(train chugs) (train horn whistles) (slow soft music) (footsteps clunk) (metal clinks) - [Alex] Imagine it, imagine if someone came and built a high wall right
around your neighborhood so you couldn't get out. That's what the Nazis did to us. No one's allowed out at night. It's so quiet you can
hear someone cough from right across the
other side of the ghetto. Everyone's scared. Even my dad. Even my uncle who
pretends not to be. Every week the Nazis come
and take more people away. They call this selection. You never know when a
selection's going to happen. Or who they're
going to take next. There aren't many
of us left now, only the strong
ones who can work. Us kids have to be
careful in the day time. At night, I hide in the
loft so they don't find me. My uncle gave me a book, it's called Robinson Crusoe. (slow stirring music) (children laugh) - [Avrum] Alex, come on
Alex, don't be scared. No one's gonna look here. I found one. I'll give you 30. - [Boy] No, it's 40, Avrum. - 30, starting now. One, two, three, four. - [Girl] Come Lucy,
you come with me. - [Avrum] Five, six,
seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. (slow ominous music) (speaking in foreign language) - [Man In Brown Coat] Selection. - Selection. - [Soldier] No one leaves,
everyone keeps working. - Woman and children
this time, Stefan. - Where is Alex? - In Bird street playing
with the Gryn kids. - Alex, oh, Alex. - Stop it, Avrum. You're hurting him,
leave him alone. You're hurting him,
leave him alone. - Ever seen canned rat? - [Girl] Come down,
Avrum, it's not safe. - [Avrum] Go on, Alex, go get
the stinking rat yourself, go on dozy, go get
the rat, go on. - [Soldier] All right
now, get in line! - [Soldier] Hey you, stop, stop! - [Mrs. Gryn] Hide,
selection, hide in there! - [Girl] Alex, come on Alex! (child cries) - [Avrum] Come on Alex,
leave the stupid mouse! - [Mrs. Gryn] Alex, come on! - [Boy] Alex, come with us! - [Boy] Alex! - [Boy] There's no time! (people nervously chatter) (tense unsettling music) - [Soldier] Hey, come back, hey! Stop, get them! - [Soldier] Nothing here. Let's go, come on! - Don't worry, Snow, they'll
send a ship out for us. - [Soldier] Move! Stay in line! (slow somber music) - Alex. Alex. Alex. How could you sleep? - I knew you'd come. I knew you'd come. - We won't take him to
the factory anymore. - (Boruch) The factory's safe. There's plenty of
ways to get out. I'll take care of him. I'll see that he's all right. Besides, (chuckles)
I need a footrest. - [Stefan] He stays in
the bunker with the Grins. - [Alex] What about
Mrs. Gryn's eyes? - [Stefan] What about
Mrs. Gryn's eyes? - She stares. - There, you see? Do you expect the
boy to stay all day at a dirty slimy cellar with
someone who just stares? - They've changed
the rules, Alex. From now on, they
catch you with kids, you're on the next train. You understand? Now good night. - Miriam told me, she said it was sort of
like a holiday place. - Miriam told me, huh? So where are the postcards
from this holiday place? Where are the letters? Remember your Aunt Angia? She couldn't fart without
writing someone about it. (Boruch flatulates) Boruch! - Listen, it sneaked out. What do you want? - So what are they
doing to these people? - I don't know. - I don't know either. - Here, take my old mezuzah in
that tree of yours up there. Keep it with you at all times. It will ward off evil. - Mrs. Gryn too? - No more staring eyes (laughs). - Thanks, Uncle Boruch. - Don't mention it. - I was shipwrecked. There wasn't a house to live in, or any food or clothes. At night, I thought I'd
get eaten by wild animals. - You bake the bread too
heavy sometimes, Stefan. - They are killing us. - No one knows that. - (chuckles) Now you don't have
your mezuzah for protection. Maybe Mrs. Gryn with
her staring eyes will come looking for you. - Oh, I live in hope. (both laugh) Yes. ♪ Mrs. Gryn, Mrs. Gryn ♪ I didn't know you cared ♪ The first time I saw you ♪ All you did was stare (both laugh) ♪ Mrs. Gryn, Mrs. Gryn ♪ I didn't know you cared (both laugh) (horn blares) - Just keep your head
down, you old fool. (horn blares) (knocking on metal) (Boruch chuckles) - Then there was my
great grandmother. Your great-great-grandmother. Such a woman, terrifying. She could eat Mrs.
Gryn for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then,
pfft, spit out the bones. What, what's this
supposed to be? - A bowline, like you said. - A bowline? - Yeah, yeah, now this,
this is a bowline, Alex. How many times have
I told you, huh? Here, that's a bowline. There's mail for you, uncle. Hmm, What do we have? (gasps) (Alex laughs) Alex, I told you not
to bring him in here. It's against the law. Besides, there's all
kinds of gray mice in this factory
and they're crazy. They'll kill him and eat him
just as soon as look at him. - You're just scared of him. - Oh, yeah. (knocking on desk) (speaking in foreign language) - [Soldier] You, Jew. Yes, you, come here. How old are you? - [Boruch] 59. - 59, why aren't you working? - [Boruch] I'm the storekeeper. - Load it on the truck. (slow tense music) (Boruch thuds) (Alex gasps) (kick thuds)
(Boruch groans) How old are you, Jew? - [Boruch] 59. (kick thuds) - How old are you? (kick thuds) How old are you? How old are you? - I thanked that
German officer's boots with my naked teeth,
didn't I (chuckles)? - [Stefan] Not funny. - Ah, I'll feel better
when I get my medicine. - [Stefan] Stop talking
in mess for once, old man. - [Boruch] I need my medicine. - This is not the
fake bimber stuff. This is the best Russian vodka. Don't ask me how
much I paid for it. - How much you pay
for it (laughs)? - [Stefan] Tomorrow you should
stay in the bunker with Alex. - Stay in the bunker
with me, Uncle. - I've got my work to do. This looks like a very
inferior brand, you know? - [Stefan] Yeah, you're
right, I don't want-- - On the other hand. - [Alex] A man should
never drink alone. - The boy is right. [Stefan] A delicate
palate like yours, you shouldn't touch this. - I'll sacrifice myself. Good. - [Stefan] And now
steady, breathe out. Now gently squeeze. (gun clicks) Hey, bullseye. - The bullet thing
didn't fall out. - Clip, it's called a clip. - What does he want
to be a marksman for? - Is the war over already? You should have told me. - [Boruch] I'll
watch out for him, I'll see that he's all right. - It's not a bad
idea for a young man to learn how to shoot a pistol. (Boruch chuckles) - [Soldier] Come
on, out, get out. - No, no, please! - [Soldier] Take the
rest, count the others. - Wait here. Wait. - You'll all die of
pneumonia down there. You'll be safe,
you'll be outside. - [Man] Yeah, well. - [Mrs. Gryn] What do you care? We need some more penicillin. - Thank you, Mrs. Gryn. See you tonight. - Look here, Yossi. - You can't bring that
filthy thing in here. - You scared or something? - You know what Momma said. - Hey, Yossi. Look, Yossi. Seek it, seek it, Snow. Seek it, seek it. (metal clanks)
(mouse squeaks) Red hawk. (boys laugh) - Alex, how many
times have I told you? It spreads diseases. Put it in here! Put it here. Alex! Alex! He'll get us all killed. (metal clangs) - What happened to the signal? - Mrs. Gryn, she was
going to kill Snow. - Stop it, Alex. You're starting to
believe your own stories. - Sorry. - Where's the rodent? - At home. - That's the best place. Here, go on. (slow dramatic music) - What is he doing here? I told you to stay
in the bunker. - [Boruch] What's happening? (Alex gasps) - They're clearing the houses. They're everywhere! (crowd chatters) (birds rustle) (footsteps thud) - Someone talked. - Out. - Hey! Jacob, isn't it? I knew your father. - Move it. (man in dark suit
moans and groans) (machine gun fires) - [Stefan] I'll take him. - [Boruch] No, no we
stick with the plan. He comes with me. Now look, Stefan, I
don't want no arguments. - We don't have time for this. - You know what you
have to do, huh? - [Boruch] Now go, goodbye. - Take this. (slow somber music) Stay with your uncle. Do everything he says, hmm? Wait for me. No matter what happens, I will come back for you. Wait for me. - They're closing the factory. They're clearing the ghetto. This time it's all of you. Good luck, Boruch. (soldier speaking
in foreign language) - [Soldier] That
one, bring him out! (whistle blares) - Move! Let's go. (slow dreary music) - Now, remember, you stay off
the street and wait, wait. - How long for? - As long as it takes. An hour, maybe a day, just wait. Your dad will come
and get you, Alex, remember that. He will come for you, remember. All right, all right, don't
look back, run now, go! (speaking in foreign language) Oh, no! No, go back! Go back! No, go back! Go back, all right go back. You all go back! Go back! (gun fires) (speaking in foreign language) (soldier yells in
foreign language) (gun fires) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - [Soldier] Come, come. (slow subdued music) (electricity crackles) (birds rustle) (urine trickles) (toilet flushes) - Shh! (Alex gags and coughs) (child coughs) (child coughs) (slow stirring music) Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow. Snow! Snow? Snow? Snow? (Snow squeaks) (Alex chuckles) Rescued from the cannibals. My man Friday threw himself
at my feet in gratitude for my having saved him from
the cannibals' cooking pot. In a little time, I
began to speak to him and teach him to speak to me. I let him know his
name should be Friday which was the day
I saved his life. I likewise taught
him to say master and let him know that
was to be my name. Got that? Listen to Master Alex. We call this bread. Bread, good. We eat bread. You like? (Snow squeaks) (dog barks) (airplanes whir) (metal clatters) (Alex gasps) (singing in foreign language) (soldiers chatter) (dog barks) (dog whimpers) Bye, Snow. (toy truck clunks) (Snow squeaks) (airplanes whir) Seek it, Snow, seek it. Yes, good boy, Snow. Seek it. Good boy, Snow, good boy. I found them they're mine. - Go away. - Please, I haven't
got any food. - Go away. (metal clanks) (slow suspenseful music) (speaking in foreign language) (shouts in foreign language) (machine gun fires) (screams and shouts) (footsteps thud) - [Soldier] That's
enough, and the rest. - [Man] Careful, we're ready. (pipes rumble) (sputters and coughs) - A very inferior brand. (coughs) A man should never
drink alone (giggles). (slow stirring music) (Alex laughs) Oh, quite right. (men laugh) Dad? - Alex, my boy. my
brave, brave boy. - I knew you'd come, I knew. Uncle Boruch, you're all right! - It takes more than that. Leopards can't climb trees. (all laugh) - You listen to
your uncle Boruch. One day, you'll be rich
and famous, just like him. - You've got to sacrifice
yourself, remember. (Stefan and Boruch laugh) - [Alex] Dad? Dad? (door creaks) (thud) (metal rattles) - [Man] Take these, leave that. What's that? (slow tense music) (pigeons coo) - Leopards can't climb trees. (slow stirring music) (punches thud) (man groans) I didn't do anything. - You can't trust me
and I can't trust you. What's your name? - Alex. - [Man] What's in
the sack, Alex? - Rope. - What's it for? - My dad. - Ha, some dad sending his
kid out to risk his neck. - He couldn't come himself. - Are you Jewish, Alex? - [Alex] No. - Tell me the truth. - I'm Polish. - (speaking in foreign language) May the Lord be with you. And you say, hmm? (speaking in foreign language) Tongue. Come on. It's Latin, it means,
and also with you. - I know, of course
I know Latin. - Of course you do, you're
a Pole and a survivor. Now go on, go back to
your dad, go on, move! (slow reserved music) (water splashes) (slow gentle music) (children sing and laugh) (slow stirring music) - [Boy] He's one,
he's a jewfish. (boys laugh) - [Boy] Just chuck
you over the wall! - Day one. Just you and me, and the cannibals. (tense suspenseful music) (speaking in foreign language) - [Soldier] Where? How many? - [Kneeling Man] Twelve. (speaking in foreign language) - [Soldier] Out,
out, out, out, out! - [Man] We'll do
whatever you say! (group chatters) (speaking in foreign language) - [Soldier] Out,
out, out, out, out! (little girl coughs) (soldiers yelling
in foreign language) (metal softly squeaks) (soldier speaks in
foreign language) (gripping dramatic music) (speaking in foreign language) (explosion booms) (child coughs) (speaking in foreign language) (footsteps clatter) (machine gun fires) (machine gun fires) (tense gripping music) (speaking in foreign language) (machine gun clicks) (weapon clicks) (guns fire) (man groans) - Henryk, Henryk. Who shot him? (metal clangs) - Me. - Oh my God. - [Henryk] Freddy, Freddy! (speaking in foreign language) (slow foreboding music) - Get down. Come on, come on. You've done all
right for yourself. Do you have any more
ammunition for this? Take it, it's yours, isn't it? No? What's this? Hello. What's your name? - Snow. - Snow, 'cause he's
white like snow? You all right? - I killed him. I didn't mean to (weeps). - Hey, hey, hey. What are you doing
here all on your own? - I'm waiting for my dad. - How long has your
dad been gone, Alex? - 36 days. - Freddy (groans)! - Some water. Relax. (Henryk gulps and chokes) This leads to the other side. I'll go contact with
the Polish Underground. A priest, I think
he can help us. So I'm gonna go
find him, all right? You be careful on your way home. Make sure Henryk gets plenty
of water, no champagne. I'll see you in a
couple of hours. (Henryk screams) (muffled screams) (rumbling) - Freddy! (boys chatter) (slow tranquil music) (Henryk gasps) Sorry, I had to. You were making too much noise. (clicking) (slow elegant music) (speaking in foreign language) - [Boy] (whistles) Hey, you! - [Woman] Thank
you, bye-bye, dear. - [Woman] Yes, two of
those large loaves, please. (coins clink) - You must be rich throwing
your money about like that. Bye bye, Mrs. Studjinsky - [Mrs. Studjinsky]
Bye bye, Stasya. (doorbell rings) - Yes? - [Alex] Hi, are
you the doc's place? - Is something wrong with you? - [Alex] It's a bit difficult
to explain out here. (classical violin music) - What can I do for you? Are you sick? - It's not me, he's my friend. - The authorities
insist upon hearing of anything suspicious. (speaking in foreign language) - [Doctor] Dr. Studjinsky. (speaking in foreign language) - [Alex] I watch you play chess. - [Man On Phone] Hello? - On the telephone
through the window. - [Man On Phone] Mister, hello? - How did you find your way out? - Freddy showed me. He hasn't come back. - [Mrs. Studjinsky]
Friends of the priest. - Don't talk so much. He doesn't need to
know these things. - Of course, he does. - Did you put some
tinned beef in? - [Dr. Studjinsky] Yes, yes. - We're gonna make sure
your friend gets well. - [Stasya] Hi,
Doctor Studjinski. - [Dr. Studjinsky] Stasya. - Mustn't pass on
stairs, it's bad luck. Oh, hello again. I didn't recognize you at first. - Come along, Alex. What does that girl
know about you? - Nothing, I promise. - I can't climb that! - I'll take your bag. It, it can take your weight. - Now, your treatment, I'll try and get some more, but it's a lot of money
on the black market. If he gets worse, he'll
have to come to me. I can't afford the risk. Now, you take that. A lot of people rely
on me, you understand, a lot of people. (clicking) (thud) (voices chatter) (speaking in foreign language) (slow uneasy music) - [Man] Stand back. Stand back! (children chatter) (boy laughs) - What do you
think you're doing? Who are you, anyway? - [Boy In Gray] It's
the little jewfish. He's mine, come
here little jewfish. - Come on, Alex, we should
have been home ages ago. Are you coming or not? Me macierz will kill us. You know how she hates
it when we're late. - [Boy In Gray] Yid
lover, she's a Yid lover! - [Alex] Thanks. - That's all right. You're not from
around here, are you? - No, it's a boat
ride from here. Rough seas, sharks. - Do you go to the
park on Sundays? - Yeah. - You know the little house? Four o'clock? Bye then. - [Alex] Bye. - Hope your boat
doesn't sink (giggles). (Henryk gasps) - You're better. - Where's Freddy? - He went for help. - How long? - 10 days ago. - [Alex] He built
a house in a tree. He found a rope
ladder on the beach. He lived there for a long time. He made his own weapons. - [Stasya] Yeah. - [Alex] He caught
things to eat. Then he rescued Man Friday. - [Stasya] But it's just
a boy's story (sigh). Maybe he could've stayed
alive for a week or two. - He could survive
forever if he had to, if no one came to rescue him. - (laughs) All right,
all right, I give up. Look, I'd better go home. - Me too, Dad will be
wondering where I am. - [Stasya] See
you here tomorrow? - All right. - Bye, then. - Bye. Come on, Snow, fetch it. Go on, seek it. (Snow squeaks) Seek it. Good boy. (Snow squeaks) I didn't know which ones. (laughs) You look
like a scientist. Now you look like
a jeweler (laughs). - Oh, hello young man. What have you got there? Oh, I thought this
was the Plaza. (Alex laughs) It says here there's
going to be a war soon. - Not funny. Last dose. - (sigh) I'll tell
you something, I could do with
something proper to eat. I could do with something
to get me on my feet, something decent. I was thinking steaks,
fried potatoes. Now, get me something
proper to eat or I'll eat that
bloody rat of yours. (Alex laughs) (slow stirring music) What are you looking
at all the time? It says here-- - Shh, I'm reading. - The dinner party
is the most formal of all types of present
day entertaining. - When man Friday and I
arrived at the cannibals' camp, the very blood ran
cold in my veins at the horror of what I saw. - Your guests should not be
seated too close to one another. - There was an eerie silence
hanging over the hut. There was no sign of
any of the inhabitants. - I arranged my guests
around the table so that-- - Their bones were strewn about, along with human
skulls and flesh. - I decided a three-course
meal was quite in order, I-- - Turned about to see a
cannibal shoot me with his-- - Fruit and a
selection of cheeses. (Alex laughs) - [Alex] What are you doing? - [Henryk] I've got to get out. - You can't, you'll never
get down that rope ladder. - I've got to see a man. - I'll go, I can do it. I can find him. - How's your Latin? (speaking in foreign language) Very good. Think you could learn some more? (slow organ music) - [Priest] You have come
to confess your sins. (speaking in foreign language) Just exactly what
does that mean? - I don't know. - Alex, the little survivor. How can I help you, Alex? - [Alex] The priest
said the ghetto walls are coming down any day now. - The walls coming down and
the Poles are moving in? All these lovely
apartments going free. But the war goes on. I think you should come with me. (rocks clatter) This many will get so fat
they'll float away into space. This many will get so thin
they'll slip down the drain. This many will get reborn
as fleas and get squashed. Don't you want to know how many
children you're gonna have? - How many? (soft gentle music) How many? - I'm not telling you. You have to find
out for yourself. Dad doesn't want a
corpse for a son. I don't want a
corpse for a friend. This place is finished. It'll be swarming with
Poles and German soldiers in a couple of days. Face up to it. - Alex, the chances are your dad is never coming back. - Then it doesn't
matter, does it? - He can make his own decision. That future of yours,
it's waiting for you. Good luck. (slow somber music) (wind howls) (children chatter) - [Boy] Look, hey, wait
a minute, little jewfish! Come back! Hey you, jewfish, come here. I'm sorry, it wasn't me. I didn't do it. Please, I'm sorry. (speaking in foreign language) - [Soldier] Halt! - Gestapo, run! Hurry. (slow tense music) (soldier speaking
in foreign language) (distant shouting
in foreign language) (machine gun fires) (Alex sobs) - Can I come in please? - What's it like to
live in an apartment? - More like a cupboard. - You live in a cupboard? - Well, under a
cupboard, actually, but I have a bed and a
cooker, and everything I need. And really, it's fine. - We're leaving tomorrow. - Leaving? - [Stasya] We're going to
my uncle's in the country. - [Woman] Stasya? - It's okay, it's my mother. - You can't miss the curfew. You'd best stay the night. You'll have to be up early
in the morning though. - He could come with
us, couldn't he, Mama? - That's enough, Stasya. Clear the table please. - Thank you. (soft piano music) (Stasya and her mom giggle) - You can come with
us, if you want to. We'll leave a message
for your father. We'll make sure he
knows where to find you. - Just came to say good night. See you tomorrow then. You will come with
us, won't you? - Good night. - Good night. (Snow squeaks) (horses clop) (slow stirring music) - Hey, go on, hey, go on! (crowd cheers) - [Boy] Tear it down, no Jews. Tear it down, the Jews are out. Come on, quicker! (slow somber music) (child laughs) (children chatter) (slow ominous music) (children laugh and chatter) (children scream) (building rumbles) (distant voices speaking
in foreign language) (boys chatter) - [Man] Eugene, get out now. - [Boy] Sorry, dad. - [Man] Go on, get out,
it's dangerous in here. All right, get this
area closed off before someone gets killed. (door thuds) - Snow. Wake up, Snow. Snow. (slow stirring music) (Alex weeps) - [Boy] Stop it! (boys laugh) (boys laugh) (slow stirring music) - [Alex] Snow (sobs). Goodbye, Snow. (slow somber music) (bricks thud) - Alex. Alex. (rubble rattles) (slow dramatic music) Alex? - Dad? Are you real? - Yes, I'm real. - [Alex] I knew you'd come. At first, it seemed
like a mirage. A strange sort of
shimmering on the horizon. But slowly, bit by bit,
it got closer and clearer. Then, there it was, the
most beautiful ship, full sail, with all
its flags flying. It was coming to my island, coming to my rescue. It was going to take me home. (gentle piano music) (children chatter) (slow stirring music)
