It's the night of Saint Lawrence, my love...
night of the shooting stars.
We Tuscans say that each shooting star grants a wish.
Don't sleep yet.
You know what my wish is tonight?
To be able to find the words to tell you
about another night of Saint Lawrence, many years ago.
THE NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING STARS
I'm happy, happy to have celebrated this matrimony
because Bellindia is expecting a child,
and you were both living in sin.
I'm happy even though...
we've risked much in coming here.
The Americans are not far away
and the Germans are still here.
Goodbye then.
No. I must tell you one thing.
If it's true that the day of "Dies Irae"
the Day of Wrath, that's how it's called in Latin,
is near...
and it is always near...
our duty, yours and mine...
is to survive.
Do you understand?
Let us pray.
At that time I was...
about six years old.
I'm not sure if I was afraid or if I was having fun.
Everything that was happening in those days
was so extraordinary.
I don't want my daughter to go like this.
- Let's go, Ciro. - I won't let her leave this way.
My poor little girl.
What are you doing, Papa?
I going to celebrate this moment, my blessed child.
Everyone! Everyone come celebrate
this little brat of mine.
Here, dad, let me help you.
Here you go, pass it along.
There's plenty for everybody.
- Here, Cecilia. - A piece for Olinto, please.
- Come here. - Here's the last one.
- You're back, Nicola! - Corrado!
We jumped off the train after passing Florence.
- I had a bad fall. - Oh, man.
- This is Bruno. - Nice to meet you.
So now what are you gonna do?
- He's going to Palaia. - Palaia?
Palaia is that way.
He wants to go with me up to San Martino.
Careful, the Germans have placed explosives throughout San Martino.
What about my home?
They've marked the houses to blow up with green crosses.
I'm not sure if yours was marked...
I have some bread for you too, here.
That's my wife.
We just got married 10 minutes ago.
"Hector was smiling...
as was Andromache.
The touched hero took his darling child
kissed him and dandled him in his arms,
praying over him the while to Jove and to all the gods.
'Jove, ' he cried
'grant that this my child may be even as myself,
chief among the Trojans;
Let him be not less excellent in strength,
and let him rule llius with his might.
Then may one say of him when he comes from battle,
'The son is far better than the father.'
And let his mother's heart be glad.
With this, Hector...
Hector, Hector!
Hector, he laid the child
again in the arms of his wife,
who took him smiling
through her tears"...
She gave him the breast...
"to her own soft bosom."
- Good. - Here's to you, Olinto.
- Nicola! - Nicola!
Come on, let's go. Come on.
No, this way. It's better this way.
- You saw the green cross outside? - Yes.
The house has been mined. We're hiding in the Migliorati's cellar.
- Migliorati... - Anna saw you and called us.
Keep him here. I'll check if it's clear to go.
Look how you're dressed...
When will it be blown up?
We don't know.
I'm actually glad it'll be destroyed.
If it does, we are all going to Florence.
Yeah, sure, Florence.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Don't ever tell Papa!
I'm alright.
I'm fine.
- Where? - Here.
Let me go. I'm alright.
Nicola, hi, Nicola.
- You can go now. - Let's go, guys.
Please, send them away.
I think the Americans are close.
Nicola, wake up.
What do you mean, Americans?
Where are they?
Welcome!
Galvano, the crank.
You'd better stop, sir. They really believe it.
Should I?
You dumb fool, you!
I can see them!
I couldn't believe it. How could I imagine?
Instead we should have both known.
They'll never forgive us.
You'll see, tomorrow...
They will never forgive us... Who's there?
It's me, ma'am.
Where are you going, Mara?
I'm going to pee.
Pranks like that aren't funny. It shouldn't have happened.
I should've prevented this from happening.
- Good morning. - Your Eminence.
The Germans have put me in charge.
The Americans are closing in.
They're already at Montericchieri
Did you hear the cannons?
Last night a bomb hit the washhouse.
So, by sundown...
you must all be at the cathedral.
Call my wife and wait below.
The Germans have ordered us all to gather in one place.
I suggested the cathedral.
The piazza has not been mined.
Wait.
The Germans will shoot anyone on sight...
who is found outside the cathedral.
Tonight at 3:00 a.m.,
they'll blow up all the houses they've mined.
Papa.
Hey, Duilio and Nicola can't go to the cathedral.
They're deserters.
Rosanna!
My sister!
- They'll blow up the houses? - Yes, at 3:00 a.m.
Tonight! Where's my sister?
Give out the remaining food.
Bread and tomatoes.
We'll need food in the cathedral.
Go close the door.
I'm sorry about that joke yesterday.
We couldn't care less.
- Until tonight. - Until tonight.
Donati?
Donati, right?
Donati from Montopoli?
From Montopoli, yes.
I stayed at your father's house once.
He and I were friends.
I'm Galvano Galvani.
When you visited us, it was...
snowing.
You were 13 then.
I recognized you.
How's everything?
Is the cathedral a good idea?
What kind of a question is that?
These days, who can tell what's good or bad?
I thought about it.
When it gets dark
I'm going to look for the Americans.
I don't trust the Germans.
Nor our Bishop, Galvano?
It's not that, sir.
But a German was killed here the other day.
Nobody knows who did it...
and the Germans are vindictive.
Starting tomorrow, they'll shoot anyone,
young and old alike.
Death is everywhere these days.
I've made my decision.
If anyone else agrees, we'll go together.
But wear dark clothes. We go by night.
Not the dogs.
They make noise. We'll have to leave them behind.
I hadn't thought of that.
Mama's coming with us.
And me? Where should I go?
Galvano, the sun's almost set. Let's go.
Wait.
Wait a minute.
First we eat.
Why not later, by the washhouse?
You're eating now?
We'll have to start out very quickly, without stopping.
And nobody has eaten enough in these days.
We need energy.
- Let's go. - Let's go.
We're sorry.
Forgive us. We're such fools. We're scared.
We're sorry. We're afraid.
Good luck.
That's our dog. Can you hear him? It's Lupo.
That's him! That's him!
Hide! Go, go, go!
It's us!
- We are coming with you. - It's us.
We are coming with you.
- Is that you, Corrado? - And you, Belindia?
Where are you?
When will San Martino blow up?
They said 3:00 a.m.
Come, Cecilia...
make yourself light.
If we stay quiet...
we'll hear the bombs.
Rosanna...
don't you feel you've been through this before?
Yes.
I wish it were already 3:00 a.m.
I can't stand it.
I'm so stupid.
I keep thinking...
that they'll blow up the cockroaches in the sink.
How stupid.
Don't cry.
We'll start all over from the beginning.
Calm down.
I don't want to start over.
God, I've never asked for anything.
But at least save the mattresses.
No, God, let the houses blow up.
I've waited for an hour.
I never had so much fun.
How could I have wanted our house to go?
With the yellow sofa...
the staircase...
the entrance.
That wasn't San Martino.
San Martino's to the right.
Seemed like it to me.
No. The explosions came from somewhere else.
It was San Martino.
Definitely San Martino.
The wind carried the sound to the left.
Our rosy San Martino fades away.
We're going that way.
Mama, I'm too hot.
Take it off.
Hey, Corrado!
Bruno should've reached the Americans by now.
Who's Bruno?
A man... you should fall in love with.
Why didn't you bring him?
- Is Bruno dark? - Bruno means "dark."
- So what? I was a blonde... - Blonde.
The English!
Go easy, you'll get a bellyache.
Did you yell, "It's the English"?
The English, yes.
But it's the Americans that are coming.
No, the Sicilians.
Sicilians?
The Fifth Army has a unit of Sicilian-Americans.
I heard that in Florence.
Sicilian. Sicilians?
Like you.
You're the only one who hasn't thrown it away.
I'm keeping it as long as my husband's in India.
I'm not throwing it away.
You're such a pig.
Dilvo...
Let's find the Americans first.
What's wrong? You ate too much?
Mara, come back! Come back!
Mara, come here, Mara!
Where are you going, Mara?
To the Sicilians!
Friends!
A stone hit me.
- How'd it happen? - You're alone?
I was looking for you.
You're the Sicilians from Brooklyn?
Help me, Tuminello.
- Tuminello? - That's him.
Your name's Tuminello?
- Mine, too. Mara Tuminello. - From Castelbuono?
From Castelbuono.
- I'm related to Salvatore. - And me to Assunta, Rocco's daughter.
Take me to America.
I'll take you to Brooklyn.
Where is it?
It's here.
So much snow...
it makes me dizzy.
It was a girl!
I saw something move.
What aim! You got her in the head.
At least she died instantly.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Been hunting for blackberries, but there aren't any left.
We found some blueberries down there.
Didn't we, Dad?
Your mouth is still blue.
The rest of you, listen to me!
We know he wasn't alone.
Right, Dad?
Go back to San Martino!
Galvano Galvani, take them to the cathedral.
Or we'll kill them all!
We're going...
but we'll be back. Right, Dad?
I'm coming!
We know he wasn't alone!
Right, Dad?
We're going back.
Or she'll have it here.
In the cathedral, our bishop will protect us.
I'll take them just outside San Martino.
Corrado, wait.
We're going back, but my mother-in-law can't keep up.
I'll take care of her.
Leave her at Meridiana's house.
She was born there.
Forgive me, but I'm afraid out here.
Say something, at least!
- Say something! - Let's go.
What should we do? We are leaving?
Quiet. First we'll bury the Sicilian girl.
Belindia!
If it's born...
The baby, if it's born...
you never know, what will we name him?
That's right!
You choose the name, Corrado.
My father's name.
What was it?
God! What was my father's name?
Giovanni!
There aren't enough hosts for all of you.
There's been so much confusion.
Even if we divide the ones in here...
they're not enough.
Over there.
Let me think a minute.
We...
We have the bread.
Not the bread!
The Scardagli woman's right.
That's your name, isn't it?
Scardigli.
Scardigli, then.
Whoever has any bread, break it into many pieces.
I'll consecrate it...
and He will help you.
What Saint's day is today? What Saint?
If you don't know, who does?
Saint Cyriacus!
We'll remember this unusual day as the Day of Saint Cyriacus.
On this Saint's Day, in the summer of 1944...
we all sought salvation in the House of God.
Do not forsake me now.
My piece is too big.
What do I do? Chew it?
- Where are you hurt? - Where is Luciana?
Stop. I said stop.
Stop. Stop.
Let me go.
I'll do it alone.
Alone.
We kept going, although we didn't know where to.
The American artillery was silent now, but Galvano marched on.
I kept thinking of the wonderful thing that happened to me
Signora Concetta...
couldn't stop at the house where she was born, the Meridiana...
because it was burning.
That's when she put two gold earrings on my ears.
She said, "On a little girl, they'll be safer."
Cecilia, are you afraid?
When I'm afraid, do you know what I do?
I recite this nursery rhyme:
"Dirt and soil. Job had a boil.
"Medication, medication. Add some chicken defecation.
"And the dog and cat doo-doo.
"By tomorrow you'll be through.
"Sigh and moan.
"Stump of tree.
"Severed vine. Leave me be.
"Rise up, run from here. Make my warts disappear."
They even carry away the dead.
No, I'm just tired. It'll pass.
Where are they?
- And the Americans? - They're not around here.
Just Germans everywhere.
- Where is it?! - The bus?
It's mine.
They took it.
I've been following them for five days.
Sooner or later they'll abandon it.
And I'll be there.
It's my bus, my life!
I'm sorry.
You're all hungry like me...
but I need them.
Thirty eggs.
I figured it out.
One a day.
And in 30 days the war will be over.
I'm gonna make it.
You forgot your shoe.
I'll stay with you.
Where else would I go?
Five...
Five days since I spoke to anyone.
Five days...
without talking.
To find the Americans...
you have to first find Dante.
Dante's band of rebels.
Bandits.
Where?
By the Arno River.
Where are you going?
Come with us.
He's dead.
Come back.
He's dead.
What do you mean, nothing?
Nothing over here.
Thank you.
Alfredina.
What happened?
Wait, wait, I'll do it.
Is it true that you're related to Galvano?
A peasant made noble forgets her relatives.
We'll sleep here.
Poison ivy!
You bitch!
What are you doing? Dilvo!
Where were you?
In San Martino.
How long have you been looking for us?
For three days.
What about the cathedral? And Belindia?
- I don't know. - How come?
I don't remember.
- Do you have a fever? - No.
No, I left Belindia and the others...
outside the town.
I don't remember the rest.
Cecilia?
Gino? Gino Bulleri?
What are you doing? Harvesting?
What about you?
Where are you headed?
We're trying to get to the Americans.
Do you need any help?
Do you know a Dante?
They say he knows the way. Do you know him and his gang?
That's us.
You!
What do you mean, you?
That's us, and that's Dante.
The one with the vest.
No. Today, I can't take you anywhere.
Tomorrow, Bruno will take you.
After we've finished.
- Bruno Marini? - Yes, from Volterra.
What's happened here?
The Fascists and Germans want our wheat.
- But where? - We're hiding it in the woods.
No, where's Bruno?
He's around. Just look.
We're helping these families.
If you'd help, too, we'd appreciate it.
We hadn't planned on it, but we'll help.
Hurry.
At noon the Germans fly overhead...
and we'll have to hide.
Bruno.
Bruno!
Hello.
No, give it to me.
You've changed.
My eyes are red.
From the wheat?
We haven't slept in three days.
Today, we'll help you.
Rosanna's here, too.
We're going to the Americans.
Did your feet heal?
I'll stay here.
Slowly.
- Is that Bruno? - Yes.
He fell asleep.
Stop that.
They'll be back.
Stop.
Come here and sit down.
Those from San Martino who are staying on...
have to change their names.
- Change it? Why? - It's safer.
- Can I pick my own name? - Yes.
I'm thinking.
For instance, my name is Bruno.
But now I'm Biondo.
I'm San Martino.
Ulianov.
I like changing names.
I never liked mine.
Dilvo.
Can I be Bruno, although it's his name?
That's all right.
I'm Achilles.
He never lost a battle! Right, Nina?
You, Achilles?
But where's your sword?
In your sheath, my Helen of Troy.
Me...
I don't even know if it's a name.
Requiem.
Call me Requiem.
Lion.
Orangutan.
Owl.
Fur.
That's a nice name. And you?
I...
Giovanni.
Your feet are so pretty.
They're the only pretty things about me.
Otherwise, I'm ugly.
You're not ugly.
You don't have to console me.
I was born ugly, and I've stayed ugly.
What you don't know...
is what it's like to be ugly...
and yet feel beautiful.
Maybe it's the way the men look at you.
You understand that, even though you're a virgin.
And still...
if the Germans fly over again, it'll happen,
one of them,
the one I want...
and I won't be a virgin anymore.
That night was August 10th, my love.
The shooting stars...
the night of Saint Lawrence...
when your wishes are granted.
But none of us had the time to remember it.
The next morning...
before the others woke up...
Renata and I went to pee.
You got moving pictures in your head.
American.
Americans.
Americans!
God, my head's spinning.
I'm dizzy.
You're not used to them, Papa.
- Over the hill. - No, through the woods!
The Fascists!
Give it here. Give it to me.
- See how it's done? - Yes, dad.
- Giuseppe! - Rosanna!
Does Mama know you're with them?
Move away! Rosanna, move away!
Move away, Rosanna!
Nicola!
Surrender...
You surrender...
You killed me.
Bruno!
- Who's winning? - I am looking for Bruno.
Who's win...
Grandma Ida's been wounded.
Some water.
Get out of there! Get out of there!
Mussolini...
I'll say Mussolini as often as I like.
Bruno! Biondo!
Over here.
Stay down.
Papa!
Let's get out of here. They're killing us all!
Hang on!
- Cut, cut. - His hands, his hands.
Show yourselves!
I know you all!
Show yourselves! Luigi! Giuseppe!
And you...
Dilvo Senesi, I recognized you.
And I know you, too. You're Giglioli from Marzana!
You've already killed me, Giglioli.
Why mess up my face?
My God, Senesi!
Go, go, go, go!
Stay right there!
Go away! Go away!
Away!
"Dirt and soil. Job had a boil.
"Medication, medication. Add some chicken defecation.
"And the dog and cat doo-doo. By tomorrow you'll be through.
"Sigh and moan. Stump of tree.
"Severed vine. Leave me be.
"Rise up, run from here.
"Make my warts disappear."
That's enough!
Enough.
Marmugi and his son are in the orchard.
One of them climbed up the cherry tree.
Down! Down!
I won't! I won't!
I said, come down!
Father, where are you?
- Come down! - Can you hear me?
I hear you!
Kill me.
Not him.
He's only 15.
Not him.
He's only 15.
Shoot. Can't you see how he's suffering?
We hiked all the way to Sant'Angelo.
The farmers gave us shelter for the night.
They reopened their houses.
We were all so tired...
that we forgot our fears.
This shoe is finished.
We're going, Papa. They put us up somewhere else.
Nearby, in a hayloft.
Are you feeling better?
Yes, yes. See you in the morning.
Good night...
- I brought some pillows. - Thank you.
What are you doing, crying?
Because your children left?
Your wife's still here.
You're husband and wife, aren't you?
For 30 years.
Anyway, there's water here.
Goodnight.
Sorry, Concetta...
but she was prying.
- I'll call her back and explain. - No, don't bother.
The war explains it.
You tore your dress.
You should've had your wrists bandaged.
I must have bruised your shoulders. I'm heavy.
You're stronger than I am.
Go ahead. You talk.
No, it's not important.
I'd never have expected you and me to be...
together on a bed, talking this way.
Strange.
My heart's also beating very fast.
I'm filthy, and I'm dirtying up the bedcover.
I'll sleep on the chair.
I'm also filthy.
I'll stand by the window while you undress.
Did you know...
as a boy, I had a crush on you?
I think you knew.
Love doesn't hide easily.
Yes, I knew it.
What are you making me say?
They made us drink too much of that wine.
Exactly.
And tomorrow may never come.
I'll undress behind the wardrobe.
Undress where you like.
After what I've seen, a naked man won't scare me.
You're not embarrassed?
Are you?
But I'm a man.
I am embarrassed.
How many of us will be able to keep going tomorrow?
- Tonight, no one sleeps. - I'll sit up with you.
You're tired.
Try to sleep a little.
We're both tired.
This could have happened 40 years ago.
It would have been better.
Yes, I'm missing three.
With all my teeth, it would have been better.
Let's go downstairs.
Tomorrow morning.
No, leave it lit.
Last night, we were liberated.
The Fifth Army, so they say.
They reached Marano, Palaia, and Muriolo.
They won't come up here. "We're too little".
The church bells tell you which towns are liberated.
We'll go to see them further down.
You'll meet them on your way to San Martino.
Your people downstairs are getting ready to go.
It's raining, and the sun is shining.
Come.
Signora, catch!
How many are you smoking?
No, don't throw them away!
Galvano!
What's going on?
They're lending us wagons. There's room for you.
- So suddenly? - Why should we wait?
- Why not tomorrow? - Tomorrow?
There's no need to hurry now.
Duilio!
Let's stay a while.
It's nice here.
He wants to wait for tomorrow!
Until it stops raining!
You'll get soaked.
We won't get soaked!
Signora Concetta!
Papa, what's going on?
You're not coming?
Go ahead. I'll catch up later.
What's so important here?
Nothing.
What do you mean, nothing?
I'll fix my shoe. Then I'll leave.
Galvano stayed on for three more hours...
alone with all his thoughts...
while we made our way back to San Martino.
My story ends here, my love.
I don't know if things happened exactly like that.
I was only six then, but the story is true...
and even true stories can end well.
Sleep now, darling.
But let me look at you.
You're beautiful when you sleep.
"Dirt and soil. Job had a boil.
"Medication, medication. Add some chicken defecation.
"And the dog and cat doo-doo. By tomorrow you'll be through.
"Sigh and moan. Stump of tree.
"Severed vine. Leave me be.
"Rise up, run from here.
"Make my warts disappear.
"Dirt and soil.
"Job had a boil."
SUBTITLES: STUDIO ORION