Darkling (Мрак)

Based on a true story

Dear Mr. President,

I sit here, under the table in pitch darkness, and I'm terrified.

Even if I could light the candle, it would give just little light around it.

but everything else would still remain surrounded by darkness.

That's how powerful this darkness is.

Papa, what is that?

Don't go out.

Milutin... what is it?

-Mom, what happened? -Stay there!

Papa!

Papa!

Get the key!

Wait...

Wait...

Hi, Vukica. Milica, what happened?

Go up there.

-Go to Milutin. -Milica is coming?

Wait.

Send them over here. Now! I want them to see this!

Move it!

-Milutin... -Come here.

Let me show you something.

Look at this.

You'll wait until they kill us, too? Is it dead?

-Calm down, Milutin. -Don't you "calm" me!

Don't look here. Look there!

There! If you don't see it, I can show you!

Come here! Now!

Take a look at this. See?

Right here. See this?

-No. -Take a better look! Here.

This ground here, trampled.

This is a boot print.

Understand? See now? A boot print.

-We haven't slept all night. -I photograph.

-I write report, down at base. Okay? -Report?! Do you hear me?

It's getting worse every night!

I want to speak to your commander!

-Milutin, report first. -Report what?

What about my missing son? And my son-in-law?

How many reports have you written?!

When will we go away from here?

When your dad comes back, darling.

All you care about is a report!

What am I to do with my cow now, when she lost her calf?

This animal feeds my family!

She'll stop giving milk now! Do you hear?

Milutin, I arrange the cow with the Command.

No need. These guys already arranged it.

You don't care if we live or die here.

All you care about is a report!

Why didn't you call?

The phone doesn't work. No battery. No electricity.

-Ciao, Luca. -Ciao, signorina.

We didn't have any last night.

I can charge the telephone in the camp.

I'll go and get it.

I want you to arrange for night watch here!

Then you'll see the way we live here, in the darkness! Understand?!

I'm not leaving this place until you find my son! And her husband! Get it?!

Hop in.

Bring some wire, too, for the fence.

-Thank you. -No problem.

Mauricio!

-Why haven't you picked Andjelija up? -They said in the base, no need.

-No need what? -Pick up anyone.

Stay there.

Luca!

How about some music?

Where's Andjelija?

They didn't pick her up.

Our pig disappeared last night.

Give me your whistle.

-Good morning, Zivan. -Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

-Good morning, Zivan. -Good morning.

-Good morning, children. -Good morning.

Good morning, darling. Good morning.

Zivan has prepared some candles for you to take home.

Put them in your bags right away.

Children, today we are going to do a special assignment.

It is very important so we have to do our best,

We are going to write an essay called "My life in Kosovo".

You are writing to the President of our country, so pay attention to orthography.

The best essay will be read out in the United Nations.

We don't want to embarrass ourselves.

Don't forget to put the date.

I want you to write about your feelings,

about the way you live and what do you want in your life.

Milica, you have a lot to say

about the reasons for moving out of your village.

I believe it has to be known.

This is a chance to present our side of the story to the world.

We don't have much opportunity to speak about our life here.

That yesterday our Andjelija and her family have left here.

Just a many others have left this place earlier.

Maybe this will help that no one leaves anymore

and that those who left return one day.

I'm eleven years old.

I live in Kosovo.

The house where I live now is not the one I was born in.

Our house was in another village and it was made of bricks.

We had running water and a bathroom.

That house was set on fire, so my Mom, Dad and I moved in here, with my Grandpa.

Since Easter, electricity is cut off every day.

We cannot even recharge the telephone battery,

We barely sleep at night.

People here live in great fear.

The authorities in charge for us

say that we don't need to worry, because they are protecting us.

They gave us whistles, to blow in case of emergency.

My best friend Milan has modified our whistles.

Now they sound like blackbirds.

There are plenty of blackbirds in these woods.

This way, we can communicate while others think that the birds are singing.

But what's the use of whistles?

Whistles can't protect from fear.

No one can.

There are only six kids in this school, after what happened in March this year.

Everyone else have left.

The others take over from here.

My time as commander here is over.

O Lord, have mercy and save our children that are still here with us:

Milica, Natalija, Ruzica, Radovan, Smiljana, Milos.

and all of our still living parents,

Marta, Jelica, Vukica, Milutin, Lazar, Ilija, Igor,

as well as the dead and the missing ones,

and give rest, Lord, to the soul of Your servants.

and forgive them all transgressions and grant them Your Kingdom in Heaven.

My folks decided to leave.

Mom can't take it anymore.

Neither can mine. But we have to wait for Dad.

-Where are you going? -Some place in Serbia.

Us two don't have where to go.

Our house is the next one, after Smiljana's.

Natalija, your house is the nearest one to the church. Milos, tell them.

My Mom and I are staying.

If we all stay, they'll have to do something for us.

We have to stick together.

Hello, there.

What on earth brings you here, Blagoje?

Don't be so harsh, Milutin. I came to help.

How can you help?

I know what happened. I've got here the wire for your fence.

Let us in, we'll explain everything.

Milutin, you have to stay here!

You think your lousy five meters of barbed wire will make people stay?

We need you here! You can't leave! Hello.

Why don't you come here to live?

We'll all get together, it'll be fine, listen to me!

Here...

-There you go. It's charged. -Thank you.

Come in, please.

May I?

-How about coffee, Vukica? -Of course. Have a seat.

Milutin, we are still searching for your folks.

Don't worry, your case will be solved.

Legally, KFOR can't do a thing.

A year has to pass from the day since they disappeared

before they proclaim them dead.

-That day will be soon. -Already?

Listen...

This is from the... municipality.

They are giving each of us something to get through.

And this is from me. For the kid.

Wait...

Is there anything else you need?

They killed my calf, man!

So, we'll buy you a cow!

-Who will buy it? You? -The Government.

Don't you see that we can't even go to the toilet?! They will kill us all!

That's not the way it goes.

The Italians are here to protect us.

Don't talk nonsense.

My daughter's house has been set on fire.

Who is protecting us?

Excellent.

Thank you.

Vukica...

Batteries for the radio.

Thank you.

Will you do it?

What time is it?

It is six o'clock and nine minutes.

Six o'clock and nine minutes.

SERBIAN - ITALIAN DICTIONARY

Are you finally going to tell her?

-I can't. You do it. -I?

She expects to hear it from you. Not from me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's hot!

Great coffee! The one I brought?

Excellent. Really excellent.

Today, there is electricity?

What was that, Milutin?

This gave you a scare, didn't it? Have you found anyone out there?

We live like that all the time. They throw rocks at us even when you're here!