It hadn't been easy to digest the delusion
brought about by losing the match of the century.
Our sadness, problems and fears could still be found behind the flags.
GO PALERMO, DOWN WITH JUVE
Then summer came,
and the warm winds brought about a new fever,
one which involved us Giammarresis too, like everyone else.
- You're a communist of convenience! - Me, of convenience?!
You're a bunch of thieves who eat away half of Italy!
- He's right. - We're feeding the people.
The tension rose day after day.
The most nervous were those politicians involved with the Mafia
as they feared losing their power
and so their capability of keeping the promises made
to people even more dangerous than them.
St. Rosalia, please strike the Communists,
the dissidents and the Radicals, amen.
Giacinto, this candle is too big, you're asphyxiating us all.
I'm sorry, Don Vito.
But we may need an even bigger one if we want to win the election.
- Why? Did the Lord tell you something? - No.
Vito, there was a poll,
one of those things the Americans do to know who people will vote for.
And what do I care who people will vote for?
The important thing is that they vote for us.
Yes, but this year the situation is a little delicate.
Things might go to the dogs.
- In Sicily. - Not even in Sicily.
Are you kidding? Going to the dogs? Even after all the promises we made?
Jesus, this is really beautiful. I want ten like this one.
Totò, ten? Isn't it a bit too much?
Ten, I said. It's not too much.
Don Vito and his friends made great promises
regarding the new tenders.
And, if they don't keep them, ten may not even be enough.
Do you know how many ditches we'll have to dig if they don't keep them?
We need to safeguard democracy in this beautiful island of ours.
We need to win this fucking election. Full stop!
- Full stop. - I'll light another one.
Well done, Giacinto.
One less to go up your ass if things don't go as they should!
As long as it's not ours.
- Ass. - Ass.
We'll see.
My class was in great agitation too, as a crucial countdown had started.
Only seven days to go. Seven.
My cousin told me, that if you don't pass the fifth grade exam,
you have to restart from first grade.
And we're supposed to believe your cousin?
- Does he seem as thick as you are? - And what are you, an Einstein?
Shall we bet money I'll get a better mark than you will?
One thousand Lira?
C'mon Salvatore, cut!
Wait, are you sure you have the money?
I'll find it, don't worry. And, anyway, I'm going to win. C'mon.
As if that wasn't enough, in addition to the anxiety for the exams
I had to deal with my mother's anxiety too as,
after she had said goodbye to the school and to her classroom,
Sebastiano and I had become her classroom.
Done.
- I gave you another one, c'mon. - C'mon mum, we're tired.
Oh, go on, it's the last one. C'mon.
But, since that unfortunate day, things had changed for dad too.
He couldn't get the idea that mum was cheating on him
out of his head.
"Patrizia's birthday."
As he couldn't find any evidence, the only thing left was to follow her.
Salvatore, study while I'm out, because what will I do when I get back?
- Test us. - Exactly.
- But where are you going? - To aunt Carla's, bye.
When my mother took a direction that did not lead to aunt Carla's,
my father's heart sunk.
Just like Marco's heart was sinking because of my sister,
as she still wasn't getting it.
Go on.
- Go to her and tell her what you feel. - And what would that be?
That you're in love with her, that you're always thinking about her.
I'll never be able to.
Of course you are. Why don't you try it out first?
- What do you mean try it out? - Let's pretend I'm Simonetta.
Okay, then.
Angela...
Simonetta.
I... I like you a lot...
and I know maybe it doesn't show,
because I'm a northerner and it's not easy for me to talk...
Enough with this northerner thing! Let yourself go for once.
Show her what you feel deep down, c'mon.
Jesus! I've loved you since the first moment I saw you!
I think about you all the time, during the day, at night, always!
I love you!
Wow!
I didn't think you liked her that much.
Now all you have to do is tell her.
Go.
- Where? - Go to her, go.
- Angela, listen... - C'mon, go! Go on, c'mon.
And so Torino went,
he went to a girl he couldn't care less about
just because my sister was so dumb,
she didn't realise the fool was actually in love with her.
Geniuses.
- Can you help me? - Yes.
What are you doing here?
This is not your cousin's home.
Pia, thanks for coming. Oh, you're here too? Hi.
That wasn't aunt Carla, but Fofò's mum.
Just one second, I need to talk to my husband.
As he didn't want to lose the bet, Fofò asked my mum to tutor him,
but begged her not to tell us.
Good, seven plus.
Seven plus! Seven plus!
Totò, your mother might be a pain in the ass but look!
Seven plus! Seven plus.
Antonio?
What's wrong with me tutoring Fofò?
- Nothing. - So tell me what's wrong.
Pia, just tell me one thing.
That colleague Salvuccio mentioned in his notebook...
...it was him, right, the one you were hugging outside school?
- What are you talking about? - Pia, I saw you!
Outside school, on the last day, when you left.
I was there, with flowers in my hand.
What were you doing outside my school with flowers?
Never mind.
- But I saw you, I saw you two hugging. - So what? It was a send-off.
A send-off between colleagues.
- A send-off. - Yes.
- How can I be sure? - Because I'm telling you, Lorenzo.
I liked working in that school,
was I supposed to leave without saying goodbye?
As if these few months meant nothing?
- I'm not saying that. - Then what are you saying?
It's just that I saw you two hugging, okay?
And what was I supposed to do? Leave? Push him away?
Pia, it's just that it was...
- somewhat of a special hug. - Special?
I hugged everyone, I said goodbye to everyone,
the Headmaster, my colleagues, the children,
I even hugged the janitor, because I was so emotional.
I liked working in that school, is that wrong?
- I'm not saying that. - No, answer me!
You must tell me if that's wrong.
No, you're right. I'm sorry.
I feel like an idiot,
I'm here, giving you grief,
instead of being there for you
when you've lost something you cared about.
My love.
She lied to save her marriage, and it cost her dearly.
What's wrong? What?
Nothing.
At that point, my father, feeling guilty,
thought about a way he could make it up to her.
Giammarresi, don't know if you remember,
I was supposed to watch the match at the Director's house,
but then you called me to tell me it was cancelled.
- Yes, I do seem to recall. - Right, is Mr. Guarneri in?
- No, he's not. - I see.
And... when will he be back?
I'm sorry, why are you looking for him?
No, nothing, he mentioned some paperwork,
hem... a mortgage, to be more precise.
I'm not sure whether he mentioned something to you.
Well, actually, he did.
He did mention a credit, but it wasn't for you.
You don't own a tile factory, do you?
No, I'm the office manager at the Registry Office.
Then it wasn't you. I'm sorry, you'll have to wait for him to come back.
- Good day. - Good day.
Back then, my father wasn't the only one looking for Mr. Guarneri.
And you're telling me he left just like that.
It was an emergency, sir. He left like that, all of a sudden.
Unfortunately.
And he didn't leave a number, an address, nothing?
- No. - And his family knows nothing?
Boris Giuliano had been keeping his eye on a close circle of collaborators
of the Director of the Bank of Trinacria for quite a while.
Do you know what this means?
That they're on to you.
And what can I do?
You need to leave. You need to stay away for a while.
It's not looking good for you here.
When Giuliano decides to bite, it hurts.
You understand?
I understand.
And now smile, c'mon. Smile.
Wider, wider. Good, like that.
So he just vanished into thin air, poof!
Minnini, Minnini...
Haven't you heard from him? Hasn't he called?
No, my mother says it's normal, he's working a lot.
Maybe there aren't many phones around where he is.
There are few phones in Switzerland?
- Who's in Switzerland? - Her dad.
At least it's close by, it doesn't take long to get here.
My father is in Japan.
Oh, he's in Japan now? And what is he doing in Japan?
He collects oil, otherwise how can cars function? Do you push them?
- But Japan has no oil. - What do you mean?
I know because Geography is one of my exam subjects.
Yes, but Japan has a special oil, they even mentioned it on TV.
Heard that, you fool?
Right, the famous Japanese special oil...
Give that here, I'm confiscating this, so you'll learn not to talk rubbish.
Hey, my sandwich!
- You were good. - Thank you.
I had been good, but it was clear that, sooner or later,
that idiot of Fofò was going to let the truth slip out.
And not because of his conscience, as was the case with my mum.
So now she doesn't know whether to tell her husband or not.
Giuliana, huh!
I mean, of all your friends, why is it the ugliest who has these problems?
- Go figure... - C'mon, Massimo.
How would you take it if Patrizia told you
there's a man who makes her heart beat?
How would I take it? Out on her. Her first, and then him.
Well, but what if nothing happened other than a heart beating?
Well, then it's easy. Tell Giuliana, that she needs to keep schtum.
But what if the husband saw something? A smile, a hug?
Jesus, then she needs to deny. You always have to deny, Pia, always.
- Do you remember Marina? - Yes.
Well, she caught me in bed with her sister and I denied everything.
I denied it so much that she apologised to me.
To me and to her sister!
I have to go to work, what a drag.
What? You were so happy.
I am happy.
But work is still work.
Did you cut off his finger?
I gave him another day
and told him that, if he doesn't pay tomorrow, I'll cut two off.
Trust me, it's my technique, it works.
My uncle also sustained a truth he was afraid of.
Maybe working for the Salvo cousins hadn't been the best choice.
Massimo, what's wrong?
Nothing, what?
Come here, come put flowers on your father's grave, come.
My mum didn't manage to follow my uncle Massimo's advice.
Not only because of her conscience, but because she had understood
that her attraction for Ayala was a symptom,
a symptom of what no longer worked between her and dad.
And silence wasn't the right cure.
...evidence of a terribly sick democracy.
The Parliament would dissolve for the third time in 12 years.
What are you watching?
Nothing, a political programme.
But it's useless,
nothing's going to change, all they do is talk.
No.
Lorenzo, no.
What, no?
We can't go on like this.
We can't keep saying all they do is talk,
that everything is rotten, that nothing's good. We can't.
And why not? Doesn't it seem this way to you?
Yes, but we can't stop believing, hoping, dreaming.
We no longer dream, we stopped.
But we need to start again, otherwise...
I'm afraid you and I will...
...drift apart.
So, that hug with your colleague...
What has that got to do with it?
I don't know why, Pia, but I feel it has.
It has.
He courted me,
passionately,
and I liked it a lot.
It made me feel alive.
- What happened? - Nothing.
Nothing I swear, nothing. But something could.
You know, I always think about when Angeluzza was young
and we would walk on the beach.
I had Salvatore in my belly, and you dreamed.
You dreamed a lot,
and we'd tell each other about all the good things that were waiting for us.
I didn't expect this from you.
I didn't expect you to lie like this.
I mean, all these months, every day,
you saw that guy you liked. - No, no, no...
Why do you keep saying no?
Because when I realised it was serious I chose you, our family.
To me, you're the most important thing in the world.
I thought you had chosen me seventeen years ago.
I didn't mean it like that.
Where are you going?
Out, to breathe.
My mother waited all night
for my father to come home from breathing.
But he didn't.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
He slept in the car and, when he went to the office,
he was shattered both outside and even more on the inside,
maybe that's why fate took pity on him.
- Giammarresi! - What?
What happened? Are you sick?
Nothing happened, I'm fine. Hands off!
Cusumano, I'm in a rotten mood today, what?
There's somebody waiting for you.
- Shall I send him away? - Who is it?
He says he's here on behalf of Mr. Guarneri.
Is Mr. Guarneri who I think he is?
- Tidy yourself up, c'mon. - Hands off, let me see, move.
- Giammarresi. - Mr. Minnini.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
I'm sorry, I don't know how to say this, but there was a misunderstanding.
I thought you were someone else.
You know, there are many people looking for the Director for favours,
I got confused.
Listen, is there somewhere we can talk in private?
Of course, of course. Come on in.
Cusumano, you watching a show? Do you want to start working or not?
Go to work, c'mon.
- Still there? Cusumano, leave! - No need...
So, do you like the house?
Of course I do...
but it's not as if... The mortgage must be...
In fact, the Director doesn't want to grant you a mortgage.
He wants to give you the house directly.
It is owned by the bank,
but it would be available to you at a low rent,
a very low rent, actually.
No, no, really. I can't.
I mean, it would be like accepting a gift.
Look, I understand.
I would feel awkward too
if someone were to offer me a house like this, almost for free. I would.
So, if you want to feel more comfortable,
there is a way to do it.
A small thing that you could do, much appreciated by Mr. Guarneri.
With the elections approaching, Ciancimino, Lima and the Salvo cousins
issued a call to arms for all friends, near and far.
Good morning, sir.
And even those who were far away and nearby at the same time.
Like those who, as a precaution, said they were in Switzerland
when in fact had never left Palermo.
- Come in. - Thanks, sir.
- Are you sure you weren't followed? - I'm sure, sir.
Has Boris Giuliano calmed down?
He will.
But those who will calm him down need to win the elections first.
Friends of friends and friends of friends of friends
needed to be rallied too.
And that's how my father got involved.
What would I need to do?
You need to give us the list.
The consensus machine was insatiable.
And its web was so fine, that it reached all aspects of social life.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, could help with the cause.
VOTE
Have you seen what a nice computer the councillor sent us?
Yes, but he only sent one.
He said he's going to send us ten more,
so they will do all the work and we can do fuck all.
But, there's a but.
We need to vote for them when the time comes because.
If the communists win, they will eat all the babies
and the computers, and we will have to work double!
Are you sure we will work less?
Luckily for my uncle, even fleas had the right to vote.
So, do you have the money?
I'm not kidding!
- Please, have mercy! - You've used up all my mercy!
I don't have the money!
- You don't? - No.
Wait, change of plans.
We need the votes, not the money.
- How many are there in your family? - Me, my wife and four kids.
- Are the kids little? - No, they're grown up.
So it's six votes.
Six votes.
For six votes, we can give him another week, right?
You were lucky this time.
C'mon, let's go.
What list?
The list of people who are sort of here.
Who is sort of where? Sorry?
More dead than alive.
I see.
You know, we may need to go and get them at home.
Shouldn't we help them exercise their right to vote?
Yes, it seems like the right thing to do. It's only fair.
But, I mean, there's no need for favours,
you just need to apply for it.
And how long does it take?
- A couple of weeks. - Exactly, we don't have them.
But, I'm sorry...
What does Mr. Guarneri need it for?
He wants to find some old friends.
C'mon, Giammarresi, don't you want to help?
While Mr. Minnini stared at him,
my father thought about my mother's words,
about all those times he let occasions slip
in the name of integrity.
For the first time, he told himself
there was nothing wrong in doing something
someone else was going to do if he didn't.
- Please. - Thanks.
Everybody is on a lunch break.
Here: classified by year and alphabetical order.
Okay, okay, good.
- But, have you had lunch? - Me? No.
Then why don't you go and have something to eat,
then maybe you can get a coffee, and a nice lemon granite,
then maybe another coffee, then come back.
I mean, if I'm 15 or 30 minutes late, or even half a day late, it can happen...
But, during lunch,
dad realised that that was the day he had simply given up.
If the same happens to him, what do you do?
- I clock in. - Exactly! We're doing nothing wrong.
Nothing wrong, it makes work lighter.
And his heavy heart was replaced by a feeling of emptiness.
C'mon, we're doing nothing wrong.
The same sensation we kids were feeling
at the idea that everything was almost over.
My brother told me that, when he went to middle school,
he didn't see his friends anymore.
What if it happened to us?
We could get all sent down.
Or we could all go to the same school.
Yes, we could.
He's here. Bye.
What got into her?
I don't know.
Maybe she's still sad about her father.
And that feeling of emptiness was also being felt by my dumb sister.
But don't be fooled by her expression, she still didn't understand why.
A walk? Yes, but I have to call the club first,
Simonetta's waiting for me. Let's find a phone box.
No, if you have plans with her... don't worry, I'll ask Danila.
No, Angela, I'd like to go.
What happened?
My mother, instead, knew fully well why she was sad.
Salvuccio, when do the exams start?
The written tests start tomorrow.
- Good luck then. - Thanks.
Are you ready?
I'm ready, at least I hope so.
But where are you?
I told you, I had to leave for work.
Actually... I'm sorry but I have to go.
Dad, wait.
Hello? Hello, Lorenzo? Hello?
Oh, yeah, he's good. A little nervous, but he'll be fine.
Talk to you tomorrow, then.
Bye.
- I don't understand where dad is. - He's in Catania, for work.
But exactly when I have my exams?
I know, honey, but he couldn't do otherwise.
- Hi. - Hi.
Evening!
- Are you ready? - Yes, I hope so.
Good.
I'll get you a nice gift if you pass, better than your father's.
But we won't tell him tonight or he'll sulk.
- Hi! - Hi.
- Where's mum? - In the kitchen.
- And dad? - Not here.
How come Lorenzo's not here?
He's in Catania.
Why did he go to Catania?
For work.
Pia, look your brother in the eye.
- He left me. - Why?
He learned that, for a short while, my heart was beating for someone else.
So it was you who had to tell the truth?! Not Giuliana.
- Jesus, I fell for it like an idiot! - Lower your voice.
But why didn't you deny it? The advice worked for you too.
When asked, deny, deny, always deny.
- I told him. - What?!
I couldn't keep it to myself any longer.
You're a fool!
Now you find yourself without a husband.
What's with this wave of honesty? Did you all get a virus or something?
Listen, in life, you have to face up to things!
No, no, no, no. In life, things have to be solved, it's different.
Come here, come here, sorry.
C'mon, don't let the kids see you cry.
You'll figure it out.
Jesus, to think that I'm defending him.
We'll say you peeled an onion, okay?
Oi, c'mon, enough.
Come join us.
Throughout dinner, mum seemed happy, as if nothing had happened.
- Do you like it? - Very much.
- It's good, huh? - Amazing.
Come whenever you want some and I'll make it for you.
Thanks Pia.
That was a very long evening for her, just like for many others.
Unfortunately, for my father, it wasn't the whirring noise of a faulty fridge
that wouldn't let him sleep, but the roar of his conscience
at the thought that the favour to Guarneri
might have helped God knows what criminal operation.
- Cusimano Maria, 1872. - Dead.
- Mancuso Giovanni, 1878. - Dead.
Pastrani Aurelio, 1903.
- Alive but in bad shape. - Then he's not voting.
- Rocci Santo, 1898. - Dead.
- Russo Anna, 1868. - Dead.
Gherardi Gerlando, 1906.
He's alive. Alive and well.
- Caruso Nitto, March 3rd 1870. - Dead.
Dad, but what do we have to do with all these dead people?
We need them, Massimo.
The ill and the dead ensure votes!
C'mon, let's continue.
- Caruso Alfredo, 1874. - Dead.
Come in.
- Sir, aren't you going to sleep? - I'm going now.
- Do you want some coffee? - Thanks.
- What does your wife say about all this? - The same your wife says, Saro.
- Then I'll add more sugar. - Yes, you better do.
Excuse me.
The great day finally came
and, for the first time ever, Sister Battista seemed moved too.
Sit, sit.
So, you have two hours starting from now.
This is not a race, okay?
Try to do your best, as you should always do in life.
And now, start.
Please.
Thanks.
For that first essay test, they asked us about our future,
and I wrote that I would have liked to be happy,
but that, in order for me to be happy, my family had to be happy too.
Hi.
- I'm busy. - Lorenzo, please.
How's Salvuccio?
Was he nervous?
No, not so much.
Angela?
The usual.
You've only been away two days, not a whole year.
Yes, but I'm not coming back tonight, either.
Okay, as you wish.
But please realise that the problem isn't the hug.
The problem is between you and me
and, instead of talking about fixing things,
you left.
I brought you some ironed shirts.
Lorenzo, did she bring you cannoli? C'mon.
Oh, those weren't cannoli. Understood.
My father didn't come back that day, nor the day after,
when all of Italy went to the polls to vote.
We're here in the press room of the Viminale
where the first percentages are coming through.
At 11 am, 16.8% of the population had voted
compared to 19.2% in the previous election in 1976,
a slight drop of 2.4%.
Let's have a look at the other regions in detail.
In northern Italy,
19.8% had voted at 11,
compared to 23% in the previous election.
- Hi, darling. - Hi, dad.
- How are you? - I'm good.
- How's Salvuccio? - He had his oral test today.
- Shall I put him on? - Thanks, darling, bye.
Hello, dad? How are you?
All good, Salvuccio, all good. I'm in Catania.
I know you're in Catania, you keep saying.
Right...
- I'm here for work, you know. - I know.
But, Salvuccio...
I love you.
And I love your sister too,
you must tell her.
Of course, dad, we know.
Dad, dad?
When are the results coming out?
- Tomorrow. - I see. Good luck then.
But aren't you coming back?
Salvuccio, I told you it has nothing to do with me.
It's for work.
Of course, I understand.
They aren't able to do anything around here without me.
- Mum, do you need help? - No, no...
I'm making the stuffed aubergines your dad likes.
Exactly, he likes them, we can't stand them.
I know.
Mum, what's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
Don't treat me like I'm stupid.
I'm confused, does it ever happen to you?
Yes, now more than ever.
Your father has noticed and he's suffering because of it.
Angela, please don't judge me.
Mum, how could I judge you?
But tell me what happened.
We're on the second floor of the Eur building,
where a press conference has been set up
next to the Christian Democrat elections office...
Kids, mum's going to aunt Carla's, okay?
At this time of night?
Yes, exactly. Enjoy your meal.
She never visits her cousin and now she's going every day.
My mother told us that, as soon as she got outside,
she realised she didn't know whether to continue or to go back.
So she decided not to choose
and to let her heart control her legs.
She told us she walked with her eyes closed,
like a sleep-walker,
and, when she opened them, she had already rung the bell.
Our hearts instead throbbed all night because...
Six, I got a six!
Eight, eight, I got an eight!
Then you owe me one thousand Lira, because I got a nine!
Well done. How did you do it?
- Give me the money. - I'm not giving you anything.
We bet one thousand Lira.
- I owe you nothing! - Give me the money.
Let's play for it, but I'm not giving you anything.
- Okay, let's go play. - C'mon.
I knew you were better than anyone else, Salvatore.
Salvatore, all tens! You're a nerd!
You definitely didn't take after me.
But, is your sister the only one who came to see the marks?
Yes, my father disappeared too.
Then, this morning, my mother did.
Both?
At least my mother stayed.
Come, I need to tell you something.
Angela, do you think six is a good mark?
Of course.
I'm going to Switzerland in August.
Does your father have to go back?
No, just me.
On holiday? When are you coming back?
Salvatore, you're not getting it.
Enough, let me go! I won another thousand Lira!
You cheated, who do you think you're fooling?
- You're deluded! - I'm deluded, huh?
Even though you never realised you father is actually in jail?
- Fofò! - Who's deluded now?
Where are you going?
Sebastiano! Wait! Alice, what do I need to get?
That I'm going to boarding school in Switzerland, understand?
The first issues are out.
"Il Popolo" titles:
"Christian Democracy still going strong."
"The crossed shield maintains the strong position it had in 1976."
- We made it! - Yes!
The election was won by those who were supposed to win.
Hip-hip hooray!
C'mon guys, let's do the conga!
But it was my mother who had passed the biggest test.
And there was a reason why she hadn't come to see my marks.
My love.
What time is it?
Ten.
Gosh, Salvuccio's marks are coming out today.
My love, don't worry. Angela must have taken him.
Poor Salvatore.
Who told you I was here?
Mrs Pia, what happened?
Where's Lorenzo?
I know you know.
Cusumano?!
Viale del Fante 37, sixth floor.
Turn right when you get out of the lift.
Not the first door, the second one, the one with no name on the door.
Okay, thanks.
- Good night. - Thanks.
Pia...
What are you doing here?
I've come to bring you these.
Now you can tell me to go if you want to.
But I'll be back,
I'll be back tomorrow,
and the day after tomorrow.
I will always come back to you,
even if you think everything sucks
and you've lost all faith,
even if your dreams are so big that they scare you.
Because I did choose you,
because you're the right man for me.
But where were you going?
Back to you.
Let's go home, Lorenzo.
Come on in.
Subtitles STUDIO ASCI