Bitter Harvest Page #2

more of the harvest,

up to 90% if necessary.

But, Comrade Stalin, that will be

a death sentence for the farmers.

The revolution depends on it!

Think of the greater good.

He's probably right, Koba.

This could mean the death of millions.

Who in the world will know?

Those caught

stealing grain have received justice.

But the collective of

this village has failed.

You did not meet your grain quota.

Consequently, Comrade

Stalin has ordered an increase.

All over Ukraine it's the same.

You must double production this year,

or you will suffer the consequences.

Much of the harvest was lost to weather.

- Or stolen?

- That's a lie!

We don't have enough

horses to plough the fields.

Why is that, comrade?

We had to eat them!

That is why Comrade Stalin

brought you tractors,

modern mechanical means to

meet your responsibilities.

And you repay him by

stealing from the state?

That's what I call ingratitude.

We know you're hiding grain.

Sign!

Join the collective.

Life will be much better.

Our seizure of church property has

not been as lucrative as we hoped.

Despite the crackdown,

collectivisation is still slow.

I've already started shipping

the kulak leaders to Siberia,

but resistance is strong and spreading.

If we do not stop it,

we could lose Ukraine.

They think they have

choices when they have only one.

Push them, crush them!

Where is the grain?

Where is it?

- You want me to sign this?

- The land belongs t0 the state.

You, your icon, your land...

all belong to the state now.

Here, take the knife.

It was father's.

It's time for you to leave.

Before you leave,

I want you to hold

the ancient and holy

spirit of our village.

The icon of Saint Yuri.

The symbol of our faith.

And here... a father's dream.

Had I gone...

he would still be alive.

GO to Kiev!

GO and become the artist

you've always dreamed of being.

It's what your father would have wanted.

Hold me...

as long as you can!

Come on. We can do this

on the train all you like.

I'm not coming.

What?

Not yet.

No, no, no...

I can't go without you.

- I won't-

- You have to!

In Kiev there's work for you and

you can send back money so we can eat.

To be away from you, I-

NO, I... I'll die...

It's just until Mother's better.

Than I can be with you.

Yuri!

Kiev is where you belong.

I love you.

Wear it close to your heart.

I don't think I'm that handsome.

You have the gift.

Thank you.

Where are you off to?

Kiev.

- To work in a factory.

- With your talent?

- I have a duty to my family.

- We all have duties.

But you... are an artist!

And you have a duty to let

the world know the truth,

an)' Way you can.

Please, please... help me!

- Have mercy on me, please...

- Scum!

- She's begging for food.

- There is food.

Plenty of food.

That's the official party line:

No famine!

Just a food shortage.

No 'starvation'... instead,

'widespread malnutrition'.

This is where I have to leave you.

- What are you doing? Stop this!

- Be quiet.

You can't do this.

- You are spreading western propaganda.

- You can't do this.

- The whole world will hear this!

- You come with us.

Get him up...

let's go!

But a common action to help us prosper.

Let's educate people

about what we're trying to do.

Alright, we'll reconvene in the morning.

Mykola!

Finally he's here!

Did I hear the call of a Kachaniuk?

- Comrade, these are for copying, yes?

- Excellent work.

What happened?

You're so grown-up.

The world grew up.

We're just taking part.

Time for a catch-up, young man.

Adrink!

God, yes!

Don't let the party

hear you say 'God'. Yuri, how is Natalka?

Don't let Mykola hear...

Are you still in love with her?

Even after you were so gracious in defeat?

I was.

Let it be my sad epitaph,

I was gracious in defeat.

We're making progress.

There's so much hope in the city.

We're On the cusp of national renaissance.

- Things are really changing.

- Yes, but how?

To what end?

The things I've seen in just one day...

something is terribly wrong.

Every new system has its

growing pains, of course.

- The winter was bad for the harvest.

- No, it's worse than that.

There are Soviets in our village,

forcing the collectivisation of our farms.

Violently.

And just arriving,

I have seen people starving,

left to rot like garbage.

I mean, you've walked the streets.

You must have seen it.

There are severe hardships,

just as there were under the tsar.

We have our own freedom now,

an opportunity to push on,

to reorganise society so that

everyone gets their fair share.

This is Stalin's true vision.

Kaganovich...

haven't I had you shot?

Do you not drink with your comrades?

I bring news from Ukraine.

I told you to crush them.

Why do you fail me over and over?

They rise up because they are starving.

The more ruthless our methods,

the more they resist.

Damn those Ukrainians.

Take all their food.

Notjust the grain... everything!

Close the food stores and banks.

Transport the food out.

Close the borders. Keep them in.

Do not let one of them leave.

Leave it!

Darling Yuri,

thank you for your letters which

come to me like a beacon in the dark.

Come on...

Things are worse here.

The quotas keep rising,

we get to keep

less of the harvest,

and more and more

people grow hungry.

Mother was released

from her suffering.

I miss her so.

She must have whispered a

blessing on her journey,

Yuri, because I got wonderful news.

I'm carrying our child.

This great joy gives me such hope

that I can soon join you in Kiev

and truly hear your voice

and feel your touch.

I look at the moon and dream of you.

Please do the same and know

that I'/I always be yours.

Love,

Nata/ka.

What wonderful news!

A child!

Our child!

You must now come to Kiev

so I can take care of you.

I've been accepted into the academy,

so despite these terrible times,

I have great hopes for our future.

Perfect!

- Thank you.

- Too perfect.

Too fanciful.

Come back!

As an artist, you must find the truth,

not escape from it.

How?

With light.

With light you find the truth.

Have you read Andre' Breton's

'Manifeste du surralism' ?

Seen the works of Salvador Dali?

Pablo Picasso?

Do you dream?

Yes, of course.

Well, then, express

yourself through your subconscious,

through dreams.

Reality is the enemy!

Why, Dido?

I don't want you to be

forced into whoring for food.

What difference does it make?

We're all going to die!

My darling, lam

desperate for news of you.

No letters for weeks

makes me fear the worst.

If we're going to be judged, then let us

be judged by members of the civilised world,

and not by red Soviet imperialism,

to that higher court that Stalin

never would want to be a part of.

Ukraine has so much to share

culturally with other countries of Europe.

The Europe of Darwin, of Goethe,

of Byron, Newton and, of course, Marx.

Ukrainians can be proud once again.

Inspired by the words of

the great Taras Shevchenko,

by the roar of the Dnieper River,

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