El amigo aleman

---

The German Friend

My father used to tell me,

how he

and my mother

went to the Argentinian official

and wanted to call me Sulamit.

The civil servant said:

"The name doesn't

exist in Argentina."

"The girl will

be called Susana."

Then father laughed warmly.

"And yet you're called Sulamit."

My father had a marzipan factory.

He used only the best ingredients.

Almonds imported from France.

Then he couldn't sell it anymore,

too expensive.

The house he'd built was

too big and expensive, too.

It was similar

to the one across the street.

Hello Friedrich!

- Hello!

Pat!

Pat!

In it goes!

- Quick, quick!

Pat!

Drive off!

Mum, they took Pat!

- What?

In a van,

me and the neighbour ran for it!

We've got to save him.

What are you saying?

What neighbour?

Friedrich,

from the German School.

We must call the police!

It's Pat!

Got any cash? Let's see.

Give me the dog!

- Yours for 20 pesos.

Look, please!

I called, they'll investigate,

as promised.

Don't be sad, darling.

It'll work out.

I told you the cargo

needs to be checked.

The shipps already

been there for two days.

Hey, boy?

- Where are the dogs, where's Pat?

I've got the money.

- Sorry, boy.

Things happen fast here.

Take one of those.

- No!

What do I do now?

Come on Sulamit.

Let's go for a drive.

I'll let you drive.

Dare taking the main street,

my little Fangio?

Excellent. Now move over,

I'll go to the butcher's.

Hello, Herr Schiff.

- Hello, Herr Lowenstein.

Hello.

Let's go.

Why don't you

greet the neighbours?

How do you know them?

I know their son Friedrich.

They're from across the street!

We're going home.

Take the meat.

Let me show you where

I always hang out.

Where were you?

- Opposite.

With the Germans?

No, with Friedrich.

But these people are German.

Friedrich is Argentinian,

like me.

Yes, sure.

Good night, dad.

Copied everything

on the blackboard?

Got it all?

Shut your books.

Everyone go to

religious studies now.

Miss Lowenstein,

ethics is cancelled.

The teacher's ill, you may go

home.

Yes, I know.

I didn't ask for your comment.

In the ruins of a silent palace,

memory,

I look for you.

Behind the walls and cobwebs

of memory,

I find you,

and everything changes,

places and objects.

Come every afternoon, if you wish.

Sorry to disturb you. I need

to get to the winter clothes.

Mum, this is Sulamit.

Sulamit, my mother.

Pleasure.

You're the girl

from across the street?

Yes.

I've got to leave.

It's getting late.

Interesting girl.

May I?

You shouldn't smoke, dad.

I'm not smoking.

Friedrich asks me

to come to the Tigre Delta.

We'll go by boat,

him and his family.

Don't you always say I should be

out in the fresh air more?

My clever girl.

May I go?

Closer together.

A photo of you toasting.

I'm coming!

Put half of it here, right?

Take the plates

from the cupboard over there.

What are you doing!

What's it doing here?

Give that to me!

What's this?

What is it doing here?

What do you think?

It's a bread basket.

And this?

That? It's a decor.

A relic from other times.

Come on, boy.

Take the sausages to the table.

Since Philipp isn't here

no one would do it.

He's turning pious, after all.

Delicious.

- Lovely.

Come in, you don't celebrate

Chanukkah without kids.

Sorry, haven't got time.

Let her go.

She's always out,

now Philipp's ill.

She prefers

celebrating Christmas with...

the neighbours.

- Let her do Chrismukkah, then.

Christmas and Chanukkah.

- Together.

That's how you do it.

How is it?

The apple strudel's gone.

They ate lots, as usual.

I didn't even get a taste.

Wait.

I have something for you.

She never stops

telling these old stories.

This ring used to belong

to your great aunt Sulamit.

It's for you.

For me?

You got your name from her.

Why do we never talk about her?

Because it's difficult.

Perhaps she could've been saved.

If only she'd not been so stubborn.

I shouldn't talk so much.

I'm just a bit meshugge.

You're not, aunt!

You can talk to me

about anything, always.

Sorry.

At long last, Horst.

Now we can start.

Go back inside,

please stay inside the house.

...the people united shout

from their heart:

Viva Pern!

My school mates say

you should pray in church,

if someone's ill.

That's right,

but we go to synagogue.

Isn't it the same?

- It's not the right moment.

How dare they bombard people...

- And worse!

What's going on?

- Pern's being sent to...exile

There's a military coup!

And the surgeon, the doctors?

They're with your husband.

Don't leave the building!

Evita was right:

the people should've been armed.

The smell was so nice

when dad smoked.

He was the best father

you can imagine.

Shouldn't we sit down there?

Shut up.

Don't question everything.

It's your dad's Kaddish.

It's why we belong down front!

I don't understand a word, anyway.

Moving already?

Can I help?

We're almost done,

can't you see?

For you. It's Borges.

Shut the doors.

Let's go.

I'm still at work when you

get home from school.

Right, mum.

That's the right way round.

Aunt Else says

state school isn't that bad.

Of course it's not

the Collage Franais.

I shan't miss

the Monsieurs and Mademoiselles.

Don't worry.

Just Friedrich,

now he lives so far away.

Up in the sky

a warrior eagle

rises up into the air

in proud flight.

One wing blue,

like the colour of the sky...

Hold it!

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