 In some versions , the destruction of the church was replaced with a scene of villagers fighting the arsonist 's fire . In the film , the fire was started when the arsonists threw dried sunflowers and lit matches into the community 's fuel storage area . In some cuts , Stepok overhears his father 's planning and sneaks out in the night to inform on him ; in others , the local Communist Party functionary breastfeeds Stepok 's young sister ; in still others , Stepok 's father says after shooting his son , " They took you from me , but I did not give you to them . I did not give my own flesh and blood . " After Stepok 's death , the same aforementioned Communist official carries him off , joined by other children , in a funeral march that was said to evolve into a victory march . 
