ONLY CLOUDS MOVE THE STARS
Remember your dream?
- What was it about? - Nothing.
Something about a horse.
- Are we taking both cars? - You'll ride with Mons and me.
Why?
- I wasn't asleep! - Should we have awakened you?
Maybe I wanted to arrange the flowers! Is that so strange?
OK... Let's go. No, it's not strange at all.
I'm just as much family as they are! He's my brother, isn't he?
- Leave me alone! - Please, Maria.
Maria.
Please.
We might as well all have died at the same time.
PeeWee and I. Mom and dad.
Dad!
Where's mom?
Mom...
Losing a child is painful.
One might even think God has turned His back on us.
That He no longer cares about us.
But we must not stop believing that such a seemingly senseless tragedy -
- can be turned into something strong and good.
Dearest PeeWee...
If you're still here, -
- or if you still exist... Please give me a sign.
I promise I'll never ask again. Not for anything.
From where this little boy is now he sees more than us.
And he sees for us.
I gave her something to help her sleep.
Maria, will you pour grandma some coffee?
She has stopped crying.
That's not unusual.
It isn't.
No. That's... normal.
Can I have something to help me sleep, too?
She's sleeping.
We're leaving now, sweetie.
Will you be okay without us?
We should have been together now, you and I.
It'll be all right. Some day.
When this melancholy has passed.
Is that what she has?
Melancholy?
See you soon.
- Will we barbeque? - And you'll weed the carrots.
But I do that every year!
Want a cracker?
- No, thanks. - They're your favorite.
The good ones you like with your tea.
We can put it on a tray and I'll carry it upstairs for you.
Maria...
...no need for that.
I'm fine.
Soon... It'll be fine.
Wait, Maria!
Hi, Maria. How's it going?
Fine...
Hello, Maria.
Go away!
- Can I sit here? Can I, teacher? - Don't bother!
Sit down, Ellen.
It won't work.
You don't know what it's like to have melancholy.
Pretend everything is normal? Is that what you mean?
- No. Not normal, but... - Why not tell that to mom?
- Maria. - No, I refuse.
I feel very strongly now that I'm sick and tired of this.
But, only two more schooldays...
Soda and cookies and reciting poems for parents? No way!
And the church? I'll never set foot there again.
I would appreciate you leaving for work now.
Thank you very much.
I'm sorry... if I scared you.
I can leave. If that's what you want.
That's what I had in mind.
How are you doing?
Fine.
That's nice...
Then we're all doing fine!
Are hot dogs also wrong? Or was that the wrong hot dog?
I don't want to!
Dad... Is it already decided?
Fine! I'll call and say you aren't coming.
Don't bother! I'm sure I'll find a place to be lonely there too.
Here it is, Maria.
Want me to take your jacket?
I'm not dead yet. I'll take it off myself before I melt to death.
Thank you very much.
We didn't get much of a vacation this summer.
We'll see.
When you come back from grandma and grandpa's.
Depending on how mom is doing?
If she gets some rest... Some fresh air...
At least the garden will be free now.
Train for Bergen is departing from track 3. All aboard.
There was this tower.
From the tower I had a view over a large field ending in a forest.
Far away.
The kind of dark forest where only the tiniest flower can grow.
Where the forest ended, there was a knight in shining armor.
I guess that was the night she stopped loving me.
- Recognize this place? - Yes.
It hasn't been that long.
Already halfway?
Approximately.
I don't know... I thought maybe...
The weather's so nice. How about a walk?
- You didn't get out yesterday either. - But I came yesterday.
- Just a small walk? - No, I don't want to.
I'm reading, and I'd like to do that without walking. Thank you.
- Where are you calling? - Home.
Maybe they're in the garden.
Dear God.
We haven't communicated for quite a while.
But... now I'm convinced.
You no longer care about humanity...
Or you're dead.
And do not exist. You're just lying there rotting.
Amen.
Vivid imagination? I don't think so.
I don't think people can make up things like that.
Prove it, then. Prove that God exists.
Like he's walking around in Heaven? Sure!
Nobody knows.
Maria. It's for you.
It's your dad.
- Are you fighting? - We just disagree.
- About what? - Nothing... Just God.
- Having a good time? - Sure.
- You aren't bored? - No. No! Bye. Bye!
I don't give a shit where they are!
- Why are you sitting here? - I'm not!
Me neither.
Have you just moved in?
Or are you on vacation?
OK, it's settled. Vacation!
Pretty cool vacation.
What about your parents? Where are they?
Maybe they're sitting on the back stairs?
They're at home. Where we live.
- They'll be here in a few days. - Cool.
- My brother too. - Then we can all play together.
- Is he nice? - He's only nine.
- What's his name? - He's only nine.
"Only Nine". Cool name. Just as cool as "Ten der Meat".
Get it?
"Tender meat". See? His mother was German.
His name is Per Kristian. But he answers to PeeWee.
I answer to Jacob!
You should have had a dog or something.
Instead of PeeWee? Instead of him and mom and dad?
Yes. That might have been nice.
- Some hot chocolate? - The aquarium!
I told you I'm not interested in fish!
- Please, Maria. - Would you like a burger?
- I could warm some buns. - No!
Sorry... if I took your spot.
Hello? Interesting book?
V- e- s- a- a- s.
I don't understand people who don't want company.
I don't think they mean it.
They just don't grasp what their problem is.
I don't understand it. Not one bit.
Excuse me! Are you going to get lost, or what?
Here! For you.
Pink. Perfect for girls.
They're to be inserted orally.
And sucked up against the roof of your mouth.
- My God! - What's wrong with you?
- Fine. Have fun!
By the way, it's not true. About my brother.
That's what I thought.
- I lied. - He's not coming?
- No, he's... in training. - What for?
He has to train. For the national championship.
- Really? What sport? - He's a diver.
He's in training all summer. And my mom...
- She's dead. - What?
So my dad has to go with him. Then we're going on vacation.
- How about you? - We're just going to Denmark...
Amusement parks and all that. But I don't think it'll happen...
Want to go out?
There are two public pools.
And one that's indoors. No. That's closed.
Are you saving that candy for Christmas?
PeeWee is the great candy eater in our family. He's addicted.
He never drank milk. So mom increased his allowance -
- if he drank one glass a day. A good deal, if you ask me.
So... I tried the same with fried herring.
But it didn't work. I don't like fish.
PeeWee is much more spoiled than me.
A spoiled brat that everyone likes.
- He's not that bad, but... - Maybe a little?
Once we went camping and he went totally crazy.
So mom begged him to find a hobby, like stamp collecting.
Later dad asked what was for dinner.
Mom looked at the cans in the cupboard and couldn't answer.
That's when we found out what PeeWee had started collecting.
- Labels. - Labels?
Labels from cans.
It's great you can say so many words in a row.
Because then we can have conversations.
I didn't think you were into that.
I live here.
This is the back door.
Would you rather go in the front door?
- Are you interested in stars? - No.
Me neither.
It's just mom and me.
And she's rarely at home.
I'm a deeply neglected child, poor me.
- Really? - Yeah.
- Doesn't she like you? - She loves me.
- "Loves"? - Yes. She says:
"Remember I love you, Jacob." She's afraid I'll fall off my bike.
She has no one but me.
Does she say it just like that?
Yes.
Do you love me?
Or do you only love PeeWee?
- What weather! - I don't care.
Because I met someone. But he's left for Denmark.
Vacation...
Copenhagen. Amusement parks. Pink cotton candy.
- Too bad. - That's life.
Maria? There's a boy here.
Then they're leaving tomorrow.
- But I'm soaked! - So what? You're in Bergen!
- Hurry up! - Where are you?!
- I can't find you! - Just stay where you are.
The emergency room! You need stitches.
Have you ever had stitches?
Did you hit back?
I'm telling the truth. Look, she's bleeding internally!
And internal bleeding can be fatal!
Do you want me to press my lips against the same ice cream -
- that she presses to her forehead?
- Wouldn't that be nice? - No way!
I want some gum for that.
- "Omo Color" washes whiter. - No!
"Omo" is for colors, so it doesn't wash whiter.
- "Omo" gives me a rash. - Carrots give me one.
Good choice. How do you fake it?
- Maria! - What are you doing?!
- You're nuts! What if we get caught? - Come on.
- You look like a swamp, anyway. - There are creepy things in there.
I can dive for you with my eyes open.
I can dive with open eyes myself.
- Some other time. - But it's cool!
- I'm really not that cool. - Your brother would've done it.
Yes. But he's not a melancholic.
- Are you? - By nature.
- Lucky you. - How come?
You have a brother.
I sure am lucky.
- What about a sister? - A sister?
- Wouldn't you have liked a sister? - I've never thought about it.
- Give it a try. - She could clean my room...
And give me presents.
If you touch me...
Am I dry now... ?
Is it possible that girls for some reason are less valuable than boys?
Why?
I've heard they kill baby girls in China.
- Do they eat them too? - Give me a break!
They eat cats and dogs... and other animals.
Let's get out of here.
Where's your window?
Would you rather have been a boy?
Is that your door over there?
Then you would have been less pretty.
Without such beautiful hair. Or those pretty eyes.
If you were my brother, you'd have curlier hair than me!
- And braces on your teeth. - Braces?
Everybody in Bergen has braces.
And that's not pretty.
He's saving to buy a telescope.
But he showed me his bankbook. There was nothing in it.
Don't boys know how to save?
I don't know.
Doesn't seem like it.
The earth is a very, very small place.
Probably on the edge of space. Like the North Cape compared to New York.
Should I've made the bed first?
Is this embarrassing?
No...
Are you sure?
No.
Imagine we're the earth. This is the sky.
This is the Big Dipper. You've seen that before, right?
And that is only part of the Great Bear.
The Great Bear consists of the Big Dipper and surrounding stars.
This is the Little Bear. And Pollux and Castor of Gemini.
I'm born under Gemini - the Twins.
- The Twits. - The Twins.
When were you born? Yesterday?
- October 5th. - October... makes you a Libra.
There's Libra. And Cassiopeia.
What?
Cassiopeia!
- K... - That's a C.
It's an old map.
A- S- T- J...
I pronounce "J" differently. I like the way you pronounce it.
X-Y-R... Do you like my spelling?
I can show it to you this fall.
Then it'll be right above us.
What is it you're always thinking about?
Fall.
You seem to think a lot.
- I thought less before. - Why?
There was less to think about. I guess.
I think, therefore I am.
Who said that?
I don't know. But he probably had...
A beard...
Braces...
And glasses.
- And red hair and freckles. - That's a great combination.
- You can have them. - Thanks.
Do you believe all that about the stars?
Do you think they determine when we're supposed to die?
- Thinking about your mother? - No.
It would be strange.
But eternity, for instance, is also hard to understand.
Or if space isn't endless...
There must be something beyond.
- God? - Two things I don't care for:
God... and fish.
Can't you see that's not a fish?
Wasn't he allowed to come?
- Wasn't he allowed? - Sure, but... Look at that!
- Didn't he want to? - Sure, but...
- He couldn't, grandma. - Why not?
He... had to train.
He's into sports.
We'd like to meet him before you leave.
Less than twenty hours left.
You could ask to stay a few more days.
After all, your brother's there.
Yes. Why would they need me then?
Why don't you want to go home?
Are you melancholic again?
Me too.
We can be melancholic together.
Jacob. Honestly...
- Do you think the earth is wonderful? - The earth?
My grandmother used to sing a Christmas carol about that.
Every Christmas Eve until she died.
When did she die?
All of a sudden.
One week later she was buried.
I wonder if she really meant that the earth was so wonderful.
Don't you think it's pretty nice?
Just sitting like this. Quietly, letting your gaze wander.
Our earth is wonderful. God's Heaven is glorious...
There's one thing we haven't done.
- Are you up for it? - What?
First say yes.
- Did you see that!? - Yeah! Let's do it again!
- Let me see. - They're mine. I paid for them.
Stand still!
- Yuck! - What's wrong? They're great!
I didn't know I liked red hair. Now I like freckles too.
Models aren't necessarily beautiful either.
- Some are just photogenic. - These are great!
Don't I look like Eddie Murphy?
You'll be photogenic too... once you grow up!
OK?
Grandma!
Grandpa!
- Can I? - One doesn't bathe in fountains.
- A few more days? - Get changed.
Only a few more days!
- Please, dad. - If you're a good girl.
- Have a nice time, Maria. - Thank you! Thank you!
Three more days!
What's his name other than Jacob?
I can ask him.
Are you going to Denmark?
- No. - Then what's the matter?
I know it isn't true.
What you said about your brother.
I know he's dead.
For all I know, your mother doesn't exist either!
Suddenly, poofff... you might be dead and buried too! Think about that!
Think about that!
Where's mom?
Wait a second. Listen, Maria...
Where's mom?!
She's with Mons and Melinda.
She did stop loving me that night. Of course.
That night by the tower and the field and the forest.
She wore armor.
I couldn't see her face, but I knew it had to be her.
The way you know things when you dream.
She was unable to move, because she had no... horse.
- What did you do today? - Nothing. Some homework, I guess.
Next week is your birthday. Want a party?
- No. - Why not?
I've outgrown birthdays.
Maria... Please.
- What's wrong? - None of your damn business.
What isn't going well?
It's you.
I don't know what you mean.
- May I leave now? - No. Not yet.
Is anybody talking to you?
All the time.
- I mean... - About death, you mean?
About my little brother?
- There's nothing more to be said. - About you.
Poofff! Don't worry about it.
And stop interfering with my life!
Wait! Wait!
Hello there!
- We're leaving. See you. - See you.
They didn't think I was real.
But now they have proof.
I thought I'd never see you again.
You don't abandon someone you've looked in the eye under water.
Cool!
- Definitely my style. - It's all normal.
Exactly. That's my style.
I wouldn't exactly call you normal!
In what sense?
The best.
Come. I want to see upstairs.
Can I take a look?
He said he was going up to change bodies. He was in such pain.
Cancer is so painful.
That's what he died from.
No wonder you're sad. You have a right to be sad.
But do I have to stay sad forever?
Other things will follow. Things that aren't so sad.
What if they don't?
- This is Jacob. - Jacob Christensen. With a "Ch".
Three days in Oslo. Mom's at an advanced aromatherapy seminar.
Nice to meet you.
Corn. Asparagus. Pineapple.
- Pork chops? - Fish balls.
Pineapple. Beans. Labels are a smart idea.
I wonder who invented labels?
I told him about PeeWee collecting labels.
- It led to a lot of funny dinners. - I'll bet.
Imagine mixing tuna and asparagus...
- And snails? - Someone should give it a try.
- Tomatoes. Tomato soup is good. - No, it's not!
A restaurant! Which one, dad?
Please?
- What about me? - You also want more?
So we agree I'm an expert on tomato soup?
You're an expert on hard boiled eggs.
It has to be pitch dark.
They're moving.
I can see the stars move.
See?
It's not the stars.
The clouds make it look like the stars are moving.
The clouds are moving. Not the stars.
I see...
It seemed a little strange.
Like when a big boat leaves the pier.
It feels as if the pier is moving. But it's just the boat.
I understand.
Milk?
Yes. And peanut butter.
Dad. You know that peanut butter doesn't belong in the fridge.
Potato chips, pork rinds... And marshmallows.
The white ones we barbeque. And Coke... and Seven-Up.
OK. Take away the pork rinds. And add popcorn!
It's healthy when you pop it at home. It's just corn.
May I sleep here tonight?
Daddy?
Did they really bury their servants with them?
That's wild.
- Servants and animals? - Just like in Egypt.
They wrapped people up, embalmed them to keep them cool.
What if they needed to bring a family member along?
I'd also take people along.
If everybody did that, there wouldn't be many left.
No. Only the loneliest.
Imagine being a person no one wanted to die with.
I'll take that.
The phone is ringing.
No.
It's not for me.
I'm usually in bed by this time.
Who was calling?
Outer space. Some number in Mysen.
Mysen?
A place where you weed carrots if you're there during summer.
Does your mother have a man?
Right now? I don't really know. You mean my father?
He's a photographer. Not in outer space exactly, but Africa.
News. He photographs the news.
There are lots of wars in Africa. That makes for great news.
His favorite thing is shooting pictures hanging from a helicopter.
Doesn't he think about you?
Mom says he's OK as long as we don't hear anything.
- What if he falls down? - Then they'll contact us.
Your poor mother.
She's cool. She says everything has a meaning.
- She really means it. - Sounds like bullshit.
You'll understand, she says. Maybe not until the end, -
- but you'll understand.
But what if Africa and such things never existed?
Hey, you can't just dump Africa.
Then there would be no need to look for meaning.
We wouldn't have to think, she says. We might as well be sheep.
So the meaning of life, then, is to search for meaning?
Do you agree with that?
No.
- Where am I sleeping? - Not yet!
- No, daddy. Please. - But it's late!
- Good night. - Good night, Jacob.
- Hey! - Are you crazy?
- Are you impressed? - That ladder weighs a ton!
Wasn't heavy at all!
Up there.
Good that it's high up, right?
That's what I was afraid of.
- I can hold your hand if you want. - No...
There. There it is.
That one?
That's Cassiopeia.
Listen. It's not true that my mother is dead.
She's out there with the carrots, right?
After what happened to PeeWee. Do you understand?
It was like this: I was sitting in a tower, watching her.
She was standing near the edge of a forest.
It was mom.
My mother. She was wearing old fashioned armor.
She couldn't move because she had no horse.
She had chased it away. Just given it up.
That was the dream. The night before PeeWee was buried.
I dreamt that dream...
And I haven't forgotten it.
Do you understand?
She couldn't come to me...
Because she had chased away her horse.
On purpose.
Couldn't you go to her?
No...
Could not... or would not?
Would not!
That was stupid of you.
You mean I should do everything myself?
Who else?
What about God? He doesn't do a shit!
He probably doesn't do things.
Then what does he do?
Makes us do things.
Not me.
Maybe...
- Maybe you could... - Stop caring about her.
Have you tried?
Yes.
Did it work?
I wonder...
lf...
If my father had lived in Mysen...
I think I would've gone there.
Is it far away?
We can write to each other.
Or call.
I know a trick with phone booths.
I can call for free.
- How? - Chewing gum!
And then we can get married.
- How can you call for free? - You take a coin.
And some used gum. Stick it to the coin -
- and insert the coin which gets stuck inside.
- You can talk as long as you want. - Have you tried?
No... but if you don't want to, we can just live together.
Write! Write to me!
You have to write!
... age 7, sends a greeting to her mommy.
From all of us at Radio 4: Get well soon!
Happy birthday, Maria.
Happy birthday.
I also wish your mom was here.
I miss her. All the time.
I think of her. All the time.
But what does she say?
Nothing.
Not any more.
Nothing...
- Have you been there before? - Every summer vacation. At least.
- Is somebody meeting you? - No.
I'm a deeply neglected child, poor me.
I've come to take my mother home.
Melinda? Could you come here?
Dear God! Maria, my child. What are you...
- Where's mom? - Did you come all by yourself?
Where is she?
What do I do now?
First you have to eat. You must be starving.
Have you come here alone before? Yes, last summer.
We picked you up with the car full of chickens...
Chocolate milk! From last year.
Please, Melinda, where is...
- We've made jam, it's runny, but... - Where is she?
Here comes Mons.
- Something to eat? - Is she in the hospital?
No, she isn't.
She's in the garden.
Mom?
- I don't want to. - Yes you do.
Mom?
It's me. Maria.
It's me.
Mom, it's Maria.
Mom, you have to talk!
Say something to us.
Do you love me?
Do you love me or don't you?
Because I love you.
Anna? Can you hear me? This has got to end.
Somebody help me! I can't take this!
I can't handle this alone.
Help me!
Oh, dear God...
Dear God, if You exist...
Take care of my children.
Please.
You can go ahead and die if that's what you really want.
You too.
You can, if you want to.
We'll get by.
Dad and I.
We'll get by.
It's so quiet.
Is it God?
I don't know.
But I hope so.
Did she really say that?
She loves me.
Subtitles by Martin Thorshaug