[WAVES CRASHING]
[BIRDS SQUAWKING]
YURI: 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.
[BELL TOLLING]
YURI: For a long time, nothing much changed here.
[BELL CONTINUES TOLLING]
YURI: But things are starting to feel different.
[CHILDREN CHATTERING]
YURI: People say it's a dangerous place.
There are bears,
and wolves...
and something else...
Something people fear is much worse.
[PAGES FLIPPING]
YURI: For as long as I know, we've fought them.
I've never seen one myself.
But I've heard them, at night...
[WOMAN SHOUTING OUT]
YURI: ...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]
[INCREASES VOLUME]
[SINGING ALONG IN UKRAINIAN]
[RADAR BEEPS]
[RADAR BEEPING FASTER]
[RADAR BEEPING STOPS]
On foot, boys.
Hi, possum.
Are we going to see one?
Put out your hand.
[BOYS CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]
Papa gave me that on my first hunt.
It's sharp.
Yeah, it's a killer.
[INSECTS TRILLING]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
[TRILLING]
[DEVOURING]
[HUFFING HEAVILY]
[TRILLING]
[SOFT TRILLING]
[SHALLOW BREATHING]
[SOFT TRILLING]
[RUSTLING]
[SNIFFING]
[SHRIEKS]
[GRUNTS]
[SOFT TRILLING]
MAXIM: Stick to the high ground.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[YELLS]
MAXIM: Boris!
[PEOPLE CLAMORING]
[SHRIEKS]
The trees!
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
- [GUNSHOT] - [GROWLING]
Stay down!
[SCREAMS]
[TRILLS LOUDLY]
PETRO: Let's go!
[TRILLS ECHOING]
[PANTING]
[GROWLS]
[TRILLING]
[CHITTERING LOUDLY]
[GROWLING LOUDLY]
[CHITTERING IN FEAR]
IVAN: Right there!
[GUNSHOT]
[HOWLING]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[BELL TOLLS]
[BELL RINGING]
[CHILDREN CHATTERING]
[HORN BLOWING]
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!
[COOING]
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 PORADYBY LINA PROKHOROVA PLAYING DISTANTLY OVER RADIO]
[MUSIC CONTINUES LOUDLY]
[CUTLERY CLINKING]
[RADIO ANNOUNCER SPEAKING IN UKRAINIAN]
[ANNOUNCEMENT IN ENGLISH] ...The Long and Lonely Night.
[THE LONG AND LONELY NIGHTBY ILYA LUBINSKY PLAYS ON RADIO]
You hear that?
[MAXIM SINGING]
♪ In morning's quiet fire
♪ My love has held it's heat
♪ For a long and lonely night
Amazing.
[WHISTLING TUNE]
You act like it's a torture.
Like a turtle with its head in the shell.
It's stupid.
[PETRO COUGHING]
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.
[SLAMS TABLE]
She doesn't want you.
[THE LONG AND LONELY NIGHT CONTINUES PLAYING OVER RADIO]
Have you checked the traps?
[DOOR OPENS]
[DOOR SLAMS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SHRIEKING IN DISTANCE]
[YOUNG OCHI WHIMPERING]
[HISSING]
[PANTING]
[CONTINUES HISSING]
[YOUNG OCHI SCREAMING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[PANTING]
I won't hurt you.
[INSECTS TRILLING]
[PADLON VAGYOKBY OMEN PLAYING ON STEREO]
[PETRO AND GLEB GRUNTING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES DISTANTLY]
[WOMAN ON TV SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
[RUSTLING]
[COOS SOFTLY]
[SNIFFING]
[GROANS]
[WHISPERS] It's okay.
[GROANS]
[YOUNG OCHI GROANING]
[HISSING]
- [SNARLS] - [SNARLS]
[BOTH SNARLING]
[WHISPERS] I'm not gonna hurt you.
[GROWLS, CHIRPS]
The whistle, the call of death.
[YOUNG OCHI WHIMPERS]
There.
[SIGHS] Better.
[GROANS SOFTLY]
[CHIRPING]
No. Not for eating.
[CHIRPS]
- No! - [CHIRPS]
[TRILLS]
[TRILLING]
[COOS]
[CHIRPS]
You're not like they say.
[DISTANT GUNSHOTS]
[SHRIEKS]
[GUNSHOTS]
[PADLON VAGYOK CONTINUES ON STEREO]
[YOUNG OCHI CHIRPING]
You hear that?
- I need my sleeping bag! - [YOUNG OCHI CHIRPING]
[TRILLS]
[CREAKING]
[GRUNTS]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Yuri, what is this?
I'll be fine on my own.
You won't make it in the woods.
Don't be a drama queen.
Look, you can talk to me.
You're only nice if no one's looking.
I'm taking him home.
Please feed my caterpillars.
[YOUNG OCHI CHIRPS]
[WIND BLOWING]
[SARABY FRANCO SIMONE PLAYING OVER CAR TAPE]
[MUSIC STOPS]
- [SHEEP BLEATING] - [BELLS TINKLING]
[OCHIS CHIRPING DISTANTLY]
[CHIRPING ECHOES]
[CHIRPING CONTINUES]
[WAILING]
[EXHALES]
[PIGS SNORTING]
Where is she?
When did you last see her?
Uh, at dinner, last night, with you.
[OBJECT CLINKS]
[PAPER RUSTLES]
"I want you to have it back because it is dumb.
"P.S. I am strong and cool.
"I don't believe what you say about anything.
"And don't look for me, okay? Thanks, bye."
Oh, God. [SIGHS]
[FROZEN SHUTBY HISSING PLAYS LOUDLY]
[DOOR OPENS]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
[OBJECTS CLATTERING]
She's been kidnapped!
Strap it in, assbags!
Let's go!
[DUCKS QUACKING]
MAXIM: A father's greatest treasure is his daughter!
OLEG: Under the bridge!
- PAVEL: Where? - OLEG: Over there.
[WHISPERING] Are you hungry?
[YOUNG OCHI TRILLS]
That sounded like a yes.
[YOUNG OCHI CHIRPS]
Promise to be quiet.
[THE MERMAIDBY RUSSYA PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]
[MIMICKING MAXIM] We have strong bones and teeth.
Minced meat stew seven days a week.
[YOUNG OCHI CHIRPS SOFTLY]
YURI: Dad never let me come here.
[THE MERMAID CONTINUES PLAYING]
We only drink from the sheep.
[CHIRPS]
[EGG SHELL CRACKLES]
[SCREAMS]
[SCREECHES]
[SCREAMS]
[ALL SCREAMING, CLAMORING]
Excuse me, miss.
[YOUNG OCHI SNARLING]
YURI: Be quiet. Be quiet.
[MUFFLED SNARLING]
[YURI SCREAMS]
[SCREAMING CONTINUES]
Animals!
[SCREECHING]
[GUN FIRES]
[YURI GRUNTS]
[YOUNG OCHI SCREECHING]
[PANTING]
[ODLAZAKBY PARAF PLAYS]
- Hey! Hey! - This isn't...
[MAN SPEAKING UKRAINIAN]
YURI: [IN ENGLISH] Not moving! It's not moving!
- [MAN SPEAKING UKRAINIAN] - [IN ENGLISH] It's not moving.
[SNARLS]
[SPEAKING IN UKRAINIAN]
[IN ENGLISH] I command you to move!
[MAN SHOUTING IN RUSSIAN]
[SHOUTING CONTINUES RUSSIAN]
[BIALA CHORAGIEWKABY 1984 PLAYS ON CAR TAPE]
[WHIMPERS]
[ENGINE ACCELERATING]
[CHITTERS]
It's not your fault.
We don't belong here.
[RATTLING]
PREACHER ON RADIO: And thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
For the Lord had comforted His people.
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty...
[JOINING IN] But thus saith the Lord.
Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken...
PREACHER: ...and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered.
For I will contend with him that contendeth with thee...
Oh!
PREACHER: ...and I will save thy children.
POLICEMAN: Whoa.
Hey, Dina! Check it out!
PREACHER: And they shall be drunken with their own blood,
as with sweet wine,
and all flesh shall know that I, the...
[HORSE NEIGHS]
[BELLS TINKLING]
[INSECTS TRILLING]
[WARBLES SOFTLY]
I don't think it's working.
[GENTLE WARBLING]
[TRILLING]
[SNIFFS]
Gross.
[SNIFFS]
[TRILLING]
[GENTLE THROBBING]
[SNIFFS]
[TRILLING]
[MIMICKING TRILLING SOUND]
I never made that sound.
[TRILLING]
I didn't know I could.
[TRILLING]
[SNIFFING]
[TRILLS]
[MIMICKING SOUND]
[TRILLING]
[MIMICKING SOUND]
[TRILLS]
[WARBLING TRILL SOUND]
I can talk to you!
- [SCREAMS] - [HEAVY THUD]
[HISSES]
[EXHALES]
MAXIM: Yuri!
[ECHOING IN DISTANCE] Yuri!
[TRILLS SOFTLY]
[WARBLES PLAINTIVELY]
[PLAINTIVE WARBLE]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
[WIND WHISTLING]
[PANTING]
[DOOR CLOSES]
Mom.
[SHEEP BLEATING]
- [BAT SQUEALING] - [BONE SNAPS]
Where is he?
As you may know, there's such a thing
as a Carpathian brown bat,
common in these highlands.
Can drain a sheep dry.
But this bat,
it has a taste for any warm-blooded creature
it can find.
Ochi, too.
Oh, yes, it's very fond of Ochi.
But the Ochi bites it back.
So, after some thousands of years,
this bat...
has developed a resistance,
an immunity.
Its blood is the only cure for you.
This may cause a strong sensation.
[BREATHLESSLY] I don't want it.
- Nonsense. - The bite gives me power.
I can talk to him.
You really are my daughter.
In the beginning, you were just a little grub on my back.
I gave you words. Things to say.
It's not the bite.
I taught it to you.
[PLAYS NOTES SIMILAR TO OCHI TRILLS]
Why did you leave me?
[CIGARETTE LIGHTER CLICKS]
[EXHALES]
He kept me from you.
In Carpathia,
the laws catch flies and let the hornets go free.
[DASHA EXHALES]
So, I've been waiting.
How does a pea weevil, hatched inside a pea,
know to climb out when it's never seen the world?
How does an Arctic tern...
know to follow the same small patch of sky
for three months and 12,000 miles,
only to land on the other side of the world
on the same small rock every year?
It's an inborn melody.
[SCREAMS]
[SCREAM ECHOES]
[BREATH TREMBLING]
[SHEEP BLEATING IN DISTANCE]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER ON RADIO]
[BATS SQUEAKING]
[SHEEP BLEATING IN DISTANCE]
[MOURNFUL MUSIC PLAYING ON FLUTE DISTANTLY]
[EXHALES SOFTLY]
[FLUTE MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING LOUDLY]
YURI: I know this.
Dad said it was your song.
This song comes from the trees, Yuri.
Ochi song.
Their language is unlike ours.
It's more musical, more emotional.
Yes. They have simple calls.
Names for things.
[PLAYS SHORT TRILL]
[PLAYS TWO MORE SHORT TRILLS]
This much you know. I taught you this.
But this is just the surface.
Ochi communicate not in words, but in sensations.
Joy, excitement, pain, fear.
When they sing together,
weaving their feelings through each other,
a kind of miracle happens.
It's really quite beautiful.
I want that.
Yes, of course. But, uh, it's not for us.
Ochi sing only to each other within family groups.
So, it's simply not possible.
But he's my friend.
We can't be friends with them.
They can't be our pets.
We have turned the wolf into a lapdog.
[EXHALES SOFTLY]
What is that?
Is that his home?
That's where I'm taking him.
[COUGHS, SPLUTTERS]
My dear, that would lead to certain and unpleasant death.
- But when I take him... - If you return a baby bird
to the nest, it has the stink of man,
and the mother tosses it straight out.
[MUTTERS] I'm not going to abandon him.
Speak up. I can't hear you.
[YELLS]
I think a baby's first scream
is the purest expression it makes.
It comes from deep within.
No teaching, just pure instinct.
But then she learns that screaming gets you things,
like milk and candies.
[OBJECTS CLATTERING]
[METAL CLATTERING]
[WIND HOWLING]
[BELLS JINGLING FAINTLY]
[SHEEP BLEATING]
[VEHICLE APPROACHING]
[VEHICLE DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
MAXIM: Yuri!
[FLOORBOARD CREAKS]
It's time to come home, Yuri.
[CHAIR SCRAPS ON FLOOR]
[DOOR CREAKS]
[DOOR CREAKING]
Sit.
Have some tea.
Where is she?
I got to her in time.
I have medicine now.
O Lord, O Lord,
thy kingdom holds a cure for all things.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I never stopped loving you.
[SLURPS LOUDLY]
[THUDS]
[INHALES, EXHALES DEEPLY]
Before you left, she was a real little chatterbox.
- [CHUCKLES] - [DASHA TAPPING HAND]
I'd like to see her.
Yuri?
Why don't you invite your toy soldiers in for a cup?
MAXIM: We're going home, Yuri!
She left this morning.
What? Are you insane?
Of course, you're insane!
You know very well that it's not good for my constitution
to hear your voice at such a volume.
You're a plague of locusts!
You're a serpent hiding in the rocks!
You live where the throne of Satan sits,
and you've been sent up only to ruin my life!
- You cut off my hand! - I saved your life!
IVAN: Sir! I think we found something!
[OBJECTS CLATTERING]
- [MAXIM GRUNTS] - [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Look how you raised her! Deaf to her own voice!
[MAXIM GRUNTS]
MAXIM: It's you who left! It's you who gave up!
And for what? Those stupid goblins!
[MUFFLED GRUNTING]
Where's my daughter, you witch?
PETRO: Sir!
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[GUNS CLICKING]
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
Well...
Well, well, well.
For years, I've searched.
But the answer, my boys, is right here!
Ha! The caves.
They hide in the dog-damn dark!
[LAUGHS HEARTILY]
You'll be torn apart.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[WIND HOWLING]
Possum.
[YURI TRILLING]
[TRILLING]
[WARBLES SOFTLY]
[YURI'S TRILLING CALL ECHOES]
[TRILLS]
[PANTING]
[TRILLS]
[BOTH TRILLING SIMULTANEOUSLY]
[PANTING]
[INSECTS CHIRPING]
[FIRE CRACKLING]
[TRILLS]
[TRILLS REPLY]
[LOW GUTTURAL MOAN]
[TRILLS]
[LOW WARBLE]
[TRILLS]
[TRILLING]
[COOS GENTLY]
[CHUCKLES]
[YOUNG OCHI WARBLES]
[GULPING]
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
[TRILLS]
[PLAINTIVE TRILL]
[TRILLS]
[FAINT TINKLING OF GLASS]
[BROOM SWEEPING]
[ENGINE IDLING]
[RESPIROBY FRANCO SIMONE PLAYING ON RADIO]
DASHA: If you return a bird to the nest...
it has the stench of man.
The mother tosses it straight out.
[RESPIROCONTINUES PLAYING ON RADIO]
[LOG SCRAPING]
[YURI GRUNTS]
[LOG CLATTERING]
[PANTING]
[BOYS WHISTLING]
MAXIM: Petro, let me tell you something.
And I want you to remember every word
like it was the last drop of your mother's milk.
Only a fool looks for comfort in another's heart.
[WHISTLING CONTINUES]
If an oak grows, leaned on a birch,
and that birch goes to rot, the oak will fall.
So, grow straight upwards and sturdy.
Do not lean, and you will not fall.
And on you, my boy,
I lean well upon.
PETRO: Thank you, sir.
[TRILLING]
[TRILLS]
[TRILLING, WARBLING]
[TRILLS]
[TRILL ECHOES]
[GRUNTS]
They don't like me.
IVAN: There's a way down here!
- PETRO: Ochi! - [INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
[PANICKED TRILLING OF YOUNG OCHI]
[PANTS]
[STRAINING]
[GRUNTS]
[TRILLS IN DISTRESS]
[GASPS]
[DISTRESSED TRILLING]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
MAXIM: Hold on! [ECHOING]
I'm coming for you! [ECHOING]
I read your letter!
PETRO: Yuri, we're your family!
I listened to Hell Throne!
It's good!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[WATER SPLASHING]
[GASPS]
Holy shit.
[PANTING]
[WATER SPLASHING]
MAXIM: Boys!
Don't go soft on me!
She left because of you.
MAXIM: What?
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]
She wasn't kidnapped.
[PETRO GRUNTING]
- I let her go! - Shut up!
You made an oath!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
I won't stand to put you all in peril.
Chin up, boys.
[BREATH TREMBLING]
Hold the line.
[INSECTS CHITTERING]
[YURI PANTING]
[TROTTING]
[SHRIEKING]
[SOFT TRILL AND GROWL]
MAXIM: Yuri!
Let's go home!
[TRILLING]
[SHRIEKING CONTINUES]
[YURI GRUNTS]
- [YOUNG OCHI WHIMPERS SOFTLY] - [LOUD THUD]
[MAXIM SCREAMS]
[SCREAMS]
[GROANING]
Use my axe.
Push! Push!
[GRUNTS] I'm pushing!
- Harder! - I'm trying!
Choke up on it!
YURI: It's too heavy!
[SCREAMS]
Listen to me!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Oh!
[HISSING]
[TRILLS SOFTLY]
I'm not asking you to understand.
Just trust me.
I'm sorry what I said about Grandpa's knife.
I know what it meant to you.
It's not dumb.
I made it all up.
I bought it at a gas station.
I thought it looked cool.
I wanted it to be something special...
For us.
Dad...
that's so stupid.
[TRILLING SOFTLY]
[TRILLS]
[TRILLS SOFTLY]
[GASPS]
[BOTH GRUNTING]
- [STRAINING] - [MAXIM GROANS]
Can you walk on it?
Stay close by my side.
[PANTING]
MAXIM: Yuri!
Stop!
Wait!
[YURI PANTING]
[TRILLING]
[OCHIS GRUNT SOFTLY]
- [PANTING] - [TRILLING]
[GRUNTING SOFTLY]
[GRUNTS]
Hold your fire!
[GROWLS]
[INAUDIBLE]
[FLUTE PLAYING]
[GROWLING SOFTLY]
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
DASHA: When they sing together...
weaving their feelings through each other...
a kind of miracle happens.
[TRILLING TOGETHER]
[WARBLES]
[YOUNG OCHI TRILLING]
[GRUNTING SOFTLY]
[GROWLS]
[TRILLS]
[SOBBING SOFTLY]
[SIGHS]
[TRILLING]