Siberian Education (Educazione siberiana)

By our ancestors, free hunters and warriors,

By the great northern forests,

By the river Lena and Amur, we pray to you.

Blessed Mary, Mother of God, full of grace,

hear words of humble servant.

Forgive us honest criminals,

for the sins we are forced to commit.

Assist us in our battle

against power-mongering polit bureaucrats and their minions

cops and soldiers,

and every other devil in uniform.

O most gracious Mother of the most gracious God,

bless our weapons, temper our knives,

guide our bullets and anoint our souls

and our grasp may become yours.

Kolyma!

We must respect all living creatures,

except for the police,

people who work in government,

bankers, usurers,

and anyone who has the power and money

to exploit simple people.

Stealing from this people is allowed.

But remember: It's crazy to want too much.

Men cannot possess more

than his heart can love.

SIBERIAN EDUCATION

Do not move! Stay in the car!

Learn from our brother Plank.

It is sacrilege for an honest Siberian

to keep money in his house.

Even the stolen money.

10 YEARS LATER

1998- CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS, RUSSIAN ARMY, SPECIAL FORCES

Kolyma, you think I could have his cigarettes?

Thanks!

Three minutes ago

Yes, confirmed.

A truck loaded with heroin.

I think they're the ones we're looking for.

Yes. We will find them.

Okay, roger that. Over and out.

They were low on gas and were out here without a spare tank.

They were headed some place nearby.

Look what else I found.

You something, Sergeant?

The first job I ever had was playing dead.

1988 - RIVERBANK, SOVIET UNION

- He's dead! - No! I know I braked in time.

Look at him! Not even a scratch!

He's got a pulse. What the fuck do you think happened?

Maybe he's sick.

Where am I?

It's a damned miracle you're alive, boy. You know?

Uncle Vasia!

I'm not Uncle Vasia.

And what are you doing wandering around here all by yourself, anyway?

I'm lost. I forgot everything.

I better go home.

- You sure you're okay? - Yes, sir.

Gagarin?

Kolyma, we got enough for the whole neighborhood!

Kolyma, quick! It is the army!

They are after the truck robbers! Run!

Easy, easy!

- You two, sit down. - But Grandfather...

Do as I say.

Good evening, comrade Officer. How may I help you?

Where is your husband?

In the Kasparov Cemetary.

Are you this woman's father?

No, Grandfather is my husband's father.

I did not ask you.

Someone robbed a truck recently.

100 pairs of boots have disappeared.

Anna, I need you to deliver a few words on my behalf

to this piece of trash.

Can you ask him please why he thinks

he can come armed in the heart of Riverbank

and enter the house of an honest criminal?

Grandfather asks, "If by-"

- Silence! Listen, you piece of shit! - Kolyma!

Take your hands off my grandfather, you pig!

Comrade Commander, The place is full of...

Jesus Christ and all his blessed relations!

I'm sorry, grandfather Kuzya...

but thank God no one has been hurt.

Do you realize what times we live in, brother Plank?

Not even in our homes can we find peace.

True, but we are always with you, Grandpa Kuzya,

in happy times and sad.

Kolyma.

Tell me sister Lena, brother Amur speaks too!

I crossed my land from one part

stopping trains

singing and making my rifle,

and only the old taiga knows

I killed those cops!

And now that I'm in trouble,

Jesus Christ help me, help me lose my gun!

Mama Siberia, take my life!

Mama Siberia, take my life!

He did it to defend us.

Yes, but Kolyma broke three rules.

He took a weapon without the permission of an adult

He took it from the red corner,

and he attempted to fire it inside the house.

These are things one should never do!

Never!

But... it was brave.

You don't have a switchblade, do you?

No.

Well, take this one, then.

- For me? - Yes, Kolyma.

This switchblade has known you since the day you were born.

It is the same blade that was used to cut the umbilical cord

that tied you to your mother.

The switchblade is like the cross.

It stays with us our entire lives.

No, Gagarin. This is not your switchblade.

But I...

Even if you cannot be gifted with the blade that cut you from your mother

Here, take it!

May the good Lord also guide your hand and...

Kolyma!

Fingers inward.

Protect your fingers Protect yours.

Short and swift. Like this!

That way, the wound is bigger

and your opponent dies more quickly.

Palms up,

you turn the blade and slash.

Watch Gagarin, he's already good

Learned all by himself.

We are here. This must be less than a kilometer away.

Eyes open and absolute silence!

It's heroin. He's got 10 kilos.

Grandpa Kuzya, please! I have three mouths to feed!

Three mouths?

- Yes. - Is that so?

Then...

...Let's just start with yours. - No! Please! No!

There's something you want to ask me?

The answer to the question you don't want to ask me is quite simple.

There is no place for drugs in our community.

We Siberians do not dirty our hands with that stuff.

Come on Mel, hurry up!

I'm trying! Not so easy, you know.

- Move over! - Get out of there!

Get out of there, you idiot!

Three fucking Georgians!

They stole my stamps, the ones that I had just bought!

And so you started bawling right in front of them?

Even the painting with Stalin!

He is dressed like a pilot! It is really rare!

But I did not cry... Not in front of them.

Look who's coming!

Look who's come back! The little fairy with the stamps!

You know, you're pretty cute up close...

Even if you wear glasses!

So very cute... Too bad you're a fairy!

- Vitalic! - Vitalic, we are here!

We give up! We give up!

My friend Vitalic, would like his stamps back,

Especially the one with the Red Lenin. - Stalin! With the Stalin!

That's enough! Gagarin, that's enough! We won!

Now listen carefully, you momma's boy 'cause I'm only going to say this once.

Nobody in this city touchs us, Siberians.

Mama Siberia, take my life!

Shut up!

First I'm going to release the female.

Wait...

Now!

You see, Kolyma...

if they live only in a cage, they die.

Because the home of every living creature is the sky.

Go! Go!

Stop there!

Go!

No! No!

No!

Go! Go!

Go!

Go! Run!

Run! Run!

- It's from Vaisef. - Here!

- It's from Sergei! - He's my son.

Mel, this is it! It's from Gagarin.

"They're keeping me seven years, Kolyma.

"They will be sending me far away soon.

"But I'm OK. I am tough.

"These bastards will never break me!

The winter seemed never ending,

and the pack was dying of hunger.

The leader of the pack, the oldest of all,

was out in front, comforting the young wolves

telling them that spring was coming.

But, at a certain point,

one young wolf decides to stop.

He says he has had enough of cold and hunger,