Send Midhat once he's arrived
They've sent an ultimatum, Majesty
How long do we have?
Two days
Why not open the gates to the people?
Address the people
Denounce the leaders of Ittihat
Everyone will be behind you
You're so young, Izzet
I will never let it be said that I led my people to civil war
Midhat Aga
What's happened? Tell me
With your permission
May I withdraw, Madame?
I'd lost hope, Nadir
I'm almost done
The Sultan dismissed Izzet Pasha
He must decide before dawn
I have two pages to finish
Did you hear what I said?
This is probably the last night
What ending does he want?
Voiletta survives...
So why are you worried?
The Sultan likes happy endings
Let me just finish this
It's time to lock the doors
He must have it tonight
He won't read it tonight
You decide for His Majesty now?
I don't feel up to it tonight
Let someone take my place
Gulfidan, come tell us a story
What can I tell?
I don't know
How can I, since you're here?
I've never done this before
I won't be able to
Water and fire
Shadow and light
day and night are like youth and old age
They seem so different but in fact, they're not
Youth is the past of old age
Old age is the future of youth
A new girl arrived in the Harem
The Agas asked her to wait and left her alone in a room
She was tired. She was frightened
So looked around
She knew nothing of this world which she had entered
perhaps for ever
She looked around
She glanced at a divan more beautiful than the others
She decided to sit down
But once she had
she heard an order Away from there
For the divan belonged to an old favorite
whose last day it was in the Harem
She was waiting for the boat
that was to bring her to the Palace of Tears
Both women were waiting
But for different voyages
One was arriving, the other departing
Suddenly, the door opened
A cold wind invade the room
Good night
There they were, sitting
unable to ignore each other
I don't know who spoke first
They exchanged some polite words
The older woman said
I have no advice to give you
but remember this
Within these walls
three things are essential
love
power and fear
Nervous, the younger woman asked
Love for His Majesty?
The favorite said no
What we feel for him is adoration
The same adoration we owe Allah in this world and the next
It's not the love you speak of
that fire which consumes the heart and banishes sleep
One cannot love His Majesty like that
Unawares, the woman began
to talk about her life in the Harem
The only life she had every known
Fire! The Sultan's atelier is burning
Fire! Fire!
Hurry, we must save the novices
What demon took hold of you?
My love for you, my Lord
Take her away
Let no one look at her as she leaves
Who are you?
Her name is Safiye
Was she your friend?
No, Majesty
As of today it is forbidden to leave the Palace
forbidden, evenings on the Boshporus
Forbidden, carriage rides
Forbidden, strolls in the gardens
Our enemies are more numerous and closer than we think
than we think
We can trust no one
Have you seen Selma's jewels?
And her dress?
Marvelous. A French tailor made it
The one in the Palace?
It's a beautiful color
You are very pale, Safiye
Didn't you sleep well?
What's it to you? She slept fine
Don't listen to her
It's dangerous to call attention to yourself
Dangerous to call attention to yourself
You're jealous
His Majesty never even notices you
His Majesty won't notices you either
I'm not from Hungary
I was brought up for him
Why hasn't he summoned you?
His atelier has burned He has time for you
Maybe he wants you old, like him
Watch your tongue! He isn't old
Don't insult him
I'm insulting you!
Stop!
The fire wasn't enough?
Shall I turn you in?
Safiye, go to the baths
I'm eating
Eat later
Welcome
You bring us joy
Enter
Don't be shy
Come. Have a seat
You don't want to sit?
You're not going to eat standing?
I'll sit when my host has arrived
It that case, you may sit
Do you also think I did it on purpose?
If I wanted to be noticed
it wasn't be the Sultan
It was done spontaneously
She was one of us
Do you know why she did it?
Everyone knows
Gulfidan, please
I don't like your expression
I don't either
But my face has a will of its own
The Sultan loves us all
He shares his love with all
Ayse made a mistake
She fell in love with him
She wanted him all to herself
When he stopped seeing her
she burnt what was dearest to him
Is she banished?
The Sultan will let her marry a guard
What cruel punishment
She'll never see him again
It's stupid to disobey the rules
Everyone here should know that
The first rule is to master one's feelings
If they go against his desires
I haven't disobeyed
I never even spoke with Ayse
Was I speaking of you?
Am I here to be scolded?
No
I wanted to know you better
Would you wanted to
if I hadn't helped her?
But you did
She's Italian
Her parents sold her when she was 8
We don't know her birth date
A French ship brought her to Cairo where she was bought
Abdul Pasha offered her to your son the Sultan
She can read and write three languages
The moon
Has the eclipse already taken place
Midhat?
I am Nadir
Tiem as passed
and your eyes have mellowed, Midhat
I am not Midhat
Tell me when the eclipse begins
One monent
Enter, Safiye
From what I've heard your tutor did not teach you well
Espeically when you eat with your fingers
Fingers are the source of all refinement
Next time be more careful, Nadir Aga
Don't waste my time with well brought up girls
Our Safiye is as perfect as the Sultan's mother can desire
I see a long road
then a wide gate
Beware the evil eye
Gulbahar, it's my turn
Wait, Nimet. Safiye first
Not now
I warn you
I will not undergo one more test
You don't trust me?
You lie too well
You pretended you had no table manners
We're even
You don't understand me
You're perfect only when it suits you
Careful
Why pretend to be my friend
then test me?
I'm not pretending
I must be sure
That I'm worthy of your attention?
Not of mine
A century ago
Sultana Esma adored English furniture and comfort
Anything old or Oriental was sent up here
She'd take this boat in search of boys to quench her desire
Everyone knew her boat with its cargo of splendid boys
She dominated them all
on her throne, or standing
like a bird in flight in search of prey
When she'd chosen one
she brought him back to her palace
after one night of love
she had his throat cut
She was not a favorite nor an odalisque
She was the sister of Mahmud II
No woman of the harem ever had such power
unless she became the mother of the next Sultan
thus becoming herself the Valide
But that road was long and fraught with peril
You need a protector as companion
a man of trust
I'm not the favorite
He's already asked about you
Unselfish friendship doesn't exist here
I wanted someone with whom I'd feel myself
Different from others
I can offer you much more
Close your eyes
I can offer you this
Look
Fear not, no one can see us
I cannot
Please, close that door
Be my companion
and I'll be your true friend
You'll become his favorite
mother of his children
The Sultan approached the closet with the lovers inside
and brusquely opened the door
But the closet was empty
The dagger slipped from his hands
He fell to his knees before such a miracle
Allah has sent three apples
One for the teller of the tale
another for the listener
and the last one for me
Do whatever you like here
To change the furniture, just say so
No one must know I've given you this
An opera
Translate it for the Sultan
It's difficult, but you can
Listen to the music. You'll see
We must stand fast now
The woman told her how His Majesty fell in love with her
He called for her not only at night but also by day
Together they listened to the music they loved
Whenever music echoed through the Palace
everyone knew she was with the Sultan
A shadow follows you
A woman's shadow
Another, still larger, follows It is the shadow of a mob
But little by little
I see the shadows give way
In the end, you will have peace
Very good
Only two mistakes
You're making progress
Delicious, Gulfidan
I didn't bring them
Did you, Karanergiz?
You must be vigilant
There are two of you
Nadir
Can you wake up?
I'm worried about Sumbul He's disappeared
Halit is over there
Halit
You're looking for me?
What's wrong?
Have you seen Sumbul?
Why would he be here?
People said he was
Maybe they think he's about to join the army?
He shouldn't go out at night
I swear he's not here
All right, Halit. Forgive me
Come back, Sumbul
No one find out
Why did Midhat involve you in this?
This has nothing to do with Midhat
This is between Halit and me
What!
You don't have to please him because you're not a man
I'm doing it only for myself
Don't talk nonsense!
We're the same
No, we are not the same
I'm in love
Gulfidan found them under my bed
The third time
I'll have them burned
How do they get into my suite?
It drives me mad
I'm afraid to be alone even in the hammam
You're never alone there
Even for my mud bath I send for Gulfidan
It's not very wise to meet here
All eyes are on you
Did this belong to Sultana Esma too?
I don't know
If it was her wedding gown it brought bad luck
The eunuchs lived outside the Harem
In fact those who survived sastration
came to the Palace to be educated
They said that even Cairo's black markets
had forbidden the sale of emasculated African boys
I am happy that you came
Before you go to Egypt
stop in Istanbul, for my sake
Think of me
I don't know if I will
Anyway, what do I care where I go?
As long as I travel...
What are you running from, Anita?
We weren't talking about me
Don't change the subject
I'm jealous of certain memories
If I put them into words
they may escape and never return
I don't want them to abandon me too
You have nothing to say?
Yes, but n an unknown language
that has no dictionary
She too is Italian
And she also knows music
She sings very well
and she plays three instruments
Much time was spent in teaching her the art of love
She was brought up in secrecy
Perfect
Just as planned
We can still give up
We mustn't run any risks
Leave me alone with her
We have to finish preparing her
Withdraw
As you wish, Madam
Stay
Don't be afraid
I won't harm you
You're Italian?
What's your name?
Aliye
Aliye...
Let me spend the night with him and they're yours
I don't need them
I'll have the same tomorrow
These are not the gifts of one night
Do you think it will last?
I can't
Look at me
All these jewels for one night
And so it was
The girl drank up the old woman's words
just like all o fyou right now
The young woman was curious to know
whether Safiye made it to His Majesty's side
Just as you'd like to know. She did
When his Majesty saw her, he said
I didn't call for you, he told me
I know, I said but this night is mine. I bought it
He looked at me, stunned
with a certain pleasure and said, from whom?
I murmured
From the girl you were expecting
Excuse me
your train will be 20 minutes late
Thank you
I'm tired of talking
Tell me about yourself
No, please
We have so little time left
Go on, please
With your permission
Aliye is dead
Poor thing
Poor creature
What happened?
We've heard
she drowned in the Bosphorus
His Majesty couldn't have ordered that
Of course not
It wasn't His Majesty
Everyone thinks you had her murdered
Help me, Gulfidan
Give me my clothes
Are you feeling unwell, Safiye?
No. I'm fine
Thank you for your kindness
We weren't expecting you
They said you were tired
that you hadn't slept
Some halva in honor of the deceased?
Safiye
Magnificent necklace
I received it today
Say he's ugly to ward off the evil eye
Safiye, come here
Come sit next to me
Let me see your face
You have beautiful hands
You smoke?
Young women shouldn't ruin their hands
Why are you so silent?
I wanted to think you
for letting Osman stay with me
You're sentimental
That's why you were chosen as my son's music advisor
You like opera?
I hate it
I hate theater
What purpose does it serve?
To dream
Other peole's lives?
I dream my own life and that's boring enough
Do you like stars?
Have you ever seen an eclipse?
That's when the moon masks the sun
Night takes its revenge on day
It's our revenge the revenge of women
Is my son handsome?
Of course
Describe him
Can't you see him?
When I close my eyes
I can't remember his face
Open them and come play
You want me?
We demand you
There's your mama
Going to Bursa?
It's unbelievable
It's an important mission
Amber used to go
I'm happy for you
We'll all miss you
It's just three days
Osman...
Osman
I'm here. Gulfidan
What happened?
Don't worry
What happened to my baby?
Help!
Help me!
Children...
just speaking of them can bring joy
as it can bring sorrow
Sorrow feeds on silence
The old woman fell silence
The young woman dared not speak
You know you can't see him
They're good doctors
He needs me
He'll get better
His heart problem isn't serious
Stop torturing yourself
Every sorrow has its remedy
Every poison, its antidote
What do you mean?
Who poisoned him?
Who'd poison the Sultan's son?
No one, clam down
I didn't mean that
Who'd dare?
Who poisoned him?
How malicious
Stop, Madam
Call Midhat immediately
How dare you come in here?
It's alright
I was coming to see you
Don't torture yourself Allah willed it
I beg you. Have pity on me for your own children's sake
I can do nothing to end your suffering
Give me the antidote
I'll forgive you
Please, get up
Antidote? What do you mean?
Make him live
I beseech you
Tell me what to do You know the truth
Safiye has disappeared
You must find her
Safiye...
I wanted you to see him
Forgive me, Safiye
Don't weep, Safiye
Death does not exist
Death does not exist...
From then on
there was an unspoken pact between me, the Sultan and the Harem
The very walls seemed to respect my sorrow
I had been granted a sort of immunity
the price of my grief and my tears
In the name of what should I spare you?
In the name of this document
I bring for your signature, Majesty
Sign this constitution and all will remain as before
By dawn
the Sultan had signed the constitution
For eight months all went on as before
But in fact it was the beginning of the end
Are they taking us very far?
Not that far
It's very beautiful
Don't you want to go on holiday?
Midhat says we're going there forever
Midhat always loves to joke around
Why isn't he coming too?
He's staying to watch the house
Aren't you, Midhat?
A word from you would suffice
To whom, Midhat?
If only I knew to whom
He's taking me with him to Thessaloniki
What a great honor for you
You deserve it
I can't leave you
Have you the choice?
Sumbul will tend to you
I'll be back. I promise
The Sultan's desire is our command
It outweighs even your promises
I could feel you were suffering
I'm sorry
I'll never forgive myself
You will
You're the one who's alone She's staying with him
Between them, there will always linger a trace of this suffering
Time heals all wounds
You'll be able to start a new life
when the pain of parting is no more than a memory
How did you manage to be so strong?
Who says I was strong?
Inside
there were rare silks from India
There were also robes embroidered with precious stones
and table topped with a thousand and one delicacies
Wealth abounded
The Sultan said to the young woman
All this is yours
Tell me. What else do you want?
Don't worry. Stay calm
In the name of the law the Harem is now closed
You may rejoin your families
You had to break in here to tell us that?
We bring you freedom
Freedom? What freedom?
To die of hunger and cold?
No one takes care of us anymore
In order to send you to your families
we need your names and those of your relatives
If was have no family?
We'll work it out
You're no longer prisoners
While we're here, no one may enter
It's the law
The law can wait outside
They'll tell you what you what
We have the right not to be offended by your eyes
Everyone out
Get us the necessary information
We'll do what the law requires
Come Gulbahar We can't leave without you
Your relatives are coming
They'll find
a place for everyone
They promised
We'll all have a home. They promised
Promises, promises...
Allah help us
Do you want something, dear?
Durisehvar!
Durisehvar
What do they want?
Nothing
Then why do they want you?
They're offering room and board
Only for the young
Nevres is leaving
Nevres
I didn't want this to happen
I didn't want...
We must write
We'll meet again
Durisehvar
Durisehvar...
Allah help us
Eat, Madam Munive...
This will warm you
Karanergiz
Bring this to Madam Guya
Laikseza, you're very pale
Karanergiz. Take my place
Eat, before it gets cold
You couldn't have done a thing if I'd woken you
You should have
Fine, but now eat something
even if you're mad at me
To each his fate. Such was hers
Don't torture yourself like this
You look frozen, Nadir
Come closer to the fire
How is His Majesty?
Who's taking care of him?
How Sama?
Everybody leaves!
So many men have been sacrificed
Who are these people
To you
You never went out while living with the countess?
Sometimes, rarely... afternoons
I dared not look around
I felt all Istanbul staring at me
Careful, Safiye
Nadir?
Why are you here?
Don't you know it's forbidden to be out?
We're hunting for dogs It's dangerous to be out?
The lady is with me
I was showing her home
We got lost in the fog
You're from the Palace
Hurry home Tonight the streets won't be safe
This way
It may have been the last stray dog in the city
All the others had been captured
They took them to a deserted island
Day after day
the wind brought from aftar their echoing barks
Then, suddenly, the city was enveloped in an ominous silence
Someone wnet out to the island
The dogs had devoured each other
Not one had wanted to survive its race
Following her triumphs
in Paris, London and Berlin
we present you the loveliest flower of the Sultan's Palace
Only a short time ago, she lived enclosed with in forbidding walls
guarded by fearsome black eunuchs
A slave amongst the slaves! A master of almost godlike power
I promised you a "Night in the Harem"
You'll get much more
She's going to dance for you
She'll sing for you
She will reveal the secrets
the mysteries of her life and of her forbidden loves
Introducing the Pearl of the Orient
The Last Favorite
Sublime Safiye
Italy, October 29, 1923
Did you work long in music hall?
You never found your family?
What have you done since?
I have just grown old
Your train is coming
Thank you
I have to check my baggage
I'll be back to say goodbye
Look what's arrived. Maybe...
No, it's from Karanergiz
Dear Madam and invaluable benefactress
light of my eyes
Unfortunately, I bring sad tidings
With the harem Agas who remained
we struggled against our misfortune
For some time, our dear Nadir Aga
had been growing somber
One day he disappeared
We sought him everywhere
We learned he was victim of an accident at Kiziltoprak
Our Nadir had breathed his last, crushed under a train
Oh light of my eyes
I tried to sort his things He'd left them all in order
The amulet he wore around his neck was in a box on his bed
My God
I'd rather be struck blind than bear such news
Madam I would give my life to console you
I kiss your beautiful hands
I kiss your eyes, my benefactress
And Nadir?
Nadir...
You've said no more about Nadir
I never saw him again But I've heard form him
I letter from time to time
He's happy now
His dream has come true
He married a widow with two sons
He's founded a family
You never tried to see him again?
You're still waiting for him?
You have beautiful hands, Anita
Young women shouldn't ruin them
Here
Don't refuse
It's a souvenir...
Only a souvenir
Two ships in the night they were about to part forever
The young woman asked
Instead of advice why tell me the story of your life?
The old woman smiled Then she answered
Always remember this...
and these were her final words
What's important is not how you live your life
but how you tell it
To yourself and others
In that way alone will you make sense of errors
of suffering and death
Allah sent three apples from on high
One for the teller
One for the listener
and the last for the heroes of our tale