The Brutalist

Calm down, your escort is right outside. Sit down.

Sit. I said sit.

She tells us that you are her niece.

Is that correct? Are you her niece?

Where is your mother?

Do you know?

Look at me! Do you understand me?

If you are from Budapest,

state the name and street number of your former place of residence.

There's a pen and paper. If you prefer not to speak to us,

write it down with your family name, and we will try and confirm it.

Is it possible the woman outside is not related to you,

but is simply an ally you made along the way who is trying to help you?

You bear little resemblance to one another.

We will not punish her for trying to help an innocent young woman.

We want to help you get home.

Your true home.

László, I am alive.

Come on! Documents.

Attila tells me that you, too, are alive and en route to him from Bremerhaven.

Rejoice!

I cried out in ecstasy to have news of you.

Where are my things?

- What? - Screw you!

It is not amusing to me!

Stop it! Don't look at me that way, old man!

- It's right behind you. - Where is my luggage?

It's tucked there under the mattress!

Now come on!

Hurry, László, or we'll be last in the queue.

Zsófia is with me, though she is frail, strange, and quite ill.

We anxiously await our being repatriated,

but recently, she has not been herself,

which has, in turn, roused unnecessary suspicions with local officials.

Fortunately, a few Soviet boys have taken a liking to us.

They pity your poor niece in particular,

who has grown fuller, and even lovelier since you last set eyes on her.

These lonesome young servicemen are ostensibly entranced

by such a radiant creature's commitment to absolute silence.

The Soviets have helped us relocate to a nearby shelter for displaced persons in Vas.

They encourage us to "enjoy our freedoms",

but I am reminded of Goethe.

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe themselves free!"

I make no mistake, we are not yet free.

Come on already.

You, like myself, must be envisioning so many terribly awful, awful things,

but it is better that your thoughts do not get the best of you.

It is neither better nor worse than you might imagine.

I have kept myself mostly to myself.

More importantly...

...I have defended Zsófia from unwanted advances.

Below is the address I am told for mail in Vas.

Please write to me at once when you have received this.

I am certain now there is nothing left for us here.

Look at that!

- What did I tell you?! - Yes!

Go to America and I will follow you.

Faithfully, Erzsébet.

Fuck her already!

Shut up.

Shut your mouth!

Take care.

What did you say?

What did you say?

I have a letter from her.

Your Erzsébet is alive and she is with little Zsófia.

Thank you very much.

Gentile?

László, I am alive.

Attila tells me that you, too, are alive and en route to him from Bremerhaven.

Rejoice!

I cried out in ecstasy to have news of you...

- Good morning. - Good morning.

On the 29th of November, 1947,

the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution

calling for the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael.

The General Assembly required the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael

to take such steps as were necessary on their part for the implementation of that resolution.

This recognition by the United Nations

of the right of the Jewish people to establish their state is irrevocable.

This right is the natural right of the Jewish people

to be masters of their own fate,

like all other nations, in their own sovereign state.

Accordingly we, members of the people's council,

representatives of the Jewish community of Eretz Yisrael and of the Zionist Movement,

are here assembled on the day of the termination of the British mandate over Eretz Yisrael.

And by virtue of our natural and historic right,

and on the basis of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly,

hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael,

to be known as the State of Israel.

Come. Come.

What is it?

I take you into my home,

into my place of business, and this is how you thank me?

Erzsébet,

I can be reached by mail at a new address...

I wait for you. I wait and wait.

Do you need money? What do you need?

Yours, László.

What? What?

You're welcome.

Erzsébet, I have become acquainted with an influential American attorney

who says he can help you and Zsófia with your situation.

Is there somewhere we might find a photograph of you and Zsófia pictured together?