"This is a film you want to make... but do I, or television, or audiences really need it?" "!" "?" "!" "Besides it's full of booby traps and blacked-out areas..." "No one's made a film about the fifties yet." "I'm not an idiot;" "I'm very serious about this." "I'm not interested in doing any old film for my thesis." "This film needs a good director." "You're very young." "You'll get some old codger who knew him, saw him, who knows!" "This is my subject." "Besides, I've already started it." "I'll give you another one, "steel"." "That's what interests us, it's essential and not hypocritical." "I learned my subject matter from my father." "I'm giving you good advice." "I have contacts, materials, interviews, really good stuff." "Young people will be interested..." "You're ignoring the facts... steelworkers, mills, the increases in steel production..." "So you haven't got the materials for me?" "I'm not interested in controversy." "It would be the end of... me, you and your film." "Those materials have always been off-limits." "This is bottom line, understand?" " How old are you?" " 28." "And you have 21 days to finish shooting." "MAN OF MARBLE" "Starring" "Co-starring" "Written by" "Music by" "Set design" "We're from Polish Television..." "Yes, the director told me to assist you." "The museum's closed today, so I'm afraid there isn't much light." "What's this film about, anyway?" "!" "?" "!" "The director would like to know." "Do you have a script?" "!" "?" "!" "Yes, I do." "Director of photography" "Directed by" "Keep her busy." "What's down there?" "Nothing interesting, the oldest collections." " Before World War II?" " No, 25 years ago." "We're the only institution which buys works of art." " Were they ever displayed?" " Of course." " Didn't you see them?" " I was born too late." "Where are you going?" "Let's go back, there's nothing there." "I just want to look around a bit." " What's going on here?" " I'll explain..." "Is there enough light?" "!" "?" "!" "We'll manage if we raise it and put the camera on a tripod." "What tripod?" "!" "Well, well, my dear..." "I like that one." "That's strange." "May I ask... why that one?" "There are far better pieces here." "I don't know." "It's not important." "Could I take some pictures?" "Pictures?" "!" "The director doesn't even like... people visiting here." "Good morning, please prepare the film." "Hello..." "Can you hear me, gentlemen?" "Yes, good morning..." "Good morning." "Good morning." "Perhaps we could arrange a hotel room for you." "It'd be cheaper than sleeping here." "Hello." "I've chosen materials which more or less concern that bricklayer." "More or less." "This stuff's 25 years old and it's hard to remember everything." "Are you going to sit there or next to me?" "I don't know if there's anything to choose from here." "It's boring footage." "This is your thesis?" "So you think it's boring?" "I'm not here to think, I'm here to splice." " What did you do at school?" " Short studies." "Cortazar's, of course." "Or maybe your own screenplay?" "!" "?" "!" " Agnieszka." " I did different things." "I know, life as it happens, hidden cameras..." "Television likes that, audiences less, but they'll give you a job." "Roll the film, please." " What do we have here?" " A profile of Birkut, fascinating!" " Have you ever met him?" " Only his statue." "There were better looking guys." "Why him?" "I don't know." "Maybe because he was tipped over." "I'd advise you to choose quickly." "Projection rooms are hard to get." "These are outtakes." "They never made it into any film." "For technical reasons, of course.." "Hold on, this is called "A City is Born."" "It was supposed to be called that." "A thesis piece too, by Burski." "I haven't cut anything, pretty soon you'll see Birkut." "Also outtakes." "Here he comes..." "That's him." "Birkut, Mateusz." "Where do you come from?" "Lencz, a village near Krakow." "Parents?" "They live there." "What does your father do?" "He has some land." "A lot?" "!" "?" "!" "Not much." "Did you work anywhere else earlier?" "!" "?" "!" "On the land." " So you don't know anything." " No, I do..." "On that land..." "What are they angry about?" "!" "?" "!" "The fish, I guess." "I love fish." "But only one fish for dinner..." "I understand." " Burski made these kinds of films?" " He quickly stopped." "Now you'll see a fragment of his film titled:" ""Building our Happiness."" "I've chosen the parts with Birkut." "The rest is very similar." "Please roll the film." "We're ready." "Building our Happiness." "A film by Jerzy Burski." "The festively decorated main hall of Warsaw's Polytechnic... and the annual New Year's Eve Ball... for those most deserving:" "Party and government dignitaries... lead workers... farmers, teachers, and academics." "Among them, Mateusz Birkut, a leading worker from Nowa Huta." "Mateusz Birkut, from a poor village... with thousands of others... joins the battle for a better tomorrow." "A huge steel mill is being built near Krakow... together with a new city." "This marks the site where, on April 26, 1950... the first worker began construction." "From across Poland, stream... masses of workers, including volunteers from the Youth Union... and Service to Poland." "As the city grows, so do the people." "They are not alone." "Management lends a hand... by providing... worker's hotels... where, after work, they can relax and do some reading." "It was here on the building site... that Mateusz Birkut... began, together with other young volunteers." "Under the watchful eye of experienced bricklayers... like Ozanski and others... he learned this demanding and beautiful trade." "The honorable title "builder of Nowa Huta"... demands not only manual labor... but academic work too and everyone can learn here." "Mateusz Birkut took full advantage of the opportunity." "He worked and studied..." "Here is where he met his future wife." "We know her from the newsreels." "Hanka Tomczyk, the pride of..." "Nowa Huta athletes, began like everyone and leaned to live... and work here." "The landscape is changing." "Where once were fields... we now see Nowa Huta, the largest investment of the 6-year plan." "President Bierut's arrival is a holiday for the crew." "A warm welcome, applause... a handshake and a moment that many... have dreamed of." "A leading worker, Hanka Tomczyk... feels distinguished." "It was then that Mateusz Birkut... took up the challenge of the other bricklayers, 30,000 bricks... laid in one shift." "That was his slogan." "It happened here." "A result like that required efficient teamwork." "We see it here, a good team." "Many came to watch, to nervously observe..." "Will they do it?" "!" "?" "!" "They've done it!" "...30 thousand... 509 bricks." "The five heroes at the finish line." "Now flowers, handshakes and cheers." "Such was the beginning of his march to later successes." "Comrades selected Mateusz Birkut... to be a delegate to the Builders' Convention... and later to the Convention of lead workers." "And so men like Birkut became the inspiration for artists." "A marble statue takes form... a symbol of the heroism of our bricklayers." "An art exhibition at the Zacheta Gallery in Warsaw." "It is opened by the one whose statue is the... centerpiece of the showing." "Mateusz Birkut may claim with satisfaction that:" ""We have played our part... in the revolution in Polish art."" "Indeed." "They were its engine... raw material, and substance." "The people were now on canvas." "Look at... the degenerate works of artists... from the capitalistic west." "It's no accident they have removed from the human form... its shape... and substance." "Here comes old Krakow, while right behind... it's younger sister..." "Nowa Huta, as old as the 6-year plan." "The "Trumanillo" circus was a hit." "Mr. Truman and his friends, reactionary rats and insects." "Eisenhower and Adenauer as bride and groom." "Franco dressed as Carmen." "And, kicked out of Korea..." "McArthur." "People reach out for... quickly printed... leaflets." "As if symbolizing the millions of hands which, thanks to the..." "People's Republic, have received books and newspapers." "The day long-dreamed of arrives." "They receive their own flat." "One of those which they built with their own hands and hearts." "Mateusz and Hanka Birkut have a home of their own." "They are understandably moved." "All around them they see the fruits of their joint efforts." "In each block of flats there is a drop of their sweat." "Is that everything?" "Yes." "I'd like this shown too." "I found a little filler." "Roll the film, please." "Just a minute..." "There's no sound, as it was never used... for "technical" reasons." "Roll it." "What was all that about?" "!" "?" "!" "I cut and splice film, I don't get involved with the subject matter." "What happened to him later?" "!" "?" "!" "We'll find that out in your film." "I saw the film about Birkut." "You must know it." " I shot the pictures." " But Burski made it!" "He directed and edited." "That was..." "It got an award, it did." "That was a long time ago, 24 years." "I'd like to talk to Burski." "Good idea, Burski likes to support young talent." "Is he in Warsaw?" "!" "?" "!" "No, he's returning from some festival." "I heard they're going to meet him at the airport." "It's a good idea to keep your ear to the ground." "What are you so worried about?" "!" "?" "!" "Times are tough, Agnieszka." "I'd like to... keep working." "But I guess this'll be my last film." "I've written to the Minister... with a request to let me continue." "I haven't had an answer yet." "We're ready!" "We're not going to use a tripod." "Only handheld and wide-angle lens just like the new American films..." "I was only on the jury." "I'm pleased by the success... but it belongs to them." "But it's thanks to you that Polish films are recognized world-wide." "I'm flattered by your opinion, but it was really them..." "There's a woman here from Polish Television..." "But I'm going to Prague today!" "Your tickets are all taken care of." "So you're the television lady?" "!" "?" "!" "Just don't ask me about the trip or the festival; please be original." "I'm doing my thesis." "A film." "What about?" "!" "?" "!" "A simple story, here's the title, "Stars of a Single Season."" "Sports stars or screen stars?" "Former lead workers." "Then and now." "That's history." "For me, ancient history." "That's why I want to make this film." "How moving." "And I'm to be granddad by the fireplace... telling tales of how we built Warsaw and Nowa Huta, eh?" "That's very moving." "But impossible, as I'm leaving today." "To Prague, I know." "When I return, perhaps?" "What are you doing this afternoon?" "Me?" "Different things." "Good-bye." "Too bad." "You knew Birkut, didn't you?" "Knew Him?" "!" "He was my greatest discovery!" "That was my biggest stunt." "You think this Birkut, now...?" "I'm simply curious." "The story if his career, and what followed." "The story of a career?" "!" "?" "!" "First some materials from the archives..." "With your permission." "...then a few interviews, cinema verite, but that's old hat." "I saw one of your earlier films." "Which one?" " "Building our Happiness." - "A City is Born."" "It's too bad you never finished it." "Are you doing a film about Birkut, or about me?" "You see, I don't lament over... my own, "what followed?"" "Anna Maria!" "Marysia!" "Daddy!" "You forgot your dog." "Tell me, what's his name?" " Where's my wife?" " Off on a shooting session." " When will she be back?" "!" "?" "!" " Late..." "My dear lady, film, especially a documentary, is not literature." "There's no tomorrow, everything is now or never." "You have to know what's important, have that awareness..." "I was once young, as you are now, and I had to start somewhere." "Nothing worked for two years, until I finally got smart." "And you made your mark with Birkut?" "!" "?" "!" "I wanted to do a film about someone else, but all the better... lead workers already had backers." "Older colleagues of mine had every construction record... clenched in their teeth like a bone." "Marysia...?" "So I had to think up..." "Something to drink?" "!" "?" "!" "I needed an idea and so I thought up Birkut." "At first it was only a vague outline." "It concerned... the fact, not the person, and only took form in Nowa Huta." "I used to go there often, shooting short pieces for the newsreels." "Hi." "What are you filming today?" "!" "?" "!" "We've got new showers." "Warm water and free soap." "Violet-scented toilet bars?" "I'll wait till there's shampoo." "What is it?" "!" "?" "!" "What have you got for the upcoming Trade Union Congress?" "That." "We're building." "So, you're building." "That's not a stunt." "What's a stunt?" "!" "?" "!" "Something hot and loud, that's a stunt." "Stupal was a stunt." "10,000 bricks in one shift!" "Not some "We're building."" "I hear you, comrade." "But records are once in a blue moon, but we have a good crew... good technology and organization." "In the long run..." "Forget that..." "Besides, you can have both." "Let's do a stunt for 30,000." "Comrade, you have two hands." "So does a bricklayer." "I'd have to give him two more." "Mr. Jodla, I don't know anything about laying bricks." "What's the "three-man" system?" "You want the short version?" "It's like this." "A bricklayer used to work alone, now he has two helpers." "And they lay 20 thousand?" "Maybe they do, maybe they don't." "I've never seen it done." "That's what the papers say." "So give him four, six, eight, ten, the whole association." "And I'll film it." "It was there, in Nowa Huta, that I saw him clearly." "We have to find a tough guy, one who'll last the eight hours." "Who do you think will make it?" "!" "?" "!" "Adamowski, Stepniak?" "!" "?" "!" "Afterwards we'll send him on vacation to Krynica." "Hold on, not so fast!" "His helpers have to be the best too." "Before that, in secret..." "Are you crazy, lay bricks in secret?" "!" "?" "!" "Sure, for an hour, to rehearse." "The rest depends on how the work's organized." "If we create the best conditions... we might just pull it off." "It's midnight." "It's midnight already, Birkut." "You'll never get up tomorrow." "Yes I will." "I can do a lot, if I have to." "We need five." "You think you won't find five crazies on a site like this?" "But we can't blow it." "That's a shit-load of bricks." "We'll lay them." "Just so it's not a circus." "You know, for the camera." "Me, for the camera?" "!" "?" "!" "I'm doing it for me, to see if you can build a house in two weeks." "Why not one week?" "!" "?" "!" "Who the hell knows, maybe?" "Everybody would have a home..." "Yeah, that's true." "So, is it a deal?" "Get some sleep." "I can't." "Count bricks, that'll help." "Ten thousand calories a day!" " For how long?" " Two weeks." "What's the matter?" "!" "?" "!" "..." "Eat!" "I'm full." " Just one more slice..." " I can't!" "Coffee?" " It's no good, it's bitter." " So what?" "!" "?" "!" "...drink some anyway." "It'll make you stronger." " All right, half then." " All of it." "It's real, Brazilian." "I made sure he had the best conditions." "I'm ready." "With a mug like that?" "!" "?" "!" "He needs a shave." "All of them do." "I shave on Sundays." "It's Thursday." " What time is it?" "!" "?" "!" " It's late." "Send a car into town and bring back some barbers!" "This is Jodla!" "Barbers with razors." "We're going to do some shaving!" " Ties?" " No, no..." "Cigarette?" "I'm glad you're here." "I want to cover some details." "The camera's simply a tool, it registers what it sees." "I would've shaved yesterday if you'd have told me." "The barbers will be here soon." "You have to look good..." "I understand..." "But you can't do that." "I'll do whatever I have to..." "But you can't force-feed people like they were geese." "Fine, now let's agree." "When I say "camera"... you work lightly and easily." "When I say "stop"... you work as you normally do." "I'll make it." "All clear." "Who's that?" "!" "?" "!" "Just in case." "We have to be careful." "Maybe I'll do it myself?" "!" "?" "!" "Maybe I'll do it myself?" "!" "?" "!" "Cologne?" "Go ahead." "Now back to the barrack." "I can't film them coming out of the office, and get the audience." "Let the audience go." "This is Polish Radio... from the residential housing development in Nowa Huta." "We are located at the largest... construction site of the 6-year plan, a steel mill... and city for 100,000 residents." "Before Polish workers start up the Soviet machines..." "Polish bricklayers are going to attempt an ambitious feat..." "Ready?" "!" "?" "!" "Energetically, go on, easy does it, more like workers!" "Mr. Birkut looks good, the rest are too stiff." "That's not it." "Back inside." "Let's try it again." "Mateusz Birkut's brigade... aims to lay 28,000 bricks during the course of one shift..." "The crew consists of five men." "One man lays only the exterior layer of bricks... directing the others, who do the rest." "Working alone, one man can lay 1,750 bricks, at the most." "Mateusz Birkut's brigade will lay 28,000." "Feelings are high... and shared by all those present..." "Ready!" "Start!" "What are you doing?" "Let's do it again." "Go to the office." "The battle against time has begun." "We see a perfect example of organization and... enthusiasm which these boys have brought to this difficult task." "Happy!" "..." "Happy!" "..." "Great!" "We see their toil and we all know... that this achievement is possible... thanks to the self-sacrifice of our heroic working class!" "We have the first results..." "We're rolling!" "Smile!" "Let's see your face!" "Mateusz Birkut's feat may launch a revolution in construction techniques." "It's not only a building foundation which is being laid... but the foundations of a new life... and prosperity for working people as well." "Are you falling asleep?" "Start playing!" "What's going on?" "Come here!" "..." "Hurry up!" "The next stage, the sixth layer." "They've been working for four hours." "13,926 bricks have been laid." "Briskly and more cheerfully..." "Briskly and more cheerfully!" "Hurry up!" "Everybody's waiting!" "Stand up here and start playing." "Play, play!" "Polish Radio listeners... the sixth hour of work... has now passed." "The tenth layer is finished, a total of 23,210 bricks." "One more hour." "What's wrong?" "They're doing fine." "I'm worried about them." "It's going well, they'll make it." "The battle against time and fatigue continues." "We've reached the final minutes... the final bricks, the final effort." " There's no more mint tea." " But it's going well." "The shift is over!" "30,509 bricks!" "An incredible record!" "Birkut's team not only laid... the 28,000 they said they would... but a great many more!" "Shift's over!" "Shift's over." "Our sincere congratulations." "It's a moving moment for everyone." "I'm sorry." "What a man!" "Stop, let's do it again." "Take the flowers." "Birkut, look lively and happy!" "Two more bricks, then come down." "Another achievement in the fight for the 6-year plan and for peace." "You'll go far, I'll see to it." "I'm keeping this brick as a souvenir." "I didn't lie, he did get far." "You both did." "Well, sure." " But he..." " Where is he?" "You're making a film about him and you don't know where he is?" "I have this idea..." " of following his footsteps." " Interesting, but it's been done." "So what?" "!" "?" "!" "Tell me more." "I lost track of him." "I had work, trips abroad..." "How about having dinner with us?" "I saw his picture being taken down in a newsreel." "It happens." "They put them up, take them down." "Wait..." "he hired a bunch of Gypsies." "They followed him, played music, he broke a window somewhere..." "Ask around, lot's of people knew him." "I can give you an address." "OK, a letter of introduction too." "Are you going somewhere?" "It's everything I own." "Not much." "It's easier to make films that way." "Perhaps you're right." "Testing, one, two, three." "Make sure you get it down." "Testing, one, two..." "I want to leave." "Wait a minute!" "Quit shoving!" "Where are you going?" "To Mr. Michalak, the director." "Where are we going, and what for?" "!" "?" "!" "This is absolutely crazy!" "Mr. Michalak?" "!" "?" "!" "Mr. Michalak, I have a letter for you." " Strip tease or topless?" " Everything, if you help me." "Please get undressed." "Please listen to me." "I'm making a film and Burski gave me your name." "I'm having problems and I need to talk to you." "You're the only one who can..." "Later." "But it'll only take a few minutes." "They have their models, big butts are what count, to land softly." "Very good, today's youth is much better looking." "So you're interested in Birkut?" "!" "?" "!" "That's good, young people should know their fathers' history... and learn from their mistakes." "Well?" "I'd like you to tell me." "You know which period interests me?" "I should think so." "From the time he was burned?" "Everything was fine until then." "Truth was he no longer laid bricks." "He didn't have the time." "They moved him to the inspectorate, to the association." "I felt then that it wasn't for him." "What?" "!" "?" "!" "The inspectorate." "He took everything too literally." "What, I don't understand?" "In what sense?" "Well, you know..." "Could I have a cigarette?" "Of course he had a few worthwhile ideas." "safety shoes... a dining hall... but later..." "Although judging it today even I... never mind." "After the incident... he went off the deep end." "It happened during his last trip to the field." "He used to make these long trips demonstrating team bricklaying." "It took a lot out of him, so we limited these visits." "If the area was well prepared, he'd go alone." "If not, he took along helpers." "Ever onward young Slavs, onward Greeks and young Spaniards." "Young Chinese join the march from Asia." "Others soon there will join ya..." "Negro brothers from Virginia and heroes hurrying from Malaysia." "Listen to this." "Three neighbors from the village, off to work they went." "While two worked, the third laughed with merriment." "Hard work doesn't pay at all, it's time that is misspent." "Lying in a cozy hammock... is a job for Michalak, Oh, they did lament..." "Oh, they did lament." "This song is about Nowa Huta about Nowa Huta these words." "So simple and pretty and new as lovely as singing of birds." "We're here." "Just a minute..." "Whose first?" "!" "?" "!" "Start!" "Hold it!" "Nobody moves!" "Get away!" "To the clinic!" "I'll find whoever did this!" "Nobody moves!" "Good evening, comrade." "Can't sleep?" "I understand." "It's hard to sleep after something like that." "Did they take good care of it?" "!" "?" "!" "Put iodine on it?" "!" "?" "!" "No." " They poured water on them." " Hydrogen peroxide?" "We'll check into it." "Does it hurt?" "!" "?" "!" "Sure it hurts." "What do you think?" "!" "?" "!" "How could a worker do it to another worker?" "!" "?" "!" "Don't people understand?" "They want houses, but doing it the old way will take a hundred years." "We're cranking up the quotas." "No everyone likes that." "And you... didn't you feel the brick was hot?" "!" "?" "!" " I had gloves on." " Thick ones, I bet." " I had gloves on." " Thick ones, I bet." "Not very." "Had shingles a long time?" "I don't really, I just said I did, but I do have eczema." "Eczema?" "!" "?" "!" "Let's see your hands!" "Well?" "Hey, can't you guys take a joke?" "Who are you, anyway?" "!" "?" "!" "Always tailing us...get lost!" "I'm going." "Excuse me." "Good night, comrades." "If you need anything, just call." "Birkut no longer worked in construction." "His health started to fail him." "But he became deeply involved in social issues." "He found housing for workers." "He fought tooth and nail for every one of them." "He fought for months with the housing authorities." "He usually won." "That's when he was happiest and supervised every move." "The people loved him; you could even say they worshipped him." "Mateusz!" "Come here a minute..." " What do you think of this?" " I'll go with you." " You don't have to." " I want to." " I'll go and be right back." " No, you'll just cause trouble." "No, no." "I remember." "All right." "All taken care of." "Yes." "Could you please ask if I could go in there?" "In there?" "Of course." "I was surprised you were waiting." "The colonel will gladly see you." "To what do I owe this honor?" "!" "?" "!" "Please sit down." "Coffee?" "Excuse me... where's the other comrade?" "Who?" "That bricklayer?" "!" "?" "!" "He left." "How?" "!" "?" "!" "That's right." "Comrade secretary, did you see the other comrade go out?" "!" "?" "!" "I was busy and didn't notice." "But it did seem strange that comrade kept pacing... as if he were waiting for someone." "I was afraid to ask." "Exactly." "I sometimes get so mixed up I don't know what I'm doing." "Well then..." "How about a cigarette?" "Still in bandages?" "Something wrong?" "They're festering." "This long?" "I got them dirty laying bricks." "It was an urgent job." "Now they're festering." "Strange." "They keep bandaging them and yet they continue to fester." "Where's Witek?" "!" "?" "!" "Wincenty Witek, the bricklayer." "We came in together." "What have you done with him?" "Comrade Birkut... you haven't had a vacation in a long time." "Why don't you go to the mountains and get some rest?" "!" "?" "!" "I'll help you if you have any problems." "Krynica?" "!" "?" "!" "How about Zakopane?" "You'll regret this!" "I'll go wherever I have to!" "I'll even go to Warsaw!" "You'll get yours, you'll see!" "Autumn came..." "Autumn came and it rained continuously... but Birkut... kept fighting to free Witek." "He went to all the bureaus... and government offices." "Finally he took a leave and decided... to go to the capitol, even though it wasn't the best moment." "His wife was having a difficult pregnancy." "The overall situation was bad too." "Maybe my letters aren't getting through." "I have to go there." "Wait." "I have to." "Mateusz, don't go." "I must." " Go home." " No." "I won't go." " Go!" " No." "Excuse me..." "Could I see you a minute?" "This is private, because I like you." "You don't like me, but I've always liked you." "When you set that record, I couldn't eat or sleep." "I've made you an example to my son." "I have one son, he has three names:" "Jozef, Boleslaw, and Bartlomiej." " Bartlomiej?" " After my father-in-law." "Since you like me, get lost." "I asked you once already!" "I can't, the enemy lurks." "You don't understand and you're causing a lot of trouble." "This is my personal advice... leave it alone, it's a dirty case." "Bullshit!" "..." "I know Witek and he's a decent guy." "Decent!" "But they call him, Wiktorio." "So what?" "!" "?" "!" "..." "He was in Spain." "Exactly." "Is that bad?" "Of course not, but where was he after that?" "!" "?" "!" "In France, in a POW camp." "You're young comrade, you don't know how they recruited spies." "All the intelligence services were sniffing around there." "They recruited him, he took his time getting close to you... then they told him to give you the brick." "What brick?" "!" "?" "!" "That brick, comrade Birkut!" "Hop on, I'll take you home." "Mateusz, the train's leaving!" "See you..." "When I get back, you'll all sing a different tune!" "Here's some plum cake." "It came out a little thin..." "Take care of yourself." "You've reached high, getting to me." "It's not easy to do." "There are only 24 hours in a day for both of us." "But there's an ideological battle being fought." "So forgive me for being brief..." "I'm familiar with your case and I'll try to clear things up." "But I'm not from Warsaw, I've come from Nowa Huta." "I'd like something definite." "Don't be childish, there's a political war going on in Poland." "Conditions are difficult..." "Don't interrupt, I don't have time." "If there's been a mistake made, we'll straighten it out." "It happens sometimes and then we react quickly." "My request of you is, don't do anything on your own." "Trust the people's justice." " I do trust it, but..." " Nothing on your own." "I know the case." "I'll take care of it." "I've called a special commission." "No one will be mistreated." "And you, comrade Birkut, calmly wait for the result." "PART II" "He returned a week later, much grayer." "There was a meeting in the new hall." "He went there straight from the station." "...socialism is able to reach... straight to the human mind by way of example." "We don't want to dominate." "We have friends everywhere." "In millions of workers, farmers and intellectuals..." "You're not on the agenda and there's going to be a funny film." "But it's very important!" "No..." "The text hasn't been approved." "What do you plan to say?" "!" "?" "!" "Get away from the mike!" "People... this is about comrade Witek..." "A good man who they're mistreating!" "I've been everywhere!" "... tried everything, even in Warsaw..." "People!" "..." "Onward young workers!" "Hard work unites us today!" "Join the work brigades!" "We'll join our hearts and minds..." "A few days later, without telling anyone, I borrowed a bicycle... and went to see the Birkuts." "I knew what had happened." "The scene on the square didn't even surprise me." "Did you need to do that?" "!" "?" "!" "I warned you, didn't I?" "But it can still be put right... saved... so that everything isn't lost." "Such a comrade, such a lead worker!" "Cut yourself off." "Hanka, the keys!" "Please..." "I'm asking you privately, cut yourself off." "I'm doing everything I can, in my written and oral reports." "I destroyed one denunciation, but how long can I go on?" "They're starting to poke through your records." "They're looking." "Let them, I'm clean as a whistle." "No you're not!" "..." "Who threw fish at his boss two years ago?" "Waiter!" "I want to pay!" "Don't touch that!" " What's this?" " Money." "It's not enough!" "What's this?" "Minister..." "My coat!" "Let's go!" "The bricklayer's waltz!" "There!" "Now we're even." "Are you serious about making... an honest film about those times?" "Are you sure?" "That's my intention." "Word of honor?" "!" "?" "!" "I don't have any secrets." "I'll take the film, please." " And?" " And shit!" "Are you giving it to him?" "Relax!" "Filming isn't allowed in here." "This is amateur stuff..." "The rest is in the archives, shot by a newsreel photographer." "The "Skocznia" case, I was a witness." "I'll remember that." "Well, it's good-bye then." "Privately, do you think Witek was guilty?" "!" "?" "!" "He was rehabilitated and is now in a very high position." "That's all I'm saying." "Not in there..." "What's going on, where have you been, what are you looking for?" "!" "?" "!" "Materials." "From strippers?" "People are calling..." "This wasn't our agreement." "There was someone there..." "The hell with him..." "That was a bad address, a bad idea, and lack of a concept." "Where have you been going?" "You're playing capture the flag..." "Warned, they'd have stonewalled." "Nothing came of it anyway!" "Besides, this isn't America, these aren't the methods to use..." "There's a film." "Exposed." "Zero, a total bust!" "You're doing as you please, and I asked you... not to touch that, that it was off-limits..." "You can't do whatever you like!" "I won't stand for anarchy!" "And that idea of mine... the Katowice steelworks and Witek." "He has to be in this film." "It can be arranged." "I've arranged bigger deals." " I've got to run..." " To Katowice!" "I'm sorry, but it's an order." "Please go, he's waiting for you." "Wincenty Witek." "It has to be done, simply, with no surprises..." "I have our materials about Birkut." "In the newsreel we're about to see he doesn't even appear." "The other material was stored away from the studio." "I'm glad they let you have it." "I am too." "Where are you sitting?" "Roll film, please." "Polish Film Newsreel" "Traitors on Trial." "In Warsaw, the trial of the... subversive "Skocznia" gang continues." "The four accused all had a common goal... slowing our country's development." "The Peoples' Republic gave them a chance to work and advance... which they spurned, choosing treason instead." "Socialist construction men, trusted by their fellow workers... they tried to wreck the efforts of an entire nation... by falsifying building plans... and striking out at lead workers." "Today they act remorseful... but yesterday they were ready to ally themselves... even with Guderian's soldiers." "The prosecutor refutes their lies... proving the defendants' links to foreign intelligence." "Here they are:" "J. Wolodkiewicz, head of the Association." "M. Pawlusiak, supervising inspector." "M. Herc, accountant." "W. Witek, team bricklaying instructor." "This trial is a clear lesson to us all." "We must be ever vigilant." "That was the first day of the trial." "Questioning of the witnesses was later and we shall also show it." "They never did." "We're the first ones to see it." "Thank you, roll the next film." "The witness has testified... not under oath, because he is suspected of activities similar... to those of the accused, W. Witek." "However, he is still obliged to tell the truth." "The witness... is accused of organizing a terrorist group... and attacking the headquarters of public law and order." "What do you say to the accusations?" "Does the witness recognize the accused, here in the courtroom?" "Yes, I do." "The accused has admitted attempting to cause you bodily harm." "Did the witness know of Witek's plans earlier?" "!" "?" "!" "Yes, I did." "I asked if you knew before hand, what he planned to do." "Yes, I did." "I knew about everything." " Do you understand the question?" " Yes, of course." "I knew about it from the very beginning." "That can't be so." "The witness has testified that he trusted the accused... and that he'd been deceived." "Not at all!" "It was a mutual action." "Mutual?" "That makes no sense at all." "The accused considered the witness a committed activist." "That's not true." "Our groups worked together." "Lead workers were to be attacked." "So, we chose each other." "Both of us were lead workers, so..." "But in your deposition, I can read it to you... you state something else entirely." "I lied, just like every enemy." "Once I attacked my superior with a fish." "That's right, a little fish." "But during your interrogation, you said something else." "Do you know what goes on there?" "Want me to tell you?" "I'm with you!" "I retract my testimony!" "I retract everything!" "I take back everything!" "Well sweetheart, for that... you've got a small vodka and a large ice cream on me." "Did you want to say something?" "Not yet, you know I save it till the end." "Here's your material." "Let's go find Witek." "That won't be hard." "Bigwigs are easy to find." "Leonard... starting today, it's handheld only... using this." "This is great, but when are we landing?" "In two minutes, right on schedule." "Look there..." " The center of the mill..." " I'm interested in talking to you." "I know better." " Please have a look..." " But you don't have time!" "We'll talk, don't worry." "Why the 1950s?" "..." "Young people are interested in this steel mill." "In 1980 it'll be the most modern steel mill in the world." "Talk to me, I'm begging you." "I'd start from the war in Spain, but what about my childhood?" "The personality takes shape between the ages of 3 and 5." "My father was a cobbler..." "I want to know about Birkut." "I was getting to him." "I met him in Nowa Huta." "He came from a poor village..." "Not then, after prison." "You were released first." "How did you know?" "!" "?" "!" "They released Birkut at the end of October..." "A welcome-home reception was arranged." "There were people, flowers, an orchestra... and we went to the station." "Is this all?" "Where's everyone else?" "Is everyone here?" "You have to say something..." " It's your turn..." " I've had my fill of speeches." "I'm begging you, the moment demands it!" " Did everyone know about it?" "!" "?" "!" " I announced it..." "Go on, tell them the truth!" "Comrade Birkut..." "Friends..." "I thank you very much." "It's late." "We'll never get up;" "let's go home and go to work tomorrow." "What is it, comrade?" "Not a word about mistakes, distortions, the historic moment?" "!" "?" "!" "I'll leave that to you." "Comrade Birkut is tired, which is understandable." "Let him regain his strength and he'll help us in our struggle!" "Long live comrade Birkut!" "Excuse me..." " There aren't any street signs..." " New in town?" "We live here... and don't need... street signs." "Is that building C-2?" "I don't know, the numbers are the same as in every city." "Are the barracks still standing?" "Yes, go straight and then turn left... at the third street, past the flower shop, then straight ahead." "A pack of cigarettes, please." "And some matches." "I thought you knew." "Everyone knows." "I was sure you knew." "I was sure." "I haven't had any contact with her for three years." "Didn't she write to you?" "No, and now..." "She's with someone?" "No, that's not it." " She probably felt like a fool..." " Why?" "!" "?" "!" "Forget her." "I understand how it was then, she was a star athlete..." "She wanted it very much, but to go so low...?" "The idiot did what they told her." "She denounced you publicly... as a lackey and an enemy." "An enemy and a lackey." "To hell with her, she's no good!" "There are plenty of others!" "There's a lot of to be done." "We've been waiting for you." "A committee's been formed, and soon a board of directors... let me finish." "You'll be chosen for sure." "You're important here." "I'm leaving, close everything up." "I'm going to find her." "Are you crazy?" "!" "?" "!" "At a time like this?" "Did he find her?" "!" "?" "!" "I don't know, but he never returned to the mill again..." "See those three giant loaders over there?" "Two others work at the North Port." "Weren't those words about his wife overly harsh?" "Maybe." "What was the deal with their marriage?" "Why are you so nervous?" "Relax, take it easy." "So, tell me about it." "Just between us... in all honesty she never was his wife." "What do you mean?" "I saw the newsreels." "Sure, there was even a wedding, but..." "You want the truth?" "It was like this." "We all went there, along with you guys... a film crew." "The Marriage Bureau was in a village called Mogila." "The guy in charge was old school." "A real stickler!" "He asked Hanka for her ID." "She was only sixteen." "So he demanded a court statement." "She didn't have that either." "So he refused to marry them." "He stuck to his guns." "We could use his kind here." "But those were different times." "What to do?" "The guy wasn't about to budge." "We're negotiating, arguing, and meanwhile... a thousand people are waiting, trucks and vodka..." "It was a tough situation." "Then Jodla, our Party Secretary, had an idea." "He told the official to keep his mouth shut... and us comrades were to not say a word either." "...Warsaw!" "..." "The Ministry!" " And that's the way it stayed." " Do you have Birkut's address?" "I looked for him, but with all the work I didn't have time..." "Sorry, I have to run." "This is my assistant, they're filmmakers." "We have artists here every day." "I'll see you tonight." "Maybe I'll remember something else." "That piece at the top of the furnace we call "pants"." "The furnace "puts them on" before being fired." "We're part of the old guard from Nowa Huta." "All of you were Birkut's friends yet no one knows where he is." " Do you know his address?" " No, I don't." "But I saw Hanka in Zakopane... you know, his wife." "They were never married." "How do you know that?" "!" "?" "!" "I went back a few times, but I never saw her again." "I guess she doesn't live there anymore." "I don't know." ""Stars of a Single Season?" Not a bad season!" "Go in for a close-up." "You're the film crew?" "!" "?" "!" "Welcome..." "So, you're the one who called?" "Your shoes!" "I asked you to wipe your feet because the finish is new." "I've prepare a little something..." "It took us all night to get here." "How did you ever find me?" "It's me you want to interview?" "!" "?" "!" "Yes, I've been looking for you for a long time." "What can I do for you?" "Though I don't quite understand." "I left sports a long time ago." "Since moving here, I only ski." "That's fine, we're here to talk about Mateusz." "Mateusz Birkut, lead worker." "Your first husband." "They'll set up the camera and we'll chat." "No." "Oh no." "Not about him!" "What did you expect to hear?" "!" "?" "!" "That's not it." "I'm a woman too." "I just want the facts." "The facts, that's all." "About his arrival here, how it went... how he looked." "I already know a lot about him." "I've gotten it out of people." "All of you owe him something." "He was terribly stubborn." "But he managed to find me here." "And he came." "May I?" "On vacation?" "No." "Just passing through?" "Planning to stay long?" "No." "Boss, I need an order of bread, no make it two." "There's a new customer." "I'll be right there." "What do you want?" "!" "?" "!" "Tea." "With lemon?" "No, thanks." "Is there any plum cake?" "We don't serve deserts." "Just tea then." "Nothing?" "Tea." " Boss..." " Just a minute." "Hold on!" " None with sardines?" " I've got sprats though." " Boss..." " One moment!" "I have to leave." " Don't you feel well?" " No, I'm fine." " But I just have to." " Wait another hour." "It'll be too late then." "Who is he?" "Nobody." "I'll stay." "Your tea's getting cold!" "Sit down." "I'm working." "All right, I'll wait." "Can I get some cake?" "Since you want to know, it's all over between us." "It was supposed to be without lemon." "Shall I take it back?" "!" "?" "!" "No, I'm not fussy." "Sit down when you have a minute." "That's how I imagined it." "Please don't get upset." "But you did speak later, right?" "!" "?" "!" "You must have spoken..." "What did he say?" "!" "?" "!" "Please tell me." "You should've said so right away!" "It's all right, please help yourself." "You don't look like you've been overeating lately." "Go right ahead, it's all for you." "Which do you prefer?" "!" "?" "!" "I've never had either of them." "Well then, now you will!" "You're like me, you sniff more than you drink." "Hart, kidneys, or liver?" "!" "?" "!" "A bit of everything." " Cigarette?" " I don't smoke anymore." "That's good, healthier." "What do you plan to do?" " That depends." " On what?" "!" "?" "!" "Different things." " Going back to laying bricks?" " I'd like to, but I can't." "Well then?" "I'll find something." "There are lots of building trades." "You and construction!" "Why don't you stay here?" " No, we're leaving." " Too bad." "Leaving's easy, but here she earns three times what a bricklayer does." "We'll make it somehow." ""Somehow."" "Listen to me, prior to October, I was an important executive." "Sure you can leave if you want to." "But why?" "!" "?" "!" "Look..." "I have money, you have a background." "A great background, solid documents, a name... and, of course, those four years." "I propose a partnership." "What would I do, make sandwiches?" "Of course not!" "You'd handle matters in government bureaus." "What do you say?" "!" "?" "!" "In two years you'll have a car." "In four, a house." "And she'll spend her time gossiping." "Remember, you were a statue and you still are." "But it makes no sense anymore." "The others stopped long ago." "Do you want to be the last?" "!" "?" "!" "All right, I'll leave you two alone so you can talk it over." "Come with me." "No." "Why not?" "!" "?" "!" "You really are... a huge statue, I'm just a whore." "If we left together... it would only confirm it." "What do you want me to do?" "Do whatever you like." "Why don't you lie down..." "What the hell is this?" "Are you nuts?" "..." "Beat it!" "Please forgive us." "Thank you very much." "Are you leaving?" "I see I'm too late." " Did it go well?" " Your standard drinks." " How did you know?" "!" "?" "!" " Filmmakers know everything." "Well, well..." "Just look at you!" "Drunk again!" "What do you think this is, America?" "!" "?" "!" "You know what the situation is." "Hanka, excuse me, could I have his address?" "Your son's." "Leave Maciek alone." "A nightmare." "This architecture." "From the 1950s." "Do you like it?" "!" "?" "!" " I grew up with it." " I see." "Wide streets. lots of greenery, simpler people." "I remember... trips into Krakow." "In rubber boots... and blue work jackets." "Mr. Jodla..." "Krakow and Nowa Huta have different buildings, are different cities." "What's your opinion?" "If it were up to me, I'd leave the following in Krakow... the Old Market Square and the old Cloth Hall as reminders." "The rest would be nice apartment buildings." "There's lots of space in Nowa Huta." "Krakow is crowded and cramped." "People jostle each other in the streets..." "Would you like to see a film about Birkut?" "!" "?" "!" "I'm making a film about him." "How is he doing?" "I could've made a name for myself too..." "The film's going to be about those times." "The period when Nowa Huta was being built." "Are you looking for sensation?" "Was the work competition bad?" "It's not about that..." "Wait, do you see this city?" "!" "?" "!" "We built all of this." "Nowa Huta, June 18, 1976." "Wrap it up." "Thank you." "Is that everything?" "Of the films, yes." "We've still got... magnetic tapes." "Very... interesting." " Where's the director?" "!" "?" "!" " Out in the hallway." "That material's nothing." "It's not convincing." "It'll never be edited." "You can't do this." "A little bit of patience." "A debut is always risky..." "Please trust me on this one." "The film will be fine." "It's an important film." "Magnetic tapes?" "!" "What the hell is this, radio?" "What could I do?" "I told you to watch her." "Please be quiet." "I'm working here and I not only cut and splice, I also think." "Not the way you ought to." "Why?" "!" "?" "!" "..." "She's a bright girl and her material is good." "Very good." "I saw your work." "And?" "Interesting." "Is that all?" "It's a bit thin, though." "Where's Birkut?" "!" "?" "!" "There wasn't time..." " Haven't you found him yet?" "!" "?" "!" " Not yet." "About Birkut, without Birkut?" "!" "?" "!" "?" "What about his son?" "I'll find both of them." "The film will be great." "I'll be honest with you." "You've exceeded your limits." "We support young artists, but we're not a charity." "No more film or cameras." "Are you nuts?" "How am I going to finish it?" "!" "?" "!" "We'll make two stories for the evening news out of it." "What?" "!" "?" "!" "!" "What the hell are you talking about?" "!" "?" "!" "It's great material!" "This is do or die for me!" "But not for me." "I have two programs every day." "The audience can't start taking me for granted." "And now they respect you?" "Two weeks for sound and editing!" "I must make this film and you have to help me!" "I've already given materials, public money..." "Let's make a deal." "OK, you turn in the cameras and materials... and we're square!" "They took my film from me." "Oh God!" "..." "Why?" "!" "?" "!" "No more film, no more cameras." "And I have some great material." "Let's have a look at it." "I didn't find it earlier." "It's never been shown." "Roll film, please." "People have never sung this song at a public rally before." "An interview with Mateusz Birkut." "Mateusz, we're from Polish Newsreel and we'd like to ask..." "Another circus?" "We're just doing our jobs." "What is it?" "!" "?" "!" "Your village suffered greatly under the distortions of socialism." "The people still bear a grudge." "They'll vote only if you do so." "I know, that's why I'm here." "Out of necessity." "Where's the election commission?" "Neighbors, it was a dumb idea, but it's too late now." "You suffered so much injustice." "Are you going to vote?" "We're waiting." "People... there've been good times and bad times... but it's our country." "Comrades..." "Maciek!" "We were looking for young Birkut, but his name's Tomczyk." "Please send this material to my editing room." "We've been ordered to hold it." "Maybe you botched it." "Well?" "It's not finished." "Maybe you lied a little." "You know, in films..." "No, dad." "Maybe it was boring." "Was it honest?" "!" "?" "!" "Yes." "Then they have to allow it." "No they don't." "Why not?" "!" "?" "!" "Why not?" "!" "?" "!" "They don't want this film." "They approved it and now don't want it?" "!" "?" "!" "Not any more." "But they invested money..." "But not for this." "I don't get it, didn't they ask what it was for?" "!" "?" "!" "..." "Strange people." "They got scared." "Of what?" "!" "?" "!" "Everything." "Nobody's afraid of everything." "If you're afraid, it's of one thing." "What is it?" "!" "?" "!" "I don't know." "Then find out." "How?" "!" "?" "!" "Find that Birkut of yours." "They took away my cameras and film." "And without those you can't do it?" "!" "?" "!" "What for?" "!" "?" "!" "If they were making a film about me, I'd expect a visit." "That's normal." "Well?" "Are you just going to lie there?" "I'll eventually get up." "Grab your shoes and bag." "What for?" "!" "?" "!" "I've already told you." "If the film was about me..." "Go find him and talk to him." " Then come back and tell me." " Tell you?" "That's right." "Do you have to tell everyone?" "I want to know how it ended." "Go on." "You've got a bus in half an hour." "I've made a cherry liqueur." "It'll be ready soon." " We'll have a drink." " I don't drink." "Well, since it's with cherries..." " Is Tadek still in the army?" "!" "?" "!" " He was just sworn in." " Did you go?" " Sure." "It was nice." "Tadek's really grown up." "I went to mom's grave." "Nice flowers you planted." " You getting married?" " What for?" "!" "?" "!" "I'm the only one you can be honest with." "Wait a minute..." "Buy yourself some new clothes." "You'll never find a guy in those." "THE LENIN SHIPYARDS" " GDANSK" "Excuse me, Mr. Tomczyk?" "!" "?" "!" "That's right." "What is it?" "!" "?" "!" "You're Mateusz Birkut's son?" "Yes, so what?" "!" "?" "!" "I'm looking for your father." "I've making a film about him." "You?" "That's not important now." "I'd just like to meet him... and talk to him." "What is it you want?" "!" "?" "!" "Your father's address." "He's dead." "Excuse me..." "I knew you wouldn't get lost!" "Starring" "Subtitles by Roger Domagalski"