Black Seed (Crno Seme)

An original tape record.

ANDON SOVlCANOV

October 25th, 1949 Skopje

Beatings were in the programme.

In what year? -1946.

A lieutenant came one morning and toId me

to get ready to go to a school.

They lied to us...

They wanteed to exterminate us.

We were all gathered and we got into trucks.

We were taken to an island in the Agean sea...

And thus we reached the camp.

Say, why are you here? I don't know.

You'II sing the statement denying the Communist Party.

Why? l'm no communist.

There's no need to sign a statement. l was enIisted.

They ask where we're from, Which vilIage, district

they beat us constantly.

Where are you from? Lerin. They beat you until

your Iegs are swoIlen with blood.

Where are you from? Karadzovo.

What viIIage? Novo Selo.

And they beat again.

Where are you from?

Which Village? That and that.

They got the poor man... That's the way it was...

THE BLACK SEED

starring

Directed by KiriI Cenevski

Take them away!

You!

What is your name? -Andon Sovicanov.

Where are you from? -Sarakinovo, Macedonia.

Macedonia?

Why are you here? -I don't know, Sir!

My Lieutenant told me to give him my weapons

and get ready for a trip... I'm a soIdier... I was sent...

... and here l am.

You don't know, eh?

Why haven't you got any hair?

Where are your eyebrows?

How wiII you wear His Majesty's cap?

I was born that way, Sir!

Read it so he can hear and sign!

Andon Sovicanov, from Sarakinovo,

without eyebrows and hair...etc.

Here, sing it.

Why should I? -For the record.

I've signed aIready.

Marko, wake up! It seems they're here.

What are they doing?! We're not prisoners.

The heIl we're not! We're wearing these uniforms.

They'll give us the works!

They won't dare!

We'll throw them out!

Who did that?

You!

The rest of you go!

Who betrayed him?

They'll shoot us all!

Watch the man who Iooks Iike a bare backside.

Off we go again, damn it!

Your friend's not around. He's Ieft you.

That's the way he wanted...

He's aII aIone.

You should pardon him.

Air!... Water!...

SiIence!

Let's open the lid!

Let's get out of here!

We'll suffocate from the stink and urine!

What are we?

SoIdiers or cattIe?

Why do you stare at me? Let's open the Iid!

Open the Iid!

Open it up!

Damn your mother!

The student's finished! They'II murder him!

Is he of our seed? -Yes.

Down!

They murdered him!

An isIand, eh?

One by one! Get out!

Attention!

WeIcome to my Iand.

I'm your new commander. l'II be taking care of you.

I hope you won't be here Iong.

How many peopIe were here before us?

We'll accomplish the formaIities.

And now...

In the name of the King, we'II sing a song.

Sing!

The order's to sing!

S i n g!

You, bald one!

You, I don't hear your voice?

I was taIking to you?

Hey, you!

Why don't you sing?

What's your name?

I'm singing, Sir!

What's your name?

Andon Sovicanov. From Sarakinovo, Macedonia.

Why sing this song, then?

Lieutenant! Take him to my office.

You, young man! TaII one! Come cIoser!

Yes, Sir!

Come cIoser! Want some water, eh?

You're aII parched by the sun!

Yes, Sir... It's the sun.

We had no water for 3 days.

Open your mouth, I'll pour you some.

Let's talk a little.

Unbelievable! Not a hair.

Neither on the head... nor on the face...

nor above the eyes!

You must be thirsty. You had nothing to drink...

There!

Thank you, Sir!

Some more?

Thank you, Sir!

Thank you... Sir!

What's this, lieutenant? This is seawater.

This must not happen again!

You liked it, eh? -No, but you ordered.

What if I gave you more? -I wouId've drunk.

Attention! Bandit bastard!

Why haven't you got any hair?

I was born that way. -Where were you born?

Andon Sovicanov, from Sarakinovo

under the Kaimakcalan!

From that bandit vilIage?

You're aII communists!

We used to live there even before the Turks came!

Do you love the King? -l'm serving him, Sir!

Sign that you're Ioyal to him and deny your organisation.

I'm a peasant, Sir, noting else.

You refuse to sing? You're refusing...

son of a bitch!

Down with the trousers!

Turn around!

Colossal! Fantastic!

Eat!

Eat the fish!

T h e f i s h!

It's saItier than the sea!

You'II get some more!

What about you?

You'II get some more, too!

There's the water!

Follow me!

Stop!

Form a coIumn! You'II aII get some!

Don't you want any? The best!

You want us to drink our bIood!

A sturdy Iittle man! Such an iron-wiIl!

The student's infIuence.

I can't hold on.

Think of something eIse!