The Last Bridge
The first bridge was in Mostar.
In Herzegovina they call it the Turks' bridge.
because the Ottomans built it.
Many foreign conquerors have gone over it since.
It was spring, but there was a war on.
In 1943, Mostar was in the Yugoslavian sector controlled by the Italians.
The German transit hospital was in a mosque.
Helga Reinbeck, a German doctor, was serving here as head nurse.
And here she met Martin Berger, a sergeant of the mountain division.
How long have I been here?
Five days. - So Long?
And how much longer would you have me stay?
Me? For ever.
You know how someone said,
''The sooner I get out of here, the happier I'll be.''
But now it's got us.
In the middle of a war. - Don't think about it! - How can I stop thinking?
Then today's our last day together.
Yes.
If you're leaving tomorrow.
I have to.
Are you working today?
I'm off at 22:00...
until tomorrow afternoon.
Helga.
Martin, I can't...
Not after four days. It's not as simple for me as it is for you.
But we only had four days!
Four days and...
I’LL be trapped if it happens. I know myself,
very well. And then what happens?
Then you're gone and I have the memories of a single night.
I’LL go crazy with fear and desire for you.
What do we have without the one night?
Then it's easier to forget. - Do you want to forget us?
No... Martin, I don't know what I want.
Helga, l... - Don't!
Don't say it, Martin.
Please.
He picked her up when she got off.
His quarters were on the other side.
She did go out with him... against all reason.
Helga,
I don't want it to be just because I'm going away,
or because I talked you into it.
No one can talk me into that.
Only myself.
We're already halfway across the bridge.
What was with him?
Please take me home.
Helga...
I'm cold.
''Partisan.'' It was the first time Helga was aware of hearing that word,
as the man died in front of her eyes on the bridge.
Martin went to the front.
Helga was moved to a reserve hospital further north.
It was a former monastery on a lake called Bijelo Jezero.
They wrote letters,
and they waited for Letters.
Italy capitulated in September.
So our comrades-in-arms' jubilation is getting on your nerves too?
Wouldn’t you be happy to go home? - No.
Not like this. Peace without victory isn't for me.
Want to take a walk?
Funny that words still come out of our unconscious even when
they've almost lost their meaning. - I don't understand.
Didn't you just talk about peace?
Reinbeck, you think too much. We're still at war. We are. Still.
I know. What was in the army report?
The Badoglio government's betrayal. Allied troops land in Eufemia.
Front-straightening in the east, Stalino, Donezbecken.
Terror attacks on Berlin, same in London, the V8 and so on.
And here? - The usual. Skirmishes with rabble. Officially:
''Local fighting with partisan infiltrators.''
What was that?
No nightingale. Came from over there,
from no man's land. - ''No man's land?'' - Yes.
The Italians dropped everything and left.
The question is who will come now: our boys or the bandits?
Sorry, the ''partisans.''
Until then, that's no-man's-land.
A dog. -A mutt?
That can't be a house. - Down there, on the ammunition depot.
The mutt's tied to the door. Strange.
Go down and see what's going on. Meeting point is the road.
Come on, Franz.
The damn dog.
Bijelo Jezero! That's where Helga’s reserve hospital is...
Hands behind head!
Damn!
Bloody rabble.
If shout, you dead.
Berger! Come here!
Good morning, Doctor. - Good morning, ladies.
Well, well. Back on duty already? - Still.
But I sent you to bed Last night.
Martha was exhausted. -And you?
And you? - Yes, we're heroes. Us too.
All of a sudden, we're a front hospital.
What's up? - Bed three. Death, 9:00.
It was expected. An embolism?
Yes. Everyone else normal. I don't know if he'll make it.
Who? - The prisoner over there.
Ah, the sniper.
His whole chest cavity was pureed.
Wanted to die rather than surrender. - Doesn't impress me.
They know they'll be executed anyway.
So better right away. Ergo. - Why not him?
Now we take prisoners, so we have something to exchange.
Saves lives, increases the headcount.
So the rabble are officially recognized now. - Unfortunately.
Terrifying face, isn't it?
Creepy. The cheekbones, the eyes. So foreign.
And foreign means negative to us. At least officially.
It's not the face so much
as the expression. - The hate.
But we didn't come here as tourists.
How they must hate us! - ''Must'' is right. They're forced to.
Who forces them? - Who?
Do you really believe the national uprising is bona fide?
There. That's these people’s symbol.
A five-pointed red star.
These ''nationalists'' are internationalists!
The ''must'' is due to them.
They fight for their country. - That's what the army is for. It surrendered.
To me they're bandits. - So why did you patch him up?
What's that got to do with it? I'm a doctor, doesn't matter for whom.
Here. Take it as a souvenir of your first partisan.
And as a charm against thinking too much.
Reflection is very praiseworthy. But in wartime it's better
to stop doing so,
otherwise you'll get ethical stomach aches. Understand?
I have to get some sleep. I sound like the ''quote of the week.''
Good night.
DANGER: PARTISANS
What's new? - Did you put bugs in this?
It's so itchy! - No, that's the healing process.
Karl, those aren't lice on your head, it's the healing process!
See you tomorrow. - Bye. - You mean, ''Heil Hitler,'' nurse.
Doctor.
- I have a therapy for you.
Sorry? -Against refection.
Instead of loving all of humanity in general, you should
love one specimen in particular,
of the male variety. - What if I already tried that medicine?
The result was negative.
Don't give up hope. Experiments are in progress...
Sorry, Doctor, but we must requisition quarters for the night.
The village is over-filled. We'll be gone in the morning.
I'm sorry. - Let's see...
I don't have any beds. - It doesn't matter,
as Long as it works out somehow.
I want to visit three of our men. From the ammunition depot.
Speak with Dr. Tiersing in reception.
Thank you, Doctor. - You should follow
all of my advice so quickly!
Yes sir, Doctor. - Helga. - Martin.
Don't! Not here. We can't! - Where?
When you're done, my name's on the Last door in the cloister.
Helga! Do you still love me?
Yes, of course. Be quiet!
What are you all thinking?
We're an army hospital, but that doesn't make us the Salvation Army.
Go to your own doctor! - Too far to doctor in Ulice.
Child dying. Many blood. - How did you get in here?
What's she want? - A child’s been run over by a tank.
Please doctor come. No far. At end next town.
Please, is favour. - I'll have a look.
Just what we needed. - No nurse. Must doctor come.
I am doctor too.
You're so sentimental. I officially forbid you...
I get off in ten minutes.
Do what you wish. - Thank you. - On your head be it.
Understood.
Wait.
Take the big instrument set in case the brat can't be moved.
And the ambulance. Then you have a man with you if something happens.
Thanks. What could happen?
I can't believe it! I've been looking forward to seeing your face so much!
I have something to do.
We're here to fight the partisans,
guarding the engineers building the bridges. Do you have to go?
Just for an hour to a child. -And then?
Then I’m free. - Until when?
Tomorrow morning. Until you have to go.
Like in Mostar.
Yes.
But there's no bridge here.
Come here at ten. When the Belgrade watch is over.
But don't let anyone see you.
Understood?
Much further?
Soon.
What do you want? - No scare. Nothing happen if quiet.
We need you.
Need doctor.
Calling operator ''Adria.'' Connect me to ''Paradise!''
Now. - Martin, I’ve been looking for you!
Quiet, I’m talking! That is... I’m waiting.
We're waiting too. Assembly at 16:15 behind the hall of the prophet.
What? - No quarters here. Engineers are already Leaving.
What about the attack boats? - Won't be here before tomorrow night.
Yes, operator ''Paradise,'' yes!
What're we up for? - Punishment mission in Morgoljevo.
A partisan hideout. - Just what we needed.
Give him bread and two eggs.
Four eggs. - Expensive calls.
Dora... - Dr. Reinbeck, please...
''D'' as in dumb ass.
Hello? Gone! I can't believe it! - Wait.
Calling.
Operator ''Paradise?''
Calling.
Who is Dr. Reinbeck?
A doctor. - Getting your tonsils out?
She was in Mostar in the transit hospital.
''She?'' Aha! A heart condition!
Hello, operator ''Paradise?'' Yes, I’m still waiting.
Always the same story: one in Narvik, one in Posen, one in Athens.
And all the ones at home.
And I have one wife and four kids.
There aren't any others now. Only her.
I knew you wouldn’t come home in one piece. You're too brave.
Yes? Helga?
Reserve Hospital Bijelo Jezero. Who is this, please?
I'd like to speak with Dr. Reinbeck. - Who is this, please.
Sergeant Berger. I’m a friend of hers. I was quartered there yesterday...
...the car fell into the canyon.
It wasn't possible. It's completely inaccessible.
It'd be no use. The wreck is totally burned out.
Operator ''Paradise.'' Are you still speaking?
No, end...
Commander say,
if you doctor, then you help.
He say,
not good for them if no help.
Also not good for you.
Please, is favour.
Come.
You hate us. Understand.
We hate you. You understand.
Good. No important.
Important is
we need doctor, must get doctor.
Must get, understand.
Comrades finished if no help.
We know you no can, no want.
But must! Or them die and you.
Better other way.
Please, is favour.
I always believe
for doctor wounded enemy also person.
Get my bag, please.
Hot water if you have any.
Is he the commander? - No, our doctor.
Why didn't you say so? - No different. Everybody fighter.
I want to speak to the commander, do you understand?
Commander,
I did what you forced me to do. I operated on your doctor.
Now release me or exchange me.
He say, you go when doctor healthy. - No!
We force you.
You can drag me along,
but you can't make me work. Where can I wash?
No have bathroom, but plenty water.
Come.
You want to be regular troops, so human rights count for you.
I am a prisoner of war. Do you understand?
Understand. But better you no talk about human rights, Doctor.
Have no woman for guard. Not today.
Why didn't you shoot me?
You bandit!
Sadly we need you.
Doctor dead!
Collapse.
His heart has stopped. The operation went well...
''Went well?''
We only believe ''went well'' if you come with.
If you no come, we think you on purpose doctor dead.
Or why run away?
If no come with...
Human rights.
Your graves like cross. Everybody see here soldier sleep.
Our grave only land.
Our land.
Must nobody know here sleep partisan.
Your cemetery.
Our cemetery.
Doctor! Hospital there.
Doctor. Eat.
I can't eat. - Must eat. Better.
Is favour.
You come. Eat, Doctor. Please.
Know little German from old times.
Austro-Hungarian Empire... Understand little, but talk some.
Shoes not good for mountain.
All rocks. No good for walking here.
Good, good walking from Njemacki.
Fight with us. Bravo, Njemacka, bravo.
Have something for you. I get.
Bring it.
She says what she understands. Leave her illusions.
Why is your German so good?
You of all people. - I studied it at university.
A jaiIer to keep me company. How thoughtful.
Nobody's forcing you to take advantage of it.
Do you have orders to shoot me if I try again to...
None of your business.
So, Njemacka.
Better shoes for walking mountains.
I'm supposed to tell you they were her grandson's.
Your people killed him.
He was a good sniper.
I can't...
You'll have to explain...
What will she think?
It's a gift from her heart.
You can't turn it down. Even if you don't deserve it.
Thank you.
Put on.
Put on!
To protect you, Njemacka.
Why do you carry a gun?
I am a soldier. Now I’m a soldier.
There aren't enough men. You make sure of that.
Shouldn’t we women...
help?
I help the men to defend our home and our freedom. - Empty words!
Not for me.
You have a uniform too. Your help is biased too.
If you want to be a woman and help, to use your own phrase,
forget your uniform and stay with us.
Without forcing you. We need your help.
Now we have to slowly
start moving our fingers.
Move your fingers.
Doctor, commandant ask when comrades healthy.
Most need 14 days of stationary treatment. Minimum.
Then some can be released. -And others?
They must be moved to a proper hospital.
If there is one.
There is.
Have in free territory.
Commander say good work, Doctor.
She say when need medicine and...
That. What called? Understand. - Bandages.
We bring.
If can.
What did he say? - Get well... soon.
Doctor, Doctor!
You see? - Doctor!
A walk, Doctor? Good.
Nice for walk here.
Mountains nice, old trees nice.
Town nice.
Old cemetery nice too.
Turska Cemetery.
Turban. Turkish.
Understand?
Muslim. Water nice.
Called Neretva.
Other side nice too.
Nice go there with boat.
But no good alone go. Is dangerous for girl.
Neretva water fast.
Better two in boat. Girl and man.
But not now.
When peace come.
Now no peace, Doctor. Now war.
Yes...
We dream a little bit peace too, sometimes.
We sing too.
We all young, Doctor, understand.
Come. Listen. Please.
Please, is favour.
What kind of song is that?
Love song.
''I went with lamb on my arm,
present for girl, to Bembasa.''
A town near Sarajevo.
Bembasa.
''All girls stand out of door,
my girl stand at Turkish window.
Say,
come tonight,
darling.
I not come. I can't.
Soldier.
Next day, my girl marry another.
I no more go to Bembasa.''
Typhoid?
What is it? Who has typhoid? - Patrol. Get stuck.
Yes?
This is the Last one.
There's no more vaccine. Who should get it?
You. - Me? Why?
Yes. You.
Nonsense. Open your uniform. - Better you. Is favour?
No preferential treatment.
Only you are more important than any other comrade right now.
Little wet, but take coat. Get cold, march all night.
Better.
Come, is favour!
Must leave, Doctor. When can?
We cannot. - Must. - Then only half will make it.
They won't all make it over the mountain, even carrying them.
Can't we take the river, in boats? It's downstream.
With boat quick. But where get boat?
Get from Lacitelj?
People try get boats. Three, four. Understand.
We here waiting.
Hi, kitty.
Must be a church or a synagogue.
It looks like a harem. -And not a soul here.
Like in a graveyard. - Expecting a welcoming committee?
Look, Otto, asparagus! - Haven't had any for ages.
Hey, Hasi, what about mangiare?
We left the grub in the boat.
When are the boats coming? It's getting too hot.
When are the boats coming? - Coming, coming.
26 km and not a bridge intact.
All roads blocked. - Lots to do for the engineers.
Polteva. The valley roads cross here. This is the place.
There! A bridge! And not destroyed.
Away from the river!
Stop! No, not together!
Not with the typhoid patients! Boro!
It's dangerous for the wounded!
Must help all. Away from Neretva to other side of river.
In mountains. Morgoljevo. Good town. Always help partisans.
Over the bridge again.
There were no more bridges over the Neretva.
And yet everyone got across.
The typhoid patients, the wounded and all that helped.
Across a bridge of people. The second bridge.
Helga was already on the other side.
But she didn't know where she belonged anymore.
Just that she had to help, without asking questions. Without thinking.
And she walked, like everyone else.
How much further? When do we get to this town?
The first might be able to see Morgoljevo already.
Go to prisoners, Doctor.
He say he alright, but lie.
Bleeding. Here.
Why didn't you say something?
I’LL bandage you. - Don't touch me.
What is it? - Leave me be, you traitorous pig.
I don't understand it.
Yes, I’ve been conscious for days.
I just didn't show it.
Sleep.
I can't.
I have to figure it out.
Are you in pain? - No.
You treated me and took care of me...
And still l... - You'd have bled to death.
I don't understand it.
I only understand that I behaved...
behaved like a real pig.
I want you to know that I know that. Just in case.
What do you mean? Your wounds aren't so bad.
You'll make it. - I’ll try to escape. Tonight.
Come back home with me.
It's hard for a woman. But two have a better chance than one.
You can move around. They trust you.
Tonight at... aw, it's broken!
At dusk?
Any news of the medicine? - The messengers are back
Nothing. No medicine. Everything's run out.
High command contacted the allies. - Well?
No answer yet.
If one ever comes...
They're dropping like flies and we can't do anything about it.
We're just happy the dead make room for the next ones.
We won't have any guards soon.
I can't stop the typhoid spreading without any medicine.
We more food. Wounded over there more food.
No, little, little, everyone little.
Don't! You're not vaccinated! - There isn't any.
I don't want you to. - You said a woman should help.
When my time is up, it's up. In here or out there.
It'll be cold when the sun goes down.
Autumn comes soon.
Here. Take. Farmer medicine.
Put on wound, stop bleeding.
How is Njemacki officer? Good?
Is he good?
He's badly wounded.
Yes.
Much poison.
Tired?
No, not tired, just...
dead, empty, burned out. Like this village.
Not cold on head? Take something?
I don't have anything. I'm used to walking around like this.
But you have hat. There in pocket.
How did that get there? - Already there. Already in Lacitelj boat.
Not know? Forget?
No...
Oh, yes!
Rottsieper's good luck charm.
It's like it was 100 years ago... - Put on, Doctor, please. - No.
Is not favour. - Why not?
Because of this? - That too.
Not only Soviet star. Our star too. Star of people.
Of freedom. - I know, Boro, but I have my star.
Why not stay? Help. Volunteer.
You hate fascism like us, I think...
Maybe I do, l...
But I have a fatherland like you, Boro. l...
German very bad hurt.
Run good.
Is he dead?
Start again.
M - E - D...
Medicine?
Where?
Do you have news?
Come.
M - O - M...
C - I - L - O.
Momcilo.
P - O - L...
J - E. Stop.
L - E - Z...
A - T - l.
Momcilo. Lying field.
Suddenly he see...
Flying bag.
Momcilo run...
Suddenly see again...
Not bag, man.
Catch like butterfly.
Man not dead.
English.
Hide man, bag.
Medicine.
Medicine. Serum. Barrel.
English very wounded, but write...
Milan afraid.
Momcilo not afraid. Run.
Momcilo!
Fly!
What is it? - Child. Run away from typhoid.
Put this on. - Why?
You must go to Polteva, get medicine.
Why me? - To treat the English man.
We can't bring him up here.
''We'' who?
Only women may go. You and l. - You ask a lot of me.
There are no Germans there. - You know what that means for me.
Yes.
And you know what it means if I go alone and don't make it back.
Two more chance than one.
What does that mean?
Good bye.
Stop!
He has a German uniform!
Hey! It’s Scherer!
Lieutenant! - We thought... - It was a close thing.
Were you captured? - Yes. - And escaped?
Well, it seems so.
Let's go in the shade.
And you? - Just a couple of scratches.
I got fished out in time.
But we're the only ones.
The others all got it.
I'm glad. Should you be driven to the hospital?
No thanks. I’ll stay with you.
Our medics will do. I got first class medical care.
What? - Yes,
they have a German doctor. - German origin?
No, a German doctor. Well...
More of a nurse. -A deserter pig. - Shut up!
I didn't ask for your opinion. How's the road coming along?
Berger! - Yes, sir? - How much of the road is done?
This morning we'll occupy Polteva. Do you know her name?
The nurse's? - No, we didn't get the chance
to chat. Hertha or Helga or something.
Begins with ''H.'' Why? Do you want to report it?
In that case, I'd almost say...
Helga’s alive? Helga...
Over there, the farm above the bridge.
Afraid?
I’LL talk, you only show your papers.
But it won't be necessary.
Hey, you can keep walking. Nothing'll happen to you.
Go on, go on!
Oops!
Only five steps and she'd have been home.
But the child had broken her impetus.
And she knew she couldn’t take the easy path.
The path over the third bridge... the Last one.
Hey, check out the ''Rose of Istanbul'' here!
You never know what's going on behind those window shades.
He's used to that. His old lady wears the pants at home too!
I fear it's a burst lung.
Breathe deeply.
You have to go back alone.
I'm staying with my people.
You can give injections. That's the most important thing right now.
Maybe you can get another doctor
somewhere soon. One of you.
One step for the door and I shoot.
I have my orders, Doctor. I must.
Hey, there are two more for the digging.
We have to go, road building.
Why didn't you go to your people?
And what would have become of you?
No one would have known we were together.
Perhaps.
But two have a better chance than one.
I can't go back to my people till I know you've got through
with the medicine.
I’LL try alone. Stay with your people.
Thank you for everything.
Stop! - One, two... - Blasting!
Milica!
Hey, leave the shovel there.
Sorry.
The Last time I was home, my son didn't recognize me.
Mine will be four at Christmas.
My two are buried under Wittenberg Platz. It was an aerial mine.
Sergeant! I think somebody went in!
Hey!
Somebody down there? Anybody there?
Helga!
Martin...
Helga! My God, Helga!
Martin.
Until today, I thought... then Scherer came. You're really alive!
He's my lieutenant. How did you escape? With that?
I didn't escape. - Didn't escape? But you're here!
But I have to go back. - Go back? Go back where?
To the other side.
I’LL be back. - You want to go back there?
I can't explain it to you.
They have typhoid over there. I have to take the medicine...
I don't understand. You have to?
Who's forcing you? - Nobody anymore.
But believe me, I have to do it.
One Last thing. No one can stop me.
I don't understand. You're helping the enemy?
Have you ever felt someone dying in your arms?
And you can't help because you don't have any medicine?
You understand there are no enemies.
Come on! Enemies! Bandits! Rabble! - No!
Human beings. Always.
Like you and me. Let me go. I’ll come back.
No, you're not going.
This is a war. You have to know what side you're on.
Yes, you do.
But this is all I know. I belong where I’m needed.
And our wounded? And me?
Don't I need you?
I will come back, Martin.
Believe me.
Even if you can't understand it today.
I will come back.
Hey, papers! - Let her go. Curfew is in five minutes.
Or else she'll never make it home. - Alright...
Helga!
Hold your fire! Pass it on!
Helga! Helga, Come back!
Helga!
Helga! Helga, come back!
Helga!
Helga! Helga, come back!
I have to go back.
Please...
Is favour.
Now you need doctor.
Subtitles Jeffrey A. McGuire & John Kirby
Film und Video Untertitelung Gerhard Lehmann AG