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Objektív Filmstúdió And Cineamagyar Present
Sweet Emma, Dear Böbe Sketches, nudes
Cast
Director of Photography
Produced by
Written and Directed by
Böbe, it's half past six.
Today I'll work in the afternoon.
Sign me in for dinner next week.
A guy owes me, I'll pay at noon.
EMMA AND BÖBE TEACH IN BUDAPEST. THEY ARE FROM THE COUNTRY
THEY CANNOT AFFORD A HOME, SO THEY LIVE AT A TEACHERS' HOSTEL.
TWO IN A ROOM, 300 IN ONE BUILDING, NEAR THE AIRPORT
Can't you see that I see you?
Why do I love you so much?
We're saying good bye to you, Russian language.
Now that your days're gone, and your ashes spread by the wind,
hear our farewell song.
What's going on here?
Isn't this yours, madam?
THREE TIMES A WEEK EMMA CHARS HOMES OF WELL-TO-DO FAMILIES
Who do you think I am?
Sometimes you paw me, and go to bed with me.
I wait for you and you pretend you can't see that.
Pretend? What do you mean?
You always give an explanation to the others why I'm waiting.
As if I wasrt waiting for you.
Pretend? What do you mean?
You utter horrible words to explain it.
What do you mean?
You always humiliate me by giving a false explanation.
What do you mean?
Once you told me you wanted to run away from all this.
We could go to bed together in the evenings...
That's the only thing I want now.
But I'm not sure at all you want to do the same.
- Can I speak to you? - I'll be up in a minute.
Good day, Comrade teacher. I report to you...
You're mad.
Why?
ENGLISH RE-EDUCATION FOR RUSSIAN TEACHERS
NEW VENUE: CUKOR STREET
- Where's Cukor Street? - Downtown.
Red Square, Lenirs mausoleum,
- GUM, then on the left... - Go to hell.
What's the matter? Can't I speak Russian?
"Once there was a grandfather and a grandmother."
"Once they set off to study in the big city."
"To study what?"
"To study English language."
"But it's not easy to study that *** English."
"So Grandfather and Grandmother are studying happily ever after"
"until they die."
Come on, the bell.
The bell's rung.
My landlady was sick all night. How long can I bear it?
In the end I'll kick the bucket.
- You should come to the hostel. - There's no vacancy. Ever.
THE HEADMASTER'S BIRHTDAY
- Am I disturbing you? - No.
- Well? - Have you got a minute?
- The bell's rung, hasn't it? - I want to give you this.
- What's it? - You'll see.
Congratulations.
- How come you know that? - Someone told me.
- Who? - Never mind.
Thank you.
- So you know I collect them? - You found one last summer.
You were so happy.
- A folly from my childhood. - I also like them.
- What're you doing Saturday? - Nothing.
I must go to the dacha. Will you come with me?
If you want me to...
I'll go anywhere if you want me to.
- What's the matter? - Nothing.
What'll happen to us, that's the question.
- I can't. - Then how will you teach it?
He *** up the whole deal.
He came to me, but didn't bring a *** penny.
I'm not afraid I'll get busted. I'll kick his ***.
Get him suck your ***.
They were dumb, *** you.
They went to the station and began shouting like hell.
I'll grab him, *** you, and smash in his mouth.
Beat the *** out of him!
You should've put the boot in, *** you.
I'll tear out his guts. He can suck my ***.
Why're you making a deal with a prick like that?
Who'd have thought he was such a prick?
He's like what he's like. He's only 16; *** you.
THE EVERYDAY WALK FROM THE TRAM STOP TO THE HOSTEL
Stop.
Don't shout or I'll do you in.
Take off you *** or I'll slash up your face!
Why do you think he wanted to assault you sexually?
He opened his coat and showed it to me.
- What? - His organ.
His organ?
- How? - What do you mean?
- Had he on pants on?
- He had. - Then how?
His flies were open.
Did he take his organ out?
It was out already.
Did he just want you to see it?
Didrt he want anything else?
What do you mean?
Did he want you to touch it?
He held a knife and told me to take off my ***.
And did you take them off?
Géza Kovács: B, Attila Né***: C Gábor Oláh C...
Ágnes Roska F...
Béla Szabó F.
I think it is unacceptable that you let two of them fail
now that Russian is to be abolished.
Not only as their form-master,
but as a human being.
You shouldn't even think of it.
They never learn, and they don't know anything.
I can't do that to the others.
It's pathetic. Do you think that'll make them happy?
They have a sense of justice.
They're loyal to each other, not to you.
You should've learnt that in... how many years?
Seven years.
You should've realized this job isn't all pioneer camps.
There are excellent kids in this form.
Twelve altogether.
They prepare for each lesson and they're active.
So they'll all get A. Is that enough?
There're nine who learn what they have to.
They're not too active, but at least they behave.
So they can get a B.
Then there're ten... if they want to,
and if I sweat with them, they produce something.
They get a C. Then four are hopeless.
One of them is feeble-minded, the parents of two're criminals,
and the fourth is absolutely lazy.
But they don't disturb the rest. They get a D.
Then there're two hoodlums...
To be more exact: A *** and a hoodlum,
They don't learn anything, and spoil the lesson for the rest.
They just terrorize others.
If I don't let them fail, I'll invalidate the others' marks.
It's not because it's Russian. It could be French or anything.
What do you say? Now the Russian regime's fallen,
and we fail kids from Russian. Do you agree?
I don't want to lose my credit in front of my form.
As to your credit, I took the last Russian tests,
and got them checked by someone at the university.
Your corrections were faulty.
He found five grave mistakes you hadrt realized,
or corrected wrongly.
So that much about your credit.
Don't argue with them, please. My positiors also shaky.
They can fire me just because I've been here for 20 years.
So I must let them pass?
Isn't it all the same? We'll never see them again.
Is that all?
No. I can't come to the dacha. We'll have a meeting.
We'll discuss educational issues with the parties.
I must go there, and show how open-minden I am.
But you can go if you want to.
It'll be a help, too. The electricians're coming.
You can stay until Sunday.
You can take anyone you like.
Your girlfriend.
Or boyfriend.
Oh, the family!
Two little kids!
We can't even run.
Get up.
Granny told me so many times: Knowledge is the greatest value.
Power.
Knowledge is power.
- Value. - It hasn't been much use.
Knowledge is the greatest value, because no one can take it away.
***!
Things have changed a bit, and it's totally useless.
Gone with the wind.
Gone all right.
Everyone asks why I don't go home.
I was at home at Easter.
I fed chickens. There're there shopboys there,
and you must go to the next town to drink a coffee.
How can I explain to them that you outgrow things.
I've made lots of compromises so that I shouldn't go back.
You should put up an ad.
Pretty, shapely female teacher longing to be loved
needs well-to-do man for marriage.
Longing to be loved.
That's good.
Why? What are you longing for?
Me?
Longing is life, my friend. Wanting to reach something.
- To live well. - What does it mean?
Having some good clothes, being able to buy what you like.
- Go out wherever you want to. - Is it that important?
Well, what do you want?
To like what I do. To be recognized by some.
To live in a good community and fell solidarity.
You're such a fool, Emma.
Solidarity, unselfishness, collectivity...
Forget these words!
Those words might have had some value, but they've lost it.
What you have, that's important.
Even the kids examine what you're wearing.
But I won't live on in misery!
I can't go out to eat unless I find a dupe to pay for me.
Don't tell me about the future! I want to live well.
I won't marry another beggar.
I won't sweat like a maid all my life.
If there's no other way, I'll find a foreigner and 'bye!
You shouldn't count on that chicken Stefanics.
He'll never divorce and leave his panel flat and his family.
What do you mean?
Stop it! You think I don't know about it?
- How do you know that? - I've got eyes.
He's a lousy chicken.
What do you mean? Will you explain it?
I don't want to hurt you.
Did he speak to you about me?
- Yes. - What?
That you're after him, but he doesn't want anything.
- When did he tell you? - About six months ago.
- Why you? - He just told me.
Where?
In his car.
Did you make love to him?
No.
You're a lair.
You're a lair.
I didn't. There was just a little necking in the car.
He's the headmaster. He wanted it.
He kept gabbing about his wife,
so I had enough, and stopped it.
You're such a lousy ***! Pack up and get out!
Are you mad?
In the night?
Lousy, mean ***!
And you're a nun.
A nun can pray, and a *** should screw.
I didn't know about you.
How could I have known?
***!
Stefanics talked too much.
I say he's a lousy chicken.
He doesn't deserve you.
He deserves you, doesn't he?
None of us!
He's a hysterical, insincere opportunist.
That's true.
Then why do you love him?
Perhaps he could change...
He' s a good teacher, isn't he?
No one ever changes.
He's great with the kids.
His character can't be helped.
Oh, it's awful!
I should be a *** if I were able to!
Nobody wants us.
But I'll go on teaching in Budapest.
I swear I won't talk to him again.
Nor will I.
Do you swear?
I do.
I'm warning you!
And I'm warning you!
Her Highness Mrs. Miklós Horthy on Nagybánya
opens the Law Students' Dance.
Adolf Hitler wore evening dress and Eva Braun a crown of myrtle
at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival.
Countess Forgács personally distributes warm underwear
for the men leaving for the Russian front.
Greetings from Comrade Stalin to Comrade Rákosi on his birthday.
Where did you get that ring?
From Granny.
It's very old.
Here.
Do you want it?
Lend it to me for a while. And I'll lend you my necklace.
NEXT MORNING.
I've just brought the key back.
- Did you have a good time? - I did.
- Did the electricians come? - Yes.
- But you werert alone? - I wasrt.
Who were you with?
Yes?
Hello.
No, only in the evening.
Outside the school?
Will you pick up the kids too?
No, I won't have time to go to the shop.
All right. We'll eat something cold.
All right. See you.
Who were you with?
Böbe.
- And was it nice? - It was. Thanks.
I won't have that! I won't argue with Stalinists!
Yes? Werert you the Communist party secretary for years?
But I drew a lesson, and I quit.
In the last moment, before the ship sank.
Those who got decorations shouldn't mention persecution.
Leave me alone!
You enjoyed all the advantages. The ministry gave you a flat.
- It was the local council! - Isn't that the same?
Were there just three types?
Party members, collaborators and resistance fighters?
It's a joke!
Emma, don't run away!
- I'm here. - I though that was you.
Why did you study Russian?
Will you bring everyone to book?
It's ridiculous!
Ever since I can remember someone's been brought to book.
Who was a Communist, a Fascist, a Horthyite, a Stalinist,
who was a bourgeois. Everyone had to have a label!
This illustrious teaching staff has five problems.
One: The desire for the good old security of mediocrity.
Two: The lack of self-respect.
You know you're a nobody, but if you don't, they'll tell you.
You taught in the former regime, and maybe before that as well.
Three: You're closed in, you've never seen the world.
Earlier for political reasons, and now you can't afford it.
Four: You don't care for change because you know it's above you.
It's just a struggle for power.
Five: You lack hope, and any idea of the future.
So you're only interested in getting overtime fees raised,
and find someone close to you to hate instead of yourself.
Think of this when you kill each other!
What's the matter with you? Are you a lunatic?
WHO WAS ROSA LUXEMBURG?
Rosa Luxemburg. Who's that?
Some revolutionary.
Give me a few forints, please. Give me twenty forints.
For a lot of bread. Please.
Don't stand in front of me!
- Give me a few forints, please. - Leave me alone.
I can't cook anything for the kids. Please...
I haven't got enough either.
Hello. How is it going?
It isn't. Sit down. I'll draw you.
We haven't got any money.
Stupid. It's good for publicity. I'll buy you a coffee.
All right.
Why are you making faces? They're nice guys.
- Foreigners. - That's even better!
Do you want to speak to them?
Why not? They might take us out to a restaurant.
Sit normally!
- Do you speak Hungarian? - I do.
- The other girls too? - All of us.
Do you speak other languages?
Italian, French, Russian...
- Is she Russian? - No, she just speaks Russian.
- And German? - She's learning it.
- Oh. That's great. - What would you like to drink?
- A brandy and two Unicums. - I don't want any.
Enjoy life. You'd better show your legs than whine.
So you speak Russian?
I've been to Moscow. Beautiful city. And you?
Look how they chat! It's a world language!
I was in Moscow twice. Hotel Rossiya.
- And here? - Intercontinental.
- I'm paying. - What's the matter. Wait.
I'm off.
Stop that! He might like you. He can practice his Russian.
Speak Russian. Please.
- Give me a few forints! - Leave me alone.
Why are you shouting?
Just give me a few forints!
Today's News!
EMMA'S MOTHER
I heard things about Russian.
- I learn English. - Why not German?
It's better now.
When will you come to see us?
I don't know. I must learn.
Come whenever you want. You've got your room.
Father wants you to come back.
They're giving back the nationalized lands.
The more we are, the more we get back.
I told your father that was why you werert coming back.
That's true.
He should be glad that his daughter is a teacher.
But do come if you want to.
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
All right. No linguist. Then what?
A good sense for tongues.
High culture of tongues.
Well, pretty, shapely, blond, 28 year old...
- Blue eyed. - Extremely pretty.
- "Pretty" is too much. - All right. Attractive.
Representative, shapely, blonde blue-eyed teacher of 28,
- olympic crew member... - Only 1st class.
That's too long! Athletic! ...seeks similarly muscular...
Wait! Athletic teacher seeks...
attractive man...
- With a flat... - A sizable income...
- Ambitious... - Independent, tall, brown...
Serene, well-t-do, sensitive, reliable...
Who doesn't seek adventures, intelligent, fine, Catholic...
Romantic, educated, sensual...
Keen on sensual pleasure...
Highly sexed...
- With hard buttocks... - And a hairy chest...
Who owns a car...
- Having high culture... - High sex culture...
- High potency... - Hard...
Lover of gardens and sex...
Code word: "Water my garden".
- Really, what's the code-word? - "A wife is an obstacle".
- "It's bad to be alone". - Let's see what others write.
"No adventurers, please." Look!
Film production seeks pretty girls for bathing scene.
- Girls! Let's all go! - Have you gone mad?
Why? Pretty girls, high fees. Who's coming with me?
Attention, ladies.
I'll tell you what you must do, so that you can decide.
The film is about the Turkish occupation,
when the Turks held Hungary for 150 years.
There's a scene in the harem bath.
It'll be shot at the Rudas bath, which was built by the Turks.
Now you've got to be naked in that bath.
Dance, come and go, and talk to the Eunuchs.
And if the Pasha comes in, dance for him.
Those who don't want to do that, please leave now.
Those who do, please come upstairs.
- Naked? - That's why we came here.
Let's go home.
Why? It's all right. Let's see what they're paying.
At least go with them.
I'm waiting here, okay?
Come on.
We'll call you in one by one.
Can't we open the window? It's too hot here.
Go to the wall, please.
Here's your number.
- The glasses? - Give them to me.
Hold up the number. Back a bit.
- Your name? - Júlia Bakó.
- Age? - 25.
- Where do you work? - At a nursery school.
- Name? - Ella Székely.
- How old are you? - 27.
- Occupation? - Teacher.
- Occupation? - Teacher.
Nurse. At a hospital.
Teacher.
Teacher.
Waitress.
Nursery school teacher.
Nurse.
Teacher.
Ready. What're you waiting for?
LATER THAT AFTERNOON
- Can I come in? - What're you doing here?
Can we talk?
- Now? - Yes.
What about?
What's your trouble with me?
Nothing. You may have trouble with me.
- It's not true. - Then what do you want?
Why are you nervous?
Why should I be nervous?
I'm nervous because I don't know what you want.
You said you wanted to talk to me. Come on.
Well?
Why are you hiding from me?
Why are you after me?
You're after me, aren't you?
You call me at home with ridiculous excuses.
You wait for me after school. I can't have a minute on my own.
I can't look up at a meeting, without seeing your sad eyes.
- What do you want me to do? - And you?
I can't want anything. I'm not in that situation.
- There was time when you did. - It was you who did.
- I hope I still do. - What?
I left a folder in the store-room.
What do you want me to do?
Why didn't you shout when I first wanted it?
I'm not shouting. Sorry.
- What's the matter with you? - I'm driven into this corner.
What corner?
This one. I'm driven in corners everywhere.
It's pitiable.
They can fire me any time, as a man of the former regime.
I only need a scandal now!
A lover among the teachers... I should go back to the country.
I can't take any move that weakens my position.
Why can't we be together?
- Where? - Anywhere.
In this store-room? Or in the park? You can choose.
Or again in the car?
I don't know what to do with this feeling.
What feeling? Oh, God!
That I lack something.
I can't leave my family for you.
- I don't want you to. - Then what do you want?
You. To be really mine. I don't want more of your time.
Then what?
Everybody wants that.
My wife, my family, my mother want me to be really theirs.
- But I can't give you more. - You can.
No. You're demanding.
Everyone wants something.
I don't want anything else...
but a quiet corner where no one wants me to do anything.
Shall I go away?
Shall we stop all this?
Yes.
You'd better go to hell,
with my wife, my children, my mother, everybody!
And I could do what I want to.
Do it.
I'd rather turn over this table.
Then turn it over.
I can't. I've never turned over a table in my life.
And I've never hit a woman.
If that's what you want...
You must fell I love you. You must.
Leave me alone, please.
I can't come in each day and see you face all the time.
I can't change my life. Neither because of you.
There was time when I thought I could, when I was sure
I want to change because of you.
Do you, or don't you love me?
I don't know.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Now I don't know.
Yes, yes...
I don't know anything.
Shall I phone your wife?
What could you say to her?
That your neck smells good.
Some months ago I'd wished you to call her.
I wanted a scandal.
- You aren't serous. - I am. I wished one very much.
- But not now. - Why?
I saw you're tired of it.
You could only see I'd had enough of what we had.
Since when? When did you get tired of me?
You said you'd had enough, and yet you didn't finish it.
Is it in your interest? Because I'm the headmaster?
Why do you want me?
- And you? - I asked first.
I liked you.
Why did you make love to me?
Because I wanted you, I needed you.
Biologically?
No. The way you were...
Slip in, green branch, little green leaf.
The golden gate's open, let's slip in...
You'd rather I went back to my village.
It might be better for you too.
I won't sink back, not for you either.
And I won't tumble down, not for you either.
What's that?
Oh, I forgot.
My father was a teacher, and when his school was nationalized
he brought home the sign too. I've still got it.
FRIDAY, CHARRING DAY
DEAR EMMA, I'VE NO TIME TO TAKE THE MONEY TO THE HOSPITAL.
COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE IT IN FOR MY MOTHER?
How do you do.
She's asleep.
- She speaks so much about you. - About me?
How pretty her granddaughter is. How busy she is at the collage.
She was looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, too.
Wake her up.
Aunt Hermina!
Look who is here!
Emma!
How nice of you!
I've brought in the money. Your son can't come in now.
How are you?
The Lord always helps me.
Now he's sent you in here.
Sit down.
What's new at home?
They werert in. But the house is clean and tidy.
I was quite sure of that.
- And at school? - There's nothing new.
The kids're cheeky, aren't they?
They aren't taught to be honest.
Here everybody grumbles at them.
Look, your skirs so beautiful,
because you've love, and one can see it on your face.
Would you do me a favour?
Could you go to the church
where I had first communion in 1914,
and say there Ave Marias for me
at the altar of Holy Mary?
If you've helped Aunt Hermina, please help me too.
I only want that man to love me.
I know that he's unappy, and I could make him happy.
Let him love me just a little, so that I wouldn't be useless.
I feel that I lack something.
Sometimes I see this emptiness,
and I'm scared.
I almost fall into it.
There's nothing to hold on to.
Vacuum. That's the word...
It's the same in English and in Russian.
There's no love anywhere.
Perhaps in me either.
Only this passion for love.
And I've got no faith.
How can I live like this?
The lack of love,
lack of God...
Are you the goddess of lack?
I'm helpless...
RUNNING AWAY
"8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, 8 hours of relaxation..."
Hello, Böbe!
I'm Emma.
Sorry. You're always together. Do you want a brandy?
How come there's a disco?
There's going to be some political lecture.
Here's to you.
Shall we dance?
Will you look after it?
"Lllusion..."
"It was but an illusion,"
"that everyone would be better and nicer"
"if the world turned around."
"It's an illusion that we'll all change,"
"and we can remedy everyone's pain"
"if the world turns around,"
"and the sky will be blue..."
Shart we go upstairs?
Where?
To my room.
Szilárd!
Time is up. It's past midnight.
Come back in ten minutes.
Can't you hear?
Ten more minutes, please.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
Sleep tight.
Hello.
She's come. That's Emma.
Good evening. I'm captain Szablár.
Do come in.
As you can see we had to search the room
in the case of Erzsébet Petur.
She's our guest accused of dealing with devises and drugs.
You'll be a witness. Your ID card, please.
FALL
How long have you known her?
We studied together in college.
How long have you been together?
For seven years, since we came to Budapest.
At the hostel?
First we were lodgers, but we couldn't afford it.
After a year we applied for the hostel.
And the pretty girls had to be kind to a certain official?
- What do you mean by that? - The same as you.
I don't know about that.
Erzsébet Petur says so. You might thank this for her.
And was that gentleman too intimate?
- That's true. - You see?
Did Erzsébet often go out?
Often? I'd say sometimes.
- Did men come to see her? - It happened on and off.
Did it also happen that she didn't sleep here?
It did.
Where did she spend those nights?
We're adults. I didn't ask.
But you're friends.
Didrt she tell you about that?
Never.
Has she got a boyfriend?
She hasn't now.
And you?
I haven't either.
Did you know Böbe was secretly involved in prostitution?
That's not true!
What about foreign currencies?
It's impossible!
I'd have seen if she'd had foreign money.
Are you sure?
But she always had forints, didn't she? More than you.
I don't want to hurt you.
What's her goal in life?
She wants to live.
- Well? - Yes.
- And you? - Me too.
What do you mean by living well?
I don't know.
- Where are you from? - The Great Plain.
Why did you come to Budapest?
I've always wanted to come up.
- Do you go home? - Rarely.
Real life's here, isn't it?
Didrt you realize she met men in espressos?
Especially foreigners? What happened at Hanna's?
What did you have?
Unicum.
- Did you pay for it?
- No. - Then who?
- A German at that time. - You met him there?
How?
They began speaking to us from the next table.
And who answered them? You?
- Who? - Böbe.
And what happened then?
They came over and, ordered drinks.
What did you do then?
I asked Böbe to stop it.
- What did she say? - That I shouldn't whine.
What's the matter?
Are you feeling sick?
It's like a dream that always comes back.
I'm falling...
and suffocating...
Do you want a glass of water?
- And I'm afraid. - Of what?
It's hard to explain, but sometimes it happens...
Many times?
Many times?
Twice, or three times...
I wake up, and it's as if I was disappearing from the world.
Do you like teaching?
No. Not anymore.
Do you like your colleagues?
Earlier I did. Not anymore.
They're all different now. They've put on new faces.
Look, I'm past 50.
And since I was born the world's turned upside down six times.
One must survive, and find the meaning of life.
I saw horrible betrayals,
and I've seen people even worse since I've been sitting here.
And yet I tell you what I read not long ago:
"Life is magnificent."
Good morning.
He wants to see you.
Go to the headmaster's office.
The police were here. Böbe was arrested.
Did you know about it?
Did you know about it? He's been a *** for years.
She's fired. Her belongings're in the corner.
A teacher *** downtown!
They inquired about you too.
Are you also a ***?
Who was it? I say who was it?
Stand up, whoever it was.
You're cowardly rats!
Freedom's come? You think you can do what you like?
Throw up into others' face? Tóth, it was you!
It wasrt me, madam.
Lousy, lying, rotten cowards! Did you learn this from me?
From your form-master? Or the headmaster?
- Who was it? - I don't know.
The clothes over there!
She's the new girl.
Is that you? Beautiful.
TWO MONTHS LATER
Your things're in the basement.
It's Friday. I don't think we can get in.
Can I take a shower?
Can you lend me a clean dress?
Why do you always close it?
What shall we do now?
Learn German so that you could avoid that.
Okay. Can't I ask a question?
- Where's Böbe? - What's the matter?
They saw her come in. She can't come in here.
- Where should she go? - Where's she now?
She's taking a shower Leave her alone!
I'll wait for her here.
Call the ambulance!
You fool!
You know this isn't a solution.
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