The Legend of Ochi

I was born on a small island in the Black Sea.

Most people here live right from the land.

It's how we've always survived.

For a long time, nothing much changed here.

But things are starting to feel different.

People say it's a dangerous place.

There are bears,

and wolves...

and something else...

Something people fear is much worse.

For as long as I know, we've fought them.

I've never seen one myself.

But I've heard them, at night...

...echoing down from the mountains.

I still don't know the whole story.

But since I was four years old...

the one thing I've known for sure...

is they destroyed my family.

(I SHOULD TAKE MY BANDURA PLAYING OVER RADIO)

On foot, boys.

Hi, possum.

Are we going to see one?

Put out your hand.

Papa gave me that on my first hunt.

It's sharp.

Yeah, it's a killer.

Stick to the high ground.

Boris!

The trees!

-(GUNSHOT) -(GROWLING)

Stay down!

Let's go!

Right there!

Last night...

was marvelous, my little chub-chicks.

We saw the devil dancing in the goblin's eyes!

But did we fell a single one?

No.

No, we did not.

Was there a fair amount of piss-shit scatter-shots

and gutless dawdling?

Yes. Yes, there was.

Pavel!

This week, your father's best stud was bit, bled dry.

Oleg!

Your Uncle Belka, won't stay on the hill with his herd.

Now he sits at home and drinks!

Ivan! Your father and his timber crew

have fled the camp.

Your mother feeds the dog on hog-shit.

Gleb!

On your farm,

five geese and three cats are yet found!

We are cursed with a wickedness!

Your parents have offered you to this cause.

They say, "Here! Make something of my boy!

"Protect us. Save us!"

When Petro here was 14,

just a reedy twig as you are,

he was orphaned and left in my care.

Now look at him!

You may think me nasty and grim.

But remember, my dears,

I know your pain.

The Ochi took my wife.

And for that, I have no son

to call my own.

But if you give your little hearts to this cause,

as true as I live,

you are all my sons.

(TRY PORADY BY LINA PROKHOROVA PLAYING DISTANTLY OVER RADIO)

(RADIO ANNOUNCER SPEAKING IN UKRAINIAN)

...The Long and Lonely Night.

(THE LONG AND LONELY NIGHT BY ILYA LUBINSKY PLAYS ON RADIO)

You hear that?

Amazing.

You act like it's a torture.

Like a turtle with its head in the shell.

It's stupid.

That was our song.

Your mom and me.

In school, we learned there's a kind of bird,

it's called a Pine Warbler.

It's weird, because, basically,

the dad sits on the eggs instead of mom.

But when it turns a bigger age,

it leaves the nest,

and the mom teaches it how to fly and get bugs.

I think it's cool.

I wish you could see her, Yuri.

I do.

-You said I... -How many times

do I have to tell you? She left us.

I'm gonna see her.

She doesn't want you.

(THE LONG AND LONELY NIGHT CONTINUES PLAYING OVER RADIO)

Have you checked the traps?

I won't hurt you.

(PADLON VAGYOK BY OMEN PLAYING ON STEREO)

(WOMAN ON TV SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

It's okay.

-(SNARLS) -(SNARLS)

I'm not gonna hurt you.

The whistle, the call of death.

There.

Better.

No. Not for eating.

-No! -(CHIRPS)

You're not like they say.

(PADLON VAGYOK CONTINUES ON STEREO)

You hear that?

-I need my sleeping bag! -(YOUNG OCHI CHIRPING)

Yuri, what is this?