Once Upon a Time in November

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Inspired by authentic events.

Contains documentary footage shot

on Independence Day, Poland, 11 November 2013.

The documentary footage

was shot by cinematographers

and the director who witnessed

the events at first hand.

In a film by Andrzej Jakimowski

Once Upon A Time In November

to my mother

Why are you locking it?

To stop people breaking in.

But I don't have the key.

It was you who broke in.

That's why you don't have the key.

Hello.

Excuse me!

Come here, please!

Over here.

Basia, a glass for the teacher.

Hello.

There you go.

It's so cold today.

Mum, let's go.

Thank you.

THE CLINIC SQUA It's closed.

But you've opened up.

So it's open.

That is very closed, mate.

Coffee?

I'm sorry, all the guest rooms are full.

There's no room.

Yeah, but they're moving to Syrena, so...

This is the common room, shared space.

Sometimes things go on all night.

No chance.

It's just for one person.

And a dog.

I'll take the dog.

No, you won't!

He's mine.

He's just a stray.

You don't know who the owner is.

Here boy.

Stay!

HOMELESS WOMEN'S SHELTER.

No. You have to leave.

Kole, here!

These are administrative proceedings.

And then judicial-administrative

proceedings.

And higher still

the European Court of Human Rights.

We smell a rat...

The ability to be a legal entity,

to participate in legal formalities.

The right to engage in legal activities.

It applied freemen from birth.

homo liber

It didn't apply to slaves.

Till death.

...alive,

when the sign of life

was crying - the Proculeans,

or any other sign.

You'll lose your place

if the dog comes back.

Look after him.

When did you lose that f***ing tooth?

You seeing that tall girl?

Yeah, she's awesome...

Was it a race or something?

I started in first.

And then I was hooked.

And then I was hooked.

Is it working out with her?

It's f***ing amazing.

That's what counts.

Stay!

Stay!

It's f***ing dirty!

Do it right!

Stay.

The soft cloth, the soft cloth.

Sister Kazia found him under the bed.

And he growled at her.

What else do we have?

Girls?

We have a question...

We're doing a play...

about social exclusion.

Can we rehearse here?

About 5 or 6 people.

When would it be?

After lessons and at weekends.

All the lessons here are after school.

For people who can't afford to pay.

What about Sunday?

Micky teaches English on Sunday.

And he's taught Polish on Saturday.

That right, Micky?

Yeah, that's right.

Maybe Saturday morning.

That works for us.

Any objections?

Questions?

OK, girls, that's sorted.

Now squat business.

See you.

See you later. Bye.

I've got a question.

About a place to stay.

For one person.

Do you know anyone?

Anyone know him?

I do.

This is a bit different.

It's an eviction.

It's your mum, right?

- Yes.

The evictions on Nowogrodzka Street.

You should have said.

But there's still no free space.

The Syrians slept in the common room.

But they have a kid.

Any ideas?

No chance?

Afraid not.

OK, see you.

Bye.

He was in your class...

Yeah.

It's great that he got to university.

Shall we go, mum?

Thank you.

Why did you lock the padlock?

You don't have the key.

You can open it without a key.

How many times must I break in?

People leave the doors unlocked

to avoid break-ins.

A padlock means

they prefer us to break in.

Why not a place that isn't locked?

It's nice and tidy here.

I can get the floor clean.

Here boy.

Turn it off!

Who the f***'s sleeping there?

Let's wake him up.

Can't sleep here, scruff!

You f***ing c*nt!

Get the f*** out!

Hold on, I'll wake the f***er.

Get out of here!

You f***ing c*nt!

Get out of here!

Wakey-wakey!

Get the f*** out of here!

Wakey-wakey and get out!

Wait!

Here.

WARMING CENTRE FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE

Go, or you'll be late.

I'll carry the stuff in.

I don't have lectures till 10.00.

Off you go.

OK, bye.

Hi, Marek.

Mum feeling any better?

Yes, thank you.

Is Chris at home?

Yes, but he's asleep.

It's empty.

They're throwing everyone out.

It has to be empty

before it's sold.

Let me.

See if they're evicting anyone.

They might come up.

REPOSSESSED:

REPOSSESSED:

Piss off and catch criminals,

don't throw decent people

out of their homes...

you rotten bastards...

Fourteen...

that'll be here.

Excuse me.

Who are you throwing out today?

This way.

Shame on you!

Open up or we'll drill the lock.

Get lost, you bastards!

F*** off!

Hi.

Where did you sleep?

At a friend's place.

You're lying.

If you're not back tonight,

my dad'll throw you out.

He will,

you'll see.

From the house or the garage?

Excuse me!

Have you seen a woman with a dog?

She's in the office.

He let me in out of the rain.

Where's your hat?

Wait.

Kole, get down.

Get down.

It's not damaged.

I'll stick it back on.

Don't turn the light on.

Come here, it's warmer.

I'll buy a prescription

and bring it later.

The dog can't stay here.

You can't keep dogs here.

It's forbidden.

Marek!

Your hat.

Put it on for me.

SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS

Anything else?

I have a question.

Do you have a free place?

For a dog.

This is a squat, not an animal shelter.

We don't keep dogs here.

But we have two dogs.

They do have an owner, but...

Don't look at me.

I'm not taking another.

Is it big?

He's pretty small, but smart.

He can do a lot of stuff.

Like what?

Like smell a uniform through a door.

Through a wall.

They come here incognito.

In flagrante.

That's what he said in court.

"I was in flagrante, your honour."

Can that dog sniff out uniforms?

Really?

Here. Here.

Don't you need the lead?

What for?

We're free here.

Visiting hours are till 10.00.

It's medicine for my mum.

It's a course of treatment.

What's her name?

Przecki.

Stay!

Home!

Home! Home!

What did you do?

I just took the key.

Why so late?

Because I love Ola.

Come in through the door.

He said he'd been at the squat.

But he came back for the night.

At this time?

Is this a by-the-hour hotel?

Quiet.

You be quiet.

Let him stay at the squat then.

I'm getting a room in a dormitory.

When?

I don't know.

Soon.

Ola,

go to bed, would you?

How could he get through the bars?

His head's too big.

But the rest is thinner.

Why did you tie him up?

Look behind the pallets.

Is Kole with you?

No, those cats annoy him.

Where is he then?

At the Clinic?

He ran away.

He's at the car wash.

There's a shed, so he stays dry.

Do anarchists annoy him too?

It's f***ing clean.

Should be white as a communion dress.

He's made a den.

It's dry and out of the wind.

Past its sell-by date.

It's expired.

Is there a bar open around here?

I don't know.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello, excuse me...

Are you here to see me?

My office is closed today.

Please call and make an appointment.

Mondays and Tuesdays.

Excuse me.

You've frozen my bank account,

but it's not just my benefit...

There's also a grant.

Please let me pass.

It's my son's grant.

Stand up, please.

Why should I?

Please comply, or we'll use force.

Get up, mum.

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