I am eleven when I realize How dangerous it is to be a Jew.
My father called me to study one day and said that in order to survive we must separate.
Papa then began to grow Catholic prayers into my head...
so that I pretended to be a Catholic, assured me that God would understand.
But when he started putting me in the closet, my mother and father began to argue...
and so I heard them crying.
Does Holy Communion really feel like blood and meat?
Salam Maria Cannot release it until you are finished.
Hail Mary, full of grace, The Word is with you Blessed are you among women and women Blessed are your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now and at the time of our death.
No, it's not like that. You must be strong.
I brought potatoes.
I can't raise my hand... Don't make me do it again.
Max!
Max, he's here You told me that he would come on Thursday.
He wants to take him right away.
What happened?
Professor, if you want me to take the boy, it must happen now
Wait, wait, wait.
There is no time. Must be now huh?
But he's not ready yet. He has nothing.
Professor, yes or no?
Do you have a baptism certificate?
Here. The priest arranges them for the three of you.
- Romek! - Sara, bring her here!
Sara, let's bring her some clothes, hurry up!
He doesn't go anywhere!
You have to go now
- No, no, no... daddy... - Romek...! You have to go now
Please, let me stay!
boy, down!
- Papa, let me stay - It's okay...
Daddy.
Stop!
Document! What did you bring on your wagon?
Potatoes.
Where is he? He must be stopped.
Judas! Jews, Jewish
That's it.
Let's go.
Move! Dijalanmu.
Hya! Hya!
Praise God.
So, this is a boy.
Yes.
- Daddy! - Oh no!
Dad, he drives me crazy. You have to talk for him He told me again that I was foul smelling.
Then maybe it's time to jump in the river.
- But I can't swim. - Find a shallow place.
When we approached the village Mr. Lipa said that Germans like to kill and eat it.
They take from almost poor people all cows, pigs and goats.
Vladek, open the gate.
Hello neighbor
- Halo - You have a visitor Yes. This is my wife's cousin's child. They lost their home in a bomb.
- He will stay with us for a few months. - Ah!
What's good, noble features.
- He looks like a valuable music box. - Vladek, faster!
I'm glad Mr. Lipa is a good liar. He said, "You are part of my family from Krakow now."
His name is Romek.
Vladek, say Grace.
Bless... bless us... bless us with this ummm... Bless us for ahh... bless us for...
- Why don't you make him say it? - No, you said it.
Bless us, Lord, for Your gift that we want to receive from Your gift through Christ our Lord.
- Amen
- Vladek, I want you to go to the mine and wash the cart for Sunday mass.
Papa, can I show him the pig?
- What? - Papa, can I show him the pig?
After eating.
Romek, come on
Listen to boys Don't tell anyone about this pig. Anyone! Do you understand?
It's not so smart for Mr Lipa to hide the pig and the Jews in the same house.
If Germans find out about the pig...
POUF! POUF!
... This is only for a few months. Vladek, not a word on Tolo.
To hide pigs from Germany, is a death sentence
Tolo, come here. Tolo!
Vladek, no, no, no. Stop it. Stop it, Vladek.
My mother says that this world is upside down.
Two plus two equals seven or even one hundred but never four.
The right answer is very dangerous and so are the children, especially Maria, Vladek's and Robal's and Pyra's girlfriends.
Hey look, cousin Vladek. He is a spy. Get him!
- He is too beautiful Let's hang him up. - Come on, guys, let him go Hey, hey, hey! Where is Romek?
Tolo?
- At the pig's house. - Why?
- Vladek put it there. - Go, and bring him here NOW!
Stop! You two are better at hanging out. Do you understand? Reply me!
You will sleep together tonight.
My brother knows how to stop the nose that you know. Vladek! Show him, show him.
If Papa doesn't stop me, you will have got this.
You are dead.
Psst! Come on, sleep on my bed.
- He had another nightmare. - Shut up.
He works very hard during the day that everything returns to him at night.
Tolo is so stupid.
I want this one there. He has very little peaches.
On Sundays I went to church for the first time in my life. I'm scared.
I know all the other kids will be there.
Of course, when you really see that group of Jesus surrounded by themselves, they are all human stripes.
Mongrels.
We are all lucky to be alive.
Everyone here who goes to the toilet every day for one minute must be happy, but...
can you smile like this little kid?
How can you be so bad towards God?
Today I started the Cathecism class for all of that Lost soul due to war
They have never had their First Communion.
Vladek, Pyra... Maria, Romek and you too Tolo.
I want all of you to be in first grade this afternoon After Mass is there or you die!
- Now, what is Holy Communion? - wafer?
- Tolo thinks it's a wafer. Vladek, what do you think? Romek?
- This is the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. - Exactly, Romek.
Ooh, Jesus!
- Who has a knife? Pyra?
You little fool Do you think it's wine and drink on the altar every Sunday at the Lord's Supper?
No! That is the Blood of Christ.
This is not a wafer, it is the flesh of Christ.
- Can I bring my knife back? - Dad, Dad!
Germans come to the Batylin field. They are looking for pigs.
Don't shoot Don't shoot
- That's good! Well! Stay there. - Daddy, please save the pigs!
NO!
- Officer! Please! Bring the pigs and forgive them. - Catch me this pig
- What? - Catch me this pig
For every pig you catch, you save one life.
Now you are a catcher of pigs.
I'll give you one minute for each. Ah, ah-ah
Start!
Ah! You still have one minute
Come on, come on.
- Why did Maria run away? - He saw his parents killed like that.
Now sometimes he is sometimes weird.
- did you go to the train? - None of your business. Go to sleep.
- What train - I can't tell you
- Why not? - Vladek told me not to do it
The day after the field killing I saw the Imam in the warehouse.
I think he is arguing with God.
Tolo. Hey, Tolo.
- Have you seen your cousin before he came here, huh? - Not.
Where are you with your parents, kid? Hah?
Our house was bombed by German soldiers a few weeks ago and my parents... - Oh yeah? Uh huh?
... and my mother was injured and she lives with the others the brother who took care of her You have to be with your family, son.
One day the pastor gave us a game to play. I think that's why Tolo started to get his weird ideas.
I want you to play a little.
Vladek, take this stick. The names Apostles are written on it.
They are many. Choose two apostles each. Learn about them. Be them And study this book. It has pictures.
- You almost caught the pigs, Father. - What did you say?
Almost caught them. We see you - And you! Get away! Jesus does not play with girls. - Go to hell, Vladek. I don't go anywhere.
- Vladek, there is an empty stick. We can put Jesus there. - The priest does not say to do Jesus.
You cannot have Apostles without Jesus. I want Jesus to survive. Give me the empty Jesus stick!
Okay, fine. Is Jesus empty, fair enough?
Okay, everyone is interesting at the same time. Close your eyes. Close them! Okay, here it is. Don't peek.
Hey. Give it back.
Hey, he has Judas. Traitor You can save it.
- But who got Jesus? - I did it.
- I have to get it - Hey, give me that - No! - Well. You must stand on the Cross.
At night, when the weather is cold and dark. - Okay, but,
Vladek can't throw me into the water, and he can't hit me anymore. I am Jesus!
Tolo asks why Jesus wanted to be crucified. To save all people, I told him I thought he liked my answer.
- Pound is that Pound. Hard! - No, I don't want to do it Ou-Ouch! It hurts!
What are you doing? What are you doing? I know what they are doing. They play the game of Jesus.
You know, you can do exercises that will make it less painful. - what exercises
- Well, you can put your hand on the fire. - Or, you can run naked in the rain.
Or, you can make a crown of roses and use it in your head - Pyra! Pyra, come here.
- Stop it! You're drunk. - Shut up. Shut up. I want to talk to my neighbor. Gniecio?
- Praise God. - Thank God.
Neighbors, you know you have to be very careful. Germany is everywhere
- Batylin kaput! - I know.
You are the most beautiful woman in the whole village.
Forgive me, my wife You are also very beautiful, but in a different way I mean.
Lucky Lipa, beautiful wife, beautiful farm, beautiful cousin.
- Is that what you came here for? - It's time to go home.
Gniecio, you don't do that stupid thing can we all get killed? You too
Okay, let's go
Daddy? Vladek said that Jesus did not play with girls. Is it true?
Are you still Vladek's boyfriend?
Have you ever... kissed him?
You must be sinless when you take your first communion
Pure.
- Do you know about Maria Magdalen? - Not.
Read about him.
- Professor Pyra. Where was Jesus born? - At the Vatican.
- Oh, so he's Italian? - Yes Father
No, Jew. He is a Jew.
A Jew
Shut up! Get up!
I have an idea. I will spend an hour in a warehouse with my lover Then, when I left you would play in the village and start throwing stones at me. Okay, ready
There is no chance.
I want to shout for help, but it's too late - What did they do? - They are naked on top of each other.
That's so bad!
Do you want to see me?
- Can I see you? - Not.
- Why not? - Because.
Did he show it to you? I've seen it twenty times.
And what do you do to stop me from going to the barn? You coward! I'm done with you Soldier, Juden. Soldiers, Jews
What? You are crazy? Stop it.
- Let's go. - now
- What did you say? - Jude.
Where? Where are Jews?
I'm a jude
- Are you? - Yes.
No, no, no. He is joking.
Hans! Hans, hurry up. I am flattered.
Arrival.
Tolo, remove your cap.
Take off the hat! Take off the hat!
- Old witch! - what do you say Gniecio!
- You haven't had a good hit for a long time. - I need it!
Gniecio! I think you should talk to this child. See what he wears on his head.
Tolo, take the hat. Tolo, take the hat!
Take it..it..off!
Why did you do this?
For a while, I set one stone for every day that passes...
but time has passed, and there are many more and more stones, and no one cares.
- Tonight I'm raising a pig - Why?
It's too dangerous to save it. Kluba will go with me.
Kluba has been peeping here for months. He asked me to get rid of him.
- He found a buyer. In the city. - don't
Romek, all you have to do is push his stomach with your hand
Ready? Now!
harder
He had a BIG nightmare tonight.
- Ooh, ahh. Ya-s-s-s. - Oh Boy!
Let's go.
I'll be back tomorrow morning.
Lipa like my father. He will do anything for his family.
- Be careful - I will.
BUILD! Get up!...
BUILD!
Wake up! Feed your children - Mama, please stop! Please stop it! - NOT!
I... I don't know what happened. Gniecio goes with the man who bought the pig I waited for hours.
Then I went looking for him and some people told me that the Germans shot someone.
I found it in a ditch. Then I brought it here. And that's all I know.
- Money. What about the money? - I check He doesn't have it.
Wake up! GET UP! Oh, really stupid! Get up!
- Praise God - Praise God.
Just watch Tolo. He loves you so much.
- I'm not - WHAT!
- I went to pick him up - What? I told you to be aware of it.
That's the only thing I asked you to do in this house for that.
Get out! - Not. That's me, that's me.
- Romek don't go! Romek don't go Stop him. - Poor baby, you will get sick again Where are you Where is my new home?
What happened? Did Vladek do something to you?
- They kicked me out Who is that?
- Don't worry, he can barely see. Come here boy
closer.
City boy Hmmmm!
Lie down beside me.
You are so wet.
- I feel safe with Maria, and... - Look at me.
... I like how he smells like strawberries. That reminds me of my mother.
Vladek is coming
It's okay. I will talk to him.
- What do you want? - I want to speak with Romek.
Romek isn't here
Romek? Tolo is very sick. He wants you back. He wants all children to come.
He asks specifically for you. Romek? Romek!
ROMEK!
- Mama, go - What?
Please Mama
Romek? Forgive me.
I have a plan. You are all in it. It's a special night.
- What special night? - One night I will survive in a big tree...
... all night, and I'll make them all back.
- Who? - Every one.
- Who, Tolo? - Papa, and you...
and you are also Romek. We all have to take a bath together.
- Baptized - Baptized together, getting ready
- Say yes, everything - Yes, Tolo.
- Yes, Tolo.
- I don't put my head in it! - You must. You promised Tolo.
Wait outside
Please do that.
- Thank you. Will you bow? I have to kiss you - Oh no-o!
Because you are shivering, by this holy river... and you might be cold
Listen to me and remember that you all put your head in the bucket and now you have to follow me.
I will suffer for you...
but... I will improve things. - You are doing a good job.
Vladek, come here.
- This is Robal. - He was on the train again.
I know to avoid Kluba but how can I stay? away from her children?
Okay, alright. Mister very late apostle!
I will not play this game again.
say they are stupid What would you do? Stop the war
You promised!
Okay, make my teeth grow back. Make my teeth grow back now! - Climbing up the stairs.
Close your eyes.
Evil devil that stops growing teeth. Go away!
Nothing! A-ha-ha-ha! He can't do it! This must be easy!
You did it on purpose, you little dwarf. - If you leave, you can't go back.
I'm leaving! Robal is correct. Bunch of children and a girl ..
... and a effeminate Jew, playing with Jesus. - Pyra. Pyra, don't go I love you.
Stop right now. Do not touch me! You are not Jesus.
- And you have to be on that train! - Romek, hey!
- My nose! My nose! - Pyra... Pyra... Pyra... Pyra.
- Pyra, Pyra, don't go - Mama, my nose is broken Mama.
Pyra.
I have to go for myself. People whisper that thing Jews only go in one direction.
- Who is that? Papa, is that you? - There is no one there
You go to the train...
Did they jump tonight?
Yes.
I told you. I told you I don't know what happened. I really don't know what happened.
Gniecio sold the pig to the man. I... I'm sure...
- People in the city say that the Gniecio never sold the pig. - She's a liar!
He said another man sold the pig. A big mustache man like you.
What will you do? Rat to me? For who?
The boy... is across the street... How much money do you make?
Get off. Exit!
- How long have you been there? - Kluba knows about me What will he do?
- Maybe it's nothing - What will happen to me?
Don't worry about him. Let me show you something.
- What is this? - Holy Host Do you want?
No.
Don't worry They are not host yet. They are just the tip. I never blessed the edges.
Are we blessed? Or are we just the edge?
We all have memos, Romek, but we are all blessed together.
Not everyone, right?
Batylin...
His wife...
Father Vladek... Maria's parents.
I went to the train last night. My parents didn't come back for me right?
Maybe not.
- What will you do with me if my parents don't return? - They will come back
What if they get sick, or die in war?
You can stay here
Take those nice shoes.
Okay, you can see.
- What are you doing? - Follow me.
Come on, along the way.
- What now? - Alright, I promise that I will always love you, and I don't love Vladek,
and I'm very glad you came to our village, and I'm glad they didn't hang you,
and I love your nose and hair and skin. Now you promise. Don't let go.
Uhh! I promise to work hard to buy you lots and lots of perfume and...
I will always be your girlfriend, I mean husband
- I always want to marry a boy-y-y! - Hands free!
Tolo takes part in asking God to bring Our parents return very seriously.
I don't know why we don't stop it.
harder
I want to be alone.
Father...
Daddy?
I am hanging
- Ah ha! What's in the tree Ooh! - How did you get there?
You are so thin No food? No food.
- What do you want? - Hei Robal, how are you?
- Everyone knows. - What are sheep?
- Sheep is better than girls. - You better keep quiet.
Stop everything.
- Close the little whore. - Get out of here.
You know Vladek, if you are dwarfed not so busy playing games with each other you can make some money.
- Piss on you - You're very stupid. Same as your father.
Let me go you bastard
Come on, let's get out of here We will go home.
Vladek, what did you do Don't touch it Don't let me go.
Tolo, stop it. We will go home.
No, don't let me go. You promise. You put your head in the bucket.
Now Papa will never come back
You KILLED him Vladek.
- I haven't seen Vasha! - I lost him Find him!
Vasha, Vasha!
Bring him!
Can you walk Fast!
Stop! Where are you going?
- What do you want? - You will tell your story at the Police Station.
Come on!
- We have no money - We have no money No money?
If he sees us, he will kill us!
What about gold, jewelry? What is it
Vladek, slows down.
Kluba...
- Klu... Kluba killed your father - What?
I heard Kluba arguing with the Imam.
The priest goes to town and finds... Kluba sells the pig.
Your mother
Somebodies mother.
Hi city boy! What do you mean by what you say?
- Somebodies mom! Are you spying on me? - Come on Romek Let's go.
Stop it! Stop it!
What do you know, Jewish boy?
Robal stops it, stop it! Robal stops it, stop it. Robal, you are an idiot.
Leave your little whore up!
- yes! - Well.
- What are you doing Robal? - get lost!
Get away!
Vladek... Vladek!
I'm... Maria.
Romek... Romek!
Be careful of children You have your mother to take care of...
and Tolo, and Romek.
Your father will be proud of you.
Let's go.
Have you come
Take off your shoes!
Put your head on! Put your head on!
Hey Robal.
You will not shoot.
It is in his mouth. Wait a minute!
We don't have a father.
- Your father has no sons. - Vladek, NO!
That's for you, Papa.
Vladek, give me the gun
- Hands up! - Romek, run
- Don't move! - Wait! Wait. Wait!
The boy robbed the Jews.
Lift later.
Come here. Come to come.
Here!
How much money did you make tonight?
Look at me. Good work, Colonel!
Do you want to go to ride?
Come to come.
Hans... Hans!
Stop here.
I have to show you something. Just wait.
Come here! Come. Come with me.
Listen now.
When I say "Go", you do the same thing You do in the forest. OK?
Come with me... I've never seen anything like this in my life.
Look at the boy. ROMEK... ROMEK! GO!
Now watch.
Take off the coat!
Faster
And the vest... and the vest.
Good boy, huh?
Take off your shoes.
RELEASE AGAIN!
Come here, come here.
Of course, listen to me. Please.
- I am a pole, I am not a Jew, please let me go. - Shut up!
- Look, he has something there - Ah, beautiful
- Good boy - Shut up!
- Let me go. I am not a Jew. I'm a pole - Hey, what happened there?
- I am not a Jew. I am a pole - He is the Pole.
- Bring him here - I know him.
- Do you know him? I know him. He is a Pole.
I am not a Jew. I'm a polar
- Tell me, how do you know him? - He helped me
- Where? - In the forest.
- In the forest? - Yes!
Alright, let's see.
Pull your pants Pull your pants!
Come! come here.
Oh, forgive the Colonel. I am sorry.
Continue to work well, and so on. Pull your pants - TOLO! - Stop him!
- what are you doing? - I know him. A blonde boy
- The child? - Yes, Tolo.
This is my sister Come here.
Do you know that child?
- there Do you know him? - Tolo!
The boy says he's your brother What is he?
Tolo!
Tolo... Tolo. Not.
Do you want to come with him? Do you want to come with him? So shut up!
That's my sister!
- No no Vladek! - Tolo... Tolo!
This is the Lamb of God who was washed away the sin of the world.
Happy are those he calls for his Supper.
- Corpus Christi. - Amen
Corpus Christi.
- Corpus Christi. - Amen
Romek! Corpus Christi.
Amen
I will never forget Tolo...
or the kindness of the people who helped me...
to remain myself.