Lidice Page #5

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-Sure, so he'd do himself in here.

-He'll do it at home then.

-Still better than here.

He should be grateful.

He's got a few hours peace to go.

See you, Mr. Sima.

Where are you off to, Sima?

Straight home?

I won't curry favour with them

if I'm not even worth a postcard.

I'll take a few shirts, some other

things and go my own way.

Sima...

Lots of luck.

-Freezing cold. How much longer?

-Two hours to go.

You're from Lidice?

What am I supposed to do, tell me?

Shoot me.

You're too late.

That event is over.

No-one is interested in Lidice now.

Heydrich's assassination was great.

You say that the assassination

of Heydrich was great?

Yes.

Me too. It's allowed now.

You imagine things

too black-and-white.

What do you think? That I or my

adjutant will draw our pistols

and shoot you in this office?

Y'know how much paperwork

is involved? How much it costs?

-You're not worth it.

-Come on now.

Throw him out.

Get walking!

Get lost!

Frantisek!

Come in.

I don't care what you think of me.

I don't care what anyone

thinks of anybody else.

I don't think anymore.

And that's much better.

Sit down.

Isn't it funny that it's the two

of us that have remained?

See, you weren't there,

you have some hope left.

Because you might see

your wife again.

They still write.

They keep on writing.

You'll see.

Your one will write.

Dear Frantisek, I'm afraid

I don't know whether this letter

finds you at home, or in that place.

I've written to you in prison but

I haven't received any replies,

and so I just don't know

whether you are alive and well.

Times are bad and I understand

that to write might be problematic.

When we survived the first

terror we will survive this too.

With all my love and honour

to you and Karel... Your Anezka.

Heck, but what to do with you now?

Nobody really knows

that it has been abandoned.

Still, you must keep your eyes open.

No news,

but I've brought you this.

This might come in handy

as well. Am I right?

And I don't want this at my place.

Just keep them, or throw them out.

Dear auntie, I'm pleased to send you

my warm greetings from Poland.

Please, I need some frocks...

What are you up to, how are you?

Please send us some food...

Say hello to all our friends.

Send me two pencils...

Dear brother, I apologise for not

answering your letter until now,

-but you know how things are...

-Dear Lola, I worry about you

as I haven't had any news

from you for more than a month.

Sending sincere greetings,

keeping you in our memories.

Off to Prague! Onwards!

Come to the Czech Radio building!

As quickly as you can!

Message for the Czech army,

Czech gendarmes! Come and help us!

We are calling all Czechs!

Frantisek! Where are you off to?

I have to get to Prague.

Not worth it, before you get there

it will be all over.

At any rate, it was coming.

I thought I might stay

awhile at your place.

All the blokes are...

Your Karel too...

You know the old walnut tree

where the mill used to be,

near the stream...

The war is over, old man!

I'll get some wood.

Citizens,

today's commemoration ceremony

isn't there just to remember

and celebrate the heroes of Lidice,

but also to become the official

start of a new era for this village,

which became a mute witness

to a horrific Nazi crime.

Women of Lidice need a new home,

and we will build it for them.

Now please welcome our most

precious guests. Women of Lidice.

Excuse me, you can't go there.

-I'm from Lidice.

-And I'm from Mars.

-Really, I am from Lidice.

-You kidding?

I heard that Lidice was going

to be rebuilt.

I could be of some help.

I have drawn a plan.

A temporary one.

I remember everything as it was.

And I've brought letters

which were being delivered here.

You know what, come with me.

Marie...

Look, Mr. Sima, we naturally

value your interest,

but the new Lidice

won't be a replica of old,

you can't expect some ordinary

old village to arise again.

We will hand over the letters

as far as is possible,

the rest we could place

in a museum or such like.

I'd like to help if possible.

My wife hasn't returned yet...

-What was your wife's name?

-Anezka.

Not on the list.

I am sorry, unfortunate that is.

They must have split up somewhere.

Look, Mr. Sima, the fact that

you're from Lidice,

taking into account a certain

piety involved in their memory,

and the reality of you in some

way being involved in it,

is, let us say, unbecoming.

Admit it. If you really

wish to help us

forget about Lidice.

Nobody is waiting for you here.

I'd like to talk to them.

Leave me alone, how dare you!

Let me go!

Take him somewhere! Far away!

Make sure he doesn't make a scene.

I thought you'd be here.

I was with her almost to the end.

She was brave.

She went alone to her death.

In her own way.

You really want to leave?

You want to stay here?

Provide them with a live memorial?

I suppose somebody should.

Frantisek, please.

Don't go far away.

Nobody else... knows.

During the war the fate

of Lidice was the only

recognised act of genocide

by the Germans.

173 men were shot.

In a concentration camp

53 women died.

82 children were gassed.

Only 17 returned.

The destruction of Lidice

evoked a great wave of solidarity.

Members of the Washington

Lidice Committee included

Albert Einstein,

Charlie Chaplin, Thomas Mann.

Places were renamed after it, people

named their daughters after Lidice.

This custom has lasted to this day.

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