Original subtitles

OUR BELOVED SON, SEBASTIAN MUNCAN HENRIKSEN

Who are you?

Go away. I can take care of myself. Go away.

Rigmor

- Fuck! - I'd kill myself

if I only dared.

Then we could be together again.

But I'm nothing but a coward.

- Come.

Come on. Sit up.

Come.

- In here. - Where are we going?

- Look. You need a shower. - No.

Let's get your clothes off.

Come on. Take it off.

And the other foot. And up you go. Nice and easy.

Get in there.

Are you feeling better now?

I don't know who you are.

- But you you shouldn't have - No

Do you want me to read for little Piglet?

- Is that my name? - Yes.

- Little Piglet? - You're Piglet, and I'm Rabbit.

- Do you work here, miss Rabbit? - Yes. Have some water.

- Why is the light off? - It isn't.

You're just blind.

I'm blind?

Do you want me to read for you?

- I'll read to you. - Do rabbits know how to read?

I went to The Rabbit University.

I see. That explains it

But

"I had just said goodbye to Laust and Peter a few days ago -

- but I missed them so much that my heart felt like breaking."

"Mother Karen felt even worse, of course."

"All alone she watched her two sons leave for an uncertain journey."

We were no longer three daydreaming children.

Ten years later we'd still be just as naive as anything.

For the world was beautiful. Also the outside world.

Strange and black-eyed they widened our own world.

Even though Didrich's always active volcano -

- melted all life that it met.

We also learned how to start a fire.

The love we all shared proved to be impossible.

For Laust and I loved each other in secret.

And deception found its way to paradise.

Everybody talked about war and Denmark for the Danes.

Also the cultural elite, who not only campaigned for a war -

- but gathered signatures.

From where did all this madness originate?

Who dressed it up, combed its hair and brought it along -

- to take the place as guest of honor?

And when our beloved king fell ill, I failed to see it as an omen.

I was also in a state of euphoria.

- Your Majesty. - It's regarding the constitution.

The constitution, which annexes Schleswig

Your Majesty!

Sign this and you'll have what you've always dreamed of!

- A great kingdom. - Oh.

We need your signature!

- A signature - In order to unite our kingdom!

When off to war I run

My girlfriend wants to come

Frederick VII died, but the project continued.

And the idea still shocked Bismarck and Prussia.

Denmark is expected to breach all treaties and pass this new constitution.

It states that Schleswig belongs to Denmark.

Isn't that as good as a declaration of war?

Yes.

- But I don't want a war. - No one wants a war.

But if Denmark takes Schleswig -

- who then will be the next victim of this madness?

I believe that the Germans must stand together.

Yes, everyone agrees.

The Danes are a romantic and liberal people.

We must appear strong, and Prussia must show the flag.

Not just for the liberal forces here, but also to show their perseverance -

- and prove the king's strength.

- Yes? - Dinner is ready, Your Majesty.

Please join me for dinner, gentlemen.

And concerning Schleswig, Your Majesty?

We wait. The Danes are not reckless enough for suicide.

Not reckless, but sensitive.

Well, I suppose that makes them reckless.

We understand that you as the new king is against a war.

And we highly doubt that Germany will initiate a war.

- Denmark has - You doubt?

- Pardon? - You doubt this?

The Danish army is prepared for anything.

The spirit of 1848 still influences every single soldier.

And the Swedish king has promised to support us.

- And England - No

This is a breach of the treaty. This will agitate everyone.

It will stir up problems throughout all of Europe.

And do the Germans in Schleswig want to become Danish?

- They will become Danish eventually. - We've already pro

...i“

prohibited them from speaking their mother tongue.

We're treating them horribly.

They need to learn the language, just as you have learned it.

Even though German, I guess, is easier for you to speak.

German is your mother tongue, correct?

You are not from Denmark.

You're loyal to your country -

- and the conservatives, who don't want to stir up problems -

- as you so put it.

But the people

they wonder if their king is more German than Danish.

- I cannot risk a war. - Well, then we have a problem.

Because the people want a war.

Do you know what people call you?

"The protocol king."

Because you became king against the people's wish.

Or to put it like this, "There was no one else."

People are prepared to shed blood for their country.

And they're asking if their king will do the same'?

All over Europe people are turning against the monarchies.

But not in Denmark. Not yet.

The Danes don't want to overthrow the king.

But they want a king who's focused towards north not south.

Like the Swedish king.

Who is loved. Also by the Danes.

A Swede.

And you should have seen him -

- with his broken Danish.

This Lilliputian with all his decorations.

And with his little pale hand -

- he took the pen and signed the constitution.

- What a spectacle! - What a scene.

Oh God, Monrad, you're awful.

I think I feel so fearless when I'm with you -

- because you're so

real.

Real? Did you really say that? I don't know what reality is.

I wear it like a glove. I put it on and take it off when convenient.

"The world's a stage and the men and women merely players."

You know your Shakespeare.

A great talent is lost in you.

No,no,no?

- No. - No.

No, no, no, no.

They're all insane.

Yes

Look straight ahead. At ease!

Johan Larsen?

- Aren't you 323 Larsen? - Are you a sergeant now?

I didn't know the army started recruiting boys?

I'll be darned. You must be the oldest private.

Men! This is why ours is the greatest army in the world!

We killed many during the Three Years' War.

But Larsen was the worst of them all.

- What's going on? - Attention!

It's the newly-arrived.

Welcome, recruits!

This is the eighth brigade, ninth regiment, first company.

We can't guarantee a war, but guarantee you will get wet.

- Johan Larsen? - The one?

I've heard about you. And your talents.

People say you're psychic.

What am I thinking right now?

- Why ask if you know the answer? - Is the war coming?

You don't need a psychic to answer that.

- Promote Larsen to corporal. - Yes, sir!

He'll be easy to follow. He'll light up the darkness.

They had a guardian angel. He was somewhat of a legend.

No one knew anything about him except that he was a veteran.

But when it was all over everyone knew who he was.

- Who was he? - Johan. The light keeper.

Read on, little miss.

"Fall 1863."

"I started receiving many letters from Peter and Laust."

"They were somewhat staged."

"They wouldn't let jealousy come between us."

"So they read each others letters for me -

- before they were sent."

I miss

the forest and the ocean.

- I wish - I I could be with you.

I often visit you in my thoughts.

I close my eyes

- and and remember the smells. - The smells?

- And the taste of your lips. - Is that necessary?

But I do remember that. Don't you?

- You also kissed her. - Yes, but isn't it

- One doesn't remember the smells. - Of course you do.

Close your eyes.

You go inside to embrace mom.

You press you nose against her dress.

What do you smell?

Wool. And the stove.

Smoke.

But if you don't want me to write the thing about her lips

Of course you can write about her lips.

- It was just a bit too - strong?

"But other letters were false. Written behind Peter's back."

My dearest Inge. As much as it pains me to be away -

-just as much it pains me to write this letter.

I'm ashamed of our love.

If only you were hard to love.

Or ugly, spoiled or stupid -

- it would make things so easy.

Then you'd be hard to love.

From now on all of my letters to you alone -

- will be addressed to "lngeborg".

- The letters Peter can read - will will be addressed to 'lnge"'.

That's terrible. Did Peter ever find out?

- It's a long story. - Did they end up together?

- Come on. - It's all written on the pages.

Inge's journal and letters tell it all.

Was that all?

- I'm a liar. - The truth isn't always nice.

Even the Lord has secrets.

I was meant to protect him. Right now, I'm his worst enemy.

When all hell breaks loose you need to protect yourself.

Hell? Is it approaching?

You're strange.

It's like you're on the outside looking in at the rest of us.

Why are you here?

What do you know?

What do you know?

A man came along. He was carrying all these things.

He wanted to take a picture. I was thinking, "Yes."

No matter what the cost. Pho-to-graph.

Isn't it incredible? Lisbeth thought it was a waste of money.

"But then I can carry you with me. Near my chest."

This is the missus. And this is Signe and lben

and little Christian.

- What about you? - I'm Laust.

- Peter. - We're brothers.

- Hello. - Alfred.

- Alfred? Where are you from? - From Skagen.

And what about you? You could easily have children.

I might have a daughter.

I see.

Well, you're not a grown-up until you have children.

The rest is a bunch of children themselves.

You don't know anything before you meet the right woman.

And then you still don't understand it all.

If you take her here, she'd rather be taken over there.

But if you take her there, then she changes her mind.

It's impossible. And the mood svings.

One moment she's hysterical and the next she's almost angelic.

Then she almost glides through the room smiling.

And then when the lights are off and the children quiet down

you spoon with her and smell her neck -

- and get a sensation of all that is her.

And then you're in heaven.

What about you?

What was your name again? Do you have a sweetheart?

- Sure. - That's great.

We're lucky to be men. We can enjoy the female sex.

But the best thing is the ocean -

- and when two oceans collide.

When I get back I'll take over my father's boat.

Is it difficult being so far from home?

It only takes a day to sail to Skagen.

What's the name of your girlfriend?

I'm afraid I I lied.

May the Lord forgive me.

- I'm sure he will. - Yes?

- Do you have a girlfriend? - Yes.

Laust and I share the same.

Well, it's not like that.

We both love Inge.

And she loves us.

But not like that.

We haven't "known lnge".

You know.

- Known? - Yes.

In the biblical sense.

Oh

You'll have to explain it again, Prime Minister.

We sympathize with these Danes.

And they signed a treaty declaring they wouldn't touch Schleswig.

Then what?

Then these nationalist ideas of one united kingdom arise.

- Hasn't Schleswig always been Danish? - Only as a duchy.

It's important they become part of an actual kingdom.

I don't understand it at all, Prime Minister.

Only three people understand the Schleswig issue, Your Majesty.

The first was a duke. He's dead.

The other a German professor. He's now gone insane.

And the third is me. I've forgotten what it's all about.

- It's got war written all over it. - Indeed, Your Majesty.

The Danes consider themselves invincible.

Why does that clear little people consider themselves invincible?

- They're counting on our help. - We cannot help them.

That much should be clear to anyone.

During all my years in politics, I've never seen such a

Stupid?

Such an ill though-out plan as this Danish one.

Let the Danes know that we consider it ill thought-out.

And that they must redraw that ridiculous proclamation.

Yes, Your Majesty.

- But we like the Danes, do we not? - Well, yes, we do.

- Then send them our sympathies. - Sympathies?

They have our sympathy.

The Prussians send cannons. We send our sympathies.

Palmerston, you're being witty.

It's been a busy day. I missed my afternoon tea.

I'm sorry, Your Majesty.

- So, all deadlines are overdue? - Yes.

And we are now anticipating a declaration of war?

Yes.

- Who are we watching tonight? - Mrs. Heiberg, Your Majesty.

General de Meza can lead our army to victory.

We have lots of time to prepare.

If the Germans attack they'll wait until summer.

So the Germans have told you when they plan to attack?

Armies attack in the summer. Never in the winter.

Everybody knows this.

Be gone, I tell you. One, two

Oh

It's time.

Hell is dark. Yuk!

What's this about?

We have a message for lieutenant general Christian Julius de Meza.

From his excellence field marshal von Wrangel.

Major Schell. First Prussian dragoon regiment.

Captain Striegel. From general Friederich Carl's corps.

To what do I owe this pleasure?

We bring to you, general Christian Julius de Meza -

- a message from field marshal Wrangel.

We request-

- that you immediately pull out the Danish soldiers in Schleswig.

Do you have a response for us?

Yes.

You may leave now, thank you.

- What did it all mean? - And the furniture?

The general doesn't like illnesses travelling in cold air!

The longer it takes to enter the room -

- the more time illnesses get to leave the body.

Madness.

But he's an excellent general, which you'll find out-

- when we meet at the battlefield. Until then.

Until then!

Through the small windows you could se inside

Outside

Mrs. Heiberg

I feel that you need to be one of the first to know this.

Denmark is at war.

Congratulations, Monrad.

- Nothing can stop us now. - Thank you.

My dear Danes.

I've just been informed -

- that the German confederation and Prussia -

- have declared war against Denmark.

And

And we bid them welcome -

- to meet the Danish army and once more -

- a well-deserved defeat.

The toy started to play.

To welcome foreigners, declare war and arrange social events.

The tin soldiers roamed around in the box.

But they couldn't get the lid off.

He looked at her and she looked at him.

But they didn't say a word.

Then one of the boys threw the soldier into the stove.

With no explanation.

Kjezlhede?

I thought you might want to know

- To know - Yes?

- Prussia has declared war! - It happened.

What? This is not okay. This is obscene.

This is unforgivable. It's an ambush.

I agree, mr. Andersen, but it was expectable.

No manners at all.

You interrupt my performance.

- Now, I can't - Andersen, war is coming.

But what about the fairytale?

Drafted as commander?

This time I won't bribe your officers.

This time you'll be a hero and sacrifice yourself.

Instead of running away.

It's a good thing that your mother's dead.

She would've been ashamed to see you like this.

Father?

Father!

Sofia?

Whose clothes is this?

Is it loge's?

Put it on. Put it on.

Put it on!

I'll turn around.

Get moving!

Inge?

Inge?

You've always seen right through me.

You understand me.

The others don't understand how hard it is.

They don't understand

. who I am.

But you understand me.

So why don't you love me?

I've always loved loved you.

Inge Inge

I want to be loved by you Inge! Inge!

There Inge Inge

There There There

There

There I just want you to love me.

It took me decades to understand what happened to Sofia that day.

It was a secret she carried with her all her life.

I also carried a secret back then.

At least for a while.

What's wrong?

I faced the most real of all of life's possibilities.

Laust had impregnated me.

This is a cylinder.

It can be a bag full of iron bullets.

Or pebbles, nails, or broken bottles.

As soon as you put it into this it rips through everything.

- Understood? - Yes, sir.

We load it into the canon instead of a ball or a grenade.

The ammunition shoots out of the canon and explodes -

- in a fury of death and destruction.

Use whatever you like, just make sure the enemy bleeds.

Body parts, intestines. Shoot it at the enemy.

It will spread disease.

You're lucky to have these artillerists.

They soften the enemy before you slice them up.

So far, so good.

Like the whore said, when she pulled my dick out of my pants.

The artillerist keeps the string tight.

Pull it out and let the canon go off.

That's what she said.

Why didn't you tell me it was loaded? It was loaded! God dammit!

You better pray that you didn't kill anybody.

Come here.

Come here, I tell you!

Get moving.

Kill the ones that are still alive with your bayonet.

Carry the remains over to the canteen.

Alone!

Come on!

Sofia?

Are you sleeping?

May I ask you a question?

Your family is travelling south soon.

But you love being here, don't you?

I could really use your help soon.

I was hoping you might stay here with me.

Would you do that?

We must look after each other, Sofia.

I will confide in you.

Are you crying? Sweetheart.

Don't cry. You should be happy.

Thank you.

There, there. Thank you.

Are you sleeping? Or are you just dead?

Are you feeling better?

I don't know how I feel. At my age you just are.

- You're a few hundred years old. - That's how I feel.

So you knew her?

Inge was my grandmother.

Did she end up with Laust?

Ingeborg loved a soldier who faced a massacre.

That is long forgotten in forgotten letters.

- And mossy monuments. - Tell me more

No, I need some rest.

Goodnight, miss Rabbit.

Goodnight, Piglet.

Hey!