The Ascent (1977)

Anatoliy Solonitsyn: Portnov, the Nazi interrogator

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Quotes 

• Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : [Sotnikov asks for Portnov]  What now?

  Sotnikov : Do something... for them.

  Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : And that's all, citizen "Ivanov"?

  Sotnikov : No. Not Ivanov. My name's Sotnikov. Commander, Red Army. Born in 1917. Bolshevik. Party member since 1935. Teacher by profession. At the start of the war, I commanded a battery. It's a shame I didn't kill more of you bastards. My name is Sotnikov, Boris Andreevich. I have a father, a mother and a motherland.

  Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : [returning back]  Herr Major, nothing important.

• Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : You want to save the woman without giving up anything? That won't work. You'll have to trouble your conscience. One way or the other, you'll have to. There's no way out. None.

  Sotnikov : I won't betray anyone. Not anyone. There are things more important than one's own hide.

  Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : [laughs]  Where? What is it? What's it made of? That's nonsense. We're mortal. With death, everything ends for up, all of life. The entire world. It's not worth it. For what? As an example for future generations? But you won't have a heroic death, either. You won't just die. You'll croak like a traitor. And if you won't tell, someone else will. And we'll write it off to you. Understand?

  Sotnikov : Scum. Human scum.

• Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : Now you will see what real scum is. Don't be surprised. It won't be me, but yourself. You will discover things in yourself that you'd never imagined. Where will your perseverance go? And that fanatic shine in your eyes. Fear will squeeze all of that out. That's right. The fear of losing your own skin. And then you'll find out who you are... alone, deserted... a simple human nonentity full of ordinary shit. Without any of your noble words or your arrogance. There. That's where the truth is. You didn't insult me. No. I know what a human being really is. And you'll find out too.

• Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : How long has that woman been your agent?

  Sotnikov : She's no agent. She was an accident.

  Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : And your visit to the Lesiny elder was an accident too?

  Sotnikov : An accident.

  Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : That's unoriginal.

• Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : Why is he roughed-up?

  Stas' : Well... My fault.

  Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : Why is he on the floor?

  Stas' : My fault.

  Portnov, the Nazi interrogator : Is that how they trained you?

  Stas' : My fault, sir.