Keeping you busy?
I picked this up from the kitchen. It's from the reception the other day.
Mrs Filipov might like it.
She'll be thrilled. It's very sweet of you.
- There's plenty more if you're hungry. - You're Jewish aren't you?
There's nothing in our religion that says you can't eat sturgeon.
My father had a premonition all this would happen.
You mean the war?
He understood that the hatred of the Jews ran deep.
He was saving up to buy some land in Palestine.
He said it was the only land that we truly belonged in.
The only land we had a duty to defend.
He insisted I learnt to use a rifle.
I learnt to shoot.
I know that in times of war personal feelings should be put aside,
but I have a favour to ask you.
Of course. Anything you want.
I want to be reassigned.
What's happened, Tania?
He shot him.
He shot him even though he jumped first.
Shot him on the run.
It was an impossible shot. I've never seen anything like it.
You've promised people a victory I can't deliver.
I don't stand a chance against this man.
You mustn't talk like that, Vassili.
What if I told you we'd found a way to track his moves?
We've got someone, Vassili.
Someone close to him passing us information.
Next time you will be one step ahead of him.
I promise.
Now I have a favour to ask.
From me?
It's about Tania.
Come in.
He doesn't know you, but at that moment you're closer to him
than anyone else on earth.
You see his face through the sight. You see whether he shaved or not.
You can see whether he's married if he's got a wedding ring.
It's not like firing at a distant shape.
It's not just a uniform. It's a man's face.
Those faces don't go away.
They come back, and they get replaced by more faces.
Did Danilov ask you to tell me this?
He likes you very much. I think he'd try anything to change your mind.
Did he tell you why I asked for the transfer?
This morning a list arrived at headquarters.
It was a list of civilians who'd been rounded up
and sent to Germany in a convoy that left Stalingrad three weeks ago.
My parents were amongst them.
After 30 kilometres...
...the German soldiers stopped the train and forced everyone out.
In the middle of a bridge, they bound them together,
two by two.
Mothers with daughters.
Husbands and wives.
They lined them up against the railing.
Then they fired a single shot at each pair,
to save bullets.
It worked.
The bodies of the ones who died dragged the others under the water.
I know they died together.
They would never have let themselves be separated.
That's Koulikov's rifle. It's a good rifle.
I know how he leaves the shelter. He goes through the tractor factory.
The tractor factory is big.
I know exactly.
He crawls through a gutter under a grate where the vats are.
Then he goes out from the workshop.
Between the two there's a place where he's in the open.
It's under a long iron foot walk.
Good luck, comrade.
I know exactly where he's waiting for me.
He'll be on the foot walk over the gutter.
We'll take him out from behind.
We'll get to the other end of the workshop through these pipes.
Follow me.
You go that way. I'll go this way.
Shit!
- It's OK. - You should go back.
No, I'll be all right.
No, you go!
Keep your legs in.
Come on.
Stalin is asking for one last effort. The fate of the motherland is at risk.
The fate of those you love and cherish. It's for them that we fight today.
Listen to me, Tania. The Germans are throwing everything at us.
If they're lucky, one in ten of these soldiers will come back alive.
You're highly educated. You know languages.
Every intercept you translate saves hundreds of lives.
Every message you decode kills thousands of theirs.
You have a duty to survive.
Vassili was born to fire a gun. That's what he knows.
You and I were born for a different purpose.
If Vassili were here, he'd tell you the same thing.
Where is he? Where's Vassili?
- Keep your head down. - Where is he?
Stay into that pipe. Stay in. Get your head in.
Slow down.
Don't shoot.
He's over there.
You see the pillar in front of you?
I need you to move round behind it.
Go!
Tania, I need you to find a large piece of glass.
Piece of glass.
You see the kiln?
Behind me. To the left of the factory.
- I can't hear you. - Yes.
Do you see the two louvres?
Do you see the one with the broken slat?
- Yes. - This is what I want you to do.
- Are you ready? - Yes.
Three...two...one.
Hello, Sacha.
He was right where you said he'd be.
Nearly there.
He's very clever.
Tell me about him.
Why was it his grandfather who taught him how to shoot and not his father?
His father's dead. His mother, too.
- Does he talk about his father? - No, he didn't know him.
Did he go to school?
He knows how to write. He answers lots of letters.
- Is it girls who write to him? - Everyone writes to him.
- Is there a girl he loves in his village? - Not in his village. Here!
Does she love him?
Yes. Because he's handsome and brave.
And she's very beautiful. She's from my neighbourhood.
She went to the university. They are handsome together.
Later the two of them will get married.
At least, I think so.
And you, Sacha, why are you helping the Germans?
Because they're stronger. Because they're going to win the war.
And because you like chocolate.
All these people here know they're gonna die.
So each night when they make it back, it's a bonus.
Excuse me!
So every cup of tea, every cigarette...
...becomes a little celebration.
Because for a lot of us, it may be our last night.
It's just something you have to accept here. Everyone has their time.
In the forest the wolf lives for three years,
the donkey for nine.
Sorry, but that's got to be a proverb from the Urals.
It makes no sense to me whatsoever!
The donkey lives longer because he's more useful.
Absolute sense!
There aren't any donkeys in the forest. You made it up.
I'm a donkey.
People like you and Danilov... have to survive this.
People who've read books, had an education...
We'll need you when the war's over.
And if you survive?
What will the useless Vassili Zaitsev do then?
I want to work in a factory.
My granddad took me to a factory once.
There was this man there.
High up on a foot walk.
He wasn't wearing blue like the others.
The people supervising didn't really understand what they were doing.
But for him up there, it was simple. It was clear.
And I thought, one day...
...I could be that man.
Sad to have a dream you know won't happen.
Why shouldn't it?
You'll outlive us all.
You'll be the oldest donkey in the forest.
"150 metres stand between the Germans and the Volga.
"The whole world is watching these 150 metres.
"They are what make Stalingrad the capital...
"...of the war."
Your friend, Tania.
- Have you seen her? - She stays there with the snipers.
Tell the major our sharp shooters will support the attack on the factory.
Vassili will be there.
- I need to talk to you. - Sure.
You have to stop writing about me.
I won't get him, I'm not good enough.
Sooner or later he's gonna find me, he's gonna kill me.
I've warned you before not to talk like this.
This time it's different.
You've built me up and up into someone I'm not.
I can't carry that weight anymore. I want to fight.
I want to fight, just as a regular soldier.
I understand.
The thing is Vassili you're not a regular soldier, you're an extraordinary soldier.
No. I'm what you've made me.
Nothing more.
Why are you telling me this now?
What's happened?
What's changed?
Did you speak to Tania for me?
Well, will she reconsider?
I don't know.
She should. She'll be much safer. You know that.
It'll be easier to get her reassigned than you.
The Germans are preparing another offensive in the city centre.
The propaganda battle's crucial for morale. We need you more than ever.
- Tell him what you know, Sacha. - There was dust on the major's boots.
Sacha has the major convinced he's gone over to the other side.
- You know the risks he's taking. - The dust was yellow.
There's only one place where there's dust like that.
In the back of the chemical factory, a big heap along the tracks.
Well done.
Sacha, wait for me outside then.
You had no right to use him.
No, I didn't use him, Vassili, he did it of his own accord.
Do you know why? Because he believes in you.
Tomorrow morning we're going to take back the chemical factory.
Sacha has informed the major you'll be there.
So now you know where you have to wait for him.
- In the middle of an assault. - I'm following orders.
I suggest you do the same.
Now, I'm aware of the risks. You'll be fine...
...comrade.
That's the Germans up there. Yesterday it was the Russians.
We're not very far now.
You're playing a very dangerous game.
I want you to win.
See that? Keep going along the river.
It's safe for a while.
He's dead. We found this on his corpse.
Your reason for being here ceases to exist.
Pardon me, Herr General. I do not believe...
There's a plane bound for Berlin tomorrow evening. You will be on it.
Until then I must ask you for your dogtags.
Imagine how Russian propaganda would profit from your death.
If you fall, you will fall unknown.
You've already had a near miss.
Also, please take this war merit cross.
It was awarded posthumously to a Lieutenant of the 116th lnfantry Division,
who fell here during the first days of the battle.
He was my son.
If the landing is captured everything's lost.
Come here.
What did I tell you? You've been playing your fiddle too much.
If it's confirmed that he's dead, we're sunk.
- Well, you're sunk. - It isn't true.
It was intercepted from their staff headquarters.
What do they have to do? Dangle his body in front of our men?
They're lying.
That's good.
Very good.
Write it then. "Vassili Zaitsev is not dead!
"This is what he had for breakfast this morning.
"This is a picture of him reading today's newspaper."
You're the poet.
What? You won't give up the riverbank.
I don't care if you've lost half your men.
Lose the other half or lose yourself!
Is he back?
He should be back soon.
The German attack cut the lines, that's why he's late.
Can we go outside?
I wrote to my mother about you.
She wanted me to tell you, once the war is over, if you need anything,
our family will be there for you.
You know I'm here for you.
They're saying Vassili is dead.
Vassili Zaitsev will never see his loved ones again.
Surrender. This is your only hope.
You're upset?
Because Zaitsev is dead?
You don't have to hide it. There's no shame in it.
You're Russian like he is.
Don't listen to them.
It's just propaganda. He isn't dead.
And do you know why?
Because I haven't killed him yet.
I'm going to tell you a secret.
Only you, because I know I can trust you.
But you must swear you won't tell another soul.
Do you swear?
I found a terrific spot.
It's by the exit from the train station.
I'll hide in the water tower.
Tomorrow I'll wait for him there.
You'll see. He'll be there.
He always is.
I also want you to swear you'll stay home where you belong.
Do you swear?
"We know he's alive and won't fail us,
"because he is a part of us now. Vassili is eternal."
Where have you been? We've looked everywhere for you.
Didn't you hear? I was dead.
At least...noble sniper Zaitsev...
...Vassili was dead.
The real one.
Me.
I was asleep. And I missed my chance.
Then I was curled up in a corner hiding...
...from a man who wants to kill me.
I'll talk to Kruschev.
He'll send you back to your old division.
- Where's Tania? - She's at the shelter.
- I've been to the shelter. - I told her you weren't dead.
The major said so, that the other Germans were lying.
He told me you were waiting for him at the station.
My little Sacha. I knew it.
I knew you weren't dead.
- How? - Because we've only just met.
I prayed for the first time since I was a little girl.
When I opened my eyes, Sacha was there waiting to give me the good news.
I think he loves you even more than I do.
To the proper military authority.
I'm calling to the commandant's attention recent changes in attitude
towards fighting of soldier Vassili Zaitsev.
He has attempted on several occasions to escape his duties,
voiced doubts on chances of victory, made defeatist comments in public.
The inexplicable duration of his duel with the Nazi sharpshooter
can only be explained by his lack of belief in the Communist ideal.
Good morning, Sacha.
Once again, he knew exactly where to find me.
Don't you think that's strange?
Apart from me, only you knew.
I don't hold it against you, Sacha.
You've done a very brave thing.
You've chosen your camp. I respect that. But it isn't my camp.
We're both soldiers.
We're both enemies. So I know you understand.
I'm annoyed with you for not staying at home as I'd made you swear.
I'm annoyed with you for obliging me to do what I'll have to do.
I've never seen anyone frown so much in their sleep.
How long have you been watching me?
All night.
You've been snoring away happily for hours.
- I don't snore, do l? - Like a pig!
I suppose I talk in my sleep as well?
There's something I should tell you.
On the train...
...coming here...
...we were in the same car.
I saw you.
You were reading, and you fell asleep.
I didn't dare look at you, you were so beautiful.
You were scary.
Afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about you.
It made me smile.
Then I thought of all the men who would get to hold you...
...who'd make you laugh...
...how lucky they were.
And now I'm the one lying next to you.
- Was I snoring? - Like a pig.
Oh, my God!
Tania, no.
Get off me!
- Get off me! - It's what he wants.
This is what he wants.
He'll kill you. He'll kill you, then he'll kill me, too.
This is what he wants. I'll get him. I promise I'll get him.
I'll get his rifle for you, I promise, Tania.
I need you.
You have to leave now, Mrs Filipov. Stalingrad may fall.
The last boats are leaving. The Germans will be here any moment.
He's brought you a pass. You'll be safe on the other side.
Gather your things. We'll carry them to the landing stage.
I'm not leaving. This is my home.
This is my Sacha's home. I can't leave.
I must tell you something, Mrs Filipov.
Something very difficult to understand.
It's about Sacha.
He's gone over to the Germans. He won't be coming back.
Oh, my God.
He's become a traitor.
The poor little thing.
What has he done?
So he's going to stay over there?
Yes. He's going to stay over there.
I shouldn't be saying this, comrade Commissar,
but maybe it's for the best.
If the Germans have won, he'll be safe.
I know it's wrong, but perhaps he's made the right choice.
I need a doctor. A doctor!
I have a pass. You must let her cross.
Please.
- It's useless. She'll never make it. - No, she will. She's my daughter.
She's my daughter, I beg of you.
All right, you two. Put this one on the boat.
Where is he? Where's the major?
A few inches from your face.
I've been such a fool, Vassili.
Man will always be man.
There is no new man.
We tried so hard to create a society that was equal,
where there'd be nothing to envy your neighbour.
But there's always something to envy.
A smile...a friendship.
Something you don't have and want to appropriate.
In this world, even a Soviet one,
there will always be rich and poor.
Rich in gifts.
Poor in gifts.
Rich in love.
Poor in love.
Tania isn't coming back.
She's dead, Vassili.
She was cut down by shrapnel.
It was quick. I don't think she even saw it coming.
She was on her way to you, as soon as she had seen Mrs Filipov to the boat.
She was coming back for you. She was right.
You're a good man, Vassili.
I want to help you, Vassili.
Let me do one last thing.
Something useful for a change.
- Let me show you where the major is. - No, don't do that.
Don't do that!
Today, February 3rd, 1943, is an ominous day for Hitler
and the endless columns of thousands of German prisoners.
It is an unforgettable day of hope for our motherland,
for the people of the Soviet Union.
After 180 days of growing combat in the martyred city of Stalingrad,
and as a result of the valour and self-sacrifice of our soldiers,
the commander of our glorious Red Army
received the unconditional surrender of the German fascist invasion.
I cannot find the matching name in the book.
This is this hospital's address, and this is her name.
- This is our address, but she's not here. - We don't have her anymore.
This is your address, and she's obviously been here. She wrote to me.
Believe me. There is no Tania Chernova. I can't help you.
ENGLlSH