All language subtitles for Sol nad zlato - en

SALT OVER GOLD
(Slovak Fairy Tale)

SUBTITLES
Adam Stanislav

STARRING

and others

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

DIRECTOR

- We, King Pravoslav,

open the games

in our daughters’ honor.

In the name of
their virtues and beauty.

Kings, princes and knights,
welcome to today’s tourney.

Compete as brave men,
with courage and skill,

to win the admiration of men
and love of beautiful women.

Don’t lose your noble manners

or respect for your
opponents and adversaries.

May the Goddess of
Fortune be with you all.

- Jousting with lances will be

His Majesty King Norbert III
and His Highness Prince Severín.

- Bravo. Bravo, Winner! Bravo!

- His Highness Prince Kazimír
and His Highness Prince Dalimil

shall compete with
shields and swords.

- My daughters, the most
courageous and bravest knights

of all the world are
competing for your favor.

- You’ll marry killers.
- Winners!

I’m searching for my successor,
not hiring a gardener.

The shield and axe
challengers are

the Noble Prince Zlatan and
His Highness Prince Waldemar.

- Break it off!

I don’t want them
to scuffle over me.

- But, Dear Daughter...

Bad manners. Impudence.
Insult to our guests!

- You’re a guest now?

- Where are you?

Come to me.

Come.

My darling.

Take me out of here.

Can you hear the
clamor and fray?

Father is set out
to marry us off.

Why are you still silent?

- You cannot go to
my father’s kingdom.

You would perish.

- When will you finally
reveal who you are?

And where you come from.

- You will learn everything,

as long as you have not
favored a spouse yet.

- You’ll vanish and I
will not see you again.

- Warm up this rose with
your breath and I will come.

It is made of pure salt,

the most precious
mineral hidden in the Earth.

No life would be
possible without it.

- Our law bans any
contact with humans.

And you keep breaking it.

- My King and Father...

- You are my only son,
the future King of Subterra.

Obedience of the law

is the duty of the subjects

and the necessity
for the kings.

Therein lies both, our
power and our immortality.

- Humans have a
greater gift. Love.

- Who is she?

- Pravoslav’s
youngest daughter.

I love her. I cannot
live without her.

I have learned what love is.

- You’re mistaken. I know
best what human love is.

Every day I endow
them with many gifts.

They value not what
keeps them alive,

what Mother Earth offers them,

but some fading
shine and wealth.

They quarrel, kill
each other, fight wars.

For gold, for precious stones.

They plunder Earth’s guts,

not for their needs,
nor to enjoy its beauty,

but out of dumb greed.

- Not all humans are
the way you see them.

I’ll show you they don’t
deserve your rage and scorn.

- You will?
Very well.

I wanted to avoid this.

Youth does not equal experience.

You have made your own bed!

- Don’t stand up to your father.

- Don’t you reject me, too,
Mother Fairy. I love her.

- You only listen to your heart.

Use your brains, too.

- My brains and my heart
are of the same mind.

- Your place is here,
in Kigdom of Subterra.

You belong here, nowhere
else. You’re racing to peril.

- You’re rushing
your daughters’ weddings.

- You know why I am.

My eyes are losing the light,
my head is bending down.

- That only happens
to ripe grain.

- A blind king
is a bad king.

- You have always ruled
with sound mind and love.

- Love.

They can’t all be queens.

Quite frankly, I’d like
to see Maruška on the throne.

She looks like her mother.

But fatherly emotions...
I must decide like a king.

Fairly.

- You need to wait.

- I can’t wait!

Tomorrow the country
shall hear my decision.

Why has Maruška
not chosen anyone?

Who was in the
garden with her?

- I really don’t know, Majesty.

- But you saw them.

- Seeing is not
knowing, Majesty.

- You’re always a wise guy,

offer your advice,

meddle in everything.

Well?

Be wise now!

- It is a difficult choice.

A future queen must
be just, brave and kind.

Keep in mind.

Whoever honors and
loves his father and mother,

has a good heart.

He is noble and wise to all.

Ask your daughters
how much they love you.

The one who shows
you the greatest love,

entrust her with the
country and let her rule.

- Does everything add up?
- As always, Radiant Princess.

- I detected an error
in the last collection.

- Tax collectors
followed King’s orders.

They skipped the
regions hurt by the drought.

- We need the gold.

Gold unlocks everything.

Strength, obedience, devotion,

love as well as justice.

That is why we need lots of it.

- A gown worthy of the queen.

- Future queen.
You may leave.

- Allow me, Radiant Princess,
to show you some new jewelry,

I have just finished overnight.

- Let me.

It is exquisite.

Only gemstones can
have such marvelous colors.

I am very pleased.

Nothing in this
world outshines jewels.

I prefer them over people.

Just one tiny detail left.
A crown.

Fashion me a crown.

- To cover an empty head.

- Why so crass,
Princess Wanda?

- If folly sat on the throne,
it would long be yours.

Do you think lavish clothes
and a pretty face will do?

Do you know what it takes
to manage a country?

Do you know how much
your exquisite robes cost?

- Those are plebeian
concerns, not royal.

- I am the oldest.

By ancient right,

father must make
me the queen.

- Dear Sister,

every right ever
has been won by sword.

The sword not just makes
right, it maintains order.

- I have warned you.

The sword only brings blood.

- Put the flowers
to all chambers

and all corridors.

Let tommorow be a rose day.

- Put such beautiful
roses to dark corridors?

- Flowers should be everywhere.

Especially in the
darkest of places.

- My Faithful.

The time has come
when even the king

has to bow down to
the flow of time,

to the relentless
laws of nature.

Elderly wisdom
tells us only to carry

as much burden as we can bear.

Fate did not favor us with a son

to pass on the royal scepter to.

We have, therefore, decided

to pass it on to
one of our daughters,

the one who will choose
the most capable spouse

and profess the greatest
love for her father.

So Wanda, our
oldest daughter,

introduce your spouse

and profess your love
for your father.

- Here,

my most Radiant King and Lord,

is the most precious
possession I hold.

The shield, passed on

from father to son,
for many generations.

It guarantees no
one shall conquer

the kingdom
entrusted into my care.

As I shall defend it for
you and your descendants.

In the name of the shield,

in the name of my
love for Princess Wanda,

I am asking for
her hand in marriage.

- My Father, you
seek the assertion

of your daughter’s
love and respect.

Words are difficult to come by,

with so many
ways to measure love.

Gold is the most expensive
and precious of all things.

Know then, My Father,

you are dearer to me than
all the gold in the world.

- We have enjoyed

your profession,
Our Oldest Daughter.

Your briefing was courageous
and brave, King Norbert.

What now does Prince
Kazimír have to say?

How will you profess your
love, Barbora, Our Daughter?

- King Norbert will defend
your country with his shield.

Noble and worthy were his words.

Yet, King Pravoslav,
I prize other virtues.

Behold this sword!

The sword no ruler
has ever subdued.

Not to defend your
daughter do I want,

nor your kingdom to protect,

but by force and with this sword

I shall crush all kingdoms,

fill up your treasury,

and your name and the
name of your dynasty

glorified shall be forever.

- You know, My
Father and King,

how I love all the splendor
and riches of this world.

How easily I can hear
the most subtle whisper

in the most expensive diamonds,

feel the blaze rubies breathe,

catch the ocean waves
in precious pearls.

Great and precious is
the treasure in our coffers.

great and avid is my
love for all this splendor,

yet my love for you, Father,
is so uncommon

that, next to it, all the
treasures of the world

are but sand at the
bottom of the ocean.

- Maruška, Our Youngest,

we have cherished
you like a precious rose

because you never
knew your mother.

Have you yet to choose a spouse?

- My Father...

This prince, My Father,

is my spouse.

- What country do you
come from, Honored Prince?

- Your Radiance, I bring
neither sword nor shield.

Love has brought me here.

And I ask for the hand
of your youngest daughter.

I offer you no gold,
no precious stones,

but flourishing
gardens, green meadows,

forests crowded with wild life,

happiness and joy
to your kingdom,

peace to your people.

- You have heard your
sisters’ confession.

What is yours, Dear Daughter?

- Gold is very
precious, My Father.

Gemstones are
beautiful and expensive.

But most precious
of all is salt.

No life would be
possible without it.

I love you like salt, Father.

- My Dear Daughter.

Surely, you have said
that in a clouded moment.

When the reason
does not weigh the words,

when for a stem we
overlook the meadow,

for a small love, great.

And so, amend your speech.

Tell us. How do you love us?

- My thoughts

and my heart are not clouded.

Those were words of love,

humility and obedience.

So, I repeat.

I love you like salt.

- Like salt you say?

Like salt?!

Which is scattered
in closets, in kitchens,

abounds in salt mines and is as
ample as sand in the oceans?

- Tame your anger, My King.
You know not what you say.

- Silence! Not you but our
daughter we denounce.

Hear, You All!

Our favorite child
loves us like salt.

It flows through
the poorest of fingers.

Everyone has it aplenty.

Such is our
daughter’s love for us!

- Father!

- By debasing the son,

you have insulted his father.

As you scoff at true feelings,

you do not welcome true values,

gifts from Mother Earth.

I curse this country.

I curse this kingdom.

Let your
punishment be as severe

as you have earned.

- Begone!

You were our favorite.

But the greatest love
is the greatest misery.

Instead of joy,
you filled us with sorrow.

You thrust the dagger of
ingratitude through our heart.

Get out of my sight!

- Hold it, King!
- Quiet!

- I cannot stay quiet
when anger clouds your reason!

- Jesters’ rights
have limits, too!

Guards!

Take her out of the castle!

- Father.

Father!

- You may only return,
- Father!

- when salt is more
precious than gold!

Then you’ll be queen!

- Good-bye!
My child!

- Where is my prince?

- Gone. No one knows where.

- Come to me, My Darling.

- The mercenaries of
all the knights and princes

got very drunk,

celebrating the victories

and drowning the
losses of their masters.

Prince Waldemar
and his cohorts

burst into royal cellars
and drank two barrels

of your best wine, Highness.

King Norbert’s men wanted
to boil the cook in the soup.

- Back off!

Your...
Your Majesty.

A regular salt pot,
full of gold dust.

Salt turned to gold!

- Have you all
lost your marbles?!

- I’m telling the
truth, Your Majesty.

- Whose salt pot is it?

- An ordinary woman
brought it, Your Majesty.

- Bring her in, this instance!

- But she’s just one of many.

- All with gold
in their salt pots, eh?!

- Gold. All gold.

- Real gold.

Where did you get it?

- It just happened, Highness.

The gold really
was in the salt pot.

- How could gold just happen?

And why?

- Majesty,
Majesty, it is...

- I know, I know, I know.
Show us!

We are the richest of all.

Thank you, Good Powers,
for this miracle.

Well now. Shall we
get down to business?

- We’ll take care of everything.

No worries, Majesty.

Not a grain must go missing!
- It won’t.

Not a grain, Majesty.

- But what shall we salt with?
- Make salt-free meals.

- No one can cook without salt.

- So use something else.
- Like sugar!

- Load up the wagons!
- I won’t let you!

- I meant fifty-fifty.

- That’s better.

Let’s divide it up in the mint.

- Well. What’s on your mind?

- Your Radiance.
A minor thing, but still.

The cooks are whining.
They do not know what to cook.

- Plenty of food
in our pantries.

- But not a dash of salt.
They can’t cook without it.

- So send for some more!
- No salt anywhere.

- Ah! What are salt mines for?

- We will cook as ordered,
and use sugar instead.

Well? Are you deaf?

Back to work!

- Enjoy your meal, Majesty.

- We do not need
meat all the time.

- Let them bring desserts!
We have a tooth for cake.

Feast on, My Faithful!

There’s plenty to eat.

- But no decent meal.

Were I the king,
the cook would be hanged.

Alas, like cook like king.

- You’re still only
a guest here, King Norbert.

And good manners
still behoove you.

Because we are still
the king of this kingdom!

- My apologies, King Pravoslav.

My craving for a good
roast has made me forget

my royal upbringing.

- Salt rose. Help.

- We’ll buy weapons.
Hire mercenaries.

And press a campaign.

- We’ll start at home.

Oust Pravoslav,

divvy up the kingdom, then
charge against neighbors.

And you will be my neighbor.

- And you mine.

- How did she end up in
the heart of the forest?

- Don’t worry.
We won’t hurt you.

- Where are you off to?

- I am looking for my spouse.

- Who is your spouse?

- The Salt Prince.

Help me find him, Good Fairies.

- The Salt Prince
suffered a terrible tragedy.

Go back home, Dear Girl!
You’ll never see him again.

- What happened to him?
- He’s in Kingdom of Subterra.

- Show me the way.
- We will. But you mustn’t tell.

We’d endure a cruel trial.
And avoid the King of Subterra.

- No. No! Let go of me!
Leave me! Let go! No...

♫ - Once was
there a very odd king. ♫

♫ But you it
is not concerning. ♫

♫ Once was
there a very odd king. ♫

♫ The king had
banned the white color. ♫

♫ What is the worth of such a king?
But you it is not concerning. ♫

♫ What is the worth of such a king?
Everyone started to wonder. ♫

♫ Though a crown
he wears, that one king. ♫

♫ But you it
is not concerning. ♫

♫ Though a crown
he wears, that one king. ♫

♫ He is not worth a... ♫

- Enough!

- Well now, Pravoslav,
which daughter shall be queen?

And which son-in-law king?

They love you. More
than gold and diamonds.

You’re getting old,
have to choose.

Maruška...
- I forbid you to talk of her.

I don’t want to hear a word.

- Behold, Courtiers of Subterra,

here kneels the daughter
of a Terran king,

crying and begging for mercy.

Get up!

How dare you enter the kingdom
you have cast to affliction?

- Affliction?

I’m only looking for my spouse!
- You do not have a spouse.

- What happened to him?

I shall not leave
till I have seen him!

- You shall not leave
till you have seen him?

But indeed.

You will see him
but you shall never leave!

You shall wander around
in the darkness of Subterra

till the end of your life.

Which will be soon.

And now come! Come!
You shall see your spouse!

Here he is!

It’s all your fault.

Because of you
he wanted to know love.

But the moment
he arrived among you,

my words came true.

Humans only want gold.
Now they have it.

He shall be a salt
statue forever.

- Forgive us.

Have mercy on us.

- No need to fear me.

Do you recognize it?

My master’s rose.

- Who are you?
- Argonit.

The Salt Prince
was like a son to me.

I raised him.

- How can you lift his curse?

- That I don’t know.

But I do know only a noble
human being can free him.

Perhaps it is you.

Try it, Maruška.

A wise woman lives
up on Earth. Find her.

Maybe she will help you.

- How do I get back up?
- Come.

- Rocky rock, clear the block!

Thus orders Argonit,
servant of our king.

Climb up this wall.

I may not go any farther.

- How do I get through?

- And come back.
I’ll be waiting.

- You see, King Pravoslav,
you are way too old to rule.

The people are
not happy with you.

- Split the kingdom for us
and we will rule.

People will not rise up
against us. I guarantee it.

- I am not dividing
the kingdom.

And to pick the queen,
one daughter is still missing.

- Maruška is never coming back.

- She had the greatest love.

Here, listen to the people.

They need salt over gold.

- Give up voluntarily,

or we shall take
the kingdom by force.

- Go ahead,
state your grievances.

- Our King and Our Lord.

- We have always been
your faithful servants.

Always kept our duties
as subjects and parents.

We have raised our children to
work bravely and respectfully.

But we are getting frail.

Disease and death visit us.

Dearth and hunger
have invaded our abodes.

Cattle is dying on the pasture.

Wild beasts are running
to neighboring kingdoms.

Bring us change. Remove
the cause of our misfortune.

And we will be your
obedient subjects again.

- My Subjects. We
are equal in misfortune.

What torments you,
plagues me as well.

I am giving you all the gold

and power that belongs to me.

- That is not why
we came. We need salt.

- Take the gold from the tower.

Load up the wagons,

and go. Buy salt from
the neighboring kingdom!

Buy enough for everyone,
people, cattle, wild beasts.

- You were right.

And the one who is
right is the king.

And the bad and
foolish king, the jester.

- Everything will be all right.

- I made a terrible mistake.

Now I’ll be all alone.

With no one left to govern.

- For you, the crown.

For me, the chair.
We will both govern.

You’ll govern me,
I’ll govern you.

- Good morning, Grandmother.

- What brings you here, Child?

- Misfortune.
- Yours or someone else’s?

- Mine.

- People only think
about themselves.

- Mine, and someone else’s.

My spouse, the Salt Prince,
was turned into a statue

and I don’t know
how to help him.

- You think I will help you?
- I’m seeking wisdom.

The wisdom that
tells to help others.

I have not found it even here.
- Wait!

I’ll see whether in work and
duties you’re as firm and proud.

- I am not proud.
I am desperate.

Tell me what I must do
to earn your trust.

- Come with me.

Fill up this well with water.

Down there is a creek.
Here are the buckets.

- Peace to this house.
- Peace to you, too.

- How much salt can you sell?

- Enough for four kingdoms.

- I’ll buy the lot. With gold.
- All of it? And pay with gold?

Let me see the gold first.
- Right here.

- Are you mocking me? Get
lost before I call the guards!

Old fools!

- Good Morning, Stunning Beauty.

- To you, too, Brave Knight.

- Far and wide the word has
spread of a lovely servant girl.

I came to see with my own eyes

but you are even lovelier
than I thought.

I am a prince from a distant
land, in search of a wife.

I like you.

- How can you like me?
Look at my rags!

My hands. My wounded feet.

- I offer you my
hand and my kingdom.

You’ll be rich. And
command a hundred servants.

My castle stands on a pretty
island, full of flowers,

in delightful gardens.

Come with me.

Lugging those buckets
does not befit you.

You’ll be the queen!

- Thank you, Prince
from a distant land.

I already have a spouse.

- I wanted to help you,
make you a queen.

Do you really not
wish to leave with me?

- No, thank you, Noble Prince.

I’ll continue my service here.

- Only two wagons.
And the rest is empty.

- We have salt.

But only as much as
the gold we carried.

Everyone gets a pinch.

Be thrifty with the salt.

And what do you have?

- I have salt.

- Woe to us.
Woe.

- It has been a month,
yet the well is empty.

You are too slow.

You should leave.
Find a spouse,

and forget the Salt Prince.

- Give me a few
more days, Grandmother.

I will fill up your well.

- Look there.

- What has happened
to my father’s country?

- The King of Subterra
had all its salt turn to gold.

They are destined to perish.

If you save the Prince,
you’ll save your country, too.

- Grandmother...

Grandmother!
Come back!

I will fill up your well.

I must help them all.

Save them.

Grandmother!

- Who are you, Honored Lady?
- The one you have called.

No need to carry water anymore.

It would be in vain. Not
all places can sustain a well.

Though it is important to
try to have one everywhere.

You have shown the good the
Prince believed in so strongly.

And for that I
shall help you save him.

You will cross three
valleys and three peaks,

till you come to a large rock.

With your salt rose

you will touch the rock,
and it will open up.

Then you must find
the field of salt flowers.

From their blossoms you will
collect glittery dew drops.

It is not just any dew,

but the tears of the people
from your father’s kingdom.

The dew drops are living
water. Sprinkle the statue

and bring the Salt
Prince back to life.

- Argonit! Argonit, My Friend,
where did you come from?

- I told you I’d be waiting.

Did you learn how to
free the Salt Prince?

- I must find the
field of salt flowers.

- I know where it is.

Come with me.

- All this salt.

And where it is needed,
not a pinch.

- Come.
The time will come

and Mother Earth
will share her treasures.

- No one may see the King.
- Step back!

She is under my protection!

- Argonit!
What is the meaning of this?

How is she still alive?!

- I am, King.

- Guards!
- Do with me anything.

But let me free the prince,

your son.

- You want to accomplish

what even the mighty
ruler of Subterra cannot?

My curse is stronger than death.

And no one can change it.
Not even I.

- She’s your only hope, Sire.
You must believe her.

- I must? How dare you
talk to me like that?

What I must or must not do
is up to me, your king!

You have filled up
the cup of my anger!

You’ll both feel
who is in charge here!

- Sire!
- Guards, grab them!

- Enough anger!
Enough revenge!

Pull yourself
together, My Brother.

Your blindness has made
everything go dark.

Your curse has coated
our hearts with dusk.

You scream what a
powerful ruler you are.

When all you are
is a powerless father.

You cannot save Mother
Earth’s only gift to you.

Your own son.

Only the mightiest of mights can
help you and the Salt Prince.

- And that is?

- Human love.

Go, Maruška.
Take what is yours.

Take what you have earned.

- Wake up, My Darling.

Wake up from a grisly dream.

- What are you wearing, Maruška?

And why are we here when I was
just asking for your hand?

- My Son.

What is this?

- Those are tears, Mighty Ruler.
Ordinary tears.

- I’m taking the
gold and the money, and

leaving this cursed country.

You and your kingdom can
drop dead for all I care.

- Princesses Wanda
and Barbora, too?

- Too!

- And will they say good-bye?

- Why should they?!

- My Subjects and Courtiers.

King Pravoslav’s daughter
and the Salt Prince

have shown us the power of love,

the evanescence and
weakness of wealth.

It is only useful when it
serves man and his happiness.

Here is my wedding gift.

This bottomless bag of salt.

Take off with
a group of knights, My Son.

People need salt.

Bring it to them.

Earth’s own gift.

- Salt! My jewels
have turned to salt!

- Halt!

- So you see, Brother. I’ll
kill you with an honest iron.

- Hold it, Your Lordships!

Who, and with what, is
paying for our services?

- Some strange company.

- We’re seeing no one.

- Spread around
the entire kingdom.

Give everyone plenty of salt.

- What do you want?

- I brought you a gift, Majesty.

A gift most precious.

A remedy most effective.

- There is no remedy for me.

None for my kingdom, either.

Salt...

Real salt!

Do you have more of it?

- I do.

I sure do, Majesty.
For your entire kingdom.

- How shall I
repay you, Honored Lady?

- I ask for nothing.

Just that...

You love me...

Like this salt.

- Maruška?

My child...

My child.

Forgive an old fool.

- She’s back!
Princess Maruška is back!

- People, our affliction is over.

Your trials and tears
have redeemed us.

Your sacrifice would be
wasted if we did not learn

how valuable human life,

and how beautiful love, is.

Even now it has blossomed
to a beautiful flower.

Here, in front of you,
stands your Queen

with her husband,
the Salt Prince.

To them I pass on the rule
over the entire kingdom.

Live together, long and happily.

Manage this country
with wisdom and justice.

For the eternal
memory of this day,

I order that in this country
guests be always welcome

not just with bread
but also with salt.

- What are you staring at?
Go, bake some bread!

And don’t forget to add salt!

ENGLISH TRANSLATION / SUBTITLES
© 2012 G. Adam Stanislav