I couldn't really remember what Germany was like.
I knew they had snow and seasons
and our family had lived there.
Not only Mama and Papa,
but the whole family.
And it was nice.
But I also remember that I was always afraid
of other children and people and even dogs.
Watch out!
Come here. Let me help you.
NO WHERE IN AFRIC A
I remember Germany as a dark place.
Not as bright and hot as Kenya.
A place with large buildings
and dismail rooms.
Papa always says, ''Germany is our home.''
I think he just misses his father,
my grandfather. He couldn't eat cookies
with nuts, because he was allergic.
He really liked Heinrich Heine's poems,
especially the ones about Germany.
I had two aunts in Germany that I liked an awful lot.
Aunt Kathe was Mama's sister. Papa's sister was Liesl.
Sometimes they helped out in Grandpa's hotel, the ''Adler'' in Sohrau.
That was in the good old days before the Nazis came.
Can I help you?
No, thank you.
We have to go now.
The Nazis forbade Papa to work as a lawyer
and took away Grandpa's hotel.
Soon none of our family had a job.
When I asked my parents why that was so,
I always got the same answer:
Because we're Jews, Regina. That's why.
What's wrong?
An urgent message!
Walter!
Walter, wake up!
This is quinine. It's good for you.
Leave me alone!
Come on! Wake up!
Give me the coffee.
Hurry!
Good heavens, Walter, wake up!
Come on, open your mouth!
Breslau, January 1938
Jettel, can I have some apple juice?
Ask Klara, please.
Anna, I'm glad you could comede spite the snow.
Come in.
Good evening, Mrs. Redlich.
Good evening ... Move it!
Don't talk to Jews!
Stop playing with those matches!
You're going to burn down the house!
Sure thing, Klara!
Here, a sausage.
You gotta get used to it!
Negroes always eat it black.
No, they don't.
Or raw and bloody!
I know they eat dogs from my Geography book.
They eat grasshoppers, too.
Here, hold him.
You wanna go to Africa?
You're even afraid to touch a dachshund.
Grandpa!
Are there nuts in it?
They're the only cookies I could get.
Oh, Klara ...
There aren't many nuts in them anyway.
cause you have to sneeze, right?
Right.
Every time I eat nuts I have to sneeze ...
every darn time.
I really loved the green one.
Walter bought me this for New Year's, but it isn't really my style.
I think it's very elegant.
Then take it.
You're such a sweetheart, Jettel. Thanks.
Kathchen,don't cry today, okay?
Do I dare to wear this?
It fits your rear end!
Mrs. Redlich ...
Men like 'em round.
That's for me!
This is for you, Klara! Glitter is what you need.
Thank you.
What's wrong?
It's from Africa.
Rongai, Kenya, 2 December 1937
My beloved Jettel,
I can imagine that this letter will upset you,
so try to be strong.
Last week, the Jewish community in Nairobi agreed
to pay for your immigration. After six months here,
I'll finally be able to organize the trip for you and Regina.
I beg you not to wait another day. Go see Karl Silbermann at once.
He can help you with the tickets for the ship.
It doesn't matter what kind of ship or how long it takes. Just so it takes you.
What we need here is a refrigerator.
If it doesn't fit in our chests,
then throw out the Rosenthal china. It's useless here.
Also, get kerosene lamps, mosquito nets
and sturdy shoes for you and Regina.
Don't try to bring any cash orjewelry with you.
You know what Nazis do to smugglers. And say as little as possible.
There's no one you can trust,
not even people we called our best friends.
Oh, Jettel. My heart wants to burst at the thought
of embracing you two.
But it grows heavy imagining how much this letter will hurt your mother.
Walter, you've got malaria.
You have to take this quinine. It's very important.
I have to get back to the farm.
Owuor will take care of you.
He needs the quinine 3 times a day.
3 times 40 drops.
Understand?
I understand.
Max, we have to go!
I hate having to say goodbye.
I can't stand train stations either.
This will all be over in one or two years.
So you two are sticking together?
Promise me that you'll stick it out together.
One person always loves more.
That's what makes it so difficult.
And the one who loves more is vulnerable.
My son loves you ...
... very much.
I'm going to miss you so much, Max.
Mama!
Tell her goodbye ... please.
Eat this. It will take the fire out of your body.
Very good!
Ever heard of the ''Silesian Heaven?''
''Silesian ...?''
Meat, potatoes, bacon
and dried fruit all mixed together.
I don't understand a word!
In my first life I was a lawyer.
Owuor, this is for you.
You're giving me your coat, bwana?
It's a robe.
I was ill, and you looked after me.
I am very grateful to you, Owuor.
I wore the robe in my homeland
I wasn't a bwana there.
I worked with my head.
And here you don't want to wear the robe anymore?
You have to be smart to wear a robe.
Here in Rongai you're smart. Not me.
I'll have to say the word often,
so I can pronounce it just like you do.
Thank you.
We traveled 6 weeks by steamship around Africa.
On 20 April 1938, the Fuhrer's birthday,
we arrived in Nairobi.
Regina, take this please.
Mrs. Redlich?
Mr. Morrison, who owned the cattle farm where Papa worked,
picked us up at the train station.
Welcome!
This way
It reminded me of chocolate
and what Mama told me on the ship. We were poor now.
''So there's no chocolate for poor kids,''she said.
And I had promised to be brave.
Hey, come here!
What did the cow die of?.
We don't have enough water.
Shit! It's always the same!
You have to dig a well!
There's a car!
Where?
Over there!
Everything's all right now. My dearest.
Welcome.
Welcome, little memsaab.
Come here.
Welcome to Rongai!
Regina, my girl! Come here!
Papa! We traveled by ship,
and we were in England and Morocco
and all over the harbor. I saw dolphins,
and Mama danced.
Mr. Redlich.
I have something to tell you
Water
This farm needs water
Animals need more water
It needs water outside
I told you before
Go find some water
Dig a well
Bwana, he means water.
I got it, a well
Workers will come on Monday
Tell the man what to do.
Yes, bwana.
Damn refugees
Your father took care of the paperwork,
the refugee tax and everything.
We were lucky.
In Hamburg they only opened one chest full of clothes.
Max gave me ''Magic Mountain'' for you.
Thank goodness the books were in the other chest.
I'm sorry, Jettel.
I know this isn't what you were expecting.
It's lovely.
But we can't live here.
Not that one! Don't unpack the patterned china.
We won't be staying here long.
Learn German if you want to talk to me.
Plate.
Careful!
Jettel, my name is Susskind.
Also Walter.
But everyone calls me Susskind.
I see.
Walter is showing Regina the farm.
They'll be back soon.
Like to have dinner with us?
Very kind of you. Yes.
I just spent four hours driving through the desert.
You'll probably have to put up with me for the night.
I brought you some onions
and sugar.
And cigarettes.
Thank you.
Blessed Sabbath ...
I haven't heard the Kiddush for ages.
Up to now I've never felt I needed God.
If you take quinine every day you'll go blind.
What about malaria?
You can always combat it if you catch it in time.
Here's to the arrival of Jettel and Regina.
To our second life.
Cheers.
How long have you been away from home?
This is my home.
Susskind was smart enough to leave Germany in '33.
It was easier to leave back then.
They let you take all your money, right?
And all your books.
What about your wife?
Weren't you ever married?
No, I wasn't.
Why not?- Jettel!
It was always my bad luck to fall in love with women who were already taken.
My mother says someone will have to stop the Nazis.
Germany is rich in culture,
the home of Goethe and Schiller.
Papa, I think I heard some lions.
Nonsense. There aren't any lions around here.
Those are monkeys, baboons.
Maybe the lion is just acting like a monkey.
You have a great future here.
You're already talking like a Negro.
The air is cool and darkling,
And peaceful flows the Rhine,
The mountain top is sparkling, The setting sunbeams shine.
The fairest maid is reclining in wondrous beauty there,
Her golden jewels are shining,
She combs her golden hair.
With a golden comb she is combing,
And sings a song so free,
It casts a spell on the gloaming, A magical melody.
The boatman listens, and o'er him Wild-aching passions roll,
He sees but the maiden before him, He sees not reef or shoal.
I think, at last the wave swallows
The boat and the boatman's cry,
And this is the fate that follows
The song of the Lorelei.
Sleep tight, my angel.
You didn't bring the fridge,
did you?
No, I didn't.
Why not?
There was no room in the chests ...
But enough room for your china with the floral pattern?
There wasn't enough money, anyway.
What did you do with the money?
If you really want to know ...
I bought this ...
at Wertheim's in Breslau.
It cost 45 marks and is beautiful.
You bought an evening gown.
Yes.
... that he gives
his name to ...
and leaves the mark of his personality ...
indelibly on his time ...
I never thought I'd be happy to hear his voice.
I'll leave it here.
So you can stay in touch with the outer world.
And you? Goodbye.
We can't accept it. Goodbye.
Of course you can. I have another one.
Anyway, it'll give me a reason to stop by now and then ...
to charge the battery.
Do you have to go now?
In this country we should forget formalities
and use the personal ''you.'' Don't you think so?
Do you have a gun in the house?
Yes, why?
Since Jettel and Regina are here.
Morrison left me one.
Good luck with the well.
Come on, little memsaab!
You see that mountain? That's Mount Kenya.
It's holy.
Mount Kenya.
Come with me, little memsaab.
Mama said I wasn't allowed to go any further than this ridge.
Can you help me?
Memsaab?
Help me!
I'm a cook. Cooks don't dig in the ground.
The ground is thirsty.
You need more water.
Come with me!
Water.
No men?
No, men don't carry water.
That's women's work.
Help me! It's so heavy!
Owuor, help me, please!
The water is so heavy ...
Help us, too!
Please, give me the shovel!
Fire.
Yes, fire.
There's no water in this ground here, bwana.
I told you so.
You were right, Cepoi.
I'm sorry.
Go home! And thank you. Thank you very much.
6 months later.
Why doesn't Owuor ever slaughter a chicken?
Nobody would notice.
Regina, put the doll down.
We aren't allowed to eat them.
It's our agreement with Morrison.
Only the eggs.
I can't stand this muck anymore! I need meat!
Thank you, Owuor.
Fire!
You have to look at a fire
when it has slept for a long time.
Don't worry, Jettel. It's just a common bush fire.
It won't reach the house.
Where are you going?
To pack! I'm leaving!
Nonsense!
I can't stand it here any longer!
You have to. You always say that!
But I want to go home to Motherand Kathe, to people I understand.
You don't earn a thing.
All we eat are eggs and cornmeal.
How can we ever send Regina to school?
She can't always hang around with Owuor!
Damn it! We're alive!
Yes, we're alive! But what for?
To hope for rain, so these cows that aren't ours don't die?
My God, I feel like I'm dead,
and sometimes I wish I were!
Don't ever say that again!
We just got out in the nick of time.
What are you talking about?
Last night the Nazis in Germany
burned down synagogues and looted Jewish shops.
They smashed everything to pieces.
People, buildings, stores ...everything.
How did you find out on this goddamn farm?
From a Swiss radio station this morning.
Papa
The Nazis no longer see us as humans.
Damn it. I saw it coming.
I saw it from the beginning.
Don't you realize that it doesn't matter when and if Regina learns to read?
What about Mama, Kathe, your father?
I have no idea!
I kept telling them they had to leave!
1 0 November 1938
Dear Father,
I am very upset about the news I hear from Germany.
People fear that war is inevitable.
What do you think?
If I only knew how you are doing.
If I earned some money I'd have you come here!
Don't you see any opportunity to leave Germany?
I beg you ...
Father ...
How I long for a conversation with you,
for your advice, your sympathy.
Being abroad, I have become aware how blessed I am to have parents like you
and how grateful I am for everything you did for me.
Your money wasn't wasted by allowing me to study so long after Mother's death.
One day your son will certainly be the lawyer you were always so proud of.
Come here, little memsaab.
It needs you. It is a child like you.
It's so cold!
Do you want to run around like a Negro?
I don't care.
I don't have anything against Negroes,
and there aren't any other kids here,
but be careful.
They have illnesses like malaria and so on.
They are very dirty, and I don't want you to get sick.
A white child is not a black child.
And promise you don't eat anything they give you.
And never enter their huts.
So ...
Now swallow this.
It's too bitter. And anyway, it'll make me go blind.
Nonsense. Open your mouth.
Hey, Mama ...
There's a ceremony tonight.
They'll slaughter a lamb and ask Ngai for rain.
Ask whom? - Ngai,
their god who lives on the mountain, Mount Kenya,
and the fig tree, too.
They're asking him for rain. It's a big ceremony.
You're not going.
They're asking Ngai for rain.
Could you tell me why you always repeat everything?
Do the Negroes do that, too?
You can't repeat good things enough.
Who says? - Everyone.
Everyone? You can't repeat good things enough.
My God, Regina! What should I do with you?
Remember Grandma?
What? She always said,
''Don't worry about Regina. She has the luck of a Gentile.''
Exactly ... the luck of a Gentile.
That's what Grandma always said.
So you don't have to worry, Mama.
My angel. I'm so afraid something might happen to you.
Don't worry. It's nice here.
Toto! Toto!
Memsaab! Bwana has gone out ... with the big gun!
Kill it.
I can't do it! You see that I can't!
I just wanted you to have your damn meat!
They don't want anything?
No. They said they're not hungry.
Good night. I don't mind if you go on reading.
I've read this book 3 times!
Who cares if I read it a fourth time!
Regina ...
I didn't expect you to be able to hunt.
I couldn't have done it either.
You never killed an animal before...
But I want to!
I'm warning you, don't treat me like a loser!
Did I? I didn't ask you to go hunting!
You act like I'm a leper!
You've changed. The hell I have!
Truth is, you only let me under your skirt when I'm a lawyer!
I got no chance in the desert, unshaved and sweaty.
Watch your tongue! I'm your husband!
I can tell you what I think, even if you don't like it!
You have no right to a privileged life!
We've just been lucky up to now.
Stop playing the spoiled daughter, and wake up to what's going on here!
Where are you going?
To the bar.
But now that we've brought it up, the way you treat Owuor reminds me
of some people in Germany to whom you certainly don't want to be compared!
It's nice and warm.
Yeah, nice and warm.
Hey, little dog. Where did you come from?
Cepoi, whose dog is this?
This dog has no home.
It's a wild dog. It comes from the huts.
Daddy, this dog has no home.
Can I keep him, please?
But you're afraid of dogs.
No, not here.
Yes, I like him. We'll keep him.
We'll call him Rummler,
like the Nazi chairman in Leobschutz.
Rummler is a nice name.
Exactly.
Everyday we can say, ''Rummler, you bastard,''
and nobody will arrest us.
Toto! Toto!
The trucks! They're driving fast!
I am going to arrest you.
Susskind!
What does it mean?
Don't you listen to the radio?
War has broken out. We're being interned.
You don't think I'll leave Jetteland Regina here!
Don't worry. The British are reliable.
They're taking us to Nairobi.
Tell me I have nothing to fear.
You have my word of honor. I'm not going away!
Owuor! Take care of the two!
Yes, bwana. I will.
Regina.