All language subtitles for Elisa.y.Marcela.2019.en

As far back as I can remember,

I had a happy childhood.

But I grew older...

and that's when the questions started.

And with the questions...

the pain.

Who am I?

Where do I come from?

What is my story?

Who were those women whose names

were always spoken in whispers

when they thought I wasn't listening?

Who were they?

Who were they?

ELISA AND MARCELA

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY

CHUBUT PROVINCE, ARGENTINA. 1925

May I touch your face?

Mmm.

I suppose there must be
things you want to know.

Things?

Everything.

Everything...

is impossible.

Are you in the first year?

I was sick and I had to miss
the first few days.

You'd better dry off or you're
gonna get sick all over again.

Come on.

Come on!

VANITY IS YOUR WEAKNESS

Will they count against me...

the days I've missed?

I'll speak to them, don't worry.

They all know me here,
and my aunt's the director.

Here, let me help you.

Thanks.

Am I hurting you?

No.

Now am I?

No.

-Now?
-No!

My name's Elisa.

I'm Marcela.

I like your mole.

This morning, we'll be examining
the use of the pronoun.

Enter.

Morning.

Good morning.

Excuse me, Sister,

she's new at the
school and got lost.

She was sick, so she
missed the first few days.

But she's eager to catch up
and she's a very hard worker.

-May she take a seat?
-Yes. Thank you, Elisa.

Please come in.

Your name?

Marcela Gracia Ibeas.

Very good. Sit down, please.

Let us continue with our lesson.

People and things, are not
only called by their names,

but also by certain words

that take the place of those names.

And so, when we say, for example,

'Bernardo was very
content with his Elvira'

and they lived happily together,

'she with him, and he with her,'

the 'he' replaces Bernardo
and the 'she' replaces Elvira.

You scared me.

Did I? Sorry.

I was waiting for you.

I live upstairs with
my aunt and the nuns.

Didn't I tell you?

-In the school?
-Mm-hmm.

I wanted to thank you.

No need for thanks.

Living with the nuns,
what's that like?

What do you think?

I don't know.

It's hell on Earth.

The so-called brides of God,

they're a bunch of harpies,

always bickering and arguing.

They're always fighting.

It's like a harem, really.

Everyone is always competing
to be the Sultan's favourite.

But there is no Sultan.

There isn't?

I haven't seen him.

So, you don't believe...

in God?

I don't believe in nuns...

or in priests.

I don't believe in the Virgin
or the Holy Spirit.

Or...

in God.

And you?

I'm not sure.

I can't believe in anything
that doesn't move.

I believe in horses.

I'd give anything to have one.

And mice?

And cats and dogs? Do
you believe in them?

And in pigeons...

and snails.

And ants.

Guess you should go inside.

You should get back to the nuns.

Yeah.

Till tomorrow, then.

Till tomorrow.

Good night!

Tomorrow don't
forget your umbrella.

I won't.

Who was that girl?

The one who was with you?

From school.

Elisa.

She helped me find my classroom.

Her aunt is the director.

The soup is full of husks.

I don't know how.

I strained it three times.

You strained it?

I know that in school,
you must learn, yes,

but not too much.

Not too much, just enough. Hmm?

Hello, Elisa.

Hello, Elisa.

Morning, Elisa.

Good morning, Elisa.

Good morning, Elisa.

And how are you
this lovely morning?

Elisa...

Elisa...

Elisa, Elisa, Elisa...

Elisa, Elisa...

You didn't do what I said.

No.

I forgot.

This great Christian victory

at the Cave of Covadonga

was the product of bravery
and of Christian faith,

a faith that inspired
the Christian soldiers

and ultimately gave
them the strength

to vanquish the Moors,

who were, frankly, barbarians.

# Isabel and Fernando... #

# Were excellent monarchs #

-# They kicked out of Spain... #

-Wanna see my room?

the dark-skinned Moors.

Right now?

Sure, why not?

Elisa...

Who's with you?

Marcela. She's
new, Sister Clara.

And... what does she look like?

She's, uh...

um... a redhead.

More carrot-coloured, really.

With lots of freckles.

And she's very fat!

-Elisa!
-And she limps.

Don't think I don't
know you, Elisa.

I know you too well.

This is where I read and draw.

At least in here no one bothers me.

Do you want me to leave?

No, I didn't mean you.

I meant all the
nuns and my aunt.

Know what they keep
telling me all day long?

What?

That I should find a man
and get married soon.

Or I'll be stuck here
forever, with them.

Every single day,

they tell me that.

My father thinks I'm
wasting my time at school.

He thinks that teachers
aren't respectable.

And I should get married

before someone gets me pregnant.

What do you say
when he says that?

And you, what do
you say to them?

I asked you first.

When they say that, I...

Uh...

I say what they want to hear.

Me too.

But the fact is I
think I'd do anything

rather than have to marry a man.

Anything.

I'm not sure if I'll
get married or not.

Well!

There's a lot you're not
sure about, isn't there?

If there's a God or not,

if you'll get married or not.

So, are you sure
about anything at all?

I was living in an
orphanage until I was ten.

I'm sure of that.

Sleeping with 40 other
girls in potato sacks.

Rats roaming everywhere.

Having to eat watered-down
soup full of dead spiders.

All I knew was misery...

and filth...

and praying.

Then one morning,
out of nowhere,

a woman came and said
she was my mother.

My real mother.

She took me to a house

where I met a man who
said he was my father.

They never hugged me...

or explained why they'd...

let me believe they were dead.

I still don't know if
they are my real parents.

And if I don't know that...

how can I know if
I believe in God?

Or in getting married?
Or anything?

Forgive me, Marcela...

I didn't know.

I have class.

I'm sorry.

Will you forgive me?

Good evening.

My name's Elisa, I'm a
classmate of Marcela's.

She lent me a book this morning,

and I just wanted to
return it to her, if I may?

-I'll give it to her.
-Thank you.

-Good night.
-Good night.

It's from that
classmate of yours.

You left it behind, she said.

There are some books that
bring nothing but trouble.

'Dear Marcela...'

I will never knowingly hurt you.

I swear it.

Trust me.

Trust me and forgive me.

'Yours, Elisa.'

'Yours, Elisa.'

Marcela...

What your father
said isn't true.

About books.

What?

About books, what?

I read in secret...

when your father isn't looking.

I don't believe it.

Emilia Pardo Bazan.

THE BURNING QUESTION

I dreamt that...

-You first.
-No, you.

I dreamt of you.

That's funny.

I dreamt of you, too.

Really?

Yes.

You won't tell me your dream?

Nuh-uh.

Never.

And yours?

I won't either.

Do you know the one dream
I've had my whole life?

What?

Sometimes when I stand here...

right by the ocean...

I close my eyes and I dream.

You do?

Mm-hmm.

I dream that I'm riding a horse,

and I cross the ocean.

Then I reach the
other side and...

and it's Argentina.

And I just keep on riding...

for a long, long time.

And I never get tired.

It's absurd because I've never
been on a horse in my life...

and I'm terrified of the ocean.

Marcela... what on
Earth are you...

This is real, right?

It's not a dream, is it?

In dreams, it's never this cold.

You have a long way to go
to get back to the school.

Oh, I don't mind.

See you tomorrow.

Marcela, wait!

-There's so much I want to tell you...
-Elisa.

My parents are waiting for me.

Then just this one thing.

What?

If I were to die right now...

my day with you by the sea...

would be the happiest of my life.

Someday, I'll get
you that horse.

No, don't. She's studying...

-Not another word.
-I'm fine.

She's staying and that's final.

You can put that away.

You're not going
to school today.

Why not?

You'll stay with you
mother, she's not well.

I'm perfectly fine.

She doesn't need to
miss her classes.

Marcela will be
staying right here.

That's the end of it.

The country of Portugal,

is divided into three
distinct regions,

the northern, the central,

and the southern region,

consisting of the
Alentejo and the Algarve.

The northern region is located

between the Minho
and the Serra da Estrela.

Shh.

Shh.

You know something?

I have moles all over my body.

You think one day...

you might show them to me?

Hmm.

Wait here.

'The shadows revealed
nothing except

for the enormity
of its proportions,

hiding its outline and details

in the darkness of the scene.'

Who's this?

Why is she here?

It's Elisa.

With the work I didn't finish...

since you wouldn't
let me go to school.

Get out.

Daughter...

We need to have a little talk.

What about?

-I can't miss class again...
-Yes, you can.

Now, seeing how your education
is so important to you,

your mother and I have decided

to send you to a
boarding school...

in Madrid.

-Yeah.
-It's a good school, dear.

You'll learn much
more than here.

In three years, you'll be a teacher.

Boarding school or
convent, you decide.

I would have
preferred the convent,

but your mother insisted.

-Hold on there.
-Let me go!

-Let me go! Leave me alone!
-Where do you think...

-Stop!
-Let me go!

Let me go!

Dear Marcela...

Four weeks, three days

and nine hours have gone by...

since the last time I smelled you.

Yet I picture you so close
to me in my thoughts...

I can almost touch you.

Everything reminds me of you.

Everything.

The children...

My aunt,

the nuns!

the sun...

The rain,

the sea...

The sand...

This blank page I fill with
words that carry me to you...

This pen...

This ink...

I dream of you often, Marcela...

when I'm awake.

I draw you...

and so I see you,
wherever I look.

I miss you so much.

So much.

I want to hold you...

and kiss your mole.

Your faithful one...

Elisa.

Dear Elisa...

I just read your letter.

It was almost like
touching you again.

I try to imagine myself
by your side as you write.

Write to me, I mean.

I sit and watch...

I watch every gesture...

Every word that you write.

And I study your hands...

Your moles...

The pauses you take...

Your impatience...

and mine.

I imagine all our letters

spread out like a magic carpet.

With us lying on top of it, naked.

As if, somehow,

all these words we've written...

could protect us

from the cold...

from other people...

from the distance between us.

Each time I receive
another one of your letters,

I hug it before opening it.

I embrace you.

And your words calm
my impatience...

and ease my fear of
never seeing you again

or that one day,

you'll stop writing back.

Your words of love
sink into my skin.

I think of my moles
as your words.

I love you so much, Elisa.

COUSO, GALICIA
THREE YEARS LATER

The chestnut...

is a fruit...

whose shell...

is reddish in colour.

The shape of the chestnut...

is very similar...

to the shape of a heart.

Now draw a chestnut.

What's this?

So you've already
finished your drawings?

I have the fastest
class in Couso.

Inside, now!

And who is this?

You.

You've been with
me all this time.

And you've been with
me every minute.

You should apply to
the school at Couso,

it's only ten
kilometres from mine.

Ten kilometres...

I'll get them to transfer me
so I can be with you.

Yes...

Yes. With me.

With you.

-We'll be together.
-We'll be together.

-Together.
-Together.

-Together.
-Together.

-Forever.
-Forever.

-Forever.
-Forever.

I love you.

I love you.

-Good morning.
-Good morning!

You may sit.

CALO, GALICIA. FEBRUARY 1901

I am Miss Marcela.

Now tell me your names.

I'm Pedro.

Rosa.

My name is Celso.

My name is Rocio.

I'm Rosalia.

And the tree,

do you know what it's called?

THE HOLY TRINITY

GOD - HOLY SPIRIT - SON

-Well, look what we have here.
-Don't.

Could you give us a hand?

-We won't bite.
-Come on, come on. Keep moving.

The...

Bo-Dy...

of...

the...

snail...

is...

soft.

The body...

of the snail...

is...

soft.

I knew you'd be here.

I always know when you're near.

What's the letter about?

My cousin, Mario.

He died.

I guess he drowned.

Drowned?

I barely even knew him.

He lived in England.

Hmm.

I was his only family.

Shall we eat?

Yes, I'm starving.

May I?

Oh, I don't dance.

What do you mean,
you don't dance?

Just one.

Don't worry about your friend,

I'll dance with her
later if she wants.

Sometimes I feel so afraid.

Elisa...

we have to play along.

Pretend that we're just
like everyone else.

That we're no different.

Or they'll never leave us alone.

You know it's true.

I know.

That's probably true.

Oh, did I tell you?

Cecelia!

-There!
-And to think they're teachers.

It's the children I worry about.

Did you hear about those two?

Those two girls?

Everybody liked their dance.

What is it?

I wanted to invite Marcela
to the dance next week.

The dance.

She can't make it, I'm afraid.

Let her tell me that herself.

Or are you her boss?

Open the door!

You perverted bitch,
open the door!

Whore.

Marcela!

Do you know what's happened
to your classmates?

Are they all sick or something?

Be seated.

Who's there?

So, you know what we have to do?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Do you love me?

With all of my being.

It's not too late
for you to live

another kind of life, Marcela.

One that's...

-normal.
-Shh!

Quiet.

For me, a normal
life is with you.

You're the one who
gives me what I need.

Just you.

No one else.

Then we'll go to Buenos Aires,

where no one knows us.

Yeah.

Quite a while since I've
seen your friend Elisa.

She's gone.

Ah...

Where to?

If you don't mind my asking.

Havana.

With some relatives.

They've sailed.

Oh.

Well, goodbye.

I'm going inside.

Wait.

I hear your friend's gone away.

Yes.

A few days ago.

To Cuba.

So, you're alone?

And I'm running out of firewood.

Elisa was in charge of that.

I can bring you firewood.

Thank you.

Today...

Or tonight.

# There is a prize island #

# There at the bottom of the sea #

# It's filled with bright stars #

Mario...

I was born the same day
as my cousin Elisa,

but seven years later,

after my mother married
an English protestant.

CHURCH OF SAINT GEORGE, A CORUNA

But this cannot be, my son.

It cannot be.

I know, Father, I know,

but those were
the circumstances.

All the records were lost
and I was never baptised

because my stepfather,
Mr. Hobbs, was opposed it.

When I was eight, they took
me to England, and then...

Do you know what my
dream is, Father?

My one dream...

now that I'm
finally back home...

is to be baptised,

and then to marry Marcela.

It shall be done
at once, my son,

tomorrow morning.

-Really, Father?
-Certainly.

JUNE 1901

Mario...

will thou take
Marcela, here present,

for your lawful wife

according to the rights
of the Holy Mother Church?

Now the bridegroom
responds: 'I will.'

I will.

Marcela...

will thou take Mario, here present,

for your lawful husband

according to the rights
of the Holy Mother Church?

The bride responds: 'I will.'

I will.

I now join you in holy matrimony

in the name of the
Father, and the Son,

and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Amen.

I'm telling you.

Let's not be hasty.
We shall see, we shall see.

How can I help you?

Marcela, my child...

we heard that you
married someone.

Yes, Father.

-In A Coruna.
-Hmm.

-Church of St. George.
-Ah.

Father Cortiella married us.

And... may we meet
this husband of yours?

He's resting right now.

It shouldn't take long.

See, Marcela,
people are saying...

We've been told that...

as strange as it sounds...

that you're married to...

Well, actually to...

to Elisa.

Elisa, disguised as a man.

Come on!

Elisa disguised as a man?

That's what all this is about?

His name's Mario.

He's Elisa's cousin.

They look so much alike,
he could be her brother.

They're like twins almost.

-Is that it?
-He needs to come out and see us.

I really ought to...

examine him.

I mean, physically.

Why must you meddle
in other people's lives?

Shouldn't you be out
giving the sick comfort...

or the last rites?

You know something, Father?

If you're doubting whether
Mario is really a man,

if you're not convinced...

wait a few more months
and you will be.

I'm having a child.

Mario's child...

my husband's child.

And I hope you'll
baptise him, Father.

Now go on.

The weather is turning bad.

Uh...

We'll have to leave
sooner than we thought.

If only we could just leave
for Buenos Aires tomorrow.

I'm going to lie down, I'm tired.

Elisa, come out if you're a man!

Come out!

You whore!

Lovely place, Argentina.

A fine place to raise children,
from what I've read about it.

Yes, very fine.

How many children do you have?

PASSENGER LIST

I suppose you know
why I've asked you to come here.

They're lies, Father.

Nothing but slanders.

The villagers, they will say anything
to discredit us, anything.

It's an outrageous lie.

Do you realize how
this made me look?

What you did was a travesty.

It is the worst kind of lie.

And for it, you and
that wretched girl

are going to both
rot in hell forever!

Please, Father.

You've left me no choice.

I have to, Mario...

or whoever you are!

You may enter!

Father, I will proceed.

Please don't let them
do this to me, Father.

Don't let them, I beg you.

If you're a man...

then we need proof.

Please.

It's not what it looks like.
Father, I'm a hermaphrodite.

You are damned, woman!

The fury of all the archangels

shall fall upon you and your...

your...

That woman!

She's my wife.

Her name's Marcela.

Read the story
of Elisa and Marcela,

a marriage without a man.

You've read this?

Is that the behaviour
of human beings?

You've seen this?

-Unbelievable.
-What was the priest thinking?

-Can't expect him...
-It turns your stomach.

Good evening.

Right,

your papers are in order.

-Good night.
-Very good. You may proceed.

Thank you. Good night.

PORTO, DECEMBER 1901

Put the chicken in the oven!

Come on! The cod's ready!

Oh! What's this?

What do you think you're doing?

Wake up! Get a move on!

How much do we have?

Enough for one ticket.

Two more months...

Two months.

# Maria Severa has passed away #

# Maria Severa has passed away #

# And the streets of Mouraria #

# Weep with anger and pain #

# And the streets of Mouraria #

# Weep with anger and pain #

# A black shawl, a black shawl #

# Black like the new moon #

# A black shawl, a black shawl #

# Black like the new moon #

# As black as the darkest night #

# As black as the darkest night #

By order of the
Portuguese government,

you're both under arrest.

No, wait.

She's done nothing.

She's done nothing!

Careful with her, she's...

-Be quiet! Keep moving!
-Wait...

Looks like someone
got herself into trouble.

I hate that bastard
who didn't come for me.

Keep moving!

I have here a warrant
from the court in A Coruna...

Stating that you are not a man.

but a woman...

whose name is Elisa...

and that by using a false identity

you managed to get
yourself married to...

Marcela...

then fled to Portugal.

I'm Mario.

Please, I don't have time
for this nonsense.

What is the point of this...

this farce that you and
this woman have concocted?

That woman, sir, is my wife!

You Spaniards are
always so pig-headed,

so... stubborn,
so self-righteous.

Please, sir, she... my wife...

She had nothing to do with it.

She knows nothing.

She thinks that I'm
a hermaphrodite, sir.

Please, no more of that,

Elisa, Mario, whatever
you call yourself.

I'm not some ignorant priest

in a tiny village in Galicia

that you and your friend
can make a fool out of.

What would happen
if I were to order the guards...

to put you in the same cell
as all the men?

How long do you think
it would take them

to find out what you are?

Would it take them long?

Hmm?

No.

Not very.

You're pretty far along.

Come.

Come.

Eat.

What will happen to us now?

What are we accused of?

Transvestism.

Blasphemy.

Falsifying documents.

Your friend is wanted
as an accomplice.

That's on the other
side of the border.

First, you'll have to
answer charges on this side.

You'll be tried here,

and then...

returned to Galicia.

I'm to blame, not Marcela.

She's innocent.
I swear it.

She's gonna have a child.

A child?

Put on a dress.

I'll see to it that you're
taken to the women's block.

We'll be together, then?

Yes.

Oh, thank you.

You're a good man.

Well, you're welcome.

That's what my wife says

when she's about to
give me upsetting news.

Now, go on.

Get out.

Before I change my mind

and lock you up with those savages.

Go.

Marcela...

Mario.

I'm Elisa.

Elisa.

What will happen to us?

Who knows?

But at least we're together.

Together, yes.

Forgive me.

I said I'd protect us...

Look where we ended up.

Elisa, shh.

You don't need to apologize.

We'll get out of here.

We should have left a
long time ago, I suppose.

I guess so.

I'm scared of having it in here.

The warden's looking after us.

He's a good man, I think.

Right now, we need
more than a good man.

Now, hold very still.

That's fine.

Ready?

Have you read this?

About the two women
who got married?

According to this,

if we send them back to Spain,

they'll be sentenced to 20 years.

Will you give this to them?

It was made with
great affection.

Yes, I'll see to it.

This is a gift for the
child of the Spanish women,

will you please make
sure they get it?

It brings good luck.

Alright, no more touching.

Let's have some
order around here.

Elisa...

It's coming!

Are you certain?

Yes.

Come.

It's coming! It's coming!

I can see the head.

Go on, keep breathing.

Keep breathing.

That's right.

And push! That's right.
You can do it, big push.

Almost there.

One more time. One last push.

She's got so much hair.

Ah, so adorable.

A girl. It's a girl.

What's her name?

-Ana.
-She's beautiful.

GOVERNOR'S PALACE, PORTO

Really, Commissioner,

all this about these Spanish
women getting married?

My wife can't seem to talk
about anything else.

She even wants to
visit them in prison.

They have had a lot of visitors,

it's true.

I'm getting pressure
from the Spanish authorities.

They want to try them in A Coruna.

I think they're keen on
making an example of them.

They're not criminals,
so much as just...

two women who are just...

Idiots.

This fish has no flavour.

How do things stand
at the moment?

One of them has given
birth to a baby girl.

In the prison?

That's all we needed.

Governor...

if we hand them over
to the Spanish authorities...

they'll be facing
10 to 20 years.

Hmm...

Then I will rely on
your esteemed abilities

to keep that from happening.

Nothing illegal, of course.

Even if it's just to
annoy the Spanish.

Your Excellency...

leave it to me.

Here, try this fish,
tell me if you can taste anything.

No, Governor, thank you.

We have enough
for the tickets now, Marcela.

As soon as we get out of here.

If we leave here,
we'll just be deported.

Something's wrong with her.

It's the damp.

It's this place.

-Let me.
-No.

What is it?

Shh. Shh, shh.

She's burning up.

You don't feel that?

A doctor!

We need a doctor here!

It's the baby! A doctor! Hurry!

Shh.

Calm down now.

The baby has pneumonia.

She'll die if we don't get
that fever down quickly.

They'll come with
me, to my house.

Come with me.

Well, are we feeling better, huh?

Feeling better?

Shh.

Well?

How are they?

Out of danger, I think.

They're sleeping.

She's a darling little girl.

There's no way I can
possibly thank you

for all that you've done for us.

The privilege is ours.

Not many others would feel the same.

Well, we're not
like many others.

Are we?

No, we're not.

Do you have children?

No.

I can't hold the two of
you here any longer, Elisa.

But if I release you, you'll be deported.

I know.

However, if I were to,

just hypothetically...

If I released you the day
before the ship sails...

and then I filled in the forms

to say that you were let out...

two or three days later...

But, first,

we must wait and see
how well they recover.

Yes.

You earn more,

more money coming in,

Don't worry about the rest of it.

These things have a
way of working out.

Where's Ana?

With Flora.

I asked if she'd watch
her until we're ready.

Is everything alright?

Is something wrong?

I would have thought you'd
be glad we were leaving.

I am.

Believe me.

You don't look it.

We'll never have to set
foot in this cell again.

It's not so bad.

It's worse out there.

Where we're circus freaks.

Where they laugh at us.

Stare at us.

Where there's no escape...

Never will be.

And that's why I was Mario

and why we were married.

And why I had my daughter.

We thought it would work.

I can't do this to my daughter.

How could I?

-My love...
-Please.

Listen to me.

Although I love you
more than my own life...

if you have to stay
here with your daughter,

I'll understand.

I'll wait for you
forever, Marcela, I swear.

Don't you understand?

I'm leaving her behind...

Ana.

Thank you.

Elisa,

we'll make sure the child
knows who her mother is.

Tell her that.

I will.

Take care of her...

and take care of yourself.

Argh!

I hated you,

you know that?

For so many years.

-I can imagine.
-But the two of them were good parents.

The best, really.

I knew they were.

Was it worth it?

All this?

The wedding,

the mockery?

The jail cell?

Abandoning me?

Was it worth it?

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WAS
LEGALIZED IN SPAIN IN 2005.

TODAY, IT IS LEGAL IN ONLY 25
COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD.

IN 72 COUNTRIES,
HOMOSEXUALITY IS PUNISHED:

IN 14 COUNTRIES, IT IS PUNISHED
WITH 14 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON.

IN 13 COUNTRIES, WITH THE DEATH PENALTY.

ELISA AND MARCELA'S MARRIAGE
WAS NEVER ANNULLED.