All language subtitles for Electra, My Love (1974)

Hunnia Film Studio presents

Adapted from the play by László Gyurkó

إلكترا, MY LOVE

It is I, إلكترا who speaks.

Truth, justice and law speaks.

May all tyrants be damned,
and blessed be all those

who refuse to submit to tyranny.

And may all those murdered
by tyrants be blessed.

إلكترا, forget it.

إلكترا, life is passing you by,
you are getting old.

إلكترا, it's been fifteen years
since our father died.

Fifteen years since our father's murder.

- Try to forget.
- They scattered his ashes in vain.

His body remains in the earth,
in the people.

A stalk of rosemary grows

On a mountain
untouched by rainbows,

It hates it there;
wanting to hide away;

She yearns to be picked,
replanted in another place.

She yearns to be picked,
replanted in another place.

In my garden of flowers,
for my honey bees to cherish...

I am the one
keeping the sun in the sky.

I'm keeping watch over the people,
so they do not to crawl on all fours.

It is I who gives birth
to every innocent baby.

I am إلكترا,
the one who will not forget.

As long as there is one who
remembers, no one will forget.

- إلكترا?
- She's here, like every year.

- The knife?
- She hasn't asked for it yet.

As long as there is one
who remembers, no one will forget.

I did not hear my father's cry
as he was slain.

Since then I've not had a night's sleep.
Nor do I want to sleep.

I have no rest during the day
because I do not want to rest.

They may have burned out his eyes,
but they cannot escape his gaze.

His throat may have been burned,
but not his cry.

If they could kill Agamemnon,
anything is possible.

The sun may not rise tomorrow.

A man may transform into
a monster.

Millions may burn like timber.

If crime is not followed by punishment,
law no longer exists.

And if there is no law,
the world is no more.

Man is no longer man.

I know I can't kill you.
But you can't kill me either.

You have no power over me.
A tortured إلكترا is still إلكترا.

A dead إلكترا is still إلكترا.

You have no power over me,
because I am justice!

You're insane! You're not justice!

Every year on this day,
I take this dagger in my hand.

Though I know I cannot kill you.
But I am patient.

Everyone you ever sent
to the executioner lives on inside me.

My darling, be realistic -
a ruler is not a nursemaid.

No one in this position can
afford to be squeamish.

A true ruler knows that for order
to prevail the streets must

be paved with skulls,
the very walls must echo with screams.

I don't like blood, إلكترا,
but if that is the price for order, I'll pay it.

It's easy to pay with the blood of others.

Since Aegisthus took the throne,
the people are content, happy.

That is the most any ruler can hope for,
the contentment of his people.

- A pig is also content in shit.
- That's precisely my point.

I was born to disturb the peace of men.

But people don't like that, إلكترا.

They prefer to wallow in their dirt,
grunting contentedly.

While I'm around,
they can't afford to be content.

I can arrange it
so that you are no longer around...

Kill me, then, my king; my corpse
will forever disturb your peace.

Kill you?

I've killed shepherds
who talk out of turn.

Or blacksmiths
who complain too loudly.

One must kill in order to instil fear.

People are content only when they know
precisely what they should fear.

I do not fear you and I do not forget.
I am patient.

I'll wait for Orestes to come
and avenge all your crimes.

The only problem
is that Orestes won't come.

You know that I value
my own safety above all else.

And who is currently
the greatest threat to my life?

Orestes, son of Agamemnon.

Don't you think that I'm aware
of his every move?

You're silent because you know
this is true. Let me tell you something

Your little brother is concerned
only with women, gambling,

horse racing and wine.

Still silent? You believe it too.

I'm silent because I don't believe
a word of it.

Keep on hoping.
Orestes is content with his whores,

he couldn't care less
about coming home.

Have you ever known anyone
who'd gladly exchange

a peaceful life
for one of mortal peril?

Sometimes I see
such a person in the mirror.

- You're not normal, إلكترا!
- I am Agamemnon's daughter.

Orestes is Agamemnon's son.

We were sired by the same father
for the same task.

Woe betide you,
Orestes is not like إلكترا:

Orestes is إلكترا,
and إلكترا is Orestes!

Orestes is dead!

Do you see, إلكترا?
There he lies.

- That's not Orestes.
- Is it not?

- You know that's not Orestes.
- I know that, but everyone thinks it is.

We've convinced the people of it.

You spread lies like the plague;
you live as if

you didn't know that the land on which
you dance is your king's corpse.

The water you drink
is the innocent blood of his body.

Behold a black cloud is gathering;

A white lamb upon it;

The sun and the moon
between its horns;

A shining star on its brow;

I will not rise at daybreak

To wash bloody rags in the red dawn;

To soak them with my tears,

pound them with cries.

When you're young,
you think you can live as you please.

When you grow up
you learn to live as you may.

Do you know what a difference it makes

to wake up to your child
laughing in its cradle?

To exchange glances
with your husband

in bed at night,
and both of you wanting the same?

Do you think it does not pain me to see
the usurper Aegisthus on the throne?

And still, إلكترا, the dead should rest,
and the living should live.

Revenge is not the answer.

If a crime is not followed by
punishment, law is no more.

And if law is no more, the world
is no more, and man is no more.

You may still be a princess,
but you know Aegisthus,

you know he's not joking.

As king, he can do whatever
he wants with my mortal body:

but dead or tortured,
إلكترا is still إلكترا.

It happened fifteen years ago today,

Agamemnon was king.

He was a bad ruler,
dim-witted and weak.

Guilty is the king who burdens
his people with freedom,

for simple men do not know
what to do with it.

- Damned Agamemnon!
- The people suffered under him.

And his wife, beautiful Clytemnestra,
sadly departed ten years now,

also suffered - but her soul lives on
among us every day!

Treacherous Agamemnon
had three children:

everyone knows that his eldest,
إلكترا, is insane.

Chrysothemis lives happily
in our peaceful kingdom;

their younger brother Orestes
disappeared from the palace

fifteen years ago,
and no one has seen him since.

First you claim he's dead,
now you claim he's disappeared.

First we said he's dead,
now we say he's disappeared.

And they always believe us, إلكترا.

It happened fifteen years ago,
at this very hour, this very day,

which we celebrate ever since.

Behold King Agamemnon!

The good queen had enough
of her people's suffering,

and solicited help from
the the good and wise Aegisthus,

to save the empire
from the spineless King Agamemnon.

It happened fifteen years ago,
at this very hour, this very day,

the unfit king was punished,
defeated fair and square.

The people have been happy ever since.

- Today is a celebration, إلكترا.
- Why won't you celebrate with us?

- Today everyone is happy.
- Why aren't you happy?

For fifteen years now,
you're always silent on this day.

But today you will stand before
the king and proclaim the truth,

as all his subjects must.

I'm curious to know what you'd do
if I really spoke the truth?

You know that I sit on this throne,
as I do every year on this date,

at this celebration of truth,
everyone is allowed to speak

with impunity or fear of reprisal.

Do you know of a single instance where
anyone suffered the slightest harm

for speaking the truth on this day?

And do you know of a single instance

when anyone actually
spoke the truth on this day?

- Be careful, إلكترا.
- Be very careful.

May all rivers flood before you

And may dirt rise behind

May your horse stumble

And trample you into the earth

May your bath water turn to blood

May your robes burn with fire

May your bread turn to stone

And may God refuse you
every blessing

You're lying, woe betide you.
You're lying night and day.

You're lying every day
and every year.

You killed Agamemnon and you won't
even let him rest in his grave;

you violate
his memory each year.

Every year for fifteen years!

Woe betide you, kneeling to this tyrant
on the day of Agamemnon's murder.

You will not survive us, إلكترا.

- Have mercy, sire.
- I'm the king, not Eleos!

Your subjects adore you,
the kingdom lies at your feet.

You have nothing to fear.

Even if I were the last man on earth,
I'd still be afraid - of myself.

Fear, darling, is a ruler's duty.

In order for the subjects to fear the king,
the king must fear them in return.

Have mercy on إلكترا,
all of us know that she's insane.

She says 'yes' to every 'no',
'no' to every 'yes'.

She loves to contradict
and to defame.

She brings discontent to the world,
hoping to unravel it.

إلكترا is discontent.
Discontent will destroy the world.

If we tolerate it.

We declare the infallible
command of great King Aegisthus.

Whoever dares harm any person

who freely speaks on any issue,
private or public, on this day of

the feast of truth, may they have
every bone broken on the wheel,

their bodies roasted on coals,
thorns forced under their nails,

their skin flayed in strips!
So speak freely, people!

Produce has never been so abundant!

Thanks to you, great lord!

My wife bore three boys this year!

Thanks to you, great lord!

Sugar has never been so sweet,
salt so salty!

Thanks to you, great lord!

Our money is worth
twice as much as last year!

Thanks to you, great lord!

This year
I've only had pleasant dreams!

Thanks to you, great lord!

My sole desire is to love you
even more, my king!

Thanks to you, great lord!

Never have I eaten
so much meat!

Never have I drank
so much wine!

Thanks to you, great lord!

My only joy is to serve
you!

Thanks to you, great lord!

You shine your light
onto the entire world!

You're a better father to me
than my real father!

Thanks to you, great lord!

May God grant us peace,
grant us happiness, free us of pain.

May your bed be made of light,
may you awake to morning kisses,

may you go to sleep with kisses,
may no danger stalk you,

may your good heart
be full of joy.

I could kill you, Aegisthus.
But I won't.

Because another would
just take your place.

Another murderer. It is not you
who needs to be destroyed,

but the system you have built.

Orestes will come; he'll erase you
even from our memories.

I accept my fate.

There's nothing you can do
to humiliate me further.

I am patient.

Bring them here to me!

Come over here.

What kind of men are you?

When will you finally learn that no
strangers may set foot in my kingdom?

Is there no one I can trust?
Not even you?

Even though he was cornered,
he kept on fighting;

He was a master at this game;

Fallen warriors rose to greet him...

Hail, sire!

Search him.

I hope you don't hold that
against us, stranger.

I'd do the same in your place.

- I like you, lad.
- Thank you, King Aegisthus.

- I've brought you a message.
- We like you, lad.

Though whether we continue to like you
depends upon your message.

I'm not so stupid
as to bring bad news.

The book of law says it's bad luck
to bear bad news to a king.

- Orestes is dead.
- What did you say?

You heard me right,
Orestes is dead.

I covered his eyes,
I ignited his funeral pyre.

- Did they kill him?
- Why would they?

- He wouldn't hurt a fly.
- He was a charming fellow.

The dearest friend.

When he was lying in my arms dying,
he said

go to King Aegisthus and tell him,
he need no longer fear me.

Why did he think
I should fear him?

I don't know,
but he was always saying that.

He didn't even care about politics,
only drink, women and gambling.

Did you hear? Orestes is dead!

Orestes is dead!

I thank you, lad!
Ask something of me.

I'd like to live
in your court and serve you.

We dislike strangers.

Orestes always said:
seek out great King Aegisthus.

He said
the most beautiful girls live here.

- And I love to fall in love with a beauty.
- He can't help it, it's his nature.

A man in love is unreliable.

Love is change;
all change is harmful, disruptive.

A happy man is one who wakes every
morning knowing precisely

what his day will bring.

- That's why everyone is happy here!
- You are a wise king.

I know.

Orestes is dead.

Are you إلكترا?

Did you bring news
of Orestes' death?

I did.

How strange, her eyes.

I don't remember them
being so bright, so youthful.

Turn around.

Laugh? How dare you!

- No one can break the law, إلكترا.
- You've killed...

According to law,
the punishment is death.

- He was a dear boy.
- What a waste.

- Thank you for killing him.
- Now you're a murderer.

Hear the judgement of wise
and omnipotent King Aegisthus.

إلكترا has slain an innocent man.

She's perpetrated a capital offence;
she must pay for it.

إلكترا's due punishment is death.

You have to admit
that you were wrong about everything.

You have to admit that we are right.

We could pardon you.

If you were to admit it,
stand before the people and tell them.

Tell them that you were wrong
and we are right.

Stones ask me, the grass implores
me, people come to me crying,

beseeching me to cease my
endless lament.

A burning warhorse stands before
the heavens;

I will make a cloak of its
fiery mane, and before

the swallows greet the next dawn,
I will at last find my freedom...

Hear إلكترا!

People, إلكترا is a murderer!

To escape death, she has agreed
to tell the truth.

She will tell you that she was
wrong about everything!

I have been silent for fifteen years.
Today I will speak.

You say I'm different
from you. You're right.

If you call yourselves men,
then I would rather be a stone,

or wind, or water.

If this is what you call happiness,
then I am happy to suffer.

You think it's better to live your life
as a lie than speak the truth just once?

You think it's better to roll in filth
and live in fear rather

than speak up and face death just once?

You have kissed
the real murderer's feet.

Where has it gotten you?

You have forsaken the truth,
denied the very stars in the sky.

You've procured happiness,
but received dread.

You got peace.

You live in fear.

Look me in the eye, tell me:
was it worth it?

Was it worth it at all?

People, do you see how wretched
she is? She deserves no mercy!

My beloved people, I must condemn
إلكترا to death, but believe me,

I do so with a heavy heart;
I have to condemn her, my blood,

the daughter of my beloved
queen Clytemnestra!

But I have no other choice: the
law applies to all equally.

For you, for me, for إلكترا.

The law is our strength, because it
reminds us that if we are guilty

we deserve punishment. We must
embrace punishment, endure

pain - for this is happiness!
And here, everyone is happy!

Orestes. You are Orestes.

The liberator cannot be slain.

My beloved people! إلكترا must die.

It pains me greatly,
I would rather be cast into the desert,

alone with my misery,

but I love you so much
I am prepared to endure this

sorrow, for I am your king;
and I know that to share my pain

with you is to share the rule of law.

We know that إلكترا is not sane; in my
solitude I prayed for her, but in vain.

As you can see,
not even God can help her.

She took the murdering dagger
in her own hand.

She is condemned to death!
Let us pray for her.

Aegisthus!
Stand up!

Orestes calls you.

Are you afraid, Aegisthus?

Orestes, my brother, forgive me.
I have reviled these people, but I had

no choice. I had to keep their
conscience alive until you arrived

to free us from this tyrant.

The oppressed with an executioner
constantly at their back are not guilty.

Am I right, Orestes?

A burning warhorse
stands before the heavens;

I will make a cloak of its
fiery mane, and before

the swallows greet the next dawn,
I will at last find my freedom.

I throw open the widest gate,
crushing the slave wagon.

The stranger who approaches,
is familiar and yet unknown...

- Do you know this dagger?
- I do.

- You used it to kill Agamemnon.
- He was a bad ruler.

Stupid for burdening his people
with notions of freedom and liberty.

Simple people don't know
what to do with it, eh Aegisthus?

We knew from afar that it was he;

Only his horse moves like that;

Fallen warriors rose to greet him;

See him standing alone on the
battlefield...

Be happy, you won.

You have power, now, إلكترا.
Aren't you happy?

Happy? I see the world with
different eyes.

Have you seen how beautiful a
bull is?

Until now, I never thought to look.

I didn't even notice the weather:
is it winter or summer?

Sunshine or rain?

Now I'm happy.

Give him food.

Go feed the doves.

Just go.

Just feed the doves. Maybe they'll
accept it, even from you.

Go after them.

- May I kiss her?
- No.

Go on, dance.
The way you used to.

Don't you want to rejoice with us?

Not like this; the people don't
need a circus.

A nation that was oppressed wants
very much to be happy,

and it wants very much to hate.
It wants revenge.

Even though he was cornered,
he kept on fighting;

He was a master at this game;

Fallen warriors rose to greet him;

See him stand alone on the battlefield;

We await his return...

The people are singing about you,
Orestes; they're overjoyed.

But just because I'm happy,
don't think I've changed.

I do not forget, Orestes.

Don't hurt me, please. Let the
law judge me... I beg you...

Let the law decide?

There's only one law that applies
to you: execution.

Get away from here.

Don't send her away.

- I'm afraid.
- Stay.

Take my hand.

I don't want to see the dagger.

Death to the tyrant!

Just go! Run!

Get on your horse, I'll kill you
anyway.

You can't escape from here, Aegisthus.
Don't you know that it's

only fear that ties people to a tyrant?

And once he no longer has power,
even his own men desert him.

The story is over.
The tyrant is dead.

Our story is just starting.
Do you love me?

I love you, إلكترا.

- Do you love me?
- I love you, Orestes.

- I'll die, and you'll die too.
- We shall die every day.

Will we have the strength to
die every single day?

Will we have the strength to
start anew each day?

It happened once upon a time,
but it truly happened...

Somewhere in the east,
lived a beautiful firebird.

It was brighter than the sun,

more colourful than the rainbow,
more dazzling than any jewel,

because it was born out of
mankind's eternal desires:

its father was freedom, its
mother was happiness.

Wherever the firebird flew, the
dark clouds scattered, the sun

began to shine, a rainbow
sparkled in the sky,

the pain of suffering abated,
the oppressed

stood up straight, the
exhausted were reinvigorated,

the hands of paupers clenched
into fists.

The bird flew on and on, from
the east to the west.

The conviction of the people
strengthened, their strength multiplied;

but evening came,
and the firebird's wings grew weary;

its head slumped
to its chest, its rainbow feathers faded.

Its strength left it because
it had given all its strength to man.

By the time the first stars
appeared in the sky and the moon

rose, the wonderful bird was dead.

The fire that it used to nurture
man had consumed it.

But just as the first rays of the
sun chased away the darkness,

the firebird was resurrected,
and behold, it was even brighter,

even more beautiful.

And now people were waiting for it
impatiently.

Thus it was at the beginning
of time, this is how it is today,

and this is how it
will be until the end of the world.

The firebird must be destroyed daily,
so that it can be reborn

anew each following day.

And when there are no more landowners
and factory owners,

no more bourgeoisie or
proletarians, rich or poor,

oppressor or oppressed, and when
no man

gorges himself
while another starves,

once everyone is allowed
to take from the basket of abundance,

once everyone is equal
at the table of law,

once the light of intelligence
shines out of every window...

then and only then will there be life
on earth worthy of the name 'humanity'.

But even then the firebird shall
keep on flying above us,

and even then it will still die each day,

only to be reborn again the next
in even more beautiful incarnations.

Revolution,

may your name be blessed.

The firebird will ascend
to government halls.

To bring freedom and liberty
to all the poor.

Bright and proud firebird,
shining out.

Proclaim it! Tomorrow will be different.

Tomorrow is a new day,
finally a new day.

New faces, new eyes shall
witness new battles.

Perhaps we are fools and all of
us will perish,

Or this great new hope of ours will
someday become reality.

The firebird will ascend
to government halls.

To bring freedom and liberty
to all the poor...

CAST

Screenplay / Production manager
Cinematographer / Director