Bitter Harvest Page #3

the whisper of the endless steppe.

Inspired to develop our

culture and take our rightful place

among the great nations of the world.

Taras and I are so proud of Mykola.

He has become leader of the

Ukrainian Communist Party

and a great inspiration to the

spirit of the national movement.

But we all sense a change,

a darker, more oppressive atmosphere.

A loss of freedoms:

Meetings, free discussions...

even travel... all are

becoming restricted.

Passport!

It's hideous!

Reactionary.

You must paint uplifting

images of the Soviet Union!

Like factories and tractors?

You are no artist...

- you are an enemy Of the state!

- Where is Professor Temchuk?

I demand to speak to him!

Then you will have to go to Siberia.

All self-expression and

individualism is being suppressed

in favour of a

conformist Soviet style.

This is not art.

I have been forced

to leave the academy

and found work as a rag and bone man,

where we traffic in the

keepsakes of ghosts,

the ones we have lost in

this terrible famine.

What are you doing!

Get t0 work!

The people from the countryside,

who have flocked to the

city in search of food, starve.

The others, the factory workers,

have plenty to eat.

Please, help us.

Mama... wake up.

Trust me, Nata/ka,

I will not fail.

I will make it home to you soon.

They've started arresting all

the Ukrainian party leaders.

They will be with you soon.

Get away if you can!

My dear brother Yuri,

don't grieve!

You were right.

Stalin has betrayed us all.

Be calm!

I was a fool to believe I could be

a Ukrainian patriot and a communist.

And I was a fool to have been in

love with my best friend's wife.

Save yourself,

like I could not!

To a fire that burned brightly

but was extinguished too soon.

To Mykola, our friend.

To Mykola!

To all Ukrainian nationals.

May they continue to

save us ammunition.

Don't let them spoil our memory.

To Ukraine!

To freedom!

Enough of that Ukrainian folk sh*t!

Play Ka/inka!

Long live Joseph Stalin.

- Play Kalinka!

- NO, no, no, please-

Come on! In there.

Keep going.

Stay in the line.

Get in line!

Make ready!

Aim!

Fire!

Get in line!

Who will take care of my family?

Make ready!

Aim!

Hold your fire!

Yuri!

Yuri!

Yuri!

What are you doing?

Kachaniuk, I'm speaking with you.

What's that scratching?

You digging your way out?

- I'm drawing.

- You're drawing?

What?

My wife.

On your knees.

Paint me.

I'll need my paints and my brushes.

And a favour in return.

What?

Let me write a

final letter to my wife.

My darling,

I'm in prison for murder.

Mykola is dead.

I don't know what happened to Taras,

but i fear the worst.

Fire!

There is death all around me here.

But having someone to live

for gives me courage and hope.

I will live for you!

And our child!

I believe with all of my

being we will be together again.

- I'll be with Kachaniuk

- Yes, Sir!

SO, when can I see it?

Please, we're almost done.

Make certain you capture my jawline.

It's my best feature.

No, comrade, it is your eyes.

May I?

There...

The light, it picks up your eyes.

It illuminates your soul.

Please stay...

exactly as you are.

My eyes are good, but...

I really must see what

sort of work you've done. So...

You have no soul.

Escape!

Natalishka...

It's alright.

It's for you.

Put it on.

Wait.

In the name of the Father,

the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We must save ourselves Or die.

Yes. Borscht with mushrooms, my favourite.

- Did your mother used to make-

- Never mention her!

Never!

Do you make love

as well as you cook?

- You poisoned me.

- No!

- No, commissar-

- Kiss me, you b*tch!

Don't!

Mama!

Oh, Natalka!

You're safe.

I didn't dishonour the family.

Here. It's written by Stalin.

I took it from the commissar's headquarters.

There's revolts happening

around the country,

something the regime keeps silent.

We must continue the resistance.

The women will organise a revolt.

We'll be less likely to be shot.

- What's going on?

- Food for the people!

We want our grain!

You want us to starve?

Is that what you want?

Hold your fire!

Maria! Maria!

Maria!

Vlodio... look at me.

It's your fault your wife was killed.

I should have you all shot.

Please, Commissar, have mercy.

- Mother!

- Please, Commissar,

let me bury her.

I don't know where my children are.

- Without Maria-

- I'm a compassionate man.

I will prove to you that I am merciful

and that the Soviet system is just.

I will release you.

You can bury your wife.

But you must promise me

you'll join the collective.

- Rot in hell!

- I'll see you there.

Marko, come.

What would you give to save your family?

Everything.

Except my soul.

Wash my feet.

Now dry them.

No...

with your hair.

Dry them.

Bring me the icon of Saint Yuri.

And you and your family will be free.

- This is blasphemy!

- No...

it's freedom.

We've been watching you.

You aren't a Soviet.

- Who are you?

- Yuri Kachaniuk.

- And you?

- Lubko Stefaniuk.

We are orphans.

- Where is your village?

- Nearby, but it's not save.

Will you help us?

Yes.

Lubko, do you know

where the train station is?

I need to get to Smila.

Are we going to shoot each other or eat?

It depends.

- Who are you?

- They're friends.

Who are you?

Yuri Kachaniuk.

From Smila.

Kachaniuk?

My grandfather was Ivan.

- The Wild Boar?

- Yes.

My grandfather fought with him.

He saved his platoon, appeared

out of nowhere. He's a legend.

If you're his grandson,

you can fight with us.

Tomorrow, with the local villagers,

we'll ambush a Soviet unit.

Don't fall asleep!

Keep going!

Stay in formation.

We'll give the bastards no breathing room,

no chance to regroup.

Forward, brothers!

No!

No!

You fool!

Yuri, wake up!

We have to go... now!

Please, take me with you.

I'll take you to the train.

Please! You promised to help me.

Come on. There's a boxcar

at the end of the train.

We'll be safe in here.

Can somebody take me?

- Get lost.

- Please... my child!

We're here.

Soviet thief!

Yvgeny?

Get in the truck.

Now.

Do you know what

you've done to our country?

- Yuri!

- You have destroyed everything.

I was in the Red Army.

I know Ukrainians are starving,

Kazakhs, Byelorussian Jews.

But I was under orders.

- Orders?

- Yuri, no!

Pull over.

Get out.

This grain...

how long will it

keep your people alive?

If I can save one life,

that's enough for me.

Yuri!

Kill him.

He's a Soviet.

They're starving us all.

Kill him!

No!

Kill him!

How do I know you won't turn us in?

I could have shot you at any time.

Vlodio?

Vlodio, it's me.

Yuri!

I thought you were dead.

Maria? Marko? The children?

I'm sorry.

Vlodio, I have a truck full of grain.

Feed the people.

Then come to my home.

Is it still there?

You're alive!

Thank God!

- Forgive me.

- For what?

I have been gone too long.

- Let me look at you.

- Sorry.

What could you possibly be sorry for'?

Yuri, I lost our baby.

We have our own miracle.

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