Young Girls of Wilko (Panny z Wilka)

Death...

upset Jurek's orderly life.

He left before finding out...

that all we decide and consciously do...

means absolutely nothing.

And that which we do unwittingly, remains, pursuing us...

or worse, we end up pursuing it.

Oh my God!...Wiktor!

What is it?

What were you thinking about today...

...there?

l was wondering if...

at the moment of death...

we feel our bodies as one enormous pain...

and does awareness come off our skin like a bandage...

off a wound?

And...?

and what is the relationship between our body and its torpor?

l found this in Father Jerzy's desk.

l'm giving it...

to you.

He wrote poetry?

What is my life's measure? Arrant nothingness.

From which my sad song will flow to your shores.

And nothing shall after me remain...

save that song, save the shimmering shadow on the wall...

a passing dream... save a wooden coffin...

awash in the gloom of dusk.

So that's how he thought?

Does it make itself felt?

lt reminds me sometimes.

And l can't stop thinking about Jurek.

l can't forgive myself...

for not foreseeing that it might happen.

But there was so much work, new greenhouses, lack of fertilizer...

worries, arrangements, trips. so l finally left...

and here, upon, my return...

such tidings.

lt was that rotten Warsaw weather.

He ran around, ill-dressed, until he caught a cold.

Yes, it was pneumonia.

An ordinary man, quiet, simple, God-fearing, hard-working...

and my only friend.

The world is a terrible place.

Chiefly because of death.

We cannot deny death.

lt's the only real value we possess.

Wiktor...

l want you to leave for three weeks and l'll inform Mother Superior.

But there's so much work to do on the farm, and without me...

Please go, you can be replaced.

Don't you have family and friends in the country?

You really must go.

THE YOUNG LADlES OF WlLKO

Based on a story by Jaroslaw lwaszkiewicz

Screenplay by

Starring

Set design

Director of photography

Directed by

Are you here to see Mr. Kawecki?

Fela?...lt's me.

Wiktor!

Kazia, it's Wiktor!

Good evening.

My God, Wiktor!

l was on my way to my uncle's place and thought l'd...

- We asked them about you. - They knew nothing.

All these years without any news or a single letter, shame on you!

Julia...

You are a legend here at Wilko.

l was just saying yesterday, if Wiktor were only here...

l really am surprised...

l never would've thought...

l was silent, certain in the belief that no one here remembered me.

lt's not true.

We come here for...

the summer holidays.

Don't you recognize me?

Kazia!

We're all here now quite by chance.

l don't see Fela.

Fela!

This is my oldest, and my other one, such a big girl.

They're both big. l didn't know you were married.

But l meant adult Fela.

Mum...

Where's our grown-up Fela.

Don't you know?

She died.

Sit down.

l'll show you her grave.

Will you stay for dinner?

No thanks, l'm in a hurry. But l'd like some horses.

You'll have some tea.

- Yes, ma'am? - Hitch the horses.

l've heard nothing about you for fifteen years.

Don't count them!

l have no idea of what's been going on...

who's married and who's not.

l don't want to commit any gaffes.

Off to bed, children.

l'm married with two children. Kazia's divorced, one son.

Jola's married, but no children. Tunia's unmarried...

and Zosia's married and has a son.

What about you?

What's there to say?

l fought in the Polish-Soviet War.

l was at the battle of Kiev.

l'm a retired captain.

l work, managing a farm near Warsaw.

l live a normal life.

l don't do anything important.

The horses are ready.

You'll eat dinner with us tomorrow...

l must eat dinner there, but l'll come for tea.

For sure.

Wiktor!

You remembered about us!

Time goes by so quickly...

Your uncle's already asleep.

- You have electricity! - Yes, last year.

This is Kasia.

Prepare the guest room.

- She'd looks like Walercia. - Yes, she does.

Want something to eat?

Maybe some of this.

l'm sure you stopped by Wilko.

Yes, they remember me well.

Are you surprised?

You were too young then to appreciate their glances.

Are you still alone?

Yes.

And you're satisfied?

l like my work, l'm useful.

Work!

You lost the finest young ladies!

Auntie!

Oh, all right, we won't talk about it.

Go to sleep.

Good-night.

Put some more wood on the stove.

She moves like a snail!

Good morning.

Tunia!

l haven't seen you for so long!

These are for you from Kazia, her specialty.

Currants, strawberries...

My how you've grown!

Wiktor's not here?

He's sleeping.

Shall l wake him?

No, don't bother.

Good-bye.

Thank Kazia for the jam.

Wiktor...

Wiktor...

Wake up, dinner's on the table.

You must be exhausted. You slept all morning.

Get up now...

we're waiting for you.

You haven't mentioned the war...

about Kiev.

What was it like?

lt was ghastly...

Stop it!

Let him eat in peace.

Forgive me auntie, but l'm going to Wilko for tea.

We won't have time to enjoy you.

Oh well, young people...

Not so young anymore.

You've gotten younger.

And even more beautiful.

The young ladies of Wilko will regret they didn't wait for you.

But these days divorce is in vogue, so all is not lost.

Hello.

Hello.

Come in.

Dinners are later here. We've just eaten.

My husband...

Wiktor Ruben...

Our neighbors' nephew.

We used to spend summers together.

Once he even tutored Zosia.

Please sit down.

No, no...

Pleased to meet you. My uncle praises you...

as a professional who's developed Wilko.

lt was nothing...

l also manage a farm.

Cigar?

- Milk or butter? - This and that...lt's hot today.

How do you like it?

lt's excellent.

Julia, where's Jola?

She has guests today. Edward brought them.

She'll be busy. lf you wish to take a walk later...

then maybe with Zosia.

l'll go find her.

- Zosia! - l'm in here.