Mosfilm studio
and the Artistic Association of television films presents
a film made to the order of USSR Television and Radio comittee
An Ordinary Miracle Part One
Based on a play by Eugene Schwartz of the same name
It's her. Her steps.
Fifteen years. In love with my wife like a schoolboy.
Hello... Wife...
Did someone hurt you? You.
Me, the scum. What have I done then, wretch that I am?
What's all that mess in the hen-house?
I did that out of love.
And who promised to live like everyone?
To live... Like everyone...
Did someone hurt you? You.
Me, the scum. What have I done then, wretch that I am?
What's all that mess in the hen-house?
I did that out of love.
And who promised to live like everyone?
To live... Like everyone...
I am, after all... A wizard.
I fancied a prank.
You could have done something useful for the household.
Look, there's sand there for the garden paths.
You could have gone and turned it to sugar. Sugar?
Yes. What kind of a prank is that?
Or those stones by the barn. You could have turned them to cheese
Cheese? Not funny.
What am I to do with you?
I try and try, and yet you stay the same... My bearded maniac.
Who are you waiting for? No one.
Look me in the eyes. Looking.
Tell me the truth. Right now. What guests are we to entertain today?
People? Or will the spirits come to play dice with you?
It's all right, it's all right... Hold on...
One minute... It's all right...
Who are you waiting for? Who? You think you can hide the truth from your wife?
Own up. Well? The truth.
There will be guests - we will have guests today - forgive me!
My soul... my soul begs for something - not mere trifles or amusements...
You have to forgive it - don't be mad...
I knew who I was marrying.
It's him. Him, him!
I have waited a long time for you. Enter.
Hello... Hello, sonny.
Please, sit down. Have some coffee - it's just boiled.
What is your name?
Bear.
Bear...
What a mismatched nickname...
It is not a nickname.
Seven years ago, your husband turned me into a human.
And he did it flawlessly.
He has skilled hands.
Thank you, sonny, thank you.
Is that true?
Why didn't you tell me immediately?
I forgot.
I was walking, you see, through the forest...
And I saw this young bear. Still a cub.
Big head, clever eyes.
I took a liking to him. Be silent.
I hate it when people abuse animals for fun.
The elephant is made to dance, the nightingale is put away into a cage,
and the tiger taught to swing on a swing.
Is it tough for you, sonny?
Yes.
It is very hard to be a real man.
You're laughing?
I'm happy!
Taking pleasure in my creation.
A man makes a statue out of a dead stone, and
it makes him proud if it comes out beautiful.
But just try taking something alive and making something
even more alive out of it... Now that's a challenge!
I have waited for many years
for this to happen.
Turn him back into a bear this very minute,
if you love me.
Set him free.
Don't worry! Everything will be well.
This is what he came to us for. To become a bear again.
Really? I am glad. Will you do it right here? Shall I leave the room?
No, that would not be interesting.
Everything will be wonderful! It will be different.
It will be completely different.
It will be different. Will it happen now?
No. It will not be soon.
I will only become a bear again when a princess
falls in love with me and kisses me.
Your idea? Why, it's not bad at all, if I do say so myself.
That is so sad... My god, that is so sad... Once more, I fail to please.
And did you not think of the princess? It's good for one's health to fall in love.
The poor girl will fall in love, kiss the youth - and he then turns into a wild animal?
A perfectly ordinary event. But then he'll run away to the forest!
Yes, it happens. Sometimes they run away.
Sonny, you'll leave a girl who's in love with you?
As soon as she sees that I am a bear... She will no longer love me.
I do not want to scare you.. You have started a dangerous game, my husband.
I've been through a lot with you, but of this I am scared.
Of what? What could possibly happen?
The princess won't fall in love with him? Nonsense!
Look at him! Look what a fine lad he is.
But if...
It's too late to talk about it.
I have made it so that a passing king
Had a sudden urge to turn off to our home.
He is racing here!
Go, sonny! We will greet them ourselves.
I shall call you when it is time.
I don't believe it! A king! Wait till you see him!
An uncouth ruffian.
He'll start to poke around, give orders, demand. You'll see now.
May I? Good day.
I am the King. My good people.
Good day, Your Majesty.
I don't really know why - but I liked your house.
So - allow us to stay with you for a few days.
I have to warn you - we are difficult guests.
I, myself, am a terrible man. Yes?
A man who is treacherous, capricious and does not forgive.
Someone, come here! You, hey, come here!
Say hello to them.
You see, what I'm doing?
And the interesting thing is, it's not my fault. Right?
Right.
Well, off you go, that was all - you're free to go.
Not guilty! My ancestors are to blame.
Great-grandfathers, great-grandmothers, great-uncles, all sorts of aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers.
All my ancestors always behaved like complete pigs.
And now I have to pay for their past.
Parasites - one word, excuse me this sharp expression
A slip of the tongue - parasites! That's the word.
As for myself, I am by nature a kind man, clever...
I like music and poetry, prose too, art, fishing...
...cats, yes, I like cats...
...but sometimes I just go and do something that just makes me feel so... so...
Like this, for instance. A prankster.
You're a funny man yourself.
My good woman, get me three glasses if you would.
Treasured three hundred year old royal wine.
Let us celebrate this meeting. Here's to us!
Bottoms up!
Don't drink. Why?
You would seek to insult? A guest, no less? Quiet. You're not at home.
Don't order me about!
I have but to blink, my ministers will start writing,
and I will express my deepest condolences. At home, not at home... Drink!
Don't! The wine is poisoned. The wine is what? Poisoned.
What are you blathering on about? You go first, then.
All right, the wine is poisoned.
Why throw it out? Pour it back into the bottle.
Where am I to get more? Perfectly good poison...
An indispensable thing in one's travels.
For shame, your Majesty! Shame, shame... not my fault!
Whose, then? My uncle...
He used to get talking sometimes just like this, to random strangers...
He'd spin wild tales about himself. He had a thin and delicate soul, easily hurt...
And then so he didn't need to worry about it, he'd go and poison the person he was chatting to.
Scum... A complete animal!
And you, yourself... Don't start! Everything you're going to say - I know it.
I should take responsibility for myself.
And not put the blame on friends, neighbors or relatives.
I know all that... I am not some kind of genius. It is beyond what I am humanly capable of.
I am just a king - simply a king, an ordinary king...
There are thousands like me.
Well - why pretend? We understand one another.
You understand me, I understand you... Why the frowns?
What? You're alive, in good health, God be praised. We're staying here!
Hey, servants! Make yourselves at home, settle in... and music!
Tell me, please, King, the princess - is she also...
No, no, she's completely different... She's kind and wonderful.
Living with me is hard on her.
Her mother died when she was only seven minutes old.
So - don't you speak ill of my daughter... King!
I stop being a king when I think about her, or see her...
Dear friends!
What a happiness it is that I love her so much -
- my daughter.
Absurd, funny, mindless and stupid -
magic...
No use, no purpose, ad-lib, ad-hoc -
completely...
There comes a day, there comes an hour
There comes a blink, there comes a time -
and something snaps.
The granite boils, flames come from ice,
Light dust motes knock me over -
- what madness is this?
The wild grass blooms,
The old owl sings like a nightingale,
And even the thinnest of threads
Can not be cut in half
By a steel blade,
By a steel blade!
Absurd, funny, mindless and stupid -
wondrous...
No use, no purpose, ad-lib, ad-hoc -
completely...
There comes a time, And with it brings
Fever and fear, and a secret heat -
Wonder and power!
Both pain and laughter, dark and light -
Into one flame, into one fire -
What madness?!
From a mirage, Out of nothing,
Out of my own wild fantasies
Someone's face suddenly appears
And acquires shape and colour,
- and flesh and love!
Flesh and love!
Absurd, funny, mindless and stupid...
And magic!
No use, no purpose, ad-lib, ad-hoc -
...completely!
One in a million.
She does not at all resemble a King's daughter.
One in a million.
She does not at all resemble a King's daughter.
When one enters the nursery,
I am ashamed to say one becomes likable even to oneself. It got to where it was funny...
I'd sit there, signing someone's death warrant...
And I'd chuckle to myself, remembering her little pranks and words.
An egoist... Yes?
I got so used to letting my soul relax in her presence
that I started to protect the poor thing from anything
that could possibly stain her. You understand, yes?
You know what a royal palace is, of course? Of course.
Behind those walls, people cut each other's throats; brothers and sisters
strangle each other
In other words, we have everyday mundane life.
You enter the princess's half - conversation about good people,
poetry, music, debates...
You relax.
And it all collapsed over a mere trifle.
I remember it as if it were now.
I am sitting there - on Saturday it was -
- reading through my ministers' reports on each other.
There's a knock. My daughter is next to me.
She's weaving me a scarf. For my birthday...
Everything is quiet, peaceful, birds singing.
Suddenly the ceremony master enters and reports:
An aunt, the Duchess, has arrived.
Me, I could never stand her. Noisy woman.
So I tell the ceremony master: tell her I'm not at home.
A trifle, no? True.
For me and you. Because we're normal people.
But my poor daughter - she fainted!
''Daddy told a lie!''
That's how it all started.
She started pining, got thoughtful... No good was going to come of this.
I was at a loss; then my grandfather on my mother's side suddenly woke up in me.
He was a softie. At the first sign of trouble he froze up.
Never started anything - always hoped for the best.
When they were strangling his favourite wife before his eyes,
he kept telling her: "Bear with it - maybe it will all turn out for the best!"
A fine man, no? How can one get finer?
Well, I came to my senses, got up, ordered the horses made ready...
That dawn we were galloping towards the Carpatian mountains.
No-one knows anything about us here, no-one's heard anything about us.
So - please allow us to stay here for a few days.
Until we can build ourselves a palace with all conveniences...
A garden, a dungeon, play areas...
I'm afraid that... Don't be afraid. Please.
Your Majesty, if you please, come this way I will show you your rooms...
Mind your feet on the steps, careful, careful...
This way, your Majesty.
I told you not to worry. There is no way such a girl would bear it when the youth turns into a wild animal before her eyes.
Great God! She won't die of it. It is good for one's health to fall in love.
I will not allow it. Even an experienced woman would be terrified.
Don't prank like this, dear, please... Too late.
No, I'm telling you... let Bear bear with it a little longer.
Find another princess, not as nice. Not as nice.
I need to say a few words to you in private. Come to the garden with me.
Quickly!
I think I tripped you... Pretty girl.. .
What is it? Did I scare you so much?
No... I - I was just lost for words for a minute.
No-one has called me that before... Just "pretty girl"...
I did not mean to offend you...
I am not at all offended.
The thing is... I am very honest.
So when I see that a girl is pretty...
I tell her about it right out.
You are the son of the owner of this house? No, I have no family.
Me too.
My father is alive, but my mother died when I was just...
...seven minutes old...
I'm sure you have many friends.
Why would you say that?
I don't know - it just seems to me that everybody must love you.
It seems to me that everybody must love you.
You are mysterious... ...and gentle...
Now you've become angry...
No.
Then I will tell you that you are beautiful.
And that I like you.
Terribly. Straight away.
Am I being stupid?
No.
It seems to me that everybody must love you.
You are mysterious... ...and gentle...
Now you've become angry... No.
Then I will tell you that you... ...are beautiful.
And that I started to like you terribly. Straight away.
Am I being stupid?
No.
You are probably tired after your trip. Hungry.
Here - milk. It's fresh. Have a drink.
Drink...
Is today a holiday? I don't know. Maybe.
And you are with the king's court? No.
Oh, I understand... You must be with the princess.
Maybe I'm her... ...the princess.
What's wrong? You've suddenly gone so pale...
No... You... you are not a princess.
No!
I spent a long time travelling the world...
...I have seen many princesses.
You are not like any of them.
I beg you. Please don't.
Don't tease me.
Talk of anything you like, just not of this.
My god... I'd completely forgotten about them...
The ladies-in-waiting have finally got here.
What tired, mundane faces...
Let's hide from them.
Let's go! Quickly!
My god!
Why am I crying tears of happiness, like a child?
How could you dare? I begged you! How could you....
Good day, my good woman.
Please excuse me barging in here like this.
Maybe I am interrupting? Maybe I should leave?
No, no, of course not! Please do sit down.
May I put my things down? Of course.
You are so kind.
What a nice, comfortable fireplace.
There's a handle for the spit, and a hook for the kettle.
You are the king's chef?
No... I am the king's first minister.
Who?! His Majesty's first minister.
There was a time...
Everyone could tell straight away that I was a first minister.
I used to shine... I used to be so majestic...
Those in the know would say that it was hard to tell
who had more stature: me or the royal cats.
And now... well, you can see for yourself. I dance these pitiful dances for everyone's amusement.
And what's more, I find myself no longer capable of anything else.
What do you think? Am I any good?
Not really. I agree.
On the whole, not good at all.
What brought you to this pitiful state?
The journey, good woman. The journey?
The journey. For certain reasons, we, a group of courtiers, were...
...ripped from our usual surroundings
and sent to foreign parts.
And to add insult to injury there's this... tyrant.
- The King? - No, no!
We've gotten used to His Majesty a long time ago.
The tyrant... ...is the Administrating Minister.
He is the only one of us who knows how to travel...
...get us horses, feed everyone...
Even though he doesn't do it very well, none of the rest of us can do it at all.
Don't tell him I was grumbling.
He'll leave me without dessert.
Why don't you tell the king?
Oh, he is so good at... how is it said in formal language...
...servicing and supplying the king.. ...that His Majesty won't listen to anything.
Terror! Shame! Mess! Bedlam!
What kind of horror is this?
High-class women, well-brought up ladies being kept practically steeped in dirt?
Would that he died, but hell would freeze over first.
What can you expect of the parasite!
Who the devil needs my head
when it hasn't been washed for three days?
Where is the soap, the sponge - where?
Where, at least, is the shaving cream?
He who saves money on cleanliness
Is either a thief or a pig!
He is either a thief, Or a pig!
Where is the soap, the sponge - where?
Where, at least, is the shaving cream?
He who saves money on cleanliness
Is either a thief or a pig! Is either a thief or a pig!
The devil only knows when this torture will end!
We will all go to pot here before this poisonous scum concedes to give us some soap.
Good day, good woman, excuse us for not knocking. The road has made us wild as the devil's mother.
Allow me to introduce the beauty and pride of the King's court - The King's first lady.
The princess's maids of honour - Orinthia and Amanda!
Apologies, good woman, but I am quite beside myself!
His wretched Highness the Minister-Administrator
gave us today neither soap, nor powder, nor perfume!
I am convinced he's sold it all to the natives, the traitor!
When we left the capital, all he had was a tattered hatbox.
It had a sandwich and his ragged underwear in it. I repeat: Underwear!
And now the bastard has thirty-three chests and twenty-two suitcases!
Would you care for a bath after your tiring journey, my lady? But we have no soap!
I shall give you all you need, and as much hot water as you require. Hot water?
The woman is a saint.
To bathe! To remember the good life!
- What utter joy! - Tss! He's coming!
He's almost here!
I beg you, my lady, I told you nothing.
Good day!
I said, good day... We've already met today.
Excuse us, but.. where are our suitcases? People...
Always thinking of themselves and themselves only.
If you get in the way... I shall leave you without dinner.
Incidentally, that applies to all. Sorry..
Four pounds to the servants...
...two in my head.
Three pounds to the king...
...one and a half in my head.
A pound to the Princess...
...half in my head.
Six pounds for me... Not bad for a morning.
Midnight, on the dot. What's at midnight?
Come to the barn, you will not regret it.
I do not have time to court.
You're an attractive woman, and as for me,
I'm devilishly attractive.
Why waste time? At midnight. I will be waiting.
- How dare you?! - I do dare, darling.
You are insane..
Quite the opposite... I am so sane that sometimes I surprise myself.
You're a scoundrel. Indeed. And who is good nowadays?
Today, for instance, I saw a butterfly.
Small head, no brains.
Its wings - flutter, flutter - stupid as stupid go!
The sparrow, he's no better.
The birch tree - a dim-wit. The oak tree - a moron.
The river - an imbecile. The clouds - cretins.
All horses - traitors.
All people - swindlers.
What to do? The entire world is such that there is no point holding back.
It is good when there is a woman -
A lady, dame, senorita, a fraulein!
And the most important honour for a woman
Is to have a man next to her
And everywhere, and especially here,
Where the country is quiet and so innocent...
The butterfly bats its wings: bat-bat-bat-bat,
After it the sparrow hops, hop-hop-hop-hop,
He does her in, the baby, thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack,
Munch-munch-munch-munch, and scoot-scoot-scoot-scoot.
The butterfly bats its wings: bat-bat-bat-bat,
After it the sparrow hops, hop-hop-hop-hop,
He does her in, the dear, thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack,
Munch-munch-munch-munch,
and scoot-scoot-scoot-scoot.
You are my angel, You are my ideal,
My little star, starling, little fish.
Your teeth are pearls, Your lips - corals.
Your breast and smile are good also
I've never met anyone like you,
Let this mistake be corrected!
The butterfly bats its wings: bat-bat-bat-bat,
After it the sparrow hops, hop-hop-hop-hop,
He does her in, the dear, thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack,
Munch-munch-munch-munch, and scoot-scoot-scoot-scoot
The butterfly bats its wings: bat-bat-bat-bat,
After it the sparrow hops, hop-hop-hop-hop,
He does her in, the love, thwack-thwack-thwack-thwack,
Munch-munch-munch-munch, and scoot-scoot-scoot-scoot
Well? Will you come?
I have not the slightest intention of doing so.
Also, I will tell my husband, and he will turn you into a rat.
And who would this husband be? A magician.
You should warn people!
I was wrong, acted hastily.
I now consider my suggestion a terrible mistake, repent,
and beg an opportunity to make amends. That's it. I'm gone.
Music!
I say, I really like it here!
The entire house is kept so well, and with such love,
I could just go and take it for myself. Honestly!
It's a good thing I'm not at home.
At home, I would not have been able to restrain myself, and would have locked you away in a tower of lead.
We have one in the market square. A terrible place!
You remember? Hot in the daytime, freezing at night.
The prisoners undergo such torture that even the jailors cry.
From pity, they cry. Right?
Yes. I'd have locked you away, and taken the house!
Well. Am I not a tyrant?
What do you expect - I'm a king, from head to toe.
He thinks there used to be kings better than me.
We are all tyrants, all alike.
My lady, please.
Where have you hidden my daughter?
The princess ordered us to wait.
Her highness desired to gather flowers in a beautiful clearing by a babbling mountain brook...
...completely alone.
What right had they to abandon my daughter, my little one?
There may be snakes in the grass, and there is a draught from the brook.
From what? From the brook.
There. She's coming.
Safe and sound.
Where? Where? Where? Show us!
Let me through! She's coming.
It's true, she's coming. My only child! She's smiling!
Now she's thoughtful.. She smiled again!
So tenderly, so sweetly!
There is a youth with her.
I can see she likes him! That means I like him too.
His parents alive? Dead.
Excellent!
Brothers, sisters? None.
Right... I will grant him a title, holdings...
and let him travel with us.
He cannot be a bad person if she likes him so much
and me, that means we like him too. A minute, my woman - this way..
Is he a fine lad? Very, but..
No buts!
For years a man has not seen his daughter this happy, and he gets told "but"!
I will not listen to it! I am happy - that is it. No buts!
I will spend tonight in revelry.
Happily, good-naturedly,
with various harmless pranks.
Get some china ready - plates; I will be smashing them.
Take the wheat out of the barn.
I will set the barn on fire.
Good day, sirs!
I know I have already seen all of you today, but it seems like it was such a long time ago.
Ladies and gentlemen!
This young man is my best friend.
When I was little, I always envied girls
who had brothers, but now I think it was silly of me.
I like him more than I would a brother.
Girls fight with their brothers,
but I could never fight with him.
He loves the things that I love...
..and understands me even when I am talking incomprehensibly.. ..and I understand him as I understand myself.
You see how grumpy he looks?
You know why?
I hid from him that I was a princess, and he...
He can't stand them.
Really!
You know, I would really like it..
...if he could see how unlike other princesses I am.
My dear, I can't stand them either!
Don't look at me with such horror, I beg you.
You're scaring me! Don't...
Maybe if I kissed you...
No.
Not for anything in the world.
Goodbye.
Goodbye... forever...
Get him! Stop him!
You know him. What did I say? What?
Nothing, nothing, sweetheart. You are not guilty of anything.
No.. he didn't like me talking about brothers in front of everyone.
Terrible, absurd.. cliched, stupid..
And then...
My god! How could I forget the most shameful..
I told him that I would kiss him, and he..
He rode off. Without looking back!
On that crazy horse of his! Off into the mountains!
Through the wilderness. You're crying...
Where are you going.. What are you..
I'm asking, where.. Get back here! Back!
Executioner! Get ready.
Gentle courtiers... Pray.
The princess has locked herself in her room. She is not letting anyone in. You will all be executed.
Your Majesty, I think... Shut up.
Get me an hourglass. Now.
I'll pardon...
The one who... While there is still sand in the hourglass...
Explains it all to me, and tells me how to help the princess.
Think.
The sand runs quickly.
Make your speech short; take turns and speak clearly.
First minister.
Your Majesty! I believe that adults
should not interfere with the romantic life of children.
You will die first.
Speak, my lady.
Many, many years ago, your highness..
I was standing by a window, while a youth rode away from me
on a black horse along a mountain road.
It was a quiet moonlit night.
And the hoof-falls... Speak faster, wretched thing!
The sand is running. Don't interrupt.
But it's one hourglass between everyone. So it is.
What will be left for us?
Continue.
I never saw him again.
And, as you know, your Majesty, I married another...
And here I am, alive and at peace, and at Your Majesty's service.
You, too, will put your head under the axe. All right?
All right.
Your turn.
Well, your highness, the best way of consoling the princess..
..is to marry her to a man who has shown his loyalty...
...his knowledge of life, his administrative skills...
...and who is in good standing with your Majesty.
Are you talking about the executioner?
Why, your majesty, I hardly even know him from this side!
You will.
Daughter! What are you doing?
Why are you scaring me like this?
Where are you going?
I won't tell anyone.
Perfect, young lady!
Daughter, we are coming with you!
Father...
I love you so much.
Please do not be angry, but I am leaving alone.
You may not! Stop her! Now!
I swear!
I will shoot all who try to follow me.
Remember that, all of you.
I have my own life now, and I want to be left alone.
Hold her!
Stop her at any cost!
Hold her!
Stop her!
What a girl!
Into the mountains! She'll get lost!
She'll fall off her saddle and get tangled in the reins!
Follow her! Don't just stand there!
Your Majesty! The princess has sworn that she will shoot all who follow her!
I will track her from afar. I will hide behind rocks.
Your Majesty, this is no time for you to be hiding in rocks...
I will hide in the grass like a snake from my own daughter
But I shall not abandon her!
Follow me! Wait!
Now are you happy?
Lousy weather!
All the years I have lived here, on this mountain top,
in the eternal snows,
there have never been such gales.
A good thing that the inn is built well.
Strong like a castle.
The inn "Emilia"...
Emilia, Emilia...
She must be grey-haired by now.
And probably happily married.
But I still dream...
Of hearing her voice one day.
Welcome, sirs.
Welcome, come in! This way! Quickly now!
Sit by the fire!
Don't cry, ladies, I beg you!
Please! Have some hot wine, please do.
I am sorry, with whom do I have the honour?...
Although... I'm used to travellers not sharing their names.
What has that to do with anything? I am the King.
Good evening, Your Majesty.
Good evening, innkeeper.
I am unhappy. Very.
It happens, your Majesty.
My daughter is gone.
Idiots. Freeloaders.
They left the child unsupervised!
My daughter fell in love, had a fight,
dressed up as a boy and ran away.
Scoundrels. Idlers.
Who is staying here, anyway?
A famous hunter with two apprentices.
Hunters? Maybe... Maybe the hunters have met them?
They hunt everywhere, don't they?
No, this hunter doesn't hunt any more now.
What does he do, then? He is defending his fame.
He already has fifty diplomas
confirming that he is famous.
But what does he do? He is resting!
To fight for one's fame... what could be more taxing?
To the devil with him, then.
Hey, all you sentenced to death - let's be on our way!
Oh, my god! Let us go, go!
The mountains in this weather are certain death, your Majesty.
Then what should I do?
Here is the key to my biggest room.
And what shall I do there? Pace from corner to corner.
And at dawn we'll mount a search together. Take the key. Here.
And you, sirs, take keys.
Everyone needs to rest, to gather strength!
Take candles, follow me... This way, please! This way!
Come, it's safe - there is no-one here!
If these are hunters, I will shoot you like a rabbit. Sir hunter, what fault of mine is it?
Be silent! Any place I come to relax is full of these wretched hunters. I hate them!
And the hunters' wives always there too, discussing every last bit of the hunters' business!
An apprentice.. killing you isn't enough! Did you mail the letters?
Yes, before the storm started. The one to the Chief too?
The one to the Chief, too. And when I was walking back, I saw tracks. Hare, and fox too.
To hell with tracks! What time have I to be occupied with trivia
when down below the stupid and jealous are digging my grave.
Maybe they aren't? Sure they are.
Digging it for me. Everyone is plotting to bury me right now.
Well, let them. And meanwhile we could shoot a mountain of game..
That would make people scared of us. They dig us a grave, we give them game,
and that makes them traitors
and us the good guys.
Idiot.
They'll start discussing my every shot down there now. It's enough to drive a man insane!
He killed a fox, they will say, the same way he did last year,
and brought nothing new to the art of hunting.
And what if, God forbid, I miss?!
I, who to this day has never missed a shot?
No, you'd better be silent. Otherwise I will kill you. Idiot.
Where is our new apprentice? Cleaning a gun.
Good lad!
Of course. With you, the new ones are always good.
It's a hunter! Open up, you fool!
Is this an inn? Yes. The owner should be here in a minute.
Are you a hunter? God forbid!
I... don't like hunters.
Me neither.
I hate them. Even though I am a hunter myself. A famous one; bear that in mind.
A great pity.
In my time, not counting small animals,
I have shot five hundred deer, five hundred goats, four hundred wolves...
...and ninety-nine bears.
Killing bears is no better than killing children.
Heh... children! Have you seen their claws?
Yes. They are far shorter than hunters' knives.
And what of the bear's strength? You shouldn't have teased the animal!
You know, I am so insulted that I am quite, quite speechless.
I will just have to shoot.
Hey, apprentice! Apprentice! Fetch my gun! Be quick about it!
I am going to kill you now, young man. It is all the same to me.
Let's get on with it then!
Watch, boy. Watch and learn.
Now this boor and ignoramus will be shot,
because he understands nothing of art.
Just wonderful. But first, have a portion of hunter's sausages.
You know, I will not eat a single one of these sausages while this impudent man is staring at me.
Take these sausages to my room.
I will kill him after supper.
Excuse me, do you have a sister?
The thing is, you look a lot like a woman that I have to forget as soon as possible.
Where are you going?
I do not wish to remind you of that which you must forget.
The voice! The voice...
The voice is very much alike also.
You are delirious.
It is very possible. I feel as though I am in a haze. Why?
I rode for three days, without rest, when I..
I would have gone past this inn, but my horse started crying like a child.
Did you murder someone? From whom were you running like a criminal?
From love. What a funny story.
I beg you, do not laugh.
Because I found something out about this girl, something that was so...
...and when she said that she was going to kiss me... Stupid girl!
What? Contemptible fool!
Don't you dare speak so of her! She deserves it! That is not for you to decide!
Braggart! Overtalkative, wily.. Me?
Telling the first stranger you meet of your conquests! Is that so?!
Yes! She is an idiot... You will please speak of her with respect! Stupid, stupid...
What? A fool!
Hot-headed puppies should be punished!
Defend yourself! At your service!
Daddy!
Princess...
It is you!
What joy! You...
Why are you here?
For three days I rode after you...
Yes!
Just to tell you how little you matter to me. You hear me?
I had not the slightest intention of kissing you!
I certainly never intended to fall in love.
You... hurt me so much...
That I will make sure to have revenge.
I will prove to you that you don't matter.
I will prove it if I have to die.
Run away.
Run away, damned bear!
Lest you destroy both her and yourself! Run away!
Coward.
Coward!
Absurd, funny, mindless and stupid -
magic...
No use, no purpose, ad-lib, ad-hoc -
completely...
There comes a day, there comes an hour
There comes a blink, there comes a time -
and something snaps
The granite boils, Ice catches fire,
Light dust motes knock me over
- what storm is this?
The wild grasses bloom,
And the old owl sings like a nightingale
And even a thin string
cannot be broken apart
by a steel blade...
a steel blade...
Absurd, funny, mindless and stupid
- magic...
No use, no purpose, ad-lib, ad-hoc
- completely...
Cast:
Oleg Yankovsky
Irina Kupchenko
Yevgenyi Solomin
Yevgenia Simonova
Alexader Abdulov
Ekaterina Vasilyeva
Yuri Solomin
Andrei Mironov and others
Scriptwriter and director Mark ZAKHAROV
D.O.P. Nikolai NEMOLYAEV
Set decorations Lyudmila KUSAKOVA
Music composed by Gennadyi GLADKOV
Lyrics by Y. MIKHAILOV