
that your watchful eyes
are always upon me.
I gratefully see, dear God,
that you have provided people
who are good to me
out of their love for you,
and in this way almost
substitute my poor parents.
You said, God, that a mother
sooner forgets her own son
than You forget your children.
- That's why I place all my faith in you...
- What is this?
I therefore place all my trust...
Please don't forget...
- Stop that!
- ...and lead me...
- Shut your mouth, you wretch...
- ...under your protection...
Shut up!
You can't pray here, understand?
You want to send me to jail?
You stinker...
No praying, no praying, no praying!
Are you still here?
Back to your beds, all of you!
What did I say!
Back to bed!
Understand? Hear me?
Get to bed!
Get to bed!
I have faith in you and will
never be disappointed in you.
I want to live and die under
your holy protection... Amen...
You too!
You're Jewish!
Your grandparents died in Auschwitz.
All right,
you'll beat him up,
you were the ones listening...
Line up!
In front of your beds!
Horinka,
the lash!
You start!
And don't be gentle!
- I can't hit him.
- Then he will, and that's worse for Máté!
Seprődi!
Again!
Harder!
Don't you dare turn away!
Well, come on,
or do you want a turn too?
- I'm going to escape.
- How the fuck d'you wanna do that?
- I don't know yet.
- But there's got to be a way...
Others have tried, but
they were all brought back.
I don't care.
I want to see my mother...
I'm game.
I'll go with you.
So will I.
- Me, too.
- Me, too.
- I can't go.
- Chicken.
Because of my father, shithead...
Let's go, dickheads,
what the fuck are we waiting for?
Come on! Fly Áron, fly!
Áron! Áron!
Wake up!
- What is it?
- We're going!
- Going? Now?
- Csapó's on duty!
He took Horinka to the hospital,
he was coughing blood.
- Give me my shoes!
- Cut it out! Cut the crap!
- Where the hell is my hat?
- Up my ass!
- I'm going too!
- I was hoping you would.
- Where are the matches?
- I couldn't get any!
- What? Aren't you coming?
- I don't know where we're going.
So?
We're leaving, that's all
- You're chicken!
- I'm not chicken. I'm just not going.
I don't!
Don't fucking come then!
You go back to sleep!
- We made it! We're free!
- Yeah! We made it!
Fuck you Csapó!
- Macaroni is for dinner today...
- Shut up or I'll punch you!
Cut it out, guys!
Shit!
Someone's coming!
Get down, get down!
Misi!
He's never going to pay it back...
He set his dog on me.
And his wife encouraged him.
She's real trash she is.
During grape harvest
she started flirting with Bandi
and then poured a bucket
of rotten grapes down his back...
Just some animal...
...and almost pushed him in the press...
We'll reach the river by the afternoon.
The town's not far from there.
We have to get out of these uniforms.
What for?
We'll still look the same!
See this?
Everything worked out
because this was protecting us.
What the fuck is this?
It's a...
...a tiny star. From space.
- A meteorite.
- A what?
A meteorite.
That's what it's called.
From space?
Sure!
You stupid animal,
get it out, damn it!
Are you orazy?
Leave me alone!
Get it out, damn it!
It's important to me!
You're gonna take it out of the fire,
understand? You bastard!
- Get it out, damn it!
- Stop it! Look! Look!
Leave me alone!
It's putting the fire out...
It's cold as ice..
It is...
Wake up! The cops are here!
Out the back window! Out!
Get up!
Don't move...
Don't move...
You should be looking for the kids instead.
You should know that better than me.
You're the one who knows their souls
and innermost desires, aren't you?
God damn!
Careful!
This is where it's the narrowest,
let's cross here.
This is dangerous.
Let's not do it.
But
we agreed, didn't we?
Okay,
I'm going.
Hey, we agreed on the order
and I'm first!
You come last,
you're the lightest.
And besides,
you're watched over.
Fuck!
Cross carefully...
This cold is nothing.
Up there, among the stars,
it's minus 270 degrees.
Leave me alone.
I'm gonna freeze to death.
Máté!
Máté!
Come beside me.
Come on...!
Don't be scared.
The others are waiting
on the other side, see?
Go on.
I'll go last then...
What are you guys doing?
Stop fucking around!
Oh my God...
Áron! Help! Áron!
Get me out!
Come on!
Get me out!
Help! Áron! Help!
- Get me out!
- Lie down on the ice.
Get me out...
Hold on, we're coming!
Hold on! Hold on!
- I got you... I got you...
- Get me out, God damn it!
- Get me out!
- Don't worry...
Help!
Help!
Attila! Máté!
Máté! Máté!
Attila...!
Leave me alone!
Leave me alone!
No... Attila!
We can't save him!
We can't save him!
- Máté, come on. Please...
- Attila...
Máté...
Máté...!
Please... pray!
Pray!
Now, now, damn it!
Why the hell don't you feel it now?
Why don't you feel it? Pray!
For yourself... for Attila...
Leave him alone.
You should be feeling it now...
God...
God...
God, please make him get better...
Please help him get better...
And if you do exist make him
get better and let him live...
- Bring Attila back...
- We have to get him to a doctor.
Where did you want to go,
anyway? Where?
You call this gratitude?
Who came up with the idea?
Step forward!
It's not fair to punish a single
person for what happened.
I don't care what the hell
you think, Nyitrai!
We've made mistakes too.
All right then, who came up
with the idea of escaping?
Boys,
you'd better tell me.
If you tell me, the others won't
get such a tough punishment.
It was me.
You?
Are you aware that Máté is lying
in the hospital sick, with a very
high fever, because of you?
And Heltai died because of you?
You'd better get used to the idea
of being a murderer.
A murderer...
Nyitrai!
Come...
Come, now...
Come...
Let me out!
Let me out of here!
Mr. Józsi, let me out!
Let me out!
Mother,
I didn't kill him!
It wasn't me! Was it...?
It wasn't me!
It wasn't me...
It wasn't me...
I hope you've found the time
to think things through.
We're taking you
to a stricter facility today.
There's no escaping from there.
You can go now.
Go on!
Come.
Miss Marika, I'd like to leave
this map of the stars here for Máté...
Okay...
What happened, Mr. Józsi?
Nyitrai died.
Hung himself.
Maybe he got some
bad news from home.
I have to pee.
Go ahead.
Mother!
You will see me, won't you?
I would be so happy...
They will make you get better, right?
They're taking me
to another institute today,
I can only have visitors
every three months there.
I'm bald.
I thought one of us
would make it home.
Máté is still in the hospital.
His fever went down but
he doesn't recognize anyone.
Not even his grandmother.
He just sits and prays.
The Credo.
Attila died...
because of me.