Enemy at the Gates
2001
Nikita Khrushchev: Vodka is a luxury we have. Caviar is a luxury we have. Time is not.
General Paulus: How are you going to go about finding this young Russian? Major K^nig: I'll fix it so that he is the one who finds me.
Danilov: Where have you been? We've been looking all over for you. Vassili: Oh, did you hear? I was dead. At least, Noble Sniper Zeitsev, Vassili was dead.
Nikita Khrushchev: You won't give up the bridge. I don't care if you lost half your men. Lose the other half. Lose yourself.
Major K^nig: He isn't dead, and do you know why? Because I haven't killed him yet.
Danilov: Here the men's only choices between German bullets and ours, but there's another way; a way of courage, a way of love of the Motherland. We must publish the army newspaper again, we must tell magnificent stories, stories that exalt sacrifice and bravery. We must make them believe in a victory. We must give them hope, pride, a desire to fight. Yes. We need to make examples but examples to follow. What we need are heroes.
Vasilli: He shot him on the run. It was an impossible shot. Danilov: Vassili... Vasilli: You've promised people a victory I can't deliver. I don't stand a chance against this man.
Vassili: On the train... coming here... we were in the same car. Tania: No... Vassili: I saw you. You were reading and you fell asleep. Oh, I didn't dare look at you, you were so beautiful. It was scary. Afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about you. It made me smile. And then I thought of all the men who would get to hold you, who would make you laugh... how lucky they were. And now I'm the one lying next to you.
Nikita Khrushchev: Write it then - "Vasilli Zaitsev is *not* dead. This is what he had for breakfast this morning, here's a picture of him reading today's newspaper." You're the poet.
Major K^nig: Once again, he knew exactly where to find me. Don't you think that's strange? Apart from me, only you knew.
Vasilli: In the forest, the wolf lives for three years and the donkey for nine. Tania: That must be a proverb from the Urals, it makes no sense to me. Vasilli: The donkey lives longer because he's more useful. Tania: There aren't any donkeys in the forest, you made it up.
Vassili: Sad to have a dream you know won't happen.
Koulikov: Nobody gives a shit about the telephone guys.
Vassili: All these men here know they're going to die. So, each night when they make it back, it's a bonus. So, every cup of tea, every cigarette is like a little celebration. You just have to accept that.
Nikita Khruschev: I have to report this to the Boss. (puts a gun on the table) Perhaps you'd prefer to avoid the red tape.
Danilov: I've been such a fool, Vassili. Man will always be a man. There is no new man. We tried so hard to create a society that was equal, where there'd be nothing to envy your neighbour. But there's always something to envy. A smile, a friendship, something you don't have and want to appropriate. In this world, even a Soviet one, there will always be rich and poor. Rich in gifts, poor in gifts. Rich in love, poor in love.
Danilov: I want to help you, Vassili. Let me do one last thing, something useful for a change. (Takes off his helmet) Let me show you where the Major is.
Danilov: On this day, September 20th 1942, a young shepherd boy from the Urals arrived in the city of Stalingrad on the banks of the Volga. His name is Vassilij Zaitzev. Like thousands before him he came to answer comrade Stalin's call. Armed only with a rifle, he quickly made the fascist invader realise that from now on he would be punished for every step he took in the motherland, that from here on the only way was back.
Vassilij: Shouldn't we try and make the point that I'm not the only one fighting? Danilov: That's an excellent idea. We can take it even further though. Your battle for the production of coal is as worthy as mine. There's no 'k' in coal. Just one 'l'. Tell me if I'm going too fast. Vassilij: No, you're not going too fast. Is there any other improvements? Mrs Filipov: Why don't you get some rest? These letters can wait until tomorrow. Vassilij: We should carry on. We're not tired. Thank you, Mrs Filipov. These people took the trouble to write to us. Tomorrow we might not be around to write back.
Vassilij: He doesn't know you exist, but at that moment you're closer to him than anyone else on earth. You see his face through the sign. You see whether he shaved or not. You can see whether he's married if he's got a wedding ring. It's not like firing at a distant shape. It's not just a uniform. It's a man's face. Those faces don't go away. They come back and they get replaced by more faces.
Tania: I knew you weren't dead. Vassilij: How? Tania: Because we've only just met. I prayed for the first time since I was a little girl. When I opened my eyes Sacha was standing there waiting to give me the good news. I think he loves you even more than I do.
Vassilij: Tania, no! Tania: No, get off me. Get off me! Vassilij: It's what he wants. This is what he wants. Tania: Get off me! Let me go! Vassilij: No! He'll kill you. He'll kill you and when I get after you he'll kill me too. This is what he wants. I'll get him. I promise I'll get him. I'll get his rifle for you, I promise, Tania.
Vassilij: Ludmilla and Anton were killed today. And it was my fault. Danilov: No, I'm sure that's not true. Vassilij: It was a German sniper. I walked them right into his trap. Danilov: What else can you tell me? Vassilij: He didn't relocate. A sniper who doesn't relocate isn't normal. He was very good. It wasn't just his shooting, it was his instinct. He was a step ahead of me all the time. Danilov: That's because he knows everything about you. His name is Konig. Major Konig. They've sent them here to find you.
Vasilli: (narrating) Autumn, 1942. Europe lies crushed beneath the Nazi jackboot. The German Third Reich is at the height of its power. Hitler's Armies are charging through the heart of the Soviet Union towards the oil fields of Asia. One last obstacle remains, a city on the Volga, where the fate of the world is being decided - Stalingrad.
Nikita Khruschev: Look at him with pride, because he's looking at you. The whole country is looking at you.