NOSTALGIA
Speak Italian
Sorry. We've arrived. I stopped here so we could stretch our legs
You'll see, it's a marvelous painting
I cried the first time I saw it
This light reminds me of certain autumn afternoons in Moscow
Come on then
- I don't want to - I'll wait for you inside
I don't want to!
"I'm tired of seeing these sickeningly beautiful sights
"I want nothing more just for myself
"That's enough"
Have you come to pray for a baby too? Or to be spared them?
I'm just looking
If there are any casual onlookers...
...who aren't supplicants...
...then nothing happens
What is supposed to happen?
Whatever you like, whatever you need most
But you should at least kneel down
I can't
- Look at them - They're used to it
- They have faith - Maybe they have
May I ask you something?
Why do you think...
...it's only the women who pray so much?
- You're asking me? - You see so many women here
I'm only the sacristan
But you must wonder why women are more devout than men
You should know better than I
Because I'm a woman? No, I've never understood these things
I'm a simple man
But I think...
...a woman is meant to have children...
...to raise them...
...with patience...
...and self-sacrifice
That's all she's meant for?
I don't know
I understand. Thank you, you've been a great help
You asked what I thought
I don't know. You want to be happy but there are more important things
Wait...
Merciful Mother, compassionate Mother...
...blessed Mother, tormented Mother...
I just don't understand you
You go on and on about the Madonna of Childbirth
We drive halfway across Italy in the fog
Why didn't you go in to see her?
What are you reading?
Arseny Tarkovsky's poems
In Russian?
It's a translation... quite a good one
Throw it away
Why?
The translator's a very good poet
Poetry is untranslatable, like all art
You may be right that poetry is untranslatable
But what about music? Music's...
What do you mean by that?
It's a Russian song
But how could we have got to know...
...Tolstoy, Pushkin...
...and so understand Russia?
None of you understand Russia
Nor you Italy then...
...if Dante, Petrarch and Machiavelli don't help
It's impossible for us poor devils
- How can we get to know each other? - By destroying frontiers
Which ones?
Between states
There was a maid in Milan who set fire to the house
- What house? - Her employers'
Because of nostalgia for her family in the south
So she burned the thing that stopped her going back
Why did your musician, Sasnovsky...
...go back to Russia if he knew he'd be a slave again?
Would you mind telling me why you won't confide in me?
I don't understand
You read... you understand
Oh, the letter from the Bologna Conservatory
Tell me, was Sasnovsky...
...successful when he returned to Russia?
Was he happy?
He started drinking
And then...
- He committed suicide? - Exactly
Forgive me, I was asleep. Can I have your identification?
I'll go and get the keys
I hope those aren't the keys to the other hotel?
No, they're to my house
Here are your keys
t's our best room
Good night, Andrei
Your room is on the next floor
t's nice here
t's dark now, but the countryside's pretty
There's the river, the mushrooms...
People keep coming back, they often fall in love here
You and your boy-friend will like it
He's not my boy-friend
Go on, he's sad because he's in love
No, his mind's on other things
- Did you knock? - I hadn't yet
Do you want to call Moscow?
You haven't talked to your wife for two days
Andrei, get up. We'll be eating soon!
I'll be downstairs
It's lovely. St. Catherine used to come here, too
I'm coming...
Excuse me, what does this Russian do?
He's a poet
- What's he writing? - The biography of a Russian musician
Why in Italy?
This musician studied in Bologna and came to these baths
- When? - At the end of the 1700s
- Who was it? Tchaikovsky? - No, his name was Sasnovsky
Didn't he marry a local girl?
No, he was in love with a Russian serf and died for her
Such a hurry...
Does your poet like Italy?
Very much. Even so...
General, what's this strange music we keep hearing day in, day out?
Wonderful music! Beats Verdi any time
Hands off Verdi. The music's Chinese
A different civilization with no sentimental wails
The voice of God, of Nature
Pretend they're not there, just go your own way
I've swallowed some water. Move carefully
- What does it taste of? - Sulphur
That's why it's good for your skin
It's horrible
This is the life. I'm nearly asleep
Somebody drowned here in 1960
Don't say such things, you frighten me
Yet listen, it's never too late to learn
Whatever happens, don't interfere, understand?
Have you heard their talk, what interests them?
You must live your life differently
You know why they're in the water?
They want to live for ever
Look at them...
My cigar's gone out. Anyone got a light?
Why do they make fun of him?
He shut himself up in the house with his family for seven years...
...to await the end of the world
A religious fit, they say
Rubbish! He was jealous of his wife they whole time they were together
Later she ran off with the children
Jealous my foot, he's mad!
It's obvious
That's not it, he just got scared
- Scared of what? - Everything, of course
You're wrong, he was a man of great faith
And how, to keep his family locked up for seven years
When they broke down the door...
...his kid shot out like a rat and he chased after him
We thought he wanted to kill him!
Look, the Russian poet!
Excuse me, Miss, I don't smoke but could I have a cigarette?
Of course, seeing you don't smoke...
- Sorry, it's gone out - So it has
Never forget what he said to her
Who's he?
And her?
Well, what did God say to St. Catherine?
You are she who is not
But I am he who is
Did you hear that?
Does Domenico speak to St. Catherine personally?
Don't tease him, he's not stupid
Domenico has a degree
What is "faith"?
Your Italian was a lot better...
...when you first arrived
Well, what mean "faith"?
In Russian it's "viera"
Why they say he mad? He's not mad
He has faith
There are many of these lunatics at large in Italy
Asylums have been closed down but the families won't have them
Who knows what madness is?
They upset us, they're inconvenient
We refuse to understand them
They're alone
But they're certainly closer to the truth
He has another fixation now
What's that?
He climbs into the pool with a lighted candle, God knows why
Everyone's afraid he wants to drown himself, so they throw him out...
...to save him
- I don't believe it - Ask them
Can we ask him to have lunch with us?
- When? - Now
Do you know what time it is? It's seven in the morning!
In the morning?
Does that man with the wet shoes often come?
Who, Domenico? It depends. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't
- Where does he live? - Above Bagno Vignoni
In the square
What's so funny?
Stay there
Why?
You're so pretty...
...in this light
Really?
I'm beginning to understand...
What?
Why do you think he locked up his family for seven years?
How should I know?
There he is
I'm here with a famous Russian writer
My life is normal, there's nothing to interest him
We were told you had a lovely experience
I've read about it in the papers, too
Tell him about it
It's not worth it
Maybe not, but this gentleman has come from Moscow
For me?
He's come a long way
- What did he say? - He doesn't feel like talking
Well, try again, it's very important
Can't you stop for a moment?
What's wrong? Have you offended him?
You've offended me!
He's mad! It's not up to me whether he talks or not. I'm going
Try yourself, you know a bit of Italian
If you don't like the way I work, say so
But I'm not only a good translator, I even improve on the original
I'm going back to Rome. The trip's over as far as I'm concerned
All right
Excuse me...
...I think I know why you do it
What? The bicycle?
Before... with your family
I'm tired
Where are you?
Come in
Did you hear that? It's Beethoven!
One drop plus one drop...
...makes a bigger drop, not two
May I?
When I don't know what to say I ask for a cigarette too
But I've never learnt to smoke
It's too hard
You have to learn...
...to not smoke, to do important things
Such as?
Some wine?
One needs bigger ideas
I was selfish, before
I wanted to save just my family
Everyone must be saved... the whole world
What?
It's simple
You see the candle?
All right, but...
Why do you say "all right"?
You're confusing me
You must cross the water with a lighted candle
- Which water? - The hot water
St. Catherine's pool...
...by the hotel...
...the water that steams
All right, when?
Now
I can't do it
They won't let me
When I light the candle...
...and get into the water...
...they pull me out
They throw me out
They shout "You're mad!"
Understand?
All right
All right?
It's all wrong!
Help me
All right, but...
Of course I will
Where's the Russian who's going to Bagno Vignoni?
The taxi's here
It's late
I must go
Why me of all people?
- You've children? - Two, a girl and a little boy
Is your wife pretty?
- You know the Madonna of Childbirth? - Yes. Piero della Francesca
She's like that, but all black
Take the candle
We're planning something big in Rome
Where are you?
Answer me!
I'm scared of being alone
I know what you're thinking, but that's enough now
It's wrong to keep thinking about the same thing
Is this the end of the world?
Stand back!
They're bringing them out!
I knew they were in there, I used to listen in secret!
The water had run out in my bathroom... do you mind?
I thought you'd left
No, I'm still here
- I'm pleased - You don't look it
Look what he gave me
- Who? - Domenico
You're afraid of everything, full of complexes
You're not free
You all seem to want freedom, but when you get it...
...you don't know what to do with it...
...or what it is
That's enough...
It must be this country, the air one breathes here
Because in Moscow I met some wonderful men
What do you all want from me? This?
Not you!
Because you're some kind of saint
You're interested in Madonnas
You're different
One "intellectual" tried to keep me locked up!
Can't I ever meet the right person?
I don't mean you, you're the worst
But I swear I'll find my kind of man!
And I have, he's waiting for me in Rome
You dress badly, too
And you bore me stiff
You're the kind I'd sleep with...
...rather than explain why I don't want to
What are you saying?
Don't you see?
I find myself in a most humiliating position
I've had enough
I can't take any more
I'd like to sleep for ten days and blot you out from my mind
Maybe there's nothing to blot out because you don't exist
The problem's mine
Why do I like idiots?
...men without charm?
I look young but I know what charm is
Just go away
You know, the night I met you...
...I dreamt about a soft worm with lots of legs
It fell on my head
It was poisonous, it stung me
I kept shaking my head...
...until it fell to the ground. I tried...
I tried to squash it before it reached the wardrobe
but it was no good
I kept missing it
I just couldn't squash it
Since that night...
...I keep touching my hair
Thank God there's been nothing between us
Just the thought makes me sick!
She's mad
Run back to your wife! Though you nearly betrayed her
You're a pig like the others!
- Anything else? - Hypocrite!
Let's go and listen to some music
- What's happened? - Nothing, nothing
Oh God! The General and his Chinese music!
But no one's driving me away!
"Dear Pyotr Nikolayevich, have been in Italy two years
"Very important ones,
both for my profession and for my everyday life
"Last night I had a bad dream
"I had to stage an opera n the theatre of My Lord the Count
"The first act was set in a park full of statues
"But they were naked men, painted white and forced to stand motionless
"And I was a statue too
"I knew I would be harshly punished f I moved
"Because our lord and master was watching us
"I could feel the cold rising from my marble pedestal
"While the autumn leaves settled on my upraised arm
"Yet I stood still
"But when I sensed I could resist no longer...
"...I awoke
"I was much afraid
"For I knew it had been no dream but my reality
"Yet I would die if I never returned to Russia
"If I never again saw the land of my birth
"The birches, the air of my childhood
"An affectionate greeting from your abandoned friend, Pavel Sasnovsky"
"As a child I fell ill
"From hunger and fear
"I tear shreds of skin from my lips
"In my memory I lick traces of salt, of freshness
"And still I walk and walk
"I sit on a doorstep, lacking for warmth
"I... stagger deliriously as to the piper's tune
"I was hot, I opened my collar and lay down
"The trumpets sounded. A light pierced my eyelids
"High above the pavement Mother flies, beckons with her hand
"And flew away
"Now beneath the apple-trees I dream of a white hospital
"As a child I fell ill..."
I must go and see Dad
I've a jacket in the wardrobe, it's been there three years
I'll wear it again when I get home
I never see anyone
What are you doing here?
Don't be afraid of me
It's I who should be afraid of you
You could shoot me
Everyone shoots in Italy
And there are too many Italian shoes
Unbelievable!
Why does everyone buy them?
These are ten years old
It's not important
You know the great classic romances...
...no kisses...
Nothing at all. Very pure
That's why they're great
Feelings that are unspoken are unforgettable
Here it's like in Russia
I don't know why
I speak bad Italian
Here's a story
A man saves another man who was sinking into a slimy pond...
...thereby risking his own life
Now they are both lying on the edge of the pond...
...out of breath, exhausted
The rescued man says: "You idiot!
"Why did you do that? I live in there!"
"I live in there." He was offended
What's your name?
Are you happy?
- About what? - About life
Good girl
"Sight grows dim, my strength...
"...is two occult, adamantine darts
"Hearing falters, as my father's house breathes distant thunder
"The tissues of hard muscles weaken
"Like hoary oxen at the plough
"And no longer, when night falls, do two wings gleam behind me
"During the party, a candle, am wasted away
"At dawn gather up my melted wax
"And read in it whom to mourn, what to be proud of
"How, by laying down the last portion of joy...
"...to die lightly
"And, sheltering under a makeshift roof
"To light up posthumously, like a word"
Why must I think of this?
Haven't I enough worries?
My God, why did I do it?
They're my children, my family, my own flesh and blood
How could I?
Years without seeing the sun, fearing the daylight!
Why?
Why this tragedy?
Lord, don't you see how he's asking?
Say something to him
But what would happen if he heard my voice?
Let him feel your presence
I always do, but he's not aware of it
I'll bring the car round in ten minutes
Mr. Gorchakov, phone call for you
Please wait a moment
- How are you? - Well... very well
- Guess why I called - Perhaps you...
Your Domenico is here, the lunatic from Bagno Vignoni
No, I know he's not mad; I said it so you'd understand
Anyway, he's taking part in a weird demonstration here in Rome
He's been making speeches for three days, like Fidel Castro
Come and say goodbye to him
'm leaving... immediately
He keeps asking if you've done what you were supposed to do
Of course
I'll tell him right away
I'm glad we could say goodbye
I'm going away with Vittorio
We'll probably go to India
Vittorio's from an illustrious family.
He's deeply interested in spiritual matters
Good, Eugenia, wish you all the best
Same to you. Say hello to Moscow for me
How are you keeping? How's your heart? All right?
Don't know, I've had enough
'm fed up
want to go home
I'm going to buy some cigarettes
I want to change my ticket. I'm leaving in two days' time
- Anything wrong? - Nothing...
Can you drive me to Bagno Vignoni?
- When? - Now
I'll have to let Italy-USSR know
I'll wait here
I had a feeling you might not leave today...
What ancestor speaks in me?
I can't live simultaneously...
...in my head and in my body
That's why I can't be just one person
I can feel myself countless things at once
There are no great masters left, that's the real evil of our time
Our heart's path is covered in shadow
We must listen to the voices that seem useless
Into brains full of long sewage pipes...
...of school walls, tarmac and welfare papers...
...the buzzing of insects must enter
We must all fill our eyes and ears with things...
...that are the beginning of a great dream
Someone must shout that we'll build the pyramids
It doesn't matter if we don't
We must fuel that wish
We must stretch the corners of the soul
like an endless sheet
If you want the world to go forward, we must hold hands
We must mix the so-called healthy with the so-called sick
You healthy ones! What does your health mean?
The eyes of all mankind are looking at the pit...
...into which we are all plunging
Freedom is useless...
...if you don't have the courage to look us in the eye...
...to eat, drink and sleep with us!
It's the so-called healthy...
...who have brought the world to the verge of ruin
Listen, man!
In you, water...
...fire...
...and then ashes
And the bones in the ashes
The bones...
...and the ashes!
Wait for me round there in the car
Where am I when I'm not in the real world...
...or in my imagination?
Here's my new pact with the world:
It must be sunny at night and snowy in August
Great things end, small things endure
Society must become united again instead of being fragmented
Just look at nature and you'll see that life is simple...
...that we must go back to where we were, to the point...
...where you took the wrong turning
We must go back to the main foundations of life...
...without dirtying the water
What kind of world is this...
...if a madman has to tell you...
...to be ashamed of yourselves?
Music now
I forgot this
O mother!
The air is that light thing...
...that moves around your head...
...and becomes clearer when you laugh
The music doesn't work! Help me!
Dedicated to the memory of my mother