Original subtitles

- Why did you split up? - We didn't match.

- What are you thinking of doing now? - I'll go on vacation.

- And where will you go? - Wherever I wish.

Alexis? How is your mom, it’s been years since I had news from her.

She doesn't like talking much about... her life in Greece.

That one here is Giorgis, your grand grand father.

That one is Eleni, your grand grand mother.

Bravo Dimitri. Now, will you tell me why you're grumpy?

Our Dimitri is sick, and before an even worse disaster finds us

we must take him to a doctor and send him to the island.

Mrs. Petraki... news aren't good I'm afraid.

You've been infected by Hansen's disease.

Starting tomorrow, I should...

I want to hug you, to hold you tight.

I love you.

A whole world my child, built stone by stone,

with hard work and love...

crumbled entirely as from an earthquake.

And left around it... human wreckage.

Mrs. Petraki... I hope you'll settle well.

We cleaned it, did whatever we could. Your stuff will arrive in a moment.

I should let you settle in now.

Tomorrow, early in the morning my wife will come over.

To get to know each other, she'll take you for a walk on our island.

Your wife?

Yes, my wife. I met her here and we got married.

You know, it’s not uncommon for the people of Spinalonga to get married.

I'll be happy to meet her.

- What’s her name? - Elpida (Hope)!

Goodnight, my child.

Goodnight.

Dimitri?

There's another room inside. You want to go see it?

I, Sotiri, am going nowhere. Here is our home.

- I want to be close to Dimitri. - Dimitris is gone my wife.

- No more Dimitris. - Don't ever say that again.

Why don't you want to look at the truth in the eyes, ha?

Dimitris is never coming back, we need to forget about him.

How can I forget about my child? How?

Finally, we are very lucky.

Each of us will have his own room.

Pick. Which one do you want as your own?

Don't cry my heart. Don't cry. God is great.

We should be praying and... who knows.

A cure may be found... that will bring her back to us, ha?

A.

Mrs., where are you going?

Sleep Dimitri.

- Mrs. - Come here. Come.

- Have you ever seen a more beautiful lemon tree? - We too have lemon trees.

Of course, I know you do.

But, that beautiful? Smell.

- Am I not right? - I don't like lemon trees.

My Annio...

come sit here, close to me and help me. Mm?

Come, my girl.

Nice. Drop some flour here. Dust it.

Bravo.

- Hello to you all. - Mm.

What are we making?

- Eeeee. - Come on, come on.

Eee. Get your filthy hands away. Don't you see I'm washing greens?

- Aunt Savvina, talk to him. - Antoni?

I just washed my hands, it’s not like I have leprosy.

You moron!

- Hello guys. - Hello.

Hello, Dimitro.

- Good morning, uncle Gianni. - Good morning.

I salute you, guys.

Pavlis isn't here, he'll come soon.

- I'm going guys. - Have a nice trip. Goodbye.

Mrs. Petraki?

Good evening, I'm Elpida Kontomari. Petro’s wife.

A, yes. Your husband told me you'd come. Please, come in.

- And you must be Dimitris. - Dimitris is my student.

And one of the best,

- if not the best. - Bravo, my child.

Sit.

And as for you I've heard that you're a great teacher,

and beloved at school and to the whole village.

I like my job... and I love all children like they were my own.

We haven't settled in, yet.

We feel a bit, how can I say this... I don't know...

like a fish out of its water.

It’s only natural, I feel you my girl.

How is the situation here?

Depends on how someone sees it.

It’s been ages since the last time we had meat.

Stratos brought it for us. Eat.

- Is it good? - It stinks!

Lamb smells, it doesn't stink. Try it first and then speak.

Yukk! Not even dogs could chew this!

- It needed a bit more roasting, ha? - A bit, but it doesn't matter.

- Anna sit down, we are not finished yet. - But why, I won't eat.

I said sit down!

Father, what teacher shall we have now?

I don't know, my Maria.

- When you go to school, they'll tell you. - If it’s another teacher I'm not going!

- And what will you do? - Nothing.

What nothing, will you remain uneducated? If you're not educated these days, you don't progress.

I am educated!

If your mother could hear you speaking like this, she would be very sad.

But she can't.

- How long are you here on this island? - Ten years.

Mr. Petros told me you met each other here, on Spinalonga.

Love is like a wild flower, blossoms everywhere, even within the rubble.

and since when is he president of the island?

Six years he's president of the Hansen's brotherhood.

Since he took over, many things have changed for the better.

But there are still many things that need to be done.

From time to time, its needed to say a good word.

Petros has been fighting all these years without his effort being recognized.

- Thankfully not everyone is ungrateful! - But why?

You know how people are, the more you give them, the more they ask for.

Kyriako, listen to me,

all these shots are not going to do you any good.

I paid for them and I want to have them.

- It’s my obligation to tell you... - Go ahead doctor!

Aaa!

Giorgi?

Giorgi, is that you?

Ah, you scared the wits out of me!

Thank you.

Something like this hasn’t happened to me before. Forgive me.

Keep it.

May god keep you strong to endure this!

Fsssst!

Friend Dimitri, you're so clever. I think I'll make you my assistant!

- I don't want to become a doctor. - Doctor, who said anything about a doctor? A wizard!

It’s the science of the future. To be able to make anything disappear with just a move!

So let’s see what we have here!

Good, beside these dry marks on your feet and elbow,

- I don't see you having anywhere else. - Meaning, I can return to my home now?

For the time being you'll remain here, with dear Mrs. Petraki,

which from what I can see, she loves you as her own child.

I want you to daily wash these places thoroughly, agreed?

And be thrift with the water ok? Now that we don't have so much.

Mrs. Petraki, I want you to keep your spirit high,

so that you set a good example to the young man here.

This is the best advice I can give to you!

Along with the daily hygiene of course.

- Thank you very much doctor! - I'm here three times a week,

but even if I'm not here, the nurses can help you in any way you need.

What did she do and God ripped her away from her loved one's arms?

What was her fault, and He condemned her to live imprisoned within these walls?

"Why"? She wondered. And response she wouldn't get.

The next morning, when God raised the day, Spinalonga seemed better to her eyes!

And with little Dimitri by her side, she followed the president's wife

through the island's pathways.

They reached the main road that lead to the coffee houses and the shops of the island.

That road was called, "Avenue of Pain".

The same road that Eleni had crossed last night,

just like everyone else that lived in the island.

Spinalonga's residents, my Alexis, all had the same languor,

the disease... leprosy... and one was bracing the other.

What could they do. Spinalonga was their refuge.

In there, they shared their pain and hopes,

away from the eyes of the world, and the shame of the disease.

Elpida, told them about the brotherhood that governed the island,

and for its members, which had been elected by the residents of the island themselves.

Dimitris, was looking in astonishment some kids at his age

that walked the street carefree...

Little by little, the burden he carried inside him, became lighter.

A whole new world was opening up in front of him.

The letters they were about to send, my daughter, were first passed through the disinfection facility.

And they wouldn't be sent out, without a stamp that said...

"Disinfected".

Eleni was holding the frozen little hand of little Dimitri, tight inside her palm.

That little boy was a gift from God.

That boy, from this day on, would warm her frozen soul.

To that boy she would give the excess love that she had left...

when she was deprived of her own.

I think that by now you should have understood, president.

You know nothing about the size of the problem!

From the three tanks of water we have, there's only half left,

and if it doesn’t rain the following days we'll be without water, do you understand?

And what else can I do? I have informed the government long time ago,

and still no answer.

Problems don't get solved by mail, president.

We must take strong measures!

Good! If you have a proposition, you should pose it to me!

I'm tired of having all of you against me in every effort I make!

- If you're tired, give it up! - Shut up.

Good morning, Mrs. Petraki. Good morning.

Welcome madam president.

- What's going to happen with the money? - I told you, I'll give them to you.

We have some of these on the island. They sit all day in the coffee house.

Getting drunk, gambling and chasing after the non married women of the island.

Keep your eyes open, Eleni.

Did you make your prayer?

I didn't.

Why my Anna?

Because Christ does not love me, and I don't love him either.

Who told you he doesn't love you?

He took my mom away.

Father? Will you go to mom tomorrow?

- I don't know, my child. - Why don't you know?

why don't you know?

Thank you.

Dimitri, your lemonade.

Did you like it so much? Want me to make you another one?

That’s alright.

It’s not a fuss to make you another one. Want one?

No, thank you.

Do you want to play with the toy soldiers?

- Yes! - Come.

- Your home is very tidy. - Took us years to repair it.

It was in a good condition on the outside, but on the inside, it needed a lot of work.

It shows.

I've seen your husband at the mole. He comes and goes often.

- Almost every day. - He seems nice.

I think, you have two daughters too.

- Anna and Maria. - May they always be well.

Here, as you will see yourself, things are tough.

If a child is born healthy, it is sent away for adoption.

If its born with the disease, it remains with its parents,

and knows no other place except this island.

Sometimes I think to myself, it’s better that we didn't have a child.

- Sit. - Forgive me.

You forgive me. Why did I start this conversation?

- Cry, my daughter. Cry. - I don't want to, for the child.

Come.

Come.

Sit here.

The child is fine.

No reason to hide from each other.

We all travel on the same boat.

I can't take it anymore, Pavlo. I can't take it.

If it wasn't for my daughters, I don't know what I would have done.

E, I don't want to hear you speak that way.

You should have seen how they were staring at me. Like I had the disease myself.

Why did God punish us, can you tell me?

What did we ever do to Him to punish us?

Have courage Giorgi... for your little daughters...

for your little daughters.

Antoni?

Come on, start sweeping the floor, let’s get it over with and close the shop.

Mrs.? Are you asleep?

thirteen, fourteen, fifteen,

sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,

nineteen, twenty. Go to your place now!

So...

I won't say it again.

When I teach, you will all look at me in the eyes.

When I dictate, you do not goof off!

And we don't stare out the window!

Write:

"My God".

Exclamation mark.

"Protect... protect...

remember how its spelled.

My father and my mother,

Rigas and Rina...

and our good grandmother".

- Half a bucket for each today. - Only half a bucket?

- Don't you see I've run out of water? - And why everyone else got a whole bucket?

Next!

Are you in pain?

Aouuu! A little! Only I can't hold the fork right.

Did your mother see this?

- And what did she say? - What could she say? Like is it the first time?

One day she grabbed Electra's hair and pulled it so much,

she almost ripped it out!

How could I forget? My head hurt for a month!

At the village, we had Mrs. Eleni as a teacher.

- The Mrs. Eleni you came here with? - Yes.

- She's a teacher? - The best. and she never hit us.

Never?

Lucky one!

Do you want us to go and dive into the sea some time?

It is forbidden to go outside the walls!

But, I've been out, there is a secret passage that leads to the beach.

We can swim there and have our quiet, and no one will see us.

- Ahh nice! Have you ever gone there? - I have.

- I want you to take me there too! - We'll take you!

Giorgi's boat is coming!

Mr. Giorgis?

Mr. Giorgi! Mr. Giorgis is coming!

- I'll butcher him...

- The jug too... everything! - What jug you...

Get out of here!

Mrs., he's coming, he's coming!

- Who's coming - Mr. Giorgis.

"You are my companion,

my secret lust.

If I lose you I will perish,

on this world I'll be no more.

If I lose you I will perish,

on this world I'll be no more."

You are my companion,

my heart's joy.

Believe me, if you leave me,

I will be drowned by woe."

"Believe me, if you leave me,

I will be drowned by woe."

- Mr. Nikita! Hi to you! - Welcome Mrs. Leni!

Do you know why my husband hasn't shown for so many days?

What can I say Mrs. Leni? Whoever is in Skala, loads up and comes.

- I'm worried. Maybe something happened to him. - Nothing is wrong, Mrs. Leni.

Your girls are fine. Your husband is in Plaka.

"It is you that's my companion..."

"that heart I love the most."

"My life's cresset,

that if put out, I'll be blown out too.

My life's cresset,

that if put out, I'll be blown out too."

Come here, Dorothea! Why aren't you coming to class?

Let this not happen again, you hear me? Get it over with!

Girl!

Do you want company?

With me, no one will bother you. We'll have a good time the two of us.

Let this never happen again. Do you understand? Go away now!

Don't be afraid, Mrs. Petraki. We'll let no one hurt you.

Come, let's go.

And I'll tell you one thing. Remain at your level.

Father?

When you go to the island to see mother, will you give her the letter that I'll write?

She'll be so happy to have news from us.

Ha? What do you say?

When will you go?

I don't know, my Mario.

Father, may I ask something?

But, don't get mad.

- Do you want to see her? - I do my daughter. Of course I do.

But I'm afraid that if she sees me like this, sad as I am now,

she'll get even more sad than me.

Yes but, if you give her my letter... she might feel happy.

Right?

Tie it up.

You got thin, my husband. Pale.

- Don't you eat? - I eat.

I got worried, so many days that you weren't coming.

My feet couldn't support me, my Eleni.

How are the girls doing?

They're fine. You? How are you? What's it like here?

It’s not so bad. Dimitris and I have a whole house to ourselves.

Not much different than our house in Plaka.

People are helping us. And the doctor, cares about us a lot.

- Your health? - All good.

The house got empty.

We miss you.

I miss you too... very much.

I've been told that...

Dimitri's family, took the kids and left from Elouda.

- What do you mean? - The left without saying goodbye to anyone.

From our Mario.

I need to get going.

Let’s not say goodbye.

You are my companion.

my secret lust.

If I lose you, I will perish.

on this world I'll be no more.

If I lose you, I will perish.

on this world I'll be no more.