Katyn Page #2

We still take part

in the war.

It's all over with us.

Try to find peace with this,

lieutenant.

November 1 939

Soviet Occupation Zone

The Soviet Red Army

is your only friend.

Any further resistance is

pointless.

The Soviet Red Army

is your only friend.

Only she will liberate

the Polish nation from the war.

So that you could

start living in peace.

I can't find it.

Silence the baby.

- Name?

- Anna.

Wife of a cavalry captain,

born in Cracow in 1 91 0,

daughter Nika.

This checks out. Everything's correct.

So, what is it, citizen?

I already applied twice for travel

documents to Poland...

the General-Gouverenment, that is.

To my family.

Mussolini envies us already.

That's what is in our files.

And you were refused twice.

So what now?

I've applied again.

Refused!

Next one!

I used to live in Cracow before

the war. My family lives there.

She's a citizen of the General-

Gouvernement. Can she return there?

No!

Let me return to Krakow, please.

You can return of course,

but you cannot leave from here.

It's clear in black and white that

your husband is held

in captivity. Don't you want to

wait till he returns? It's no good.

He'll be released and

no one will welcome him.

Name?

Cracow,

December 24, 1 939

Where's Ewa?

Outside, looking

for the first star.

She wanted to look from here,

but it's the blackout...

Where's the plate for

an unexpected guest?

I put it over here

a moment ago.

This one is for the General.

Good.

Sir, I report that the first

star has been sighted.

Thank you.

Gentlemen...

I have no doubts

that in a year's time

we'll reminisce about our

present plight with a smile.

None of us thought that

the service prepared us

only for immediate victories. Defeat

is also part of the soldier's lot...

...and captivity,

but also a return home

to resume fighting.

You don't lay down your arms before

an enemy but before yourself.

So it's only up to you if you

remain soldiers or losers.

A few words to those,

who, not career officers,

share our lot

and are the majority here,

as I see scientists, teachers,

lawyers...

I even see a painter.

You must endure,

because there won't be a free

Poland without you.

The aim for us, ordinary

soldiers, is to put Poland

again on the map of Europe.

Yet you'll have to make

that Poland come true in Europe.

I wish you as well as myself

to return home safe and sound.

To meet our nearest and dearest

as soon as possible.

God is born on earth,

powers tremble,

Lord bereft of

heav'nly splendor.

Lustrous flames fade,

fires dissemble,

Infinite unending Wonder!

Scorned yet clothed

in radiant glory,

Mortal though

He is Lord Jesus,

Thus the Word

became the flesh,

Dwelling without end

among us.

I wonder if they'll let us go.

You can stay here as long

as necessary.

Tadek will sure stay with

his uncle and aunt in Miechowo,

while Kazimierz is in Starobielsk...

I've brought a samovar.

This is good medicine.

It will help.

Thank you.

Mrs. Anna,

come to me for

a moment, please.

Go. I'll watch over Nika.

Please.

The tea must've gotten cold.

Unfortunately, it has.

Listen to me, Anna.

Please don't get me wrong.

I have your lot and that

of your sister at heart.

We talked about it, Captain.

That's absolutely impossible.

Yes, but the situation

has changed.

You were afraid I'd seize the

opportunity if you said yes.

Soon I'm off to

the Finnish front.

It's not the way there like they say.

I've misgivings that I won't come back.

You cannot know about that.

Nobody can.

Maybe so.

As it happens,

we know what

we cannot know.

If you marry me, then without

any consequences between us,

as I'm leaving before long.

If I'm killed, you as the wife

of a Red Army officer

will find it easier to save

yourself and your daughter.

I have a husband.

I won't marry you.

You a wife of a Polish officer.

It spells death.

I told you

I have a husband!

- They are no more.

- What're you talking about?

I have letters from Andrzej,

who lives and will return.

Anna...

I know I don't

deserve your trust.

We just live

under the same roof.

I don't want anything for myself.

I'll tell you what

I've no right to say.

Wives of Polish

officers will go first.

Once, I wasn't able

to save my own family,

but I'd like to rescue

you and your daughter.

Please trust me.

Please.

- Take two.

- Yes, sir.

Let's go quick!

Nika!

- Where's my mommy?

- Quiet, Nika.

Open up!

Elzbieta Aleksandrowna?

Born in Krakow in 1 909?

The wife of the Polish Army

officer Kazimierz Ignatowicz?

Pack your things.

Jesus...

What happened?

Fire?

What're you doing here?

And you?

- I report, Comrade Captain.

- I live here.

- We've come to arrest...

- Who?

Who have you

come to arrest? Me?

No.

Here's a warrant.

Anna Aleksandrowna,

born May, 2, 1 91 0...

wife of the Polish

officer Andrzej...

has a daughter Weronika.

No such person lives here.

- How come?

- No such person has lived here.

For over a year.

I've lived here... alone.

- So we've come too late?

- Most likely.

Search somewhere else.

We certainly will.

Why is the girl crying?

Don't cry! Don't you want

to see your daddy? Be quick!

You're going

to your husband.

Niki.

Mommy,

not a peep from me.

I know, dear.

I know.

- Thank you.

- You must run away.

They'll be right back.

Thank you.

The German High Command

announces:

The situation near

Narvik hasn't changed.

German planes attacked

British marching columns

with MG fire and dispersed them.

Cracow,

Spring of 1 940

A British cruiser was

hit with a bomb...

My dear God...

You're here.

Are you happy, Granny,

we'll be living with you?

I am.

I'm happy...

my darling.

- Don't you have dolls, Grandma?

- Well, I didn't have a daughter.

This is your dad's teddy bear.

It was worst on the border.

I spent all my money and threw

in the ring from Andrzej to boot.

When was the last time

he wrote you?

In March. Everything

crossed out by the censor.

I'll show you.

Bring me the bag, Nika.

Any news from Father?

They let

- them write from Sachsenhausen?

- He writes in a way

not to provoke the censor.

That he's fine,

they feed them well,

and he'll be back soon.

- And you don't believe it?

- No...

Yes.

- I believe my misgivings.

- What do they tell you?

They've been

treating us too well.

Let us celebrate Xmas.

It's suspicious.

Don't tell anybody.

That 2nd lieutenant

tried to hang himself again.

The men are in bad shape.

We have to set an example.

How long?

England and France

will stand up for us.

They can't leave 20,000

officers behind the front line.

Cannons or tanks

can be rebuilt,

but a trained soldier

is irreplaceable.

I just hope it won't

cross the tovarishchi's minds.

Chin up, lieutenant.

You don't look well recently.

It's my kidneys

and I get shivers.

Here's a present for you.

- How come? And you?

- I have another.

Mother prepared me for the war

as if it were school.

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