PASSENGER
Scenario
Cast:
Director of Photography
Director
Andrzej Munk was unable
to complete his film
He died in a car accident
on 20th September, 1961
We have no intention of adding
what he had no time to say himself
We are not searching for solutions
which might not have been his...
... nor seeking to conclude the plots
which his death left unresolved
We merely wish to present
what was filmed...
... with all the gaps
and reticence...
... in an attempt to grasp whatever
is alive and significant
Andrzej Munk was our contemporary
We shared his hopes and fears,
and while not anticipating the answers...
... we may perhaps manage to present
questions that he wished to pose
The story begins today...
... in a place where yesterday and
tomorrow scarcely exist, only the present
This luxury liner
is an island in time...
... and each of her passengers
is an island, too
Worries and ambitions fade away
during a voyage
A passenger isn't part of a society...
... a nation or a group -
free, without a biography
The world turns a smiling face
to passengers...
... friendly, ready to serve...
... not too curious about where they
come from, or why they are travelling
But we will not observe this idyll
with such cheerful indifference
We shall give our attention
to this passenger
She is a German...
... who hasn't seen her country,
or Europe at all, for years
Now she is returning with her husband...
... whom she married in a foreign,
hospitable continent
England... the first port of call
in Europe
What has Liza seen?
Her husband does not understand...
... why this encounter has upset her
Don't call me "poor little thing"
You know nothing about it
My time in the camp...
... was not what you think,
my dear Walter
I wasn't a prisoner,
I was an overseer
Don't look at me like that.
I didn't hurt anyone
And if Marta is alive...
... it's only because of me
I haven't told you much about
my past. You were an emigrant
You'll never understand how we had
to live and obey our leaders
Perhaps it's best for us both...
... if you hear it at last
I was sent to Auschwitz
in the summer of 1943
I took charge of a command working
in a storehouse outside the camp
I had nothing to do with the
prisoners, only their things
Everything belonged to the Reich...
... and I was responsible for seeing
that nothing was destroyed or stolen
There was a war on
and we all lived as soldiers
Some were drunk with power,
but I just did my duty
I always tried to help those women
whenever I could
I had to select an assistant
from a new transport
Work in my command
was easier than elsewhere...
... and the treatment was more humane
I saw something vulnerable
and childlike in Marta
I was sorry for her
She became my clerk
It was a pleasure...
... to watch her change back
to a normal girl, a girl from freedom
I hoped that one day
she would be really free...
... and I did all I could
to help her survive
Then I discovered that her fiance
Tadeusz, was in the camp...
... and as we needed help with
book-keeping, I brought them together
Thanks to me they met again
One day she fell ill
and was taken to hospital
Conditions were not good there,
we lacked medicines
We couldn't cope
Anyway, our soldiers at the front
were worse off
I decided to have Marta back
in the block
I could care for her better there...
... make sure the doctor visited her
I got sulphonamide and vitamins
from the SS dispensary
I saved her life
I didn't ask for thanks,
but at least I deserved her trust
She didn't want to show it
When she recovered she was
more withdrawn than ever
Whatever it was, it was something
I couldn't understand
Attention!
When I realised what it was all about,
it was too late
She went to him of her own accord
She must have expected this visit
I had no idea what her offence was,
but I knew...
... when Untersturmfhrer Grabner
came in person to claim his victim...
... nothing on earth could save her
Marta was taken to the death block.
I wanted to see her once more
Before leaving for the Reich, I said
I would like to see the death block
It was awful
Then I saw Marta
I, an SS Overseer,
was as powerless as she was
Until now I was sure Marta had
shared the fate of Tadeusz
Perhaps Walter will be touched
and repeat "poor little thing"
But the response of the husband
learning of his wife's past...
... that's not really important,
the director probably used him...
... so Liza could recount her first,
noble version of herself and Marta
The second version,
she will keep to herself
There is a gap in the film...
... to be filled with various events
taking place on the liner
Munk began to film these events...
... but never completed them
The motivations of the Auschwitz
revelations would have been detailed
We are left with fragments -
happy passengers...
... Liza, staring at Marta...
... trying to be sure it is really her
Under such tension Liza recalls
the truth well enough
I was sorry for her.
How naive I was
She didn't give a damn
for my kindness
I, a German, denied myself
everything...
... I had no private life, no love,
no rest from duty
She, a Pole, committed for a
political offence, had what I lacked
She didn't need me to be happy
It wasn't my doing and it wasn't by
accident that Tadeusz was there
Prisoners exploited our trust.
Those given tasks ran the camp...
... pulling wool over our eyes
Even some German foremen were
in with the gang
He's not here
- What do you mean?
- The Capo sent him to hospital
- Who's this?
- He can take his place
- Another one of your tricks?
- No, the other may have typhus
Decent Germans are at the front,
not hiding in a camp
You stinking coward
In 1936 I fought in Spain. I didn't get
this uniform for cowardice
- Do you know the job?
- Yes, I do
I let it go on
In the battle we fought...
... I knew that cunning was
more effective than brutality
They played at love, thinking no
one knew. They had no right to
But I knew, and if you know
what someone really cares for...
... and you can give it
or take it away...
... you are the master
I keep getting reports of theft
Confiscated items are Reich property.
Prisoners are stealing, trading...
Yesterday a woman prisoner was
caught lifting boots from the store
Today we found some buried gold
Ober, a simple soul, an idealist,
was bewildered by such things
Yet in the end she said
something sensible
"We must win the confidence of
chosen prisoners and establish order
"Only the best in the garrison
and the best of the prisoners...
"...can restore this camp's
proper character"
This idea was not new to me
Overseer Weniger wishes
to take command
Unfortunately, I had moments
of weakness, too...
... and Marta was able to take note
Even dogs have temptations
they can't resist
Major, Inga's pet, was extremely
fond of cheese
He wasn't to know he would
soon pay for that
A brat!
Lmpossible. I'll have a look
Do you trust her?
I'd better check
What a lovely brat it is!
Another stupid joke
by the Special Command
I was humiliated.
Because of my weakness...
... Marta involved me in
a dirty business...
... an accomplice in an effort
to save a Jewish child
Then the fight for Marta, against
Marta, began to excite me
It's my birthday today
No one here remembered
my birthday...
... no one gave me such flowers
The roses came from
the SS greenhouse
Prisoners from the men's camp
worked there
I decided to begin the attack...
... let Marta know that
I could give her Tadeusz...
... like a sweet
for being a good girl
Thank you, Madam Overseer,
but it's impossible
Anyway, I'm not all that keen
to see her
Still here? They're waiting!
Hurry up!
He's got urgent work
at the Commandant's villa
You know, Madam, we've got artists
here from all over Europe
That's his girl...
sketches for a medallion
He longs for her, but they can't meet,
as you know
I was close to mastering Marta
I told her to take the numbers
of those by the wire. She didn't react
So then I said...
... Tadeusz
She understood
But for that dog,
Marta would have been mine
I GAVE MAN EVERYTHING
I disliked such spectacles -
they soiled the dignity of our struggle
Of course, the punishment
was necessary...
Marta's gesture rather pleased me
I didn't suspect that it was more than
a spontaneous reaction
- Gruyre cheese?
- Yes
The men did it
Who in the men's camp could have
known of Major's taste for cheese?
Who would take revenge
on poor Weniger?
I decided to put pressure on Marta,
but then...
Take over command!
Strength 53, two in hospital
An international commission is coming.
Your command looks best
Choose a prisoner
to answer questions
- Your assistant?
- She's in hospital
- Typhus?
- No
Why not bring her to the block?
Individual care... a good impression
One of the two was Marta...
... but I still fought for her
I'm ready for punishment
I had to see her
Here you see a typical barracks
for women
Here's one of our convalescents
She is recovering, isn't she?
Yes, she's had medicine
since yesterday
Only since yesterday?
How long has she been ill?
A week
It's war, even our soldiers at the
front are often short of medicines
- How long have you been here?
- About two years
Is this your first illness here?
Yes. I've checked her medical card
No illnesses in two years?
No flu? No cold?
Do you get letters regularly?
Of course. We don't limit
their correspondence
It's not against the regulations
Do you allow visits by relatives?
That's forbidden in every country
These are political prisoners
Of course, we allow prisoners
to visit each other sometimes
- When?
- In cases of illness
Has anyone visited you?
Her fiance is a prisoner, too
Another "political" - he visited her
a few days ago
Well, Marta, did he visit you?
Yes
Congratulations! Promotion for sure!
Ober was pleased with me
and my protg,
She talked about promotion,
maybe transfer to the Reich
I rejoiced, too
Marta had finally given in to me
I planned to take her with me when
I was moved, to be my right hand
The life of the camp family rolled on,
through weekdays...
... and holidays
I rejoiced too soon
Behind my back they behaved as
though the camp barely existed
Perhaps they sensed it was
their last meeting...
... but what did I care about
such sentiments?
I should have finished her
This was the moment
I really saved her life this time
I deluded myself into thinking...
... she'd be grateful at last
Here
The Commandant wishes to see you
I'll deal with this
Roll call!
A note was found
Who wrote it?
Marta, step forward
Translate
I... too, am always close to you
in my thoughts
Always close to you...
Louder
I don't even have to close my eyes
to have you near me
You are within my reach
I like your hands,
the palm of your hand...
Darling... my beloved...
It doesn't matter that
you can't speak to me
I remember your voice
Although you're not allowed
to be near me...
... I can talk to you yet
We can talk to each other,
speak to each other
Darling... it must be autumn now
I lie beside you in the grass...
... among golden leaves...
... soon it will begin to rain
You will shield me from the rain,
you will cover my hair
I walk in mud, without leaves
Darling, do you...
It's good that you exist
I kiss your lips...
... so they won't be sad
I kiss your eyes,
so they will bid me "good night"
The end
Go back
The note is stupid and unimportant
I won't report it
if the author steps forward
If she delays she'll be sent
to the Corrective Company
You'll all go there if no one owns up
The Commandant wishes to see you
You'll stay here all night
if necessary
- You, too?
- I've just been called
She's furious. She's been named
as a war criminal
A broadcast from London
gave details of the transports
How do they know what goes on here?
Why does she want us?
Inga, come in. Liza, wait
I didn't understand
the language of the note...
... but a love letter would not have
numbers and familiar German names
Your duty here is finished.
You're posted to Berlin
You're posted to headquarters
Do you know that we must discuss
a painful subject first?
Your command hid a Jewish child
That's impossible
Weniger was on duty then
and admits it was possible
Well, if Inga admits she was on duty...
You must remember.
I said it was a baby in that pram...
...and she brought a doll
I don't remember
It couldn't have happened
in my presence
Liza, how can you...
Your word is enough.
Your command is well-disciplined
I know Liza...
...she would admit an offence
An SS officer never evades
responsibility
I know my duty. The command
must be punished if it is guilty
I request they all go
to the Corrective Company
Very well. Prepare your report
Overseer... the Blockmaster would
like you to come to the command
Command affairs
no longer concern me
Perhaps Overseer Inga, then,
because someone's confessed
You're all going for correction
But I confessed.
Please keep your word
Untrue. You couldn't have written it
You know I could
I don't know. It was just some
lovesick rubbish!
No, you know it was me
She forced me to it
She wanted to destroy me,
I had to defend myself
Those last words are not very clear
How did Liza defend herself...
... and influence Marta's fate...
... the fate she recounted
to her husband...
... and now prefers to end unfinished?
But we shouldn't ask too much
of the Overseer...
... she's admitted enough
Justifying oneself is only human
Anyway, what is this recollection
of a game...
... between overseer
and chosen prisoner?
An apology, an escape...
... from cruelty and evil,
only too human?
In the vague, unreal background,
people die, silently, casually...
... anonymously,
as others perform their duty...
... victims trampled into the mud,
over whom she walked, unseeing
Set on a liner, an island in time...
... this story can be concluded easily
The brush with the past
did not last long
Marta, or someone resembling her...
... disembarked at the next
port of call
The ship sails on
It's doubtful if the women
will ever meet again
Liza won't be challenged by truths
buried in the mud of Auschwitz
Nothing can disturb Liza's life
among people...
... indifferent to yesterday's crimes,
who even today...
Film completed by: