It Takes a Village (Podlasie)

Damn. We can't go any further. Faster! The young couple's waiting.

I apologize. I had an emergency.

Some old biddies from Wodniczki were feuding over broody hens.

We're gonna be late. They're waiting, and we still need to pick up the flowers.

My cap!

Quickly! The young couple is probably waiting.

Oh, our beloved ladies!

- Well, look who we have here. - Where were you?

We wanted to prepare spiritually.

Stop. Exhale.

Your spirituality will give me a hangover.

Tradition dictates that we drink to the young couple's health.

Here, you'll give them these.

We can't be late.

- The young couple is waiting. - Yeah.

RECTORY

Boys! Move it. The young couple's waiting.

Father!

- The stole! - The plate!

- It's ready. - The collection plate is a must.

You should take care of your appearance.

- Oh, Dad, give it a rest. - Oliwka, beautiful as always.

- What a gorgeous couple. - Yeah, they're a picture of health.

I've waited so long for this day.

Can we start?

- Let's start. - Play!

- Wait! - What do you want to wait for, my flower?

What else do you need to be happy?

Maybe my granddaughter would like to marry Kuba, ah?

Jan and I would gladly yield this wedding to them.

You're the ones who want to get married, not us.

- I'll gladly get married. - I'm not yielding this wedding to anyone!

- May we? - Begin, Reverend.

Play!

Oh, my beloved sweetheart We've waited so long

Despite all the people Who claimed we weren't strong

I waited for you Through spring, summer, fall

So you would love me In front of them all

Oh, my beloved darling For the whole world to see

I will love you For all eternity

When the leaves start to drop In the middle of fall

Because I vowed…

Halina?

- Halina! - Grandma!

It's honestly a huge shock to the system

to leave widowhood behind.

I need to catch my breath and quench my thirst

with my bridesmaids around me.

Halina!

To the back. Quickly!

Relax.

And one, and two.

- Grandma, what are you doing? - Halina, tell the truth.

You'd rather stay single, huh?

Have you lost all feelings for Jan?

On the contrary, I haven't.

But I can't marry Jan now.

You've got to help me out of this premarital situation.

- But why, Grandma? - One for all.

And all for one.

Who would've thought that my Halinka was so in love with me

that she'd lose her breath before we've even said our vows.

Open your eyes. Your bride has left you at the altar.

Where's Halina?

- Oh, she had to go for a walk. - From all that emotion.

Don't ask.

- What? - Yup.

Something like this has never happened in Bodźki.

My condolences.

Either I'm blind

or it says here that I'm gonna lose my house.

You read it.

You're behind on payments.

But I wrote to them requesting to pay in smaller installments.

- Don't payday lenders have hearts? - In what world, Halina?

They reject those requests. Every day you delay, you accrue interest.

Now you don't owe 3,000 zlotys, but 6,000!

You have until the end of the month, or you get the three axes.

It's what they call Section 777 of the tax code.

If you don't pay on time, your house goes up for auction.

Holy Mother of God.

- It's all because of me. - No, Wojtuś. Stop that.

I'm the one who made a mess of things.

Oh! And remember…

Not a word about my finances,

especially to Jan.

Promise.

I promise.

Good.

What about the wedding?

There won't be a wedding.

- There won't be a wedding. - What?

- Go with God. - How come?

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Halina Madej, the cheese lady, yes.

I have a question, yes.

Could you pay me in advance for the...

No? But I really need...

Yes, I understand.

Halina!

Halina?

Halina!

I know you're here, Halina.

Have the decency to look me in the eye and settle this proper-like.

Halina!

Where's that hellish shrew feeder of yours?

Halina.

Halin…

- Don't badmouth me to my own livestock. - I held back the worst part.

I know.

- You'd have to be the worst kind of… - Go on. Say it.

The worst Podlasian, old biddy to treat her significant other this way!

Podlasian, old biddy?

So I did the right thing, if that's what you think of me!

I thank God for saving me from such a hellish wife!

Halina, you have no heart.

It's all over for us, Halina.

All of it!

Oh…

What have I done?

What

the hell have I done?

We wanted to open our inn with a wedding reception.

Instead, we got a wake. What a mess!

You were supposed to bring me luck, Grandma.

'Cause she's a fallen angel.

A fallen angel in Halina's image.

Oliwka.

Tell me,

since you two share the same genes,

why did Halina treat Jan like that?

It'll all clear up somehow.

She destroyed Jan's reputation in front of the whole village.

Good thing we brewed so much moonshine as a wedding gift,

'cause who could bear Halina's awful behavior without a drink?

- Not a soul. - The Solomons of Podlasie have spoken.

- Pour him a half. - Yeah, half.

Half…

Maybe Matylda could determine what's driving Halina's guilt.

'Cause our parishioner's reputation is on the line here.

I don't meddle in my neighbors' private affairs.

But if Halina feels the need, she knows the way to the confessional.

Halina had her reasons.

Wojtuś,

you know something.

Won't you tell your buddy?

Wojciech.

Everyone knows what Halina's like. She's feisty.

But she wouldn't hurt someone for no reason.

I'm gonna need to have a more honest talk with Grandma.

How about we make bets?

Who bets that Halina and Jan will make it work?

A priest encouraging gambling?

The money's not for me.

The church could do with some refurbishing after that unfortunate incident.

That's some idea you have!

Making moonshine in the vestry? At full blast, no less?

You gotta know how to brew.

Half.

Wise words.

Where are you going, Wojteczek?

You were supposed to move in with Halina, but...

You gave your family's land to the brothers-in-law

for their moonshine business.

- Where will you go? - I don't know.

Wherever my feet may stray I don't know the destination or way

Jan carved Halina out of love

She dumped Jan But it wasn't malice she was guilty of

What's that? A song?

In the making.

Oh, Halina.

- I can't look at the hag. - Jan!

Jan, I have to tell you… Jan!

I have to tell you something important. I broke your heart, Jan.

Have you lost your marbles?

- I like you, Wojtek, but... - No!

The thing is, I persuaded Halina to make a bad investment.

What investment?

My friend, well, ex-friend, was making money on cryptocurrency.

I was doing well, too, so I told Halina about it.

Since her cheese business took off, she became greedy.

I mean, she was open to various business ventures.

I knew you were stupid, Wojtek, but my…

But Halina?

- How much did you lose? - I lost a bit of my savings. But Halina…

How much?

A lot.

- But why? - She wanted to help Oliwka and Kuba.

And buy you your dream Junak.

Junak?

And Halina hid all of this from me?

That means

she didn't call off the wedding because she doesn't love me.

OLIWKA'S RESTAURANT

Mom?

Oliwka!

You came after all!

How could I not?

I don't know if Halina will be happy,

but on a day like this, we should be together.