Weiser (2001) - full transcript

he hero is Paul Heller, a man who in life was successful. For many years he lived in Hamburg, where he met his wife, and he made quite a pretty good property. After 11 years spent in exile, however, Paul decides to return to the Polish, the country, which since 1989 is the ideal place to start your own profitable business.

Present
A Wojciech Marczewski film

based on the novel
Dawid Weiser by Pawel Huelle

Starring

Dawid!

Elka!

Red's the best.

You want some?

Dawid!

It's a stupid prank!

The delayed express from
Hamburg is arriving at Platform 2.

Deutschland,
Deutschland uber alles, Doggie.



The son-of-a-bitch!
You've seen it!

Yes?

It's the kids...

You won't catch them anyway.

Pawel's won! Pawel's won!

Hello?

Anybody there?

- Co... co... cool, eh?
- Szymek.

I knew you'd come.

I've just arrived...
and been hanging around.

It's been twenty years.

Eleven.
I was in Hamburg.

Like I thought.

You can't sleep, either?



I can. Why?

This is where I hang-out.

I don't play in the orchestra
any more...

- I've quit music.
- I don't play either.

I remaster old records, tapes...

Pawel, are you scared?

Scared of what?

This clay is found
only in the tunnel.

Now ask me why I go there.

O.K. Szymek.

Why do you go there?
Why, it was an accident.

So, why didn't they find him,
then?

There was an explosion,
but he was never found.

Every day someone
disappears without a trace.

Not even a shoe or a finger.
Nothing.

Dawid visits you too?

Stop it! Dawid's dead.

So what?

He thinks
it's me who betrayed him.

But you know it's not true.

Why, those were kids' pledges.

You say a lot of things
when you're 13.

No, no, no, it's not that.

We swore for real.

Remember on what?

No.

Move on! Move on!
Go on!

Szymon Palta, Piotr Korolewski,
Pawel Heller.

Pawel, Piotr and Szymek.

Fine fireworks, no?

Pity it all ended that way, eh?

I didn't know...

What?

Nothing...

Don't you get it? You all have
to answer for a serious crime!

Headmaster,
I am conducting the investigation.

There was a girl with you...
Elka Bereda.

She was close to you, right?

Pawel?

Wasn't she?

You remember
what she was wearing?

Piotr?

Answer, moron!

Szymek, what was she wearing
the last time she was with you?

Well? Well?

A dress...

A red one.

A red dress.

Like this?

Take a good look.

Is this a scrap of her dress?

Have they found her, Miss?

Not yet. But we'll find her.

No one disappears
without a trace.

Have they found Dawid?

- I got it! I got the son-of-a-bitch!
- Show me!

Show me what it looks like!

Jesus! What a whale!
Co... co... cool, no?

Milk and honey! Milk and honey!

Cross the water
to see a miracle!

Milk and honey! Milk and honey!

Cross the water
to see a miracle!

You want some?

Thanks.

- What did you do...
- Lady...

...with my daughter?!

What did you do
with my child?!

No! No! No! No! No!

Calm down, please!

- You can't come in here.
- We'll find her for sure.

Dawid can hear you.
They both can... every word...

Hey, hey you there!

Practice!

- You stay here.
- What are you doing?

When they play,
they do not plot!

It always works.

Number 3.

This is milk...

And this is honey.

It's on Track 5. Cut it off
It will be fine.

Why don't you fix it, dammit?!

Why does the same gear
work perfectly well in Hamburg,

but screws up here?!

Betrayal!

Betrayal is a terrible thing,
my dear little flowers.

It's a deadly sin.

For which we'll have to repent
Throughout eternity!

With no chance of redemption.

Don't make yourselves
easy prey for Satan!

Beware of betrayal.

Remember this all your life
or at least throughout vacation.

Hey, Weiser, why don't you
go to religion classes with us?

The little yid won't talk to us!

- Get the yid!
- Let him have it!

Leave him!

Leave him alone!

Fuckin' Jew!

She's the same.

Did you see the marks
on his hand? What were they?

How should I know?
Looked like snakebites.

Do you think he keeps snakes?

- This may be contagious!
- Oh, come on...

Jesus Christ!

My ass! What a mess!
Co... co... cool, eh?

How could it ever happen?

It's the heat.
When it's hot, they say...

Don't be stupid!

They've been poisoned...

Szymek?

Don't go in there!

Szymek, what's up?

- I did... didn't tell a soul.
- What're you doing here?

My heart!
He wanted to stop my heart!

I betrayed nobody!

Promise me you'll tell him!

He trusted you.

He always trusted you...

I didn't tell anynobody.

He's coming! He's here.

Pawel, my God!
He's coming! God!

Are you Szymek's relative?

A friend.

He had no friends.

We went to school together.

Which of them are you?

What time does to people.

I lent him
an atlas once.

- May I take it back?
- Of course.

What?

They burned her dress.

Yes, but only a scrap?

Why did you do it?

Where?
Ask him where they burned it?

Didn't Piotr tell you?

I want to hear it from you.

- On a bonfire.
- Show us where?!

Precisely!

Here's the river and
the railroad track.

Where was it?

I'm not sure.

I'm all confused.

He's lying.

They all are!

Where did you hide
the bodies of Weiser and Elka?

- Dear colleague!
- There were no bodies!

No bodies? No blood? Nothing?
Where did you bury them?!

Mr. Kolota!

He's only a child.

He'll swing anyway.

Milk and honey...

What're you waiting for?!
Do your thing, Nazi!

Pawel, are you crazy?

Jesus! Oh God!
This is real! Real!

Show me!

Stick them up!

I got it!

Where did he get it?

Co... co... cool, eh?

- They do it better in the movies.
- Great, let's go to the movies!

- You'll stink.
- It doesn't stink any more!

Yes, it does.

I can see you.

Shut up!

- I'm going for a piss.
- Cool... me too!

My ass! What a mess!

Oh, my ass!

Jesus!

- Going to play Doc and Nurses.
- Shut up!

What're they doing?

I want to see.

Piotr?

It's me, Pawel Heller.
Remember me?

I am back in Poland.

I'd like to see you.

How about tomorrow night?
...Perfect.

Where?

Let me put it down.

...27. Good.

I'm coming on
the afternoon train... See you.

You 're such a child.

Want some orangeade?

I saw you on the runway.

Well? Did you like it?

We know where a dead cow is.
Want to come along?

Little kids...

And you an adult,
because you're seeing Dawid?

Dawid can do anything.
He's a philosopher.

You're so stupid.

I've stolen it from my sister.

Want some?

- Red's the best.
- But don't tell anyone.

I'll tell Dawid!

He knows everything!

Even what you're thinking
and what's gonna happen.

121... 122... 123.

Spying on us?

You may come along
if you like.

He doesn't mind.

Dawid!

Wait.

You believe in life after death?

Of course I do.

Good.

Swear never to tell a soul
what I'm going to show you...

...or what we're talking about,
or what's gonna happen.

And if you betray me, you die
with no chance for the afterlife.

You'll be nothing.
A lump of shit.

I swear.

Scared?

Because I am.

Protect your eyes,
and you'll see better.

Cool it. It's not the end
of the world yet.

1... 2... 3...

4... 5...

6... 7

Dreaming?

I don't remember...

Fan-fucking-tastic!
We're alive?

- And Dawid?
- That fatso, right?

No, that's Szymek.

Oh yes, Szymek. That's right.

A little dopey and a sad sack.

A heart attack is quite normal
at our age

And you smoke, son.

...I don't.
I banned it from my office.

You smoke,
You get the fuck out.

My wife hates me to smoke.

Wait a minute.

You are trying to tell me
you don't remember Dawid?

Like lots of other things.

But I remember what my wife
says when I come home late.

Szymek claimed
that Dawid was back

and kept haunting him.

He died on the 22nd,
the anniversary of our explosion.

So what?

A visitation from the grave?

The magical date of the 22nd,
a levitation trick...

- Dawid really did levitate.
- Come on! He was having us on.

A smart kid, him?

They've never found him.

Why don't you ask Elka?

She was in the tunnel too, They
didn't find him, but they found her.

Sorry, I can't drink this.
Excuse me.

I was five years in jail
in the commie times,

they injured my kidney...

I took to drink,
went on the wagon, got cured...

Good enough for you?!

You come to me

with an old story,
and claim it's so important!

I want to know
what really happened.

What did he need us for?

Why did he mix us up
in his affairs?

Just to leave unanswered
questions for years?

What did he want from us?

Why don't you answer me?

You scared?

For God's sake, Pawel...

It wasn't me who squealed...
or betrayed...

Nor did Szymek.

Go now...

It was a huge box.
Sixteen records.

I don't know the title.
The first letter is all that's left.

Must've been torn off,
accidentally or on purpose

On purpose, I think.

How should I know
who I bought it from?

Lots of people come here
to buy or to sell...

Maybe you remember
if it was a man or a woman?

At least that.

It means a lot to me.
It's part of my life.

Everything around
is part of someone's life.

See these, for example.

The Germans took them from
the Jews on their way to the camps.

Or maybe the militia later,
not the Germans.

Who knows?

This is Silesia,
a magical place

God has forgotten.

Here's a beauty,

quite old.

Whoever wore them could
not have been happy, huh?

So, you don't remember a thing?

Take a look, please.

Could have been him?

- How old are they now?
- Hmmm... as old as me.

How about that armchair?

They say Goering used
to sit in it.

W-e-i-s-e-r

Weiser.

- Weiser.
- Weiser.

Someone's been here
and asked me the same... thing.

But it wasn't you.

I think so too.

A name like this is hard
to forget, right? Weiser.

You're right.

But not in our files.

What?

But you said you
remember.

I remember someone
asking about him.

Wait a minute.

My ass! What a mess!

Hot here, isn't it?

- He used to live at 3 Sanocka St.
- You can't come in here.

A small bungalow, that.

- Sanocka St.
- 3.

He never lived there, sir.
The house is no more.

So...
what are you trying to say?

There'd be some trace
if he'd lived there.

Must be a mistake.

- 3 Sanocka St.
- Right.

And you mean he never existed?

I don't know that...
But... we must leave.

I'm asking a simple question!

Has Dawid Weiser
ever existed or not?!

Is that so strange?

Dawid!

Are you lost?

Yes.

Come or we'll be late.

My daughter Rachel.

Say hello.

I remember going into
the tunnel with him.

And then... nothing.
A blank.

I was found unconscious
in the bushes. That's all.

I got something for you.

Rudolf Jonas.

He went mad, you know...

Lost in the mountains.
His body was never found.

...I didn't know.

And Weiser?

Weiser what?

A funny boy he was, right?

I had a crush on him...
And on you too...

Once, I dreamed we were both
standing in the water.

I kissed you on the cheek...

while Dawid looked on
from the tunnel.

That's what happened.

Maybe... I don't remember.

This is milk...

and this is honey...

Look in the water
See a miracle.

It's funny
when you're a kid, isn't it?

I was supposed to go with him,
not you.

Rachel's waiting.
Don't see me off.

- Elka was there with you,
right? - Yes.

They always went together.

Is that bothering you?

No... why?

Tell me... were you jealous?

Weren't you jealous of Dawid?

No...

If I only work for myself,

what will become of me?

If not now, when?

Who's there?

He must learn his lesson.

Tell them.

- There's no one there.
- Tell them!

- I must learn my lesson.
- That's right!

He must learn his lesson!

Tell them why.

I must learn my lesson
or I end up in the garbage dump.

Like your father... Right?!

Like my father.

Louder!

- I must learn my lesson.
- Or?!

- Or end up in the garbage dump.
- Like who?

- Like my father.
- And who else?

My mother.

Are you shooting or not?

Too scared to shoot.

- Everyone's scared of something.
- But not Dawid...

Maybe scared
of the night lessons...

Bring the picture.

What's he talking about?

A ricochet!
You saw it yourself...

114, 115, 116,

117, 118, 119

I can't.

I want you to help me.

I start off soon.

What's it gonna be?

You must learn
your lesson first.

Or I end up in the garbage dump?

So I must learn my lesson
or end up in the garbage dump.

114, 115, 116,

117, 118, 119,

120.

Pawel, are you coming with me?

You alone?

They wouldn't let me see you,
little flower.

Oh, those people.

They make you look
like criminals.

Tastes good?

Things don't look good.

Dawid's grandpa has died,
you know?

Terrible.

That's why
you have to tell the whole truth.

I can't.

Lying is a terrible sin,
my child.

- But I swore to him.
- Who?

Weiser.

Oh, dammit!

Wouldn't you like to tell
God the whole truth?

As in confession.

You'll be absolved,
and you'll have some peace.

So cross yourself
and let's begin.

On my knees?

No need. Open up your soul and
tell nothing but the truth,

okay?

But only to you, Father.

And to Almighty God.

Take the bags
out of the basement!

D' you think today is the day?

It's got to happen.

Our Father, Thou art in heaven
Holy be Thy name

Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done

On earth as well as in heaven.

Give us this day
our daily bread

Come.

You'll rot in jail, moron!

You even lied to the priest.

- Why, the priest mustn't...
- Okay, okay!

All you tell is bullshit!

No sense or logic.

It was a confession...
Only to him.

And to Almighty God.
Bullshit!

Tell the truth
and all will be well.

What did you do with them?!

Elka!

Ready?!

Yes, it's set!

Tell him to give a signal!

What?

Connect them?

Not yet! Not yet!
He's coming back!

Just hold on to your heart!

- WHAM!
- WHAM!

Let's count to seven.

1, 2, 3,

4, 5, 6, 7.

Did you connect it properly?

I guess so.

Come with me.

Are you coming, Pawel?

- I'm coming with you!
- Stay put!

Oh, shit!

Let's forget it.
They may be looking for us now.

Wetting your pants, wimp?

Dawid?!

Elka?!

Red is the best.

Want some?

Where are they?

Inside!
Haven't come out yet!

Dawid, it's a stupid prank!

Elka?!

Dawid?!

And you don't know?

You tell me all those details
and you don't know?

What makes you think I wore
a red dress during the last explosion?

- What color, then?
- Blue.

I wore red at the airport.

I remember you tore
it in front of the tunnel.

But it was blue.

What happened to Dawid's pistol?
How about that?

My God!
Does it matter?

Yes... If you want to know the truth,
then, everything matters.

Why do you call Kolota
'Headmaster'?

He was just the senior teacher
in our school.

All right I change him
to the senior teacher.

Very good.

The rest was just...
the way you put it.

What?
What do you expect from me?

I just tell you what I agree
with and with what I don't.

You must tell me the truth!
You were with him till the end.

What happened to Dawid?

He vanished into
thin air? Where's he now?

Everything was...

...the way you put it.

I can't stand it.

Why pretend
you don't remember a thing?

You were there.

Why are you silent?

Don't shout.