May I take this, too?
No, only one thing. Either the bear or the doll.
Let me help you
Don't forget your passport.
You speak German?- Yes.
My mother is German.
Don't cry, little memsaab! I'll find you
everywhere, and follow you.
Promise?
Promise. I'll catch a new Toto for you.
No, I don't want a new Toto.
I didn't protect him very well.
His mother should have looked after him.
I'm not a good mother for an antelope baby.
You're wise, little memsaab.
Take care of our things!
Goodbye, Owour! Goodbye, Rummler!
Suddenly, we were no longer refugees, but enemy aliens.
We really didn't know why the British wanted to lock us up.
We were Germans, and England and Germany were at war,
but, after all, we were Jews who certainly didn't side with Hitler.
Please take off
What a nice prison, Mama.
This way
This is your room
Stay here before the dinner
Do you understand all this?
No.
They probably didn't know where to put us.
I bet that's a plum pudding.
What's that? Something English.
I can't believe it, they are enemies.
They are our guests.
Hotel managers would not compromise
We are fighting.
That makes no difference
This reminds me of better times.
In the end we'll have to pay for this.
The chef worked on a luxury liner.
He can't help it.
I'm really hungry!
No, thanks.
In Breslau, we were always going to dinner parties and receptions.
I tell you, it was such a nice life.
Before emigration every jerk was a prince.
Are you finished? Thank you.
No message for your husband?
It's the feeling of being alone,
of knowing that you really have nothing to say,
nothing to share but the time you spend together,
and a child maybe.
It's a painful realization. You know what I mean?
Oh well ...
Being alone is one thing. I know all about it.
But with a woman like Jettel,
such a beautiful woman ...
So cheerful and full of life.
Maybe you aren't giving her a real chance.
Back in Leobschutz everything was fine.
We both played our parts ...
You see.
She won't accept reality.
I want a mature woman I can talk to.
I have to cope with everything, too
...my father, Liesl ...
Will you shut up!
Sometimes I think we're like two packages.
All tied up, lying in a train ...
which is taking us to an unknown address.
We travel a long way together,
but we don't really know what's inside.
You worry too much.
Perhaps ... sleep well.
After a few weeks, the hotel wanted to get rid of us.
Every day, we wandered with our mothers
from one shady spot to the next,
wondering about what we were having for dinner.
If only we could go out for a walk. I'm going crazy in here.
If my husband were interned,
I'd fight to have him released instead of
sitting here complaining.
But how?- Mama, I'm hungry!
Hey, you greedy little pig.
You're all Jews.
Why don't you write a letter to your community in Nairobi?
Jews here have influence, don't they?
That'd be the first time.
Can anyone speak English?
I can.
The Jewish community had no problem convincing the British
that not every German sided with Hitler.
Two weeks later, we were allowed to visit the men at the internment camp.
Wearing khakis, it was nearly impossible to distinguish
between our imprisoned fathers and the British soldiers.
Papa, I have a girlfriend, a real girlfriend!
Her name is Inge. And she can read.
And Mama wrote a letter.
A letter?
So we could visit you.
You wrote a letter to the British?
Not just me. All the women.
Maybe we can return to Rongai soon?
What's changed your mind?
You were desperately unhappy there.
Like something to drink?
They all want to go back to their farms.
I see.
We can't return to Rongai.
What?
Morrison fired me because of the war.
He doesn't want an enemy alien on his farm.
What does that mean?
I'm out of work, and we have no home.
We'll have to pick up our things at the farm.
Maybe he's still waiting for us, because he thinks
that we're coming back.-
Maybe Papa will see Owuor.
And he'll bring him here.
Of course.
Good morning, I need...
Special permission.
Have a seat, your name please.
Special permission.
May I have your name first.
Sir, I can be helpful. I can speak German.
Great.
Could I be of assistance?
Yes, please.
I need a ''special permission.''
I have to leave the premises for a few hours to meet Mr. Edward Rubens,
the head of the Jewish community in Nairobi.
It's urgent.
My husband and I were in Berlinin '36 for the Olympics.
That was our last time in Germany.
My God, we were so naive!
It was no different with us. We believed to the bitter end ...
No, thanks ...
that our civilized friends would stop Hitler.
Friends?
The Germans were never friends to the Jews.
I don't agree ...
Where are your ''friends'' now?
And in '38?
Without Hitler ... Hitler didn't invent anti-Semitism.
Honey, I don't want to talk about politics with you.
How could she...
How can we be of assistance?
Mr. Morrison, the owner of our farm, won't employ any enemy aliens.
But without work, Walter can't leave the camp,
and we don't know where to find a job for him.
So, I ask you to help us again.
We'd do everything to be good farmers.
And that's why you've come to me?
You think you're the only people o suffer from this stupid war?
You think we're responsible for you,
because we let you enter this country?
You're alive! You're here!
My God! Make something out of it!
Sorry, I can't help
We have relatives in Europe, in Poland.
My husband hasn't heard from them for months.
Sorry to hear that.
Wish you luck
Bring these cookies for your child
Thank you. Goodbye.
Goodbye.
What are you doing here?
Was your little outing successful?
Maybe I can help
What do you mean?
You're looking for a job on a farm for your husband?
I have a friend here in the army.
He needs someone.
I could talk to him.
That would be very nice of you.
You are so beautiful, Mrs. Redlich.
Where have you been? A letter for you.
It looks quite important.
Yesterday, today...
Darn it! How do you say ''morgen?''
My gosh, Jettel! It's ''tomorrow!'' Try to remember that!
You see? You got it!
Tomorrow
What did you catch?
I caught a little mouse
Oh, Regina!
Walter!
How did you manage it?
What?
My papa comes back
Here we are, Owuor!
Here we are
Papa!
The holy mountain looks like a Chinaman's hat.
Get down from there! You're going to break your neck!
This is the most beautiful place in the whole world!
Thank you.
Susskind, I'm afraid.
Afraid of what?
This place is further away from your farm than Rongai.
You can hardly ever visit us.
I'd drive 20 miles more to see you.
Promise?
I'll be here more often than you like.
At least we've gotten rid of those damn cattle.
I'm your bwana, and I order you.
Well, bwana?
... to take off your blouse.
Are you meshuga, or what?
If you do you'll get a fried chicken.
And now you have to walk down the path like an African woman.
Hey! Did you miss me in your hotel?
Ouch! What are you doing?
Good morning.
My name is Walter Redlich.
I'm the new bwana here.
You'll need my help.
I've lived here for 40 years.
I'd appreciate your help.
Is Bwana Gibson dead?- No.
Bwana Gibson can't be here.
He's serving in the Royal Army.
He asked me to run his farm.
Show me what to do.
You aren't a British bwana?
No, I didn't come here to get rich.
I came here, because I was chased out of my own country.
What country are you from?
Germany.
It is far away from here. It is at war.
If someone steals your cow, it will be killed and eaten.
And you can forget it.
But if someone steals your land, it is always there.
You can visit it. It will always be there.
You can never forget it.
Daji Jiwan is Indian. He's a good Fundi.
He can help you build the house.
When you work for me you will get maize,
firewood, 2 liters of milk a day and 12 shillings a month.
12 shillings aren't much.
I don't bargain.
If you don't want to work, someone else will, Daji.
These men can't build a house for you.
I'll teach them.
Bwana, Kania is my brother. He can sweep the floors.
Can Kania cook, too? We need a cook.
No, Kania isn't a cook. Kania can sweep the floors.
Kamau can cook for the dog.
For what dog? We don't have a dog.
Yes or no?
It's very expensive!
What are you doing?
I've come for the mail.
What mail?
Letter to my papa
There's no letter
Yes
Take it
Letters with this stamp always bring tears.
I will give it to bwana.
That's good. You are his friend.
Sohrau, 2 October 1940
My dear son,
It's wonderful to hear about your good fortune with the second farm.
For us it's impossible to emigrate now.
Hitler will be closing the borders soon.
Anyway, we have nothing left that we could sell for cash.
They say that the Jews are going to be taken to ghettos.
If that happens, I'll have Grescheck send you our new address immediately.
Walter, I'm afraid for the first time in my life.
Afraid ...
for Liesl, but also for myself.
We feel like our old Germany is a desert island.
Hardly anyone dares to talk to us.
It is horrible.
My son,
I'm sending you some rose seeds as you wanted.
May these seeds sprout in the African earth
and bring joy to Jettel, you ...
and my little Regina.
My thoughts are always with you.
Yours, Father.
They've taken a long journey.
Yes, a long journey.
I want us to register Regina at school soon.
5 pounds a month ... we can afford it.-
The next time Susskind goes to Nakuru, he can ask about it.
Rummler.
Owuor?
Have you learned to cook?
Owuor
You've found us!
Memsaab doesn't have a cook in Ol Joro Orok?
No, we don't have a cook.
How did you know? And how did you find us?
Rummler has a good nose.
A bit of flour.
Thank you!
A little boy and a little girl
are lost in the forest.
They are afraid. The forest is dangerous at night.
This is an angel. It lives in heaven.
And what's this?
Those are his wings.
He needs them to fly up to Heaven.
Have you ever seen an angel?
No. Angels are invisible.
The ancestors are invisible, too.
Yes. Angels protect us, too, when we're in danger.
I'm an angel, and I'll drive away the evil spirits!
Come here!
No!
Come here
Yummy, kids!
Come to me!
Go away! Go away!
When you come back, I won't be a child anymore.
Nonsense. I'll always come home for vacation.
I'll be back for the next maize harvest.
Swear that you'll come back.
I swear.
I think that's him.
Learn all you can, angel.
Mama, I'll be back for vacation.
I know, my angel.
When I come back, I'll tell you all about it, Owuor.
Let's go
Come home!
Wish this year is a good year.
Never forget to...
appreciate that we can go to school at war time
Jewish students, please step forward.
Let's pray together.
We're Jewish. We have to step out.
God...
I learned very quickly what it means to be an outsider.
As Jews, we didn't have to pray,
and we could eat what we liked on Fridays.
Every once in a while a snake fellon the playing field,
the lost prey of a falcon.
I was happy to have Inge. She didn't like sports either,
at least not those stupid games the British played.
It's strange how some words lose their meaning here.
For example, ''tax return'' or ''streetcar.''
Sometimes I wonder why I even get dressed in the morning.
I might as well wear a sack. Nobody around here would care.
I would.
Do you still find me attractive?
You do have your great moments.
Did you get to know someone in Norfolk?
Do you think people should stay together for their entire life?
I guess not.
It's probably just some nonsense which our ancestors persuaded us to adopt.
If you had your choice, would you leave?
I sometimes wonder if there could have been a happier way of life for me.
Do you understand? If I'd decided differently at once.
Listen, I want to make it with you.
I want it to work for us.
You're my wife, and I love you!
I miss them all so much ...
... my mother, Kathe.
It hurts so much!
Please come on in.
I am Regina.
You are that Jewish girl
Excuse me ?
Yes, I am Jewish.
Tell me.
Are you really smart or you have to be no.1?
Pardon?
I mean why you study so well.
Because we are poor
My god
Do Jewish like to talk about money?
I have no idea
My papa earns six pounds monthly and pays 5 pounds for my study
You know this so well
My dad told me that
Good
My dad tells me everything
He also told me that we can't waste any penny
What did your papa do in Germany?
He was in black robe.
But he never wears it in the farm
Do you like Kenya ?
Yes, I love Africa and Owuor
Who is Owuor ?
Our cook
He has been taking care of us in the farm.
He knows we are Germany not Nazis.
Your parents will be so happy for your grade.
And your number one essay.
They will after it is translated into German.
Alright, that's it.
Have a nice vacation.
Thank you very much.
I have a book for you.
You can bring it home.
Great book!
I hope you can learn something from it.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
Owuor.
Well? Isn't that nice, Jogona?
You can't talk to the night.
You're right. You can't talk to the night.
The poet imagined that the night had ears.
It is lovely to make music with words.
Your father is a wise man.
He can talk to the thunder and lightning.
He talks to the ancestors. That's different.
You must take off your blouse, or it will get dirty.
I won't take off my blouse anymore.
I'm no longer a little child.
You're a stupid child if you dirty your school blouse.
I'm no longer a child.
You can't see my breasts anymore.
They are no different than the breasts of the women in the village.
Yes, they are. The breasts of a Mzungusare different.
You can't see them.
The Mzungus' schools teach very strange things.
Are Mzungus like you still allowed to climb trees?
Yes. But only when they don't dirty their school uniform.
Wait, Jogona!
Papa
Be careful, Regina!
My dear loved ones, we are very nervous.
We are being sent to Poland tomorrow to work.
Don't forget us. Mother and Kathe.
What does that mean?
They weren't allowed to write more than 20 words.
They gave away one.
They are bad days when Memsaab Kidogo has to go to school.
Maybe they want to leave via Poland.
Maybe they've found a way out.
Say something, Walter! Please! Talk to me!
Your mother wanted you to know. Or she wouldn't have written it.
Poland means death.
No!
You know what?
I envy you for getting this letter,
for the certainty!
I have no idea how my father's doing ...
... where he is ... where my sister is.
Every day the German troops in the East suffer a new defeat.
German casualties are no less significant.
The number of Germans who have died or been captured
since the beginning of the Russian winter offensive
is now more than 400,000.
What are you doing?
This woman needs no help. She wants to die.
And her family has left her here?
The hyenas will take away her body at night.
Kimani, I can't allow this.
I am the memsaab of this farm!
Carry the woman into the house!
If she dies in the hut, it will no longer be pure.
It would be a great sacrifice for the family to cleanse it.
It would cost the family a lot of money.
I don't care. It's an order!
As soon as the memsaab is inside,
she will be carried out again.
The woman wants to die outside.
That is what the tradition requires.
It's alright, memsaab.
My mother won't die alone.
The ancestors are with her. She isn't afraid.
If you like, you can be out of here soon.
They call it ''Operation J,
''the restructuring of troops in Kenya.
They're really taking Germans?
Jewish men your age stand a chance.
Nobody will accuse them of siding with Hitler.
But don't be a fool
and tell them you're fed up with farm life
and you need a change. They want to hear that you're for the Allies
and you're ready to fight for the right cause.
What about Jettel?
She could live in Nairobi.
I can hardly believe that I'll get a chance to take part in this war.
What about you?
This isn't my war.
Germany has nothing more to do with me.
I'm not going with you to Nairobi.
What?
I'm staying here with Owuor.
I've made up my mind.
Be reasonable. It's too dangerous here for you.
Leave us your gun.
For the past few years you've wanted to be somewhere else.
You wanted to return to Germany, then Rongai.
You were never satisfied.
And now you don't want to leave here.
I'm not afraid of being alone.
You'll be among people in Nairobi.
I don't want to keep following you!
What if something happens to you? You're the one
who should watch out.
They're sending men to Burma.
For the first time in years,
I feel I'm doing something out of conviction.
I can't keep sitting around here.
I feel so useless.
I understand.
Then come with me to Nairobi.
I'm staying here with Owuor.
If I don't see you for a day ... Where are you?
I go see my wives and my children.
On the lake. Near Kisumu.
They don't often see you.
They understand that I can't leave the memsaab alone so often.
But your wife is always alone.
That's different.
White women are helpless, black women are not.
How many children do you have?
I have 6 children and 3 wives.
3 wives?
Then you have a lot to do!
I bring them my money.
It isn't much. 12 shillings isn't much.
It's enough.
They have shambas with maize and beans and fish from the lake.
Do they respect you?
They respect me.
I work in the house of a bwana.
I respect you very much, too.
I don't know what we'd have done in this country without you.
Will you help me?
I'm a cook, not a barber.
Please! I can't do it alone.