Dovzhenko Studios Kiev 1958
Spring
Now is the time for sports.
Usually I'm a football reporter
That's a story in itself.
But I'm not only talking about football.
But also of the love and friendship of communists,
of individuals in the collective.
Our team, our heros,
will be the young people of the village of Khoniouki
And the captain and main man in the village,
is the arrogant Yushim Jourba.
D'you see him? He's up the pole.
The First Lad
Screenplay: P Lubensky, V Bezorudko
Director: Sergei Parajanov
Cameraman: Sergei Revenko
Yushka - G Karpov Odarka - L Sosyura
Danila - Y Satarov Katrya - V Kovalenko
Zhourba - A Andrienko-Zemskov Sidor - N Shutko
Frosya - T Alexeyeva Yavdoshka - L Orlova
Now, let's begin.
Girls!
Stop working!
Let's go to the sports ground!
Come on girls.
Stop work now.
Come on Katrya!
I'm coming, Vatselina, Galia, come on.
- I don't want to. - Mourtria?
I've got to write a report.
And you, Evdouchka?
- I can't. - Why not?
Panas told me that if I go to the stadium,
we won't go to the windmill this evening.
And if you don't?
You're joking.
With Panas.
During the October holidays,
we want to get married.
See?
Sophia, d'you want to come?
I've got to milk my cow.
- Then why the mirror? - Is that for your cow?
She's very particular!
Where are you all going girls?
Fine friends you are!
Around me all the girls are in love
I can't help but smile, bursting with happiness.
I'm fed up!
I'm in charge, but they only listen to you Yushka.
Ah, you youngsters!
Yushka...
Here's your Yushka.
You don't get anywhere
except by hard work.
You have to earn it.
Can you hear?
The steppe is answerng.
You don't know how to talk to people.
How fertile is our sunny land, our shining, golden fields.
Our country becomes ever richer, and is glorified by our work.
The fields of the Cossacks, of the Kolkhoz and of the Soviets.
The golden fields that are our wealth.
Our destiny is that of our Collective.
The future will bring us peace and happiness.
Working together we will create such abundance.
We are famous for our joy.
The fields of the Cossacks, of the Kolkhoz and of the Soviets.
What a variety of fabrics in my store
I'm a habberdasher called Sidor
I recommend this Crepe de Chine It will make you will look a dream
Or would you rather Crepe Georgette? For a look you won't forget
Look at all my lovely stuff
You can never get enough
Come right through the door And buy this from Sidor.
Sidor Sidorovitch, a moment.
A party to visit your "Model Shop".
We open discretely.
It is not the first excursion.
Little darlings...
Please come in.
A whole gamut of choice.
Well then...
I'm going to dress you in all the colours of the rainbow.
Item?
Item number 5.
Item 425.
Item...
219. Item 995.
205.
The latest fashion... Capron
Darnyetsky!
Oh, I adore it.
What's the matter Sidor Sidorovich?
You've gone all pale.
Let me tell you now...
Are you listening?
The song of the nightingale.
We must be quiet.
Froshenka.
Froshiena Terentiovna
I'm going to dress you in all the colours of the rainbow.
But you always say the same thing.
A nightingale.
How beautiful it is!
Yushka
Don't be frightened, I'm not a thief.
What on earth are you up to?
I've been thinking...
...about how to say "I love you".
I could teach you. It's like this:
Look into their eyes, like this,
then sigh.
And then...
...Then you take their hand...
...and caress it gently.
You forgot the most important thing.
To actually love.
You don't believe me?
Who'd believe you? You say the same to everyone.
She doesn't believe me.
Come to the windmill tomorrow.
With your bike.
Odarka!
- Looks at his curls. - Wooly as a sheep.
Yushka's been trapped as well!
I thought I'd be alone.
Let's start the village's first excursion
of the regional agricultural fair.
To the start line!
- What's the hurry. - What dynamism!
- D'you expect us to? - Relax.
To the start line.
- Hey, where are you going?
See you later
Look!
Danila's arrived
Trofimovitch will be happy.
Happy that you're here.
Hello!
- There's Danila! - Ooh, look at him!
- Here, take some cherries. - Some cherry brandy.
- Why just the cherries. - Come to the windmill.
Oh, mother I want to marry!
Oh soldier - you're as handsome as a work of art.
Look at the girls and you'll break their heart.
It's a fine trip. But there are only girls.
- Where are all the lads? - There aren't any.
I understand.
Here they are.
I must be seeing double.
Yushim Petrovich, aren't you seeing double.
They've arrived.
Danila!
- You've been demobbed? - Yes Kyril Palich.
Here, take it.
So you're really back?
I don't recognise these girls.
They've really changed.
Yes, with all that work.
Make a bouquet for the soldier.
One flower will be enough.
This one.
You've got here in time.
We're having a holiday.
AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Have you heard? We've won a prize.
No thanks to you.
How are you.
The Zaria Collective!
The Pabieda Collective!
- What will you be showing? - It's a surprise!
We've got a new water-melon.
Here. You've never tasted the like.
Danila.
Come and have some of this water melon.
And here is our greatest success.
A pig from the Ukrainian steppes.
A moment!
Look out!
Quick! Out of the way!
- You can do it! - Grab it by the tail!
Look, Zaria's going to win.
It's Natasha.
Which collective is she?
I'll tell you.
It's Natasha Koucheriava
from the Pabieda Collective
They're the best pig breeders in the region.
It's a regional record.
Good. Write it down.
She holds many records.
There's such a pig you wouldn't believe.
Even Vladimir Poust couldn't do better.
Write, write.
She caught it.
One more thing.
There's a football team.
The perfect photo!
Oh well.
Read this.
- They look almost alive. - Read it.
Hey guys, there's an article about us.
Go on, read it.
At the Pabieda Collective, the stadium is magnificent.
There is a football team
led by the biggest sports fan in the village, Sidor Kvatch.
So that's why I was sent all that sports gear!
There's too much of it.
Who's going to buy all that?
The things they write!
Don't believe a word of it.
Don't believe what?
Perhaps they're getting married.
Who's that?
Danila and Natasha.
What a joke!
Did you write this rubbish?
- Yes. - I thought so.
The guy asked me who's the sportiest person.
I said it was you.
And he, he wrote it!
She's the first, the first in everything.
In farming, in studying...
She's really the best.
Don't be so modest, Yushka.
Kyril Palich,
You must issue a denial.
Write then.
The Collective have built you a stadium?
And the goats graze there.
It's true, we don't play sports.
I've told them they should. They should get organised.
Kyril Patich.
Why play sport? We're fit enough.
The pigs will soon be dying of exhaustion.
What will we do?
Allow me.
They don't even know the A B C of sport.
A... B...
You can laugh.
- Work like the devil - And give it your all.
That's important.
Come on guys!
Where's the communist fire?
Kyril, are we writing this or not?
Stop complaining and do something about it.
The silver moon is rising, the beautiful moon.
The stars shine over the fields, Oh what a lovely night!
The nightingales sing of love.
Come to me my girl, Reply to my pounding heart
Let me tell you You are my only joy
You are my happiness My whole world.
I really must confess
That I'm in love.
With your eyes, your face Your dextrous hands
Sweet girl of mine.
Huh, mechanics!
I'll show him!
- Where are you going? - There's no water.
Look at her run.
Turn on the water, so called mechanic.
Come on out. We need water over there.
- I can't turn it on. - You're the foreman.
Did you get your curls caught up in it?
If it happens again, I'm going to report you.
The circus!
Where are the girls?
At work.
Haven't they finished yet?
They should be here.
Here!
I'm going to look for them.
Danila!
Have they gone off again?
I try my hardest and it's all for nothing.
Don't worry, they'll come.
Let's go!
Watch out, Yushka's up to something.
Here
Come here a minute.
OK
You're like the cock on the dung hill.
What d'you mean?
What do I mean?
"What do you mean"
Like this,
Get it?
Very good. Now go and do it on the fence.
In polite society you take your cap off.
Whose turn is it now?
- Will you take it off? - Of course.
OK...
See you!
Wear that...
Guys
D'you take me for a kid?
Look at the sky.
There are satellites up there. Everything's not backwards like you.
Are you going to stand for it? Go on!
Soldier!
How d'you do that?
I can't...
Just a knack.
- I'll show you at the stadium. - When?
When you come.
Bring the others with you.
What's wrong? Were you frightened?
I'm ashamed of them.
It doesn't bother me.
Work keeps you busy.
When you've nothing to do...
- You get bored. - That's true.
We must find them something to do.
You are invited to the dance.
- Come to the dance this evening - Thank you
They're out late.
It's Danila's idea.
That soldier never gives up.
To the dance by tractor.
There's a first time for everything.
Hurry up guys, the girls are arriving.
Look at us all
Happily on our way
Calling everyone to join us
Come with us dear friend
To where the boys are waiting.
The girls are here!
Where's the music?
Come on, let's waltz.
All this dancing!
You're not looking at anyone else?
Hey, everyone!
Follow me.
The tractors.
That's a bit quieter.
What's wrong?
You shouldn't have.
Hooray for the girls!
I can't hear the drum.
It's not my fault.
Hooray for the girls!
How is it possible, Yushim...
that on such a magnificent evening...
you are all alone?
What's wrong with you, Yushka?
Sit yourself down and think.
Here is a concert chosen by the workers.
A request by Commandant Danila,
An adagio.
- Good morning! - Morning
The Commandant sleeps whilst the tractors are busy
Come on, hide.
Get down
Hide yourselves.
The tractor stopped and you woke up.
- I didn't say anything. - Look it's an apple.
To work, brave soldier.
Listen here
Tell them:
"Work finished"
You've overdone things and have forgotten...
- The bees? I'll fetch them. - No!
The keep fit.
- Of course - Of course
Let's give a demonstration
Ready? Go!
Give them a pig to chase, they'll run faster.
Ah, I didn't recognise you upside down.
How are you Kyril Palitch?
The hurdlers do better than that.
Look out!
Yevdochka
Well done.
A real ballet dancer.
I'm not looking.
- What's going on? - Everything's OK.
He's been like that for half an hour.
- You can stop now. - Not yet.
Keep going.
- Come on - I can't
Look, I'll show you.
Come on now: one, two, three, four.
Razina Kaval.
Take the shot.
Like this.
Your arm.
- Who wants a go? - Me
You?
Get in goal then.
Danila's looking for a keeper. We're no good...
- at diving all over the place - Who's next?
- I dare you to. - Don't be scared.
- Come on, who's turn now? - Alright then, I will.
- I'll do it. - Yushka's here.
Don't think you'll get the better of me.
If you score...
I'll buy you a pint.
Get ready.
You're supposed to dive.
Again
Shoot
Yushim, here.
Alright, give it here.
Take it.
You've won.
But I'll beat you next time.
Don't you believe me?
The left wing has the ball...
he's in the penalty area
He shoots
With a superb leap, he makes a fantastic save.
The crowd cheer him.
Another shot,
A surprise attack down the centre.
A shot!
Out!
What do you want next?
Item number 1.
Sold 3 times.
Where are you going?
You see, I was telling the truth
Another excursion.
Froshenka
What a jump! What talent.
Talent...
It's not a career.
My boy, my darling, he's sleeping
The fixture...
And we still haven't got a proper keeper.
Danila Petrovitch.
Can you spare a minute?
Danila, have you seen Sidor jump?
But he doesn't want to. Persuade him.
For you, I will...
Froshiena Terentiovna
- I don't jump that high. - I've seen him do it.
You've got a bit too much weight.
You must do some running. Then we'll give you a go.
I give you my word
Alright then.
Froshiena Terentiovna
If you've given your word,
I'll give it my all, no matter what.
Like when I'm behind my counter.
You should take your bee hives away.
When I'm on guard...
your bees keep on buzzing and distract me.
Tiriochka, you sleep even when you're walking.
The dogs are barking. It's going to rain.
Dear me.
Danila wants to move the beehives.
Let misfortune fall on your head.
I'm going to...
Look at him jump.
Finally we're at the kolkhoz stadium.
All the village loudspeakers are on.
Playing the commentary of the match
between the Zaria and Pabieda communes.
Zaria are in red, the opposition in blue.
Shoot, shoot!
Neither team is in the top league
Nor in any other league
It's their first match.
Sidor Kvatch has never missed a ball.
It's his first game too.
Shoot!
Danila tries to open the score.
It would be the first goal in the stadium.
This looks dangerous. Shoot!
But the keeper has saved his team.
Casting a glance at our supporters.
- Your bees are buzzing. - It's a present.
- What's the score? - Nil - nil.
Who's winning?
You're an imbecile.
- I'm going to the other end. - They're welcome to you.
And why not?
- Come on! - Shoot!
The Zaria keeper saves the ball.
The crowd are enjoying themselves. But so far - no goals.
There's no let up. Danila attacks again.
- Let me play in goal - Clear off
Odarka, look. It's Yushka.
I don't care.
You don't care?
She doesn't care!
Don't you understand?
- It's an affair of the heart. - For me too. Get lost!
Me too. I've an affair of the heart.
Not now.
Danila attacks.
- You shoot. - Great pass.
Again the keeper saves it.
Go away.
Froshenka, this is for you.
Zaria attack now. This looks dangerous.
The ball is in the net.
1-0 to the visitors.
The match isn't over yet.
We can still score.
In sport, everything is allowed, to beat the opposition.
- Clear off! - Take this.
How d'you do.
- I'm Danila's Grandad. - Pleased to meet you.
I'm a bee keeper.
Why don't you try some honey
- Not now! -I'm busy?
It's our honey.
The Pabieda goalkeeper is relaxed.
Another attack. GOAL!
- But Sidor caught the ball. - He was behind the line.
The referee looks at his watch.
He blows his whistle.
It's half time.
It's 2-0 to Zaria.
And now some music.
Take a seat.
Try some of our honey.
- I don't want to get my hands greasy. - It's good.
Not like that. Like this.
Now that's honey.
D'you like it?
- Well? - Excellent.
Go on, tuck in.
Good honey.
The game restarts.
Can Pabieda avoid a defeat?
Great honey, thanks.
From the restart, our forwards attack.
What's happened to the Zaria keeper?
Quick, Danila.
It's an open goal.
He must score. Shoot!
Who's stopped the ball?
Yushim? It's Yushka.
- For the other side. - I don't care.
- You don't care? - No.
She doesn't care.
Where is the other goalkeeper?
Yushka replaced him.
He's playing against his friends.
- Odarka will kill him. - Shh. We're on air.
The attack is down the left wing.
Pass... Shoot!
And GOAL.
Three times Sidor has picked the ball out of the net.
Item 117.
Danila on the attack.
Yushka saves again.
- Not bad. - Against your own.
Danila wins the ball back.
Hurry up.
Only a few moments left.
But the referee blows his whistle on this historic encounter.
So ends our commentary.
Pabieda - Hip hip hooray.
- Zaria - hooray
Danila, you'll get your revenge.
Thanks for everything.
We'd have lost without you.
Here, keep it, from Zaria.
- Yushka's a traitor - You're right.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Did you see that?
I don't want to see you ever again, traitor.
You weren't expecting that were you?
YOUNG COMMUNISTS' COMMITTEE
What do you want?
To discharge a debt.
Now we're quits.
Why didn't you leave?
Are you chasing me out?
I'm going!
At the meeting...
we'll be examining your moral character.
Why can't you leave me in peace.
It's a conspiracy. Just you wait!
Yushka!
Odarka! Odarka!
I've just seen Yushka.
He was desperate.
I'm worried about him.
He said "Just you wait" and ran off.
This song's about a lad called Yushka And no one ever speaks well of him.
He's arrogant and conceited.
He'll never make a good communist
No only is he arrogant, but he's a bully too.
Wait!
What are you thinking of?
You mustn't. Life is beautiful.
- What are you on about? - This!
It'd take more than a knot to finish me off.
I was really scared.
So that's what it's for.
Why are you like you are?
You want to change me. But this is me, a blacksmith.
You make fun of me.
I was the top dog and you broke me and are proud of it.
I loved you Odarka.
I could only speak of it like a nightingale.
And you...
This is what you did to me.
A beautiful birch blossoms in the midst of a field.
Stretching out its branches to a young maple.
How glorious it is, on this beautiful spring night.
Come to me my love I'll wait for you under the stars.
The laboratory?
Hi, Galia!
We're checking.
- Are you going to the dance? - No.
- Why not? - I've got to write a report.
We could call him.
Who?
The "report".
No thank you.
Galia?
The workshop, quick.
Hello? Hello.
The feeder's broken in pigsty number 5.
We need someone to fix it.
I repeat...
In pigsty number 5, the automatic feeder is bust.
We need a mechanic to fix it.
"For the heart".
Whoever invented the heart?
Broken again?
See for yourself.
Where's the nut? Have the pigs eaten it again?
They need the iron.
The've eaten everything that's missing.
Have you forgotten your technique?
- What? - You must look into their eyes.
Then sigh.
And then...
Then take their hand and caress it gently.
Tell it to the soldier!
It seemed that everything had returned to normal.
Our heros had worked without realising...
that the heavens were about to open.
And they were caught on the open road.
Come on!
Danila!
What is it?
- We're bogged down until morning. - The bees will die.
Why move the bees now?
Then they'll make fun of you, Yushka
But where are you going?
Stop!
I'll shoot!
- I'm a friend! - Hands up!
- Friends steal too. - Can I use the phone?
Come down!
Keep your hands up!
Hello? Jourba! Uncle!
Uncle Jourba! It's not working. You try.
Yushka!
It's the night watchman here.
Stop!
Stop or I'll shoot!
A tractor.
Yushka! Stop!
Can you hear me?
Well done!
Come on.
That's it!
Here you are at last!
You know Yushka...
you've surprised me.
I'll invite you to the marriage.
The marriage?
- There won't be any! - What are you doing?
Do you hear me? There'll be no marriage!
- No marriage! - Stop it!
Never!
Have you gone crazy?
You need a good thrashing.
Imbecile!
There won't be any marriage!
Eat something.
Or you'll fade away.
Mum!
People are getting married, and you've got your nose in a book.
You study too much.
Who's that?
Katroushka!
How beautiful you are!
We, my mother and father...
and me, invite you to my marriage.
On Wednesday,
at Palachka.
Thank you.
We'll be there.
They're getting married...
Your father couldn't wait and I don't think I'll manage to either.
All you think about is football.
You'll be an old maid.
A student...
I'll end up an old maid.
How fertile is our land, full of sun.
Our fields shine golden.
Our country becomes ever richer and is glorified by work.
The fields of the cossacks, they sing...
Look! They're all going to the match.
Play well, Zaria! Or you'll lose.
Let's go that way.
Invite grandmother Yarina.
- Why? - It'll bring luck.
Go on.
We cordially invite you, All of my family...
and me, to attend my marriage.
The Thursday of the October holidays
Who's the bridegroom?
Help!
Just you wait...
Who's the bridegroom?
Danila.
Hey, it's not decent.
I wish you happiness, Katia. And you too.
Odarka!
There.
Who is it?
I'll deal with it.
- Where did you come from? - Where is Odarka?
She looked for you everywhere. They all went to the match.
What's happened? You've hurt yourself.
Hold this a moment.
I need some plaintain. Where on earth are they?
Here we are.
What's does this say?
That's more like it. Read it would you?
- They're pills for the heart. - Now I remember.
- Look! - The nuts!
The ones that were missing.
She's in love.
Who?
She's in love!
Who is?
Love!
Don't be so silly.
She's in love!
Fool!
She's in love!
- Where's Teriechka? - Yushka!
Where is Teriechka? I need a vehicle.
Ah, a vehicle.
There's a vehicle there, but I must call the boss.
He likes to be notified.
Quick!
Stop!
To those who now rejoin us:
I repeat: the second half is starting,
between the teams of Zaria and Pabieda.
We are transmitting direct from the stadium.
The score is still 0-0.
Pabieda have the ball.
We have special guests in the crowd today.
Some Georgian sportsmen from Kornaorn.
That's a nice combination.
Zaria have the ball.
Froshenka!
Stop your flirting...
Froshenka. But why?
Off side!
Sidor!
Are you alright?
Pabieda are in trouble.
Sidor! Get up!
I'm staying here.
Sidor, don't give up.
You've got to play.
Stop! Stop!
Take me to the stadium.
I've got to see my girl, it's important.
Another love affair?
You remember me? The business with the bees.
You've got to help me.
Alright, I'll take you. Get in.
Straight on!
Everyone to the stadium!
We wish the married couple to have fine children,
who will grow up to be as glorious as them.
That their houses be large and beautiful,
that their riches pour like grain,
as in our fine land.
And Pabieda seem to be heading for certain defeat.
Their injured keeper, has had to leave the pitch.
Just 3 minutes left.
There's no replacement keeper.
I was wrong
There is a keeper.
The ball is in play.
The game has restarted.
Both sides want to snatch victory, but they are evenly matched.
Look!
The last seconds of the match.
Another shot.
A substitute.
A new keeper in the Zaria goal.
He shoots!
Well taken by the keeper.
The replacement is in good form and collects everything.
Look how easily he takes the ball.
The match is over
I can't hear the drum.
It's not my fault.
Olietsia, stop messing about.
This important match finishes with the score at 0-0.
Sidor Sidorovitch, What's wrong?
So ends our commentary,
and the football season. So until next time...
It's for me.
And that, it's for you.
As the film draws to a close, what do we see?
Take it. Run!
I wish you...
Sorry. All commentary is useless.
We would be delighted,
my whole family and me to invite you to my wedding.
Subtitles: Corvusalbus