Spider (1992)

[bunniefuu]

Subconscious sexual desires are
closely linked to the sense of fear.

Sigmund Freud.

Aurēlija Anužīte.

Liubomiras Laucevicius

in the film.

SPIDER.

Script by Vladimirs Kajaks.

Directed by Vasili Mass.

Photography by Gvido Skulte.

Art by Inara Antone,
Galina Mass, Neils Mattes.

Music by Martin Brauns.

Sound by Viktor Lychev.

Vita! Vital.

Daughter!

Hurry up, Vita, you'll be late.

Good morning, Father.

You came?

You're surprised?

When you said you'd think about it,
I thought it was a polite refusal.

I don't do commissions anymore.

It's strange that you
thought of me.

You could have asked
anyone to do it

I'm not used to all this

I remember your early works.

That kind of style
seemed appropriate here.

To homeless people in the shelter...

your painting will bring
joy and solace.

Which seems appropriate.

No, don't tell me...

what you need
the Annunciation for.

I don't care.

I'm sorry, Father.

Your proposal sounds interesting.

That's why I'm here.

I don't do things
I'm not interested in.

I accept your commission, Father.

I see some pretty flowers
grow in your garden.

I think she's what I need.

Her name is Vita.

If I understand correctly,
you want to paint her?

I need a model, Father.

I hope she will agree
to sit for me.

Vita won't say no to me
and it's for a good cause.

So you'll send her to me?

I don't want any other model.

Well...

I have no objections.

Although I don't see
Vita in this role.

You're not an artist,
you can't see what I see in her.

I should've slept more.

No point in coming early today.

So what are we doing tonight?

I don't know.
I've a lot of homework.

Let's reserve a table at the bar.

They play country music,
we can dance without going deaf.

Vita!

Can you wait for me?
This'll only take a minute.

Let me introduce you -
Albert, is an artist.

He wants to paint you.

- Me?
- Yes.

He wants you to sit
for the Virgin Mary.

I hope your work will adorn
the shelter on Ascension Day.

Come to my studio, tomorrow.

I've got those books for you.
You can study in my room.

May I come in?

I'm probably too early.

You're right on time.

- Your name's Vita?
- Yes.

Have a look round.

A model has to feel at home
when she's working...

and not be all eyes.

Let the girl pour us some wine.

The wine is by the mirror.

So are the glasses.

Have some yourself.

Don't listen to her, Vita.

The Virgin Mary must be pure.

And innocent.

Here you go.

Be careful!

Better take a look at my work.

And remember...

here you must play by my rules.

What is this?

What scared you?

They're eating each other.

Take care, Albert was once
bitten by a she-spider.

A spider's bite is no worse
than a woman's.

Albert, we're leaving.

So...?
What do you think?

That's how I painted
when I was young.

- It's garbage.
- But I really like them.

Sit down.

Now listen...

From now on you're at my mercy.

Here you are in my domain.

You must obey only me.

From now on, you are bound
to be with me forever.

Have I scared you?

Very good.

Remember, my girl...

Don't be afraid... of anything here.

But, damn...

what's up with your hair?

Would the Virgin Mary...

have her hair
arranged like that?

Wonderful...

You will be just as I imagined her.

But you must know...

appearances are deceptive.

They hide the soul.

And the soul...

is a great mystery.

We strive to unravel
the souls of others...

and protect our own...

from external evil.

Let's forget everything...

There's only you and me...

this space...

and what lies ahead of us.

Get back!
To your places!

- I'm scared!
- I told you...

don't be afraid of anything.

Don't be afraid of me.

- Let go of me!
- Don't be scared...

Let go of me!

Come here...

Stay with us...

No!

Let me go!

Remember...

Appearances are deceptive.

They hide the soul.

And the soul is a great mystery.

A great mystery...

- Hello?
- You must come back.

You're mine...
until the work is finished.

Vita!

Vita, I know you're there.
Dinner's ready, come on!

Where were you so late?

With the girls...

...at a cafe.

Really?

And who called you just now?

Vita?
Can't you answer me?

What does all this mean?
What's up with you?

You don't want to talk to me?

Vita? Come on...

We always got on so well.

It's always been
just the two of us.

You know what
I've dreamt many times?

That...

there are three of us,
you understand?

Yes, three of us.
It was like that in every dream.

But who is this third person?
He always hides his eyes.

- I can't see him properly...
- Vita.

What happened to your lips?

Answer me.

It's nothing.

I'm not a child anymore.

Yes?

It's me.

- Yes?
- Good evening.

Your call...

...you know how I feel
about your daughter

I am grateful for that.

But...

Something's going on with her.

She's become rude and secretive.

Believe me,
it's normal at her age.

The girl is eager for adventure.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Vita will soon get over this,
believe me.

But if it really upsets you,
I'll talk to her tomorrow.

Thank you.

Is there something else?

I haven't told you everything, Father.

Dear God...

I protected her so much,
and all for nothing.

Don't worry.

I think your fears are exaggerated.

Your daughter
is a good Christian...

I hope something will change
after you talk to her.

Remember yourself at her age.
Trust me...

No!

Vita!

Vital What's going on?

- Vita, open up!
- Open the door!

Vita, what happened?

What was all that noise?

Why are you so scared?

Can I help you?

I don't need anyone's help,
Father.

I don't need anyone's help,
Father.

I don't need anyone's help...
don't need anyone's...

- Hold it.
- It stings.

What a strange rash...

It's all because of stress.

What happened to you?

Just a spider bite.

It can't be.

Never heard of spiders
biting like that. Nonsense...

It was a spider.

Now you're scaring me.

May I come in?

I was just passing by
and thought I'd say hello.

Passing by?

We're a long way from your church.

So there's no need
to make up stories.

But since you're here...

- Coffee?
- Yes, with pleasure.

Once you saw the world
very differently.

The world is changing.

We are, too.

You confuse
cause and effect, Albert.

We are changing and so
we change the world.

And not for the best, sadly.

It doesn't apply to you
though, Father.

Each of us bears guilt.

Let's drop the subject.

To be honest...

I wanted to talk to you about Vita.

I didn't know what was
wrong with her.

But now I can see it
much more clearly.

I have to withdraw my commission.

Vita won't sit for you anymore.

Are you sure?

Goodbye.

- Dear friend.
- I'm listening.

- How is your work?
- You know...

Your model didn't
like my friends.

So she left.

I hope that you will
still finish the work

I'm counting on it

I will, there's no doubt.

But on one condition...

until the work is finished,
Vita belongs to me.

Mom! Mom!

Don't worry,
just look at my hand.

Up.

Down.

Right.

Good.

How did these
anxiety attacks begin?

Close your eyes.

Relax.

Now remember...

What did you see?

I saw a spider,
a giant spider. He...

He...

I see.

Close your eyes again.

What is in your left hand
right now?

Wait...

A star.

A glass star.

Now we'll put a star
in your right hand, too.

Are you holding it tight?

- I am.
- Now look.

Don't worry, it's normal.

Now go to this room and undress.

Let's have a look at that rash.

I don't understand.

Yesterday there were
strange marks, like bites.

There were no marks yesterday.

It's just a form of
self-suggestion.

From your daughter to you.

What should we do then, doctor?

A change of scene might help her.

A week in the bosom of nature.

Vita, do you want
to visit aunt Magda?

You can stay with her
on the island.

Fine.

It's your station.

Vita?

Hi, I'm Juris.

Aunt Magda wrote us
that she now has a husband...

and a grown-up son Juris.

- I didn't know you'd be like this.
- Like what?

Well... cheerful.
And pretty.

All women in our family are,
like mom and aunt Magda.

- Really?
- Of course.

Here we go.

Cool! Is this our ride?

It's almost an antique.

I restored it myself.

The most reliable transport
on the island.

Vita, my sweet.

At last! I was getting worried

Jimmy, calm down

Jimmy? And you're uncle Aivar?

That's me.

It's so nice here.
I'm glad I came.

- You're very welcome.
- Oh, uncle Aivar!

Call me Aivar.

How are you?
Is everything fine at home?

Let Vita rest,
you can ask all that later.

Juris, help our guest.

OK?

Quite a girl, your niece.

It took me a whole year
to get this room done.

Yeah? Then it's yours?

You know, Juris,
I can sleep anywhere

I'll be happy if you stay here.

It's really nice in here.

If it gets cold,
we can light the fire.

We live in the castle in summer
and let our house to artists.

There'll be a museum here soon.

- Does that work?
- Yes.

So you won't get bored.

Only old tapes though

I wish I'd known,
I could have brought some.

You can listen to mine.

I'll get some water.

All right.
And I'll get changed.

Juris...

What's up?

I saw something, like...
shadows on the wall.

Oh, that's just a trick of the light.

A joke by the man
who built this castle.

An optical effect.

- Like shadow puppets?
- Something like that.

When I was sick as a child,
my father used to do it.

Something like this.

Anyway, enough of this.

Want to see the island
from above?

- Of course.
- Let's go.

Which way? Here?

No, that's my room.
I'll show you later.

- And what's in here?
- A bedroom we don't use.

You shouldn't go in there.

- I shouldn't?
- Nobody should.

Oh, so high up!

From here you can see
the whole island.

It used to belong
to an Archbishop.

There were villages,
a smithy, and even a fleet.

So where's the sea?

There, behind those trees.

You can't see it from here.

Juris...
who's that?

That's the chief executioner.

He's a deaf-mute.

Who is it really?

He looked at me
with such wild eyes.

You know... you should
probably avoid him.

Best to keep away
from this place.

What's in here?

- The tower entrance.
- So dark...

- Are you afraid?
- I'm not afraid of anything.

Calm down.

Let's go.

Good morning.

- Is everybody up?
- And they've had breakfast.

Come on, sit down.

- How'd you sleep?
- Like a log

I love it here.

Juris is going to show me around.

What's to see here?

Some trees, rocks, the sea.

Thanks.

I don't know when we'll be back.

Juris...

You scared me!

You said you weren't
afraid of anything

I'm sorry.

Are there ghosts here?

Not before,
but maybe there are now.

Honestly, Juris, there must be.

At least one.

All right, I'll tell you a secret.

A ghost did show up here
very recently.

A pretty, ginger haired,
crafty one.

Am I so obvious?

I can even read your mind.

- Should 1?
- Better not.

Want to hear an old legend?

Goon.

It's actually about
that abandoned bedroom.

The Baron's young daughter
lived there.

Once upon a time,
at the castle gates...

Vita!

Is that you?

I'm so glad you're here.

I'm so scared.

Calm down.

- Are you cold?
- No.

I can't leave by myself.

This room...

it won't let me go.

Take me away.

Why did you go there?

I don't know myself.

- Now will you listen to me?
- Sure.

Jimmy, let's go swimming.

- Aivar...
- What?

What are you doing here?

I was scared.

- Don't be afraid of anything.
- All right.

You have a nice sauna here.

- Do you like sauna?
- I don't know.

It's a shame I'm an old man,
otherwise I'd show you how it's done.

Aivar, you're not an old man.

Well...

You don't look like
you're Juris's dad at all.

- You're too young.
- Careful, Vita...

I might believe you!

Will you fix the sauna?

- I could do it tomorrow.
- Great!

But we have a tradition,
men have to go first.

- You must find it boring here.
- Not at all.

- Our rural life...
- On the contrary.

Aivar, it looks like a ferret
is visiting our hen house.

This hen's head has been bitten off.

Juris, you should set a trap.

Hi.

You were told not to do that.

What did I do wrong?

Really...

- Hello.
- Hello, Father, it's Magda.

Vita is staying with us.

Yes...
Is something wrong?

I think you should come here.

Thanks for letting me know.

Magda!

Juris!

What happened?

What happened to you?
Where's Jimmy?

I don't know.

I think he ran off into the woods.

Strange.

He just vanished.

Listen...

There!

Here you are.

Where did this filth come from?

Poor thing, what happened to you?

What's up?

Let's go

I'd like to know
what's going on here.

So... you can't sleep either?

It's like a cave in here.

I brought you the player.

Want to listen to some music?

Leave it here.

I... didn't know you smoked.

And there's lots of things
I didn't know about you.

What do you mean?

Nothing.

- You're acting funny.
- How?

I didn't come to argue with you.

- What then?
- Just don't think I...

There's someone in that room.

I can hear steps.

I'm probably a coward after all.

Right?

OK, let's have a look.

But be quiet.

- Good morning!
- Hello.

- Are you fixing the sauna?
- Yes.

- We can have a steam bath?
- This evening.

- That's too long to wait.
- The rocks have to get hot.

- I'll have a look upstairs.
- Just don't fall.

Juris, will it really take
until this evening?

If it's not right,
you won't enjoy it.

Of course

I'll steal Juris just for a moment.

It turns out the world
really is small.

What a nice surprise, Father.

Don't lie to me, Mr Painter.

Our meeting is hardly
a pleasure for you.

Maybe. So what?

As I understand it, my model's
guardian angel has arrived.

Listen, leave the girl alone.

You will get her back only
when my work is finished.

Either you leave at once
or I'm taking Vita away today.

Don't you think I could be
in love with my model?

Love and evil intentions
don't mix well, Albert.

Both evil and good are
threads of a spider web.

It's funny - untangle it and
they're gone, both good and evil.

I won't allow you to tempt
a fragile soul.

Are you planning
to fight me, Father?

You think the man you asked
to paint the Annunciation...

is the same man that now
stands before you?

I have faith in the creator.

There's nothing fixed in His world,
all is in flux and uncertain.

In the game of light and shadow
it's easy to take mirage for reality.

- How was the sauna?
- Very good.

Dinner's ready.

Don't wait for me and Vita.

You don't take
a steam bath like that.

How should it be done?

Lie down, I'll show you.

Goon.

Just like that.

- Enough?
- Probably.

Well, how do you like
our rural sauna?

It's great!

You hear these footsteps?

Just imagination.
OK, I'm going

I'll stay for a while.

All right, don't be long.

Close the door so that
the wind won't blow it open.

OK!

Let her go!

Run, Vita!

Juris!

Shall we go?

Wait.