One hundred years ago, Italy was not a united country as it is today.
It was divided into separate states,
governed by independent rulers or foreign viceroys,
most of whom were content with the way things were.
The King of Sardinian Piedmont, however, by name Victor Emmanuel,
had greater ambitions.
Encouraged by his prime minister, Cavour,
their idea was to unite Italy under their own rule.
To do this, they would have to conquer Venice,
the central band of states held by the Pope at Rome,
and the kingdom of Naples and Sicily to the south.
This kingdom had as its ruler the Bourbon Francis II.
He was young and good-hearted,
but powerless in the hands of corrupt prime ministers and generals.
All over his kingdom, people wanted to throw off his government
and unite with the northern states.
Whether in a kingdom or a republic was not important,
if only Italy could be free and one.
In Palermo, the capital of Sicily,
a group of conspirators was gathered in the cellar of a monastery
early one morning in spring,
waiting to begin the revolt that would lead to freedom.
- What time is it? - You got the watch, haven't you?
It's now ten minutes after six.
What time's sunrise?
The sacristan is going to give us a signal at sunrise.
I know, but...
Listen.
It's him coming.
- The monastery's all surrounded. - What?
We're surrounded.
- Surrounded by whom? - Policemen, spies, soldiers.
Yes, let's stay here in hiding. We'll be safe this way.
And the rest of them who are waiting for the signal to begin,
- the ones at Ballarò and the ones at Santa Anna? - Then what shall we do?
Let's all leave.
You go ahead of us to the bell tower and start ringing the bell.
The square's not big. If we can manage to surprise the spies and soldiers,
we'll be able to reach the streets and we can get people to join us. Let's go!
- Come on! - Down with the Bourbons!
Shh! Be quiet!
- Close the trap door. - Hurry! Hurry on up. Quick! Come on.
Bring the flag. Get a move on.
Hurry!
You, go with the sacristan to the bell tower and be quick!
- This way. - We'll go out to the courtyard.
Come on. Hurry!
Ring the bells!
Get the flag out!
You over there! Ready!
Forward! Forward!
Quick!
Fire!
Come on, men!
Over there!
Shoot him down!
Attention!
Right, about face!
Front rank, kneel!
Ready... aim...
fire!
I'm not dead. I got a right to go free.
Now you're free!
The cries of these martyrs to freedom and national unity
were not to go unheeded.
In Genoa, a man named Giuseppe Garibaldi had heard them.
Garibaldi had already fought many battles in the cause of united Italy.
He had helped to make a republic with its capital at Rome for a short while,
but the forces of reaction and even Cavour
had soon put an end to that brief moment of freedom.
Now Garibaldi was more cautious in his actions.
And yet he could not ignore the meaning of the conspiracy in Palermo.
He began to be surrounded by adherents of Italian unity,
to certain men who had fought with him before,
but who were now in other armies.
He sent his trusted agents to find out which ones were willing to leave everything
and fight with him again.
Here he is. We've brought him.
Oh, Giuseppe Bandi. It's good to see you.
I'm glad to find you well, General.
- Hello, Nino. - Hello, hello.
Gusmaroli, I can imagine, has told you why you are here.
- No. - Sit down then.
I was sitting in a café in Alessandria when I found him standing in front of me.
"The General wants you. Come on." He didn't even allow me to go home.
He dragged me to the station, pushed me onto the first train, and here I am.
- May I go now, General? - Yes.
Bixio.
You've never lost contact with your companions in Siena?
Of course not.
Then you must go down there to make recruits.
Push all the way down the valley into Umbria.
Win over everyone that's possible.
Push on to Perugia to find out if the people of Perugia are willing to fight for liberty.
Huh!
But to be able to do this, you say, "I need money and firearms."
Well, General, to do all that without money and arms...
What are you saying?
Do those people want our help or not?
If they really want to, a few sticks and stones will be sufficient.
Of course they'd be sufficient with you directing the music.
- You mean, you don't want to go? - Why don't you go?
I don't want to see myself in cartoons,
hear people say that out of conceit I lied to Garibaldi.
Blessed Florentines!
Do-nothings and cowards!
Don't listen to him. We all know what he's like.
Never manages to be calm for long.
Anyway, at this moment he's only useful
for attracting attention elsewhere.
- We'll talk about it tomorrow. - Yes, General, but...
Will you also take care to leave me your address?
But tonight you must sleep over there, on that couch.
To tell you the truth, I ought to go back to Alessandria.
If I don't show up at barracks, I'll be considered a deserter.
Don't worry about it.
You're staying with me.
- You know where we're bound? - No, General.
We're bound for Sicily.
Sicily!
Palermo has risen.
The revolt is spreading over the island.
The Bourbon kingdom is falling to pieces.
And then, all roads do lead to Rome.
I don't know how a road going through Sicily can be the most direct.
And I doubt whether it is the smoothest road.
Italians, the Sicilians are battling the enemies of Italy for Italy.
Italians, every citizen has the duty to go to their aid,
with words and guns and money.
Above all, with force of decision.
A host of brave soldiers,
my tried companions on the field of furious battle,
are marching with me to the rescue.
Italy knows who they are.
They're the same men who have never failed us in the hour of peril.
True-hearted and brave comrades.
They have dedicated their lives to their homeland.
They will give her their last drop of blood
without the thought of other reward than a stainless conscience.
"Italy and Victor Emmanuel!"
That was their cry when they crossed the Ticino.
"Italy and Victor Emmanuel!"
will fill the air of Sicily from cavern to mountain peak.
At this fateful call to war,
echoing from the northern ranges of Italy to Rome itself,
the tottering throne of tyranny will fall,
and, to a man, the courageous sons of Sicily will rise in triumph.
To arms! Once and for all put an end to the misery of so many centuries.
Be it proof to all the word, O Roman children,
that your living in this, our Italy, has not been a lie.
Hooray for Garibaldi!
Excuse me, I'm a newspaper man. It's urgent.
- I was here before you. - Yes, you were. Please.
One moment, please.
Listen to what's in this telegram.
"Times, London. Garibaldi embarked tonight with an army of 1,000 volunteers
"on two ships Bixio requisitioned. Stop.
"Believe General wants to set his compass for Sicily. Stop.
"Feelings in diplomatic and political circles running high. Stop.
- "Will send details." - Quick! Put it ahead of the others.
The march toward Italian unity was underway.
All over Italy, all over Europe, people held their breath in suspense.
Cavour and Victor Emmanuel had not been informed of the attack on Sicily.
Although Garibaldi had used the King's name as his rallying cry,
would he still be faithful to monarchy if he conquered Sicily?
From Naples, the young Bourbon King
sent one of his older and supposedly more experienced generals, named Landi,
to meet the thousand volunteers and stop them
from bringing aid to patriots in Palermo and throughout the island.
I've come to tell Your Excellency everything we've been able to learn.
The brigands disembarked at Marsala towards midday on the 11th of May.
That much is known by everyone!
Their army has around 1,000 men, most of them ordinary people.
They say a few are wearing strange uniforms, but ordinary people still.
And it's said they're commanded by a certain...
- a certain Gallubardo... Garubardo... - Ah!
- They're not too sure of what he's called. - Oh, yes, they are. Garibaldi!
Your Excellency knows everything then, huh?
Don't you worry about what I know. You tell me what you know, if you please!
Oh, they're badly armed, Your Excellency. That much I can guarantee.
They've got two very old cannons and a couple of big guns a lot older even.
They loaded them onto carts that they sold at Marsala,
and now they're having trouble hauling them.
Yes, sir. And last night, they slept at Rampingallo
on the land of Baron Mistretta.
His nephew, Antonio Fortes, is his name, Your Excellency,
and don't believe I won't catch up with him, Your Excellency,
when the time comes for traitors.
Well, anyway, this Fortes gave them a pile of supplies enough to last them the whole week.
- And where are they right now? - Along the road to Salemi, Excellency.
- Are you telling the truth? - Your Excellency, my word of honor.
This is where they are, General.
Adamo! Adamo!
- Garibaldi's at Salemi. - Round up everybody you can.
Go down to the mill and get all of the flour. Quick!
Turiddu!
- Here I am. What is it? - To the mill. Quick!
I'm going to Garibaldi at Salemi.
Peppuzzo!
Get down to the mill. Quick!
Roll that one over there.
Go on! Go on! They'll lead you to the hiding place.
And don't try to pretend that you were ignorant
of these peasants' intention to attack and sack that mill.
I'm a military tactician, not a policeman, but I should send you to the firing squad.
And Father, that goes for you, too. Yes, Father!
We've got a bellyful of priests and friars stirring up rebellion against His Majesty.
Fine religion you're teaching the people!
I can't see how we're supposed to be responsible to you in such things.
And may I also remind you
that I don't accept observations from anyone else but my Bishop.
Well, now...
We'll soon be hearing you quoting Thomas
on the rights of people to assassinate tyrants, won't we?
I don't believe I have to quote him. You already know what he says.
Fine!
Starting from today, if my troops don't get the flour they need,
the two of you will answer for it.
You may go.
- Bring in the Captain again. - Yes, sir.
Excellency, Garibaldi and his outlaws have left Salemi and are going toward Vita.
That's it there, General.
That's the road that goes to Palermo.
Between here and there, the land lies all the same way.
Up and down hills and mountains.
You see that hill over there?
- The one where my men are? - Right.
Well, above it and behind, there's Calatafimi.
See?
It's the town where General Landi and his troops arrived last night.
- Are there many troops? - Yes, sir.
What are they doing? Those vagabonds! Are they eating?
Looks like they've come down here for a picnic!
Well, we'll give 'em a better appetite.
Make their stomachs bigger by a hole or two.
Or give them a shot to help them digest.
Look at them! Look at them! A right pick of scum!
Here's some bread, a piece of cheese and a few olives.
Fine for me.
Thanks.
- Does anyone happen to have some salt? - Sure, General.
- Here's some. - Many thanks.
This Sicilian bread is good.
They blow a good bugle, don't they?
Why don't I let them hear how ours sounds?
Where's my bugler?
General, I've explored the terrain. Scaling that hill is hard labor,
and scaling those terraces is impossible.
- Do you want to accept combat here? - Yes, certainly.
Ah, but Bixio, the terrain is difficult, but it's favorable.
The fact it's uphill won't allow the enemy
to use the best advantage of the forces he's strongest in:
rifles and artillery.
Besides, Bixio,
we make Italy now... or we die.
Bugles!
Let those soldiers hear the sound of our alarm clock.
And now, my friends,
it's time to give those Bourbon gentlemen over there a couple of whacks.
General, you want me to call back that fool?
Let him go. He has a right to his inspiration.
Look, it's midday to the minute.
I don't want anyone to shoot without my specific order.
To fire from a distance is a sign of fear.
Look at them, they can't stand still for an instant!
Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Don't despise this monk's habit I'm wearing,
because I tell you in truth, it will be stronger than your armor.
And don't despise this crucifix.
You'll see it flash among the enemy more terrible than your sword.
God bless you!
Order my carriage.
Didn't you communicate to Major Sforza my order to deploy his troops
- but make no contact with the enemy? - Yes, I did, Excellency.
Well, what's the Major doing then?
Come on.
Major, they're coming up the hill like devils. We've got to have reinforcements.
Keep calm, Lieutenant, let them get tired first.
Then, I'll order the counter-attack.
Quick! Take this message to General Landi.
"Need reinforcements immediately."
What have you done, men?
Didn't I tell you you must go at the enemy easy?
Get your lines in order!
Get your wind back. Then do exactly what I tell you.
General, they've captured your flag. They've captured your flag.
That's nothing at all. Nothing!
Send gunners up the hill in that direction.
Aim! Aim before you shoot!
Take aim, I tell you. Don't waste your ammunition!
They're running short, look at them!
Your Excellency, Major Sforza sent you this flag that was taken from the enemy
and says to inform you that the commander of the invaders has been killed.
Major Sforza asked for reinforcements.
What do you mean, he's taken their flag?
He's finished Garibaldi and he still wants reinforcements?
Bugles, sound the attack.
Forwards!
Left, right, left, right,
left, right, left, right.
Follow me!
Now is the moment, men!
Get up there!
Get up onto that terrace!
Garibaldi! Garibaldi!
Well, look at yourself, then, Garibaldi.
Look at all we've been able to do.
Brave boys!
They're leaving town, defeated.
Excuse me, is Garibaldi among you somewhere?
Right here. General?
The church is full of soldiers from the Bourbon army.
They're seriously wounded and we trust your compassion.
Compassion? What do you mean, "compassion"?
Aren't your wounded soldiers men like us, all Italians,
Italians that are brothers?
Thank you. Come and see them.
Brave men.
You fought bravely.
Be sure that you provide the wounded men with every care you possibly can.
And tell them that they're free to return to their homes or to fight with us.
And they're free to return to their regiments if they like
and fight again... against us.
No! No, please, please, not that way. We're not the tyrants you're used to.
We're just human beings who eat and drink like you. We're must kiss each other, so...
On the cheeks!
We're brothers, Italians.
If memory serves me right, I think the temple of Segesta is near here.
- You learned Latin and Greek in school, eh? - Segesta is not far off, is it?
Just a half-hour ride. If you want, we can take you on the donkeys.
Let's go!
There it is! We're here!
Up the hill!
Hurry up!
Ho!
On foot!
Hey, come back here.
Hey, let go.
Hey, what are you doing? After that ride, don't I deserve a drink?
Hey, if you really want a drink, I've got some wine from Mount Etna.
It'll bend your knees double! You haven't see anything.
- Hey, you! - You've had enough to drink.
Alright, have a drink, but don't take it all, see?
Don't lean on me.
How can it be that people who were able to put up a temple like this
are reduced to such poverty today?
Thus casually and unafraid,
Garibaldi and his thousand volunteers moved on toward Palermo.
A small detachment was sent out in another direction,
while most of the volunteers, joined by Sicilian patriots,
moved through the bush and backcountry
to within sight of the capital.
Halt! Who goes there?
It's Garibaldi. It's Garibaldi.
- Long live Garibaldi! - Long live Garibaldi!
Long live Garibaldi!
Hey, pipe... pipe down!
- Ah! La Masa. - General Garibaldi!
- The diversion has worked. - Oh?
Look what's in the Palermo newspaper today.
Let's see.
"The soldiers of General Mechel
"have put to flight Garibaldi's vagabonds along the road to Corleone.
"The pirates have disappeared into the mountains.
"The criminals, who at the arrival of Garibaldi joined in with his bandits
to promote anarchy and murder, shall not go free and unpunished.
"The government of His Majesty the King guarantees to restore
"the law and order to which good citizens aspire."
Palermo.
Today, General, I know at last we shall see
the end of the rule of tyranny and hypocrisy
under which oppression is called liberty, abuse justice,
- scorn is called love and the other conscious... - Let's hope so!
Ah, let's all hope so, La Masa.
And now, Bixio, to Palermo.
To Palermo...
or we die, General.
Garibaldi is coming. The bandits!
- Garibaldi and the bandits! - Garibaldi!
- Sound the alarm! - Sound the alarm!
- Garibaldi!
- Wait! - Material for the barricades.
Mattresses! Chairs!
The barriers! The barriers!
Throw the mattresses and the boxes.
Throw it all down for the barricades!
- Throw more chairs and tables! - Throw more chairs and tables!
This way!
- Set them up! - That's over here!
- Get all the furniture! - Over here!
- This way! - Right.
Go to your house and get your furniture!
Get everything you've got!
- All the boxes! - Everthing we have here.
- Right. - Unload the cart!
- Throw something down for the barricades! - Quick!
Throw them over here!
- At your orders, General. - Nothing more for now, thank you.
- You want water, Garibaldi? - No, thank you, my boy.
Have you been able to keep track of enemy movements up at the castle?
Yes, General.
Ah, my friend!
What a good surprise to find you here!
You all know my friend, Alexandre Dumas.
He's the author of "The Three Musketeers".
Tell me, what sort of pass do you have?
This one here, signed by the Major.
Oh, Gusmaroli, make a new safe-conduct for this illustrious poet.
Put the date of today and say,
"It is at my orders that my friend, Alexandre Dumas, the famous novelist,
"be allowed to circulate freely throughout the island of Sicily."
In addition, you can add that I shall be personally grateful
to whoever shows him a courteous welcome.
This way with that stretcher. Quick!
He's dying! Oh, God, he's dying!
Come on!
- We surrender! We surrender! - Move! Move!
- Where are you taking us? - Stay on the barricade!
The Generals are coming to parlay.
The Generals are coming to surrender. Surrender!
General, sir.
The Bourbon officers are here to talk with you.
General, the Bourbon officers have arrived.
Show them in.
Good morning, gentlemen.
- Please, be seated. - Thank you.
Please, have a seat.
- After you, sir. - Do sit down, please.
Gusmaroli.
- Yes, sir? - That's all.
Well, then.
To what do I owe the honor of your visit?
General Garibaldi, we want to put an honorable end to so much suffering.
That's exactly what we want to do, too.
I'm sorry I don't have any tobacco to offer you,
except some bad cigars from Nice.
But when in war, one can't have a choice.
No, thank you, I don't smoke.
- Thanks, I don't smoke either. - Mm-hmm.
We were saying,
General, don't you think it's time all this ended?
No one can deny, General Garibaldi,
that all this agony, the blood and barricades, doesn't do any good to anyone.
And for that reason,
- we wish that it should cease. - Agreed.
I'm armed with full powers to negotiate a truce.
If we're able to conclude it, we'll go immediately to Naples
where we'll clarify to His Majesty, my sovereign, the conditions agreed upon
and request his commands.
General, if we could possibly... how shall I say it...
take a shortcut to fair and honorable conditions, so to speak,
I am certain... we are certain that we can stipulate a truce
whereafter, with the help of God
and a little peace and men's anger placated...
Fine.
It will never be my fault if this truce isn't stipulated here immediately.
Please tell me what your desires are.
We've already got them written.
Read them, Colonel.
"That drinking water be restored immediately to the castle."
- That's the first thing we ask. - Fine. Agreed to.
"That medicines be sent to the castle for the troops that are sick and wounded."
With all my heart.
"That exchange of prisoners must take place immediately."
Surely.
Will you share this orange with me?
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Yes. But you will have to hand over the hostages taken by General Laura in Palermo
and now under guard in the castle.
Er... I don't have powers to treat for the hostages.
But I assure you on my honor they're receiving all care,
and that His good Majesty is sure to put them at liberty, General Garibaldi,
the moment I've seen him.
- You must also evacuate the city. - But...
Listen to me. I'm telling you what my conditions are now.
Evacuate the city,
withdraw your troops from the castle,
and I will allow you to make camp at Mount Pellegrino.
- Agreed then? - Er...
Yes.
Garibaldi and his thousand now found
that movement along the northern coast of Sicily,
over toward the mainland of Italy, was very difficult.
The Bourbon troops clung desperately to their last strongholds,
but the Garibaldinos drove them out and pushed on
to within sight of the Calabrian coast
across the blue Strait of Messina.
At the lighthouse, the General was forced to wait.
Cavour, and perhaps also Victor Emmanuel now,
was becoming alarmed by the fact that republican forces throughout Italy
were using Garibaldi's conquests for their own purposes.
Even though he was faithful to united Italy,
would he remain faithful to monarchy
and refuse to support a republic?
What is it?
- Look. Look, isn't that the General? - Yes, it's Garibaldi.
Watch out there.
Hey, they must be important.
Well, here we are, sir.
This way, please.
Who's he?
Looks like an officer in civilian clothes.
Good day, sir.
I have the honor to deliver to you a letter from His Majesty.
Shh, quiet! Give me a glass of wine, I've got a dry throat.
- Who is he? - An adjutant of King Victor Emmanuel's.
You know what the King is asking me to do?
He asks you not to cross over the Strait.
You must know that His Majesty was unable to approve of your expedition and that he...
he wished to remain completely outside of it.
I've always liked Victor Emmanuel.
You've gone from one victory to another.
We've been told that you've run many risks personally.
His Majesty at Turino has been expressing his doubts
about attempting to make a landing on the coast of Calabria.
Francis II still has a first-rate army,
and the Neapolitan Navy is one of the best.
I in no way deny that there are difficulties.
But when the people want their liberty,
no soldiers can keep them from getting it.
His Majesty writes as your King.
Without any hesitation I can say that if you dare disobey him,
because others tell you it's your duty to Italy to do so...
I've always said that I liked and esteemed Victor Emmanuel.
It's a shame that he has such advisors around him.
Thank you.
You may tell him...
I'll send my reply for His Majesty to where you're staying.
Gusmaroli! Gusmaroli!
That's me.
Hurry.
- What's going on? - I wish we could find out.
Menotti, you go to your father.
Try to find out something. Try to explain to him how we feel. Please.
Alright.
Come in.
- What is it, Menotti? - Nothing.
Nothing, Father.
When are we going to Calabria?
- When? - Yes, when?
You see, Father,
that's what all of us who are sitting around without anything to do are asking.
- A few hundred feet in there... - A few hundred feet of saltwater, I know.
But across it, they're well-fortified.
Their artillery is waiting. 20,000 men are expecting us.
We know that very well.
Furthermore, to cross the Strait means
to take the flames of revolution to the continent of Europe.
Did you now that Napoleon III
has proposed to the English a joint naval action to block us in Sicily?
That's why we've got to be quick and act before they try to...
I know.
I know, I know. But I don't think that the English are going to do it.
You're right that waiting puts us in danger.
But in the meantime...
I've got other kinds of worries.
I'm not going to lead a single soldier of our army to a massacre.
Even if we're willing to try anything?
The people of Sicily want to be united to Piedmont,
because they want to be sure that the liberty they want will not...
I know that.
And if we let them be annexed,
the war will send the Piedmontese land forces down here immediately.
And goodbye to our united Italy.
Father, if you're not willing, who could make a try?
I know we must at least try.
But what you don't consider, Menotti, is the weight of all this responsibility.
So what now?
Erm...
I think I'll send this reply after all to the King and Cavour.
"Sire, Your Majesty is aware of the affection and respect
"that I have always felt for your person
"and that I wish to obey you.
"But then Your Majesty will also understand in what a position of embarrassment
"in the eyes of the Neapolitan citizens my inactivity is putting us today.
"It is now months that I have been having to restrain them,
"that I've sent them promises of support.
"All Italy will now turn to me to ask why I'm inactive,
"and this question will cause us harm.
"Thus when I have kept my sacred promises,
"Your Majesty will receive from my hands
"the powers that circumstances have laid there,
"and I shall obey my King willingly for all the rest of my life."
I'll have a copy made of this letter
and sent to the man who's just been here.
Father...
You say your father is certain that our friends over there on the mainland
- will open the fortress to us? - Yes, sir.
And suppose we would have failed?
We'd have been able to attract a lot of Bourbon forces in the direction of the fort
or further on up north, where we could wait.
In the meanwhile, you to the south...
- You're willing to take the risk? - Yes, General.
As soon as night falls, I'll start to cross.
During the night, the boy Fabrizio
crossed the Strait of Messina alone in a sailing dinghy.
A storm swept down on him.
He capsized his boat in order not to be driven off his course
and was washed ashore in Calabria.
He was later found by a peasant girl
who was destined to become an unsung heroine of Italian freedom.
I found Baron Plutino's son down on the beach this morning.
- He told me to tell you. - Oh.
What shall I do?
Go inside and bring out my cape with the hood,
the one I wear in church processions.
Tonight, there's the procession for San Rocco.
- Understand? - Yes, Father.
Don't let them see the cape.
- I won't. - Be quick.
Shh!
This way.
Last man in, close the door.
In here.
Come on in.
Here we are.
Master of the day.
- Are we all present? - All present.
- Are we all willing to begin the meeting? - All are willing.
Then your brother and companion, in words of humility,
- calls the meeting to order. - Thank you, friend.
- Cover your heads. - Thank you, friend.
Master of the day, in words of humility, your brother and companion
requests you to make the circle.
There's some boxes to sit on, brothers, make the circle.
The Society of Brothers of Montalbano is waiting for you to speak, friend.
I give my thanks to you and all the Society.
Thank you, brother.
Brothers, 250 men sent from Garibaldi
are going to cross the Straits of Messina to capture the fortress.
Garibaldi is counting on us.
Brothers, we must not fail him.
We will not fail him.
- Who's going up the mountain with me? - He is.
At the top of the mountain, we'll light a bonfire as a signal for the men across the Strait
to put out to sea.
The beach, the town, and the whole coast are patrolled. Everyone's alerted.
Policemen, informers, spies and soldiers are almost everywhere.
We planned on that.
When Garibaldi's men are nearing the shore, we want a man to go along the waterfront
to draw attention away from the boats in the other direction.
The Garibaldinos can land.
Some attack the beach guard, others go to the fort.
- I'll be the man on the beach. - Good.
Garibaldi will thank you, brother. Let's go.
Wait a minute. You'd better go out through the orchard.
Climb over the wall at the far end, and then he'll show you the safest way.
Let's go.
We'll make it, huh?
Good night.
Good night, sir.
Good night.
A girl who knows her place is not supposed to have ears.
We're ready. Soldiers are blocking all the streets. Let's go.
Alright. Can we begin now, Captain?
Begin.
Open up!
In the name of the law, open up!
What do you want?
Don't make a move.
- What are you doing to my father? - Quiet, you!
- Luigi Spezzano, come with me. - Why, what have I done?
Men with beards end up in prison these days.
Maria, give me my shawl. There.
Take him away. Go on.
- Don't leave your sisters even for a minute. - Where are you going?
A girl who knows her place is not supposed to have ears.
Someone has got to be on the beach.
Holy Mother, be with me.
Rosa...
Shh! You mustn't cry.
Stop! Who's out there?
Look! Who goes there?
A mere girl, not quite a woman,
assured the success of Garibaldi's landing on the continent of Italy.
Further to the south, he and the rest of his men
crossed the Strait on two steamships,
attacked the Bourbon troops unaware, and made them prisoners.
Halt!
Halt, or we'll shoot!
- Give me that! - Take your hands up!
Garibaldi!
Quiet! Quiet!
Stand back! That is enough!
Silence! Stand back!
Silence!
They stole our mules, they stole everything we got.
They stole our cows from us.
- They treated us like dogs. - Be quiet and listen to me.
You soldiers, Italy is ashamed of you.
Give back those things you've stolen from these men.
We don't want to think of you as conquered enemies.
We want to welcome you in our ranks and call you brothers
and have you as comrades in still greater and more glorious campaigns.
Garibaldi, we want to go back to our houses.
We don't want to fight any more battles for anyone.
I don't want to fight anymore. I want to go back to being a farmer.
Quiet! Quiet!
Shame to you men of so little faith.
Much better if you were enemies instead of cowards.
We would treat you as brothers, whereas now we must treat you as losers.
Bandi, Sirtori, Gusmaroli, Menotti, take care of these men.
Confiscate whatever they have.
Arms, ammunition, horses and mules.
Everything they have stolen must be returned to their rightful owners.
If any of these Bourbon soldiers want to fight for Italy, undivided and free,
welcome them like brothers.
We could keep the rest of them prisoners, but instead they can go home.
We will not have with us men of little faith who are ungrateful cowards.
They can go back to their houses!
So Garibaldi made his way toward Naples,
where people at the news of his approach
either took panic and fled or waited for him anxiously.
The young King of Naples, bowing to circumstances,
made a sacrifice in the name of humanity.
Your Majesty.
You see, my friends, I'm leaving Naples,
so as to save her from the horrors of war.
I've news that Garibaldi is not far away.
The faith you've showed to me will never be far from my mind.
And so that you will always remember it, too,
I've named you Knights of Saint Gennaro.
Don Libò, watch out you don't lose the collar.
Sire, I'll do everything to wear it on my breast as long as I can.
Don Michè, my congratulations to you.
You've served the country very, very well.
And I know that I've been of equal service to Your Majesty.
And if Your Majesty could have listened to my humble counsels,
you might not find yourself in this position now.
Your ideal is Italy and Victor Emmanuel,
but he won't bring you what you're looking for.
We mortals have the short view of a lifetime.
What the future holds, only God knows.
Your Majesty may leave in peace,
certain that our fellow citizens will be mindful always
that Your Majesty in leaving the city voluntarily
has spared us all the horrors of civil conflict.
- I hope so. Thank you. - Her Majesty, the Queen!
Gentlemen, we'll see each other at the front, on the Volturno.
We're coming back soon.
It's so sad to go away.
Don't let them see you crying.
The very next day, Garibaldi entered Naples without a shot being fired.
He was greeted as a liberator,
and he assumed leadership of the government just as he had done in Sicily.
In the name of all Italians and of all human beings,
I give you citizens of Naples my heartfelt thanks.
You well have a right to exult and cheer
on a day when the tyranny of centuries has come to an end,
and liberty has at long last been established.
I thank you for this welcome not for myself,
but in the name of united Italy,
which each of you has helped to create
with the labor of your hearts and your hands,
so that it's not only Italy but the whole of Europe which thanks you.
- Have you heard the news? - What?
Troops sent by Victor Emmanuel, which means Cavour,
have crossed the frontiers of the Roman states.
That's what we were just talking about.
It's clear they want to drive down towards Neapolitan territory.
Clear as day.
Do you think that means that Cavour intends to put us in our place?
He wants to stop us from eventually marching on Rome and Venice.
And then what? Do you think he's trying to push us into civil war?
Oh, Cavour hates us alright. He wants what he wants.
And he's willing to beat down any obstacle that gets in his way.
He doesn't want to play second to anyone.
I can tell you that Garibaldi would die a hundred deaths to avoid a civil war.
Cavour will answer for it if one breaks out.
When I think that Francis II is pressing harder and harder on the Volturno every day.
And now you'll see it'll be worse.
The line of the Bourbon troops is solid from the coast all the way up to Capua.
Their forward lines are only three miles north of Caserta,
and patrols of cavalry have been raiding even nearer.
The Bourbons will try any sort offensive to retake Naples
and not be caught outside their capital by Victor Emmanuel.
It's obvious that the men faithful to Cavour want to have Sicily and Naples,
vote themselves in with united Italy,
so the two can be part of the kingdom of Victor Emmanuel well before...
Garibaldi can make Rome his capital.
We can expect anything to happen.
I'll tell you, frankly, I'm even afraid for Garibaldi's life.
Anything's possible, anything's possible.
Getting him out of the way would be convenient to the Bourbons,
to Cavour, to Austria, to Napoleon III, to everyone.
We can't close our eyes a minute.
Garibaldi himself was not troubled by these doubts and fears.
Summoned by Bourbon attacks to the banks of the river Volturno,
he went into battle with the same spirit of humanity and good faith as always.
There you are, General.
A lot of Bourbon troops are in Capua.
We ought to direct our fire that way.
Bombard a city full of defenseless civilians?
Better to lose the battle.
Don't answer that fire.
They're firing from there.
Down the hill! Down the hill together!
Lieutenant!
Get your men up after them! Push them up the hill!
Bixio! Where's Bixio?
Under that wall, General. That wall.
Down there.
- What happened to you? - Nothing, sir.
They shot my horse from under me. It's nothing.
Take care of yourself.
Bring me my horse. My horse!
Down to the river, men! Down to the river!
We'll cover the boats with cannons.
Fire!
Load those guns!
Shoot, you fools!
In the mist and smoke of the battlefield,
with his kingdom in ruins,
Francis II stood among his dead and defeated troops,
while Victor Emmanuel, whose purposes were still unclear,
rode on toward Naples.
Force pushed the King toward Naples to control Garibaldi.
He's convinced we want to make a republic in Italy, not a monarchy.
He's using our victories and discarding us.
The truth is that Cavour thinks of Cavour
and is willing to be second only to Victor Emmanuel.
Cavour has always urged Victor Emmanuel to get rid of Giuseppe Garibaldi.
That's why the King is coming to Naples.
They want to take over the kingdom of Naples and Sicily,
which we have conquered thanks to our leader.
- But we shall march on to Rome. - Forward to Rome!
Gentlemen, please.
Menotti.
Hate and envy and jealousy don't count.
What does is for our eyes to be always turned toward the unification of Italy.
The battle of the Volturno was a defensive battle,
not an offensive one.
It saved Naples from a return of the Bourbons,
but did not destroy their army,
which has a force of 40,000 men north of the Volturno.
I know that men who want to make Italy a republic
are urging me to attack Rome,
which was my intention when I first entered Naples.
But can we leave the Bourbons to the rear and go safely forward?
My friends,
we will go to Rome.
There'll be a day for that.
It's impossible now.
Now is for Italy.
I've just written the following decree:
"Italy and Victor Emmanuel.
"To fulfil a wish dear to the entire nation,
"I hereby decree
"Sicily and Naples, that owe their liberation to Italian courage,
"are now part of Italy, indivisible and one,
"under its King Victor Emmanuel and his descendants.
"I shall immediately place in the keeping of the King
"the leadership conferred on me by the nation.
"My lieutenants are charged with the carrying out of this, my decree.
"Giuseppe Garibaldi."
Let's see what time it is.
One of you young men go ahead and see what's happening down the road.
After so long a time, I'm looking forward to seeing Victor Emmanuel again.
Strange. He shouldn't be far off.
Since he's coming from Venafro, he must've spent the night at Presenzano.
The morning air's damp.
And me with this rheumatism...
Look. Look how damp it is.
- General. - Yes?
Listen.
General, he's coming back.
Don't you hear the sound of bugles in the distance?
General, the King is coming.
I heard bugles. Then I saw a troop of Piedmontese cavalry.
My horse, quick!
I salute the first King of Italy.
Thank you.
How are you, Garibaldi?
Well, Your Majesty. And you?
Fine, fine.
Sire, when I landed on Sicilian soil,
I assumed the military leadership and did it in Your name.
This morning I'm fulfilling a dream dear to my heart.
I'm placing in Your hands the leadership of millions of Italians
who until a few months ago were subject to a stupid despotism.
Thank you.
Long live the King!
Long live the King of Italy!
This is Victor Emmanuel, our King, the King of Italy.
Long live the King!
This is Victor Emmanuel, our King!
Francis II and the soldiers who've remained faithful to him
are getting ready to give battle once more near Gaeta.
I ask Your Majesty to grant the honor of the first attack
to my men and to myself.
You've been at it a long time, Garibaldi. Now it's my turn to attack.
Your army is tired and mine is fresh.
We're going to put you into the reserves.
Why, it's Garibaldi.
Hello.
- Would you give me some water, please? - Sure, Garib... Sure, General Garibaldi.
It's an honor. If you'll let me, I'll give you something to eat, too.
Have a chair.
There you are. Fresh cheese, just made yesterday.
Got some for you, gentlemen, too.
Put it on this stool, General.
He really said it.
Really.
"And now we're going to put you in the reserves."
All for Garibaldi!
There was now nothing left for Giuseppe Garibaldi
but to return to his house on the island of Caprera.
He could've taken Rome easily
and made it the capital of united Italy.
But political powers stronger than he
had willed that the time for that had not yet come.
But people would never forget him.
They would remember the exile of Caprera in their hearts.
And he, the glorious old man,
what would he be thinking of in his solitude?
We'll meet again.
In Rome.