The Guide (Поводир)

IN TIMES OF TYRANNY, SINGERS WILL ARISE -

THOSE WHO TELL OF THE TIMES

WHEN THE PEOPLE WERE STRONG, AND PROUD, AND FREE.

IN THE 1930S THE SOVIET REGIME ARRESTED HUNDREDS OF KOBZARS.

THEY VANISHED, WITHOUT A TRACE.

A FILM BY OLES SANIN

UKRAINE, KHARKIV 1934

An adult couldn't fit into the box under the train car,

only someone as small as I could.

I was 13.

My real name was Peter Shamrock,

but the street children called me "The American".

In those days trains full of prisoners weren't unusual.

There were thousands of trains packed

with "enemies of the people".

They were taken to Siberia,

to labor camps to build roads,

factories, power plants,

canals - to build a "bright future".

But labor camps had no need for blind musicians.

And no one could force those "Kobzars"

to sing praises for Stalin.

For my entire life I've looked for documents,

and for other witnesses.

No one would ever believe somebody like me.

THE GUIDE

Comrade Volodymyr!

They're the Storytellers of the Ukrainian nation.

TWO YEARS EARLIER

Yes, I know it's old-fashioned, but we are scientists.

We'll do it according to a careful plan:

we'll organize a conference

of kobzars.

We'll explain to them the new ways of these new times.

This way, truly new,

socialist kobzars will emerge.

What is it?

-Here! -What is this?

A conference, a conference…

-Of socialist kobzars, you see? -All right.

To build our future!

This is your responsibility.

Attention comrades! Attention!

You saved… You saved Ukrainian music.

It should be international in spirit, and socialist in substance!

Ok.

Comrades, we are performing for foreigners, so approved music only,

absolutely no improvisation!

KINO-EYE

There are droves of unemployed workers

in New York, London and Paris!

There the unemployed are standing in line for bowls of free soup,

while our Country of Soviets is constantly moving forward.

Industrialization marches across the land,

reaching even its most remote corners.

I don't like newsreels,

but that one was something special.

It was about my father,

the American engineer Michael Shamrock.

My father taught workers at the factory

how to build a tractor.

The tractor was called "The International".

Everyone here liked that word.

Even my school was named after the Third International.

-A bowtie? That way. -Thanks!

You're welcome.

Big, big building…

New buildings are rising in the cities.

The American communist engineer…

…due to the factory workers' effort.

The first tractor that came off the conveyor in the factory

is being given to the people

of the Kalynivka village collective farm.

When they announce your name, take three steps forward, OK?

And now, for all the participants of this celebration,

the son of the American communist comrade Michael Shamrock,

fifth-grader Peter Shamrock,

will recite a poem about our bright future.

Taras Shevchenko.

The cherry trees surround the cottage,

May bugs buzz over the orchard,

The plowmen return from their fields…

Decree of the People's Committee of the SRU. Top secret!

Due to some regions failing to satisfy bread requisitions,

all party organizations are ordered to cut off supplies completely,

to prohibit trade between collective farms, and to remove all reserve stock.

For his active participation in the assembly of the first tractor,

our American representative and comrade Michael Shamrock

is rewarded with a trip to Moscow,

the proletariat capital of the world.

VOUCHER

And now, comrades,

we offer you a musical number!

Our orchestra

will perform a jazz style composition!

Jazz, dear comrades, is the music

of oppressed American Negro laborers.

Olha,

I know it's just a formality,

but you know, I'd like to tell you…

Why are you starting this conversation again?

We talked about it: we're just friends.

You know I have somebody.

Of course, you are a man, too.

Volodymyr, you don't interest me!

I love Michael! Bravo!

Olha,

you won't get permission to marry.

Not here, not in Moscow.

They will leave and forget all about you.

My dear friend Gareth Jones,

I am sending you the documents you've been looking for.

Perhaps their publication in your newspaper

will stop the killing of innocent people

and the destruction of my nation.

Yours truly, Communist and Ukrainian,

Mykola Sytnyk.

And now

the leading actress of the Kharkiv Drama Theater…

I'll be back in a minute. Finish your ice-cream.

…Olha Levytska, will appear on stage for our foreign specialists.

So, comrade Shamrock,

you are going to Moscow?

Yes, I am.

May I ask you to pass this book

to this English journalist

Gareth Jones,

he works there.

OK.

It is a small personal gift

-to him from me… -Sure.

It's very important to me.

Yes, comrade. I understand.

I wrote his name.

He is going to meet you…

OK.

At the station.

OK, thank you.

I'm counting on you,

comrade Shamrock.

Thank you.

…ALL FOR…

…RELENTLESS STRUGGLE WITH THE ENEMIES OF THE REVOLUTION…

SIGNED

Goodbye, Soviet Union.

We will be back after the victory of the world revolution.

Thank you! Cut!

Let's go to the car.

Michael, Peter, I can't go to the station.

I have rehearsals at the theater.

You're so lucky to get to see Moscow!

-Bye, Olha! -Bye.

-We'll miss you. -I'll miss you too.

OK, big guy, on to Moscow!

Au revoir!

Bye-bye!

Till next time!

We have plenty of time.

-Are you here with someone, kid? -My Daddy.

No, no.

I'm way too excited to smoke.

You know…

this trip to Moscow… it got me thinking…

Come here!

You know I love Olha. Right?

And Peter loves her, and in fact…

-What's taking so long? -Hold on, just a minute!

Socialism makes people happy.

She could be the mother that he never had…

Quick! There is not much time.

Just a second!

I'm going to propose to her.

Oh crap, he locked it…

It's locked…

Quick, open it!

Olha, I love you!

And I want you to be my wife.

Dad! Dad! Thieves! Come here!

Hold a second. Still playing cops and robbers…

I'm coming!

Wait. Maybe… it's probably here.

Hey!

What's going on here?

Peter, run.

Peter! Run!

Get the kid.

Secret police!

Get the boy! Quick!

Stop!

Andriy!

Run over here, I'll catch you!

No, it's not me!

Where are you? Where?

Are you burned?

Why are you crying?

Who are you?

The documents?

They're not here.

If these documents surface, we're all done for.

Dig the ground with your noses