All language subtitles for Daniel Schmid_Violanta (1977)-eng

We broadcast "Violanta" as
part of our retrospective

dedicated to films by Swiss
director Daniel Schmid.

It's a film he shot in 1976, featuring
the great stars of European cinema:

Maria Schneider, Lucia Bos�, G�rard
Depardieu, Michel Simon and others.

Daniel Schmid wrote the
screenplay for this film

together with Wolf Wondratschek.

The music has been
composed by Peer Raben,

the composer who was responsable
for most of Fassbinder's films.

"Violanta" was shot in
the Palazzo Salis,

an exuberant middle-class house
from the 18th century,

which has meanwhile been
carefully renovated

and still looks authentic today.

This Palazzo Salis is located in Soglio,

a small village in the Bergell, the
narrow Swiss valley that borders Italy,

a valley in which Daniel Schmid
spent a major part of his youth.

Ernst Burgm�ller returned to this
valley together with the director,

on search for traces of the past.

The following report, which we'll show
you as an introduction to "Violante",

was made in that very
Palazzo Salis in Soglio.

Here's an intersection of North
and South, an absolute one.

The valley descends in three steps,

not quickly enough, as Rilke said,

to get to the South, the sea.

There are three steps from Maloja.

And that's where that South-Northern
intersection is situated.

Polar lights and Mediterranean.

It's unique. Well, I'm marred.

I grew up there.

DANIEL SCHMID 'VIOLANTA'
the judge and the Palazzo Salis

a report by Ernst Buchm�ller

Since my early childhood
this house has been

- my mother came from
the village below -

a place of magic for me,

a place of fantasy,

of tales and imaginations.

And then came the name.

And the name, which
was strange, I didn't know,

while this house was being renovated,

they found, only after the film
had been made,

a portrait painting of
a woman called Violanta.

Film means timing, you know,

it's not just the art of acting.

Timing is heriditary, you possess it.

You can learn it, but you
somehow need to possess it.

If you tell ten people: You go from here
to there, and then you go up there,

you approach the window and open it,
then you get down again and leave,

when you do that with a hundred people,
it'll be of no interest with 90 of them.

Or with 98. There are two people
with which it becomes interesting.

You don't know why.

It' just the way someone
naturally arranges the space.

The way one deals with a space.

And if one can repeat it, then
it's obviously twice as great.

'Violanta' is the story of a homecoming.

Someone returns
on the occasion of a festivity,

a marriage,

disturbing erstwhile agreements and
setting a ball rolling

between silent people.

And suddenly a past appears,

ghosts appear,

phantoms appear,

and they start intermingling.

'Violanta' is a film with
a doppelganger theme, if you like,

it centers on a strong woman

who reigns over a valley

and

whose story is being unfolded.

The film 'Violanta' is based
on the novella 'The Judge'

by the Swiss writer
Conrad Ferdinand Meyer,

a novella that also fascinated
the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.

Freud mentioned it early on
in his writings and lectures.

He referred to it as a prime example

of a pathological novella.

Not psychological or psychologized,
but pathological.

It's the story of individuals which
are all connected in the wrong ways.

Wrongly projected, the inverted pairs.

And it continues, just like a curse.

They're under a spell, fascinated,

fascinated by themselves,

but structures and curses

always tend to catch up with them.

Malediction.

The curtains are like veils
or like shadows.

Like reflections. Like mirrors.

This causes a prism.

It's the kind of distance that I need.

I really need that.

I can't ever tell stories

at the place where they took place.

I always need to have a veil, a tulle.

A piece that filters.

I need to dissemble.

It's beautiful if one manages
to make it one's own.

If one tries that. It's an attempt.

It's not perfect. A film
is never perfect. It's never finished.

Donna Violanta,

your letter confronts me with a problem.

Do you in fact want me to leave Venice
and return to the valley?

As you can see, I didn't
consider such a step.

At least not yet.

Since the day you took over
the position of my mother,

thinking about a return
is unbearable for me.

But I have a sister that I don't know.

The daughter you received
from my father.

Since Laura is getting married,

I decided to come over
for a couple of days.

In the mountains life is
always full of surprises.

Yours, Silver.

Teresa! Close the damned door!

Can't you hear? I told you
to close the damned door!

Stop shouting! I'm not deaf!

You bawl as if you wanted
to wake up the dead.

Should the guests remain outside?

Please!

Here!

Sit down beside the window!

Come on!

Poor boy! You almost freezed to death!

Do you want to eat or drink something?

- Yes.
- A bottle of our best drink for you!

If strength is entirely
without clemency,

then it can't be called strength.

And if clemency lacks strength,

then it can't be called clemency.

Just like the bride. Tomorrow.

Everything that is just,
he never mistreated her.

I didn't say that. I'm just
saying she controls everything.

She controls everything that
happens in her house.

Not just in her house,
but in the entire valley.

Given her wealth.

She needs to secure her interests.

No person ever had as much power
over this valley as that woman.

But it's good that way.

Because blood no longer flows
since she reigns over the valley.

Only the water of the wild stream
flows today. She's just.

What's this damned racked? If you won't
stop at once, I'll throw you out!

Stop it! Sit down! Take your
instruments! Understood?

Here you are!
For you to warm up again!

And now! Music!

Music!

Tomorrow will be
a great day for the valley.

I know.

Do you know Violanta?

Ever since her husband died, she
has been the judge in this valley.

Violanta!

She's very beautiful.

Despite her age.

She's still very beautiful.

Do you know the bride? Laura.

Will you stay for tonight?

I got a nice room for you.

If you like, I'll bring you the food.

What's the matter with her?

Nothing. She has always been like that,
as far as I can remember.

It must be the harvest moon.

I saw him arrive.

Alma!

Alma, what's the matter with you? Say!

Did you never have
the feeling to slowly go mad?

Gradually.

Little by little.

Almost without noticing it.

I don't understand you.

I kept it a secret.

A deadly silence.

I never stopped writing about you.
For more than fifteen years.

Now the moment has arrived.
The payment is due.

- Which payment?
- My husband. Back then...

I poisoned him after the wedding day.

But noone except me knows about that.

I never said anything because of my son.

His life would have been
a living hell if he had known

that his mother is a murderess.

But now...

Now he has become a man.

He has left.

It was his son.

No.

You know that I loved another man.

How could I forget that?

It was a man from the mountains.

He drowned in the lake.

Who gave you the poison
for your husband.

Adrian.

Yes, he disappeared in
the mountains right after that.

That's what they say.

He showed me where

he had found the roots.

Why did you poison him?

My husband...

I didn't love him.

He was forced upon me.

You know that

everything your father decided
was a law over here.

What do you want from me?

I can't take it anymore.

Violanta, I can't live like that.

What should I do?

You're the one who
decides in the valley.

I can't judge you.

Why can't you?

You're the judge.

Do you want to watch the people
from the valley judging me?

Let the dead rest in peace.

You must live on.

I can't judge you.

Noone dies just because you want it.

You did what had to be done.

It's what was written.

What was written?

Now it's too late.

It's impossible to judge you now.

Time extinguished it.

No, nothing.

Nothing is extinguished.

You need to live on, Alma.

There is no other judgement.

Andr�!

Take her away!

Calm her down!

Violanta!

- Help me!
- For God's sake!

- Hurry up! Quickly!
- What a misfortune!

How is that possible?

Let me see how you look like!

Where is he, Mum?

He'll surely be here soon.
You know it brings bad luck

if the groom sees his bride
before the wedding.

I'm not talking about the groom.

- Silver?
- Yes.

I await him impatiently.

Did he answer your letter?

He has arrived.

My brother!

You'll wait here!

It's true what people say...

They didn't exaggerate.
You're still a beautiful woman.

And you grew up and became a man.

Much time has passed, Silver

No, in fact it didn't.

Here it's unlike other places.

I never stopped thinking
about this house.

Perhaps you were just dreaming
that you once lost it.

And now you're dreaming that you return.

No, I wouldn't have never
returned if not for...

If you're sister didn't get married.
It't true, the two of you never met.

You're weren't born yet
when he left back then.

How beautiful he has become!
They will make a nice couple.

Shup your mouth! She's his sister!

Come on! I want to introduce you!

There they are! The sister and the
brother! The brother and the sister!

- How are the girls in Venice?
- They are...

...Italian.

And are they irresitible?

I can't say for sure.

I didn't have that many opportunities.
I don't know much about them.

They're very fancy.

Didn't you ever attend
one of those festivities?

Only if my friend urged me.

Laura, leave us alone!

The two of you are very much alike.
Aren't you?

- No, we are different.
- Please go, Laura.

I suppose that you want to talk to me,
like everyone else. Isn't that right?

I'm not like everyone else here.

You say things that you shouldn't be
saying. But I like that about you.

Tell me what you hold
against me, Silver!

You replaced my mother. It's because of
you that she lost her mind.

She went crazy. Like many
other women in this region.

I wasn't able to help her.

- But you were the mistress.
- I was just a girl.

The men gambled for me and I lost.

I didn't want your father.

I loved someone else
and they killed kim.

Your father took me and
I had to accept it.

And now you've also become a man.

The dead ones return.

No. Not if they are really dead.

They're only dead if
one forgets about them.

You're fancy.

You speak just like the
young women in Venice.

What's the name of the bridegroom?

His name is David. He's a
very sensitive man.

I ask you to protect Laura.

I didn't want to give Laura to one
of those harsh men like your father.

They disdain the law. They
destroy themselves.

There's not even a single household
in this valley that isn't bloodstained.

- Who's that?
- She comes from the mountains.

- What are your plans for her?
- I'll decide after the marriage.

She doesn't look like a
woman from the mountains.

Laura?

You can leave, Andr�.

I will stay here.

Don't be afraid!

Where would you go? Not even
the priest can help you.

Helping me!

Who can stop a landslide?

Or an earthquake!

Or a thunderstorm!

I don't want your help!

Noone can help me!

You... you're like a saint.

And you're so wise.

But you're going to listen to me.
I'm going to force you.

All of you!

Sit down!

Now it's too late, Alma.

To much time has gone by.

Noone can hold you
responsible for it anymore.

You must think about your son.
Even if he's grown up now.

It's as it is. Even if you didn't love
the one who was your husband.

It doesn't mean anything. Afterall, we
are the only ones who know about it.

Laura and Silver would make
a nice couple, right?

Both of them being together
is mysterious.

Wonderful.

Yes, she loves him.

And she wants him all for herself.

She wants to know everything about him.
She's even jealous of Venice.

Laura wants to seduce him.

But he resists.

I saw them leave together.
They want to go to David.

Together?

Why do you look at me like that?
It pains you, right?

Memories are of no use.

As are confessions.

Shout! Shout it out!

Noone will listen to you.

Love, Alma.

Attend tomorrow's wedding
and forget about it!

You see, everythings melts away.

You always win, Fortunat.

Now we double the stakes!

You got nothing left to stake. It's over.

Everything you had is lost.

The fields, the forests, the house.

You got nothing left.

Simon, there's nothing left you own.

Then the stake is life itself!

If I should lose, you kill me!

But if I should win, you'll have
to give me your sister!

Violanta!

Agreed!

If you beat me, she's yours!

But if you lose,

Simon,

I'll kill you.

You know that.

They play dice with you
as the stake, Violanta!

- If Simon...
- Don't, Adrian!

Adrian!

Embrace me!

Hold me tight!

Your brother has gone crazy, Violanta!

Kiss me, Adrian!

Go and get her!

As agreed, Simon!

You pig!

Do you love him?

Who? David?

Have you known him for long?

Which way do we ride?

This path leads to the fields.

And there's the lake.

You still know that?

Well then! Let's ride!

At night the mountains talk.

The lake is enchanted, people get lost
and don't find their way back.

I've been promised to David.

Now I want to wake up.

Shake me!

There's no awakening for the two of us.

Did they take the horses?

I don't know. The horses
aren't in the stable.

The thunderstorm is getting closer.

Everything will get destroyed.

Nothing will get destroyed.

There they are! It must be them!

Where are they?

Where is Laura?

Laura?

She wanted to visit you.

She still hasn't returned.

Did she leave alone?

Her brother accompanied her.

But I... I would have seen her!

Go and look for her!
You will bring her back!

The two of you accompany him!
And you will light the candles!

Alma, you have to light
the candles! Get busy!

Laura is happy now!

Who are we?

You and me, my brother!

I can't live without you!

My husband expulsed me.

He fell in love with that girl.

Violanta!

But shortly after that he died.

I have a son who lives in Venice.

His name is Silver.

But I haven't seen him for many years.

Do you know Violanta?

Mother!

Since she has gone mad, she asks
everyone about her son Silver.

I'm Arthur.

I knew Violanta.

What's her secret?

She remains alive. That's her secret.

You have to try your luck
if you're a real man.

- Violanta!
- You can have a verdict for three shots!

You can get your sister
if you hit the target.

Where's the target?

You don't need one!

Shoot at me!

You got lots of time!

Slack!

Here someone is interested in you.
A strange fellow with a peculiar taste!

You're a foreigner here!

- Come here!
- Laura, what are you doing here?

Don't be a coward!

Come on, touch me! Why do you hesitate?

What are you afraid of?

Don't you want to have fun?

You don't like me!

You have to kill her!

And you? Who are you?

Me?

I'm Alma.

I'm Violanta's shadow.

I killed my husband.

Well, a long time ago.

And you?

What's your crime?

I love my sister Laura!

You're one of us.

Well then...

From now on you'll have to
live on with that burden.

Oh, kill her!

I came back.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,
have a good look!

What a gruesome spectacle
around a poor woman.

For the past 100 years she
got beheaded each evening.

Each time at the same hour.

Because she had seen something
that she shouldn't have seen.

Do you try to run away from me?

I'm not trying to run away from you!

You're just like the others!

You're like them.

You're all crazy.

Look! There he is!

Take her!

My brother!

Rain!

You'll be happy!

I just was with Laura.

She fantasizes.

She talked about the thunderstorm
surprising you.

And about you saving her.

She's feeling better now.

You came to settle a score, right?

To settle it with me.

You think there are some
secrets to be found here.

Did you see your mother?
She doesn't know who she is.

And your father.

Do you love her?

I wanted to kill her.

She's your sister.

My sister? What do I care?

It's against nature.
And against the law.

Nature. Law.

Those are things that are meaningless.
Just like everything else.

Those are tales for fools.

I'm my own man.

I want to live my own life.

The two of you don't know each other.
You don't know anything about each other.

You didn't ever meet
throughout your lives.

I love her anyhow.

But that's ridiculous.

You love her, because you
search for yourself inside her.

- That's not true.
- Narcissism.

No.

You'll leave after the wedding.

You'll leave with your inheritance,
but never with your sister.

Tell me...

How can a human being
live without feelings?

Without love?

Without a soul?

You talk just like Alma.

But you're not crazy.

In Venice you'll forget about all this.

You think about life,

but you're not living it.

Just like all cowards.

You're a romantic.

I saw them.

The dead awakened.

Let the dead rest in peace.

Let them wait.

Adrian!

For how long haven't you been here?

I assumed that you had found peace.

How meaningless!

A dead man dreaming about life at night.

That's not possible, Adrian.

One needs a lot of time in order to die.

Look out of the window!

You can see nothing but
tormented shadows.

What are you saying?

People need to prepare
tomorrow's wedding.

Your brother killed me
while I lay in your arms.

He pushed me into the abyss.

What do you want, Adrian?

You were so young back then, Violanta.

You were a real beauty.

With eyes like hazelnuts.

You were afraid of even touching me.

We loved each other.

We drank the water of the lake together.

But you were a coward,
just like the other men.

My brother intimidated you
like he did with them.

My God, how much I loved you!

I wanted to run away with you.

No matter where.
Far away from the valley.

But you were afraid of me.

That's not true.

Leave her alone!

Don't look at her!

You got nothing to do with her.

I know.

You don't know anything.

Like Simon.

Ghosts.

Lies, Violanta. Nothing but lies.

As cold as a stone!

There you are!

Simon! Still the same!

I'm still alive.

You weren't as lucky as you thought
when you gambled for me.

You didn't win me. You won my hate.

You were very proud of yourself.
Right, Simon?

When you lead me through the valley to
the curch, you pranced like a peacock.

And while Adrian's dead
body rooted in the depths,

you came by to collect your prize.

You thought that you could
tame me like a horse.

But you didn't succeed.

Your anger, your lust

didn't tame the hate.

I loved Adrian.

Look what he gave me!

It was his wedding gift.

I put it inside your wine.
And then I also drank it.

And I also took this. Antivenom.

Adrian knew everything about herbs.

That saved me.

But you gulped it greedily.
And you died like a pig.

I cried in front of everyone.

The only thing I cared about
at that moment was my child.

Adrian's child. Laura.

Die! Die! Slip under the stones
and stay there forever!

You're barefoot, Laura.
You�re going to catch a cold!

Don't say anything!

The tower bells toll.

It's all just a dream.

Just a dream.

Look at me!

I heard you talk.

Nothing. It was nothing.

It was just a dream.

Silver... Silver is not my brother.

You killed his father.

You're dreaming.

I woke up and followed you.

- And I heard...
- No. No, you just imagined it.

It was all just a dream, Laura.
Nothing else.

And what is that?

I want you to remain pure and innocent.
I want you to become happy.

I don't want to involve you
in our nightmares.

A life brimfull of lies.

Just like me.

Now you know it.

We're accomplices.

And does Silver know about it?

No. You won't tell him.

The mistress of this valley
is a murderess.

If people were to learn about the truth,
there would be no more order or justice.

You hold the entire responsibility.

You're going to replace me.
You and David.

Let's go!

Tomorrow will be your wedding day.

Now Alma has completely lost her mind.