Gentlemen, choose.

Greetings from Budapest!

Ksonom sepen. (Thank you.)

Grusse aus Salzburg...

Saluti da Venezia.

Ksonom sepen.

-Paris. Perhaps Moscow?

Ksonom sepen.

-Baden-Baden.

I dont want to copy picture postcards.

Be quiet. Teacher Kiralj speaks

Serbian well

Well, let him hear me, I dont care

-Be quiet!

What do we see here?

-The Parliament.

Our Parliament Mr Konjovi.

Your Sir father is at our

Parliament, isnt he? Well,

1
you could perhaps closely feel

such a grandiose space

-Yes, I could.

Why dont you draw it then?

-I find painting difficult.

Excellent. Thats good. The agony

will lead to achievement.

Master, may I paint in the nature?

In the nature? Whatre you

going to draw?

Square of St. George in the eve.

Bajska in fog, in the eve.

A cabman at noon. A forest!

-A forest?

Our ikara and Bezdan forest.

In autumn. -Why forest?

I dont know, I feel like that.

Young man, whats your name then?

Milan Jelai is my name, Sir.

2
Milan-Milan, Emil-Emil.

Whats that you drew?

-A horse, Sir.

A horse? Somehow, it is more

of a Bumblebee.

Teacher, we, indeed, call

him Bumblebee.

I am not a bumblebee, Ive got

my fair name. And, I have painted,

indeed, a nice horse....

-Master, I am done!

How have you done it Emil?

-I dont know.

May I? These branches under

snow. And this vivacious thicket...

Emil, we shall take your work for

the students exhibition.

Master? Ksonom sepen.

-Youre welcome.

3
Hes torn your work,

hes torn your work!

Bumblebee!

-Im not a bumblebee!

Yes, you are. A bumblebee!

And, where were you Konjovi

in the Great War?

At the Russian front, in Bucovina!

At the Italian front, in the Piave!

You are painting the commanders,

your commanders!

An artist, not a warrior!

You are giving the run-around!

You are giving the run-around!

And what are you, Serb,

doing in the Austrian uniform?

Eavesdropping and fancying

about painting!

You are simulating and shamming!

4
You, the son of noble origin!

The son of David Konjovi!

What about telling you when

youre going to die?

I will not die.

The world is not finished, and

it is not attainable, and it belongs

to no one. I am the world!...

The world is not finished,

and it is not attainable, and it

belongs to no one. I am the world!...

You will remember me one day.

If you need me before that,

look for me at the theatre!

Ill be on the stage!

Milan, come on, please.

The world is not finished, and

it is not attainable, and it belongs

5
to no one. I am the world!...

Come on you.

-This is what I deserve after writing

to my family not to send me any money

-Ive started to earn money, dont worry.

How could I know that the guy

wouldnt take his brothers

portrait he commissioned.

-Your - Dalmatian. I wish Mrs Elza

did not evict us Shes a painter,

too, I guess shell understand

the position were in. What about

painting her portrait?

No! I wont do any portraits

any more, ever!

You must do what Mrs Elza

expects you to do this month.

Our professors are not good at all.

Add a little bit here, a little bit there.

6
Longer here, a little bit shorter

over there Its all his support.

And, why here? And, why there,

I ask him. And he says, to sell it!

You have, indeed, learnt a nice

selling lesson well die of hunger.

I cant forget the face of that young,

enchanting woman Whats her name?

Ema.

-Ema?

Matovska.

-What a surname, as if it was imaginary!

I came to Paris to work, not to

watch women.

EMA, YOU HAVE THE MOST

CHARMING SMILE IVE EVER SEEN

umanovi used to say that

Lhote was the best master,

that he explained the secrets of

7
painting the best, and that

he guides to the old masters.

EMA, YOU HAVE THE MOST

CHARMING SMILE IVE EVER SEEN

And, how long have you stayed

with him? Not even two weeks.

EMA, YOU HAVE THE MOST

CHARMING SMILE IVE EVER SEEN

Ts, ts, ts. Debacle. Disaster. Dilettantism.

Even worse amateurism.

Copycats. Blind men. Hollow.

Shallow. Futile. Artless.

Fine arts illiteracy. Pretentious.

Senseless. Waste of money.

Futile effort. Childrens game.

A nice try. Nice, nice, but booooring.

Here, this exhibition of ours?

Foreign painting in Paris.

Weve failed. Were ruined by

8
the name of the exhibition.

The name The name

-Thank you.

Ema, youve got the most

charming smile Ive ever seen.

Something crunches, Milan...

Ema, you are goodness.

The brightness of the sun.

Milan, something rustles

-I enjoy the undulation of your body.

Something something crackles.

-Bugs. Theyre eating the paste!

Theyre attracted by moisture.

Im going to the sell that homestead

near onoplja. Were going to build

a house for us here in Paris...

I need a studio, I dont need

any land, do I? And, when a French

comes to my house, hell say, gosh,

9
look at this, it is a man of good standing.

Milan... Milan...

-And, when a French sees the paintings,

hell say, gosh, this is good painting

-Milan, put me down.

Is he a French or our painter?

They say that hes the most authentic

painter of people.

So, hes a Serb.

Rastko Petrovi used to write that

his paintings were equally French

as those of the Frenchiest painters!

So, hes a French!

Youre exaggerating, my fellow!

His culture is French, but he is not

subject to it! He only uses it!

Meaning that hes a Bunjevac?

Young, strong, and vigorous,

he does not use conventional means.

10
Really.

We, the Sombor fellows are proud

of our young fellow countryman.

Well

And to rent two studios, one could

not afford living here. I borrowed

12 thousand from my brother.

This is crisis. My fathers sending

1300 francs, but its not much in Paris.

Though one can even live with

thirty francs, but how?

-The important thing is that

one knows what he wants.

-I agree, we go to theatre and opera,

a glass of port is drank though rarely.

-Milan, lets go to your Sombor.

No! To that boondocks, the Balkan cobble,

the Pannonian mud?

The town without any road signs?

-Ill be there where you go

11
No, no. Its hard living in boondocks

and create a great work.

Only strong personalities can do so.

Youre a child of a young,

culturally unfulfilled country.

-Its not easy. Its not easy. Ive got

to say the third time: its not easy.

-Oh, indeed, its not easy being

the wife of Milan Konjovi...

-Get packed, were going to Sombor!

Train to Paris Budapest

Balkan middle of nowhere,

has arrived to the third track.

The passengers are required

to prepare their baggage for

boarding and take their seats.

DING DANG. Train to Paris Budapest

the Edge of the Civilisation gets off

in 5 minutes. The passengers are required

12
to check their baggage and patiently

wait for the train to depart. DING DANG.

Passengers are to, for the last time,

get aboard the train Paris Budapest

the Rest of Europe.

Hes returned to Sombor!

He says, I wouldnt be
complete unless I returned!

Yes!

Come on! Hes returned, because

he cant be the first in Paris!

No way. He squandered 180 acres

in brothels, and then went back.

Contrary to his brother,

whos kept his land

I was born in Sombor and everything

that I have is there. I returned from

Paris with my head full of ideas

and Europe. Just few people stay

13
there and few succeed. I took

something of Paris. I pulled

something in myself in Paris.

Hes also brought his Czech wife.

Shes very fine.

You know that he dated that

I know, the niece of that writer,

Veljko Petrovi.

At the age of six he peeped beneath skirts!

Well, OK!

I have to be rude, which,

indeed, is not my nature.

We are to live in Sombor for

a long time. Ema, Ema, Ema...

Good morning. A letter.

My great Milan...

Do they ask us to go to the war again?

-Sign here, and here, and here,

14
and here, and here, and here,

And the date!

Thank you very much, goodbye.

-Maksa, wherere you going now

Yes.

-Youre welcome.

Ema, Ema!

-Whats happened?

Sit down. Look whats happened.

Can you remember back then

when Cvetkovi was revealing

the monument of Aleksandar

Karadjordjevi in the main street?

Afterwards, he came to

my exhibition in the City Hall,

passed and just showed painting

Grains and the Road.

And he took it. Well, OK, I think

The next day, I just sent him

the bill in the amount of twelve

15
thousand dinars. And now,

Im informed by his cabinet that

the painting is expensive.

Just imagine that rudeness!

I, as I always do, determined

the price on my own and sent

them the bill in the morning.

-Milan, it will not be the case.

Mr President writes that he

would decide how much

would be paid.

-Well, I will not allow it.

I shall just file the case to the court.

-Youre going to sue the Government

President, Mr Cvetkovi?

-Yes, I will, youll see. I dont sue

him for money, but to stop

treating painters, artists in

this country like this. Ill sue him in

16
the name of all artists.

I dont care about the money.

Im suing him, because of such

behaviour coming from the top

position. Is it dignified to humiliate,

both spiritually and materially,

a worker of a nation?

I suggest you not to do so.

Im recommending myself.

Im going to Belgrade!

-And I, as I always do, determined

the price, and sent you the bill

in the morning.

Mr Konjovi, it, indeed, cannot

be done so. Mr President said that

he would decide how much

would be paid.

I beg your pardon, I shall not

allow that. I shall just file

17
the case to the court.

You are going to sue the

Government President, Mr Cvetkovi?

Yes, I will.

-Can you please repeat that?

I shall sue the Government President.

-I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon?

I shall sue the Government President.

You are going to sue

the Government President?

Yes, I will. I dont sue him for

money, but to stop treating painters,

artists in this country in this way.

Ill sue him in the name of all artists.

I dont care about the money,

these twelve thousand.

Im suing him, because of such

behaviour coming from

the top position. Is it dignified to

18
humiliate, both spiritually and

materially, a worker of a nation?

-I suggest not to do so.

Well, alright.

POPCORN, POPCORN

FOR BUNJEVCI AND OKICA WOMEN

AND OTHER WOMEN HERE WITH ME

You see, Ema, it used to be the pub

At the Chimneysweepers.

A lovely drinkery!

Whats up, Milan, the fear of

loneliness? You cant go to

the town on your own, you must

be escorted by your wife!?

I, at least, dont snivel pitying

myself in front of the church

Youre afraid of the winding streets,

but, on the other hand, you say

19
that youre caressed by the streets

of Sombor! Go, Milan.

On the one hand,

you are a man of the world.

Ive heard that youve never

climbed the Eiffel Tower!

My school friend, Bumblebee.

Ema.

A school friend?

-Bumblebee, come here!

Dont call me that way, you

know that Ive got my fair name.

You do have a name, but,

youve got no shoes.

Go to Bata to buy yourself

the shoes. The most expensive ones.

I will.

-My school friend will not walk

barefoot, making me feel ashamed!

-Alright.

20
Mr andor, Mr andor!

Whats the matter with you,

the son of David? Whyre you

shouting so much? Im not deaf!

Would you accept that I finally

paint you, Mr andor...

Ah, I want to live! Let me be

non-painted

Please

Ive got no money. Im a poor

man, Milan, youre expensive...

Well, Ill pay you. Here,

one hundred dinars.

Oh, no way

-Why not

They say that the one you paint,

he dies then! I want to live!

iro, buy a tractor, iro!

21
The miracle of technique, iro!

Aha!

-iro, such a huge land is

cultivated much faster with tractor,

Mr iro technology, the new century!

I want to live. My horses are

worth more!

You dont give it to drink,

you dont feed it, you dont groom it

it has no glanders, its not lame

it has no scabies, its not weak iro

Thats all fine, gentlemen!

Theres just one thing!

That tractor of yours

it does not shit!

Milan, look, Ive bought them!

-Ah, the shoes?

You jerk, staring at my shoes!

Is it nice?! What do you think

22
who you are? You scum of

a peasant! You piece of shit.

An artist, drop dead. I wouldve

also been an artist if I had been

bought brushes from Pest.

Im at least a merchant,

and whore you?

Poor lady, whove you got.

A mail for you

-Oh! A great mail great Milan!

I dont know anything Mr,

sign here, and here, And here,

And here, And here, And here

Thats good, and the date.

Returns the painting?!

Ah, great Milan, youre just going

to send the painting back

to Belgrade.

Ive got nothing to do with it.

Ah, an idler of an artist.

23
Now getting the painting from

Belgrade, not to Belgrade.

No way, I say. Damn, I guess

I am also the one asked about it.

Why not?

-It cant be sent back to Belgrade,

the regulation indicates it

should be three centimetres,

I cant return it. Its kind of robust.

-How come?

Lets see, lets see Height

forty two centimetres, good.

Now width, thirty eight

centimetres, good. Thickness

three point six centimetres,

thats no good, no good.

This mail cant fit in.

-How cant it fit, its a usual format.

It cant, I say, the regulation

24
prescribes that thickness is to

be three centimetres. I cant

return it, its kind of robust.

It could have been done so far

*I dont know, I just know that

it cant be sent according to

the regulation. Send it by train!

But its just arrived by mail from

Belgrade, what does it depend on?

From my mood, maestro.

When I went to the war,

I remember saying to myself,

you must stay alive, cause youve

got your job of an artist which

must be finished. And, when I was

in captivity, after a couple of months,

a Penholc came. He says,

are you, perhaps, a relative of Mita,

Mita Konjovi, the owner of

25
Ikarus in Zemun. And I say, yes,

his cousin. And imagine, Penholc says,

youve had an incredible luck,

Milan, theyve chosen me to be

a part of an important commission,

pack your things, youre going

home tomorrow So it was.

My whole warfare lasted for

eight days. Some people called

me to go to the forest with them.

What am I to do in the forest?

I may only go there to paint.

Name?

-Dragan Petrovi.

Kukolj.

-Please dont. How will my

children and wife do without me?

Let me go, Ill change my name.

Ill be somebody else,

26
just let me go. Please. Please.

Kukolj.

Name?

Merima Jaari.

-Kukolj.

Wherere you taking me? When

will I get back? Tell me,

when will I get back?

Name?

-Ildiko Petofi.

Grain.

-Jezu Maria. Kiss.

Name?

-Milan Konjovi.

Emil Konjovi.

-Germans are rouges!

Germans are scamps!

-Whos said that?

27
Germans are assholes!

-Whos said that?!

He plays with the knife.

Whos said that?

Germans are scamps, Germans a

re rouges, Germans are assholes!

Hes just a kind-hearted

Sombor weirdo

Milan, youve been great.

Youll just have to leave the studio.

Hey, do you want me to

organise your exhibition in Pest?

Theres some justice in it!

Im telling you.

We used to be friends.

Life is just an ousting and instilling.

Thats what people are.

People?! This is what artists are.

Yes? And I was Emil in the

28
army, but rarely anyone called

me that way. Is there anyone

wholl treat the stuff like that,

its a nonsense, I was at

the exhibition, not at christening!

No, I cant say that Im a Hungarian,

because Im a Serb though I speak

Hungarian just like Serbian.

One must have a name,

must have a mother tongue.

But he needs not necessarily be

a nationalist. How many times

will I explain the basics!

I did not make the exhibition

to the Horthyans! Of course,

I think that the Hungarian people

are to be made clear that

the Serbs are not smelly

and wild Rascians!

29
Hello?

-My friend, are you crazy?

The war is on and you say

that the mystery of Baka lives

in the Serbian souls in the middle

of Pest more than in the

Hungarian ones. That I, a Serbian

painter, have given expression

of Baka the best. And, now,

I cant stop explaining. Here,

Ill tell you now: if youre

called by a reporter,

tell him once and for all:

I cant say that Im a Hungarian,

cause Im a Serb.

-Am I to sign for newspapers now?

Nowadays, whatever and wherever

and however is signed in this world.

And, just the date here

-Thank you very much.

30
And dont call me Great

Milan any more. Im not Milan.

Ema, listen to this! Ema! Ema!

Ema! The greatest Serbian

painter says that he is a Hungarian.

What does it mean to be

a Magyar? We were and have

remained the Serbs despite

of living here for more than

three hundred years. We came

under the flag of arnojevi.

We were the intellectuals,

we played some important roles,

survived, we did not cease

being the Serbs, and we did

not become the chauvinists.

In Cetinje, they used to learn

from the primer of my grandpa,

you know!

31
-No way! You were like

a prisoner in Osnabrck.

You declared as the catholic and

was free to go home.

He concealed his nationality,

he signed in Hungarian Konyovits.

A Magyar exhibiting in Pest.

Let me ask him where he was

in the year of forty second?

In Pest, visiting brothels

Intentionally, with defiance

you know

And you, too, native people of

Sombor, you make me s...

But, alright

They say, whoever you paint,

he dies soon.

Finally. A fool is to paint another fool.

-Thats right.

32
Just a little bit and were finished. I wonder,

should I put an orange emphasis?

Dont you move. I like it.

Im fine. Sign here!

I will.

Howre you signing your name,

the son of David?

In Cyrillic alphabet. Today.

-You see, Ive written my will

in Latin: So that no one is offended!

-Neither the Serbs, nor

the Hungarians, nor

the Germans, nor the Jews.

POPCORN, POPCORN

FOR BUNJEVCI AND OKICA WOMEN

AND OTHER WOMEN HERE WITH ME

Milan, Milan! Come here!

-Whats up Bumblebee?

33
Ive got my fair name, Emil!

Whats this, Milan, Whats this,

Im asking you, the son of David?

-The war, what else

I dont care about the war.

Why do you play the fool?

You made me feel ashamed, Emil.

-You also think that Im a Magyar?

I dont care about the politics!

Everyones laughing at you!

Milan, youve ruined me!

Look at me! Youve painted me not,

but you did not ask me to do it.

Ill sue you, Milan!

Well, whats wrong about it?

-What, whats wrong?

Look, rough, red, bloated,

toothless Youve ruined me.

Well, I havent been the

one ruining you.

34
Youre mocking me, Milan,

Milan, Ill see you at court

What about giving me some

quid for a coat.

The winters coming, mate.

-Its July.

So what? As if December wont

be soon. Thoughtful people prepare

for the winter in time, not

like you artists, tramps.

Drop dead in that Sombor.

Im a merchant.

Good, youve painted me fine,

the son of David.

ira Falcione!

He left a board on a house,

with the note that he left

everything in Sombor,

his houses in Pest and in Balaton,

35
his large castle and the land,

everything he had, to his town.

He wrote the will in the Latin

language so that no one is offended.

No one.

And, in the year of forty two,

the Russians came and took

his wife and him, when

they found out how rich hed been.

And never again.

And he left everything to his people.

Fuck, thats life.

The world is not finished,

and it is not attainable,

and it belongs to no one.

I am the world!...

Slow slow, quick quick, slow...

Mr Milans not here?

-Give me the letter, Ill give it to him.

36
Ah, that? No way. This is

personally registered, sorry mam.

Personally? Well, Im also

personally Milans wife.

Dont worry. Hes here.

Maybe, but I see him, I cant hear.

Milan! Milan! Milan!

-Well. Any sound of him? Yes.

Yet, again, Im afraid that

theres gone be a mess,

and Makso is to be blamed again.

-Milan, Milan!

Milan.

-Whats this?

A letter. Kind of letter.

-In colour, and smells.

And its also written in

Hungarian! What does it say?

37
Its the letter from Ingrid.

-Ingrid? I dont know any Ingrid...

I was telling you about her.

Do you remember?

I dont remember.

-I named her like this Ingrid.

However, shes got a different

name, common one, Ildiko

Our love is, one may say,

epistolary. It is written that shes

my heavenly, not earthly love.

We saw each other several times.

First, when she came here with

her husband. Then, I paid

a visit to them there, once.

And, once again. We saw

each other for the fourth time

when she came to my

Pest exhibition. Its all so.

sexual, complete

38
Youre my magnificent love.

But youve got to know,

even when Ive got somebody,

I love you even more!

Ingrid is something else....

And you youre my icon.

Everything else is just

a body issue.

Ill put the signature and the date...

-I understand... Everything...

And she further writes

that she would come to Subotica.

Go see her.

-I dare not going even to Doroslov.

Because of the occupation, Im afraid.

-Ill see you to that place, dont worry.

Ahahaaaaaa

Antisocialist!

Reactionist!

39
He doesnt recognise the new time!

He doesnt recognise a new man!

He wont change.

His painting will not endure in time!

He jerks off, a great gentleman!

He doesnt paint working people!

He doesnt feel whats happened!

Konjovi falsely presents

our working man.

Because of that, comrades

Rightfully raise the question.

Who does Konjovi exhibit for nowadays?

Does he do it for the people?

Veljko Petrovi rejects to open

my exhibition. Oto Bihalji Merin-sick.

Pjer Kriani, a brave caricaturist

before the war, is now afraid.

Hes got a headache.

A kind of selective disease catching.

40
Since no one wants, dares not, i.e.

cannot open this exhibition,

I, myself, am opening it:

Here, watch the paintings.

Maestro, congratulations.

This is An extraordinary exhibition

I wouldnt be able to paint

differently. And you could cut off

my head with your review

-Please, maestro...

Why are you saying that?

Who asks you to change?

I, indeed, wrote Konjovi

could paint differently

He just wont.

-He just wont.

It was back then. A man changes

his convictions and attitudes.

So, this is how you deal

with convictions? Well,

41
I think differently: when a man

is clear to himself and when

he has a clear conscience,

when he lives for something,

then, no one can do him harm.

No one could ever do me harm,

though there were some attempts.

A real artist may not be

a man with two faces!

Only a strong personality may

oppose the authority. And only

a true artist is capable of

not making compromises.

ivojin in the painting frame.

Shall we go to lunch, to Maestik?

Do you know what they say about

your workers on the Bogojevo bridge?

What?

-That there is no enthusiasm

42
on their faces!

-What else do they say?

That the Building of the Bridge

in Bogojevo looks as if

youve copied it from Rouault.

-And what else?

That you paint completely

different landscapes in the same way.

No way? And what else?

-That youre a great gentleman

who hasnt got used to labour

and agony.

Great.

-What about telling you when

youre going to die?

-I beg your pardon?

Should I tell you when

youre going to die?

What do you want?

43
All your life youre following me.

My every step. You act,

eavesdrop. Watch me.

Admit that its so!

Admit. Admit.

What kind of behaviour is this?

Come on, is it nice to do?

No. (Leaves the woman critic) Sorry.

-If you make up your mind, look

for me at the theatre.

Ill be on stage, of course.

Come on!

The world is not finished,

and it is not attainable,

and it belongs to no one.

I am the world!...

How big they are, like a fist

-I wasnt aware that the painters

working for the National

44
Security eat cabbage rolls.

They devour everything

-He even puts a mass of

sour cream, look at him.

-Take out another one now!

He doesnt enjoy, but only devours

those cabbage rolls.

He sets his mind on fucking them up.

-Where does he rush?

This is his fourth.

-Hey, let me paint you.

Im not meant for painting,

look at me.

But, when I paint a drunkard

-I aint a drunkard. Anyway,

drinking doesnt harm.

If I drink, I drink my own.

Look how wrinkled you are,

lumps, scars, wounds of life.

45
Really, go then and find

somebody else, Ive got no wounds.

Listen, Ill paint you so that

no onell recognise you.

Get off Ill be fired if it is

found out that I am painted

during working hours!

-When they ask you at work,

you tell them that I, actually,

define two dynamic natures.

The object I paint and my own.

Its just my joy that I can master

that object I suffer with

that man, I identify with him.

His sorrows, troubles,

and joys are mine, because I,

above all, love him. I never laugh

at him, perhaps, I mock him

a little bit. I also mock myself.

But, I love him.

46
Ill be damn if I understand any of it.

Hey, what about me?

-Run!

Blue rebellion.

Red beautiful passion.

Sun and dark.

Grain.

Sensuality.

-Sensuality!

What about Vojvodina?

-Still life. Blessing.

Ema, Ema, Ema... Look:

still life on the biedermeier stable:

a kelim on the table, a plate on

the kelim, some bacon on the plate,

and several pieces of onion

and an apple around it.

Its nice. Concentrated.

Natura morte 53.

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I emphasise the year.

I dont know why. I just felt like that.

Youve become the official painter

of land, homeland, corn, grain,

fens, Baka villages, and

drunken streets. From the painter

of rebellion, now youre a semi-deity

decorated with ears of grain.

A myth. A great man of a small

town. And youll be able to do

nothing else but emphasising

that legend, impersonating

great passion of your time,

continuingly speaking

About grains, plain, and

drunkards of Baka....

Milan, my apple.

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Ema, Ema, Ema...

-Beautiful is the one loving you deeply.

And you her Let go, let go, let go

Hey, Milan, how longll we do

what we do?

I dont know.

-And why do you always wear

black suit, black hat, black shoes?

-So that no one bothers about my funeral.

Milan, can you believe that not

any woman has been forgiven by me!

Ive heard about it.

-You know that the other day

my neighbour found me

fucking his wife?

Is it true when they say that

you also in the coffins?

Thank you.

-For what?

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For my leaving this world

completely happy and satisfied.

50