Where's it coming from? - Via de' Bardi.
Careful. A grenade just exploded over there.
Look. My house is just beyond that boulevard.
The National Liberation Committee might have news of him,
but they're across the river.
What's the news?
Believe me, I'd like to go across and chase out those rats
shooting from rooftops and bell towers.
Shooting at whom? Are there lots of partisans in town?
In some areas, but they're shooting out of rage.
They even shoot women going to the fountain for water.
They killed two like that last night,
while these guys gaze at Giotto's bell towers.
How do you get this news?
By telephone.
There's a telephone cable linking us to the city.
You have to help me. Don't you have family?
All I could do is take you there, but they're letting no one across.
Take me where?
Don't make me spell it out.
Others have gotten across. You can try too.
All right. But how? Where?
Use a little imagination. It's not hard.
- The Uffizi passageway? - I know nothing.
You never said a word. Don't worry, and thanks.
Don't start from the Palazzo Pitti. The passageway's collapsed there.
Hey, what's a guy like you doing around here?
Gigi! I'm in luck.
Where'd you pop out of?
- Listen, I have to get across. - Please, be my guest.
Stop kidding around.
I know you can cross via the Uffizi passageway.
- So? - Others have. I have to too.
No one's gotten across. Those are just tall tales.
The passageway's been there for centuries. That's no tall tale.
Whether others got across or not, I'm going.
- You're not going anywhere. - Calm down.
I'm free to go wherever I want.
But not to be a jerk and endanger the rest of us.
You're not the only one who knows.
But imagine if the Germans find out. It's a miracle they haven't so far.
And at the end of the passageway - what then?
The Germans occupy the Palazzo della Signoria,
and Florence is in a state of emergency. No one's allowed in the streets.
They'd nab you the second you got there.
It's hard to move around
even for authorized medical personnel.
It all depends on the Germans' mood.
Harriet, don't be foolish!
- You don't even know where it is. - No, but I'll find it.
The whole city's in German hands. Try to get a Red Cross arm band.
The partisans only control San Jacopino.
All right.
Keep down!
Look, that's the way we came.
Come on.
Those swine!
They've blown up all the bridges.
Come on, quick.
Look!
The Germans!
Open up! Hurry!
Massimo, the window.
- Please open up. - Who's there?
The Germans are coming! Open up!
Hurry!
Uncle, some people want to cross over the roof.
All right, go on now. Keep your heads down.
Hear that 20-caliber machine gun?
They've been pounding that area for three days.
A big mistake, in my opinion.
Excuse me, which way to San Jacopino?
See Borgo Ognissanti there? Continue along there.
Are there still Germans in the streets?
No.
The partisans have been fighting for that area for two days now.
Maybe they'll have word of Lupo. How long have they been fighting?
Two days. Since the night before last.
Listen, that's the 88!
Major, your wife's worried and says to come down.
It's fine up here!
I can't budge now. Tell her to send up my helmet.
All right.
Just for the sun, not the bullets. Those I can dodge to the inch.
I fought in the real war, back in 1918!
Renato, another map.
Good! Let's have a look.
They're in Galluzzo.
Send word on about their latest position.
You live here? How should we proceed?
Try over the rooftops, but be careful.
Lots of tiles are broken, and it's dangerous.
There's the 20-caliber again.
- Good-bye. Thanks, Major. - Good luck.
These two came from the Palazzo Pitti.
The English have brought white flour.
Really? White flour?
Will there be enough for all of us?
Yes, lots of sacks, and they'll bring more.
Why don't they keep coming?
Easier said than done.
The Germans blew up all the bridges.
Heavens! My aunt lives close to Santa Trinita.
Were the old buildings destroyed too? - No, just those on the Ponte Vecchio.
What are they waiting for? The partisans control San Jacopino.
Why are the English dragging their feet?
That woman says the whole area's been liberated.
You can go out on the streets. - What's the best way to get there?
Out our courtyard to the Rucellai Gardens.
It's just minutes from there.
But the Fascists are shooting from the rooftops.
I'm not afraid of them. So long, and thanks.
Red Cross.
Careful. Don't bump it against the curb.
Don't worry.
Keep back. Where'd you come from?
Downtown. I have to get to my family on the Mosse bridge.
I have relatives there too, but no one can get through.
Of course not, with the Fascists and Germans there.
- Have they blown up buildings? - Keep back.
- Do you know? - No, nothing.
There was lots of smoke over that way this morning.
Stop! You can't go here!
Carlo, don't you recognize me? I live over there.
Yes, but I can't let you through. There's fighting.
- My family's there. - It's too dangerous.
There are Fascist snipers. Want to get yourself killed?
- It's just over there. - All right, come on. I'll ask the boss.
Marco...
these folks want to get across.
All right. Send 'em through.
All right. On your toes, boys. They're moving out.
Come on.
I know this guy.
Hold it there! Where are you headed?
- Just down the street. - Are you crazy?
My wife and child are just across the street. Let me go, please.
Massimo, no!
Stop!
Go back, you idiot!
Marco!
Move it!
Filthy coward!
Look what you did, you swine! Move it!
No, I don't want to die!
My God.
Marco...
find my family and tell them what's happened
so they don't worry.
Mama, I feel cold inside.
Everything's gone badly today since Lupo died.
Now you won't get on my back anymore, Lupo.
The "Gothic line" is an impregnable natural barrier.
Every village must be wrested in bitter struggle
from a ruthless and desperate enemy.
Brothers, let us thank the Lord, who has delivered us from all danger.
If my wife had listened, we'd have brought the pigs too,
and the Germans wouldn't have gotten them.
Well, take your chickens anyway.
These are mine.
"Very Reverend Provincial Father...
with the help of divine providence,
we are safe and sound.
Our monastery has not suffered much..."
- What is it? - The Americans, in tiny little cars!
Come inside.
Fra' Pacifico will be here in a minute.
Praised be Jesus Christ.
Good evening. May he be praised forever.
Father Superior's waiting for you.
Boys, run along now.
Peace be with you, brothers. May Saint Francis bless you.
We are American chaplains.
May we spend the night here?
Our doors are open to all.
Fra' Pacifico, prepare rooms for these gentlemen.
These are our other brothers:
The vicar, the substitute, and the organist.
Please come with me.
Please step inside.
Please have a seat.
A chair, Father Claudio.
Take their helmets.
I'd like to ask about my town, San Leo.
I'll ask them in a moment.
Father, if I may -
Very kind, but no, thank you.
Father, would you have any news about San Leo?
Is it badly damaged?
Not badly.
My deepest thanks.
I'll say a special prayer to our Holy Mother
for your spiritual and temporal aid -
That's fine, Fra' Raffaele. We understand.
We make this liqueur from own apples, Fathers.
Would you like to try it?
- Hail Mary... - Full of grace.
The rooms are ready, Father.
Fathers, if you'd be so kind.
Such men, those three chaplains!
Father Superior, they forgot this.
Don't get excited. They're down the other corridor.
- Are they spending the night? - They'll be our guests at dinner.
Of course. We'll share all we have with them.
- Praised be Jesus Christ. - Forever and ever.
What are you preparing for this evening?
Broccoli.
Is there enough for three honored guests
who'll be joining us? - No, there's very little.
We could mix in some potatoes.
There aren't many potatoes either.
I've noticed that the pear tree is starting to bear fruit.
They won't be ripe for a month, and they're no good for eating anyway.
Do your best. I know I can trust you.
Divine providence will help us.
Praised be Jesus Christ. - Forever and ever.
Go open the door.
- What is it? - An offering for the monastery.
You saved our animals.
May Saint Francis bless you.
Help me carry all this, will you?
Come here, please.
Meat and vegetables - good.
Cocoa, butter, milk, more meat -
all very good food.
Go now. The rest later.
Look what they gave me.
There are eggs, butter, and chocolate inside.
Eggs in cans? In here?
- Well, I'll be! - Let me see the chocolate.
These Americans think of everything. Give me that gadget.
Careful, Father Salvatore. You'll hurt your fingers.
This isn't your line of work.
It's milk!
It's good.
Well, I'll be!
Nothing would grow here before.
Now it's the most fertile part of our garden.
One of Fra' Raffaele's miracles.
Smells good.
Mint.
Good evening.
Lovely garden. - Good evening.
He's very bad.
No, he's good.
Excuse me. I must go now.
Good evening.
Why aren't they praying?
These two are very bad.
He's a Protestant,
and he's a Jew.
Father Salvatore, one of the chaplains is a Jew!
- What is it? - Come back here.
One of the chaplains is a Jew!
Merciful Saint Francis!
Father Claudio, one of the chaplains is a Jew!
One of the chaplains is a Jew!
Jesus...
protect us and help us.
- What is it? - One of the priests is a Jew.
Don't worry. Get up now.
A Jew in our monastery.
The short one's a Protestant.
The heresy of Luther, the worst of all Protestants.
What is it, my sons?
One of the chaplains is a Jew, and the other's a Protestant.
Two lost souls, Father Superior.
No soul is lost while it still has life and a will to be saved.
There are always opportunities for redemption.
We can do something for them, brothers.
Would you mind if I ask you a question, Father?
Of course not, Father.
Have you lived a long time with the other two priests?
We've been together for the entire Italian campaign -
20 months. No, 21.
Sicily, Salerno,
Rome, Florence.
They're good and dear friends.
I admire them very much.
Have you never tried to lead them to the true religion?
Have you never tried?
But Father, the Protestant and the Jew
are just as convinced that they are on the true path.
- But we know that they err. - Yes, we do.
Certainly.
We must try by every means possible
to save those two souls that could be lost.
I am a Catholic, Father, and a priest,
and I humbly believe that I'm a good Catholic.
Forgive me, Father. I didn't mean to remind you of your duties.
I just meant that you're military chaplains.
Your mission exposes you
to the same risks and dangers as soldiers.
Have you never thought that your two companions
might perish any day?
Saint Paul says,
"Omnes quidem resurgemus, sed non omnes mutabimus in gloria."
But for those of good faith,
"in novissima tuba surget in gloria."
That's true, but have you examined their conscience?
Are you sure they're of good faith?
Have you ever discussed these things with them?
No. I've never examined their consciences.
I've never discussed this with them.
I've never asked them anything,
because I never felt I could judge them.
I know them too well. They're good friends.
Perhaps you...
here amid this peace,
this atmosphere of serene meditation,
consider me guilty.
I don't feel guilty.
My conscience is clear.
"My soul is sad unto death."
Our rule asks us to remain silent during meals.
I'm sorry I cannot make an exception for you.
On this day the following brothers passed on to a better life:
Father Salvatore of San Leo in 1722,
Father Giambattista of Rimini in 1743,
and Father Teodoro of San Marino in 1744.
Please start.
We'll wait for all of you.
We're fasting.
Why?
Because divine providence sent to our refuge here
two souls on which the Gospel's light must descend.
Our human presumption leads us to hope
that for this humble sacrifice
we might receive a great reward from heaven.
Forgive me...
if I do not heed your rule...
but I wish to speak.
I must tell you
that you've given me such a great gift
that I feel I will be forever in your debt.
Here I've found that peace of mind
that I'd lost
amid the horrors and misfortunes of war.
A beautiful and moving lesson
in humility, simplicity...
and pure faith.
Pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Behind the lines,
Italian partisans and American OSS officers join as brothers
in a battle missing from war reports
but perhaps even tougher and more desperate.
PARTISAN
Partisans! Bandits!
Another partisan killed. I'll go get him.
I don't care. I'll go anyway.
All right, but make sure you do it right.
Look!
Look! Shoot!
Filthy bastards!
- What happened? - Another partisan in the Po.
Another partisan in the Po, boys.
Go get the guns.
San Marco!
Where is it? Where's the radio set?
Take the boats into the canals right away.
Keep down, boys.
You and you, come with me.
That's Casal Madalena over there.
The guns.
We'll find something to eat there.
Here comes Cigolani.
Come in. - Evening, boys. Any news?
The Germans were here yesterday.
Let 'em look. I'm not afraid of 'em.
You know I'm hiding some Americans?
Yes.
I haven't lit a fire in days so the Germans don't see smoke.
They have lookouts everywhere.
They're hunting us hard out there.
Could you spare anything to eat? - Whatever we have. A little polenta.
- We could cook up some eels. - Fine.
There's an American outside. May I ask him in?
Yes, call him.
Let's go in and eat. Go get some fish.
On his face.
Keep it hidden.
How many?
Eight, ten - as many as you want.
Here they come.
Here they are.
I got confirmation for the drop.
Good.
Cigolani, the signals!
Light the flares, boys.
The flares!
Put 'em out!
He says to put out the flares!
- You find anything? - Not a thing.
Look harder!
Damn it! They're firing on Casal Madalena.
Think they figured out we were there?
Cigolani!
Take all your men to Pancirli and wait there.
To Pancirli, boys!
Back to the sheds, and keep your eyes open! Let's go!
Look, boys! British planes are strafing Scardovari.
Let's go, quick!
Come with us, quick!
- Cigolani, was it just those two? - Yes.
But they're English, not American.
Better than nothing.
They're all wet. - Yeah, we have to warm them up.
Gimme your hand.
Come on. There's one more.
- Did the plane sink? - Yes.
- Did you salvage anything? - Nothing.
- Nothing at all? - Not a thing.
Go get them some oilskins.
- Did you send it? - Yes.
Hurry, boys, or the Germans will get us.
- Who's there? - Popsky.
Come out.
Boys, the Germans are coming up the Po.
Boys, we've got to scatter and get to the sea quickly.
Hurry, boys.
Keep down!
Hands up!
Good. Let's go.
Some glasses.
A glass.
Now get out.
Cheers.
What are they gonna do to us?
They'll kill us.
Why'd they kill Cigolani and not us?
They'll kill us too.
Poor Giulia
You're dead now
Damn it.
My folks'll never know what happened to me.
He pissed on me like a whore.
Stop, you filthy pigs!
This happened in the winter of 1944.
At the beginning of spring, the war was over.