[first lines]

[in Polish, using English subtitles]

Interrogator: [presents pen to sign confession]

Janusz: No.

Interrogator: Bring in the witness.

Janusz's Wife, 1939: [brought in]

Interrogator: Do you know this man? His name?

Janusz's Wife, 1939: Janusz Wieszczek.

Interrogator: Witness, what's your relationship with this man?

Janusz's Wife, 1939: [crying] I am his wife.

Interrogator: Accused, do you confirm this?

Janusz's Wife, 1939: Yes.

Interrogator: Witness, what do you have to say about the accused?

Janusz's Wife, 1939: [agonizing] From his conversation, I have come to know he is critical of the Party, especially the leader of the Soviet people, Comrade Stalin.

Janusz: What have they done to you?
Mr. Smith: Kindness. That will kill you here.
Mr. Smith: You should be grateful we are here at all.

Valka: Grateful is for dogs.
Janusz: We are not criminals. We are escaping from criminals.
Janusz: Why would an American move to Russia for God sakes?

Irena: The Depression.
Valka: Don't you know what "Stalin" means, funny man? Means man-of-steel. He takes from rich, and gives to poor.

Zoran: Yes, of course he does. Then he takes both of them, and puts them in Gulag for 25 years.
Valka: Prison is okay. Debt is bad. But there are many prisons, they don't find me.

Zoran: What about America?

Valka: Oh, it's not for me, freedom. I wouldn't know what to do with it, I swear to God.
Janusz: [eating snake] Tastes like chicken.

Zoran: Yeah. A big black poisonous chicken with no legs.
Mr. Smith: In the camps, some saw death as freedom.

Janusz: Then why didn't you just kill yourself?

Mr. Smith: Survival was a kind of protest. Being alive was my punishment.

Janusz: Punishment for what?

Mr. Smith: I brought David to Russia.

Janusz: And now no one can forgive you. And you can't forgive yourself...
Mr. Smith: Kindness. That can kill you here.
Valka: You say too many prayers for an innocent man.
[first title cards]

Title Card: In 1941, three men walked out of the Himalayas into India. / They had survived a 4000 mile walk to freedom. / This film is dedicated to them.
[last lines]

Man: Where have you come from?

Janusz: Siberia.

Man: Siberia?

Religious man: [speaks to crowd in unknown language]

Man: And how did you come, sir?

Janusz: We walked.

Man: Walked?

[crowd noise]
[last title cards]

Title Card: 8TH MAY, 1945 VISTORY IN EUROPE / 1945-1948 SOVIET UNION IMPOSES COMMUNISM ON POLAND / AN 'IRON CURTAIN' FALLS OVER EASTERN EUROPE / 1956 HUNGARIAN UPRISING / 1961 BERLIN WALL GOES UP / 1968 SOVIET UNION SENDS TROOPS INTO PROGUE / 1980 POLISH SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT CHALLENGES COMMUNISM / 1989 COMMUNISM COLLAPSES / POLAND FREE

The Way Back Quotes

Extended Reading

The Way Back short comments

Virginie 2022-04-21 09:02:17

This road has been traveled for nearly half a century.
Milo 2022-04-21 09:02:17

But they will die free men. Thank you for Russia's protection and will never come back. The difference between a mirage and the real is to see if there are birds. Various kinds of spiritual rule invented by human beings in pursuit of rights. The capital is Lhasa.