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Cinematographic Studio Bucharest Presents
You good for nothing!
Eating the bread of idleness, and wasting your time.
And boasting you're the King's son.
The first to eat your pie.
The last to fight
and die!
If I Were... The White Moor
Story Inspired By The Fairy Tale: 'White Moor' By Ion Creanga
Director: Ion Popescu-Gopo
Once... upon a time,
there was a king,
who had three sons.
The King had...
an older brother,
who was the Emperor,
of a far away country.
And the Emperor,
the King's brother,
was called the 'Green Emperor'.
The Green Emperor had no sons,
only daughters.
Many years had passed,
since the two brothers had seen...
each other.
And the cousins,
the King's sons,
and the Emperor's daughters,
had never seen each other in their entire lives.
For the Green Emperor's country,
lay at one end of the world,
and the kingdom of the other,
lay at the other end of the world.
In those times, almost all...
the countries of the world were ravaged by cruel wars.
The roads by land and sea,
were little known,
tortuous,
and winding.
That is why travel in those days was full of peril,
unlike today.
He who set out for one part of the world,
would rarely be seen again.
But let's not get carried away, and continue with our story.
The story goes that the Emperor,
as he advanced in age,
wrote a letter to his brother,
the King.
On receiving the letter,
the King called...
upon his sons and told them:
Here is what your uncle asks of you:
*untranslated*
"He who is fit to rule over such a great country like mine."
"Let him come and take my place."
The eldest son said:
"Father, this honour must be mine,"
"I am the eldest brother."
"Pray, grant that I may leave right away."
Farewell, my beloved son.
The young Prince,
gathered everything he needed.
Bid his father farewell, and joyfully left for his uncle's kingdom.
But the King, wishing to...
test his son's valour,
dresses up in a bear costume,
and rides to surprise his son,
by hiding under a bridge.
When his son reached the bridge, all of a sudden, an angry bear rose before him.
Then the
horse reared,
on his hind legs,
nearly overthrowing his master.
The King's son, unable to control his horse,
and afraid to continue his journey;
ashamed, returned to his father.
Did you forget anything, my dear boy?
No, I did not.
At the bridge,
a terrible bear attacked me: scared the life out of me!
You're not fit or worthy to rule over an empire.
You should have...
stayed at home.
"Father",
the second son said.
"I will go!"
The young Prince,
then got ready.
Took the letter from his uncle, the Emperor,
bid farewell to his brothers,
and set out the next day.
And he rode, on and on and on,
until the night fell.
At the bridge,
the bear appeared again.
I see the saying also applies to you.
'Protect me from hens,'
'for dogs, I do not fear.'
- *untranslated* - *untranslated*
- *untranslated* - *untranslated*
Thank god,
I got out alive.
I've enough to eat in your house.
There's plenty of food,
but what about your shame?
*untranslated*
*untranslated*
Father.
Father.
I'm a prince, let me go.
You?
And what happened next?
- I'll tell you tomorrow. - Please, please, please!
As he was musing,
lost in his thoughts.
He suddenly discovered an old woman in front of him.
- Asking for alms. - I want to pee!
Come on.
Why are you lost in thoughts,
fair prince?
Drive sorrow...
out of your heart.
Good luck,
is smiling on you from everywhere.
Auntie, sit down,
sit down, sit down and rest yourself.
- Slowly, that's it. - Slowly, slowly.
There you are.
- Thank you. - There...
I knew you would come.
- Did you? - Since this morning.
Aren't you the old woman of the fairy tale?
What me?
What do you mean?
Can you spare a coin for an old woman?
The coin's ready, but first transform yourself.
- What you mean? - Transform...
From an old woman,
into a beautiful young fairy.
Are you making fun of me?
Me?
- You're not the old woman of the fairy tale? - No.
- Neither... - Neither!
On your way then!
Tell me,
what troubles you.
Maybe,
I am able to help you.
Listen,
one is one and two are few.
Leave me alone, I'm worried.
I thought you were the fairy in the 'White Moor' story.
'White Moor'?
- You don't know the 'White Moor' story? - No.
When Mother,
used to tell me this tale.
I used to feel that I was the...
White Moor.
And father: 'you?'
I know I shouldn't take it to heart.
Auntie, take it and farewell.
What you give,
may god return it to you tenfold!
Now fair Prince,
giving alms will help you.
Look into my eyes and listen.
- Soon you'll be Emperor. - I know.
Take your father's horse, sword and bridegroom garments.
I know!
Put a tray of burning embers in the horse stable.
- You know what's next? - It's like the story.
'Smooth Face' will catch you at the well.
'Should a man know how he'll fare, he'd work and ply with the greatest of care.'
May yours be the fate of the White Moor, and may his fate be yours.
Come on, eat your embers.
Which of you has eaten the embers?
Good lord.
It's you!
- Where did you get these clothes from? - These? Some old rags from the attic.
- Take care. - Farewell, Father!
Oh,
Father!
Young one!
Here, here I am!
Young one!
I'm here!
Dad, Daddy!
Get away!
Look!
You were most valiant and you are worthy of ruling an empire.
Go to my brother.
By this regalia,
you will be recognised,
as the heir of the Green Emperor.
Father!
My beloved son,
reign with kindness and wisdom.
- Beware of the 'Smooth Face'. - I know...
Goodbye...
Beware of the 'Smooth Face'.
My beloved son.
I thought,
it was my own face, reflected in the water.
Maybe it is.
No, I am myself.
You are somebody else.
Are...
you... Smooth Face?
Daddy told me not to speak to you.
Hey!
Daddy told me not to speak to you!
Is that you again? Where's the road to the Green Emperor?
The road to the Green Emperor? Hire me as your guide.
No, I don't need you as a guide.
- You'll lose your way. - I won't lose my way.
You've lost your way.
I'll lead you to the Green Emperor, my prince.
It is rather gloomy here, huh.
Yes, it is, my prince.
Was there a battle here?
It was a slaughter,
my prince.
Tell me, what are these?
There were men tied to the wheels, and raised to face the Sun.
They died from thirst.
They celebrated the victory,
by drinking red wine,
in a lake of blood.
These are just... fairy tales.
You're Smooth Face?
I had to avoid this well, but I still fell.
What you feared most, you were unable to escape.
Tell me who you are,
and where you are going,
or else your bones will rot there.
Are you the King's son?
I'll tell you nothing.
Where you going?
I will tell you nothing.
I can...
wait.
You will wait till doomsday.
I am quite happy here.
That's all,
I wanted to know.
I could kill you.
But I feel pity for your young age.
If you wish to see the Sun again,
swear you will obey me, even if I bid you to throw yourself into the fire.
From now on,
I will be the Green Emperor's nephew,
and you...
my servant.
Ask him again.
Who did you say you were?
I am the King's son, the nephew of the Emperor.
Yes, it's him.
Let the trumpets announce,
my joy all over...
the kingdom.
Let the sheep be sacrificed.
We have no more sheep.
Let the wine flow!
We have no more wine.
Then,
let's make a feast, like in the fairy tales.
Have you...
ever...
eaten such salad?
Where did you got it from? It is very good.
I agree,
but it's very difficult to get.
Only in the bear's garden,
is there... such salad.
Nobody can get it and...
escape with his life.
My servant will bring me some salad from the bear's garden.
A young man like him,
ignorant...
of the ways around here.
If you have pity on him,
leave him be.
Have you ever seen...
gems as beautiful...
as these?
Where can one find them?
- Where did you get them from? I got them from the Forest of the Stag.
This Stag...
is studded with gems larger and more...
beautiful than these.
He has one on his brow,
that shines like a sun.
The stag...
is...
bewitched.
If his eyes set on you,
your life's lost.
I'll send my servant,
to bring you the gems.
You speak as if...
you wanted to get rid of him.
You are too considerate to your subjects.
That's why you never get any precious gems,
or any salads.
If you set me sooner on your throne,
you will see how the empire will change.
Things will no longer be the same.
You were wise and brave when you were young,
but now?
Music!
Perfidious, servant!
Go and fetch me the girl, right now!
She's a witch.
You swore,
you would obey my orders.
Do as I command!
- You're sending him to his death! - He's my servant!
You are wrong.
We must spare our people.
Had I my own money, I should give him up.
Spare a coin for the old woman,
young prince.
Go away, I've other things to do now.
Necessity drove you back to me again.
Yes.
Smooth Face... wants to kill me.
I'd rather die than go on...
living this life.
I didn't know the White Moor was such a coward, you're worse...
than a woman.
Maybe Auntie, you are right.
But I'm...
terribly worried!
White Moor,
one day when you're great and mighty,
you'll believe in the oppressed.
For now you know...
what trouble and sorrow mean.
If there's any trouble about,
you seem to rush to grab it.
Should a man know how he will fare?
You know everything.
What are you doing here?
The forests are burning.
'All day long I shiver and shake'
'And when I don't, I simply freeze'
'Three forests have I till now burned'
'But not a speck of heat I have earned'
'My breath is polar air'
'My tears, ice cubes in a frigidaire'
'A glance from me'
'Can in a trice'
'Turn blazing flames into ice'
You may laugh, White Moor.
But you can't go without me, wherever you go.
All right, come along if you wish.
Now you won't be cold anymore.
Goodbye!
Hey, Frost!
Hey!
Hey, wasn't there...
- a river here? - Yes, there was.
- But where is the water? - He drank it.
A man up at the mill.
I'll see when I get there.
Look, look what's here!
- You had a bite? - Just a mite.
'I drank drop by drop, three full wells and a lake on top'
'Then I idly swallowed down, a herd of cattle without a frown'
'Woe!'
'Woe, woe!'
'Were I to drink until I burst, I'll never ever quench my thirst'
'Woe'
'Woe, woe!'
'I gulp down a whale like a pint of ale'
'He even eats his words'
'When I go to dine I sip a cask of wine'
'For my evening meal I bit three oxen on a spit, I'm hungry, I'm thirsty'
'I'm dying to eat' 'I'm dying to eat'
It takes all sorts to make a world.
Isn't that... Greedy Guts?
The Greedy Guts of the fairy tale.
That's Dry Throat,
the son of drought.
He is a devilish fellow.
He is the death of all rivers.
He is born...
under the sign of the duck.
Wherever you go,
you'll never succeed without us, eh?
That's right.
Come... along,
and let the mills work, you've done enough harm.
'We the brave soldiers of noble King Log'
'High ho, high ho, wherever we go, we spread terror and woe'
'The land we scour in leisure or haste, is racked, ruined and laid to waste'
'High ho, high ho, stars that glitter in the sky, at our sight just fade and die'
'Clouds sweep away in fear, when our names they hear'
Everything I see is...
as riddled as a sieve.
Above my head,
there are things visible and invisible.
I see the grass grow.
*untranslated*
I see the stars and the moon.
I see the trees, their crown thrust in the earth,
and cattle with their legs in the air.
I see the people with their heads between their shoulders.
How do you see our fairy tale?
As I've already told you...
You're the son of...
the King of Diamonds,
and you set off for the King of Spades.
You had troubles with the Knave of Clubs.
Smooth Face.
You fall on pleasant company,
on your way to your lady love.
So,
er, the Knave of Clubs,
wants her for his bride.
He doesn't even like her.
He wants to kill me.
The girl's father is merciless.
I don't care.
I know my future.
Can you tell me my fortune? Even if I know my story.
Have you read it?
I know it by heart.
You should re-read it.
I already know everything.
It might turn out differently.
No, you are, you.. are...
Keen Eye.
This is the Birdcatcher.
Birdcatcher?
Hm!
The most skillful of hunters.
He hits the bird in her flight.
These are hunters' tall stories, he's just a windbag.
Look!
What's that?
Ready?
Come along.
I didn't know you or else I would have...
killed you a long time ago.
- My nephew! - Your nephew is far away.
On his way to the wizard's daughter.
You'll never see him again.
Gather your army!
Is it
war?
It will be a massacre,
my emperor.
You, queen of the bees,
your charmed wing will no longer help the White Moor.
'We the brave soldiers of noble King Log'
'High ho, high ho, wherever we go, we spread terror and woe'
'The land we scour in leisure or haste, is racked, ruined, and laid to waste'
'High ho, high ho, stars that glitter in the sky, at our sight just fade and die'
Next!
It's shut.
Where are we?
It's hot!
We'll
roast here!
I'm burning!
'How warm my heart is...'
Frost, you are happy in this heat while, we are turning into ashes.
You ought to live in a forest,
not in a royal palace,
with decent people.
Please sneeze, Frost.
For our sake.
And you call yourself Emperor?
- No embers in the hearth. - We'll freeze to death.
Such a scarcity of wood...
Your highness, the Emperor,
sent me to ask your daughter to be his wife.
All right young man.
We'll come to that in time.
- Our tongue are frozen with cold. - Frozen!
And thirst...
You'll have food and drink.
Bless your heart, your highness.
I don't care about food.
It's drink that matters!
Your highness knows what needs to be done.
There'll be...
food and drink galore.
More than you can cope with.
If you are not...
master eaters,
and master drinkers,
I'll have...
your heads chopped off!
What is here,
and with...
my companions help,
we'll manage.
When we're finished,
you'll give us the girl and we shall set off.
Good appetite, Greedy Guts.
Long live your highness!
Your highness, may I raise my glass to thee...
for the health and glory of your majesty.
Give us...
all the food and drink you've got.
All the drink.
Nobody can beat us in drinking and eating.
Though in work we may be outdone.
It's an old custom,
to have fiddlers, and stories sung of love and glee.
Wine is sweeter with music.
'The snow falls and falls'
'The winter freezes, freezes'
'The frost grows and grows.'
'The wind blows and blows'
'Little, birdie birdie'
'That sings at times'
'So sweet, has ceased to sing her warble.
'Twitter, twitter, tweet'
- But what is this? - 'Twitter, twitter, tweet, tweet...'
'Sing us a merrier song'
'A song of dawn'
'A song of dawn'
'When life seems to go all wrong'
Shh!
'Life be blowed, it's sickly-thin'
'It snaps at every jerk and spirit'
'When you seem to enjoy life most'
'The thread snaps and off the ghost'
'Pour fresh wine in all glasses, till sorrow and gloom passes'
As I said before:
'When a thread breaks in two'
'You make a knot as tight as nine'
'But when the thread of life does crack'
'All is gone, there's no road back'
'All your palaces and riches'
'Are left behind with all your wishes'
'None will lament or think of you'
'Except the souls you've been kind to'
'Gracious King and noble sire, let's cling glasses and not fire'
For he who tasty wine doth cherish'
'Will cause all his foes to perish'
You are a rose,
bathed in the morning dew.
Or as we say in our country,
you are very beautiful.
Your highness,
it's time to give us the girl and we'll set off.
You've fed on my food.
You've drunk my drink.
Each, more than a dozen could eat.
But there's something else to do.
Your highness, don't put us to any more tests.
Give the girl and let's make the bargain.
Whether you wish it or not,
so it will be.
It's written in the tale.
At night your girl will turn into a turtle dove.
Keen Eye will sight her, Birdcatcher will catch her...
We are wasting time.
Look, she's there.
Ready!
You've won,
White Moor.
You were clever enough to make use of good...
and evil.
And the evil,
has been of good help.
Young man.
I have...
another daughter,
and there is no...
difference between them at all.
No difference.
Take a good look, White Moor.
One of these two girls...
is
my daughter.
Be careful.
Take your sword,
and strike the false one!
Mind what you do,
White Moor.
Nobody...
can help you now.
If you make a mistake,
she is lost for both you,
and for me.
What's the story say?
The bee's wing...
Bee!
The queen of the bees.
Tear off the bee's wing.
What...
queen?
What bee?
He's forgotten the tale.
She is too dear to me.
I love her.
I can't choose.
I've defeated you,
White Moor!
May blood stop flowing,
and may,
there never be,
another tomorrow!
Your highness!
Your highness!
Your...
story is...
not finished.
Who did this?
Smooth Face.
Smooth Face.
Father!
Father!
I've
been waiting for you, son of...
a viper.
There may be a sin you've not redeemed.
You know:
when parents eat sour grapes, their children's teeth are set on edge.
There's no time to waste.
Should a man know how he'll fare...
After the White Moor slayed his foe,
crowds of noble men and women gathered to the feast:
kings and queens, emperors and empresses.
Father,
this is Birdcatcher.
Keen Eye.
Dry Throat.
He is Greedy Guts.
Frost.
'Never have you seen of old, a lad so frozen shy of cold'.
You nothing to say?
You've been the bravest of all your brothers, you saved my life.
You are worthy...
to rule the Empire.
My beloved son.
Father,
I... saved your life,
- I'm the White Moor. - You?
The End
Subtitle Revision: Kosmikino