Original subtitles

Excuse me. When do we get to Asiago?

Asiago? No trains go there.

The last Austrian assault left everything in chaos.

If you absolutely must get to Asiago,

you have to get through another way.

Holy Mother of God! It's just a child!

You idiot!We almost killed you like a quail!

Can't we just eat here in peace?

I didn't know. I'm sorry.

It's all right. You talk slowly if you've had...

...bullets whistling round yours ears all day.

You're not from round here, right?

Couldn't you put your guns down?

Yes, of course.

Come in, and close the door.

I'm looking for my father.

I was told his batallion was around here somewhere.

You idiot! You're putting yourself in danger.

Don't you know you're walking along the front?

You should have found a better meeting-place, that's the truth.

Your mother would have told you that,

if she was here.

And she'd have told you to get yourself home.

My mother's very ill.

Uh-huh. And what's your father's name?

Rasi.

Captain Michele Rasi.

1st Mountain Artillery Regiment.

Do you know him?

Not that I know of.

What did you say he was called?

- Rasi? Captain Michele Rasi? - Yes.

You can't have seen your father for a long time.

A very long time.

Yeah.

What are we going to do?

We'll take him to the Major.

All right.

Let's go.

You met us outside on patrol. Got it?

Come on! It's stopped raining.

I pray you, keep my enemies at arm's length.

That's all I pray you for.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Now come on! Forwards!

I think the Major...

...will have something else on his mind...

...than this boy here.

Let's leave him in peace.

You know what? We'll take you to Cirasola.

People say he knows the man.

What?

Let's turn around.

There!

- Rignani! - Cirasola!

That boy...

That's the son of Captain Rasi.

I'll talk to him.

That's Cirasola. He knows your father.

Thank you.

All the best!

- So you're the son of Captain Rasi! - Yes.

Nicola Cirasola. Pleased to meet you.

- Your name's Mino, isn't it? - Where is my father?

He was captured during the assault.

What do you mean? Was he injured?

- No, he wasn't. - Are you sure?

I can't swear to it.

When we set out on a march, your father stayed behind...

...to blow up the heavy guns.

Your father always put himself last.

There's a saying:

"The day on which you're born decides your fate."

Your father must have been born on a Friday.

The day of Our Lord's suffering.

Poor Papa!

Who knows where he is now!

Your father always said that, too!

Poor Mino! Who knows where he is now!

Chin up, my boy!

It's a pity, but we won't let it get us down!

We'll soon hear about it from the other side.

Do you hear? He sings every night.

Who are you?

My name is Nicola! And who are you?

Joseph! Farmer from near Graz!

So am I! From Lezzia!

Red earth, corn, olives.

- A good yield this year? - A bad year, because of the pest!

They wouldn't give me leave for the sowing!

Aren't there any men left in your village?

No!

That's why there'll be no corn this year.

Luckily the olives fall off the trees by themselves.

Picking olives is women's work!

Ask him...

...where my father is!

Shush! He's not going anywhere!

And you? Have you been home?

Yes. But much of the land is fallow.

Little grain and not much too eat.

A loaf of white bread is expensive.

When are we going home?

Who knows?

Joseph! You must have taken a lot of prisoners...

...in the last few days.

Yes. We have!

Do you know where they went?

Joseph, what's the matter? Why don't you answer?

What now?

We'll try it another time.

Good night, Joseph!

Joseph! Be a good boy!

Poor Joseph! He has it hard, too.

You know, they're monitored intensely for several days.

Only recently, an Austrian defected to us.

How did he do that?

At night. Over there, by a dry creek bed.

It had cut so deep into the fields...

...that it was invisible from every side.

Aren't there any sentries?

Of course there are sentries! But he still made it.

Then maybe I could do it.

No, Mino! Don't talk nonsense!

I know you want to find your father.

But how are you going to do it?

Perhaps he's already in Hungary, or Vienna.

I have a friend in Vienna.

He's called Stolz. I'm sure he could find him.

And who is this Stolz?

He had a high position. He's a diplomat.

If he's a diplomat, he'll always be travelling,

like a cattle dealer moving from one market to another.

Who knows where he'll be?

He had a villa in Klagenfort.

I'm familiar with it, but... How do I get there?

Mino, your guardian angel has done a lot for you...

...but he can't give you wings!

Who's there?

Hands up!

How old are you?

Twelve.

He says twelve, Lieutenant. But I think he's older.

Yes, he's Italian, from Milan.

I'm convinced he's a little spy.

Of course he disputes it! He claims to be the nephew of a certain Stolz.

He's supposed to have been the consul in Milan.

How can I confirm that from here?

Do you think that's necessary?

Yes, sure. I'll wait.

What a waste of time! They want to check out this Stolz.

There must be thousands of them!

And they were all the consul in Milan.

Don't be cheeky! Just wait ...

Feldgendarmerie, Sergeant Schremser.

Who?

Certainly, Major!

What's your Stolz's first name?

Karl.

Count Karl von Stolz.

There is?

Colonel-General Sto...?

Adjutant? The Emperor's own?

Yes, I had no idea! As you command!

Of course, Major.

To be treated with due courtesy.

Certainly, Major.

You see?

And when does Uncle Karl have to go back to Vienna?

I will be driving the master back to Vienna tomorrow.

And Freda isn't going back?

These days, the mistress doesn't live in Vienna.

Vienna is not what it used to be.

On the whole, nothing is what it used to be.

Especially since the death of the old Emperor.

What? Emperor Franz Joseph is dead?

Yes. Didn't you know?

A week ago.

Now we have Emperor Karl, but...

...who knows how that will turn out?

Get out of the road!

Push the cart onto the side!

Blocking the road! What's that about?

Get the cart out of the way!

Wake up !

What's happening?

Ferenz!

Still not in sight?

I thought I heard an engine.

I don't know. They should have been here a long time ago.

There they are!

Mino!

Freda!

Come, Hedwig.

I've been so worried about you!

You've grown up!

What do you look like?

Hedwig, have you run a bath for this young gentleman?

The luggage, Ferenz. The luggage!

Here, my lady.

Freda thinks you came with bags and suitcases.

Come, Mino.

So! Now a bath, and then you can tell us everything that's happened.

What happened?

Some riff-raff saw my uniform.

I must confess, I was a little worried...

... about the boy.

They slashed a tire, those wastrels.

And that, there?

That too.

They're criminals!

Thank you, Hedwig.

Do you think you'll be able to find Papa?

Even if I have to turn everything upside down,

I will find him.

Don't worry.

But now you must eat, or Hedwig will tell you off.

One thing I don't understand.

If Michele's really a prisoner,

why hasn't he made contact with us?

I know my father.

He wouldn't want to be treated differently from his comrades.

What nonsense! We'd help him.

Mino's quite right.

I believe I would act the same.

So you two agree.

You always have to play the hero.

And what's simple you make complicated.

You know, Freda has a very narrow idea of simplicity.

She only does what she wants!

Oh dear, you've made a mess here.

Wrong. You won't get me like that!

Pity!

Mino!

Can't you sleep?

No.

Then sit here by the fire.

Otherwise you'll catch cold.

The day will end with you sniffling,

and we don't want that, do we?

Is that your uniform?

Yes, but...

...only for very special occasions.

Mino, say something.

When did you last wear it?

I'll tell you a story.

I'll tell you a story. A true story, yes?

Yes.

It's a story about a man by the name of...

...Franz Joseph.

- Emperor Franz Joseph? - Yes. The Emperor.

He was a silent man.

Strict, a bit lonely...

For example, he was always freezing.

He always wore an overcoat, even in the summer.

And in his palace, they stayed with gas lighting,

long after there was electric light.

Is it true that he was over 100 years old?

He bore 700 years of the Hapsburgs on his shoulders.

And also the burden of his 68 years on the throne.

In December 1848, shortly before the great battle of Navarre,

he was 18 years old.

Until a couple of months ago,

on 21st November...

...1916.

How did he die?

He got ready for bed, called his old servant Kettel, and said:

"Tomorrow I have a lot to do.

Wake me early."

Those were his last words.

On the day of his burial, it rained.

And in a Capucine tomb...

...140 Hapsburger lords awaited him.

The coffin arrived at the closed door,

and the Grand Master of Ceremonies, Prince Wilhelm Albrecht Montenuovo,

knocked with his golden staff...

...on the door of the crypt.

Without opening, the Brother Guardian asked:

"Who craves entry?"

And the Master of Ceremonies said: "His Majesty, the Emperor of Austria."

"King of Hungary and Jerusalem, of Bohemia and Dalmatia,"

"of Croatia, Slovenia, Galicia, Illyria, Duke of Lorraine,"

"Salzburg, Carinthia, Steyer, Carniola and Bukovina."

"Grand Duke of Transylvania,"

"Margrave of Moravia, Duke of Friuli, Ragusa and Zara."

"Count of Tyrol, Gonzia and Gradisca,"

"of Upper and Lower Lusatia, Grand Voyage of Serbia."

The little monk, the Brother Guardian, shook his head and said:

"Ignosco."

What does that mean?

That's Latin. It means: "I don't know him."

And then?

And then,

the Master of Ceremonies knocked again,

and the Brother Guardian asked again:

"Who craves entry?"

Then said the Master of Ceremonies:

"His Majesty, the Emperor of Austria,"

"Apostolic King of Hungary."

And again the monk shook his head and said:

"Ignosco."

The Master of Ceremonies knocked for a third time...

...and this time to the question "Who craves entry?" he answered:

"A sinner."

And the Brother in the Lord welcomed Franz Joseph.

Then the door of the crypt opened

and the coffin found its place...

...among the rulers of the Empire who had gone ahead before...

...and who had found their resting place.

Were you there, too?

Yes.

I'll write to you as soon as I'm in Vienna.

When are you coming back?

In the holidays, if nothing crops up.

Karl...

Look after yourself. I'm telling you!

Don't worry yourself.

Let's go.

Have a good journey.

God bless!

Uncle Karl,

I hope I can bring you in contact with your father.

All right, Ferenz.

But Mino, what do you look like?

But ma'am, his clothes were not suitable any more.

But they fit me!

But you can't let someone walk around like that for ever, can you?

Freda!

Freda?

Mino? I'll be with you in a minute!

Mino!

I couldn't get my cravat right, but...

Never mind.

No, wait. I'll help you.

What is it?

I'm too hot.

So! Done!

You've grown up.

Those are Italian prisoners-of-war.

There's a camp here, in Mariazell.

Some of them work in the carpenter's shop.

I could ask them about my father!

No, Mino.

Karl has already asked. Your father isn't there.

Will madam allow us to drive to Moosburg?

Franz will take us.

You must go, Hedwig.

Happy Easter, Mino.

Happy Easter, Freda!

Aren't you eating?

I know you've been waiting for Karl.

Perhaps something has cropped up, so that he couldn't come.

You do understand?

Yes, I understand.

You can get down.

Yes. Thank you.

Go, sweetheart.

Papa!

Papa...

I believe they'll fit.

Try them on.

I'm sorry to cause such a fuss.

I'll leave you alone now.

Ferenz will sort out you uniform.

We'll see you at dinner shortly.

Thank you.

You're welcome, professor.

I still can't believe it!

It seems like a dream.

But now we must talk about mama.

- Have you seen her? - Yes.

And what did you think?

She didn't recognise me.

The doctor said we must be patient.

Perhaps she'd be well again.

We can only hope.

But you're here...

You've matured.

Soon you'll be an adult.

I, on the other hand, have got smaller.

You'll see, Papa, when the war's over and we're all together again.

The three of us.

I hope so, too.

It seems odd to me...

...that this villa exists. And yet it does.

It still exists.

Despite the war.

To you, Michele. Cheers!

To all of us!

To you!

To you, Papa! To you, Uncle Karl, and to you, Freda!

And listen to me, Michele.

The transfer to Mariazell is a pure formailty.

You'll stay here with us.

With Mino.

As our guest.

Thank you, Karl, but I can't accept.

I'll be happy if I can see Mino from time to time.

Yes, so why don't you just stay with us?

It makes no difference.

A big difference.

I should be with my comrades.

I understand.

I should be with my men, working.

That's not possible, Michele.

Officers are excused work.

Then at least I want to be with them.

But that's insane!

Well, I don't know...

And you say nothing, Mino?

I understand what he's saying.

And I think the same as him.

Fine.

But no more talk about the war.

I left Vienna to avoid such conversations.

The Austrians were always a happy people.

And I don't think I was ever as happy...

...in such a country. Not in Italy, not as far as Carpathia.

For my part, I'm not going back to Vienna.

I'm staying here.

Why here, especially?

Because I'm happy here.

Karl bought this house for me.

Then I was young and beautiful.

That's what everybody said!

But you are still young!

And you're still very beautiful.

The sum of the squares on the sides...

- The sum is like... - Uh-uh!

No, incorrect.

But it is! I know it for sure!

It's not "like". It's "the same".

That's what I said!

You said "like".

In mathematics, one must express oneself precisely.

And that means saying "the same".

"The same" means that it has the same properties.

To say nothing of the shape.

I know. But we'd also say those two trees are the same.

Yes, but there's no tree...

...that's truly the same as another.

In fact, there's nothing in the world that's the same.

Then you can't say that things will be the same as before.

Then you also can't say that when we're back home after the war...

...it'll be like before.

No.

The house has grown older.

It will have a few cracks,

and rain will have come in through the roof.

Everything gets older.

That's what time does.

And you're not the same as you were a minute ago.

But why? I'm the same as at any minute.

No. You're still Mino,

but one minute older.

And are you getting older too?

Certainly.

And not always for the better.

Michele!

Mino's just fallen asleep.

Wait!

Whenever we're alone, you leave.

Forgive me, but I'm tired.

I've been on my feet since five o'clock.

Alwaysl to be like the others?

Good night.

Good night.

Have you finally got leave to work?

I don't believe this has much to do with work!

Do you want one?

No, thanks.

Where's Mino?

He's gone into the town with Ferenz.

Can you actually paint?

It's not very hard.

Let me have a go!

Show me.

I'll try it on my own.

It's very easy!

Michele.

I'd like to talk to you some time.

You know what about.

I want to finish this today.

Then I'll be so tired when I get back from the camp...

...that I'll drop like a dead man.

And that's good.

Then I'll sleep without tossing around...

...as the others do.

Is that supposed to be an answer?

Then I won't think about what I work all day to try to forget.

Enrica.

And Mino, who's no longer the child he ought to be.

And that I can do nothing for them.

This is for you.

- Well, do you want a sip? - Yes!

Careful !

I'll be right back.

Papa!

We've hardly seen each other today.

You're right. But we'll see each other tomorrow, all right?

Good.

The guard left you here alone?

He was called away suddenly.

He had to shoot a lame horse.

Yes, I know. It was me who called him.

You do love me, don't you?

If I may, my lady.

You're a real gentleman! Thank you.

Wait for me!

I have the feeling my presence stifles you.

I wonder if it wouldn't be better...

...if I took a command at the front.

You're not an enemy.

No, no.

I'm still a good friend to you.

Karl!

Forgive me.

But I must bear in mind that I'm 20 years older than you.

For you I represent the past.

You always say that, don't you?

You live in the past.

By contrast, I wish that today will soon be tomorrow.

War is all around us.

I know.

I don't want it to be true.

And you never miss an opportunity to remind me of it!

Tomorrow I'm going to Vienna for a few days.

It seems they need me at court.

- Would you like a sip? - I'm dying of thirst!

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Would you like a sip?

I haven't seen you for days.

We daren't see each other again, Freda.

Michele, please!

We made a mistake.

It's better if I don't come to the villa any more.

And what about Mino?

Don't you think of him at all?

I ought to think of him more.

But not just him. Of Enrica, too.

And Karl.

And of you.

This is completely pointless!

I can't explain it.

You wouldn't understand.

I'm sorry. There isn't much left.

Doesn't matter. Come here.