All language subtitles for Stille Freundin AKA Silent Friend (2025).BDRip.(eng)

Does the baby need a break?

Tenth floor.

Doors closing.

Going down.

Maidenhair Tree
Ginkgo Biloba

- Cheers!
- Cheers!

Good evening.

Sorry I'm late. I got the name
of the restaurant mixed up.

Hello. My name is Jule.

I am your assistant,
and your interpreter if needed.

I'm doing my PhD in neurology.

I've been studying your work.

Is my Cantonese that bad?

I'm sorry.

I cheated and claimed
I speak Cantonese.

But I only speak it with my gran.

Your Cantonese isn't bad.

I'm a big fan of your research.

Excuse me.

Bon appétit.

Hello?

I'm fine.

Yes, I really am fine.

I need a projector tomorrow.

I've already emailed the uni about it.

I can manage on my own.

But that's not necessary.

Good morning.

In light of the worsening
COVID-19 situation,

individuals and organisations
are making every effort

to fight the virus together
and support Hong Kong.

Good morning.

Good morning.

"Describe the Linnaean system."

Carl Linnaeus, Swedish botanist,
born in 1707...

Just a moment.

With all due respect, we'll be
the ones asking the questions.

I'm sorry, Professor.

I see that you completed
your secondary education

at a prestigious Swiss institute.

Did they happen to
teach you Latin as well?

Yes, Professor.

I graduated in Latin
with top marks...

It seems to me that you have a habit

of providing more information
than you are asked for.

Isn't that right?

You must be quite wealthy,

if your family could afford to
send you to study in Switzerland.

As my esteemed
professors well know,

at the moment no German grammar
school issues diplomas to girls.

"At the moment".

Here we have before us
a proper little feminist.

Right. If, besides
housekeeping and sewing,

they also taught you Latin
at that famous Swiss institute,

would you have the kindness to
tell us Carl Linnaeus's name

in its original form?

Carl Nilsson Linnaeus.

So... is that all?

Do you have nothing else
to say about Linnaeus?

Yes, I have more to say.

But I am waiting for your questions.

You seem a bit sullen
today, young lady.

Or is this perhaps your usual tone?

With the greatest respect, Professor,
I await your questions on the subject.

Could you tell us the title
of Linnaeus's second work?

Species Plantarum.

The full title is Species Plantarum,

exhibentes plantas rite cognitas,

ad genera relatas,
cum differentiis specificis,

nominibus trivialibus,
synonymis selectis,

locis natalibus,

secundum systema sexuale digestas.

Correct.

Excellent.

And what is the fundamental
principle of the Linnaean system?

On what was his system
of plant classification based?

He was the first to
distinguish plants by sex.

That is why he assigned Greek
names to the various species.

Such as Monandria. Diandria.

- Polyandria.
- Excellent.

You have prepared yourself
very well indeed.

It is a pleasure to come across
such precise knowledge.

Could you translate the Greek
terms you mentioned just now?

Well, they refer
to the number of plants

with which a plant comes into
contact during reproduction.

Could you be more specific?

- Monandria is when a plant...
- A plant?

- Well, the original Greek term...
- Yes?

Professor, are you examining me
on the Linnaean system

or on Greek etymology?

My boy, could you give me
the book we are talking about?

Here it is, Professor.

Right, let's see.

I quote Linnaeus verbatim.

"The petals have no role
in reproduction,

but serve merely as a bridal bed,

which the Creator has prepared
with such magnificence,

adorned with precious curtains and
perfumed with intoxicating fragrances,

so that bride and bridegroom may
celebrate their nuptials

with the utmost solemnity.

When the bridal bed is thus prepared,

the time comes for the bridegroom
to hold his beloved bride close,

and for the bride to yield to him."

Now.

Am I embarrassing you?

No.

No?

Good.

As this is a university
and not a tea salon.

There is no time for blushing here.

So let's try again, shall we?

Monandria?

One man and one woman in the bridal bed.

Diandria?

Two men and one woman in the bridal bed.

Polyandria?

Twenty men or more and one
woman in the bridal bed.

Quite. Such a thing
truly does exist.

Without a doubt, most definitely an...

experience.

But you know, the ancient Greeks...

Right.

What do you think of
Linnaeus's approach?

It is a coherent system that helps one
find their bearings in the plant world.

Previously, only random
connections could be established.

Or rather, each plant
was studied individually.

With the Linnaean system,
every new species fits into it.

When discovered, it becomes part
of a complex web of relationships.

Web of relationships.

Listen to the refined choice of
words, my esteemed colleagues.

Here we have a
future scientist.

I am not mocking you,
dear young lady,

nothing could be further
from my intention.

Here we are. Johann Georg Siegesbeck,

a contemporary of Linnaeus,
a true authority on the matter.

I quote:

"If eight, nine, ten, twelve,
or even twenty men or more

were found in a bed
with a single woman,

or if the beds of
prostitutes formed a circle

so that married men could
mate with them..." etcetera, etcetera...

"...who could ever believe that God

had instituted such a loathsome
debauchery in the vegetable kingdom?

Who could display such an impure
system to university students,

without causing a public scandal?"

What do you think
about that, young lady?

A future scientist
must have an opinion.

It dates back a long time ago.

At the time it was new, and new ideas
always meet with resistance.

Does that mean that you
do not disapprove of debauchery?

Perhaps you practise it yourself?

- I am not a plant.
- No.

Indeed you are not.
You are incomparably more charming.

Well?

How did it go?
Which topic did you choose?

Young lady?

Over here.

It's me.

- I beg your pardon?
- The assistant.

You did brilliantly.

The old man nearly
burst a blood vessel

because his theatrical stunt
didn't have the desired effect.

What theatrical stunt?

You see, the professors
were rather upset

because this year the university
had allowed women to enrol.

Yes, that was clear to me too.

Eight young women have enrolled.

That's why old Winterhalter
prepared this topic on purpose.

- Each one of them had to go through it.
- But what if one of them had chosen

another topic?

Hang on...

Look.

Here.

But this is illegal.

Nobody knows, except the
five gentlemen and me.

And now you as well.
But we won't speak of it to anyone.

- Don't say a word, mind you.
- And why shouldn't I?

Because you have been admitted.

The only one.

Consider yourself the queen bee.

You now have 370 loyal
subjects at your disposal.

But why did he do it?

- Mr Winterhalter?
- Yes.

He's a bitter
old bastard.

His wife cheats on him openly,
shamelessly,

but he is too weak
to leave her.

Here at the university we have
our own Linnaean system

that identifies the men
with whom Mrs Winterhalter

has had, is having
or intends to have affairs.

It includes almost the
entire male population.

It's an open secret.

He doesn't have much reason to smile.

When he was examining the other
young ladies, he asked them

to point out the parts corresponding
to the folds of the vulva.

You should have seen their faces...

Maidenhair Tree
Ginkgo Biloba

Rainer Maria Rilke,
Duino Elegies

What are you doing here?

- What do you think I'm doing?
- This is my garden.

What do you mean?

I have to do some
botanical experiments.

But lying here
isn't forbidden, is it?

Lie wherever you like.
I'll section off the garden later.

Perfect, I have no intention
of doing anything else.

You could help me.

No, thank you.

There's no need
to be so blunt.

Don't be daft.

How did we go from
"don't touch my garden"

to "you could help me"?

It was just a simple question.

Well, I don't like plants.

I see.

I was only trying
to be polite.

I'm a country lad.

So?

After school, I could
never do what I wanted.

I always had to look
after the plants.

When it was about to rain,

the whole village would pour out
to gather the potatoes,

to tie the sheaves of
straw and load the hay.

I had quite enough of that.

When it wasn't about plants,
it was the animals.

Aye, I don't like
animals either.

I'm fed up with all of them.

Especially plants.

As long as they leave me
alone, I leave them alone.

Let them grow however they want.

What kind of experiment
do you have in mind?

Do you want to grow something?

See that geranium up there?

By the window?

It's mine.

A geranium?

Isn't that a bit bourgeois?

I didn't choose it because it's cool.

It's for my research.

It had to meet eighteen criteria.
I want to understand what plants feel.

Whether they react to things, or if they
just endure whatever happens to them.

That sort of thing.

I've read about a series
of new experiments.

I want to replicate them
and see if they make sense.

Well...

They certainly have a will of their own.

Are you trying to construct
some kind of language?

Exactly.

It won't work.

You don't even know
what project I have in mind,

yet you already know it won't work.

No...

I mean, we are very
different from each other.

Look, no matter how hard you squint,

you won't be able
to see ultraviolet rays.

Your eyes aren't made that way.

Even if there were a signal, you don't
have an instrument to receive it.

So it's as if there
were no signal at all.

- Nice idea, but...
- Signals can be converted.

True.

It would be cool if it worked.

Knowing what a clover leaf is
thinking before a horse eats it.

But it's highly unlikely.

Have they never got on your nerves?

They are here,

all around us,

watching us, thinking about us.

Alright, maybe they don't
think about us, but still...

Now I feel uncomfortable
every time there's a plant near me.

It's like walking around the house naked

and realising that lots of
little eyes are watching you.

That sounds truly creepy.

He's doing it really well.

Hang on, let me
show you something.

There.

See?

It's much easier this way.

Thank you.

What do you think of this assignment?

Be honest.

I'm sure it has its own logic.

But you have no idea what it is, do you?

Right...

I used to hate this assignment too.

But imagine finding yourself
in the middle of a jungle.

And discovering something extraordinary

that no one has ever described.

You have two options:
you can press the plant

and destroy its
three-dimensional structure.

Or you can move it
with a clump of soil,

and it will survive for
a week before rotting.

But with a few chemicals

and these few simple tools,
you can work miracles.

When I was working in
the northern Amazon...

You've been to the Amazon?

Twice.

Next year I intend
to go to Indonesia.

Don't you find it unpleasant?

What?

Come on, then!

Inhale.

Exhale.

Touch your solar plexus.

Close your eyes.

Feel your breath

and your whole being
merging with nature.

Keep your eyes closed.

Feel the earth beneath your feet.

Walk

Walk

Open your arms

Your feet in contact with the ground.

Thrust your chest upwards.

Skip.

Arms and legs lifting together.

Step and skip.

Step and skip.

Good.

Very good.

Let joy light
up your faces.

Raise your hands to the sky.

Feel the impulse in your chest.

Excellent.

Good morning.

Would you mind telling me where
the young lady spent the night?

Here, at home. I...

I only went
out for a walk.

Oh, really?

So you went for a walk.

Yes.

In the botanical garden.

But it doesn't open for
another quarter of an hour.

- But I...
- If my daughter did such a thing,

I'd slap her so hard
she'd regret ever being born.

I'm sorry.

What have you got there?

What's that bundle?

Look.

One of our bedsheets.

See?

Here.

My mother gave it to me as a gift,

and now a young lady goes wandering
around the woods wrapped up in it.

- Mrs Meyer...
- A proper young lady,

yet she behaves worse than a dog.

That's enough, Hanna.
There's no need to make such a racket.

No need to make a racket?

She lives under our roof and runs
off to the woods to spread her legs.

Mrs Meyer, I didn't do anything...

And what if the police
brought her home, eh?

What then? What should
I tell your parents?

They entrusted you to me.

And what if you got pregnant, eh?

Hanna, the children are here.

Yes, quite right.

Out.

Don't listen.

You too, Klaus.

The last thing I need is for
him to learn such nonsense.

I can explain this
dreadful misunderstanding.

I didn't do anything in the park.

Get out of here.

Pack your things

and leave.

Excuse me.

Assistant wanted in exchange
for room and board.

Is anyone there?

Dear young lady,

please forgive me.

I was indulging in a brief break.

How can I help you?

Well, actually...

A photographic portrait?

A lovely keepsake for someone?

I have some beautiful backdrops.

- But I...
- Please, let me show you.

Zeiss, my darling.

We have a customer.

Come, my darling. Come here.

It's alright.

It's not a lady's toy.

Please, take a seat there,
on the chair.

And place one of those delicate
little feet on the stool, please.

How did you become a photographer?

Me?

No one has ever asked me that before.

I'll tell you the truth.

My lungs were too weak
for military service.

I discovered this trade...

all by myself.

I had the first
camera in town.

I built it myself.

And what are you doing now?

I'm moving the lamp.

What difference does it make?

Only a photographer would
understand, not you.

I am really curious to know.

Well, if I put the lamp
next to the camera,

everything is lit evenly.

Your beautiful face flattens out
to the point that it looks,

forgive the metaphor,

as if you'd been hit in the face
with a baker's shovel.

But look...

If instead...

Come behind the camera
and I'll take your place.

See?

See what a huge
shadow my nose casts?

And now?

Can you see it?

Yes.

Pay attention.

Now look!

Tell me, what does an assistant do?

Right.

Good evening.

What are you doing here,
dear young lady?

At this hour?

- I came for...
- Please, do come in.

What is this about?

I told you. I accept the
position of assistant.

My dear young lady...

Did you really think...?

How could I hire you as an assistant?
I thought you were joking.

Not at all.
Why would I be joking?

We were in complete agreement.

What a mad idea!
Get it out of your head.

Go home, quickly.

It's getting late.

When you are working
on a delicate area,

take a deep breath

and hold your breath until
the brush touches the photo.

Everyone wants to look beautiful,

even those who won't admit it.

Sometimes I straighten a nose

or remove a bit of fat
from a chubby face.

But with men, the trick is

to remove a few age spots
without making the face too smooth.

After all, a face is not
a baby's bottom.

Sorry, I always say that.

Goethe
The Metamorphosis of Plants

- Bye.
- Bye.

- Hey.
- Hey.

What are you doing?

Reading.

Yes...

Right.

See you later, then.

At home.

- Have fun.
- Bye.

Wait.

Well?

- How is it coming along?
- Very well.

- I've almost finished.
- Good.

It is a very widespread
misunderstanding,

isn't it, Miss Grete,

that photography shows reality?

In fact, it is an excellent tool

for exploring its fragile nature.

This instrument needs care,
Miss Grete.

For a camera,
"care" means using it.

Otherwise it gets ruined.

I ask you to look after it.

See? It opens from here, from the top.

See?

This is how you adjust the focus.

And this is the shutter.

And this is the shutter release button.

- Bye.
- Bye.

I've put the kettle on.

The filters are up there.

- Where?
- On the right.

On the right.

Further along.

Thank you.

How many spoons?

Six.

How much?

That's enough.

Have you made any progress
with the plant thing?

Yes.

Why do you ask?

I found something that
might perhaps help you.

Wait. I'll read it to you.

"All is leaf,
and through this simplicity

- the greatest variety..."
- Goethe?

Goethe?
You don't understand, Hannes.

I am trying something
completely new.

It has nothing to do with
an eighteenth-century poet.

Alright, I get it.

Do you want to see my geranium?

My project?

Isn't it beautiful?

Yes, it is.

You quoted Goethe.

Yes.

- And regarding...
- Don't touch it! It's a sensor.

And what does this apparatus do?

It converts the plant's
reaction into a language

that we can somehow read.

It's the full moon.

Cool.

Yeah.

Hannes, come on!

- Stop it!
- I didn't do anything.

What?

Hannes, don't be daft.

Idiot.

If they don't yield to our demands,
we carry on.

Hannes, say something.

- Hey, guys!
- Hi.

In my opinion, we can carry on
with the sit-in for the whole term.

There are more important
things than graduating.

More important than carrying on
as if nothing had happened.

Look, there's an owl up there.

Can you hear it?

Back there.

An owl.

Hey.

Why aren't you smoking?

No, thank you.

I heard what you said.

But why not?

If he doesn't want to, leave him alone.

For ideological reasons?

Will you stop it?

Calm down.

I just want you to be free.

Don't worry so much about
what Mum and Dad might say.

You're just like the village parson.

- What?
- To you, a joint is everything,

and our parson thinks
the same about Jesus.

Amen.

Good one, that truly!

I'm cold.

Take my blanket.

Thank you.

- Thanks very much.
- You're welcome.

Do you want to come to bed with me?

What?

Do you?

If you want to, it's fine by me.

Wait a minute...

Don't you like me?

No!

I mean yes!

- Are you a virgin?
- What are you talking about?

- Is it not true?
- No!

It's just that I'd heard you...

No!

Will you give me a potato?

Thank you.

What's there to laugh about?

Nothing.

Don't touch it.
Only go in to water it.

As if I'd just walk into
your room like that.

We'll be late!

Coming!

Just a little, every four days.

Is that enough?

You really are an expert.

I don't want it getting used to you.

It needs to survive,
but not grow attached to you.

Only to me.
It's crucial for the project.

Alright.

It's easy to understand
how the apparatus works.

Here you can see the average value.

You enter it here.

Always in a different colour.

What do the colours mean?

Red means very good,
blue not so much.

The rest is obvious.

Oh, and don't smoke in here.

And no one is to go into my room.

Don't water them when they
are in direct sunlight.

Otherwise the leaves burn.

Only check them when
the soil is a bit dry.

- Then you can water them.
- Alright.

Right, that's everything.

Alright.

Bye.

Have fun.

Thank you.

I'll see you to the door.

- Every four days.
- Every four, and the garden every day.

My God, we're leaving
you here all on your own.

It's fine like this.

- Bye.
- Bye.

- Hurry up!
- I'm coming.

- Have fun.
- You too.

Ten pfennigs, please.

Hello, Professor Wong.

Hello.

I just wanted to know how you are doing.

Do you feel lonely?

Lonely?

No. And you?

We are all doing well, thank you.

It must be depressing

being all alone on that big campus.

Because of the loneliness.
- I'm alright.

Are you calling about
something in particular?

The uni called me.

About...

They're worried about you,
they want me to visit you.

I'm fine. Tell them not to worry.

I hope it's not a problem
that I'm using the guest room.

They've asked me to talk to you...

About what?

OPEN - CLOSED

I need equipment
for my next experiment.

You might find that
in the neurology lab.

Mr Wong...

I cannot help you.

With your smart card...

I hope you understand me.

Invitation to participate:
expedition to the East Indies

Come on, down there.

Stick another flyer up there!

- Give me one.
- Hurry up!

Jochen!

- Stick some more up!
- Quick!

Against?

German studies students
have a particular responsibility.

- They must participate.
- They are already participating!

In favour?

And now?

I have to go.

Go?

Do you know what a sit-in is?

You don't know?

I'll tell you.
It means staying where you are.

Until they yield to our demands,
we don't budge, understand?

Yes. Yes.

It's important.

What's so important
at 4 in the morning?

Tell me?

I have to water the garden.

Before dawn.

Water it? What do you mean?

What kind of bollocks is that?

Anyway, I have to go.

Why before dawn?
Is it a prayer?

At least you've got some beer, I hope?

- Idiot.
- Wait.

Hey, mate! Wait!

Where are you going?

Quiet, the police!

Pigs!

- A beer first.
- Sit next to me.

- I've made room for you.
- A beer?

- Give it to me.
- You don't want anything else?

Hannes!

Leave him alone.

- Another cider?
- Cider.

- Hey!
- Look, if you...

Just tell me...

- Get out!
- Come on! Stop it!

Get out right now! Out!

What is your problem?

Instead of insulting us,
tell me what you're doing!

- What's gotten into you?
- Out.

- Hannes!
- Idiots!

Is he joking?

Hey!

Good shot!

Fuck your sit-in!

- Leave it, mate!
- Clear off, get out of the way.

- Go and water your flowers!
- Fuck you and your shitty flowers!

Good evening.

- Come on, join the party!
- No.

Don't worry, it's sweet.

- Aloe.
- No, thank you.

Well, what a surprise.

I want to join the expedition.

I am a professional photographer.
I can be useful.

Really?

Sit down with us.

- I only came to...
- Go on, come in. Sit down.

Don't worry,

they are more embarrassed than you are.

Cheers.

- So you're a photographer?
- Yes.

Qualified?

I'm sorry.

Hi Hannes, how is my geranium doing?

Peter wants us
to be properly together.

Do you think that's a good idea?

Gundula.

I would like to show you something.

Please.

Thank you.

Bon appétit.

It's my favourite dish,
ever since I was a child.

"Heaven and Earth"

That's what it's called.

Himmel und Erde.

Heaven and earth.

Himmel und Erde.

Good?

I apologise profusely for my behaviour

and for the inconvenience
I have caused you.

Scientific experiments
can sometimes seem strange.

If you like, I'll try
to explain it to you.

Eat up, otherwise it'll get cold.

Now we must wait.

It will take a little time.