2009
In 1940, Polish cavalryman Janusz Wieszczek escapes a Siberian gulag with a diverse group of prisoners, including Mr. Smith, Valka, and later Irena, beginning a perilous journey south. They endure extreme cold, starvation, and the loss of companions while traversing Siberia, Mongolia, and the Gobi Desert, facing intense heat and thirst. Reaching the Himalayas, the group is advised to wait for spring, but Janusz, driven by his desire to return home, presses on alone. After decades of separation and an incredible journey of thousands of miles, Janusz eventually reunites with his wife in Poland.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Political prisoners endure Siberian labor camp horrors, led by veteran Khabarov, until Janusz’s escape plan unites a disparate group.
Open full beat sheetJanusz Wieszczek is listed as Protagonist / Political Prisoner. Young Polish cavalryman, determined, compassionate, and skilled navigator. In the parsed data, Janusz Wieszczek is connected to 124 scenes, 171 dialogue lines, 172 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
124 scenes / 171 dialogue linesMr. Smith is listed as Political Prisoner / Engineer. American engineer, cynical, pragmatic, and hardened by camp life. In the parsed data, Mr. Smith is connected to 88 scenes, 125 dialogue lines, 127 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
88 scenes / 125 dialogue linesZoran is listed as Political Prisoner / Accountant. Yugoslavian, humorous, optimistic, often provides comic relief. In the parsed data, Zoran is connected to 74 scenes, 75 dialogue lines, 81 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
74 scenes / 75 dialogue linesVoss is listed as Political Prisoner. Tall, young Latvian with white-blonde hair, physically strong. In the parsed data, Voss is connected to 71 scenes, 33 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
71 scenes / 33 dialogue linesValka is listed as Criminal Prisoner (Urki). Heavily tattooed, dangerous, skilled with a knife, unpredictable. In the parsed data, Valka is connected to 53 scenes, 83 dialogue lines, 95 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
53 scenes / 83 dialogue linesTomasz is listed as Political Prisoner / Pastry Chef. Polish, artistic, sketches scenes of camp life. In the parsed data, Tomasz is connected to 48 scenes, 33 dialogue lines, 35 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
48 scenes / 33 dialogue linesIrena is listed as Escaped Farm Worker. Young Polish woman, street-smart, survivor, joins the group later. In the parsed data, Irena is connected to 29 scenes, 30 dialogue lines, 33 text mentions, first appearing around scene 75.
29 scenes / 30 dialogue linesKazik is listed as Political Prisoner. Youngest of the group, Polish, suffers from night blindness. In the parsed data, Kazik is connected to 22 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 29.
22 scenes / 9 dialogue linesKhabarov is listed as Political Prisoner / Actor. Refined, aristocratic demeanor, claims to be an actor, manipulative. In the parsed data, Khabarov is connected to 15 scenes, 54 dialogue lines, 57 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
15 scenes / 54 dialogue linesLazar is listed as Political Prisoner / Foreman. Former architect, grave robber, associate of Khabarov. In the parsed data, Lazar is connected to 7 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
7 scenes / 5 dialogue linesBohdan is listed as Criminal Prisoner (Urki) Boss. Leader of the criminal gang in the camp. In the parsed data, Bohdan is connected to 6 scenes, 13 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
6 scenes / 13 dialogue linesA panoramic view of the landscape from Sikkim to the Siberian labor camp.
Establishing shot of the labor camp at night.
Political prisoners and criminals coexist in the barracks; Valka loses his belongings in a card game.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Khabarov, Valka, Bohdan, VossKhabarov and Lazar scavenge clothes from a fresh grave.
Khabarov, LazarThe morning wake-up call.
Khabarov trades stolen goods for food.
Khabarov, LazarNew prisoners arrive at the camp.
New prisoners Janusz, Tomasz, and others enter the camp.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Khabarov, Valka, Bohdan, ZoranThe Commandant addresses the new prisoners.
Janusz Wieszczek, LazarNew prisoners are processed.
Janusz Wieszczek, Voss, Kazik, LazarJanusz meets Smith and Khabarov while waiting for food.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, KhabarovKhabarov explains the camp hierarchy to Janusz.
Janusz Wieszczek, Khabarov, Valka, BohdanMorning roll call and removal of bodies.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. SmithPrisoners work in the forest.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Khabarov, Zoran, Voss, KazikPrisoners haul rocks at the mine.
Valka, BohdanJanusz observes the mine entrance.
Janusz WieszczekKhabarov helps Janusz's group meet their quota.
Janusz Wieszczek, Khabarov, BohdanThe march back to camp.
Janusz Wieszczek, ZoranPrisoners rest and Valka asks Tomasz for a sketch.
Valka, Bohdan, Zoran, Voss, Tomasz, KazikJanusz discovers lice on his shirt.
Janusz Wieszczek, KhabarovKhabarov hints at an escape plan to Janusz.
Janusz Wieszczek, KhabarovKhabarov introduces Janusz to Lazar and explains their plan to sneak out through the wire at night.
Janusz Wieszczek, Khabarov, LazarJanusz and Khabarov retrieve their clothes, deal with lice, and join the breakfast line while bodies are removed.
Janusz Wieszczek, KhabarovPrisoners are counted and marched out to work in extreme cold.
Janusz Wieszczek, KhabarovA blizzard forces the column to halt; Smith negotiates shelter in the forest.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, ZoranPrisoners build shelters; Smith joins Janusz's group.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Zoran, Voss, Kazik, ValkaGuards order the group to the mine.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Zoran, Voss, KazikPrisoners work in the mine; Janusz struggles with claustrophobia.
Janusz WieszczekKazik and the Prof discuss the history of the horse collars used for hauling.
KazikSmith observes Janusz struggling and follows him.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. SmithJanusz has a vision of home; Smith intervenes to save him.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. SmithJanusz and his friends return to the barracks.
Janusz Wieszczek, Voss, KazikJanusz confronts Khabarov about escaping tonight.
Janusz Wieszczek, KhabarovJanusz and Khabarov argue outside; Valka watches them.
Janusz Wieszczek, Khabarov, ValkaThe group makes final preparations for the escape.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Voss, Kazik, LazarThe conspirators lie awake; Valka threatens Janusz.
Janusz Wieszczek, ValkaThe escape begins; guards discover the gap in the wire.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe fugitives run through the forest.
Janusz Wieszczek, Valka, Voss, KazikThe group hides from pursuing guards.
Janusz Wieszczek, ValkaThe group hides while guards pass by.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group struggles to build a fire.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Zoran, Tomasz, KazikThe group finds an old gulag ruin and assesses their food.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group shares their meager food supplies and Valka reveals a stash of food stolen from Khabarov.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszSmith and Janusz discuss the bargain with Valka while moving through the forest.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, ValkaSmith and Valka have a tense exchange about navigation and gratitude.
Mr. Smith, Valka, Janusz WieszczekThe group rests and cares for their feet.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group travels using makeshift ski-poles and hears wolves.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszJanusz uses the sun and shadows to determine their direction as South.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszValka and Janusz discuss Valka's role as a protector.
Janusz Wieszczek, ValkaThe group discusses their route and survival strategies.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszKazik wanders off and gets lost.
KazikThe group searches for Kazik.
Janusz Wieszczek, VossKazik hallucinates and believes he has reached the Pyramids.
KazikThe group finds Kazik dead.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group buries Kazik.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszSmith catches fish while the others watch.
Mr. Smith, Zoran, TomaszThe group travels through the wilderness.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group struggles to find food, eating bugs and roots.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group camps in a cave where Tomasz sketches.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszSmith explores the cave.
Mr. SmithThe group prepares a meager meal.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszValka and Janusz discuss the group's survival and the possibility of cannibalism.
Janusz Wieszczek, ValkaZoran hears wolves and alerts the group.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszJanusz decides to leave the group to find the lake alone.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, ValkaJanusz gives Smith instructions regarding Valka.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. SmithJanusz travels alone.
Janusz WieszczekJanusz eats pine seeds.
Janusz WieszczekJanusz hallucinates his home.
Janusz WieszczekJanusz returns to the camp, exhausted.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, VossThe group cares for Janusz.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. SmithThe group climbs a hill.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group sees Lake Baikal.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group realizes they are being followed.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, VossThe group encounters a young Polish girl.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszJanusz tells the girl she cannot join them.
Janusz Wieszczek, IrenaThe group continues walking.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group finds a reindeer stuck in the mud.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group butchers the reindeer.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group eats the reindeer meat.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszThe group wakes up.
Janusz Wieszczek, Mr. Smith, Valka, Zoran, Voss, TomaszOnce upon a time, in the days of wooden ships, there was a great storm in far away seas. A merchant ship hurried toward big rocks, lightening in the sky, the waves as high as house-tops. Very, very cold, brrr! The ship smashed onto the rocks, the sailors cried in fear, called out to God, but they all drowned. All but one, Mr. Robinson Crusoe. He woke to find himself all alone on a desert island. For many years he lived without any human companions, until one day he saw something shocking! What was it? A human footprint. He was no longer alone. But was the stranger friend or foe? Another ship wrecked sailor? Or, a cannibal?
The same as happened in Russia. Churches closed, priests shot or taken to camps, religion banned. They came to my church, in Latvia. Destroyed everything, declared it a 'museum'. Later that night, there was a lone guard. A boy. I strangled him until his eyes popped right out of his head. Valka knew somehow. Knew I'd killed in cold blood.
They are considered the by-product of bourgeoisie society and therefore 'Friends of the People'. We political prisoners are 'Enemies of the People'. Russia has become one vast prison - slave labor. You see even this camp is expanding to take in another thousand prisoners.
Enemies of the People! Look about you...and understand... it is not our guns, or our dogs, or our wire, that forms your prison. Siberia is your prison. All four million square miles of it. Here in Camp 105, you will work hard. Work and you eat. Eat and you live.
Mister only gets little fish now. We must have meat, or we die. You're the Pakhan, you've thought of it. We all have. That's why you brought extra people isn't it? For food? An old Urka escape trick. I swear to God you were an Urka in another life.
Temperature is dropping. Below 60 they're not supposed to send us out. Know how to tell the temperature? You see frosty fog - it's 40 below. If you exhale easily but in a rasping fashion? 50 below. When your spit freezes? More than 60 below.
It's 1000 kilometers to the border, maybe more. We need careful planning, stock-pile food. I've already begun - trading, dealing. You could do the same. In the Autumn the weather is predictable. We need the early snows to cover our tracks.
We lived in the Hotel Luxe with lots of foreign communists. But they arrested them. In 1937. Said they were spies. The police put me in the orphanage. And my brother. He died. I was ten years old.
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