The Way Back

[first lines]

[in Polish, using English subtitles]

Interrogator:
[presents pen to sign confession]

Janusz:
No.

Interrogator:
Bring in the witness.

Janusz's Wife, 1939:
[brought in]

Interrogator:
Do you know this man? His name?

Janusz's Wife, 1939:
Janusz Wieszczek.

Interrogator:
Witness, what's your relationship with this man?

Janusz's Wife, 1939:
[crying] I am his wife.

Interrogator:
Accused, do you confirm this?

Janusz's Wife, 1939:
Yes.

Interrogator:
Witness, what do you have to say about the accused?

Janusz's Wife, 1939:
[agonizing] From his conversation, I have come to know he is critical of the Party, especially the leader of the Soviet people, Comrade Stalin.

Janusz:
What have they done to you?

Mr. Smith:
Kindness. That will kill you here.

Mr. Smith:
You should be grateful we are here at all.

Valka:
Grateful is for dogs.

Janusz:
We are not criminals. We are escaping from criminals.

Janusz:
Why would an American move to Russia for God sakes?

Irena:
The Depression.

Valka:
Don't you know what "Stalin" means, funny man? Means man-of-steel. He takes from rich, and gives to poor.

Zoran:
Yes, of course he does. Then he takes both of them, and puts them in Gulag for 25 years.

Valka:
Prison is okay. Debt is bad. But there are many prisons, they don't find me.

Zoran:
What about America?

Valka:
Oh, it's not for me, freedom. I wouldn't know what to do with it, I swear to God.

Janusz:
[eating snake] Tastes like chicken.

Zoran:
Yeah. A big black poisonous chicken with no legs.

Mr. Smith:
In the camps, some saw death as freedom.

Janusz:
Then why didn't you just kill yourself?

Mr. Smith:
Survival was a kind of protest. Being alive was my punishment.

Janusz:
Punishment for what?

Mr. Smith:
I brought David to Russia.

Janusz:
And now no one can forgive you. And you can't forgive yourself...

Mr. Smith:
Kindness. That can kill you here.

Valka:
You say too many prayers for an innocent man.

[first title cards]

Title Card:
In 1941, three men walked out of the Himalayas into India. / They had survived a 4000 mile walk to freedom. / This film is dedicated to them.

[last lines]

Man:
Where have you come from?

Janusz:
Siberia.

Man:
Siberia?

Religious man:
[speaks to crowd in unknown language]

Man:
And how did you come, sir?

Janusz:
We walked.

Man:
Walked?

[crowd noise]

[last title cards]

Title Card:
8TH MAY, 1945 VISTORY IN EUROPE / 1945-1948 SOVIET UNION IMPOSES COMMUNISM ON POLAND / AN 'IRON CURTAIN' FALLS OVER EASTERN EUROPE / 1956 HUNGARIAN UPRISING / 1961 BERLIN WALL GOES UP / 1968 SOVIET UNION SENDS TROOPS INTO PROGUE / 1980 POLISH SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT CHALLENGES COMMUNISM / 1989 COMMUNISM COLLAPSES / POLAND FREE