All language subtitles for Lion of the Desert (1981) - Extended_HI

VOICE OVER: In this,
our 20th century,

almost every nation
in the world has

at some time been in conflict.

The oppressors
and the oppressed.

The victors and the vanquished.

The people of war.

A tragic indictment
of our civilization.

A time when much of the world

was looking for ways to increase

their influence,
power, and riches.

Full of dreams for
the restoration

of the glory that was Rome,

in 1911 Italy joins
the hunt for territory.

Libya on the other side of

the Mediterranean
Sea is the target.

Landings were made at Tripoli,

Benghazi, Zawiya, Sirte,
Derna, and Tobruk.

The local population
fighting on many fronts

made fierce and resolute
resistance to the invaders,

thus bringing the
war to a stalemate.

1922 saw dramatic
change in Italy.

The beginning of Mussolini's
era of dictatorship.

The conflict in Libya
escalated as more,

and more fascist
might was thrown

against the
stiffening resistance

of the local population.

MUSSOLINI: We will
overrun the earth,

and then we will take the
flag of fascism to the stars.

ITALIAN SOLDIER: Puntate.

Puntate.

Fuoco.

MUSSOLINI: More and
more, I don't understand.

If we defeated the Bedouin,

why are we still hanging them?

Why do I have to pour troops

into a victory I
have already won?

Oh I wish my generals would
write two different dispatches.

One telling themselves of
their glorious victories,

and one telling me
of their defeats.

Can't go on.

I will not let it go on.

Here...

This green...

This evergreen.

There's your prize.

The rest is brown paper.

Just need someone bold
enough to roll it up.

Graziani...

Come with me.

VOICE OVER: Attenzione.

MUSSOLINI: 20 years.

20 fruitless years we
have wasted on this war.

I sent five governors
to Libya in five years.

No!

No the military logic of fascism

will not be compromised.

After all, what are we?

We are the bayonets
of a new dawn.

What are we fighting reality?

Desert tribesman? Ghosts?

I want their leader
brought here.

I want him brought to me.

I want the revolution crushed.

What's his name?

GRAZIANI: Omar Mukhtar.

MUSSOLINI: What?

GRAZIANI: Omar Mukhtar.

MUSSOLINI: Omar Mukhtar.

You know general, those
colonists that we send over,

peasants from the south,

they cost us Lire for
Lire almost as much

as if we put them up
at the grand hotel.

Now something must be wrong.

No...

I will not have a
handful of Bedouins

stop the progress of
40 million Italian.

I give you Libya general.

At least you have a name
that will frighten them.

GRAZIANI: May I say my Duce,

that when I crush the rebellion,

I do so with a clear
consciousness sir.

MUSSOLINI: What did Mukhtar
do before the rebellion?

GRAZIANI: He was a teacher.

MUSSOLINI: A teacher?
GRAZIANI: Yes.

MUSSOLINI: I was a teacher.

Be careful you don't end up

as the five who went before you.

Taught by him.

Well, I am a man
who likes action.

Go to Libya.

General...

Bring me back Mukhtar.

Bribe him, or break his neck.

ISMAIL: In the name of god,

the compassionate, the merciful.

It is the god of mercy who
has made known the Qur'an.

He created man and
told him speech.

He set the sun and the
moon in their courses.

He raised the sky up and set
the balance of all things.

MUKHTAR: Stop right there.

Why do you think we
begin every chapter

of the Qur'an with
god, the merciful, huh?

STUDENT: Because one of
the names is god is mercy.

MUKHTAR: That's right.

And how, how does
god show his mercy?

STUDENT: He taught, taught
people how to speak.

MUKHTAR: How to
speak, that's right.

Yes.

There was something
else in what we read.

Uh, could any...

Anybody, can you tell
me what that was?

STUDENT: Was-

MUKHTAR: Here, let
me give you a hint.

STUDENT: It was the balance.

MUKHTAR: That's
right, that's right.

The balance.

And Why did god
set that balance?

Boys!

Boys, why did god
set the balance?

Because without the balance,

everything would fall.

Here, let me see what you read.

Everything did fall apart, huh?

What are you waiting for?

Go on.

MABROUKA: Take it
to your father.

BU-MATARI:
Where's Omar?

MUKHTAR: Yes Bu-Matari?

What is the news?

BU-MATARI: New governor.
MUKHTAR: Again?

They always come in
like, like lions-

SALEM: And go home
like worn out goats.

MUKHTAR: Who is it this time?

BU-MATARI: Graziani,
the Butcher of Fezzan.

MUKHTAR: Graziani?

SALEM: It was only
a question of time

before they let him loose on us.

BU-MATARI: It will
mean a new offensive.

MUKHTAR: My father used to say,

"Blows that don't
break your back...

"Strengthen it."

We will show
Graziani some spine.

You tell me Graziani
loves blood?

I don't like to
believe those stories.

And yet I do.

When is he expected?

BU-MATARI: They are
decorating Benghazi for him.

ANNOUNCER: Signore e signori,

His Excellency General
Graziani, Governor of Cyrenaica.

His royal highness, Prince
Amadeo, Duke of Aosta.

TOMELLI: Hail Benito Mussolini!

GRAZIANI: Gentleman thank you,

but the ladies are present.

We should be at our ease.

Let the dancing continue.

SARSANI: General,
Colonel Sarsani.

TOMELLI: Signori Tomelli.

AMADEO: Diodiece
here in Benghazi?

The sun turns the rest of
us black in their desert,

but it seems to be
turning you white.

DIODIECE: I came to talk to him.

AMADEO: A drink first.

DIODIECE: If Europe
knew what we do here,

if even Italy knew...

AMADEO: But here in Libya
we photograph everything.

We're never without
a snap you know.

You must not tell me too much.

Not abiding by the
Geneva Convention?

AMADEO: Colonel don't, please.

Colonel Diodiece sir.

GRAZIANI: Ah yes, Diodiece.

I read reports on you.

They say that you
could make friends

with a Bedouin with a handshake.

I am not so sure that
I like that it implies

that the rest of us
must strangle them

in order to make
peace with them.

DIODIECE: Sir, there
are 5,000 displaced

Bedouin outside my forts.

I have no food for them.

I have difficulty
in controlling them.

And I need-

GRAZIANI: What you
need Colonel...

What you need is a little
bit more that, Colonel.

GRAZIANI: Who is that man?

AMADEO: Sharif El Gariani.

He is quite useful to us.

Old friend of Omar Mukhtar.

GRAZIANI: Useful you say?
AMADEO: Yes.

GRAZIANI: Bring him here.

AMADEO: I think you'll find
that you can rely on him.

General Graziani, may I present

His Excellency,
Sharif El Gariani.

GRAZIANI: I understand
you know Omar Mukhtar.

GARIANI: I did.

GRAZIANI: What would it take

to get him to surrender?

GARIANI: I don't know.

Even as a boy he was
terribly stubborn.

But if I could be
of help in any way,

I should be very
willing to agree.

GRAZIANI: You'll find that
we can be terribly generous.

GENNARI: Lieutenant Gennari.

Urgent message sir.

GRAZIANI: Can't it wait?

You see you're
disturbing my guests.

Excuse me gentleman.

They said that
Flaminius lost Trasimeno

while sleeping on
his dispatches.

What is this?

Another wasted maneuver?

How may dead Italians?

GENNARI: 20 dead,
50 wounded sir.

GRAZIANI: And they
let him go again?

GENNARI: Yes, but
this time he was seen.

GRAZIANI: He was seen?

How do they know he was seen?

Nobody knows him.

How do they know he was seen?

GENNARI: It was only
for a moment sir.

But they are sure
it was Mukhtar.

GRAZIANI: I suppose I
should decorate them

just for the bravery
of seeing Mukhtar.

Could be there, could be there.

Could be anywhere.

Hmm?

Tomelli, I want you to use
a fast, hard hitting force,

and you forget what
Omar Mukhtar looks like.

We're all obsessed by
never having seen him.

Go for his blood.

Go for his circulation.

Go for the revolution that
is inside every Bedouin.

Mukhtar has been fighting turns.

Three months we run with him.

The next three months
they're peaceful at home.

Tomelli, no peace.

MABROUKA: Ismail,
help your brother.

SALEM: The women must hide.

TOMELLI: Round up the men.

Those three at the
end there, hmmm.

And, and, and, you
two in the back.

And, and, and...

Yes.

That young, definitely.

Some of you are conscripted.

Instead of going three
months with Mukhtar,

you go one year to
useful labor where

you will be out of trouble.

Burn half they give to Mukhtar.

Burn half of everything.

SOLDIER: It's a
bullet wound sir.

TOMELLI: You were shot
running with Mukhtar.

Weren't you?

What have you to say, hmm?

What have you to say?

Oh, you do?

Well, you brought
it on yourself.

Execute him.

No, not over there.

Here.

SALEM: In the name of god,
give him time to pray.

TOMELLI: You are warned.

Be careful.

MABROUKA: Murderer! Killer!

Murderer!

Killer!

Aisha!

VOICE OVER: Take her to the camp.

ISMAIL: Mother, I
must do something.

MABROUKA:

ISMAIL: Oh god.

I must do something.

MABROUKA: My Hamid,
they burnt his tree.

ISMAIL: I saw what happened.

My brother, and Aisha,
and look my father!

I am going to see Omar.

MABROUKA: Too young.

It's not your turn yet.

ISMAIL: I became old
enough today mother.

MABROUKA: He's gone.

I need you.

MUKHTAR: They must
pass through here.

That is our ground.

Out there.

That is it.

AL FADEEL: But you can't
hide a lizard out there.

ISMAIL: Omar.

SANDRINI: It's all clear sir.

TOMELLI: Check the other side.

SOLDIER: Sir, at last we
got them where we want them.

TOMELLI: Let's take a crack
at some of them in the open.

SOLDIER: Sir.

TOMELLI: Let's go!

AL FADEEL:

MUKHTAR: Mount.

TOMELLI: They are running!

Get your foot down!

SANDRINI: It's a trap.

We must warn Tomelli.

TOMELLI: Do you hear that?

SOLDIER: Could be
Lieutenant Sandrini sir.

TOMELLI: What the
hell is he doing?

SOLDIER: Maybe
warning shots sir.

TOMELLI: No, stop!

Stop!

Do you see anything?

SOLDIER: No, nothing sir.

TOMELLI: Nothing.

They are getting away.

We have them in our hands.

Full pursuit!

MUKHTAR: Look, those machines.

ISMAIL: Omar.

MUKHTAR: We do not
kill prisoners.

BEDOUIN: They do it to us.

MUKHTAR: They are
not our teachers.

He's a boy.

Here, tell your general
it does not belong here.

ALI'S MOTHER: My husband.

MUKHTAR: I brought
his book home.

Never turned his back on me.

Come here.

ALI: Ali.

MUKHTAR: AM, this is yours.

This is your book now.

You tell your mother
to keep it for you.

Do not let him see
you crying too much.

One day they will
carry on the fight.

The child should remember
strong and confident.

Never broken.

Go inside.

Hey, let us go and
see the camp, huh Ali.

Ah, there he is.

This is my friend, Ali.

Ah, this is Bu-Matari.

He has a little
boy just like you.

He is in Kouf, that's
far away in the desert.

And he misses him.

Now, we have some work to do.

Be careful.

Oh, is this supposed to be me?

How do I look?

You have to give
them back to me,

otherwise I cannot read.

You go, you go and see the camp.

GRAZIANI: Wiped out.

One Lieutenant
and one scout car.

That is all that is left
of the fighting force.

I did not come to Libya
to be stung by bandits.

Signori Tomelli was one
of our finest officers.

This is the young boy
who saved our honor.

He brought back the flag.

SANDRINI: But sir,
they gave us the fl-

GRAZIANI: Yes, yes, yes.

You will be decorated
the Medal of Honor.

I've never in my
career lost a flag.

Gentleman, I will repeat
one simple fact to you.

We're not merely
fighting Mukhtar

and 200 of his men here
or 50 of his men there.

We are fighting a population.

I have Rome to answer to.

I am therefore taking the
first of three final steps.

Strides to eliminate
rebellion in this colony.

It's really quite simple,

and should have been
thought of before.

I propose to
concentrate the Bedouin.

AMADEO: Concentrate them?

GRAZIANI: Yes, put them
behind wire, camps,

and keep them there until

we find it prudent or
safe to release them.

Now I don't want
any pity for them.

They brought it upon themselves.

We will fill their wells.

We will burn their fields.

We will destroy their trees.

We will turn their land brown.

Now if they cannot live
in it, they'll leave it.

SARSANI: And if we
meet resistance?

GRAZIANI: You answer
it promptly with

the old Roman punishment
for rebellion.

It is ridiculous to think

that we can fight
this war kindly.

We cannot.

We can fight it thoroughly.

To place half a million
people behind barbed wire

is a formidable and
majestic undertaking.

But we will do it.

Are there any questions?

AMADEO: General,
Bedouin die in cages.

GRAZIANI: That is an answer
highness, not a question.

SANDRINI: But sir won't we...

Won't we be making
more rebellion?

The Bedouin to any
sense of obedience,

we must first let the lava flow.

SARSANI: Turn around.

As mutineers and rebels,
you will be decimated.

AL FADEEL: They have
taken everybody.

MUKHTAR: Who can
fight such a war.

Not against armies, but
against innocent people.

More people will be dying in
those camps than come out.

People will by dying without
fault, without choice.

Or is it our fault
and our choice?

Look what they did.

Raised the sky up and set
the balance of all things.

VOICE OVER: Allahu Akbar!

SALEM: It's Omar.

MUKHTAR: No.

They will be massacred.

MABROUKA: You have a
chance to get away.

Take it.

Go with Ismail.

Don't think of me.

Go!

Go.

ALI'S MOTHER: Ali!

Ali!

MUKHTAR: Hurry!

Come on.

Up behind me Ismail.

Up behind me.

Ismail!

ISMAIL: Ahh.

MUKHTAR: Go back.

Go back for that boy.

BU-MATARI: The horse
won't take two.

Ismail knows that.

Hurry up Omar.

GRAZIANI: So you're
the brave young man.

The brave young man who
saved Mukhtar from me.

Why did you do it?

You are young, you had your
whole life ahead of you.

Tell me, don't you want to live?

Come on.

ISMAIL: I want him to live more.

AMADEO: You would
make a fine soldier.

Would you think of joining us?

GRAZIANI: You're more
ruthless than I am prince.

You'd corrupt him.

Get him out of here.

Give him what he asks for.

Fruit, honey, whatever.

And don't harm him.

Hang him in the morning.

AMADEO: Does it every
worry you general,

that in our most casual
acts we make history here?

Even if it is just
a small paragraph

on a newspaper in Rome.

GRAZIANI: You touch
my strength prince.

You see, I don't care.

A day in the mind of Rome
is more important to me

than a generation of
the memory of Libya.

And what happens I wonder

if we are forgotten in Rome,

and only remembered in Libya?

GRAZIANI: Oh don't you worry

your royal head about that.

You see, we'll
write the history.

AMADEO: Libya is
our crown of thorns.

GRAZIANI: Nonsense.

Libya is a career.

Look at it.

Look at it.

It's always the same.

We can never pursue
them in the desert.

I must conquer the
desert to march on Kouf.

From here to here.

AMADEO: Simple, isn't it?

GRAZIANI: No it's not.

AMADEO: But it's
only empty desert.

There's nothing there.

Just wind and sand.

Not even much opposition.

What can you get from it?

GRAZIANI: Glory for Rome,

an extension of the empire,

confining a revolution
to that mountain,

my name, and a new page
in military history.

So you see, it's quite full
that desert of yours, isn't it?

I have a surprise for you.

Come in.

Diodiece, now is your time.

Please, sit down.

The man who can make
peace with a handshake.

Do it now.

Hands across the desert.

I wish you to instigate peace
talks with His Excellency.

Omar Mukhtar.

DIODIECE: That will
not be so easy now.

GRAZIANI: No, but you
will do it, won't you?

DIODIECE: And what
are the preconditions

for talks with Omar Mukhtar.

No preconditions.

The whole of Libya is
open to discussion.

Look at it.

Look at it.

We go to the conference table

with an open mind, do we not?

DIODIECE: He fought
us for 20 years.

We are an enemy he knows.

He has heard all our promises.

GRAZIANI: 20 years is too long.

I mean, can you imagine
escaping hanging for 20 years

knowing you can't win
just hoping to keep on.

It's a war.

Let's hope the man would be mad

to get on his high horse
about past promises.

DIODIECE: When may I in
your Excellency's name

sit down with him?

GRAZIANI: You're too eager.

When you talk to Omar Mukhtar,

you must be able
to speed dictation.

Whether he wants to talk or not

you test him, you try him.

DIODIECE: Yes, I will try.

GRAZIANI: Thank you very much.

Thank you for coming
at such short notice.

It was very kind of you.

Thank you.

Phew.

Well that's settled, isn't it?

AMADEO: Diodiece is
not the right man.

He'll offer what
Mukhtar can't take,

and Mukhtar will ask
what he can't give.

Which makes me think you
want things to go wrong.

No.

No, that is unfair.

Of course I want peace.

Of course I want
to win that peace.

But sometimes prince
when you are strong,

a few sticks on the nature
of conquest is enough.

He won't give me peace.

What he'll give me is time.

What I need it time.

DIODIECE: So that's
what he looks like.

After all these years, we
are the first to see him.

The old lion.

MUKHTAR:

DIODIECE: Yes sir.

Please.

This side.

Colonel Barillo, military
governor of Marj.

This is commissioner Lobitto.

He has come directly from
Rome to advise and assist us.

MUKHTAR: You invited
us here to talk.

We are here.

DIODIECE: Your Excellency.

It is my one wish to see

the Italian and the Arab
together in a single interest.

I foresee a future
of common cause.

A give and take of
character and skill.

Our civilization
and your culture.

A marriage of virtues.

MUKHTAR: I want observers from

the governments of
Tunisia and Egypt

to witness any
agreements between us.

DIODIECE: As far
as I'm concerned-

LOBITTO: Out of the question.

He is seeking
international recognition

as if the Bedouin were
an independent nation,

which they are not.

They are subjects
within our province.

Our arguments are not between
nations but between Italians.

We cannot permit
outside interference

in our internal affairs.

MUKHTAR: And why
misrepresent us?

We are not Italians, so do
not tell us that we are.

We were born where we were born,

only by the will of god and
only by our own mothers.

We are not you.

DIODIECE: We will come to
foreign observers later.

As yet, there is
nothing written.

Nothing to witness.

BU-MATARI: But we have written.

MUKHTAR: We must have
our Muslim schools.

DIODIECE: Yes, no question.

Freedom of education,
no question.

The schools will be reopened.

MUKHTAR: We must have some
form of national protection.

We must have a
national parliament.

LOBITTO: The parliament
is a matter for Rome.

This tent is not the place.

MUKHTAR: Why not?

You pitched it.

No conditions you said.

No limits, no exclusions.

Everything open on this
table in this tent.

DIODIECE: Let us
say that at present,

we will note your
demand for a cabinet.

MUKHTAR: Mark it well.

The confiscated lands
must be given back.

DIODIECE: Well...

Now I wouldn't say
confiscated lands.

I would say lands reserved for
settlement and cultivation.

Lands to be developed.

MUKHTAR: To be
developed by Italians.

I tell you there is no
escape 20 years, 40 years.

The land will be
packed with people.

Why do you think we fight you?

DIODIECE: But the new settlements
will provide employment.

SALEM: As long as
you take our lands,

for as long as we are able,

we must fight you.

LOBITTO: Must?
MUKHTAR: Yes, we must.

LOBITTO: But I have it
on religious authority

that your Qur'an
does not permit you

to fight a war you cannot win.

MUKHTAR: Now you are going to
interpret our religion for us?

The book leaves no doubt.

It is our duty to god
to defend ourselves

against those who have
driven us out of our homes.

LOBITTO: I think this might
be a good time to adjourn.

MUKHTAR: We are in no hurry.

Why are you delaying?

DIODIECE: Your
Excellency, we are obliged

to refer your demands to Rome.

LOBITTO: At our next meeting,

we will give you their
answer and make our proposal.

DIODIECE: At least, at least
we know that we all want

the bloodshed between us to end.

GRAZIANI: An Italian innovation.

First to use aircraft in combat.

First to put tanks
in the desert.

History will mark
that gentleman.

What we needed was time.

Now we have achieved that time.

We can talk peace
with eloquence.

Will come under the the
command of Italian officers.

MUKHTAR: Go on.

LOBITTO: Two, the
Italian government

will pay monthly
salaries to these men.

MUKHTAR: Go on.

LOBITTO: The government
reserves the right

to punish any persons who

committed a crime
before this agreement.

Omar Mukhtar will have no right

to protect such persons.

BU-MATARI: These terms?

MUKHTAR: Absolute surrender.

Not even subject for discussion.

LOBITTO: The Italian
government undertakes

to pay Omar Mukhtar a pension
of 50,000 Lire a month,

and to provide him with
a comfortable house.

MUKHTAR: Do I deserve so much?

Have I been so
successful for someone

to offer me 50,000 Lire a month?

You know by offering me
bribes, you are insulting me.

DIODIECE: Your Excellency,
I made that proposal.

Believe me.

It was not an
attempt to bribe you.

Only to make your
retirement comfortable.

MUKHTAR: How can
I be comfortable

when my people are in
concentration camps?

And where is this general who
bombs, and burns, and hangs?

Why has he never come here?

SARSANI: Once terms
are agreed between us,

General Graziani will
be happy to see you.

MUKHTAR: I do not
wan to see him.

I want to see the last of him.

And why is he landing troops?

Where is he going?

To the last oasis?

6,000 drums of warfare.

He is going to Kouf.

You never wanted peace.

All you wanted was time.

We will be with Graziani.

LOBITTO: If you will
not come to terms,

I promise you immediate
and terrible war.

MUKHTAR: I know the
power of your comment.

The power you threaten us with.

We stood against
you for 20 years.

And with the help of god,

we will stay with
you 'ti| your end.

DIODIECE: I knew his conclusion.

LOBITTO: Poor fools.

They think they can ride
against the modern army.

AL FADEEL:

It is Kouf, no question.

Thousands of soldiers
and machines.

All going to Kouf.

MUKHTAR: Graziani is doing
what no one has ever done.

He is putting tanks
in the desert.

Time is on our side.

For Graziani, he is
marching south to Kouf.

We attack north.

We drive him back.

BU-MATARI: But we must
fight him for Kouf.

MUKHTAR: Sometimes it
is braver not to die.

What is lost counts as lost.

We know your family is there,

but to defend Kouf
is to die there.

BU-MATARI: I must go.

MUKHTAR: Yes, yes you must.

GRAZIANI: Are you
ready to pepper them?

SARSANI: Yes sir.

GRAZIANI: Good,
then give them hell.

SOLDIER: Lieutenant
Sandrini, open fire.

SANDRINI: Fire.

BU-MATARI: Go now.

BU-MATARI: Allahu Akbar.

GRAZIANI: Pile
everything on them.

Armor to the front.

BU-MATARI: Murderers!

SANDRINI: What are you doing?

SOLDIER: Colonel
Sarsani's orders.

VOICE OVER: No retreat.

We fight and die here.

SOLDIER: Fire.

GRAZIANI: Gentleman,
this is Kouf.

MUKHTAR: The seizure of
Kouf has hurt us deeply.

It has closed the south.

The only road for
military supplies

is across the Egyptian border.

We are in desperate
need of supplies, food-

SALEM: Three Italian cars
coming up the motor road.

MUKHTAR: How many?
SALEM: Three.

They are flying white flags.

MUKHTAR: Let them in.

We will finish later.

Sharif El Gariani.

SHARIF EL GARIANI:
To come through,

we had to use the Italian cars.

MUKHTAR: You found
them comfortable?

MOHAMED: We want to
talk to you alone.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: What we have
to say cannot be said in public.

MUKHTAR: Then it is
not to be said to me.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: Ah,
why do you not surrender?

Obtain the best terms you
can from the Italians.

Mohamed can arrange
a safe contact

for you out of the country.

MUKHTAR: Safe contact?

MOHAMED: Egypt?

MUKHTAR: Ah, to Egypt.

To hide with his brother?

You are the only Sanussi

left in this country,
and look at you.

Just look at him.

MOHAMED: But my
people have voted.

SALEM: To defend
your own privileges.

Where are you now?

MOHAMED: Omar Mukhtar,

the Italians assured us.

SALEM: You'd better
get back to them.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: My friend,

they are the government
of this country.

MUKHTAR: No, they
take this land by day.

But by god we take
it back by night.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: Omar
Mukhtar you are alone.

Cut off from the
rest of this country.

Isolated from the
rest of the world.

In the league of nations,
they will not speak.

And if they should,
they will not listen.

No one will care.

MUKHTAR: This battle
is not being fought

in the league of nations.

This battle is being
fought here, on this land.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: Omar,
you cannot win this war.

Your blood against their metal.

MUKHTAR: Every man has two days.

His own day and
his children's day.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: Your
children are starving.

Dying in the
concentration camps.

Dying because you
persist in fighting.

MUKHTAR: Yes, Yes they
are hostages of war.

But not one of them betrays me.

Not one has asked
me to surrender,

because they know and I know

that if I surrender
I betray them.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: Omar,
we grew up together.

Don't you remember 70 years
ago we were boys together.

MUKHTAR: Yes I remember.

Look how far apart
we have grown.

SHARIF EL GARIANI: This may
be the last chance you have

of seeking an honorable peace.

MUKHTAR: They steal our land.

They destroy our homes.

They kill innocent people.

And you call it peace.

I will not be corrupted
by that man's peace.

SHARIF EL GARIANI:
Perhaps we should go.

MUKHTAR: Yes I think you should.

SALEM: Mabrouka.

MABROUKA: Here.

For life.

SALEM: Omar.

MABROUKA: I prayed for you.

When you see Ismail,
show him the bag.

He gave it to me.

My boy.

My baby.

Was he the brave boy?

Will you be back?

SALEM: Yes, but
not for some time.

MABROUKA: Go.

Go now.

VOICE OVER: Attenzione.

BEDOUIN WOMAN:

SARSANI: Up you get.

Come on, out.

MABROUKA: Her child is sick sir.

SARSANI: I don't want you.

I want her.

JUDGE: You are accused
of giving aid, comfort,

and sustenance to the
rebels in the mountains.

Do you admit these
capital crimes?

So you are admitting your guilt.

You will all hang
by your necks...

Until you're dead.

Lieutenant, you will have
the privilege of giving

the order for the execution.

SANDRINI: No.

SOLDIER: What did you say?

You will do your
duty Lieutenant.

SANDRINI: I did not join
Army to hang women sir.

SOLDIER: Very well.

Lieutenant Sandrini,

you will consider
yourself under arrest.

ALI'S MOTHER: Thank
you god for the lives

you have given us.

GRAZIANI: What am I to do?

You refused your duty.

Insubordination is a
very serious offense.

When your officers
starts to cry conscious,

you don't know where
to land do you?

SANDRINI: I am prepared to
answer the court-martial sir.

GRAZIANI: Indeed.

And I'm not prepared to lose
one of my colonies heroes.

The hero I created.

I will not give you the pleasure

nor the publicity of a
court-martial Sandrini.

As an officer, you
were taught to obey

SANDRINI: Yes sir-

GRAZIANI: Do not
dispute with me!

The states have
needs that outweigh

the conscious of the individual.

Demands that go beyond
individual intelligence,

don't you think?

SANDRINI: Yes sir.

GRAZIANI: You will
report to Sarsani

for duty in the mountains.

I will give you the honor
of dying on active service.

AL FADEEL: Get
this stuff loaded.

MUKHTAR: Salem, take
care of the tanks.

I'll blow up the benzene.

GRAZIANI: The old man has these
mountains and he uses them.

Last night proved that.

Now beyond this mountain range,

there is a plateau
on which instinct...

Instinct tells us that
tanks can't operate on.

Now that is not true.

It Will be difficult.

Yes it will.

Now we control the approach
route here, here, and here.

These are tank now, use them.

SARSANI: Sir-
GRAZIANI: Yes.

Intelligence.

If I can think about
it, you execute it.

Especially if I can
put you on that plateau

without a shot
being fired at you.

SOLDIER: Yes sir.

GRAZIANI: I'll direct
Mukhtar here using

artillery, gas,
aircraft, no armor.

Once he has committed himself

30 kilometers to the
west by this road,

I will then push
my armors through.

That will leave them
with their mouths open.

Let's flush them out.

AL FADEEL: The gas
will be up here soon.

MUKHTAR: Yes, we must
get to high ground.

Get back to high ground!

Move everybody!

AL FADEEL: We're trapped.

MUKHTAR: Al Fadeel!

SALEM: They have given us
five days and nights of it.

MUKHTAR: He is making a
big push for the mountains.

He's only using artillery.

SALEM: His tanks
and armored cars

are useless in the mountains.

They can only operate
on level ground.

MUKHTAR: Yes, but
he forced us here.

What does that suggest?

SALEM: He wants control
of the mountain roads.

MUKHTAR: And what is there?

SALEM: The bridge
at Wadi El-Kouf.

MUKHTAR: That is what he wants.

GRAZIANI: Gentleman, this
time he won't get away.

First we take the bridge,

get our armor behind him,
artillery in front of him,

and then we pound
him into submission.

SARSANI: About the bridge sir.

I'm surprised that Mukhtar
hasn't tried to cut it.

GRAZIANI: That's because
he's a natural fighter.

Not an educated one.

He didn't go to military
academy like you gentleman.

Now's the time.

We dangle the bait.

SOLDIER IN BROWN HAT:
Sergeant, check the bridge.

SERGEANT: All clear.

SOLDIER IN BLACK HELMET:
Right, check the next bridge.

I'll hold this one here.

MUKHTAR: He is careful.

He is showing us nothing.

SALEM: We should have
blown up the bridge.

MUKHTAR: No.
SALEM: Scout cars.

We must stop them.

MUKHTAR: Do the signal.

GRAZIANI: You see.

Look.

The mice, they could never
resist the cheese could they?

GRAZIANI: Prepare the
artillery to open fire.

Blast them.

GRAZIANI: Now, send in the army.

MUKHTAR: Ah, he's made his move.

Let's go.

SOLDIER: Look, over there.

SOLDIER: Ambush!

MUKHTAR: Now.

GRAZIANI: He is good.

He is good.

This old man is good.

MUSSOLINI: My dear general.

My dear, dear general.

I hope you don't mind that
I share some of your credit,

but after all I chose you.

GRAZIANI: I hope
Duce that I can-

MUSSOLINI: You can
have anything you want.

You're the most fortunate
man in this room.

GRAZIANI: I have
physically moved the war

from the desert
into the mountains.

The last remnant of the enemy
have now run into holes.

We find ourselves in a
position whereby we are

forced to pull them out
by their necks one by one.

MUSSOLINI: I know.

You're having difficulties.

You're having problems with
them being in the mountains.

GRAZIANI: I don't seem to
have an enemy to fight.

Yet their attack is incessant.

I mean they have no form.

If they had form, I could
meet them with form.

But they have no
continuity of movement.

No fixed points of position.

I haven't, however, come
to my Duce empty minded.

I have a radical solution.

A new Hadrian's Wall.

Except, that Hadrian
used his walls

to shut the barbarian out.

I shall use mine to shut him in.

I propose my Duce
to fence in Libya.

To run a wall of impassible
wire across the desert.

From the Mediterranean
to the shores

of this sea of moving sand.

It will cut the enemy off

from his supplies out of Egypt,

and cut him off from
his retreat into Egypt.

MAN IN SUIT: Duce, my Duce.

Hundreds of miles
of barbed wire.

But is it possible
to know the cost?

MUSSOLINI: Why do you
question Hadrian's Wall?

Remember it was Hadrian's Wall

that kept the Romans in
Britain 100 years longer.

GRAZIANI: Thousands
of tons of brick.

4,000 men, six months,

and the whole job
completed the last barb.

You old fool.

You don't even look at a Roman
vision that Tacitus himself

would have been
proud of, do you?

SOLDIER: We are coming up to
a big sir.

They were trying to get
through with wire cutters

and 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

GRAZIANI: Well, that's that.

Now all he has is the trickle

from the concentration camps.

And we'll dry that up gentleman.

We will dry that up.

VOICE OVER: In 10 years' time,
all Europe will be fascist.

The enemy in Roman tanks, in
Roman ships, in Roman planes.

The new men of fascism are
writing the pages of tomorrow.

We have conquered a second
Roman empire with our blood.

We will fertilize
it with our labor.

We will hold it
forever with our arms.

Our 8,000,000 bayonets.

VOICE OVER: How may
bullets have you?

BEDOUIN: 12.

SALEM: At this rate,
we will soon be down

to fighting them with stones.

VOICE OVER: How long can we last?

SALEM: 'Til doomsday.

Nothing has got
through for a month.

Fighting barbed wire.

MUKHTAR: The wire will win,
but it tears our spirit.

Only then...

Yes, yes, the wire
is hurting us.

Yes it is.

It is around our neck.

But it is god, not
Graziani, and not him

who decides what becomes of us.

What is the will of wire
compared to the will of god?

They have 8,000,000 bayonets.

We have one that matters.

And we are not alone.

We have many, many fronts.

And others are
fighting beside us.

VOICE OVER: Enough!

Enough!

You're entering
prime sacred oath.

First we will overrun the earth,

and then we will take the
flag of fascism to the stars!

MUKHTAR: Oh, thank you Salem.

It's not the cold.

It's the dust.

SALEM: You've been fighting
a war for 22 years.

It's the same dust.

Why don't you sleep?

MUKHTAR: I'll feel
better soon enough.

We will sleep at the camp.

MUKHTAR: Go back, get back!

Fight on dirt.

SALEM: Go!

Go, we will hold them off.

VOICE OVER: It's suicide sir.

They tie their legs
so they cannot run.

SOLDIER: No, no.

MUKHTAR: Don't beg boy.

Don't beg.

OFFICER: You are taken in arms.

You, shoot him.

There are more in there.

Follow them up.

Go on, you took him.

Shoot him.

You idiot.

I said now shoot him.

DIODIECE: Where is he?

OFFICER: Well?

DIODIECE: Yes.

I confirm the identification.

He is Omar Mukhtar.

I am distressed
seeing him like this.

OFFICER: How can you say that?

He has led the rebellion
against us for 20 years.

DIODIECE: As a gallant enemy,

Omar Mukhtar should
be treated by us

with dignity and with respect.

OFFICER: With respect?

He should have been
whipped all the way here.

DIODIECE: You
forget yourself sir.

Sir, is there anything
I can do for you?

MUKHTAR: Well, if you would
allow me a little water.

I can make myself
ready for prayers.

DIODIECE: Of course.

MUKHTAR: And my
chains while I pray?

OFFICER: Out of the question.

DIODIECE: He only wants to pray.

MUKHTAR: I am too old

to climb walls or to
fight bare handed.

DIODIECE: Remove his
chains for an hour.

OFFICER: On your own
personal responsibility sir?

DIODIECE: Yes.

OFFICER: Bring the water.

MUKHTAR: Thank you.
DIODIECE: No, no need.

Omar Mukhtar.

GRAZIANI: I have come
a long way to meet you.

And now you must wait.

I want to ask you one question.

Why did you keep
going for so long?

I assure you
did you?

MUKHTAR: We fought.

That was enough.

GRAZIANI: Did you
care nothing about

MUKHTAR: You are the
ruination of my country.

What would you do if
someone occupied your land?

GRAZIANI: Did you ever
think how your attacks

might seem to us ambush?

Murder by night?

Deception by day?

Threats against the farmers?

MUKHTAR: Farming our land.

Libya is not your country.

You have no right in it.

Not to the pasture of one cow.

Not one minute of right.

GRAZIANI: Italy has as much
right here as anybody else.

England has a right to Egypt,

France to Tunisia and Algeria,

Spain to Morocco,

but none of them
have our pedigree.

We have hundreds of
years right here.

MUKHTAR: Soon you will
take everything from me.

And you want me to
justify your thefts.

No nation has a right
to occupy another.

GRAZIANI: We are back
here, that's all.

No one can deny us.

Read the date on this coin.

It is a coin of the Caesars.

Dated, minted in Libya.

MUKHTAR: You will also find
Greek, Turkish, Tunisian coins.

All over Libya you find them.

Buried in our sand.

GRAZIANI: Yes, I had forgotten.

You are short
sighted, aren't you?

Your spectacles I believe.

The day they brought them to me,

I knew you wouldn't
be too far behind.

MUKHTAR: My spectacles.

We are both your prisoners.

GRAZIANI: I will not be trivial.

Take them back.

Here.

MUKHTAR: Yes, it does
have an interesting past.

Don't try to buy too
much with it today.

Your money like your
glory is not permanent.

But I respect your past
as you must respect ours.

We too have a history in science,
mathematics, and medicine.

For your Dark Ages, we
led the world in learning.

GRAZIANI: How many days
will it take you to arrange

the surrendering of your men?

MUKHTAR: We will
never surrender.

We win or we die.

And don't think it stops then.

You will have the next
generation to fight,

and after the next, and next.

As for me, I will live
longer than my hangman.

GRAZIANI: What makes you
think I'm going to hang you?

I mean it might suit my
papers better to pension you.

If I hang you, I run the risk
of leaving an open grave.

But on the other hand,
you are a prime example.

MUKHTAR: You can only do to
me what god decides for me.

GRAZIANI: Those chains
are uncomfortable.

MUKHTAR: They are
uncomfortable effects.

GRAZIANI: Sit down.
MUKHTAR: Thank you.

GRAZIANI: Do you know
I had always hoped

that you and I,
implacable enemies,

might sit down on the
day of your capture

MUKHTAR: General,

Omar Mukhtar cannot give
you the conquest of Caesar.

I've hunted you so long.

I mean knowing each
other as we do.

An idea.

Can't we work together on this?

MUKHTAR: And today's
the day I work for you?

GRAZIANI: Why don't you
ask me for your life?

I might give it to you.

Like that.

MUKHTAR: What do I give you?

My collaboration?

No.

No!

GRAZIANI: You are too
late for bargains Mukhtar.

You are far too late.

MUKHTAR: I have not
asked you for my life.

Do not tell the world.

In the privacy of this room
I asked you for my life.

GRAZIANI: No, I
will not do that.

I will not lie about you.

You are a man of courage.

Let us hope you can keep
that courage tomorrow.

MUKHTAR: The rope
of your justice

has always hung in
front of me general.

GRAZIANI: Have him photographed.

I wish my enemies
to be recorded.

Instruct the
president of the court

that he must be hanged
in front of his people.

They must be there.

JUDGE: Omar Mukhtar,
you are accused

of forming rebellion against
the lawful government

of your country.

PROSECUTOR: What age are you?

MUKHTAR: 73.

PROSECUTOR: Are you the
head of the forces in Libya

fighting against Italy?

MUKHTAR: Yes I am.

PROSECUTOR: Have
you taken part in

attacks on Italian Soldiers?

MUKHTAR: Yes, I have.

PROSECUTOR: For how
long have you taken part

in attacks against
Italian Soldiers?

MUKHTAR: 20 years.

PROSECUTOR: How many attacks?

MUKHTAR: You know,

I couldn't remember the number.

PROSECUTOR: You ordered
the torturing and murdering

of Italian prisoners.

MUKHTAR: I did not.

Never.

PROSECUTOR: You were captured
with arms in your hands.

MUKHTAR: Yes I was.

LONTANO: I am an
Italian soldier.

In the field, I
would be his enemy.

But here, I am obliged to him.

I am appointed to defend him.

You are an old man.

Older than all of us here.

And I will not abuse you
with too many questions.

Did you ever submit to
the Italian authority?

MUKHTAR: I did not.

LONTANO: Did you
ever receive money

or other subsidy from
the Italian government

as a condition of good behavior?

MUKHTAR: I did not.

Never.

LONTANO: I declare
that Omar Mukhtar never

submitted to us, never
took subsidy from us,

never recognize our right
to rule in this colony.

He cannot therefore
in logic or justice

be tried by us as a rebel.

When we captured Omar Mukhtar
after 20 years of battle,

we are morally obliged
to deal with him

as a prisoner of war.

JUDGE: Silence!

Silence in court.

Captain Lontano, you
were ordered to defend

this rebel against
the charge of treason.

You have overstepped
your orders.

The sentence on
you, Omar Mukhtar,

is death by hanging in public.

In the town of Suluq
at 11 o'clock tomorrow,

the 16th of September, 1931,

Year nine of the fascist era.

MUKHTAR: From god we come.

And unto god we shall return.

VOICE OVER: Attenzione.

SOLDIER: In the name
of the government,

of the Republic of Cyrenaica,

We execute this
sentence as decreed by

the military tribunal
at Benghazi on

the 15th day of September, 1931,

year nine of the fascist era.

Omar Mukhtar, you
have been found guilty

of high treason, both
morally and materially,

and sustained a
rebellion against

the Italian government
of this colony.

The sentence passed
by the court,

death by hanging
in a public place,

will now be carried out.

, proceed.

MUKHTAR: Thank you god

for letting me die at
the hands of my enemies

SOLDIER: Untie him.

MUKHTAR: We will
never surrender.

We win or we die.

We will have the next
generation to fight,

and after the next, the next.

As for me, I will live
longer than my hangman.