Original subtitles

I am only a stranger among you.

No one is a stranger among the Feacians.

Our people prosper, and the city has its future.

We are not boasting over anyone.

Whoever comes, if gods the wish for him to stay, we treat him..

..as an equal, as one who wants to live in peace.

I tell you as my own brother Odysseus: stay, be like us.

I'm a stranger who always wish to stop: At Eolus for one month,..

at Circe for one year...

Circe?

Who's Circe?

Circe is a woman magician with a sweet voice, the sister of Aetes

..born from Sun and Persea, daughter of the Ocean.

But when we reached that island, we failed to understand its secret.

In fact my company found joy and hope..

After being so many days at sea, we scorched on the sun and a salty wind..

..and a green wall which encompassed the shore promised a lot,..

..a shade, a hunt for fresh meat and cold water.

But looking at the forest made me wonder:

what wass hiding behind the trees?

The next morning I made a decision:

..I splited us up into 2 squads: one which was lead by me,..

..the other by Eurilochus. One would have explore the island,..

..the other will have guarded the ship.

Who'll decide which squad to go where?

Lotting, that's best.

I won't impose you my will anymore.

We suffered too much because the suspicions created by my visit to Eolus.

I can't and I won't go alone even if I hope that luck will choose me.

Eurilochus, let the gods decide. Lets pray to them.

Black stays, white leaves.

Nevertheless I am sorry for not going with you.

Eurilochus's squad departed. It was the first time he actedwithout me.

We waited. The twilight came and than the night falls.

At dawn my friends hadn't returned..

..so I prepared to follow their tracks.

Odysseus!

It was Eurilochus, alone,..

..and he couldn't talk because he was devastated.

His heart wanted only to cry

- Where are our friends? - A terrible thing happened, Odysseus!

- Go on! What happened? Speak! - I don't know! I don't know...

...forest become wierd -- - How do you mean wierd? -It was...

...terrible! Horrible! - Take it easy! Where are our comrades?

Every day seems longer, and fate more hostile.

Indeed, fate has played again and your people suffered.

I tried to save them the way I could!

- That wasn't an accusation, Odysseus. - I had to know.

The leafs became more rare, and the trees looked like in autumn ..

We heard out of nowhere the branches moving,

it seemed that there were animals, but we couldn't see them..

but we felt their presence all arround us, everywhere.

Suddenly, among the trees we found a ruined wall,..

..which seemed like remnant of some ancient and strange building.

We entered it, but the sounds multiplied even more..

.. and no matter which was the direction they were returning to the starting point..

The others sat tired on the ground, and I left..

..and I heared some terrible grunts.

..When I returned I saw my friends packed up one to another like animals.

Yes, it was them, but transformed into pigs!

Terrified I stared at them, and I heared some music,..

..and than a woman appears and comes near the pigs..

..touched them and laughed.

-And you? - I ran. That strange wall mysteriously dissapeared

and found myself on the path where I was before.

- Show me that path. - Stop! Where are you going?

- Where were you and your squad. - Run from here, I beg you,..

Let's run, don't look back! - If you are afraid, I'll go alone!

And stop trembling, it's enough!

I felt an overwhelming desire to go.

And weren't you scared?

No, the challenge of the unknown was stronger than my fear.

The more defeated I was, the more challenges I wanted.

My life had no other meaning but to risk it again.

The island was attractive, the earth guided easy my feet

and the desire to hear the song of that woman guided me.

My impatient grew, so I forced myself to be cautious.

Where are you going alone, to on unknown place?

You knew that your friends were transformed into dirty animals..

..by one woman and you are hasting to liberate them.

Are you sure same fate will not fall upon you?

I think no one but me can save them.

Who are you? Why I find you on the road, you who know my name?

Don't speak your name in this forest, because here lives Circe..

..and her house is anywhere, in any tree, in any leaf.

She will try to transform you, too into an animal, as happens to any other man that comes near her,..

..but she won't be able to do it.

Only then she'll remember what I already warned her,

that a traveler with the name Odysseus will arrive

and bring her the things that the goddess don't know yet:

..the thoughts, the pain and the desires of the people..

..because that's her destiny. Turn around!

Do you see that flower? Pick it up.

Come on, pick it up!

You can't?

Look, how easy it is.

You will eat it and her spell won't touch you.

Now I'll tell you everything it will happen so you will be able to understand her:

When Kirka will fall on her knees, powerless,..

..then you will draw your sword, feeling the desire to kill her.

She will be afraid and she will offer you her bed.

You won't refuse her because you want to save your friends,..

..but be careful Odysseus, you may change into a man..

..who isn't a man, and this flower can't save you from that.

Where are you going? Who are you?

Hermes thus vanished among the trees,..

..the messenger from the gods who presented himself as a boy with a golden stick.

- So did he tell you his name? - I knew that it was him.

My heart beats stronger when thinking about Circe..

and at her magic potion she will give me and the way she will appear to me to deceive my mind.

What are you looking for?

- Home. - Yours? Who knows, maybe its here in the forest.

Look around.

All the men who searched for it, found it.

- What are you doing here? - Waiting... Waiting for someone, forever.

Tell me about him.

Tell me his name.

You'll wait less.

Maybe I know him, because I travel from afar..

..and know many men.

I can speak with him if you tell me his name.

How clever you are, stranger.

But what if I'm expecting you? Lit that fire, please.

Go through there. The road leads to a house there. Jump!

- To jump to the other side? - Isn't that what are you looking for?

Penelope!

Come, sit there.

You'll be very happy if you drink this.

About what are you thinking then?

About that plant with the bitter fruits that should protect me..

..if Hermes didn't lie.

Now you'll painlessly transform into animal.

But I start to feel pain. It becomes unbearable.

I felt as if fire was burning in my chest, as two forces that collide in me.

C'mon, go to the pigsty!

Then, I saw the defeat on Circe's face.

First the amazement, than fear.

Everything that Hermes told me, was fullfilling.

Now, it was Circe's turn to suffer.

She screamed, twisted ,it was terrible, but as Hermes tell..I was tempted to kill her

I barely restrained because I saw the woman transformed again.

I was saved. She realised I had greater power than her.

You are Odysseus. It was foretold to me. Odysseus will come from Troy.

His mind won't be deceived.

Why don't you kill me?

Because of my comrades. I want them back.

Your..comrades?

Yes, those you have transformed into animals.

Return them to human shape.

- Why? - Because they are people.

-I don't understand. -If I tell you that I'm responsible for them, you will undersrtand?.

Not yet Odysseus. I don't know what unites people..

..but I know what you want, and I'll listen to you.

I entered Kirka's magical world.

I didn't understand it, but I went to release my friends..

..not knowing that I'll loose myself.

I only felt how unreal everything is.

These are your friends.

That's how they look, but they are unaware of us.

They live in the present and they don't need you.

Look at them. You can change them back to a human appearance,..

..but think twice before you decide.

I want them as men!

They look as they have awoken from a long dream..

..or got born again, scarred and unawared.

Did they look as before?

Yes, but with strange glows in their eyes.

Something unknown sat between us for the first time..

Because of Circe? Because of the power she gave to you?

It's human to be afraid of the unknown. Didn't you convince them?

Maybe I was wrong not to immediately speak with them friendly.

I barely could speak. Just as them, I was astonished and restless.

Something unknown sat between us for the first time.

I tried to get close to them. But they run.

Odysseus!

She seemed to me very beautiful.

And you abandoned your friends..

..and wished to return because of that woman?

No, I can't tell I have abandoned them.

They meanwhile fled through the forest, and returned to the boat

I found them on the shore, I and wished them to return with me,

but Eurilochus intervened between me and them and he almost assaulted me.

Maybe you wished to throw us again in the pigsty?

You are already becoming a servant of that horrible woman.

Remember the Cyclops perhaps? There also your madness had driven us!

Than he draw his sword,

and even if Euriloch was my cousin, I threatened him that I'll cut his head off.

But they were scared already and delusioned.. ..that I understood that anything could happen.

They didn't see me a whole year till I was with Kirka.

- A whole year? Are you sure? - Sure. No.

Time flow wasnsn't perceivable in Kirka's habitat,

..but outside, on the shores where my shipmates lived, the days, the months,..

..and the seasons passed.

Your friend toiled for that what I would give them for free.

Look at grapevine. Simple savages.

They worked it and soon they will harvest.

Nevertheless, in the forest, wine is as abundant as my heart wish..

..to be without need for picking, pressing, rain or sun.

See how everything is prepared? This cabin for example.

Even a garden.

It's not because of ingratitude that my men don't want to live with us...

They are common people, accomodated to that and in fear for us.

No, it isn't their fear which separated them from us,..

..but some of your thoughts. Isn't it?

Do I have thoughts you don't know?

Come forward.

Odysseus! Odysseus!

Speak, what do you want? What do you want to tell me? Speak Eurilochus.

You forgot Ithaca Odysseus.

You promised to return us all home, and you forgot your promise.

- Watch your mouth! - You are not king of Ithaca anymore.

You are not a king, You are not even a man of Ithaca.

- Odysseus! Odysseus!! - Where are you?

It was a nasty dream which leaved pain in my heart..

..but I understood that the day of return had come.

Urge for the fatherland ressurected in me.

That means to gather my comrades again.

Now I should gathered strenght -- - ...to leave Circe?

- To tell them the truth. - That you were close to her?

I couldn't do anything without her. That was her magic.

And even to leave her I needed her help.

I'm going to my queen.

I know I can't love myself and you don't love me either. That's my destiny.

Only those astrayed and those desperate for return,..

..the gods send to me. No one gives me love.

Noone asks my love.

They only want to forget everything,..

..to be drawn into their peace, bound like animals around me,

waiting for a peaceful death, the way animals die.

That's why I don't expect anything from men.

I never forced you to stay with me. Go if you want!

I didn't force you then, I won't do it now.

When I told you to jump over the fire, you jumped.

I didn't force you.

So why are you asking me the permission to let you go when you know I can't refuse it?

Why are you asking me?

Remember what I said, when you wanted to return your friends into men?

You risked your life.

I know, but we can't escape fate: our homeland,..

..the land of our fathers,that's also what the gods put in our hearts.

But you know I can't protect you out of here?

And you Odysseus, away from this place you won't have any powers?

Your powers changed your friends into men.

I told her I would leave, and she didn't seem neither surprised nor grieved.

But why she insisted to warn me.. about the destiny of my shipmates?

She tried to protect me from the dangers that not even her didn't know if I could surpass

I understood only this .

Odysseus, when you arrived on this island,..

..did you know whom you'll find? - No.

And when you searched for my home, and found me in the forest,..

..did you only look for your friends? You alone got here.

Why? Did you think you could save their lives?

Or did you wish to be the only men.. who find some of the secrets of heaven?

You crossed the line Odysseus. Its too late to return.

All what's left is to cross the limit of the abyss.

- What abyss? - Hades.

The path you choose to return home,

..leads over to the other side of the ocean, where dead people rest.

Maybe only there you'll find what you searched for so desperately.

And now behold, you enter the realm of dead.

*According to Homer,Odysseus and crew sailed one day to west. Od.11.*

It's a great honor for a mortal to visit that realm.

Odysseus, tell us in detail about your extraordinary experience.

Your privilage is also ours. We'll be very grateful.

Your homeland isn't so distant any more.

In Erebus everything is infinetely distant,because memories fade away.

*Erebus: dark, gloomy place through which the dead passed on their way to Hades*

It was a spirit assembly: the maidens of sad faces,..

..and elders and warriors fallen in battle.

I followed Kirkas advice: "You'll sacrifice a black lamb..

..and its blood will flow for the blind prophet Tiresias *blood=life strenght*.

And pursuing the other spirits, you will pray this way:

..the gods of Hades,.." - the gods of Hades,..

- And you, the dead,.. - And you, the dead,..

..who dwell in this hopeless place,..

..who dwell in this hopeless place,..

..if I ever return to Ithaca, I swear..

..to sacrifice the fattest cow as offering.

And to Tiresias black wool ram.

Get back. Don't come near. Don't test my pity.

I must speak only with Tiresias.

- Give me to drink... that blood. - Mother, Mother, what are you doing here?

Oh son of Laertes, many turning and cunning,

why have you, misfortuned, left the sunlight?

Why did you come into this house without joy?

To ask you Tiresias, and to know my destiny.

Put away your sword and give me to drink blood if you want to know the truth.

You want to know the day of your return,..

..return which the god will make bitter.

You want to escape the wrath of Poseidon..

..because you've blinded his son, and mocked him severely.

How much I'll suffer because of that? Tell me one thing:

..shall I ever return to my homeland? Return to Ithaca? - you'll return, yes,..

..but you'll endure another misfortunes.

You'll come late and with difficulties, and you'll loose all your friends.

On a ship which isn't yours. And in your home you'll find people who..

..bully your wife Penelope.

You must have revenge

Only me I shall see Ithaca that day?

Not even then you'll stop, and you will have to prepare another trip

You'll abandon your island, and sail till you arrive..

to people who don't know about sailing, and don't salt their food.

They'll look at you astonished.

Than, stick oar into the ground..

..and make a sacrifice to Poseidon.

Than you'll return home and find your rest.

Death will come gently on you, when you will be old and weak.

People around you will live happily.

That's your destiny. I told you the truth.

- No! - Go Odysseus, leave this dark place,..

..this ultimate place. Forget us, the dead.

I've heared your truth, but let me see my mother now.

If she is here,let me hear her for the last time.

I can't allow you, nor forbid you: I'm no more, I don't exist anymore.

Look for the daylight as soon as possible.

But watch everything, so later you will tell to your wife.

I see your presence Agamemnon, glorious Atride, tell me:

..what fate befell on you? Are you drawn?

Did some evil happen? Or you are killed by the enemy?

My queen, Clitemnestra, set my death.

As bull I've fallen, smitten by the sword of her lover. *Aegistus*.

[Tere is nothing more hideous thing..]

[..than a woman who planned such a crime.]

[She planned death to her lawful husband.]

That monster covered herself with infamy.]

[..and also every future wifes, even decent ones.]

Listen carefully to my advice:

When you come to your homeland, you disembark in secrecy!

Don't trust no one, not your best friend, not even your wife.

Good bye Agamemnon.

After me, no one should be sincere and sweet with his wife.

Speak something, and do another thing if you don't want to die before your time..

When I went to war, I left Penelope as a young woman.

*Tiresias:* "In your home you'll find people bullying your wife."

Achilles!

No more Achilles. He died on the plains of Troy.

Till you were alive, we worship you as a god,..

..now I see that you are the lord among the dead,..

..so don't be sad for Achilles being dead.

Don't comfort me.

I would rather be a slave in a poor man's house,..

..but alive on earth, than ruler among the dead.

Guard your life, Odysseus.

The life is priceless. It's the only treasure someone has.

Look for the daylight as soon as possible.

But watch everything, so later you will tell to your wife.

Mother!

My dear mother!

Finally I see you !

I didn't know how to stop you. Forgive me.

My offspring, how did you get here?

It is terrible for a living man to see these things.

When you die, is there anyone close to your eyes?

Did you receive a proper funeral?

I'm dead, and nothing else matters. With my death my destiny is fulfilled.

But if you ask me,..

..to long for you, I take my own life.

And my father?

Your father has grown old from waithing for you.

He doesnt come to town, but dwells among the servants.

As a savage,he sleeps near the fire in the winter..

..and on a pile of leaves in summertime.

Where the night falls, there he is sighing for you.

My mother, let me hug you.

Let me touch you at least.

You can't my son, that's the law of the death.

My veins don't hold flesh any more, fire devours them mercilessly,..

.. and the soul as a tender dream evaporates.

But you return with the sunlight!

Let me hug you!

Ah, mother!

[Narrator: 3 times you've tried .]

[Your heart wished for a hug.]

[3 times as the shadow or a dream she slips through the arms.]

[The unstoppable pain is deeper and deeper.]

Odysseus, Odysseus.

Elpenor!

Yes, it's me, the most misfortuned among your friends.

But I left you alive on Circe's island!

Son of Laertes, don't leave me unburried.

Give me a proper burial before you abandon Circe's island.

Bury me with my weapons. Make a grave on the seashore..

..and stick my oar into the ground.

Now you have one friend less Odysseus.

- What happened to Elpenor? - It just now happened.

He was up there, he was singing and he slipped. Maybe he was drunk.

We heard his moans. He called for you but you weren't there.

He's dead. Where were you Odysseus, all these months?

The shadows buries shadows.

Elpenor was the most innocent among us.

I don't believe there is a salvation for any of us.

It's time for you to return Odysseus.

No! Not without my friends. I'll fight for them to death.

But you can still save them, think about that.

Is it true what you are saying, because Tiresias told me:

"You'll return alone, without friends"?

You are already alone Odysseus, since you returned from the house of Hades.

You are a man with two deaths.

This is what Tiresias wished to tell you:

Don't expect that your crew obeys to you as before.

Elpenor! Elpenor! Elpenor!

Prepare for your journey Odysseus.

I'll show you the way, even if that brings me so much pain.

Saying this, Circe goes into her cabin.

From her lips she foretold me a prophecy.

I'll tell you all what will happen to you on your journey..

..so that you and your shipmates know that there is a path of salvation.

First, you'll come to the Sirens, who enchant everyone who gets near to them..

you'll see the rock, but you won't hear the sea,..

..and you'll understand that you came to a terrible place.

Don't get close, because there are only bones.. ..of those who heared the Sirens song.

Will you be able to resist the temptation?

Where to will you direct your ship's prow?

Then avoid the wandering rocks *Plankte* taking direction to Big Dipper *north*.

Only one man, Jason *argonaut*, navigated them for avoiding doom..

..because he was loved by the goddess *Hera*. You must not even try to see them!

That will be your second temptation.

And third you'll have on the island Trinakia *Sicily*:

There you'll see black cattle pasturing .

Don't touch them. They are the Sun cattle *of the god Helios*.

But you'll be hungry and devoid of hope.

Then you may fail sucumb, on the last temptation.

I have nothing to say to you any more Odysseus. The moment of departure has arrived.

Euriloch, Filetor, Heraclio, come and listen.

As soon as we set sail, the temptations will wait for us.

If you want to listen to me, you'll all die and no one will be saved.

- Why are you threathening us Odysseus? - I don't threaten,..that's the prophecy of Tiresias.

That's what I went in Hades.

It isn't enough you've traveled all the seas...

but you've also returned from the dead! Why are you mocking us?

We still mourn Elpenor who just went to the underworld --

No mortal ever returned from Hades.

- Maybe you think you are a god? - You must believe me!

All right. If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe Kirkas words!

- Kirka? - Who's Kirka?

- Don't you remember anything? - Remember what?

Nothing? Not even how she transformed you into pigs,and I return you to humans?

And what did she give us to eat? Acorn?

We are all tired Odysseus, tired of your stories.

This journey seems without end.

"You are alone Odysseus, because you know what they don't."

"I'll cancel from your friends' mind the memory of me and of this island.

so that between you and them there will be nothing which will divide you.