The Aryan Papers

Hi. You must be Helga.

I'm Erin. Part of the documentary crew.

How was your journey?

It's lovely to meet you.

Let's get this done.

Yeah. That's good.

- Can I... Can I get you something?

No.

Okay.

I don't think she likes me very much.

Ooh.

They, uh, gave you everything you need.

Yes. Thank you.

- Uh, we haven't been formally introduced.

Uri Glou.

True accord consists of not merely forgetting the past.

- Helga. My name is Helga Bahlmann.

- All of us who are members of the Germanic peoples

can be happy and thankful

that once in thousands of years,

fate has given us, from among the Germanic peoples,

such a genius, a leader, our Führer, Adolf Hitler

and you should be happy to be allowed to work with us.

Heinrich Himmler.

I know who said it.

We're ready.

Don't watch the clock.

Just do what it does.

Keep going.

- Why would I be angry with this child?

Her immaturity shone through as she was so young.

Or should I not forgive her childish behaviour?

Could faults be found in the horror

or the monster she was becoming

when she realised but didn't say no?

Curiosity and fate spoke more directly to her than conscience.

My feelings can...

perhaps be imagined,

but they can hardly be described.

- Have I tried to forgive myself for doing all those things?

Would it have made any difference?

- Leave your confessional for others to judge.

Show her around

Helga.

Giselle.

Where are they going?

Patrol.

Let's find you a room.

Don't look.

It's the Strasburg's.

- They are not concerned with us.

We're fine.

They've got three children William,

maybe I should bring them some food.

My love.

We spoke about this.

It does not pay to get involved with these things.

- The Meyers said they're building something

in Flossenburg.

Well, perhaps the Meyers

should pay more attention to their business.

Last time I was in there,

it took me almost ten minutes to get a loaf of bread.

This is why the soldiers come in the night.

- It could be like Dachau... another concentration camp.

Emily, stop, we do not know these things.

These thoughts are bad for you.

Too many of them voiced out loud will scare the children.

Look as bad as you.

- Judith, what are you doing out of bed?

I heard screaming outside.

Come on.

See? Your brother's asleep.

He's not asleep.

He's just pretending, trying to get me in trouble.

Come on.

Don't forget Teddy Scrumpkins.

He needs his sleep, too.

Are you scared, mummy, because we're Jewish?

Now what sort of a person

would tell you something like that?

All right.

As you're a very clever little girl,

you're forcing me to tell you.

Your grandfather was German,

and now that's all anyone knows

or thinks about when they shop in your father's store.

We're an essential business.

- But the Stromberg's are Jewish.

- Well, the Stromberg's aren't us.

Sleep time now.

Night, mummy.

Good night, my baby.

Good night, Teddy Scrumpkins.

Mwah.

- Aunt Janine makes the best apple strudel.

- Strudel is only for Passover.

It's a sin to eat it apart from then.

Of course it's not a sin.

You couldn't eat it all before the holiday ended,

unless you were a pig.

Seven days and eight nights.

Anything left after that is spoiled.

- Grandmother puts extra sugar in her strudel,

which is cheating because it stays better for longer,

and I don't like it, it's too sweet for me.

- I actually prefer grandmother's strudel.

All the others are too tart.

- Benjamin, stop using words I don't understand.

Um, can we take a break?

We can't stop yet.

We need to keep walking another couple of miles at least.

Miles is a lot of walking.

I have shorter legs than you.

- Um, how much further, can you guess?

- That's not important right now.

What is important is that we get as much distance covered

as we can before dark.

Benjamin, remember, you need to make it last, okay?

Why didn't you bring more?

Come on, let's get going.

Going where?

Do you even know where we are going?

I think, um,

maybe we need to head down to the river.

We can find a crossing from there.

I can't swim.

- Won't the bridge have checkpoints?

You said to avoid checkpoints.

- Benjamin, look, I'm trying here.

We'll figure something out, I promise you.

- I'm not filled with a lot of confidence, Gisella.

- Be nice to her, Benjamin, please.

Ssh.

I'm scared.

Are they here for us?

- No. At least I... I hope not.

Mr. Stromberg, the baker.

We know this man.

Come. We need to hide quickly.

They have teddy Scrumpkins.

Don't look.

Are you okay?

I'll be fine.

They took Teddy Scrumpkins.

I...I'm sorry.

I'll get you another one.

- It won't be the same. I had Teddy Scrumpkins forever.

We need to travel quickly.

We're still far too close to the town.

They got teddy Scrumpkins.

Why did you leave him there?

They almost found us.

I'm sorry.

We cannot be caught.

Not now, not out here, do you understand me?

Yes. I'm sorry.

Don't be sorry.

It's okay.

You didn't ask for any of this, Benjamin.

None of us did.

Come with me quickly.

Go!

A Spanish fraulein.

A Franco soldier.

Spain should be on the list.

Now now, Sergeant.

No need to make our guest nervous.

You are part of the program, my little angel.

This is just my way of instilling in you

the benefits of getting along.

You have no idea the amount of trouble a bunch

of hormonally charged women can cause in one place.

There will be no trouble.

There'll be no trouble.

Normal and boring.

That's what suits this program.

I'm sure your family would agree.

No one cares.

Look! All sewn in.

I'm officially a member of the program.

How long, how long do you think before they do a pairing?

Come on, please tell me.

Look, I don't know, Helga.

They tell me as much as they do you.

Mine will be handsome or rich.

All songs aside, perhaps from a rich family.

Or maybe both.

Synni, sing me a song?

I'm not a phonograph, Helga.

- Besides, she only sings for her friends.

- Are we not friends in here, Synni?

- It's all right, Heidi, I don't mind.

I will sing for this lost mulch.

What did you call me?

Helga.

Look, not all of us are as happy to be here as you.

I know that.

Call me names, Heidi.

But this program is important to Führer.