Germany Year Zero (1948)
Edmund Moeschke: Edmund Köhler
Photos
Quotes
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Il maestro : Weren't you one of my students?
Edmund : Yes, Mr. Enning.
Il maestro : My memory's good. What's your name?
Edmund : Edmund Koeler.
Il maestro : Edmund Koeler. First desk on the left. You've grown up. How is your father?
Edmund : My father is sick, very sick.
Il maestro : Didn't you have a brother in the Wermacht?
Edmund : Yes, Karl-Heinz. He was in the military, but he's home now.
Il maestro : Then he must be out of work, like me.
Edmund : You're not teaching anymore?
Il maestro : I didn't share the ideas of the people in power about teaching children.
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Edmund : I have no work, and neither does Eva. My brother still won't report and get his card.
Il maestro : I understand, but what can I do?
Edmund : My father needs treatment. Can't you help me? What can I do?
Il maestro : There's nothing you can do. Times are hard for everyone, worse for weak and old people. You've done all you can.
Edmund : But what if he dies?
Il maestro : If he dies, he dies. We all die sooner or later. Would you rather die yourself or let an old man live?
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Karl-Heinz : Who gave you money to buy cigarettes?
Edmund : It was a gift.
Karl-Heinz : From who? Those bad boys you go stealing with?
Edmund : It wasn't boys. It was a girl.
Karl-Heinz : You should be ashamed of yourself.
Edmund : Why? Everybody does it.
Karl-Heinz : That's not a reason.
Edmund : Her name is Christl. She's all alone, and she sleeps in a basement. She's a nice girl. I like her. She gives cigarettes to all her friends. You should have a woman to take care of you.
Karl-Heinz : A woman? That's all I need. Like this bitch of a life wasn't enough.
Edmund : Don't talk like that! Have courage!
Karl-Heinz : I had courage. A soldier can lose everything but his courage. But now I'm not a soldier anymore. I'm less than useless, another mouth to feed.
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Eva : Did you get the Number 2 Card?
Edmund : No, they kicked me out because I'm not fifteen yet.
Il padre : I knew that would happen. Still, I'm glad you're not going anywhere. That's too much work for a boy your age.
Edmund : But it would have meant more to eat. For Karl-Heinz, too.
Il padre : Did you hear that, Karl-Heinz? You know that poor Edmund, at his age, can't support all of us. He's still a child. But you, what do you do? You keep hiding. You didn't even register for a food card.
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Frau Rademaker : His sister goes out every night, too. She's really shameless. You shouldn't let these people near our daughter.
Herr Rademaker : One of these days I'll kick them out.
Edmund : What have you got against my sister? Why are you always mad at us?
Herr Rademaker : You shut up! Get out! Take the scale and don't come back without the money. Is that clear?
Edmund : Yes, Herr Rademaker. I'll come back tomorrow morning.
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Edmund : Your friend is in the work service?
Il maestro : He clears the ruins.
Edmund : No mandatory labor for you?
Il maestro : Luckily, no.
Edmund : My brother thought he'd have to. He stayed away.
Il maestro : They all should stay away, those that share our ideas. Remember? Long ago, your father falsified a document to get you out of Hitler Youth. But you said right away that it was false. You knew your duty. I should have reported your father for that, but I didn't because I like you.
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Edmund : Where are we? I don't know this area.
Jo : Well, you look out for yourself.
Edmund : I live in Alex. How do I get back at this hour?
Jo : You don't have to go back home.
Edmund : Where am I supposed to sleep? I don't know anybody here.
Jo : It's up to you. Everything around here's empty.
Edmund : By myself?
Jo : [pointing to Christl] With her. Why not? She's your type.
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Il maestro : What do they teach you in school now? Democracy?
Edmund : I don't go to school anymore.
Il maestro : Why not? You don't like the new teachers?
Edmund : I have to work now.
Il maestro : Work? Why?
Edmund : There are four of us at home, and we only have three food cards.
Il maestro : Poor Edmund. Why doesn't your brother have a card?
Edmund : He never registered. He fought in the streets until the Allied troops arrived.
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Edmund : It wasn't my fault. I was with other boys.
Il padre : Enough! I don't want to hear any lies!
Eva : He didn't mean any harm, Papa. He wanted to get something to eat.
Il padre : I'll do without.
Karl-Heinz : Me, too. I'd rather die of hunger.
Eva : Easy for you to say.
Il padre : I can't stand it anymore, here in this bed.
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Herr Rademaker : Tell me the truth. What did you do with the money?
Edmund : What money?
Herr Rademaker : The money for the scale. Did you give it to your father?
Edmund : I swear that's not true.
Herr Rademaker : You're not going to cheat me, boy. I know you'll do anything for money. You got into my house ...
Edmund : The housing superintendent sent us here.
Herr Rademaker : Yes, and I have to put up with it. Your father is a pain, always complaining. Why doesn't he die and give us some peace?
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Il medico : His heart is very weak. His whole condition is bad.
Eva : What can we do?
Il medico : He needs nutritrious foods, vitamins.
Eva : How can we do that, Doctor?
Edmund : With the cards we have, we can't get more
Il medico : Yes, I know. It's the same all over. The best thing would be to get him into a hospital. But they are all more than full.
Karl-Heinz : Couldn't we at least try, Doctor?
Il medico : Cases worse than his have not been admitted.
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Edmund : Eva, they're cutting the power.
Eva : The power? Why?
Edmund : They discovered someone was stealing it.
Eva : Who?
Karl-Heinz : Someone.
Edmund : Rademaker says it was us.
Karl-Heinz : As usual.
Eva : So that's what he was screaming about.
Karl-Heinz : That black marketer. One day I'll smash his head.
Eva : You're such a big talker, but when it comes to helping us, you do nothing.
