My Lake (Liqeni im)

SRPSKA POSLA BRATE

My lake.

Everyone says,

"My lake is the most beautiful in the world."

I think the same.

But how can it be mine,

when everyone else says "it's mine"?

Of the three shores, the greatest and most beautiful

is the Macedonian.

The Greek shore has the most fish,

but the police are bad over there.

I told you, not a word in Macedonian.

We are studying the Albanian language,

and I wouldn't understand it even if I wanted to.

Hope they have enough fuel to return.

Go, go.

Go on!

Hey.

Take the moped, but be careful.

You have plenty of time.

Get some sleep after school.

Ok.

You're driving me crazy with that exhaust!

There are four tenses to the subjunctive.

The present tense,

the imperfect tense,

the past tense,

and the past perfect tense.

Get up.

Go sleep somewhere else.

This is a classroom.

Wait.

You're torturing two defenseless women.

What are you looking for?

Aren't you tired of this?

Go and look for Pasko somewhere else. He is not here.

Look for him where you will. You come here and you get us out of bed.

I'm not here for fun, I'm doing my job.

That damn job.

It won't burn your mouth, eat it.

That teacher came here today.

That woman from Korça.

She's stupid.

What was she looking for here?

She seemed nice to me.

We were so worried about you!

Where were you all day and night?

I've told you,

if I don't return, I'm at Goran's.

Never mind.

Enjoy your meal.

Should I tell Pasko about the police?

You can, but it won't matter.

He'd better just disappear.

He's holding his lovely wife hostage.

And us, too. The police are breathing down our necks.

Once you get to the Macedonian side, stay by the shore.

Don't cut through the open water.

- How did it go? - Like always.

What do you need these for?

What was I going to tell the police if they stopped me?

This is for Ditka.

This is for my mother,

and I have something here for you.

The police searched the house again. Of course, they never forget.

- What does Ismail say? - Nothing.

How about Mum?

She prays in front of the icon.

- Ditka... - Don't.

Ditka knows everything.

He's tough.

- Cool! Where did you get it? - A goldfish gave it to me.

I'll take a better one.

That's it!

The phone...

Get out!

I'm not even going to ask why you would take my picture,

or anyone's else's.

This is betrayal.

Behind my back and during class too.

Why are you so unfaithful?

I thought you were different.

Where did you find this mobile phone?

Should I come and visit your grandparents?

No. Do that, and I'll never go to school again.

Anyway, delete these photos and we'll talk later.

I have to go, the Korça minibus is just about to leave.

Keep it, I'm happy to give it to you.

Silly.

Before the police started looking for him, we'd come here every religious holiday.

And now?

The best thing for him now is to disappear.

No, better stay in prison for a while

and then Pasko can come home like anyone else.

He won't be the first, or the last.

It is a long list though.

Drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons,

attempted murder of police officers...

When did you become a judge?

Ismail told me.

He only shot into the air to scare them, not kill them.

You were with him.

That's right.

The police shot too.

- Whose side are you on, mine or his? - I'm on Pasko's side.

He's not here yet.

Pasko isn't stupid.

The boat could be easily seen on the shore.

How about yours?

They know mine, I fish around here.

How is mother?

Ask about me first.

I can see you,

you look good.

Have a look around.

I'll call you when it's time to eat.

Why did you come inside me?

He might turn out to be a Saint.

I'm young, Pasko.

I can't live like this.

I have nightmares of being a widow.

Silly!

Sorry! I thought I heard you calling me.

Are you hungry? We'll set out some food in the Church.

Bless your hands!

She didn't cook it,

it was my mother.

Of course,

they are both scared I'd drug them and hand them over to the police.

God bless us.

Ditka, Kristo...

Forever and ever.

Amen!

Kristo, we'll see each other next week.

I'm scared and worried.

Listen to me.

I'm not going back to prison. Mother is sick.

Just wait a little longer.

It won't always be like this.

Tell me, how is my son?

Fine.

Poor me...

He is tough.

Are you a teacher or not?

Leave me alone! It's Sunday, I'm off today.

Can't you see the school is closed?

This is the same thing every day, opened or closed!

You're driving us crazy, all day long!

It's Sunday and it's God's day of rest...

I'm not looking for you. I want Goran.

Fuck off!

Why have you dressed up like this?

Finally. You have annoyed everyone.

It'll break again.

Why did you bother me then?

I have to drive Goran to Korça.

That's why you fixed the exhaust pipe.

In other words, we are all deaf?

Go on, take it.

What do you want?

Can you take me for a ride?

You silly girl. Do I look like a taxi?

Watch out, there are pickpockets in Korça.

Who are you?

Who am I? Who are you, coming in like this?

I wanted the teacher from Korça.

Miranda, they are looking for the teacher from Korça.

Is that you?

I brought you some fresh fish.

I think it's still alive.

Granddad told me to. It's a present for you.

Come inside for a drink.

Are you the teacher's brother?

No.

What's wrong? Why are you upset?

Nothing.

Miranda has a lover.

A tall guy.

It is worth selling tea here. You can make a lot of money.

I should have brought some tea.

Good night!

Were they policemen?

No. What would the police want here?

One of them had a gun, the kind that the police carry.

You noticed.

Yes, I did.

Could be, but don't worry. There are good policemen too.

Why are you surprised?

Same as at school, you have good and bad teachers.

I don't get you.

Don't worry, you will one day.

Hang on a minute, please, we haven't finished yet.

Your homework is to find information on the Internet

that isn't in your textbook.

Don't all look for the same information,

you should all give me something different.

You may leave.

Get everyone a drink.

- Cheers! - Cheers!

What's up? You seem...