Father of a Soldier (Jariskatsis mama) (ჯარისკაცის მამა)

FATHER OF A SOLDIER

Screenplay by Suliko ZHGENTI

Directed by Rezo CHKHEIDZE

Director of Photography Lev SUKHOV, Archil FILIPASHVILI

Director Temo MIKADZE Production designers: Zurab MEDZMARIASHVILI, Nika KAZBEGI

Composer Sulkhan TSINTSADZE Sound Editor D. LOMIDZE

Editor V. DOLENKO Makeup Artist T. IVASHCHENKO

Costume Designer N. MANDZHGALADZE Cameraman L. NAMGALASHVILI

Assistant Directors: E. ZHGNETI, K. ARESHIDZE, M. MAGIRIA Assistant Editor N. SHOSHITAISHVILI

Camera Assistants: G. DZHAPARIDZE, K. VASALIYA, M. AVALIANI

Set Designers: M. MEDNIKOV, G. MARGISHVILI, G. SALADZE

Visual Effects: Cameraman O. MAGAKIAN, Artist R. VASHADZE

Visual Effects Camera Assistant AN. VODOLZHANSKIY

Sergo ZAKARIADZE as Father

Cast: V. PRIVALTSEV, A. NAZAROV, A. LEBEDEV

V. KOLOKOLTSEV, Yu. DROZDOV I. KOSYKH, Vitya KOSYKH

V. URALSKIY K. BOCHORISHVILI, B. PITSEK

P. LYUBESHKIN T. SAPOZHNIKOVA, I. BARMIN

In Episodes: I. VYKHODTSEVA, R. VILDAN, B. GOGINAVA, V. ZHARIKOV, V. KULIK

G. KOBAKHIDZE, I. KOKRASHVILI, E. MASKIMOVA, R. MURATOV, V. MIZIN

I. NIZHARADZE, L. ZGVAURI, A. STARTSEV, F. STEPUN, ZH. KVITAISHVILI

With participation of Moscow, Transcaucasian and Baltic Military Districts troops

Head military consultant General Lieutenant of Artillery I. VLADIMIROV

Symphony Orchestra of Radio and Television of Georgia Conductor L. KILADZE

Editors A. MAKHARADZE, M. SARALIDZE

Manager SHOTA LAPERADZE

Georgia-Film Studio Production

As you get there, find out where this hospital is.

Don't be afraid to ask.

There's nothing wrong with asking questions.

You're going to be late, Georgy.

I tell you you'll be late!

Be careful on the train, these are evil times now.

Don't get in the rain, you mustn't catch cold.

Don't keep all of your money in one place.

Button up your pocket.

Best regards to your son, Georgy!

Good luck! Keep your chin up!

Try to find out where my boy is.

I've not heard a word from him for weeks.

Get into the cab, Georgy.

Hey, you're not going to put a big man like him into that hen-coop!

Give him a hand up.

You're doing a good thing, Georgy.

You've got a long trip ahead of you. Don't lose heart!

Maybe you'll run into my Mikha?

You'll be meeting a lot of people. Ask them...

It's been a whole year that we're fighting.

When are we going to chase out those Germans?

You'll be almost at the front when you get there.

If they start bombing, crawl into a cellar or a hole.

The boy's crazy. There're no bombs there.

Do whatever you can. Beg the doctors...

Try to get him on a furlough, who knows?

He was already wounded before. Isn't that enough for one war?

The town's called Dubovo. Hospital number...

What's that? You're praying?

Let him pray if it brings him any comfort.

Pray, Georgy, it's all right.

Can't you say something before you leave?

What do you want me to say? I'm going, and that's it.

Can't get it started. Give 'er a push!

Georgy! Don't come back without Goderdzi!

Don't forget it, do you hear?

Soviet Information Bureau Communique:

On September 11 our troops put up stubborn resistance

west and south-west of Stalingrad,

in the region of Mozdok and on the Volkhov sector.

After several days of fierce fighting

our troops withdrew from Novorossiysk.

It's too heavy for you. Let me help.

That's no job for a woman, to carry heavy sacks.

Listen... Will you give me a lift to Dubovo?

No, I can't. There's no room.

- Be ready soon, Vassily? - In a minute.

All right, climb in, old man.

One ticket to Dubovo... Luggage costs extra.

A horse ain't a barge. Every extra pound counts.

- All settled? - Yes.

Heave off! Full ahead!

Give the kid a drink. It's hot.

We had a good potato crop this year,

but a bomb fell in the garden. We had to pick what we could.

Move over! You're not the only one in the cart.

What's eating you? There's room for everybody.

Good boy! Women should be kept in hand.

- Just look at all his sacks! - What have you got in your bundle?

My, how rich we are!

Take a nap, son.

Yes, I guess I'm a bit tired.

You've got strong legs. How come you're not in the army?

What can I do there? It's young men like you who must fight.

Got a smoke, old man?

Yes.

Good tobacco. Want to sell some?

I will give you some as a present.

Don't be stingy. Look how much you've got.

It's for my son. He's in the hospital in Dubovo.

Wounded?

In the shoulder. My son is a tankman.

What sort of tobacco is this? Got no strength.

It's good tobacco.

- Here, take it back. - No, keep it.

It makes me cough after the stuff I've been smoking.

Here's your hospital, old man.

Don't. I can carry them myself.

Thanks.

- Vassily. - Goodbye. Let's go!

What do I owe you?

So long, old man! Good luck to you!

- How d'ye do. - How d'ye do.

Yes, that's the registry.

The surgeon's operating. Very well.

Who do you want to see?

Close the door, will you?

My son is here.

What ward? Do you know what ward he's in?

- What's your son's name? - Goderdzi Makharashvili.

He's a tall, good-Iooking boy.

- Tell me his name, will you? - Goderdzi Makharashvili.

Makharashvili...

Here he is: Makharashvili!

Good! You did it!

He's been discharged. Gone back to his unit. He's not here.

He's not here any more.

What do you mean, not here? Here he is, here he isn't!

His name's here, but he's gone.

- Why isn't my son here? - He got well and went back.

- Went back where? - To his army unit.

- I don't understand. - He went back to fight.

Show me.

Don't you believe me?

I believe you, but let me see for myself.

Here. He was discharged on the 16th.

Don't take away my register.

Now you believe me?

Can you see it?

No... I can't read Russian.

Then why did you look in the book?

It's all right, forget about it.

You ought to be glad your son's well again.

Hurry up now, or you'll miss your train.

Where are you going? There's the door!

I came all this way to be told such a thing?

I told you he got well.

You think my son lied to me?

Here is his letter. He says he's here.

I can't read Georgian.

My son never tells lies.

Stop! You can't go in there! It doesn't make any sense.

Are you crazy or what, old man? You can't go there.

- Why? - That's the surgery!

You can't go there without a smock.

- Then give me a smock. - No, I won't.

Get out of here before somebody sees us.

Wait... First I talk, then you talk.

All right, go ahead.

- Hey, where are you going? Stop! - I know what I'm doing.

Excuse me, doctor...

- What's going on here? - I couldn't stop him...

I told him his son has gone back to the army.

He doesn't believe me.

Wait.

Why don't you believe him?

Well, you see, doctor...

It took me a long time to get here.

I rode, rode, rode on a train...

I rode, rode, rode in a car.

I rode in a cart...

Now he says my son is not here.

He's been discharged. He's gone!

You see... All right, I'll go home,

and my wife and my friends will ask me:

Did you see Goderdzi? What do I say?

Doctor!

Some more wounded have arrived.

How's the captain doing?

Not good.

Doctor...

Show him the ward where his son was.

Oh yes, that's Goderdzi!

But his mustache is a lot longer than that now.

Yes, that's him.

- That's his tank. - Number 416.

That's right, number 416!

And you didn't believe him!

Which was his bed?

You will get well too! This is a lucky bed.

They repaired him fine, you can be sure of it.

He went to dance and he lasted longer than anyone.

- He danced good? - Like a gazelle.

Why don't you go and see him?

His unit's stationed in Demidovo.

His pals came here to see him. Pay him a visit.

- Where is Demidovo? - Not far from here.

The commandant at the station will show you the way.

Commandant? I know what is a commandant!

He'll give you a pass.

No, he will ask for papers, question me where I come from...

I tell you he'll give you a pass. Just show him your son's photo.