Ida

1

Her name is Wanda Gruz.

She is your aunt.

We wrote to her many times asking her

to take you.

But she never did.

Maybe she never got the letters?

She did. Because finally she replied

that she couldn't come.

You should meet her before

you take your vows.

She is your only living relative.

Do I have to, Mother?

Yes, Anna.

You will go to see her and stay there

for as long as necessary.

Are you Wanda Gruz?

- I am your niece.

- I know who you are.

Come in.

Are you hungry?

No, thank you.

Take a seat.

What did they tell you about me?

That you are my aunt.

That's all?

They didn't tell you who I am?

What I do?

No.

Why didn't you come to take me from the

orphanage?

I couldn't. I didn't want to.

You wouldn't have been happy with me.

I'm going.

God bless.

God bless you.

So you are a Jewish nun.

Who?

You're a Jew.

They never told you?

Your real name is Ida Lebenstein.

You're the daughter of Haim

Lebenstein and Ra Herc.

You were born in Piaski, near oma.

Wait.

This is Ra...

And this is you.

We've had our little family reunion...

I must get dressed. I'm late.

What time is your train?

I have a bus in the evening.

Do you need any money?

No.

Goodbye then.

God be with you.

Goodness.

...a whole bed of red tulips...

...planted by socialist scouts

to honour...

...the accused mowed them down...

...with this here sabre...

...inherited from his grandfather...

...a member of Pilsudski's Legions.

Ra had an artistic soul.

I liked adventures.

We were very different.

She was always making things,

from pieces of cloth or glass.

Once she made a stained glass window...

And put it in the barn

to make the cows happier.

This is your father.

Not an interesting type, a bit primitive.

I didn't like him.

Their whole clan was from there.

We were from Lublin.

Because of him she ended up in that hole.

You have to wear this hood all the time?

You're a redhead too, right?

I had a brother?

No, you were an only child.

I'm going to Piaski tomorrow.

I want to visit their graves.

They have no graves.

Neither they, nor any other Jews.

No one knows where their bodies are...

Maybe in the woods or in the lake.

I'll ask around.

What if you go there

and discover there is no God?

God is everywhere, I know.

I'll drive you there. We'll go together.

You're sweet.

You have such a nice dimple.

Three, when you smile.

Men will go crazy.

Do you have sinful thoughts sometimes?

Yes.

About carnal love?

No.

That's a shame.

You should try...

Otherwise what sort of sacrifice

are these vows of yours.

Praise be to Jesus Christ.

Forever and ever.

You know who lived here before the war?

No.

- Why?

- No reason.

My husband knows...

He'll be back later.

Can we look around?

What for?

Don't worry. We won't steal anything.

I don't know.

Come after tea, around four.

Excuse me.

Could you bless my daughter, sister?

One more, please.

And one for the gentleman over there.

Did you know the Lebensteins?

They lived here before the war.

Jews?

No, Eskimos.

Ra and Haim Lebenstein.

We had a lot of Jews here.

But those I didn't know. Sorry.

Why be sorry?

Jesus, that's just what you say.

Did you know them?

And another one, please.

And the bill.

Our family used to live in this house.

No Jews ever lived here.

I didn't say they were Jews.

It's my house and my land.

We both know who it belonged to.

Your father hid the Lebensteins

during the war. Where?

Where?

In the woods? In some shelter?

I know who denounced Jews

and who helped them.

- Father never went to the Germans.

- I know.

How did they die?

Szymon Skiba, your father.

Where is he?

Don't know.

I know when someone is lying.

I can destroy you.

You have children.

Where is your father?

Don't know.

This is so Ra.

Fancy stained glass next to cow sh*t.

Here they are...

Good Christians... your neighbours.

Your mates are here.

When did you start drinking?

When I was about twelve.

Listen, you can make things easy

for yourself or hard.

Listen, comrade...

It would easier if

you showed some respect.

You have to let me go.

I have immunity. I am a judge.

Lock her up.

Will you be all right?

Let's go.

They'll let me out tomorrow.

Immunity...

No, I didn't know them.

Jews usually kept to themselves.

Were you here during the war?

I was.

Do you have some connection

to them, sister?

No, nothing.

I'm sorry but this is all I can offer.

- Good night, sister.

- Good night.

- God be with you.

- God be with you.

Thank you.

I hope you will accept our apologies,

comrade.

- It was for your own good. You were indisposed.

- Go to hell.

Safe journey.

Who are you?

Nobody these days...

But I used to be a state prosecutor once.

Big public trials.

I even sent a few people to death.

Who?

Enemies of the People.

This was in the early fifties.

Red Wanda - that's me.

Gone with the wind.

Want a doughnut?

What'll happen when we find this Szymon?

He'll tell us how your parents died

and where they're buried.

That's what you wanted, no?

- Where are you going?

- To Szydw.

So are we.

Cigarette?

Where can you get these?

State secret.

What's in the case? A saxophone?

Yes. Alto.

Beautiful instrument.

Male, sensuous.

Do you live in Szydw?

No. We're doing a gig there.

To celebrate the town's anniversary.

And you?

Will you come to the dance tonight?

Might be fun.

Why not.

Thanks.

Not bad, our lad.

Do you know Szymon Skiba?

He lives around here.

Skiba? No.

But ask Marek at the bar.

He knows everyone. Ask him.

- He's not here.

- When's he back?

- They took him to the hospital with...

- When's he back?

Tomorrow. Or later...

God willing.

Maybe he's hiding from us.

- Cold.

- What?

Cold.

Where is He?

Which one do you want?

Neither.

Come on, you won't stop being a nun.

Your Jesus didn't hide

in a cave with books...

But went out into the world.

I'm not going anywhere.

What?

I'm not going anywhere.

Fine, I'll have fun on my own.

C'est la vie.

I thought we were here

because of my parents.

We are.

I loved Ra very much.

You are so similar.

I won't let you waste your life.

Of course...

I'm a slut and you're a little saint.

This Jesus of yours adored people like me.

Take Mary Magdalen...

Let's have a read.

What a beast came out.

What was that you played?

Naima by Coltrane. Did you like it?

Very much.

You're a funny couple.

My aunt and me?

I know.

We only met two days ago.

Where are you from?

From a village. Not far from here.

But I was raised in a convent.

And now I'm Jewish, too.

And I've got some gypsy in me.

So why are you here?

I'm looking for a man who knew my parents.

Thank you.

He's probably still in the hospital.

I'll wait downstairs.

Let's go.

Remember me?

You knew the Lebensteins during the war.

We'd like to know where they're buried.

I'm their daughter.

Ra.

I'm Ida.

They were...

Good people...

I hid them in the woods...

Fed them...

And then you killed them.

Was he very scared?

Who?

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