We Were the Lucky Ones (2024) s01e08 Episode Script
Rio
1
[ADDY KURC] Previously, on
We Were the Lucky Ones
General Anders is
assembling a Polish infantry.
You have been summoned
to fight by his side.
We're hearing it
everywhere, death camps.
[ADAM EICHENWALD] Halina's parents
are still at the factory at Pionki.
[RAHEL] Get them out.
We're trying to find Poles
who are willing to cooperate.
I have a couple names I can give you.
Panie Górski?
I can't believe Addy is 31 today.
- Addy.
- Caroline.
I'm moving to Krakow.
Fighting will erupt,
it's a matter of when.
There's a job waiting for you in
Krakow, if you can make the trip.
[PLANES WHIRRING]
- [BOMBS EXPLODING]
- [GASPS]
Pinkus, how much more will
this get us? It's very valuable.
[ADAM] Yes, Mila, we
will get Felicia back.
- We have no zloty left.
- Herr Den. I'll take the train.
- Is that safe?
- [HALINA KURC] We meet back here tomorrow.
This exact spot, this exact time. Okay?
[SOLDIERS YELLING]
I understand that mistakes happen.
This one can be fixed quite easily.
My name is Halina Brzoza.
I came from Warsaw at the request
of my employer, Herr Leopold Den.
He works at the bank
on Rynek Kleparski
[HALINA GASPS]
You are a Jew.
I-I am not a Jew. [GRUNTS]
[GRUNTING, BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GASPING]
I'm not
I'm not, I'm not a Jew.
- I'm not a Jew, I'm not a Jew.
- [GRUNTING]
- I'm not
- [GRUNTING]
[HALINA WAILING]
[GASPS]
Please, please, please! [GROANS] Please.
- Please, please.
- [GRUNTING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BODY THUDS]
♪
- [GRUNTS]
- [INTERROGATOR] Stop lying!
[GROANS]
Your friend, Pinkus, must
not have liked his new coat.
- He was very quick to give us your name.
- [HALINA GRUNTS]
I don't don't know
anyone named Pinkus.
That sounds like the name of a Jew.
I'm not friends with Jews.
[GROANS]
[PRISONERS PRAYING IN HEBREW]
♪
Why would a Jew turn in a Jew?
You ask me to understand
the mind of a Jew?
I ask you to use common sense.
I traded with the boy for some
potatoes. My-My family was starving.
What was I to do?
Tell me who you are,
and this can all be over.
My name is Halina Brzoza.
That is not your name!
Ask my husband.
He will disagree with you.
[GASPS]
- [GUNSHOTS BLASTING]
- [DISTANT SCREAMS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SLIGHT GRUNT]
Do you like poetry?
[PAINED EXHALE]
[LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
Yes, I do.
I once lived in a home
filled with it.
[GUNSHOT BLASTING]
[INTERROGATOR] This will all
stop if you tell us the truth.
You are a Jew.
[HALINA BREATHING HEAVILY]
[ADDY] Halina.
- [EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
- To future adventures.
I will be waiting, whenever
you decide to make the trip.
My name
is Halina
♪
Brzoza.
- [GUNSHOTS BLASTING]
- [GASPING]
They're getting rid of
us erasing the evidence.
[DOOR OPENS]
[HALINA SHIVERING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[NAZI ADMINISTRATOR] Frau Brzoza?
Your discharge papers.
It seems your arrest was invalid.
You can retrieve your
belongings on your way out.
Understand?
You're free to go.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
[WHIMPERING]
♪
♪
[SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner.
[HALINA GROANS]
You-You didn't know.
Your husband has been
searching for me for months.
I stopped going to the
bank when I saw the signs.
A colleague got me a note.
When I finally located you here,
I informed them of their mistake.
S-S-Saw the signs of what?
The Soviets are close.
The Germans on the way out.
No one can declare it yet, but
the amount of damage they will
inflict as they make their retreat.
- [GUNSHOTS BLASTING]
- [PRISONERS YELLING IN THE DISTANCE]
The executions are
happening q-quickly now.
I-I almost, I almost told them.
I, [PANTING] I should have told them.
[LIGHT, TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
My name is Halina Kurc.
Halina
will you speak for me if the time comes?
♪
- [DOG BARKING]
- [BIRDS CHIRPING]
[BELLA RETCHING]
[BELLA SPITTING]
[BELLA PANTING]
I don't want to leave.
[BELLA GROANS]
- It's your first day.
- [JAKOB SIGHS]
We're going to need the money.
[GROANS]
I'm alright.
- You don't look alright.
- Thank you.
[CHUCKLES]
I-I'm a bit out of my depth,
but Mila says it was worse
when her stomach was empty.
Anna said the same thing.
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
Anna was ?
The first time didn't take.
The second time she was
so close to telling Daniel.
Almost ready to be sure.
I was the only one who knew.
And now you.
♪
♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
Uncle Jakob found this
in one of the apartments.
I'll read it to you if you'd like?
Why are so many of the apartments empty?
Um, everyone was sent away.
They weren't given a choice.
Would you try a few bites, my love?
It hurts.
I think if you go slow
I'm not hungry.
It's just down this road.
This spot is really tucked away.
Rahel knew what she was doing.
- I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner.
- Adam, you you couldn't
Felicia was so ill, we had
to get her out of Warsaw.
You were absolutely right.
No, I should've done more.
You did everything.
I'm the one who got caught.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
Halina.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
♪
[SIGHS] My God.
The reports from Warsaw,
we were certain that
There has been so much bad news.
[DOOR OPENS]
♪
Halina.
My love.
[HALINA CRYING]
[BOTH CRYING]
♪
Papa.
It's alright.
[NECHUMA SIGHS]
[RADIO STATIC]
[RADIO ANNOUNCER SPEAKING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
No reason to be nervous.
- Do I seem nervous?
- Mm-hmm.
- Just a normal Tuesday.
- And after that, Wednesday.
[PRESIDENT TRUMAN OVER RADIO]
I wish that Franklin D. Roosevelt
had lived to see this day.
General Eisenhower informs
me that the forces of Germany
- have surrendered to the United Nations.
- [BOTH REJOICING]
The flags of freedom
fly all over Europe.
For this victory, we join in offering
- [CAROLINE SQUEALS]
- [PEOPLE CHEERING]
They're pouring into the street!
[PRESIDENT TRUMAN] through
the dark days of adversity
and into light.
Much remains to be done.
The victory won in the West
must now be won in the East.
- [CAROLINE] Addy, come here.
- [PRESIDENT TRUMAN] The whole world
must be cleansed of the evil from
which half the world has been freed.
United, the peace-loving nations
- [CROWD CHEERING OUTSIDE]
- have demonstrated in the West
that their arms are stronger by far
than the might of dictators or
the tyranny of military cliques
- that once called us soft and weak.
- [CHEERING MUFFLED]
The power of our people
to defend themselves
against all enemies will
be proved in the Pacif
- [TURNS OFF RADIO]
- [EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
We look for everybody.
Tomorrow, I'll go to the Red Cross
and double-check that all
of our names are registered.
Kurcs, Tatars, Eichenwalds. Everybody.
I'll look into the DP camps
try and find out when
we can access a list.
I'm almost certain that Genek
and Herta were sent to Siberia.
Maybe Selim too.
There may be records they
weren't willing to show us before.
- Countless men were conscripted.
- Addy might still be in France.
I want to go back to Radom.
If the boys were able to,
they will have written.
Perhaps something made it through.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT STREET CHATTER]
[NECHUMA SIGHS]
♪
♪
[FOOTSTEPS]
Hello. [CHUCKLES]
Forgive the intrusion,
- but this apartment
- What do you want?
Sorry, my name is Nechuma Kurc,
and this is my apartment
from before the war.
- I know nothing of that.
- W Uh Well, uh, no, you wouldn't.
It's, uh I wouldn't imagine
they would inform you of the family
- they illegally [CHUCKLING] evicted.
- Hm, we are legally renting.
Alright, even so, have you received
mail addressed to the name "Kurc"?
- I was wondering
- No, no, no, no, no, do not
- let them inside. No.
- We we have sons
- This is our home!
- Listen, listen, listen, listen!
We have sons, Genek and Addy
Kurc, they have been missing,
- it's possible they sent letters here
- She will say anything to get inside.
You think I lie about my sons?
- They're Jew thieves.
- We are the thieves?
Uh, we-we will go.
There's no need to, uh
It would shh, cost you
nothing to let me check the mail.
- [HALINA] Mother.
- If you could just please
open the door and
We are calling the authorities.
[SCREAMS] This is my house, my house!
Did you paint those walls?!
Is that your furniture?!
- Mother you
- Did you give birth here?!
- [SOL KURC] Nechuma. Hey
- Your son burn his hand on that stove?!
- Your daughter play that piano?
- Mother, Mother!
- This is our home!
- Mother, listen
- Our home!
- Stop, stop!
[NECHUMA PANTING]
- It's not worth it.
- It's not.
It's not worth it.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
♪
[HORSE NEIGHS]
"As a spokesperson for the
voice of Polish Society,
I advise all Jews to get out
beyond the borders of Radom county."
They give us a date, August 15th.
[NECHUMA KURC] Now they accuse us
of collaborating with the Soviets.
[HALINA] How? It defies reason.
We don't belong here anymore.
It's time for us to go.
[INDISTINCT STREET CHATTER]
[AMBIENT STREET, NATURE SOUNDS]
[EXPATRIATE] Józef! [SOBBING]
It's my Józef!
Józef, my husband.
[SOBBING]
Józef, Józef.
Józef. [SOBBING]
I wasn't able to save much,
but she wore this almost
every day the first few months.
It's hard to imagine needing a cap.
I feel like a furnace all the time.
I think this child may be actual fire.
Don't worry, that will only get worse.
[CHUCKLES]
Selim loved to tell me
the science behind it,
as though science would
help me sweat less.
- [LAUGHING]
- [DOOR OPENS]
Jakob?
[MILA KURC] Hi.
Are you alright?
There was a new list.
They're on it, my, my family.
They're gone.
They're gone.
[ADAM CRYING]
Who did you find?
[SWALLOWS]
My mother my father
my sister, Mania
my nephew.
[GASPS]
There was no information.
I don't know what they, or-or how.
What was the point of it all?
I felt such conviction
the Underground, my contribution.
But if I had focused on them, on
my family, the way that Halina
Please don't do that. Don't do that.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
There's no reason anyone survived this.
- Hm.
- Hm.
They didn't want us to survive this.
None of us should be here.
- What do I do with that?
- [BELLA SIGHS]
[SOBBING]
I don't know.
[BOTH WEEP]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Excuse me.
[SIGHS] Sorry, sorry.
- Hey.
- Hi, I got in a fight.
You got in a fight?
- Is it impossible to believe?
- Mm, a bit.
- Well, some things are too enragin'.
- What happened?
I just can't believe it sometimes.
The apathy.
The survivors out of the
camps, those horrific images.
There was a representative from
the immigration office today
who said that due to their suffering
he can't imagine they would have
the capacity to contribute
to Brazilian society.
So, yes, I got in a fight.
Everyone says they wanna help.
They would just prefer
it to be from a distance.
- Sorry.
- Why are you sorry?
I'm ruinin' this. It's
supposed to be a happy day.
- It is a happy day.
- [ADMINISTRATOR] Señorita Carolina?
- [CAROLINE] Mm.
- [ADMINISTRATOR] Señorita Carolina?
Believe that's you.
Oh, shoot! Here, I'm here! [CHUCKLES]
I always forget I'm "Carolina" here.
Carolina
should we get married?
I think we should.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Good morning. Morning.
Morning.
Halina! I'm sorry,
I'll just be a minute.
Come here!
S-sorry, excuse me.
- Sorry.
- It arrived yesterday.
[GASPS]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
- Thank you. Thank you.
- It's my pleasure.
- [ALL APPLAUDING]
- Thank you.
[REJOICES] Thank you, thank you!
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you!
Thank you!
♪
Mother?
Tata?
- Are you okay? [CHUCKLES]
- [HALINA PANTING]
- Where's Mila?
- Mila's doing Felicia's lessons.
- Wh-What is it?
- Mila, Felicia!
Come!
Mathematics can wait!
Thank you for that.
What is it?
♪
[CHOKES UP]
"With Selim
and Herta in Italy.
Find us through Polish II Corps.
Signed Genek Kurc."
- [EMOTIONAL PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
- [NECHUMA SOBBING]
R-read that again.
"With Selim and Herta in Italy.
Find us through Polish
II Corps. Genek Kurc."
- [HALINA LAUGHING]
- Our boy.
Our Genekca. Genekca.
♪
And Selim, Mila.
- Selim.
- [HALINA] [SIGHS] Oh my. Oh.
What's he like?
Very kind.
A bit serious. [CHUCKLES]
Smart.
He had so many ideas when you were born
about what he wanted to teach you.
Mm what he thought you could be.
I'm sorry I haven't
told you more about him.
It was so long since
we heard from him, I
- [INHALES]
- It's alright, Mamasiu.
I understand.
I can't wait for you to meet him.
- Will he like me?
- He will love you.
The children at the convent,
they thought I was strange.
You're not strange.
I look strange.
Fefe
you are exquisite.
[CHUCKLES]
We should avoid as many
civilian checkpoints as possible.
We avoid all checkpoints.
Crossing any official border
right now, the risks are too high.
I think our safest option is
to go on foot, over the Alps.
We can find transportation,
hitchhike our way to Graz.
- [NECHUMA] Mm-hmm.
- Then, we walk into Italy.
- [NECHUMA] Oof.
- As simple as that?
[CHUCKLES] I know walking isn't
an option for you right now,
but you have a good job.
Save your money, have the
baby, and once you are ready,
we'll figure out a safe
route for you to join us,
or I will come back
and bring you myself.
- Halina, that's
- No, I promise you, I will.
No, I know you will.
I know, but, uh
Tell her, she'll understand.
Tell me what?
[JAKOB SIGHS]
America?
My uncle Fred lives in Chicago.
He's agreed to sponsor us.
That doesn't guarantee a visa.
No, but it gives us a
chance to leave Europe.
We thought we could settle,
and then sponsor the rest of
you, if you want to join us.
Okay, even so, no ships are allowed
to sail from Europe to the States.
No ships from here.
There are ships scheduled
to leave from Bremerhaven.
Germany? Are you insane?
- We have the baby in Poland
- [STAMMERS] And then you march
straight into the belly of evil?
- We will go to a DP camp in Stuttgart.
- And you trust that?
They are still killing us in Poland.
You-You think that Stuttgart
will throw you a parade? No, no.
- No. No, I forbid it.
- You can't forbid it, Halina.
It's not your decision to make.
We cannot spend our
lives running from risk.
It's everywhere.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
So, [CLEARS THROAT] then it's decided.
You want to take your
baby to a stranger.
To be fair, everybody's
a stranger to my baby.
Funny.
He's my uncle, Halina.
He's the only family I have left.
Not the only family.
Oh.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]
I know that.
[HALINA CLEARS THROAT]
[HALINA SIGHS]
[HALINA GROANS]
- You have to know, I'm so grateful
- I don't need you to be grateful, Bella.
You will always be my sister.
Which is why I know you understand this.
[HALINA SNIFFLES]
[HALINA CRYING]
♪
[AMBIENT NATURE SOUNDS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Do you think they can do this?
We've done harder.
[LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[NECHUMA GROANING]
[HALINA] Here, Tata.
[SOL GROANING]
[NECHUMA/SOL PANTING]
♪
♪
[NECHUMA PANTING]
- You okay?
- Yeah.
[NECHUMA EXHALES, GROANS]
[NECHUMA SIGHS]
♪
[NECHUMA LAUGHS]
♪
[MILA/HALINA GIGGLING]
- [HALINA WINCES]
- [SOL] Ooh. Who wants to try my trout?
Felicia? Huh. I worked hard for this.
- [ADAM CHUCKLES]
- Come on, just one bite for Zayde.
[CHUCKLING]
- [CHUCKLING]
- Huh?
Do you remember [LAUGHS] that ugly carp
you brought for your
first Passover with us?
- Of course, it cost me all my zloty.
- [HALINA LAUGHING]
- [LAUGHING] When I saw that fish
- [LAUGHTER]
I knew you wanted to
marry my daughter. [LAUGHS]
- Oh. All that from a fish?
- It was an excessive fish.
- [NECHUMA/HALINA LAUGHING]
- It-it lived in the bathtub.
- Until it was time to, uh
- [MILA LAUGHING]
It's the humane way to do it.
Not according to Addy. Addy
called it an assassination.
- But he still ate it.
- Our brother, the sweetest hypocrite.
- [SOL] Yeah.
- [HALINA LAUGHING]
Addy was gentle from
the minute he was born.
Entered the world with barely a sound.
[PAN CLANKING]
I saw him once.
Addy.
In prison.
Talking to me.
A memory, I think.
I hope.
I've sometimes wondered
if it means he's
[SIGHS]
All of us here.
Jakob, Bella, Genek, Herta
Selim.
What right have we to expect more?
Hope is not a crime.
I think it a necessity.
[KISSES]
My pants don't fit anymore.
[CHUCKLES] Excuse me?
I-I have to undo the-the top button.
All this hiking, basic provisions,
but
this determined little
stomach just keeps growing.
[ADAM LAUGHING]
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Do you think it's time to
make our marriage legal?
Mm.
- Probably.
- [LAUGHING]
[GENEK HUMMING "LIST" BY ADDY KURC]
Shh.
[HUMMING]
Uncle Addy's song.
Puts me to sleep, too.
[LOUD BANG]
[HERTA SIGHS]
- Do you need some help?
- [GRUNTS] It's a complete mess.
[CHUCKLES] This is cleanest
place we've lived for seven years.
Scheisse!
[SIGHS] I'm not used to having things
- Mm-hmm.
- drawers, space.
[SIGHS]
[MUTTERING]
It's too quiet here.
I'm crawling out of my skin, I
can hear myself think all the time.
- I know it doesn't make any sense.
- It does make sense.
Julia doesn't want to come.
[GENEK KURC] Ah.
I got a letter.
She found her sister in Krakow.
She's going to join
her, help with her niece.
Well, that's wonderful that,
you know, she found her.
So what kind of a monster am I?
Being upset that she, after everything,
Otto
she found her sister, her family.
[SIGHS]
I just miss them.
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I miss my family.
I dreamt about this moment for years.
Freedom. And now, all I can
feel is an ache in my stomach.
[SIGHS] I know.
[HERTA SNIFFLES, SIGHS]
There's no manual for
how to do this next part.
I thought finding my family
would [INHALES] fix everything,
but [SIGHS]
[EXHALES]
We have to start our lives now.
- We're so old.
- I'm old.
You're you're stunning.
You're still the most beautiful
woman I've ever seen
and you still look the same as the
day I saw you on that chairlift.
Or maybe that's because you
still have your deluded memories.
♪
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
[TRAIN RUMBLING]
[SOFT CHUCKLE]
She asked me what she should call him.
She's nervous.
She doesn't know him. [CHUCKLES]
Do I know him?
[SIGHS] You give it time.
You meet him again, you say hello.
Try not to worry so much.
- [ANNOUNCER OVER SPEAKERS]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
Let's wait over here!
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
Kurde, I'm too damn short.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MILA] Sorry.
Can you see anything?
No, not yet.
[LIGHT, SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
[SCREAMS] Genek!
Genek!
- [YELLS] Mila!
- [NECHUMA SCREAMS]
[SCREAMS] Genek! Genek!
Stay there! We will come to you!
Genek! Mother, Mother,
you-you greet him first.
You greet him first.
[EMOTIONAL PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
Genek! Genek.
Excuse me. Excuse.
[NECHUMA WAILING]
- [GENEK PANTING]
- [NECHUMA SOBBING]
I've missed you so much, Mother.
♪
- Hey!
- [GREETING EACH OTHER]
Hi!
Oh, my God!
You were no bigger than a
kitten when I saw you last.
[CHUCKLES] Would you
like to meet your cousin?
A cousin?
- What?
- This is, uh, Józef. We call him Ze.
[EXCITED CHATTER]
You remarkable woman.
- A grandson. Hello.
- [GREETING EACH OTHER]
♪
You have a son.
[CHUCKLES] I do.
You have a few wrinkles.
You too.
[BOTH CRYING]
Is he here?
I don't know, I-I can't see him yet.
♪
I, uh I didn't, I
didn't wanna interrupt.
[MILA CHUCKLES]
I
- Selim, I
- [SIGHS] Mila.
♪
Um
Felicia
I brought something for you.
I got this from a young family in Persia
after I helped deliver their baby.
Do you see the lion?
And-And up here, this is the
Farsi symbol for the number five.
To me, though [CHUCKLES]
it almost looks like a heart.
You see that?
I, uh I saved this for you.
What a very special gift.
Thank you, Papa.
Would it be alright
if I gave you a hug, Fefe?
♪
[GASPS] Oh, you Oh, you
just think I'm very funny.
Oh, you [GASPS] Oh.
You think I'm the most hilarious
mother who has ever lived.
- Bella.
- Oh, oh!
Oh. [CHUCKLES]
- [SOFTLY] It's time.
- [SOFTLY] Okay, okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [SOFTLY] Okay. Here.
- [SOFTLY] Yeah. Yeah.
- Go. Go to Daddy.
- [SOFTLY] Hi.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
[SOFTLY] Hi.
Thank you.
[JAKOB CHUCKLES]
Okay, okay.
[JAKOB KURC] [GRUNTS] Okay. Okay.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
Everyone
gather together.
What are you doing?
Look at me.
Yes. Smile
if you want.
[BELLA SIGHS]
[JAKOB CHUCKLES]
[CAMERA CLICKS]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
Open?
- [GROUP] Open.
- [BELLA/JAKOB] Open.
[BELLA TATAR] The
adventure begins, Victor.
Until next time, Polsko.
[CHUCKLES]
[HORN BLOWS]
[GRUNTING]
[CHUCKLES] I can't believe.
It's stuck.
[ADDY] Does it need to come off?
It's cuttin' off my
circulation while I write.
Eh, perhaps a sign to stop writing.
[CAROLINE CHUCKLES]
[SIGHS] Alright.
Let me see.
[CAROLINE] Hm.
Get some sleep.
I can barely sleep anymore.
Your child has a lot
of opinions at night.
Sorry.
- Would you like a necklace for it?
- Yes, please.
I wonder if we've focused
too much on Europe.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
- We haven't just focused on Europe.
- What about Shanghai?
Look how far you traveled,
maybe they did the same.
What about here?
- [CAROLINE] The States?
- Mm.
It's possible, but without
a family member to sponsor,
they would be caught up
in a long visa process.
I'm not talking about my family.
[SOFTLY] I'm talking about our family.
[CHUCKLES]
- You wanna move to
- I want to build a life somewhere
that means something to you.
We just moved in here. [LAUGHS]
Well, we might want to take a
moment to find employment first.
[GIGGLING] Practical.
Halina used to accuse me
of being too practical.
[SIGHS] Thought it
doomed me as an artist.
All due respect to Halina, but
I think there's a lotta space
for dreams in between being practical.
For the record, I'm
not movin' to Nebraska.
- [ADDY] Okay.
- [BOTH LAUGHING]
Okay.
Okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[SIGHS]
[ELISKA SIGHS]
You're late!
[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]
[ELISKA LAUGHING]
What do you think of "Eddy Courts"?
I think it sounds too American.
Exactly.
I want my family to have
a chance to start fresh.
I don't want assumptions,
I don't want to be
Vulnerable?
Mm, I thought for sure
you'd go back to Poland.
It's all I used to think
about, but what is Poland now?
I want my memories as they are.
This time of year,
Radom, there'd be snow.
Spend our nights at the cinema,
maybe skate at Stary Ogrod Park.
- Hm.
- A mug of my mother's cocoa.
Sounds magical.
It was.
- Move to New York with me and Emol!
- Mm.
Think about the music, the clubs!
Our kids can be best friends.
Or hate each other. It will be amazing.
- [ELISKA/ADDY LAUGHING]
- Apologies, I wasn't trying to listen,
but, um, am I to
understand you're Polish?
Ah I'll have to work
on my accent in America.
- [LAUGHING]
- Do either of you know an Addy Kurc?
- Ha!
- [CLERK] Well, there aren't so many Poles
in Rio, and, uh, I've been having
trouble tracking this man down.
I think we have an old address.
Probably because I moved
with my wife a month ago.
Y-You're Addy Kurc?
What kind of trouble have
you gotten yourself into?
- I'm not sure, you tell me.
- [CLERK] No trouble at all, sir.
I work for the Polish Consulate.
We have received a telegram for you.
A telegram? Who's it from?
Well, I can't divulge that information
until you come to the embassy,
- but the office closes in 10 minutes, so
- Eliska, I I
- Go, go!
- [CLERK] No, sir.
- You will never make it.
- [YELLS] Run!
[ELISKA LAUGHS]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[YELLS] Wait! Wait, please! Please.
- [CLERK] We are closed, come tomorrow.
- Please, I've received a telegram.
Please, please. I-I
cannot wait one more night.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Thank you, thank you.
[EXHALES]
Santos is in charge
of incoming telegrams.
Keeps the ones he hasn't filed here.
- Name?
- Uh, Addy Kurc.
- With a K?
- With a K.
Ah.
Looks like this came in two weeks ago.
[HEAVY BREATHING]
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
Could you do me a favor? Can
you please read this to me?
[SIGHS] "Dear brother,
"Overjoyed to find
you on Red Cross list.
I am with sisters and parents in Italy.
Jakob is waiting for visa to U.S.
Send news. Love, Genek."
Good news! [CHUCKLES]
♪
They're they're alive, they're alive.
[ADDY CRYING]
- Ah.
- Oh.
Oh.
[ADDY HUMMING "ALOUETTE,
GENTILLE ALOUETTE"]
[QUIET CHATTER IN DISTANCE]
It's time to go.
Just a moment more.
Kathleen wouldn't want you to be late.
[SOFTLY] If Kathleen
really felt that way,
she would've picked a
different day to arrive.
[CAROLINE CHUCKLES]
- Here you go. -
[SOFTLY] Hey, sweetie-pie.
I'm sorry we can't go with you.
[DEEP BREATH]
Nervous?
I know I shouldn't
be, but eight years
What will they think of me?
I think they'll just hug you.
[SIGHS]
I will be back with more family
than you will know what to do with.
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
- [ANNOUNCER OVER SPEAKERS]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Sorry, excuse me. Excuse
me. Excuse me. Excuse me.
♪
[WHISTLES] Olá!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
♪
[BOAT HORN BLOWS]
♪
[NECHUMA] Addy, Addy!
[EXCITED YELLING FROM ADDY'S FAMILY]
[YELLING]
[EXCITED YELLING]
[ADDY LAUGHING]
♪
- [ADDY YELLING]
- [FAMILY YELLING]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
- [LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[PLAYFUL CHATTER]
[LAUGHTER, CHATTER]
♪
[CLINKING GLASS]
[NECHUMA SIGHS, CHUCKLES]
♪
It's your home, Caroline.
I can say the blessing, but
it would please me very much
if you would light the candles.
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I know, uh, it is not
how we usually do it,
but I have asked Herta
to light a Yahrzeit candle
for those who are not with us.
My parents, Henrietta
and Abraham Seifert
my sister-in-law, Lola
and my niece, Lize.
My parents, Haim and Fajga Kajler.
My sisters, Szyja, Hela, and Dworjra.
And my brothers, Jakub and Fajwel.
My parents, Lea and Wolf Eichenwald,
my sister, Mania,
my nephew, Elie.
[NECHUMA] My sisters
Reisl
Estera
and Gitla.
My brothers, Chaim and Izreal
and my sisters, Dwora and Cypra.
[SOL/FAMILY PRAYING IN HEBREW]
Are you ready? Right. Now,
it's like we practiced, Fefe.
Come to the chair. You stand
on this one, be careful.
- [FAMILY SHUSHING]
- Uh, uh, can I have everyone's attention?
- Someone here has a question.
- [FAMILY GASPS]
[FELICIA SINGING IN HEBREW]
[FAMILY SINGING IN HEBREW]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
Okay.
Huh? Okay, close your eyes.
Ze, close your eyes, Fefe.
- Addy, close your eyes.
- [LAUGHTER]
[SOL LAUGHING]
- There you are.
- I would like some more, please.
- [LAUGHTER]
- You would like some more?
- Yes.
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
♪
[FAMILY LAUGHING, CHATTERING]
[NECHUMA/SOL] Chag Sameach!
Chag Sameach, Jakob!
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
No, no. How-How is Victor?
- Victor is asleep.
- [CROSSTALK]
How is the weather, the weather
I can't hear anything
anyone is saying. [LAUGHS]
Bella, do you miss me?
You-You haven't said so yet.
- Halina, could you just stop talking?
- [BOTH LAUGHING]
How's my favorite brother, Jakob?
- We miss you.
- [CROSSTALK]
Okay, they're all
talking over each other.
- Some things never change, so
- No, they What?
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[GENTLE PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
♪
[FAMILY CHATTERING]
Okay, now, I'm gonna set this timer on.
And then, I'm gonna go over there
and we're gonna try not
to laugh and crack up
[LAUGHTER, CHATTER]
- [CAMERA CLICKS]
- [FAMILY CHEERING, CLAPPING]
[CHATTER FADES]
♪
[MUFFLED CHATTER, CHEERING]
[ORCHESTRAL THEME PLAYING]
♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[FANFARE PLAYING]
[ADDY KURC] Previously, on
We Were the Lucky Ones
General Anders is
assembling a Polish infantry.
You have been summoned
to fight by his side.
We're hearing it
everywhere, death camps.
[ADAM EICHENWALD] Halina's parents
are still at the factory at Pionki.
[RAHEL] Get them out.
We're trying to find Poles
who are willing to cooperate.
I have a couple names I can give you.
Panie Górski?
I can't believe Addy is 31 today.
- Addy.
- Caroline.
I'm moving to Krakow.
Fighting will erupt,
it's a matter of when.
There's a job waiting for you in
Krakow, if you can make the trip.
[PLANES WHIRRING]
- [BOMBS EXPLODING]
- [GASPS]
Pinkus, how much more will
this get us? It's very valuable.
[ADAM] Yes, Mila, we
will get Felicia back.
- We have no zloty left.
- Herr Den. I'll take the train.
- Is that safe?
- [HALINA KURC] We meet back here tomorrow.
This exact spot, this exact time. Okay?
[SOLDIERS YELLING]
I understand that mistakes happen.
This one can be fixed quite easily.
My name is Halina Brzoza.
I came from Warsaw at the request
of my employer, Herr Leopold Den.
He works at the bank
on Rynek Kleparski
[HALINA GASPS]
You are a Jew.
I-I am not a Jew. [GRUNTS]
[GRUNTING, BREATHING HEAVILY]
[GASPING]
I'm not
I'm not, I'm not a Jew.
- I'm not a Jew, I'm not a Jew.
- [GRUNTING]
- I'm not
- [GRUNTING]
[HALINA WAILING]
[GASPS]
Please, please, please! [GROANS] Please.
- Please, please.
- [GRUNTING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[BODY THUDS]
♪
- [GRUNTS]
- [INTERROGATOR] Stop lying!
[GROANS]
Your friend, Pinkus, must
not have liked his new coat.
- He was very quick to give us your name.
- [HALINA GRUNTS]
I don't don't know
anyone named Pinkus.
That sounds like the name of a Jew.
I'm not friends with Jews.
[GROANS]
[PRISONERS PRAYING IN HEBREW]
♪
Why would a Jew turn in a Jew?
You ask me to understand
the mind of a Jew?
I ask you to use common sense.
I traded with the boy for some
potatoes. My-My family was starving.
What was I to do?
Tell me who you are,
and this can all be over.
My name is Halina Brzoza.
That is not your name!
Ask my husband.
He will disagree with you.
[GASPS]
- [GUNSHOTS BLASTING]
- [DISTANT SCREAMS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SLIGHT GRUNT]
Do you like poetry?
[PAINED EXHALE]
[LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
Yes, I do.
I once lived in a home
filled with it.
[GUNSHOT BLASTING]
[INTERROGATOR] This will all
stop if you tell us the truth.
You are a Jew.
[HALINA BREATHING HEAVILY]
[ADDY] Halina.
- [EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
- To future adventures.
I will be waiting, whenever
you decide to make the trip.
My name
is Halina
♪
Brzoza.
- [GUNSHOTS BLASTING]
- [GASPING]
They're getting rid of
us erasing the evidence.
[DOOR OPENS]
[HALINA SHIVERING]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[NAZI ADMINISTRATOR] Frau Brzoza?
Your discharge papers.
It seems your arrest was invalid.
You can retrieve your
belongings on your way out.
Understand?
You're free to go.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
[WHIMPERING]
♪
♪
[SOLDIER SPEAKING GERMAN]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner.
[HALINA GROANS]
You-You didn't know.
Your husband has been
searching for me for months.
I stopped going to the
bank when I saw the signs.
A colleague got me a note.
When I finally located you here,
I informed them of their mistake.
S-S-Saw the signs of what?
The Soviets are close.
The Germans on the way out.
No one can declare it yet, but
the amount of damage they will
inflict as they make their retreat.
- [GUNSHOTS BLASTING]
- [PRISONERS YELLING IN THE DISTANCE]
The executions are
happening q-quickly now.
I-I almost, I almost told them.
I, [PANTING] I should have told them.
[LIGHT, TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
My name is Halina Kurc.
Halina
will you speak for me if the time comes?
♪
- [DOG BARKING]
- [BIRDS CHIRPING]
[BELLA RETCHING]
[BELLA SPITTING]
[BELLA PANTING]
I don't want to leave.
[BELLA GROANS]
- It's your first day.
- [JAKOB SIGHS]
We're going to need the money.
[GROANS]
I'm alright.
- You don't look alright.
- Thank you.
[CHUCKLES]
I-I'm a bit out of my depth,
but Mila says it was worse
when her stomach was empty.
Anna said the same thing.
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
Anna was ?
The first time didn't take.
The second time she was
so close to telling Daniel.
Almost ready to be sure.
I was the only one who knew.
And now you.
♪
♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
Uncle Jakob found this
in one of the apartments.
I'll read it to you if you'd like?
Why are so many of the apartments empty?
Um, everyone was sent away.
They weren't given a choice.
Would you try a few bites, my love?
It hurts.
I think if you go slow
I'm not hungry.
It's just down this road.
This spot is really tucked away.
Rahel knew what she was doing.
- I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner.
- Adam, you you couldn't
Felicia was so ill, we had
to get her out of Warsaw.
You were absolutely right.
No, I should've done more.
You did everything.
I'm the one who got caught.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
Halina.
[TIRES SCREECHING]
♪
[SIGHS] My God.
The reports from Warsaw,
we were certain that
There has been so much bad news.
[DOOR OPENS]
♪
Halina.
My love.
[HALINA CRYING]
[BOTH CRYING]
♪
Papa.
It's alright.
[NECHUMA SIGHS]
[RADIO STATIC]
[RADIO ANNOUNCER SPEAKING]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
No reason to be nervous.
- Do I seem nervous?
- Mm-hmm.
- Just a normal Tuesday.
- And after that, Wednesday.
[PRESIDENT TRUMAN OVER RADIO]
I wish that Franklin D. Roosevelt
had lived to see this day.
General Eisenhower informs
me that the forces of Germany
- have surrendered to the United Nations.
- [BOTH REJOICING]
The flags of freedom
fly all over Europe.
For this victory, we join in offering
- [CAROLINE SQUEALS]
- [PEOPLE CHEERING]
They're pouring into the street!
[PRESIDENT TRUMAN] through
the dark days of adversity
and into light.
Much remains to be done.
The victory won in the West
must now be won in the East.
- [CAROLINE] Addy, come here.
- [PRESIDENT TRUMAN] The whole world
must be cleansed of the evil from
which half the world has been freed.
United, the peace-loving nations
- [CROWD CHEERING OUTSIDE]
- have demonstrated in the West
that their arms are stronger by far
than the might of dictators or
the tyranny of military cliques
- that once called us soft and weak.
- [CHEERING MUFFLED]
The power of our people
to defend themselves
against all enemies will
be proved in the Pacif
- [TURNS OFF RADIO]
- [EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
We look for everybody.
Tomorrow, I'll go to the Red Cross
and double-check that all
of our names are registered.
Kurcs, Tatars, Eichenwalds. Everybody.
I'll look into the DP camps
try and find out when
we can access a list.
I'm almost certain that Genek
and Herta were sent to Siberia.
Maybe Selim too.
There may be records they
weren't willing to show us before.
- Countless men were conscripted.
- Addy might still be in France.
I want to go back to Radom.
If the boys were able to,
they will have written.
Perhaps something made it through.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT STREET CHATTER]
[NECHUMA SIGHS]
♪
♪
[FOOTSTEPS]
Hello. [CHUCKLES]
Forgive the intrusion,
- but this apartment
- What do you want?
Sorry, my name is Nechuma Kurc,
and this is my apartment
from before the war.
- I know nothing of that.
- W Uh Well, uh, no, you wouldn't.
It's, uh I wouldn't imagine
they would inform you of the family
- they illegally [CHUCKLING] evicted.
- Hm, we are legally renting.
Alright, even so, have you received
mail addressed to the name "Kurc"?
- I was wondering
- No, no, no, no, no, do not
- let them inside. No.
- We we have sons
- This is our home!
- Listen, listen, listen, listen!
We have sons, Genek and Addy
Kurc, they have been missing,
- it's possible they sent letters here
- She will say anything to get inside.
You think I lie about my sons?
- They're Jew thieves.
- We are the thieves?
Uh, we-we will go.
There's no need to, uh
It would shh, cost you
nothing to let me check the mail.
- [HALINA] Mother.
- If you could just please
open the door and
We are calling the authorities.
[SCREAMS] This is my house, my house!
Did you paint those walls?!
Is that your furniture?!
- Mother you
- Did you give birth here?!
- [SOL KURC] Nechuma. Hey
- Your son burn his hand on that stove?!
- Your daughter play that piano?
- Mother, Mother!
- This is our home!
- Mother, listen
- Our home!
- Stop, stop!
[NECHUMA PANTING]
- It's not worth it.
- It's not.
It's not worth it.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
♪
[HORSE NEIGHS]
"As a spokesperson for the
voice of Polish Society,
I advise all Jews to get out
beyond the borders of Radom county."
They give us a date, August 15th.
[NECHUMA KURC] Now they accuse us
of collaborating with the Soviets.
[HALINA] How? It defies reason.
We don't belong here anymore.
It's time for us to go.
[INDISTINCT STREET CHATTER]
[AMBIENT STREET, NATURE SOUNDS]
[EXPATRIATE] Józef! [SOBBING]
It's my Józef!
Józef, my husband.
[SOBBING]
Józef, Józef.
Józef. [SOBBING]
I wasn't able to save much,
but she wore this almost
every day the first few months.
It's hard to imagine needing a cap.
I feel like a furnace all the time.
I think this child may be actual fire.
Don't worry, that will only get worse.
[CHUCKLES]
Selim loved to tell me
the science behind it,
as though science would
help me sweat less.
- [LAUGHING]
- [DOOR OPENS]
Jakob?
[MILA KURC] Hi.
Are you alright?
There was a new list.
They're on it, my, my family.
They're gone.
They're gone.
[ADAM CRYING]
Who did you find?
[SWALLOWS]
My mother my father
my sister, Mania
my nephew.
[GASPS]
There was no information.
I don't know what they, or-or how.
What was the point of it all?
I felt such conviction
the Underground, my contribution.
But if I had focused on them, on
my family, the way that Halina
Please don't do that. Don't do that.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
There's no reason anyone survived this.
- Hm.
- Hm.
They didn't want us to survive this.
None of us should be here.
- What do I do with that?
- [BELLA SIGHS]
[SOBBING]
I don't know.
[BOTH WEEP]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Excuse me.
[SIGHS] Sorry, sorry.
- Hey.
- Hi, I got in a fight.
You got in a fight?
- Is it impossible to believe?
- Mm, a bit.
- Well, some things are too enragin'.
- What happened?
I just can't believe it sometimes.
The apathy.
The survivors out of the
camps, those horrific images.
There was a representative from
the immigration office today
who said that due to their suffering
he can't imagine they would have
the capacity to contribute
to Brazilian society.
So, yes, I got in a fight.
Everyone says they wanna help.
They would just prefer
it to be from a distance.
- Sorry.
- Why are you sorry?
I'm ruinin' this. It's
supposed to be a happy day.
- It is a happy day.
- [ADMINISTRATOR] Señorita Carolina?
- [CAROLINE] Mm.
- [ADMINISTRATOR] Señorita Carolina?
Believe that's you.
Oh, shoot! Here, I'm here! [CHUCKLES]
I always forget I'm "Carolina" here.
Carolina
should we get married?
I think we should.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Good morning. Morning.
Morning.
Halina! I'm sorry,
I'll just be a minute.
Come here!
S-sorry, excuse me.
- Sorry.
- It arrived yesterday.
[GASPS]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
- Thank you. Thank you.
- It's my pleasure.
- [ALL APPLAUDING]
- Thank you.
[REJOICES] Thank you, thank you!
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you!
Thank you!
♪
Mother?
Tata?
- Are you okay? [CHUCKLES]
- [HALINA PANTING]
- Where's Mila?
- Mila's doing Felicia's lessons.
- Wh-What is it?
- Mila, Felicia!
Come!
Mathematics can wait!
Thank you for that.
What is it?
♪
[CHOKES UP]
"With Selim
and Herta in Italy.
Find us through Polish II Corps.
Signed Genek Kurc."
- [EMOTIONAL PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
- [NECHUMA SOBBING]
R-read that again.
"With Selim and Herta in Italy.
Find us through Polish
II Corps. Genek Kurc."
- [HALINA LAUGHING]
- Our boy.
Our Genekca. Genekca.
♪
And Selim, Mila.
- Selim.
- [HALINA] [SIGHS] Oh my. Oh.
What's he like?
Very kind.
A bit serious. [CHUCKLES]
Smart.
He had so many ideas when you were born
about what he wanted to teach you.
Mm what he thought you could be.
I'm sorry I haven't
told you more about him.
It was so long since
we heard from him, I
- [INHALES]
- It's alright, Mamasiu.
I understand.
I can't wait for you to meet him.
- Will he like me?
- He will love you.
The children at the convent,
they thought I was strange.
You're not strange.
I look strange.
Fefe
you are exquisite.
[CHUCKLES]
We should avoid as many
civilian checkpoints as possible.
We avoid all checkpoints.
Crossing any official border
right now, the risks are too high.
I think our safest option is
to go on foot, over the Alps.
We can find transportation,
hitchhike our way to Graz.
- [NECHUMA] Mm-hmm.
- Then, we walk into Italy.
- [NECHUMA] Oof.
- As simple as that?
[CHUCKLES] I know walking isn't
an option for you right now,
but you have a good job.
Save your money, have the
baby, and once you are ready,
we'll figure out a safe
route for you to join us,
or I will come back
and bring you myself.
- Halina, that's
- No, I promise you, I will.
No, I know you will.
I know, but, uh
Tell her, she'll understand.
Tell me what?
[JAKOB SIGHS]
America?
My uncle Fred lives in Chicago.
He's agreed to sponsor us.
That doesn't guarantee a visa.
No, but it gives us a
chance to leave Europe.
We thought we could settle,
and then sponsor the rest of
you, if you want to join us.
Okay, even so, no ships are allowed
to sail from Europe to the States.
No ships from here.
There are ships scheduled
to leave from Bremerhaven.
Germany? Are you insane?
- We have the baby in Poland
- [STAMMERS] And then you march
straight into the belly of evil?
- We will go to a DP camp in Stuttgart.
- And you trust that?
They are still killing us in Poland.
You-You think that Stuttgart
will throw you a parade? No, no.
- No. No, I forbid it.
- You can't forbid it, Halina.
It's not your decision to make.
We cannot spend our
lives running from risk.
It's everywhere.
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
So, [CLEARS THROAT] then it's decided.
You want to take your
baby to a stranger.
To be fair, everybody's
a stranger to my baby.
Funny.
He's my uncle, Halina.
He's the only family I have left.
Not the only family.
Oh.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING]
I know that.
[HALINA CLEARS THROAT]
[HALINA SIGHS]
[HALINA GROANS]
- You have to know, I'm so grateful
- I don't need you to be grateful, Bella.
You will always be my sister.
Which is why I know you understand this.
[HALINA SNIFFLES]
[HALINA CRYING]
♪
[AMBIENT NATURE SOUNDS]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Do you think they can do this?
We've done harder.
[LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[NECHUMA GROANING]
[HALINA] Here, Tata.
[SOL GROANING]
[NECHUMA/SOL PANTING]
♪
♪
[NECHUMA PANTING]
- You okay?
- Yeah.
[NECHUMA EXHALES, GROANS]
[NECHUMA SIGHS]
♪
[NECHUMA LAUGHS]
♪
[MILA/HALINA GIGGLING]
- [HALINA WINCES]
- [SOL] Ooh. Who wants to try my trout?
Felicia? Huh. I worked hard for this.
- [ADAM CHUCKLES]
- Come on, just one bite for Zayde.
[CHUCKLING]
- [CHUCKLING]
- Huh?
Do you remember [LAUGHS] that ugly carp
you brought for your
first Passover with us?
- Of course, it cost me all my zloty.
- [HALINA LAUGHING]
- [LAUGHING] When I saw that fish
- [LAUGHTER]
I knew you wanted to
marry my daughter. [LAUGHS]
- Oh. All that from a fish?
- It was an excessive fish.
- [NECHUMA/HALINA LAUGHING]
- It-it lived in the bathtub.
- Until it was time to, uh
- [MILA LAUGHING]
It's the humane way to do it.
Not according to Addy. Addy
called it an assassination.
- But he still ate it.
- Our brother, the sweetest hypocrite.
- [SOL] Yeah.
- [HALINA LAUGHING]
Addy was gentle from
the minute he was born.
Entered the world with barely a sound.
[PAN CLANKING]
I saw him once.
Addy.
In prison.
Talking to me.
A memory, I think.
I hope.
I've sometimes wondered
if it means he's
[SIGHS]
All of us here.
Jakob, Bella, Genek, Herta
Selim.
What right have we to expect more?
Hope is not a crime.
I think it a necessity.
[KISSES]
My pants don't fit anymore.
[CHUCKLES] Excuse me?
I-I have to undo the-the top button.
All this hiking, basic provisions,
but
this determined little
stomach just keeps growing.
[ADAM LAUGHING]
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Do you think it's time to
make our marriage legal?
Mm.
- Probably.
- [LAUGHING]
[GENEK HUMMING "LIST" BY ADDY KURC]
Shh.
[HUMMING]
Uncle Addy's song.
Puts me to sleep, too.
[LOUD BANG]
[HERTA SIGHS]
- Do you need some help?
- [GRUNTS] It's a complete mess.
[CHUCKLES] This is cleanest
place we've lived for seven years.
Scheisse!
[SIGHS] I'm not used to having things
- Mm-hmm.
- drawers, space.
[SIGHS]
[MUTTERING]
It's too quiet here.
I'm crawling out of my skin, I
can hear myself think all the time.
- I know it doesn't make any sense.
- It does make sense.
Julia doesn't want to come.
[GENEK KURC] Ah.
I got a letter.
She found her sister in Krakow.
She's going to join
her, help with her niece.
Well, that's wonderful that,
you know, she found her.
So what kind of a monster am I?
Being upset that she, after everything,
Otto
she found her sister, her family.
[SIGHS]
I just miss them.
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I miss my family.
I dreamt about this moment for years.
Freedom. And now, all I can
feel is an ache in my stomach.
[SIGHS] I know.
[HERTA SNIFFLES, SIGHS]
There's no manual for
how to do this next part.
I thought finding my family
would [INHALES] fix everything,
but [SIGHS]
[EXHALES]
We have to start our lives now.
- We're so old.
- I'm old.
You're you're stunning.
You're still the most beautiful
woman I've ever seen
and you still look the same as the
day I saw you on that chairlift.
Or maybe that's because you
still have your deluded memories.
♪
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[HEAVY BREATHING]
[TRAIN RUMBLING]
[SOFT CHUCKLE]
She asked me what she should call him.
She's nervous.
She doesn't know him. [CHUCKLES]
Do I know him?
[SIGHS] You give it time.
You meet him again, you say hello.
Try not to worry so much.
- [ANNOUNCER OVER SPEAKERS]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
Let's wait over here!
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
Kurde, I'm too damn short.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MILA] Sorry.
Can you see anything?
No, not yet.
[LIGHT, SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
[SCREAMS] Genek!
Genek!
- [YELLS] Mila!
- [NECHUMA SCREAMS]
[SCREAMS] Genek! Genek!
Stay there! We will come to you!
Genek! Mother, Mother,
you-you greet him first.
You greet him first.
[EMOTIONAL PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
Genek! Genek.
Excuse me. Excuse.
[NECHUMA WAILING]
- [GENEK PANTING]
- [NECHUMA SOBBING]
I've missed you so much, Mother.
♪
- Hey!
- [GREETING EACH OTHER]
Hi!
Oh, my God!
You were no bigger than a
kitten when I saw you last.
[CHUCKLES] Would you
like to meet your cousin?
A cousin?
- What?
- This is, uh, Józef. We call him Ze.
[EXCITED CHATTER]
You remarkable woman.
- A grandson. Hello.
- [GREETING EACH OTHER]
♪
You have a son.
[CHUCKLES] I do.
You have a few wrinkles.
You too.
[BOTH CRYING]
Is he here?
I don't know, I-I can't see him yet.
♪
I, uh I didn't, I
didn't wanna interrupt.
[MILA CHUCKLES]
I
- Selim, I
- [SIGHS] Mila.
♪
Um
Felicia
I brought something for you.
I got this from a young family in Persia
after I helped deliver their baby.
Do you see the lion?
And-And up here, this is the
Farsi symbol for the number five.
To me, though [CHUCKLES]
it almost looks like a heart.
You see that?
I, uh I saved this for you.
What a very special gift.
Thank you, Papa.
Would it be alright
if I gave you a hug, Fefe?
♪
[GASPS] Oh, you Oh, you
just think I'm very funny.
Oh, you [GASPS] Oh.
You think I'm the most hilarious
mother who has ever lived.
- Bella.
- Oh, oh!
Oh. [CHUCKLES]
- [SOFTLY] It's time.
- [SOFTLY] Okay, okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [SOFTLY] Okay. Here.
- [SOFTLY] Yeah. Yeah.
- Go. Go to Daddy.
- [SOFTLY] Hi.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
[SOFTLY] Hi.
Thank you.
[JAKOB CHUCKLES]
Okay, okay.
[JAKOB KURC] [GRUNTS] Okay. Okay.
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
Everyone
gather together.
What are you doing?
Look at me.
Yes. Smile
if you want.
[BELLA SIGHS]
[JAKOB CHUCKLES]
[CAMERA CLICKS]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWS]
Open?
- [GROUP] Open.
- [BELLA/JAKOB] Open.
[BELLA TATAR] The
adventure begins, Victor.
Until next time, Polsko.
[CHUCKLES]
[HORN BLOWS]
[GRUNTING]
[CHUCKLES] I can't believe.
It's stuck.
[ADDY] Does it need to come off?
It's cuttin' off my
circulation while I write.
Eh, perhaps a sign to stop writing.
[CAROLINE CHUCKLES]
[SIGHS] Alright.
Let me see.
[CAROLINE] Hm.
Get some sleep.
I can barely sleep anymore.
Your child has a lot
of opinions at night.
Sorry.
- Would you like a necklace for it?
- Yes, please.
I wonder if we've focused
too much on Europe.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
- We haven't just focused on Europe.
- What about Shanghai?
Look how far you traveled,
maybe they did the same.
What about here?
- [CAROLINE] The States?
- Mm.
It's possible, but without
a family member to sponsor,
they would be caught up
in a long visa process.
I'm not talking about my family.
[SOFTLY] I'm talking about our family.
[CHUCKLES]
- You wanna move to
- I want to build a life somewhere
that means something to you.
We just moved in here. [LAUGHS]
Well, we might want to take a
moment to find employment first.
[GIGGLING] Practical.
Halina used to accuse me
of being too practical.
[SIGHS] Thought it
doomed me as an artist.
All due respect to Halina, but
I think there's a lotta space
for dreams in between being practical.
For the record, I'm
not movin' to Nebraska.
- [ADDY] Okay.
- [BOTH LAUGHING]
Okay.
Okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[SIGHS]
[ELISKA SIGHS]
You're late!
[SLIGHT CHUCKLE]
[ELISKA LAUGHING]
What do you think of "Eddy Courts"?
I think it sounds too American.
Exactly.
I want my family to have
a chance to start fresh.
I don't want assumptions,
I don't want to be
Vulnerable?
Mm, I thought for sure
you'd go back to Poland.
It's all I used to think
about, but what is Poland now?
I want my memories as they are.
This time of year,
Radom, there'd be snow.
Spend our nights at the cinema,
maybe skate at Stary Ogrod Park.
- Hm.
- A mug of my mother's cocoa.
Sounds magical.
It was.
- Move to New York with me and Emol!
- Mm.
Think about the music, the clubs!
Our kids can be best friends.
Or hate each other. It will be amazing.
- [ELISKA/ADDY LAUGHING]
- Apologies, I wasn't trying to listen,
but, um, am I to
understand you're Polish?
Ah I'll have to work
on my accent in America.
- [LAUGHING]
- Do either of you know an Addy Kurc?
- Ha!
- [CLERK] Well, there aren't so many Poles
in Rio, and, uh, I've been having
trouble tracking this man down.
I think we have an old address.
Probably because I moved
with my wife a month ago.
Y-You're Addy Kurc?
What kind of trouble have
you gotten yourself into?
- I'm not sure, you tell me.
- [CLERK] No trouble at all, sir.
I work for the Polish Consulate.
We have received a telegram for you.
A telegram? Who's it from?
Well, I can't divulge that information
until you come to the embassy,
- but the office closes in 10 minutes, so
- Eliska, I I
- Go, go!
- [CLERK] No, sir.
- You will never make it.
- [YELLS] Run!
[ELISKA LAUGHS]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[YELLS] Wait! Wait, please! Please.
- [CLERK] We are closed, come tomorrow.
- Please, I've received a telegram.
Please, please. I-I
cannot wait one more night.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Thank you, thank you.
[EXHALES]
Santos is in charge
of incoming telegrams.
Keeps the ones he hasn't filed here.
- Name?
- Uh, Addy Kurc.
- With a K?
- With a K.
Ah.
Looks like this came in two weeks ago.
[HEAVY BREATHING]
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
Could you do me a favor? Can
you please read this to me?
[SIGHS] "Dear brother,
"Overjoyed to find
you on Red Cross list.
I am with sisters and parents in Italy.
Jakob is waiting for visa to U.S.
Send news. Love, Genek."
Good news! [CHUCKLES]
♪
They're they're alive, they're alive.
[ADDY CRYING]
- Ah.
- Oh.
Oh.
[ADDY HUMMING "ALOUETTE,
GENTILLE ALOUETTE"]
[QUIET CHATTER IN DISTANCE]
It's time to go.
Just a moment more.
Kathleen wouldn't want you to be late.
[SOFTLY] If Kathleen
really felt that way,
she would've picked a
different day to arrive.
[CAROLINE CHUCKLES]
- Here you go. -
[SOFTLY] Hey, sweetie-pie.
I'm sorry we can't go with you.
[DEEP BREATH]
Nervous?
I know I shouldn't
be, but eight years
What will they think of me?
I think they'll just hug you.
[SIGHS]
I will be back with more family
than you will know what to do with.
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
- [ANNOUNCER OVER SPEAKERS]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Sorry, excuse me. Excuse
me. Excuse me. Excuse me.
♪
[WHISTLES] Olá!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
♪
[BOAT HORN BLOWS]
♪
[NECHUMA] Addy, Addy!
[EXCITED YELLING FROM ADDY'S FAMILY]
[YELLING]
[EXCITED YELLING]
[ADDY LAUGHING]
♪
- [ADDY YELLING]
- [FAMILY YELLING]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
- [LIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[PLAYFUL CHATTER]
[LAUGHTER, CHATTER]
♪
[CLINKING GLASS]
[NECHUMA SIGHS, CHUCKLES]
♪
It's your home, Caroline.
I can say the blessing, but
it would please me very much
if you would light the candles.
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
I know, uh, it is not
how we usually do it,
but I have asked Herta
to light a Yahrzeit candle
for those who are not with us.
My parents, Henrietta
and Abraham Seifert
my sister-in-law, Lola
and my niece, Lize.
My parents, Haim and Fajga Kajler.
My sisters, Szyja, Hela, and Dworjra.
And my brothers, Jakub and Fajwel.
My parents, Lea and Wolf Eichenwald,
my sister, Mania,
my nephew, Elie.
[NECHUMA] My sisters
Reisl
Estera
and Gitla.
My brothers, Chaim and Izreal
and my sisters, Dwora and Cypra.
[SOL/FAMILY PRAYING IN HEBREW]
Are you ready? Right. Now,
it's like we practiced, Fefe.
Come to the chair. You stand
on this one, be careful.
- [FAMILY SHUSHING]
- Uh, uh, can I have everyone's attention?
- Someone here has a question.
- [FAMILY GASPS]
[FELICIA SINGING IN HEBREW]
[FAMILY SINGING IN HEBREW]
[HOPEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
Okay.
Huh? Okay, close your eyes.
Ze, close your eyes, Fefe.
- Addy, close your eyes.
- [LAUGHTER]
[SOL LAUGHING]
- There you are.
- I would like some more, please.
- [LAUGHTER]
- You would like some more?
- Yes.
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
♪
[FAMILY LAUGHING, CHATTERING]
[NECHUMA/SOL] Chag Sameach!
Chag Sameach, Jakob!
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
No, no. How-How is Victor?
- Victor is asleep.
- [CROSSTALK]
How is the weather, the weather
I can't hear anything
anyone is saying. [LAUGHS]
Bella, do you miss me?
You-You haven't said so yet.
- Halina, could you just stop talking?
- [BOTH LAUGHING]
How's my favorite brother, Jakob?
- We miss you.
- [CROSSTALK]
Okay, they're all
talking over each other.
- Some things never change, so
- No, they What?
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[GENTLE PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
♪
[FAMILY CHATTERING]
Okay, now, I'm gonna set this timer on.
And then, I'm gonna go over there
and we're gonna try not
to laugh and crack up
[LAUGHTER, CHATTER]
- [CAMERA CLICKS]
- [FAMILY CHEERING, CLAPPING]
[CHATTER FADES]
♪
[MUFFLED CHATTER, CHEERING]
[ORCHESTRAL THEME PLAYING]
♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[FANFARE PLAYING]