Original subtitles

CHRISTMAS AT CAMP 119

Camp 18, Kenya.

Corporal Nino Caracci, son of Carlo from Foligno. Mom:

Nino dear, we're fine. 467 We've received all your letters but we wait for you anxiously.

Camp 32, India.

Captain Luigi Verdiani, son of Alberto, from Rome. Your daughter Anna:

Dear Dad, Mom is fine, I've passed all the exams.

My kisses and bless you!

Camp 119, California.

Private Battista Bacigalupo from Genoa.

Your sister�

You see? As soon as they mentioned your sister, the radio broke!

Damn it! It's the fault of this nut always touching the buttons!

What do you think it is? A typewriter?

Idiot. Don't you know I worked in the radio in Turin?

Cut it out, you were a doorman!

No, he played the announcement bird.

Will you knock it off, eh?

Leave it alone! Leave it alone! Leave it alone!

When I think that my wife went to Rome just to talk to me�

and this idiot broke everything! - Idiot!

I could eat your heart!

Am I late? - Attention! - At ease.

At ease. - Gennarino, did my cousin Santelia speak?

Lt, this radio is a piece of crap.

Crap? First, give me a cigarette. I won that in a lottery.

A Magnadyne with magic eye. - It may be magic but it sucks.

It's the valves, Lt. - That's it, the valves!

They were busted by his sister. - Hey? What?

At the word "sister". - Give me a match. - A match!

The Commandant promised he would get some.

Ah, Lieutenant�

This wouldn't be the first time the Americans promise and promise,

but when comes to keeping it� see ya later, Buddy!

Those great big sons of�! - Hey, easy! Easy!

Don't exaggerate, boys! They're not so mean. Some are good guys.

Who can understand him?

Naples, you barely understand Italian, just imagine the American!

Where are the others? - Where are the others?

The chaplain took away Alberto and Innocente.

How fine my Lt is and what a head he has!

How do you say new radio valves? - What?

The radio is broken. The valves are shot.

Valves� Radio�

Lt, what's that? American raspberries? - Shut up, Gennarino, please!

How do you say "valves"? - Wait, Lt.

These "no good". "More", new! Understand?

See? I spoke Venetian and he got it right away!

We won't hear it anymore! Come on!

Oh! No "hearing"?

And who gives a damn!

You blessed�!

Excuse me, Lt, just curious, is that one a good guy too?

No, not that one. - No, Lt, that one's a real stinker. - Yeah.

Guys! Look what a masterpiece!

Instead of food, you bring a tree! - How much will it cost?

Well, it's not done yet. It needs a few stars!

We do things in a big way, we do. Even the stars!

They're really nice, where did you find them?

Well, I didn't do anything. It's due to a certain Florentine artisan.

Listen, Florence, you didn't really buy this stuff, did you?

Yeah, I like spending money on such bullshit.

Sorry, Father, it slipped out. - Never mind, I'm used to it by now.

Genoa, come here. - We need one there.

You see? Pea soup cans. We have a ton of those!

So true, they purged us every day! - God!

Leave God alone, he's not involved in this.

Thank him instead that he lets us spend a Christmas in peace.

Well? I'm right, the war is over?

The war.

Well! I thought you'd welcome our little work!

Yeah, the tree is small, but it's the thought that counts.

To be honest, Reverend� giving it a good look�

What do you think, Gennar�?

Yeah, giving it a good look� I don't like it.

You know you're some nice guy! Come here a sec.

I don't like it, what must I say? That I should be made to like it?

OK, fine, it needs a little work. I don't deny it, but it's really not bad.

I don't like it.

Hey, guys! The general!

Attention!

Salute, boys!

At ease.

Are you offended? - We're all friends here.

Too much. It's too much. - Too much.

You're offended? It's just a joke. Come on!

This joke on the general, I don't like. I'm really a general.

Don't make me laugh, you were a corporal!

In the Army, many years ago. But I'm a civilian general here!

And I'm a non-military corporal. Don't talk nonsense!

It's not nonsense! I'm a civilian general, and despite friendship I demand respect!

It wasn�t me, it was the radio.

It too! - It broke down, and is misbehaving.

Listen, I never understood this story of the civil general. Will you explain? - Sure.

I'll gladly explain, because between us officers it is right to explain.

So, I was in Addis Ababa and was the manager of the ministerial division.

When we were captured, examining the prisoners� - Examining?

And they gave you a bath. I see.

This one's always been your lackey? - Yes.

Always. - Always.

The captain� the American.

Who spoke English because Americans and Brits speak the same tongue.

He asked me, ''You, what are you as civilian?''

I say, "I'm the general manager".

He said, "You�" which means "me".

''You, general!'' So, I was made equal to a general.

That's why I have my general room and two rugs.

Actually one, the other was stolen. - So what? I've a rug too.

Is it red with stripes, by chance?

Yes.

Hey, snowing like crazy, boys!

Tortellini! There are tortellini, Come, boys!

Tortellini made with hard wheat flour, eggs and pure pork!

Long live the joy!

Alberto, who made them? - Stop it! Eat and shut up!

When you sing, you're OK, but I don't trust your cooking.

Go on and eat, don't criticize!

You didn't buy them, did you? - Right, bought them at the mall!

You always think of money, Genoa! - Sure, Bologna! You're always asking me!

Boys, come on, let's not ask where this gift from God came from.

You all know the best stuff is due to the Neapolitan genius,

therefore, be nice to them.

Reverend, there's only 5! - The others had 4. You should be happy.

Milan, respect Sicily! - Shut up!

Like a bunch of wolves! - After you, Lt. - After you, General.

Please, General. - No, after you. - Thanks.

They're counted, anyway. - No kidding?

Want to count them? - No! One, two, three, four.

There's also us, General. Go on, serve.

Long live the joy!

Wait, what are you doing? Something must come first.

Antipasto? - Not that, stupid, the blessing. - Ah, right.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So be it.

Blessed be the food and thanks to the Lord for having gotten it today.

No need for thanks, I do what I can� - Shut up, you're not the Lord.

Thank you, Reverend.

Bon appetit to everyone. - Bon appetit!

Well, what do you think of it?

I don't like it.

Shut up! You don't know squat! Tortellini Genoa style!

True, the folding of the dough, was my modest work. Patience!

Don't listen to him, Reverend. They're really good.

They're delicious, Father.

Gennarino has a poor sense of gustation.

Gas station? Were they made there?

If you don't like them, give it me. - Leave it!

The biggest I'm keeping for later! It's nice. Watch out if any touches it!

Want some with us?

What's he looking for?

What does he want?

Hot, isn't it?

What being this stuff? - What does this jerk want?

Stand when I speak!

What's that? - Tortellini! Italian food!

How is it made? - Why do you care?

On your feet! What saying?

They're made of sawdust, waste paper and chewing gum.

Flour! Eggs! American Pig!

You're right, Sergeant. True.

If I taking you while stolen American food�

You lot of prison!

Then they marvel if you send them� to hell!

Ignorant! - Who knows what he was looking for!

Looking for somebody to break his head! - Calm down.

Quiet, guys, don't be angry, maybe he was right, poor guy...

Maybe he was looking for this.

Give it to me! Give it here!

Lt, you allow such things?

But I, Lt� - You want get us all shot?

We must not steal, we're guests! Right, Reverend? - Well, OK�

OK? All for a bottle of foreign wine! - Foreign? This is Frascati!

Shut up for a second, damn it the hell!

How did it get here? - God sent it.

Then let's drink without remorse. - Reverend, we're all religious.

Easy, easy. - Watch your eyes!

Watch your eyes. - Put it under it, else it'll be wasted.

What? No pop? - It's the climate.

I want to talk. - Silence, the Lt speaks.

Puh-leezo! - Not "puh-leezo". It's puh-leazy.

You're crazy about speaking foreign. If you don't know English, you shut up.

I don't speak English, but I can speak it whenever I want!

What is this nonsense? - Nonsense?

Speak, Lt. - Ah, General, I'll put you in irons!

So, Merry Christmas� to all of us.

And our families.

Done? - Done.

Merry Christmas!

You don't drink?

Let me be, Lt.

Frascati�

Grottaferrata�

Rome.

# Let us through,

# we're Romans.

# We're the best flowers from the gardens.

Don't you start breaking your skates.

Hey! No walking in the middle of the street!

Wait! Don't buy them ice cream, it makes them sick!

Listen, don't leave them alone! And watch they don't dirty their clothes!

Hey! At noon sharp, before the church!

And don't be late like usual!

Go away from the balcony, you look like�

# What morning sun and what a day!

# The sky is blue and every window is in bloom.

Kids, be careful! The tram is coming!

# There are no bitter mouths, the people smile and go on their way!

# You were about to weep and now you want to sing!

Don't run ahead!

# How much sun and how many roses for the roofs and cornices.

# What are those flirts doing on the loggias of the houses?

# You can be sure, they're waiting for someone,

# like one time you waited for me.

# But, now no one awaits me.

# I pass, sing and don't even look up!

# How happy it is to be alone, when liberty is so beautiful.

You're tired. I told you to take the carriage.

I'm not tired, I'm sitting down.

Dad, can I skate? - You want to break your head?

Gather some flowers for mom. If you find any salad, all the better.

Please.

It's hot, huh? - Yes, it's very hot in your city.

You're not Roman? - No, from Turin.

I'm familiar. A friend of mine was a soldier there, he always talked about it.

It's cold there these days, isn't it?

When I left, there was a foot of snow. - Holy smoke!

In Rome, it hasn't snowed for 4 years.

One can tell you're not Roman.

Yeah... I've a slight Piedmontese accent.

What are you doing there? Hey, kids!

Excuse me, are those your children?

My children? Why? - They're ruining the whole flower bed.

But I've no kids. - If I find their father, I'll give him a 1,000 lire fine.

Forget it, they're kids. - Eh, right.

Have any children? - No.

Married? - No.

Are you married? - No.

Have children? - No!

You can't have any husbands if you're not children.

We are not children. We don't have spouses. I mean, we're not married.

Listen, if the boss comes by, I'll be in trouble and kicked out.

Yes, let's hope he doesn't come.

I have 3 kids and I'd never bring them here.

Because you have to look after kids. Listen.

Either watch them or leave them home. Kids will be kids.

As I was saying�

You know the Arch of� - Titus?

The Arch of� - I'll show her.

Which arch would that be? - That one? Come and see.

The columns of the temples of Antoninus and of Faustino. - Shall we go?

Here is the pillar of the Temple of Romulus, the Via Sacra, and the Temple of Vesta.

To the left is the tomb of Romulus and Remus.

You see, these things, a long time ago, were modern.

Come, look.

Come, come!

That should be the Arch of Constantine.

No, it's Titus.

Ah, right, the Arch of Constantine is at the entrance.

No, that is Septimius Severus's. - Exactly, it was built later.

No, before. - Ah, right. You see�

Well, Miss, do tell me, 'cause, beyond the Colosseum, we Romans know nothing...

You skate? - Yes, if there is smooth turf.

You see? - What do you want?

Here!

Here. - Thank you.

Two lire for you, boy.

Can't your departure be delayed for a few days? - Impossible.

Tomorrow, after the holiday, the children return to school.

Children can wait two days more to learn history and geography.

Be nice, find an excuse.

Sunday we could visit the catacombs until noon.

Why? Something to do at noon?

Eh.. yeah.

Well? Kids, beat it! - Don't we get anything?

It's only right.

Er, yes...

You see what happens when you give money to kids?

One moment! One moment!

It's not polite to bother people who are talking. Go on. Here.

Now go, beat it! Careful!

Please. - Thank you.

These Roman children are so greedy!

Children are the same everywhere. - Ah, yes.

Dad! Giulio is climbing! Run!

Dad, hurry!

Excuse me. - Dad, hurry! Giulio is about to fall!

Excuse me a moment. - Giulio, don't move!

Giulio! Stop!

Dad!

Daddy's darling! What have you done?

We'll put a bit of water. It's nothing!

You could've watched him!

Daddy's darling!

Here. Disinfect it with a little of Colonia water.

What should I tell you now?

Nothing, better you keep quiet.

Poor creature.

The point is that children shouldn't be left alone...

to go with the young ladies... to look at Arches.

Give me the bottle.

Thank you. - Thank you for the flowers.

Bye, Giulio.

Have a good trip.

Goodbye.

It's 12:30!

What happened?

I have to spend my life upset? When will I have peace?

When I'm transferred to Africa! - Holy Mother, may the day come!

That's your place, you'd love it with the Africans! Now, hurry!

We won't even be in time for the Elevation!

Believe me, if the Commandant gave me a pint of this wine a day

I'd never move from here.

You don't want to go home?

If you knew what it means for me to return home and see that face again!

Pity you're not from Trieste. - What does that mean?

If you'd go home, you'd sure see "triste" faces.

Eh, sure! They're happening� a cigarette� some things�

Gennarino Capece!

Oh, that's me! Thanks.

Turi Lojacono! - It's for me!

Anything else? - No.

For me? - My mother! My mother! My mother wrote to me!

"My unfortunate son,"

"My unfortunate son, your Annuziatina is dead."

My wife is dead? And they didn't write me she was sick?

She died while I was in prison!

Come, take heart. Courage, be good.

Look at this, good God!

"Yes, she is dead. You must consider her as dead�''

''You must consider her as dead, this daughter of a very shameful woman,"

"who has stained the honor of your future family."

"Because on Sunday night, she was seen in public with her sisters�"

"at the movies."

Get out!

At the movies without me! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!

"God is just, and will avenge you."

"I kiss you and I bless you, my most unfortunate"

"and most cuckolded son. Your holy mother."

Have they wrote you from Naples? - Yes, my father. - Oh, Daddy!

Go on, read it. - No, it's embarrassing.

Nobody writes you, not even that cousin you're so fond of, Santeria...

Santelia.

Santa Liar, so� - Read it. If I'm disturbing you, I'll go.

No! I'd be glad if you read it rather, since I don't understand the first periodical...

''Dear son,

I write to tell you we've turned our hearse into a belvedere coach,

and I moved to Naples where now coachmen earn a lot."

"Dear son, your lieutenant�" He always remembers me.

"How is he?" - Don't know, I hope he's fine.

No, he's asking how I am. - And how are you?

Fine. - Well then!

"Are you still together?" - What a question!

"I steam him�" Steam? - Yes, steam, respects�

Oh! "I esteem him with all obedience. The father, Carmelo Capece.'' - Who's that?

Ah, my dad!

It's not over, there's more! - Ah, the postscript.

The conscript. - ''Naples has become a Babylon."

"British, Americans, Russians,"

"yellows, blacks. It sounds joyful, but it's not."

"Naples has become melancholy. No longer the Naples it once was.''

That it? - Yes.

Just like that. Without an end.

No longer the Naples it once was!

# Tomorrow? But I'd like to go this evening!

# So far, no, I can't endure anymore!

# They say that only the sea is remained

# And it's the same like before, the blue sea.

# Nunnery of Santa Chiara,

# in my heart there's a darkness,

# because every evening I think of Naples how it used to be,

# I think of Naples as it is now...

# Fountain of Capodimonte,

# my heart is breaking,

# when I hear say that people have become awful

# my land, but why?

# No, it's not true!

# No, I don't believe it!

# I die from wishing to come back to Naples

# But what shall I do? I'm afraid of coming back there.

You don't know the metamorphosis of the nobility. My master is handsome.

Ah, handsome? - He's elegant. A real gentleman.

He said one of these days he'll buy a phaeton and I'll be his private driver!

Get out! - How stupid you are!

Why do I waste time with ignorant people like you!

Illiterate idiots!

What stuff! What stuff! Wow!

That Santobuono! All 8! All 9! What the heck!

And me 5, 5, 5.., always 5!

Goodbye, Vincenzino. - Donna Clara, my humble devotion.

See you tomorrow at the Marquis? - I can't promise it, Donna Clara.

Tomorrow I have to see my cousin, Santelia. But if I can, I'll come.

Bye! - Bye!

Vincenzino! - Bye!

Vincenzino, for that sum, can I count on it for tomorrow?

Ignazio, don't offend me. - But� - Within 24 hours. - I can count on it?

Ignazio! - OK - Bye.

Don Vincenz�. Don Vincenz�!

The bill! - Ah! Right!

Give me a cigarette.

Here. - There are also these two old bills.

I've already signed? - No, but�

Give them here, I'll sign.

A match.

But I�ve already paid the bartender.

Really? Good. See you tomorrow.

For now I thank you and� - And?

Nothing� I thank you. What more do you want?

Good night then. Rather good day. - But�

Don Vincenzino! Don Vincenzino! I'm here! How did it go?

Gennar�, thank you, but this morning� - How did it go?

The parabola continues downward. - The carambola? Why, did you play billiard?

The parabola! - Ah!

Poker, the damned poker. - Then you've lost tonight also?

Every penny.

Sorry, Gennar�, but I also lost the 6000 lire you kindly lent me yesterday.

Jesus! You said that if he said 4 kings, you'd say 4 aces,

you'd say 5,000, he'd say 10,000, you 20,000...

He'd see you, and you'd win it all.

The reverse happened: 4 aces for him, 4 kings for me.

Damn� - The parabola! - Yeah, the caramb....

The parabola. Farewell, Gennar�. This morning, I'll walk back.

Starting this morning, you'll always walk back, because the horse and carriage,

kindly, have been sold.

What? - Where else could I get 6,000 lire?

Sold? - Yes.

Sold!? Why?

'Cause you'd say 5,000, and he'd say 6,000, you'd�

Oh, Gennarino, you mustn't listen to this dissolute madman before you!

How sorry I am! You shouldn't have done it!

Gimme a match, these cigarettes go out so quickly. - Yeah.

Understand? What were we saying then?

You were saying 5,000� - Enough, enough!

It's a catharsis. - As well?

You go always without a hat. You want my cap?

You're a good boy. You care for me. - It's my duty.

I can't take it anymore. I've been living for years under the creditors' attack.

The tailor, the landlord... the ironer, even the barber!

I can't leave my house, they decamp there every morning.

I have to get away from this base, petty materialism.

It's a slow trickle. Understand?

So I've decided. Sic transit Gloria mundi.

Hail Mary, full of grace� - I want to give you�

The 6,000 lire?

You haven't understood a thing! - I haven't? - Nothing!

I want to give you a keepsake.

Well�

Here.

Goodbye, Gennar�. - Goodbye?

But that's a keepsake for death!

I know what he wants to do!

Assassins! Assassins!

Carrion! Assassins!

Who are you mad at? - With you!

Are you happy now you've killed him? - Who?

The Duke of Lepignano! My Don Vincenzino!

The man who kissed me on the forehead! - Are you nuts?

Nuts? He's still warm. You can say that while he's still warm!

Still warm! Still warm! And you've killed him!

He killed himself cause he couldn't pass by here for the materialism of your debts!

Because you're a bunch of materials! - How did it happen?

How did it happen? He told me not to tell anyone.

He only said, ''Come and get me tomorrow morning for the last time

with your father's hearse to accompany me to my last abode.''

He also told me he forgave his creditors.

What a heart! A man like that to go to the cemetery without a candle!

Without a flower! Let's hope it doesn't bring you bad luck!

But what is a candle? What is a flower?

How much does it take to buy a candle?

A few hundred lire. But I don't have a penny.

I'm not a shopkeeper like you!

You have only one way, for that holy soul to pray for you.

One only! It was the catharsis!

The catharsis, the downward parabola!

The... Thanks! Thank you! Many thanks!

Don Vincenzino is dead! To the true heart of Naples! The true heart!

For the true heart of Naples! Throw it! Thank you! Many thanks!

Don Vincenzino is dead! But Naples will never die! Never!

Thanks! Many thanks!

We'll all go with him! - No, just me!

Why? - Because that's what he wrote.

He wrote it in his will! That I'm to take him I alone, for the last time! Alone!

San Gaetano, protect us with open arms!

Cheers! - Cheers!

Bon voyage!

Gennar�! - See how I'm got up, eh?

Very sorry if I made you wait.

Get on, Sir! Go on! - Get on? - Yes, get on.

Come on!

Come on! Let's not waste time.

Get up! Put one footsy here and another footsy there!

There, like that!

Where are we going? - To my dad's in Afragola, to return the carriage.

Who died? - The Duke of Lepignano.

The Duke of Lepignano? How sorry I am! How did it happen?

But I'm the Duke of Lepignano! What are you saying?

Sic transit Gloria mundum!

Sir, to make you live, I had to make you die.

What are you talking about? Give me a cigarette. What's all this about?

If you want to be resurrected, come to Afragola.

In death, you can no longer stay here. - Are you crazy?

Yeah, come to my dad's place! A little peace! A little quiet!

Just think, for us a new life will begin!

Fine times will come! Good times!

Then we'll be all set, you and me!

Here he is.

He's coming. - Who?

Sergeant John. - That one needs to be taught a lesson!

What can we do? - The slapping joke.

You go there! - Always me! No!

The slapping joke. We'll have fun!

Shut up! Come here, come here!

You?

What doing? - Sergeant, a sports game.

Yes, sports. Slapping. - Slapping?

Yes, how do you say it�

Want to see it? We'll show you how it's played.

Wanna try? Get under.

Watch how the game is played.

You? - No.

See? - Yes, I trying.

No, you gotta stand here. - Here? - Yes.

No, no! - Then you have to count! Go on!

You!

Yes, stand here. Come, handsome.

Your hand goes behind here, and then this one�

Blast you!

Turn around.

Blast you!

Who did it?

Who did it? - You tell us, all our fingers are like so!

You! - May I go blind if I did!

It was you! - No, turn around.

You must get down! What are you, a ding dong?

It's just a game! Quiet, stay here.

Give me your hand...

�to hear� How do you say valves in English?

Allow me, Lt, I'll tell him.

Those valves, when will they arrive?

I sent the Jeep with two soldiers to get them.

Oh, thank you. - I'm very sorry you weren't able to hear the broadcast,

but I think for you, this can be my Christmas present.

Thank you, very kind.

I had bought it for myself during my stay in Italy.

Good man, mustache! - For each city, a song.

Commandant, on behalf of all� the Italian prisoners,

I extend our deferential "thanks".

Thank you, Commandant.

What is it? - Don't you see? - Who brought this case? - The Commandant.

He's leaving? - No, it's a gramophone.

And the trumpet? - No trumpet. - I don't like it.

Give it a roll. - To who?

Who would you give a roll to? - Dunno.

But, who is this roll for? - For me, maybe? - Me then?

Ah, so you don't know why to roll?

Hey, pull the roll out, I want no trouble!

I swear on my mother's soul, I ain't got any roll!

It's the gramophone that you need to roll for winding! - What a mess!

Ah, the crank! - Yes. - Go on, spin it!

What's that? It's not working. - It's not a organ grinder!

Is there a Florentine among you? - Me, Commandant.

The farmhouses are very charming. - Yes, very evocative.

Very evocative for art� and for love.

You're telling me, Captain!

# Little walnut flower, there's little light, but much peace.

# Little walnut flower, there�s little light.

# Little dying flames, Lady Bice won't deny kisses.

# She likes to kiss, what's wrong with that?

# It's spring, wake up lasses.

# At farms Master April steals hearts.

# It's spring, that festival of colors.

# Ladies and flowers, a triumph of eternal youth.

# And late at night, love flourishes.

# The same love that now intertwines our hearts.

# Little painted flower, so beloved in the Renaissance.

# Little painted flower, so much loved.

# Silver florin, Lady Venus, with painted lips.

# Even as the wind blows you a kiss.

# It's spring, that festival of colors.

# Ladies and flowers, a triumph of eternal youth.

No, the children's room should be close to ours.

Then if they cry all night we won't be able to sleep a wink.

One more year til graduation!

At least five or six months to prepare for the wedding, then...

There'll be time enough to hear the crying of our kids!

You count your chickens before they're hatched with everything that's going on!

Poor kids! Wars are like oil stains:

All it takes is one drop.

But tell me, you're a foreigner and can hear the radio of your country

without much difficulty. Tell me, how do you think it'll end?

Badly.

Don't tell anyone this,

But the Consulate has ordered me to be ready to leave the country at any moment.

Well, goodbye, Mr. Adolfo. See you tomorrow. - See ya.

Come earlier or you'll find your place taken!

What a rascal world!

Do they really want to go to war, these simpletons?

Well�

I'm afraid I won't be able to finish my miniature.

THE GALLERIES ARE CLOSED FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR

Too late, guys.

Then I'll say goodbye, Mr. Adolfo, I leave tonight.

Good luck. Our "Spring" is leaving tonight too.

Can you believe it?

Seeing her go seems like taking springtime away

from the entire world, to return who knows when.

If it ever does.

Goodbye, kids.

If it ever does.

Guido! Guido!

My love.

All like before, eh? As if nothing had happened.

Yet how many ruins, how many deaths.

I wish it were good for something!

Here. This is the famous ''Spring'' of Botticelli.

Well met, Adolfo. - Welcome back, Miss. How are you?

Fine.

And your boyfriend?

Is he already back? - No.

Poor kid.

And now? - Now, I've come to ask you a huge favor.

Tell me. If I can...

Will you� marry me?

What?

A proxy marriage, of course!

A proxy? Why?

Because Guido is a prisoner. He's fine.

But who knows when he'll be back.

I haven't heard any news for 4 years.

Now that he knows about the boy,

he doesn't want him without a name for one more minute.

The papers are ready.

Ah, because the child...

is your boyfriend's? The student's?

Of course! What else would you think?

I'm so sorry, Miss, I'm an old fool! But...

But what do you want?

I've seen some things! So many� oh my!

So you accept? He wants it so much too!

Look, he's even asked you in writing.

May I help you?

I'd like a wedding ring.

For you?

Yes, for me. Do you mind?

No, no! A gold one?

Of course. Gold!

That one there.

Here's a 100.

Will you take a look at that? - Yeah, but the child isn't his!

Fiammetta Fiore, are you happy to receive as your lawful husband

Adolfo Mancini according to the rites of Holy Mother Church? - Yes.

Adolfo Mancini, are you happy to receive as a legitimate wife

Fiammetta Fiore according to the rites of Holy Mother Church? - Yes.

Yes.

What are you doing? - It's the birth of Baby Jesus!

Baby Jesus is born! Baby Jesus is born!

Some harmless fireworks after so much shooting!

I'm surprised at you, Reverend! - Me? I had nothing to do with it.

The fireworks were made by the Lt! Valiant pyrotechnics!

Kid stuff, but the midnight needed to be solemnized.

It's only 8. - Here! But everything is messed up here, out of whack.

But Baby Jesus is born in our midnight!

In my town, all are in St. Rocco church, and all are singing:

# You come down from the stars, oh, King of Heaven!

# And came in a manger, in the cold and frost. #

# Oh my beautiful little Madonna, who shines from far away,

# all golden and small, you rule over Milan.

# at your feet life is lived�

You're from Milan? - Porta Cicco born.

That's like saying from Milan 100%.

Then please explain a Milan slang sentence I don't understand.

Here, what does this mean: Maki, Maki, Maki, ma?

Never be idle? Hand in hand: never!

Never in love? - Are you kidding? In Milan, there are certain girls�

Hand in hand means� - Mr. Commando, let me explain.

In two words and in Italian.

Because even though I've been a coachman for hire, I've studied.

These guys resent us Southerners,

I don't know for what historical reason and call us clodhoppers.

Listen, if a mainlander calls me a clodbopper, I'll rip his heart out!

Say, Turiddu, you don't think you're a northerner? - Am I an African then?

Forget it. Your face is a little swarthy though,

and when you speak, we can't understand you.

I speak Italian like you! - Come on, shut up! With that face!

Fine! Fine! When it comes to putting down someone else's land, we're all happy!

But remember that Catania�

You compare Catania to Naples?

Remember that Genoa is the first city in the world.

We discovered America because Columbus was Genoan. - Some masterpiece!

If Columbus didn't discover America we wouldn't be prisoners here now!

Yeah, would you throw Venice away?

How childish is your stupid provincialism!

Don't we understand that Italians must stop with this kind of talk to get along?

Catania below! Genoa above! Milan down there! Naples here!

Now, we must get one thing in our heads: Rome, 'nuff said.

Pax vobiscum!

There's no need to fight!

We are all Italians, damn it the hell!

# Tonight, I'm in a mood to be sentimental.

# The night serenely begins�

It sounds like the same voice. - It is the same voice.

I did this. Recorded it myself, understand?

Then you're a great singer.

Not great. I sang before the war, and very well too.

Against the wishes of my father, because�

He didn't want me to sing, understand? - Why?

Because it wasn't in the family tradition.

Very� very� very Milanese.

# But I have nostalgia for my Milan.

# I'd like to go back tomorrow,

# I swear, to run back with my heart in my hand!

# See the little Madonna, hear my dialect,

# wake up in the morning in my own bed!

# Oh my mama, I'll come back

# and always with my heart�

Alberto!

# Little lovely mama,

# I'll come back.

Yes, right away. I wish!

When I get back, I'll try to give my dad a hand. He's getting old, poor dad.

So quick to shoot! - What happened?

Nothing, Sir, he wanted to run away. - Run away?

Not me! Our Nicola wanted to.

Who is Nicola? - Our dog.

He's the good luck charm of Camp 119. And God knows if we need some luck!

Why did they shoot? - Because our Nicola hates cats.

He saw Titina pass by, the cat of the other barrack,

and Nicola barked, the cat hissed and ran away, and he followed like a mad dog.

I ran after him and they thought I wanted to escape.

Honestly? Must I believe it?

Come on! We didn't escape 3 years ago, just confined here,

should we run away now that we're graduating prisoners?

More than graduates! We're professional prisoners!

Damn! The war's been over for 3 years and we're still here!

Soon they'll give us anonymous citizenship. - Honorary.

It seems they've forgotten that at some point the prisoners should...

be sent home. Or am I mistaken?

If I had my way, the first to return home would be me.

I also have a wife who waits, a dad, a mom, and...

a small child whom I still don't know.

After all, it's like I'm a prisoner too.

You're right, Commandant.

Fences and sentries are not there only for us.

Surrounding all men� a cigarette...

even If you can't see it, there's a bit of barbed wire.

A great poet once said, ''Freedom is in the realm of dreams".

Schiller, Commandant. Schiller.

A match.

He added� - You have one, Father? - No.

''Beauty is only in song.''

You Italians are lucky.

Why? - You know how to sing. - Well�

Night, Father. - Good night. - Night, guys. - Goodbye.

What? - Merry Christmas. - Thank you!

Good night.

He's not Italian, but he's a nice guy all the same.

Well?

We're all low?

What a great Christmas! More like November 2!

Come, let's have some fun!

Let's sing, play, dance!

Hey, let's give the General a raspberry! Hey, General!

We have to be happy. Damn death, it's Christmas!

What a beautiful life! We're like a bunch of corpses!

Camp 80, Sydney./i>

Come, come! It works! Come! - ...private Di Giovanni

from Savona, your wife. - My dear,

we miss you so much. Come soon, we wait for you!

Come, listen! - Camp 93, India. Lt Alberto Cartoni, Bologna.

The father. - Dear Alberto, we've received all your letters.

I send you greetings. - Who was that? My cousin Santelia?

Camp 119, California. Interned civilian, Giuseppe Mancini.

Your wife. - Giuseppe! You haven't shown up for 4 years.

Until today I've raised the kids alone, and thanks to God they're all in good health,

but Gigetto had mumps... and we hope you do too!

Hey! Don't act like you do, they say black women� you understand? Got it?

Don't drink!

Be economical! 'Cause I did the best I could, but I have many debts!

Come back soon�

What's with the castanets now?

Him! Holy mother of God! Leave it alone!

It was so loud, I thought it was broken!

Broken? Give it to me, maybe Annunziatina's there now!

You've burned it! You managed to screw it up. So now, if my cousin Santelia had to talk�

Don't get upset, sir, I'll fix it now...

What do you want to fix?

There's nothing to be done.

The tetrode is broken.

The thermionic valve are very delicate because the inter-electrode capacity,

useful in the oscillating valves, has a problem with the amplifying ones,

especially if the input circuit is coupled to the output...

Done? - Eh, yes.

Got it? - Yup!

You, General? - Well! Shall we go play the gramophone? - Better.

Give it to me I want to try to fix the radio

so that you can hear your cousin Santeria. - Santelia, elia...

Nothing! Florence, Naples!

Naples, Milan.. No Sicily! And they say that we're the separatists!

All the songs of the continent are there but none from my country!

I've never heard a Sicilian song. Never!

You don't know them. Of course, you don't understand anything about us.

You don't even understand us when we talk! - Is that our fault?

Our songs are beautiful!

Sweet, piquant, they grab you by the heart!

# Here, in this hell, poor wretches,

# we're condemned to tyranny!

You should be condemned for life!

We also have happy songs that are sung in the spring.

When fields seem one flower.

And the orange blossoms bloom and the sun seems like fine gold.

Then maybe comes a music maestro from the continent, he likes the motif,

says that it's his, steals it, and makes a mint!

That's the fate of folk songs. Do you know this?

Yeah, I heard in Venice when I went on a honeymoon with my wife.

How lovely! - Your wife? - No way! Venice. It was so beautiful that

I looked at my wife and I thought, "How ugly! Who made me do it?"

Yet I kissed her while the gondola wandered through channels, calleys�

Alleys. These are "calleys".

What onions! Were you a porter? - No, I was a gondolier.

By Jove, General! Maybe it was him who took you around on your honeymoon.

And maybe he was a third wheel!

As to that, often it were the husbands who were the third wheels!

Are you Casanova's fill in?

When he's in gondola women fall in love with his masculine beauty!

No, those aren't women who fall in love, they're just "feverish".

What? - Full of fever. - They have a temperature?

Feverish! They're capricious. Have fancies in their head!

It's trouble when you fall for one of those! - You mean you fell for one?

Tell us what happened. Come on!

It was in the fall of '39.

A blonde had hired me.

# The mirror tells me that I'm beautiful.

# And that I'm better than a white rose.

There's too much sun here.

Yes, Ma'am.

Where would you like to go? - Anywhere, as long as there's shade.

Yes. Shall I then, Ma'am?

Yes, good. Do it.

Stop here.

How nice! And what solitude!

Have a little fire? - What?

I'd like a match. - Right away, Ma'am.

Stay here.

Sit down.

Me? - You.

What's your name? - Nane.

Are you all called Nane in Venice? - Yes, Ma'am. And Bepi too.

Have you been in Venice before? Ma'am?

Yes, every year. Even for one day only.

Here I feel so happy.

Here I have the impression of having lived a past life.

And of having lived in a far-gone age.

An age of elegance, of adventures.

Of love.

And from that day, I began a life of paradise.

I took her through all the canals of Venice, every day!

Until late at night, she was with me.

Her husband was waiting at the hotel.

But one day�

It was me who waited for her� in vain.

And so the next day� and the day after the next day.

Until one day�

Excuse me.

Do you know if the blonde lady who goes with me in the gondola is in the hotel?

There are about 50 blonde ladies here. - Key 55. - Here, Sir.

You know the name? - No.

She's a foreigner, I think from Norway.

Hello? Grand Hotel.

Yes, Sir. Yes. All right.

A Norwegian, blonde? A beautiful woman? - Very much so.

Married? - Yes, with a neurasthenic husband.

Isn't she the one who just left?

Where did she go? - On the boat. - Thank you.

One, two, three, four and five. How much do I owe you? - 15 francs.

Ma'am! - Oh, Nane. - Are you leaving, Ma'am?

Yes. - Why�

are you leaving so soon? - Yes, we're leaving.

I waited for you many times these past days. - Yeah, I was busy.

And you leave like this? So suddenly?

Yes, I'm leaving. - Mirella, are we going? Who's that?

The gondolier from the last few days. - He needs to be paid? - Yes, pay him.

Here you go. Please.

Hey, guys! Here are 1,000 francs!

The lady who likes Venice and its gondolas wants you to drink to her health.

Thank you, Ma'am, God bless you! - Have a good trip!

Let's go drink, Nane. - No, I'm not drinking.

# The mirror tells me that I'm beautiful.

# And that I'm better than a white rose.

Sorry, Father, maybe we're disturbing you.

Oh, no! I like folk songs too.

Bologna also has them too. They're not well known, but we love them.

The valves!

Here are the valves!

May you drop dead! - Gennar�!

What have you done? - What the hell...

Lt, I fixed the thermos.

I found the oscarator which wasn't on the amplivacation.

What can we do now? - You've ruined everything.

What do we do with these now? Eat them? - I don't know...

With the words from an Italian mother� - I'll be damned! It's a miracle!

�ends the transmission for the Italian war prisoners.

Not all mothers�

not all the wives�

Not all your loved ones could speak to you, beloved sons, so far away.

But my voice is the voice of all of them:

Be at peace bearing these last few hours of separation.

Our hearts continue to be close,

warming your barracks. God will hear us.

We are many who pray for you. Goodbye. We will see you soon.

And now, my dear sons, I don't speak to you as a priest.

No, I speak to you as your companion,

who has shared with you for a long time, your sadness and dejection.

And maybe even your hunger, because we have eaten little.

But now, thanks to God, that too is over.

Now we'll return to our homes,

We will see with sadness, the whitened hair of our mothers.

But they too will notice on our heads, some silver strands.

Who will ever forget everything we suffered

here all these long years.

Guys, let's remember this, to make us better people,

and help us to love even more our beautiful Italy.

# Come home! This house is waiting for you.

# Come home! How I yearn to see you again!

# Come home! Come home! Come home!

English subtitles by sineintegral@KG