Original subtitles

THE CARDBOARD VILLAGE

I must keep all this in my mind.

Everything...

just as it is now

My God!

Kirye, Elejson...

.. Christe, Elejson...

Kirye Elejson

Christe Elejson, Christe Elejson...

.. Christe Elejson, Kirye Elejson...

.. Kirye Elejson!

Kirye Elejson, Kirye Elejson...

In nomine Patris et Filii...

et Spiritus Sancti...

- For heaven's sake don't behave like this, it's useless!

Introibo ad altare Dei...

- Render me justice, Oh Lord! - Nothing can be done by now.

Come away, don't fall apart in front of them all

All the objects taken are written down on these sheets

I've locked all the doors.

As of tomorrow I'll be in retirement too

What will you do here all alone?

You can't live on just milk and cookies

midi' TV with no mound.

There's no electricity in the church now.

The electric company has already disconnected it

But don't go to see

because your heart... will break

In the face of such a painful trial...

.. I beseech Your Most Reverend Eminence

that I be permitted

.. to end the days the Good Lord wishes to grant me

.. which, since my ordination as a priest

has been my only home

And now, what do I have left?

A few sheets of paper and some keys which are no longer useful.

Like this old priest...

who talks to himself by now

aloud

.. because one must talk aloud...

.. to keep oneself company.

Brothers and sisters...

who are no longer here

all the years we prayed together in this church...

and yet, in certain moments

.. when on Sundays these pews were full of the faithful

.. I would sometimes have a feeling of emptiness

.. which I didn't understand back then.

Only now, facing this solitude...

.. do I realize that the emptiness...

.. was the doubt...

.. inside me.

And I didn't want to admit it.

From now on, these pews will remain deserted

and these walls will no longer hear

.. words of eternal life.

Christ is silent.

Wait.

Who is it'?

Good Lord, what happened?

Why all this?

This poor man needs a doctor immediately!

We'd better call first aid.

Wait, they're illegal aliens.

If you call first aid, they'll have to report him

It will be the end of their journey

Turn the light off!

He opened his eyes.

It was last used for the Archbishop's visit

Why are you doing all this?

You're a priest, you should know better than me

My usual hour was more than a while ago

Please forgive me, but I feel I should retire.

I realize I haven't been very hospitable.

Don't worry

You'll find some useful things in the kitchen.

Nothing special, the usual tea and some coffee

Don't let the light filter outside I

Good evening, Ma'am.

My name's Ibrahim.

I was with Omar, your son

.. when we all set sail from Gore.

I think it's been a while now...

that you've been expecting news about your son.

We're at a halt here in Italy now.

Ma'am...

I don't know how to tell you

They crammed as many as they could into the boat

.. there were so few of us.

- Who's that girl? - I don't know her.

She arrived with the others.

She's all alone.

Adeste fideles...

laeti triumphantes

"hm

.. venite in Bethlehem.

Natum videte...

regem angelorum.

Venite adoremus.

Venite adoremus...

.. In Bethlehem.

You know what you must do you have a duty to fulfill.

No one can tell me what I must do.

It's an obligation to God and His law.

She gave birth in sin. That's not God's law...

it's yours

and those like you, who punish people for faults which are not theirs.

Every night I'm on the streets of this city

.. selling impure acts to sons-of-bitches like you

who come at night to do what they're ashamed of doing during the day.

But God's law is always the same both day and night.

If it's blood you want

.. here is blood.

Why did you let those people in?

Into our church I

WM?

Because it's a church.

Those people are different they can't be like us.

And us?

What are we like?

Any contact with them is a risk for us all.

When charity is a risk

.. that's the time for charity.

There was evening and there was morning

and He saw that the light was good

I'm responsible for the safety in the area, can I come in?

- Your reason? - We're looking for illegal aliens

- illegal aliens? Why? - Irregular immigrants.

There are no illegal aliens in this house, I'm sorry.

There may be a few guests

It seems this church has been closed to worship

.. so to the public too, worshipers or non-worshipers

This church has been here for 50 years.

It is consecrated to Christ on the Cross

and shall remain as such for the good of all.

My dear Reverend, there are precise terms of law

.. for hosting unidentified persons.

The offense carries harsh punishment.

- Very well, we are now aware - Including imprisonment.

Despite the Almighty Lord.

I'll refer the matter to the interested party

.. the Almighty Lord is already aware of the intimidating attitude here...

.. against the vulnerable.

Now, please excuse me, but it's no longer visiting time

These are expensive medicines.

It'll take a lot of money.

They need medicine.

You're the area doctor I believe.

It's the first time we've met.

I've never attended church much.

In past times, doctors and priests would work together.

Once, priests were priests

.. and doctors were doctors.

Not even God does His duty any longer, as you can see.

Excuse me.

At least, faith can still be of help.

In my youth, I too tried, through reasoning

.. to dig up some clues about any eventual inhabitant of the heavens...

.. but no one could ever give me an explanation

So, I stopped thinking about it.

Instead of just thinking, have you ever tried praying?

Yes, as a child

in a concentration camp

Why did you ask me that?

Because I'm a priest.

You haven't prayed since then?

Rarely.

Although you've stopped believing?

Who knows, maybe a remnant from my childhood or maybe an instinct.

Or not to feel so alone.

"Before all things happened... "

We'll never know who this notebook belonged to

There's no title. The story starts right from the first line...

.. maybe to imply that this story has its beginning

.. long before all other stories.

Before all things happened...

.. the Earth was an immense garden.

Each tree gave its fruit...

and each fruit, its seed

so, at every new season other trees grew...

.. and other fruits germinated...

.. beautiful to see and delicious to eat.

The gifts of the land were enough to nourish us

Honey was abundant

.. and had the scent of flowers.

And all hearts were full of happiness.

Poor or rich...

all children born of one mother - What mother do you mean?

Answer me, what mother do you mean?

He's saying what's written in this notebook

.. the mother of all humanity.

You're right, old man, whoever wrote that notebook speaks the truth...

but the mother of all humanity was killed...

.. and the time of resignation is over.

The wealth of the few is paid by the poverty of many

But our poverty is the beginning of their end

Those who have everything think with their stuffed bellies...

.. and we'll reply with our bellies full of explosive

The use of violence...

.. does not bring back justice.

Can those who are hungry eat your justice?

With their laws, animals have more rights than us

If you behave like an animal...

how can you expect men's respect?

And who are you, who claims to know so much about justice?

Can you tell me who made you a lawyer?

And you, can you tell me who made Archimedes a scientist

or Leonardo an engineer?

So, with what authority did they speak? Not in the name of God.

Why pit God against God...

the One against the Other, equally, like men?

I recognized your voice.

And I recognized your footsteps

.. always from behind.

And you're always on the losers' side.

But a word can change the world.

The world hasn't changed and it never will.

What you wanted to say you've said.

What you have to do, do it

Who is it?

- May I? - Lt's you I

- I heard you weren't well. - Just a seasonal ailment.

I'd like to know if a doctor could be of help...

or if Providence is enough for you

It's old age: A new ailment every morning

- I'll let you rest - No, no stay!

If you don't mind.

Please, sit down.

Take a chair.

I also wanted to tell you the wounded man is recovering

To no longer bother you, he's moved into the church

.. to be with all the others.

Spring is around the corner...

.. and also this year, no swallows have been seen yet

Maybe they don't like our cities anymore.

And yet, just a few years ago about this time of day...

the sky would be filled with their flying...

.. they'd do aerobatics between the houses...

.. as if they were celebrating.

All the springs I've seen from this window!

In the worship of our religion...

.. the month of May is dedicated to the Mother of God

In those years, the churches were filled with young people.

Not so much out of devotion...

...but because it was a rare chance...

.. to be with the girls in the evening...

.. in the dark.

What nights those were I

The air was scented with all the good smells

.. of the land.

I was 28...

when one evening

.. I felt I had a fever inside me.

And when time came for the blessing...

.. what I'd always feared more than anything else.

Happened

My eyes met hers.

Those eyes

.. have tempted me all my life.

How many times on certain nights.

Being awake

.. I asked myself the same question.

Why did the Creator put this fire...

.. inside us...

.. and then threaten us with His retribution?

In recent years

.. the same question has been haunting me

That evening in church...

if my gaze had lingered

uh M "...

even a few seconds longer

.. what would have become of me...

of my ordination as a priest

of my life?

I don't know.

I don't know I

but to do good

.. there's no need... of faith.

Doing good is stronger than faith.

Forgive me I Forgive me.

- Are you sure it's him? - From how he talks, it's him

- 'What's his name? - No one gives their real name here

.. so they can't be identified.

- How will we recognize him? - I'll go to his side.

Wait a few minutes before you enter.

- Give me the time to return to my place. - Alright

Leave all your things on the floor.

Get your documents ready.

Does that child have a father?

Does anyone of you speak our language?

I can speak for her

And who are you?

You'd be an engineer?

I certainly am

.. I ill...

Then you, Mr. Engineer

You can also tell me if that child's father

is here among these respectable people.

This man must step forward

.. and show us his personal identification

I have it.

I found it on the beach...

.. it's all that remains of his father.

- What is this thing? - That child is a son of Africa

Who called you into this church...

.. at this time of night, with weapons?

Are your enemies in the House of God?

Or have you come on a mission of peace?

The Lord God Almighty says:

You who rage against the weak

".. reform your ways and clean yourselves of your sins

- Your sins! - Careful!

You're putting yourself in the wrong.

- You think you're in the right? - I don't make the laws.

I just make sure they're obeyed.

That's enough I

One day

.. you too will have to answer to God and men for your stupidity!

What have you done, Cain?

Mm...

I almost don't recognize You

I seek Your eyes

.. but You look at me from a time that is too far away

.. and I'm unable to feel for You...

the pity I should

.. but do not.

How many lies

even in pity!

And You know that.

You too experienced the loneliness...

.. of the last breath.

When I got here many years ago

.. I didn't know what I'd find.

I thought I could immediately put aside a little money.

But, it's not like that.

So, I began selling books

.. but it's hard...

you have to convince people

Hi, how are you? Fine?

"My name's Ibrahim, I sell books. "

And they say: No, I don't need anything'

You have to convince them to buy

We have to do it, for our families.

What do you do when they call you and say that the children are sick...

...that they have to buy medicine...

go to the hospital?

What can you do?

You can't say no

With all your pride, you keep quiet...

and you go stop people on the street

Good thing there are so many nice people on the streets...

who help you out

Black or white...

...there are always good people in the streets

I believe in God...

...and in heartfelt people.

Man created wisdom.

The secret of the world is heartfelt people.

There's a ship to France.

- For when? - Tonight.

Who are you?

What do you want?

I've come to thank you for welcoming us into your home

We still have a long way ahead of us.

So do I.. I

...I'm starting my return journey towards the Father's house.

If He will welcome me.

God is merciful.

It's nice I

We're going back.

We'd hoped to give our son

...a more decent life.

After much thinking, this is the right decision.

Africa can have a new start.

Here there can only be an end

It's time to go.

Would you sell me your notebook?

What's he doing?

Come I Come I

Come I

Either we change the course etched on history or history will change us.