Arva (2025) Movie Script

1
BUDAPESFOUR YEARS AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II
Hirsch!
Hirsch!
He's yours, isn't he?
Andor.
I want to stay here.
All the children have to go today.
But you're a very lucky little boy.
Your mother is still alive
and will take care of you.
Many children have no one to go back to.
- They're here.
- Where are they taking them?
State orphanages.
They can't wait to kick us out.
- Gentlemen.
- Comrade!
- I mean comrades.
- Right. Good day.
We're leaving.
It's all yours.
Be patient with him.
He doesn't remember you.
Take care, Hirsch.
Goodbye, Hirsch!
Hirsch, where are you going?
Not coming with us?
Andor!
Won't you come?
Don't you want to look at me?
Is my daddy here too?
Not yet.
Do you want to wait for him with me?
Where are you going?
AFTER THE FAILED ANTI-SOVIET UPRISING
CRUSHED BY THE COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP.
Darling, please come here!
Please, dear, redeem these for me,
help a poor old woman.
I'll give you so much money you'll get
yourself a mouth full of gold teeth.
"No to the atomic weapon
on German soil."
What's an atomic weapon?
"The country gets ready for May Day."
- What you gonna do during the break?
- Help at the store.
- You going to help?
- Hell no.
I want to go to the game,
I just need to get tickets.
If we're caught with this, we'll hang.
Don't tell anybody.
- Pretzel!
- Pretzel!
I don't have any time.
We're putting on a new show.
- Who's she?
- My new partner.
Isn't she talented?
Who's that? Your son?
He doesn't have that luck.
He's Hirsch's son.
- Hirsch?
- An old friend.
His best friend.
Use this!
Aren't you a little too young for this?
He's a tough one.
When they deported his father in '44,
his pregnant mother went into hiding.
After the war, he was
in an orphanage for years.
What kind of a mother does that?
How would you know?
- Tell me more about my father.
- I told you enough.
What do you want?
- He can still come back, no?
- Hirsch?
It's been more than ten years now.
Can I take these?
So, you're an orphan?
No.
Time's up, kid.
I knew of a woman,
waiting for her husband
for years and years...
to come back from the camp.
Every day she'd go to the tram station,
and one day, the tram came...
and her husband got out.
Really?
Go finish the movie, Andor.
- What you doing here?
- Waiting for my pal.
Really?
- Selling illegal tickets?
- These are old tickets.
- You come with us.
- Let him go! The shift is almost over.
He's coming with us.
- Why?
- You really want to take him?
Let's dance all the way
to the basement, boy.
- You're going to talk.
- I beg you, please.
- Stop there.
- I'm here for my son.
There he is.
Go on.
I'll tell you when you can move.
What did he do?
Name?
Mrs. Hirsch.
His father should teach this one
some manners.
He's not around.
One of the "heroes"
who wrecked the country last fall?
He was sent to the camps.
I'm not surprised.
I'm begging you,
can we leave now?
Please.
Enough with the circus.
Get out.
I don't want to see you here again.
- Is it the police?
- Come quick.
Goodnight.
- Did you celebrate something?
- We did some inventory.
- The boy, too?
- Yes.
And theres no curfew anymore.
Stop it.
Will you go to sleep now?
What else would I do?
I got to get up early.
Andor.
Go to sleep.
Dear Sir,
Dearest Father.
Attacking now!
The Germans are defending.
The goal catches the ball
and here comes a clearing shot.
A pass to Pusks who dribbles past
the German defense and...
It's a goal!
GROCERY STORE
Good morning, "Mister".
Come help.
Those eggs.
Something's not right with them.
What's not right?
They're not clean.
You're doing it all wrong.
Good morning, Mrs. Berkovits.
Good morning, Comrade Szab.
- Morning.
- Morning.
Elza.
Aren't you on the afternoon shift?
I can't sleep anyway.
- Where's Sri?
- She said she'd meet you.
Where?
I don't know.
Maybe on the vacant lot.
Have you found someone?
No. Theres a Swabian
who could get him across,
but I dont know anything about him.
People are saying
all sorts of things. Horror stories.
- What kind of horror stories?
- Theres that boy, for example...
Did you know that Lenin
would be 87 if he were alive?
Unfortunately, he's not.
The greatest people
are always the first to go.
Listen to this part!
- Have you heard anything?
- No.
I tried to take him lunch
yesterday as well.
I waited an hour to get down to him,
but they kept circling.
I counted the cabbages.
I think there's some missing.
You know, Comrade Szab,
when my family had this store...
Well, it's not yours anymore,
Mrs. Berkovits.
Can I go now?
What can I say?
You want to go, go.
Would you keep an eye on Sri?
She's been on her own
since her brother left.
Hold on.
Look at yourself.
Let me fix your clothes.
Let's open, comrades!
Sri?
What are you doing? Stop it!
You half-wit!
I told you never to come back again!
- Get the fuck out!
- Stop it!
You know he's all right.
I would've fought with you
but I was too young last year.
They come inside to take a shit.
It stinks.
Why did you come?
For Sri.
Your mum's worried.
She should worry about me getting hanged.
They've already closed the borders
but she's trying to find someone
to take you across.
Bring me that gun.
It was a secret!
It's too dangerous.
Get yourself together.
When you grow up,
you'll join me in America.
That pistol is mine.
Go home.
There are razzias all the time.
- You coming?
- I'll stay for now.
Please don't do this, I've never sat
on a motorbike before. Is it safe?
Come on already!
TICKET OFFICE
Dear Sir, dearest father.
I can't read these letters.
To tell the truth,
I'm completely satisfied with you.
I think you're a good father,
but you're not here.
It's all right if you only come
next year, or in five years' time.
I hope you'll recognize me when we meet.
Why didn't you eat?
- I wasn't hungry.
- Eat.
- Can you read it?
- No.
Your father could.
What's this address?
The temple we would go to before the war.
It's his handwriting.
Pesach starts tomorrow.
I saw you with that man on the motorbike.
- What?
- Who's that man?
Ah, that one. Just an old friend.
I've already forgotten.
Don't be silly.
Ah, Mister Hirsch!
Such a pleasure.
Your ticket office is such a fancy place.
I only buy tickets from you, you know.
For the best shows around.
The Hungarian Broadway!
What do you recommend?
What do you need, madam?
Maybe a thriller.
Or a musical.
I want to see the show in which I play!
It's late.
Turn off that motorcycle right now!
What's wrong with you?
It's loud as hell!
People live here!
- I'll call the police!
- Shut up!
Go to your room.
Let me in!
I told you I would.
But not like this.
Now leave. Get out.
Who's this man?
Let's sleep.
Gza!
What happened to you?
Go home.
I want to ask you something.
Leave me alone, kid.
Did the police beat you up again?
You got it?
Show me!
Come on, show me!
This is what I could find.
I know you love football the best.
At least we'll be together.
I like all sports. It's all right.
Mum!
Needed to pull some strings
to get you here!
I heard you're a fan.
Such an idiotic sport.
I like it too!
Andor, this is Mihly Berend.
I like football. Not this.
Aren't you coming?
This gentleman took me in,
in the countryside,
after Hirsch was taken away.
I was looking for your mum
and I found you too.
That was quite a surprise!
A beautiful surprise!
We both owe him our lives.
What do you mean?
I'm your dad,
that's what she means.
Andor!
- Andor!
- It's not true!
Please!
Come back with me!
- Andor!
- He doesn't even look like us!
Gza!
LONG LIVE MAY 1SI'm sorry, sir, that's your luck.
Dear Sir, Dearest Father.
Today...
I don't have time
to tell you about today.
I have to run.
I'll come back tomorrow.
Hey, buddy.
Come.
- I'll show you something.
- It's not about my mother again, right?
Listen to me.
The time has come
for you to do something
with all that sneakiness and anger.
You fight for me,
and we share the profits.
I don't want to do it.
Come on, you're gonna love it.
This is a code, guys!
Are you a spy?
This is Jewish!
Let him go!
Catch a train to the oven!
Get off.
You're running away from your talent!
Hit him, come on.
- Good day.
- Hello.
How did you end up here?
My father used to come here
when he was alive.
They told you he's dead?
That's not what I meant!
I'm leaving anyway.
It's stupid here.
You're stupid.
Andor, you want to come for Seder?
I should get going.
If you miss the matzah balls,
you're definitely a moron.
First one there gets all the matzah balls.
Come closer, children.
We're Tams's friends.
We worry about him.
I haven't seen him for a long time.
My mum said my brother's
not a friend of the people,
he's not allowed in our place anymore.
And who are you?
I'm her friend.
Andor Hirsch.
Excellent soup!
Thank you.
What's it for?
For becoming free of slavery.
My mother made better ones.
Sri!
Don't rush.
But I can see he's already very hungry.
Right, Daddy?
Who are the four sons?
Each one asks a question to their father.
Let's not do this now.
The wise one, the wicked one
and the simple one.
And the one who does not know how to ask.
Not this year.
Children love it.
There arent enough children here.
Freedom has its price.
The adults and children
left Egypt together.
But only the children entered
into the Promised Land.
"Pour your wrath upon the nations
that did not know You
and upon the kingdoms
that did not call upon Your name!
Since they have consumed Yaakov
and laid waste to his habitation.
Pour out Your fury upon them
You shall pursue them with anger
and eradicate them
from under the skies of the Lord."
You didn't go to work?
It's gone.
I told them I'm sick.
I want to show you something.
Get dressed.
Come, Andor!
You take one too.
We put small rocks on graves.
Why are we here?
He can't be in our lives
all the time anymore.
We can visit him here.
He's not even here!
Where should I carve it?
There.
We'll add his name.
So he can be with his family.
That's all we can do for people
who went up in smoke.
We're his family!
Go away.
Go away. Go!
Stop this!
This happened to many, lad.
Go away!
I didn't know the man you met
the other day would ever find me.
I didn't want you to be nobody's son.
My husband was my only love.
I wanted you to be his son.
I'm so sorry.
You're a liar. A lying pig.
I'm Hirsch's son.
I told you I'm not hungry.
Open up.
What are you doing here?
Mum wanted to come.
She said it can't wait.
He can't sleep,
and I can't go down there.
- You must help!
- I would if I could.
Are you hungry?
- They can eat, no?
- Sure.
- Don't you want to?
- No. Sit down.
What am I supposed to do?
Not in front of the children.
They think you don't know
about my brother.
Do you think Mrs. Takcs would notice?
I saw that woman go through the trash.
She'd be so glad to run to the police.
Klra, you can't let me down now.
Here, everybody is eager to denounce.
Where would I put him?
If your son were crouching
in a hole underground...
I have to run back to work.
He found me.
Who?
Berend. He found me.
Berend? The butcher?
He showed up in the dead of night.
You're not letting him back, are you?
I don't know.
You should not let him back!
He helped me.
How should I send him away?
Doesn't he have a wife and a child?
What does he want?
What are they talking about? Tams?
That's all you can talk about.
Mummy, let's go!
I'm sorry.
What are you doing, darling?
Come.
Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Let's get out of here. Please.
My mother made it.
I'll never leave this place.
There are still razzias
all over the place!
"Uncovering another
fascist lair in Budapest."
- Tams.
- Shut up!
Grandpa says that only
the ads are true in there
and even some of them are fake sometimes.
They come in everyday now.
Thanks.
Do you remember my father?
No.
Who's your father anyway?
All I ever heard about was that butcher.
What butcher?
The one from the countryside,
who terrorized his mother.
That piece of shit.
Where does he live?
- They said Berny.
- What Berny?
Jszberny.
Darling!
Back already?
Your hands are incredible.
You could open
a pedicure salon in America.
I could help you at the store.
Why? You hate it.
I want to earn some money.
I'm old enough now.
What would you do with that money?
I'd give everything to you.
Or I'll take you on an airplane.
Who's this?
Lets try to behave.
Straight from the store
in Berny. The last piece!
Don't you bring this in here.
Where are you going?
Hold on!
This is not what we agreed on.
You want to help cut our friend?
It'd be hard to find
such a treat in the city!
Needs some sharpening, no?
Youre going to hurt someone.
Is it a joke?
Take this away from here.
I have neighbours here.
Take this away!
The kid doesn't know the whole story,
and you didn't mind
- and now it's suddenly important?
- What now?
I learnt my craft from a Jew.
Jews don't deal with pigs.
Of course not.
You're not moving in!
- I had no idea you ate kosher.
- We just don't eat pork.
There was a time when you'd eat anything.
You leave now.
Good morning.
I hope your mother gets better soon.
I've come to replace her.
Now?
- Come on, my good lord! Only a bit.
- No, no.
- We're closed.
- I only need one bottle!
I said we're closed!
You've had enough.
We're closed!
What are you doing here?
What have you done, Sri?
We'll clean this up.
- You'll pay for the jars.
- Don't touch it!
Come on, buddy.
Tickets!
Excuse me.
There's a butcher somewhere around here.
Quite a few.
Where Mihly Berend works.
You go out of the station.
Go straight ahead,
quite far. You'll see.
Good morning. Luggage check.
Come on.
Where are you going?
I'm at home.
You're at home?
Madam Professor, the class today...
Comrade, knife!
That's a weapon.
Youll kill someone with that.
BUTCHER
You came to check out the groom's house?
What's this?
I won't tell your mother
you were snooping around!
It'll be our secret.
You'll sleep here
and I'll take you back in the morning.
Your mother's worried sick.
Back to where your mother and I made you.
I was hiding her back there.
Coming here in the middle of the night.
So thats your real family?
My ex-wife and son.
Where are they?
They left me.
What's wrong with the boy?
Is he dead?
You can wash yourself there!
There are also telephones
in the countryside.
Come on.
Darling Mihly!
You can't live without us?
Didn't you make it in the city?
Lads!
This is my son from the city.
I can see the likeness.
- Come, have a beer with us!
- Let's see the show!
- Give me a cigarette!
- Let's have a drink!
Can I have the telephone, please?
Dial a zero first.
Hello, telephone exchange.
Lady, can I have 19-65-33 in Budapest?
I've missed you too!
There!
That mean one already tore
a couple of foxes in half.
Saves me a lot of money.
Eat them with the kid.
Grocery store.
Sri!
Andor? Where are you?
Jszberny.
You're in big trouble.
Listen, I found something. It's bad.
Sri, is my mother there?
Give it to me! Hello!
Who's this? Get lost, Sri.
It's Andor.
Can you please tell my mother--
You shitty thief!
If I ever see you again here,
I'll have you locked up.
So he's the little Jewess's son?
The one you kept for yourself
back in the days?
Leave my kid alone!
No harm done.
No harm done.
That's what you needed,
another idiot, right?
I didn't mean it.
He was a good boy, you scum.
Just a few scratches.
This is the brake.
I don't care.
All boys like to ride.
You'll try another day.
You talked to your mother?
What a beauty!
- Where are you going?
- To see my mother at the store.
We'll wait for her at home.
- Go and clean up.
- Again?
Yes.
Look!
The perfect location!
- You're washing, lad?
- Yes.
Dear Sir, Dearest Father.
Did you take off your shoes?
I'm sorry I couldn't talk for a while.
There's a man with us now.
There's dust everywhere!
He's a monster.
He killed his family.
I must warn Mum.
Comrade Steinhauser,
it's no use standing in line again!
I said it's only one tin can
per person! I won't serve you!
Besides, I don't care. If anyone
lines up again, I won't serve anybody
Mum!
Mum!
You don't know
what he's done to his family.
Enough.
Klra.
- Mrs. Berkovits!
- What's going on, Mum?
- Why don't you go back?
- Maybe he'll change his mind.
Move, please!
Klra.
Klra, I trusted you all these years.
I would hate to report you two.
Dont you come here ever again.
I'll carry it for you.
I'm sorry, Mum.
- Why would you go to his house?
- Mum, he's a liar.
He chained up his son like a dog.
- He's a monster.
- Maybe he is.
The more you hate him
the more you're like him.
I'll buy you another coat!
I don't need a coat.
Aren't you coming?
Where?
Play somewhere else.
My mum wants me to stay with the girls.
That's idiotic.
You just screw up everything.
We don't need trouble now.
We want my brother to stay alive.
I told you I don't want to!
Come closer, Klra!
These little Jewish girls,
they're the hottest chicks, my boy!
Let's put on something nice.
We're together again.
We're gonna celebrate!
Darling Mihly!
My Klra from the war.
My friends from 'Berny!
How are you?
Moved here for good?
Yes, yes. And you?
Grand opening on May Day!
Have you heard of it?
Give it to me! Here.
It's everywhere.
That should be fun,
what do you think?
We got a big wheel from the Soviet Union.
You should come with the little lord.
Who are you?
Tough crowd.
- You still do your magic tricks?
- Not anymore. I drive the truck.
Andor, my son.
We're reunited!
I'm Andor Hirsch.
It's his mother's name.
It's my father's name.
Hirsch. Hirsch.
Hirsch.
Come to see us anytime.
We'll be open from May Day on.
All right!
You have nothing to do with that name.
Wait there.
Comrade! Please.
You'll crease it.
I'll say sorry to Szab
so he takes you back.
Berend will work out something.
Sure, you have three more seats!
Check again!
- I'm sorry, it's sold out.
- Even if it's sold out!
Can you believe this?
I told you, you have to book
weeks in advance.
Ah, don't give me
the ticket agent bullshit!
It's already started.
Let's go somewhere else.
Let's go there.
Here it is.
Here you go.
Just because we missed
that damn trolleybus.
- And the raspberry juice.
- Thank you.
He's too young for this.
Show her the picture.
What picture?
Of your other family.
Sometimes people have new families.
Give us the whole bottle, I'll pay for it.
- What happened to them?
- They left the country last year.
You know, when many people left.
We shouldn't talk about this here.
Why didn't he go with them?
You're my family now.
A nice night in town.
Let's find something that Andor likes too.
Maybe we should book now
so we could have tickets
after the summer.
They say it's for the workers
but a man can't even take his family
to see a stupid show.
Gza.
This is Mihly Berend.
I told you about this gentleman.
The fellow who hid you for money?
Why is he here?
Ah, my good lord,
thanks for saving her life.
I'm sure she could not
properly repay you since!
Bravo, the world belongs to his kind.
- And what kind would that be?
- Ah, shut up, you scum.
How dare you speak to me like that
in front of my son!
Stop it!
Stop it!
He'll kill us, too.
This is your father?
That man is his father?
Not only did you lie
about his real father, but now...
Now you welcome this scum back,
who feasted on you
while they were killing us.
Feasted on you?
Gza!
Go and drink like your father!
Good evening.
I'll clean it immediately.
Inside, Comrade Berend,
I have everything you need.
I'd give anything for a man like him.
Dear sir.
Dearest... Dearest Father.
It was a bad day.
Mother lost her job,
but she'll be fine.
Sorry, it's not funny.
He made me drink some stuff.
They all lie to me.
Even Gza Perlman.
He's not your friend anyway.
The butcher.
That man is not my father.
You are.
He's just like death.
It's been ten years
that I haven't seen a man
and I'm not calling myself unlucky.
It's better this way, right?
Which one is better?
To have a man who's like an animal
or no man at all?
You don't look well.
Berend rented it.
I'll work at the cash desk.
At least I won't be in trouble.
You can even make some pocket money.
That's Dad's ticket office!
I'll get you a new watch.
I want this one.
Why don't we leave now?
- Let's leave, Mum.
- We can't leave now.
- Why not?
- It's too late.
Why are we here anyway?
Because he asked me to.
You say you only loved Hirsch.
I'm leaving even if you're not.
This man...
Your father loves you.
You might be the only one
he'll ever care for.
You sign this.
What am I signing?
I want my son to carry my name.
It's a declaration of paternity.
Let's get on with it!
My name is Hirsch.
Where are you going?
We're not done.
As I've already told you, comrade,
you have to come back
with the birth certificate.
Weve wasted half-a-fucking-day already.
I'm not coming back!
You will, and you lower your voice now.
I have connections!
You sign this.
- It's a more Hungarian name.
- Yes, it is. Andor Berend.
- What are you doing?
- Put him down!
Don't you dare touch it!
Where's the rest?
They're harmless knick-knacks.
- Where's the rest?
- There's nothing there!
You filled my sons head with lies.
What's this?
My husband's wedding suit.
Fuck off!
Dear Sir, you motherfucker!
That's my son!
He's killing my mother!
Give it back!
- Andor!
- Go away!
You over there!
Show your papers!
- Stop!
- Where are you running?
You son of a bitch!
Dear Sir.
I came to say goodbye.
Even if you're not my real father.
I'll never be his son.
I'd rather die.
He hurt Mum,
but it's the last time.
I dont think we will ever talk again.
Forgive me.
Forgive me.
- Where are you going?
- He says it's a surprise.
- Now?
- You're coming too.
Mayday's coming!
- Go wash up, boy.
- I'm clean.
I wasn't home for hours.
You didn't even notice.
You only want to pleasure him.
I'm not going.
He can't make me.
You must accept this man.
He could kill me and cook me
and you'd eat me if he told you to.
Hirsch never would have said
anything like this.
Please, stay!
I eat here every day.
I love a good piece of meat,
especially the cutlets. I cook really well
I'll talk to him.
Good evening, sir.
Were taking Sri out for a bit of fun.
My grandfather was worried
something bad happened.
- Where are we going?
- I don't know.
Your mum says it's somewhere fun.
Move!
This is fun, right?
Darling Mihly!
What are you doing here?
That's not what we agreed on!
We'll only open tomorrow!
Why are you smiling?
This is a shithole.
How many times did I save your ass?
It isn't done yet. I don't know
how I'm going to manage this.
You knew that
we dont open until tomorrow.
Do you think we can try one of those?
That's what he's trying to do.
Go try that one.
He's like a little boy.
Andor!
My mother found someone!
Tomorrow, he'll be gone! He'll be free!
You hear me?
Your brother?
He will go to America!
Hello!
Hello!
Hello!
You too!
Hello America!
Hello America!
Hello America!
Stop it! Stop it!
I took care of it.
But dont you tell anyone.
Turn it on!
It'll be better tomorrow.
Who is that?
Good evening!
Sri, we have to go.
- Hi Klra.
- Hi.
Theyre leaving within the hour.
Can't even process it yet.
Im taking Sri there, too
He's leaving tonight!
- They're taking him out of the country.
- Sri!
We can say goodbye to him now.
Come, Sri, the taxi's waiting.
Bye, Andor!
- Goodbye! Come on, hurry!
- Goodbye.
Can we go up?
Now we can!
Wouldn't you be scared up there?
No.
Can just the two of us go?
Of course.
Only you and me.
Go on!
Weve been apart
for a long time, the three of us.
I have a secret.
Im going to propose to your mother.
Why don't you say anything, Andor?
I'm so happy I found you.
If you do it, do it now.
We will never talk about this again.
Lets go back on, the three of us.
Up!