Here, we do have Dostoyevsky
Wait, no, it's "The Brothers Karamazov"
- I've been meaning to read that - I need to register you then
- Of course - Are you registered?
Your full name?
Aleksandr Ivanovich
- Ivanovich - Ivanovich
The date is 29.10.1942
- I used to dream of other things. - What things?
They were naive childish dreams
About things that were light, pure, kind...
About...
"Farewell. God knows when we shall meet again"
"There's a faint, cold fear coursing through my veins"
"It's almost freezing up the heat of life"
"I'll call them back again to comfort me"
"Nurse. What is she going to do here?"
"My dismal scene I needs must act alone. Come, vial"
"What if this mixture do not work at all?"
"Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?"
"No, no: this shall forbid it: lie thou there"
"What if it be a poison, which the friar"
"Subtly hath ministred to have me dead"
"Lest in this marriage he should be dishounour'd"
"Because he married me before to Romeo?"
"I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not"
"For he hath still been tried a holy man"
"How if, when I am laid into the tomb..."
- Alright then, just make any move - Any move?
Let's go with that
You have to do something
But I understand that move. If I do what you tell me...
No, I'm not forcing you
- What's important is... - What's important?
It's important to make a choice and evaluate...
The consequences, for example
- Does this only apply to chess? - To everything
It's a general principle
Let's go like this
Where's the Big Dipper?
And there are stars we never see...
You can only see them from the other side
Sometimes what we see is actually an explosion that happened a few million years ago
Yes, I know
So what we're looking at could be from the distant past
- So we're watching the past? - We're watching the past. Yes, exactly
Beautiful, isn't it?
See you tomorrow
See you in the morning?
See you
I'll see you off
with my eyes
Alright
When you're constantly getting news about people
Friends or friends being killed
While you're sitting here doing calculations...
You don't want it any more. All you want is to grab a gun and go
Stay here
The war won't last forever. The war can't last forever
What does last forever?
Love
"Shall I not then be stifled in the vault"
"To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in"
"And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?"
"Or, if I live, is it not very like"
"The horrible conceit of death and night"
"Together with the terror of the place"
"As in a vault, an ancient receptacle"
"Where, for these many hundred years, the bones"
"Of all my buried ancestors are packed"
"Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth"
"Lies festering in his shroud: where, as they say"
"At some hours in the night spirits resort"
My first meeting
I'm looking forward to it
Katya
Come outside, let's go for a walk
There's a dry flower in the vase
Why am I carrying it? What's the reason?
Can you walk up the stairs please
How are you getting on?
- How am I getting on? - Yes
It varies
- Meaning? - Life can vary a lot
I can't say I live in a certain way. What do you mean?
Are you happy?
- That means no - Sometimes
- I see - I can't say I'm happy all the time
Someone who was happy would reply straight away
I believe there is no happiness without suffering and misfortune
One thing
There must always be something acting as a counterweight
Are you prone to falling in love?
No
No?
- And have you ever loved? - Yes
Loved or were in love?
Loved
And do you like the state of being in love?
Yes
- More than anything in the world? - More than anything in the world
So you are prone to falling in love
No
It seems to me that
it's a severe case of inspiration
That's what being in love is
Because the most incredible moment is the search
- Of course - The most incredible moment
is not when you're making love with a man you like
It's when you're preparing to go on a date
Yes. Prob... Well...
- I don't know - That's why I'm a theorist, you see?
Yes
I'm waiting for a miracle to happen
The French poet Stephane Mallarme once said...
He said: "Come here, my friend"
"I'll show you what hell is"
"Boredom, that's what hell is"
Good evening
What a beautiful wife I have
No checks?
Vasya is also teaching me how to play chess
Is he?
Lena and I played
Why were you held up at work? What were you discussing so long?
Dima suggested it. Very interesting
You're finally home
We'll discuss it tomorrow. Come tomorrow.
Shall I heat up something for you to eat?
You hungry? Shall I heat it up?
Let's try, Dad
Just a second
Let's choose who takes what
Let's flip a coin
Lena's the umpire and a learner
Do you need this, Vasya?
- I can't... - It's alright
Let's flip a coin
No, we won't be flipping anything
Lena, who are you helping?
No one
Katya is really interesting girl. There is something about her
I think she's too thin
I'm not talking about sex. I mean in conversation, dialogue
There's something... You should talk to her
I'd rather
talk to you
Yes, of course. But she's not like the others
[Let's think about this...]
Really
And he still covered our backs
He's from the nobility
He remains an intellectual at heart
But we don't like intellectuals
- Come on - Yes
- Let's do it like this - Go on then
Move your feet left and right
From the left?
I see
And back again?
Controllable choas is what you're used to
And you think that you're in control of it
But uncontrollable chaos
is when your body rejects it
It's like...
Katya
You can't control chaos, it just swallows you up
"Artillerymen, the Motherland calls to us"
I either have to replace the ribbon or repair it
Because it...
It doesn't type?
It types the first line and then just blocks the letters
So you can see where things are, what's not in the library, what we have
That will never be possible
You'll only know what's not in the Library
Never? When I first started
I used to specify where the books were
May I?
So the next day...
Tango?
Are you a scumbag, or do you just look like one in these glasses?
May I try them on?
Do I look like a scumbag?
A little bit
Katya, do I look like a scumbag?
- Like who? - A scumbag
- Because of the glasses - Can I be honest?
- Shall I tell you honestly? - Of course, Katya dear
Exactly. To talent
Talented people don't know how talented they are
Come through. Don't take your shoes off
I won't
Hello. Come through, Katya dear
This is Katya. This is my mother, Valeria Matveevna
This is Nora, Dau's wife
We've met
- What's happened? - Nothing. Why?
Why are you so gloomy?
- Not gloomy, just quiet - No
We were just waiting for you
- Shall we eat? - Are you hungry?
- I wouldn't mind - Are you going to eat?
Yes please. If there's any watermelon left from yesterday that would be great
No, there's no watermelon
I don't know how to work the tap
Yes? Let's try then
Just a bit of salt
Salt? Just a second, I'll bring it
You need salt, yes?
- Here you are, Nora - If possible, yes
Lena
Sit next to me
- Alright - Lena, have a seat
Will you sit here?
What do you want to drink?
I'm having lemonade
You're in check
- Lena, where did Granny go? [- I'm here]
Why are you sitting there? Come join us
- Let me get you a chair - I don't need a chair
All the chairs are there
Vasya, how are you doing? Have you beaten Dad yet?
The game's in full swing
So where did you find Katya?
In this life
- No, I mean... - At the Institute, or just now?
Now, at the Institute
In D1
What were you doing there, Katya?
Nothing, we were just sitting there
talking to our physicists
- Was it interesting? - Yes
What kind of subjects are you interested in?
Various subjects
- I don't understand - You don't?
- Katya is... - Eternal subjects
The subjects of art, of love
Art of love? In physics?
Love and art are everywhere
Otherwise
there wouldn't be...
- I wonder if... - People don't tend to do
what's not supported by an emotion
If it can't be expressed emotionally
True. And who...
That's why I'm so happy to see their love for what they do
It's good to see
- True - Even though I myself
have nothing to do with physics
- Vasya - It's alright
We're almost equal. I'm only winning by one pawn
- Thank you, Lena dear - Dad, Vasya
Why are you standing over there, Gran? Why don't you sit somewhere
- Come join us, Mum - Yes, coming
Are you setting it up again?
- Katya dear - Yes?
- Have you eaten? - I will eat
- You will, or you still are? - I will have more later
Time to retreat
- What's the matter? - I don't feel comfortable
Why?
She's your wife, and I...
So what?
When I got married
I told her
I told her: you know, I don't want to do it
Not unless I remain free. I really do love her
- I know - We're very close
You know, I can't close my heart and stop falling in love
Excuse me, guys, but
let's go in at least
Why don't you make up your mind
No, I'm going
- Let me talk to her - No, let's go home, you can talk there
- Shall we, Katya? - No
- Goodbye - You know what?
You don't have to come
But you must listen to me
I think it's only polite
I can listen to you here
Katya, let's just go in
Seriously. Let's go in and you'll just finish the conversation
Then Dau will see you off
Standing here, outside is just not right
- Why not? - For one thing, there are cars driving around
and we are standing in the road
Shall we go in?
Nora, could you chuck me my cigarettes?
Dau, I have cigarettes
You know what?
It's very hard for me to have this conversation
I find it hard too
Because
on the one hand
dreams should remain dreams
On the other hand, you can't be...
How can I put it?
You can't be
a coward
But if you start a revolution you have to stay very alert
to make sure you don't end up with
a totalitarian set-up like you were fighting before
See what I mean?
If we, you and I...
If I weren't married
and you became my wife
and we had children
there's a chance that we could
start that revolution and stay in love
for the rest of our lives
We would never look at another man
or woman, and would never dream of anything else
because this would shine so bright...
It's a possibility
We're always hoping for this
But mostly
what we observe shows us the opposite
that people want change
There's a scientist who says we change so quickly
that we should change our names every week
Where is my youth?
If dreams can never come true
at least they're a recipe for happiness
To be a clairvoyant of dreams
- Excuse me - Sure
I thought I'd bring you some wine
- Thank you, Nora dear - Thank you
Here's your cognac
No thanks you, darling. I'd like some tea
And some wine for you. I'll leave you the bottle
Thank you
Do you want tea?
- Yes. Would you like some, Katya? - No
I'm going for a walk
- Are you waiting for something? - No
I was smoking
Do you have any more smokes?
Yes, of course
Shall we go and sit down somewhere?
Listen, Katya
You are unlike any of the girls my Dau was interested in before
What I wanted to talk to you about was...
It really hurts me
Do you want to try it with him?
Thanks
I can't promise anything
He's a complex person
Honestly, I just...
You're just curious, aren't you?
You want to see what'll to happen next
You just can't leave it
I keep thinking about him, that's why...
That's why I talk to him
and spend time with him
sometimes
But
when I come to work I think I might see him in the evening
I keep thinking about it
Are you sure you need this?
How do I know?
If you don't know yet
I'd like to ask you to leave it
If I could leave it I would have done it back there
Back then, the day we first met
But I didn't leave it
I just saved your life
- And mine - Yours?
Oh, mine? And yours then. Ours
I really like your hands
Where are you going?
I'm falling
If only you knew how much
I longed for this moment. To be with you
- Lydia - Yes?
Have you eaten?
- Perhaps you'd like some borscht too? - I'm not hungry, Nora
- There is no air in here - Air? Yes, no air...
Why do I want both to reject you
and let you in. Why?
Dear friend
Hello
Hello. How are you?
Fine
- Could I..? - Whatever you need
I'll take care of everything
- Do you know Katya? - Yes
Head of the library?
- Yes - It is very nice to meet you
- Likewise - Yes
Katya, one second
I have a big problem
and I need your help
My pleasure
Except, I don't know, I feel little awkward
[A delicate issue?]
[Very]
Slava
Get up
Get dressed
One, two, three, four
five, six, seven, eight
nine, ten, eleven, twelve
thirteen, fourteen fifteen, sixteen
seventeen, eighteen nineteen, twenty
Ready or not, here I come
Not here
There is no one here
Well
No, there's no...
Right
We found Grandma
Why did you meow? That's no fun
Scared?
Show me your knickers
Why?
Why not?
You're not afraid to show me your soul
Knickers are less intimate than the soul
Actually
The time probably hasn't come yet
The time when you can say, I am going to live
At the moment you are waiting and watching
You're not fully involved in it, you're just an observer
Because you are afraid
You know
every step in life is wrong
But at a distance
at a point where different things cross
it can seem right
And vice versa
Everything's right here
but at a distance it's wrong
Save my life
- Hello - Hello
We're playing lazybones
Hello, we're playing lazybones
- Hello - Who did you bring?
- You lose - Why?
Because you blinked
Hi Katya
Vasya is going to finish the last line and then we'll read our masterpiece
Dad
It doesn't matter if we're watching or not. Keep writing
Just don't make any comments, Lena
- What do you mean, comments? - About what Vasya is writing
Come here, come to me
How are you doing? Not tired, are you?
- No - Great
See, it's better to have lots of different games
- Right, Lena? - Yes
- Would you like some Borjomi, Katya? - No thanks
Dad, you won't be able to fold it
Wait, I'm just thinking how to
What?
One moment. This is an interesting set-up
One moment
Look, how beautiful. What is it?
- We tried - Looks like buckwheat with chicken
- That's it - Delicious
Right, we have no time for this now
- One moment. Yes, Dau? - Come on, sit down
- Here. Read it again if you like - Can I talk to you?
Yes, alright
- Dau, come with me a second - Would you like some champagne?
- I've already had some wine - Wine?
- Red? - I think it's best not to mix them
Very well. Lyosha
One moment, Nora, I'll open it for you now
So?
You can talk and open it at the same time
Yes, I can talk and open it at the same time
Pass me the corkscrew, please
Nora, can we talk for a second?
Yes
Here's the cockscrew
There
Here
- Can I say something? - Yes
I want to sleep with Katya
How about the three of us together?
- But where will I sleep? - Together
We'll just sleep. Nothing else
You'll stay won't you?
Does it bother you?
Let's have a try
If you don't want to, just say
But I know that you want to
I want her to be near me
And I want you to be near me
I will be
And what does Katya want?
She won't agree to it
She might
- We'll have to ask here - Shall we bet on it? Fifty rubles
I put a hundred on her agreeing
I put a hundred on her not agreeing. Let's go
That one was a 1947 edition
I'm afraid this might be later, you know
Let's try to find it, unless it's been edited out
- Lyosha, what are you looking for? - There was a wonderful sentence
Very funny
One moment. If it's here I'll find it
Lyosha, can we talk while you're looking for it?
Yes, talk amongst yourselves while I look for it
Go on, talk
- It's impossible - Katya?
We have Alexey's permission. Yes?
Do you want to stay here to sleep with us today?
To sleep in our bed, the three of us together
Do you want to?
Why not?
Maybe you shouldn't actually
Why? Are you scared?
You scared of your own suggestion?
- No, no. Very well - No
Did you expect me to say "no" and run away?
- Wonderful. Great - Good
Katya, sorry, do you mind if Dau and I have a quick word?
- Go ahead, of course - Thanks
Perhaps someone else could spend the night wih us too
Something's not right here
Who knows who better
- Yes, Mum? - You know
I expect we'll head off to bed now
You're off to bed? Well, sure, the children are tired
Just let them play for a bit
because the children definitely won't sleep with this music on
They can listen for a bit and then head off to bed
Just look how handsome you are
- Almost like Apollo - My God. Like Apollo
Why are you hiding?
- Am I undressed? Am I? - One second.Yes you are
- Well that's that - Ah, that's how it is? Very well
Lyosha, wait. Katya and I will only undress to a Pushkin poem
Yes, Pushkin
- It can't be any other way - Alright
Wait, are you going to undress at the same time?
- Don't start yet, Lyosha - Yes, I know. I'll undress
One moment
One second. We didn't agree that you would watch us
- Turn around - Ah, so that's how it is
Precisely
Wait, I'll just find what I want
"We must also remember these, for example, The former poet, old Panzebitter"
"Our right and honest priest, And the merchant Ritter"
"Rezanov, the great Russian confectioner"
"All Orthodox Christians from the city of St Peter"
"The late Jupiter"
"We must remember, we really must"
"The Moscow Poet Veliashev"
"His Excellency, General Ivashev"
"And your cousin and my cousin in general"
"Walter Scott Masalsky, Don Miguel"
Dau's hungry. What about you?
- Yes, that's be nice - We have...
Perfect
- I must have gotten it wrong - Me too
Yes, well, what do you know
I don't understand. I did my courses, I served at the Front
I don't understand how it is. You're the Intelligentsia
That girl in Kharkov was a prostitute, that's obvious
You're a nobleman How many children do you have?
A lot
- Really? - Several villages worth
[- You do look like Lenin a bit - I have blue eyes]
[You do look like Lenin]
[That's what saved you]
[I knew straight away]
[- Not that I... - It does save me]
[You know]
[I bet my father worked for your estate]
To Marshal Voroshilov
Better, to the Defenders of Leningrad
and the Defenders of Leningrad
No, Russia was full of roads and fools
Really?
Yes
You should all have been Defenders of Leningrad
with the exception of Karamzin
Even the blind had fought
You are always escaping. Aren't you?
What is it, Katya dear?
- You don't want me, do you? - I do
I don't see that
- What do you mean, I don't? - You don't
You men. Look at what science does to you, just look
No fighting
- Go away, Lyosha - Go?
- It hurts - It hurts?
Again with the crying?
- Stop it - Bring me some water. That's it, enough
Go away. I'm going to kill you. Just go away
Go away
I knew there would be moments like these
But I didn't think it would be you
Perhaps you're hoping to trample on every single one of my dreams
Is that what you want?
And then you came
Like an angel into that world
to save me
when my dreams
were dying
What happened to my dreams
that were gently trying to sleep in your shell?
What happened?
Please leave
Farewell, dear Katya
Farewell
How are you preparing for death?
Do you think it's a gift or a release?
Tanya
What does death mean to you?
Death? Liberation
From what?
From everything
And what do you want to liberate yourself from? Your daughter?
I'm talking about what you actually have in your life
Ephemeral love?
Is that what you want to liberate yourself from?
Tanya
What I actually have
I would never define it as ephemeral love
- Alright - If it's not reciprocal, it doesn't mean
Did you do anything to make it reciprocal?
Did you use your imagination?
Your female intuition?
It's no way to live
That's not a decision in favour of living a wholehearted, fully-fledged life
To be happy for just a few days
Am I wrong?
I wonder whether there are people who are always happy
Are you ever happy?
- I can be happy - I want to know what you
No, I can be happy. Are you ever happy?
Yes
"Dressed for the road, the Tsar departed, The Tsarina, tender-hearted"
"At the window sat alone, Wishing he would hurry home"
"Day and night she sat and waited, Gazing till her dedicated"
"eyes grew weak from overstrain Gazing at the empty plain"
"One fond glance at him she darted, Gasped for joy with thin lips parted"
"Then fell back upon her bed And by prayer-time was lying dead"
"Long the Tsar sat lonely, brooding But he, too, was only human"
"Tears for one sad year he shed And then another woman wed"
"She, if one be strictly truthful Was born a Tsarina youthful"
"Slim, tall, fair to look upon, Clever, witty and so on"
"But she was... sur"
"surly"
"Stubborn, haughty, wilful, jealous"
"Only with this looking-glass would she In a pleasant humour be"
"Many times a day she'd greet it And..."
And... I have forgotten
What a memory
Tatyana, what a wonderful child you have
- Mummy, will you tell me the story? - Of course
And you'll take me to the zoo?
- And to the zoo - You'll even buy me ice-cream?
- Yes - You'll definitely tell me a story?
- Well, let's go - Good-bye, Comrade Masha
Say goodbye to Katya
Goodbye
See you. Here you go
Good-bye Alexander Viktorovich
Let's go
Let's go, let's go
- Katya, dear - Yes?
Have you got something to read I could borrow?
Mum, I remember you promised to tell me one more fairytale
Let me think what the fairytale could be about
- What fairytale would you like? - Any
- Doesn't matter which one? - No
- Let's sit down - Who should it be about?
I don't know
Are you warm enough?
- How about - Do you need the bathroom?
- No - Sure?
Come on, tell me a story
- What about those arms? - About the arms?
Who do you think could have three arms?
- You don't know? - An octopus has eight
I don't know
Let's try to describe these arms. What are they like?
- They're big - Big
What else?
- Loving - Loving hands?
Well, I guess so, since he's holding something so tight
- They love it, right? - Right
The hammer, the brain and the sickle
- Hello - Hello
Hello
- Who's home? - Kaledin and I
Hello
- Is everything alright? - Yes, of course
- Alexey Yurevich decided to have a drink - In solitude?
Trifonov's here
Calm down, why are you reacting like this?
Calm down, relax
Look at you breathe
What?
I don't understand
Get out of here, do you think I want to talk to you?
I don't know what you want, you don't tell me anything
You've said nothing, and I'm trying to understand
you keep avoiding me
When you're silent, I try to understand you through your eyes
Judging by your actions, I must have misunderstood
You did
You see
What do you want, can't you tell me?
I want nothing from you, get out
- Nothing? - Just go
Are you absolutely sure?
Yes
One hundred percent?
Don't confuse your desires with reality, now get out
Go away, this is my bedroom, I'm telling you to go away
Alright
Well then
Otherwise. Go, just go
Otherwise what?
Otherwise I'll go. Just leave
If I'm not wanted I won't insist
Alright, great
Tanya
Would you like your child
to live the same way you do?
- No - Then how?
What do you want her to change?
Shall I say the first thing? So she has no guilt
- Yes - The second?
- For her to love a real person - Yes
But what's stopping you from doing that now?
And being an example to her
so that later, when she grows up, you can talk to her
but based on reality rather than imaginary life and fairy tales
You know, when I read fairytales to my daughter, it feels like I deceive her
When I separated from my husband
at the beginning they saw each other often
Later he started a new family
Another child came along
I feel so guilty towards her
You are not guilty
She has you
I'm not enough for her
She barely sees me
Recently she was drawing
my portrait
and was asking her grandma
what colour my hair was
I feel like you understand me
You're beautiful
I'll fall in love with you
How about we
Calm down
I'm scared
Katya, Katya
What now?
We have an orange. Ever tried tea with orange?
We have a lemon
There's the lemon
Do you want attention?
What do you want? I don't understand
Katya
I don't think you're hearing me
You're right, what then?
What did you say that I didn't hear?
Did you say "Hello, Katya" the next day?
I didn't hear that?
Did you say anything to me the next day?
Or do I just look like a...
What do you think I look like?
Like a piece of tissue or something?
Why did you come and cry? "Thank you, thank you"
And the next day I don't exist
It's that easy
And again you're silent
I want to be alone, alright?
I see
How are things?
Why are you so upset?
Everything's fine
It's spring
Let's drink to love
It seems the weather has turned for the better
I saw three stars
- To love? - To love
To love
I don't write poems, Kaledin
Whenever I write poems I ...
I may be a clown but
not always
"We'll drink the maiden's rosy breath"
"Filled, perhaps, with plague and death"
[He was complaining they took his lab assistant]
Our staff aren't blind
They see, they hear, they know things
We're already dealing with Katya
But what shall we do with you?
What do you think, Tanya?
What about me and Katya?
You and Katya
have a very good, if slightly unconventional relationship
It's known as "Lesbianism"
What?
People took you away from the table
You're trying to vulgarise it
- I'm doing what? - Vulgarising it
You're saying this to me?
- Love is... - I'm the Party member
Head of the First Department, and you tell me I'm vulgarising something
I'm trying to put everything right
and you're telling me I'm vulgarising it
- This is hopeless. Thick as a brick - "I don't understand"
Is something wrong with you? Why are you smiling?
I think the first thing to be done is to shame you in public
Pasha, we have to save her
Save her from what?
- From this sexual delinquency - Look at the way she's acting
She's beaming from happiness, grinning from ear to ear
What do you mean, save her?
She's good now, she's all sorted. Right, Tanya?
Everything's fine?
We're happy to be in a lesbian relationship?
And we don't care what those around us think
Am I right? Am I?
Is that the way you see it?
It's depravity
You're vulgarising it, Pasha
Shall I give her one, after all?
Shall I box her ears? How's your head, strong enough?
Who dominates in your relationship?
Is it Tanya or you?
Let me tell you what a female penal colony is
It's a world that's been
turned inside out
lesbian relationships, they've been made the norm there
Even if you don't consider yourself a criminal
I'll prove otherwise in just a few minutes. You understand?
What are you, Katya? Go on, tell us, be honest
A dyke or a decent Soviet woman?
Fucking bitch
Proud, are we?
What's the matter, Katya?
What a curious reaction she has
Such a great day, isn't it?
The greatest day ever
What did she do, what do you think?
- I don't know - What would you do?
If you were a little star living so far away
Look, how beautiful she is. You'd live up there, high up in the sky
- I'd fall down - You would fall, wouldn't you?
So she decided to fall down too
She thought that somebody would surely notice her when she was falling
That's what happened, can you imagine?
First she thought about it for a long time, then suddenly she jumped from the sky
While she was flying, we saw a beautiful bright trail
It looked like sparkles
You know, even passers-by paid attention to it
Would you notice that? Of course you would
Look, are there any shooting stars?
Because it's April
- Do you know when stars start to fall? - When?
In the summer
You can see them very clearly in August
A meteor shower
So the star jumped
She fell down and of course she broke to pieces
But at that moment she was noticed
She was very happy
What do you think? Is it a sad or a happy story?
- A happy one - Why?
Because a dream came true
Do you think happiness exists?
When I was little, I would always wait for it
And I thought when I'd grow up
I'd be very happy
Naive childish dreams