Original subtitles

- (IN ITALIAN): Good morning. - Today's newspapers.

- Yes. - All of it, thank you.

- The Avanti as well? - Yes, the Avanti as well.

La Nuova Tribuna.

- Here. - There it is, thank you.

CESARINO: "Flush out and liquidate

those morally and politically responsible

for the disappearance of Matteotti."

CESARINO: "The mystery of

Matteotti's disappearance continues.

They go heavy on us.

Either this government is removed,

or justice will not be done.

Matteotti's body was not returned

to hide the horrendous butchery."

"Fascists out of the government!

Resignation, resignation, resignation."

(CHANTING) Resignation! Resignation!

- Shall I go on? - No.

It will go down in history

as the most extraordinary feat of fascism.

Extraordinary. Extraordinary.

We had the country in our hands. In our hands.

More power than anyone has ever had.

And within 48 hours...

(MIMICS EXPLOSION)

Forty-eight hours, Cesarino.

Forty-eight.

The press is firing at us.

The industrialists want my resignation.

Chunks of my own majority are ready to vote against me.

Against me.

We've been formidable. Formidable.

Formidable, Cesarino. Formidable.

We've even managed to turn a pedantic homunculus,

a huge pain in the ass, into a hero, a saint!

A saint!

Look.

We turned him into a saint.

Saint Matteotti. Everyone is pitying him.

A saint.

Is she there?

She's there, I can feel her.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

If we don't get moving,

it'll be a dead man who buries us.

Yes, I get it, Benito.

MAN 1: This way, Prime Minster.

My son, Duce! He also speaks French.

Let him pass.

Not everyone is crying over Matteotti.

Don't they disgust you?

- MAN 2: Where are you going? - They all think I killed him,

but they still come,

begging for a job, a recommendation, a promotion.

Now more than ever, human beings repulse me.

They repulse me.

Parliament must remain closed. Let the summer pass.

- They'll contest it. - Who? That sissy King?

Keep your voice down!

Now the imperative is,

chloroform them.

Put the country to sleep,

make people forget what happened.

We'll issue a decree.

"It is forbidden for the press to publish any news

that can be harmful to the nation."

And nothing is more harmful than Matteotti's case.

The only exception allowed...

news about the search for the body.

- What search? - Cesarino.

Cesarino. What research?

For God's sake, wake the fuck up!

We'll do a deep search, with great energy and resources.

We'll search everywhere.

Rivers, lakes, caves, mines. Everywhere.

But far from where those fuckers put it.

They'll say the government

did everything possible to find him.

And that, unfortunately, nothing more could be done.

And at that point, we stop searching.

And so, indignation and sorrow will evaporate,

because where there's no body, there is no death.

(FLY BUZZING)

You little fucker.

RESIGNATION!

What I'm trying to ask you...

No, please, step aside and don't ask questions.

Make sure you keep taking pictures.

We're scouring the bottom of the lake.

We've had a tip-off.

Apparently, Matteotti's body was thrown into the lake.

But a reliable tip-off?

If it wasn't, I wouldn't be here in person.

But if it was thrown into the lake,

wouldn't the body have floated up?

Apparently, it's weighted down by ropes secured to rocks.

MAN: Go right, where it's deeper.

General.

Excuse me.

MAN: Hurry, come on.

Hail to the Duce!

BENITO: De Bono, just who I wanted to see.

You took a long time to organize the searches.

- Duce... - But I've read it.

That thing about the ropes and rocks...

It's interesting.

Duce, it pains me to bring you bad news.

De Bono, raise your voice when you speak! Raise it!

EMILIO: They've caught them. (VOICE ECHOING)

Don't touch me, you bastards!

- Calm down. Move. - You don't know who I am!

EMILIO: Poveromo. Viola. Malacria. Volpi.

They've caught them.

- And Dumini? - Him as well.

He worries me the most.

Dumini is loyal to me. He worries you?

Dumini is the most loyal of them all.

Of them all.

Finally!

Why am I here? Aren't you the chief of police?

That doesn't mean I can control every single policeman in Italy.

All right. You're forgiven.

Now let me the fuck out!

It's a delicate situation. You must be patient.

- For how long? - Until things calm down.

I had you put in solitary so no one would bother you.

So you can watch me better?

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Dumini, Dumini.

You think I'll let myself be crucified for all the others?

What crucifixion?

I'm willing to consider this arrest as an accident.

All right.

Or should I say, who really wanted this mess?

That whore is threatening me? He's threatening me?

Make sure he's comfortable, De Bono. All of them.

- All of them, fuck it! - Right away, Duce.

Let it be clear.

If I'm not saved, no one is saved.

Navarra!

- Get rid of these flies. - Yes, Your Excellency.

And bring me a suit to visit the King.

- Right away, Your Excellency. - Good.

It's full of flies.

It's full.

We won't go down for a gang of low lives.

We are innocent.

We are whole. We are pure.

You are.

I wish we were made of your same material,

so that rain couldn't drench me,

looks couldn't hurt me,

accusations couldn't graze me.

Forgive me.

MAN: We are the rotten apples. We are a young force.

I assure you, we're not involved.

Your Majesty, we are ready to step back,

but consider the consequences.

Do not be deceived by this divided Left

that has placed itself outside Parliament.

The red beast is always ready to strike.

Socialists will raise their heads.

It will be chaos.

A nation paralyzed by strikes, violence and disorder.

I implore you,

consider that ours is a young force

and that the gigantic consensus we have

attracted to our ranks some elements that...

Benito, how did it go?

- Benito, you're torturing me. - I fought.

I did my best, Cesarino.

- The dwarf wasn't scared? - No.

That was to be expected.

I had considered it.

After the arrests,

the pressure put on him to curtail us

was clearly stronger than fear.

- So? - So...

So I had to make concessions.

Some very painful.

I gave up the Ministry of the Interior.

And you know how much I...

I removed De Bono as chief of police,

and you know how fond I am of De Bono.

And I promised to do some housecleaning

in the fascist ranks.

And that worked?

I knew it.

I told you.

Good. Good.

Long live the Duce.

Eja, eja, alala. (LAUGHS)

Long live the Duce.

(SIGHS, LAUGHS)

Come on, Benito.

Aren't you glad? It's done.

I'm sorry, humanly speaking.

But, Benito, who gives a crap about that moron, De Bono?

- Cesare. - Yes?

- Do you love the homeland? - Of course.

- Fascism? - More than the homeland.

- Your Duce? - I love you, Benito.

I'd walk through fire for you.

I don't ask that much of you, my friend.

Not that much.

I'm sorry, there's no one dearer to me than you.

But you must understand, you must understand

that if those five idiots mention your name...

Are you dumping me?

I have no choice, Cesarino.

Just for a few months. A few months.

In a few months, no one will remember

a fucking thing about Matteotti.

No one will even know who the fuck Matteotti was.

Cesarino, it's a few months.

And what's a few months

compared to the immensity of our future together?

What is it?

Nothing.

I will reward you for this sacrifice.

I'm sure you will.

Stop here.

WOMAN: Come here.

Benito, we were socialists together.

We founded the newspaper together.

We founded fascism together. We did it all together.

You should protect me, not get rid of me.

My hands are tied.

I just followed your order.

I didn't order anything.

You hired a bunch of incompetents.

- Murderers... - No, look...

- It was you. You! - You can't say that to me!

I don't consent. Absolutely not.

In fact, I'm warning you.

- I'm warning you. - What?

If the cynicism you're displaying now

leads you to order any action against me,

I will destroy you.

I'm the one who knows everything.

Of you. Everything you've done.

Since you've never wanted to get your hands dirty,

I know everything you've ordered.

Since he's never wanted to get his hands dirty...

I know everything you've ordered!

(VOICE ECHOING)

It wasn't me.

Good evening.

Mrs. Matteotti.

Excuse me, I was...

What can I do for you?

When we'll be able to bury him, I don't want anyone

of the fascist militia to escort the coffin.

No fascist soldier

of any rank or position.

No Blackshirt should appear before me

during the journey or at the cemetery.

- But, madam... - And when it's time,

I want no special cars, no reserved compartments.

No concessions or privileges. Nothing.

I want to travel as an ordinary citizen,

who is fulfilling her duty in order to claim her rights.

Please see to it.

Madam, let's keep a little flame of hope alive.

Hope for what, Mussolini?

- That your husband is still... - Goodbye.

It's a possibility, if the body isn't found.

Leila.

(WHISTLES) Leila.

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

Leila, come here.

MAN ON PHONE: The body has been found

in the Quartarella woods near...

(GROANING)

Navarra!

- My medicine in the drawer. - Your Excellency.

- My medicine. - Right away, Your Excellency.

BENITO: Hurry up, fuck it!

Yes, Your Excellency. Right away.

It wasn't me.

MAN: Tell me the truth, General.

If not for a sense of justice,

then do it at least for yourself.

To avoid a murder charge.

I just tried to cover for Dumini and the others,

as they asked me to do.

They asked you? Who asked you?

I deny anything that can be denied.

If they say I obeyed orders...

Of course I obeyed orders.

- MAN: Whose orders? - Rossi.

Rossi.

Rossi.

CESARINO: Everyone is naming Rossi.

And Rossi, incidentally, can't be found.

"It seems clear that you have chosen me,

and me alone,

to be the scapegoat

for the calamity that has fallen on fascism."

BENITO: He must be found at all costs.

We can't risk that, feeling accused,

he decides to drag us all down.

- I'll find him and kill him. - Yes, great.

So they'll blame me for that, too.

I'm not inept like the others.

If you'd only asked me.

I didn't ask anyone for anything!

You hear me, Balbo? Just find him.

CESARINO: "I will not stand for it.

I'm not a scapegoat."

The discovery of the body of the lamented Matteotti

has precipitated the situation,

and the involvement of figures close to you

in this crime and in other criminal acts

necessitates far more radical measures

than the removal of intermediaries.

Your Majesty, I repeat,

I am not involved in these matters.

Public opinion is shaken.

The press is calling for censorship to be lifted.

The productive and political forces,

including members of your majority,

are demanding a decisive and immediate break

with methods unacceptable for a constitutional monarchy.

With violence...

I'm being asked to be a puppet.

And to reopen the Parliament.

Your Majesty,

I am being crucified for something I did not do.

If you, Your Majesty, also believe...

Enough. Come here.

Mussolini, I'm your friend.

But the circumstances

make it harder and harder for me.

Kings are no longer what they once were.

There is a Constitution.

My hands are tied.

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency.

This way.

Your Excellency, this way.

What...

MAN: Preparations for His Majesty's birthday party.

Please.

VELIA: There has never been any hope.

You knew that well.

What happens now?

Madam,

the state will take care of you.

You won't have to worry anymore.

Your children will want for nothing,

they will have the best education in the Kingdom.

I'll see to it personally.

Why?

Why?

Why would you see to it personally

if you were not involved?

Think about it.

I'll be back.

- What are you doing? - NAVARRA: The flies.

Your Excellency, I keep spraying,

but they're still here. Don't know why.

Instead of wasting time with flies,

you should stop that woman

from coming here and harassing me.

Your Excellency, you told me to deal...

What woman, exactly, Your Excellency?

The widow, Mrs. Matteotti.

I don't understand, Your Excellency.

She was in the office the other day,

and now she stopped me on the stairs.

Not to my knowledge, Your Excellency.

I'm telling you she was here.

Your Excellency, I don't wish to contradict you,

but it's impossible.

Mrs. Matteotti has not returned since your first conversation.

She was here!

Are you fucking with me, Navarra?

Are you fucking with me?

You're wasting time with flies instead of checking!

Get out!

She was here.

(PHONE RINGING)

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

Hello?

WOMAN: Benito.

Rachele.

How are you, Benito?

It's a difficult time, you know.

I know. I'm sorry...

Rachele, don't believe what they say.

In fact, don't listen.

Benito, I believe you.

Good girl, my rock.

Benito, but...

But?

(THUDS)

But this situation,

us here, you there,

all the bad things these days...

I'm afraid for you and for us.

People give us dirty looks. We don't go out.

Was it worth it? Weren't we happy?

What did we lack? What did you lack?

You had your paper, we had our little house.

I think we were happy then.

We never asked you more than that.

Benito. Benito. Benito. Benito.

- Rachele, I have to go. - No, wait. Talk to me, Benito.

What? What do you want me to say?

- What should I say? - I don't know. Anything.

I'm your wife, and you never tell me anything.

These will be the best years of our lives.

What does she want from me?

What does she want? She's here again. No!

Your Excellency, there's...

Navarra, what did I tell you? I said not to let her through!

- She's not Mrs... - Sir?

Bianca.

Prime Minister, not sir.

Mmm. Forgive me.

I've come many times, but there was always a line.

So many people who needed you, and I didn't want to bother you.

Today there's nobody.

Right.

I'm glad you came to see me.

- How's the baby? - He's grown so much.

He looks just like you.

He plays the violin.

- He does? - Mmm-hmm.

I quit.

Why?

You were so good.

Bianca.

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

- (BANGING) - (INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

(VIOLIN PLAYING)

- I'm rusty. - Not at all. Keep going.

- No. - Please.

Please.

Bianca.

(THUDDING)

(THUDDING, CLATTERING)

Sir.

We came here, to you,

to tell you that we're tired of marking time.

Prisons are full of fascists.

They're systematically putting fascism on trial.

They are putting fascism on trial. Systematically.

And you don't want to take responsibility

for the revolution.

Then we will take the responsibility.

Either none of us go to jail or we all do.

What do you expect?

They created a vacuum around me,

they tossed this corpse into my lap.

Duce. (EXHALING)

Do you think a single corpse

is too much to pay for a revolution?

Let's finish this revolution, okay?

Or let's turn ourselves in as criminals.

But let's not give our enemies the honor of deciding.

Either everyone in prison or everyone out.

Including you.

Duce.

(TENSE MUSIC INTENSIFYING)

(MUSIC STOPS)

(THUDDING)

(THUDDING CONTINUES)

Look here. You've got a bruise.

They want to finish the revolution,

while the nation and the King

ask me to amputate the fascism of violence.

Deny the rule of force.

(TENSE MUSIC BUILDING)

(MUSIC STOPS)

But fascism is violence, Bianca.

Fascism is the rule of force.

It is the will of a few imposed on the will of many.

It's oppression. It's free will.

It's the law of the stronger.

It's hatred, it's mass excitement,

it's anger.

It's contempt for weakness and doubt.

It's the order of the club against the chaos of the mind.

It's decision versus mediation.

It's the refusal to compromise.

It's the new versus the old.

It's being always, always, against something or someone!

And whoever gets in the way...

That's fascism.

Isn't it?

- Sir... - Ah.

- Prime Minister. - Yes?

Did you have Matteotti killed?

Thank you for coming.

Prime Minster, I'm sorry. Of course you didn't.

I didn't mean that...

- BENITO: Navarra. - I...

Prime Minster.

I actually came also because...

Well. I'd need...

I'd need a job,

because the boy is growing up, and...

NAVARRA: Yes, Your Excellency.

The boy is growing up, and I...

MAN: Let me out!

I'm Cesare Rossi.

- BENITO: Close the window. - It's late in the day.

BENITO: I don't care, leave me alone.

I'm afraid that's not appropriate.

Not appropriate...

I recognize the handwriting.

CESARINO: "In the face of tremendous allegations,

not only of moral and political order,

but also criminal,

I consider it my duty to defend my character

as a citizen and as a fascist against everyone.

For this reason, I want everyone to know,

from the press to the public, to the highest authority,

to whom the responsibility for these crimes belongs."

Everything that happened

has always happened directly at the behest of the Duce.

Assaults and beatings

were always approved of or ordered by the Duce.

Also in the case of Matteotti, of course.

"The kidnapping sprang from

an atmosphere of resentment and fear..."

and then degenerated into murder.

It's a political and State crime.

And who's the State in Italy today?

(SINGING IN ITALIAN)

- He's here. - He's here.

- He's here. - He's here.

...with his resignation,

so at least, we'll get rid of him.

(LAUGHING)

That's fine.

A line has been crossed.

BENITO: Good evening, gentlemen.

Good evening, Facta.

MALE GUEST: I can't believe it.

- Good evening, General. - Mussolini.

KING'S WIFE: (IN FRENCH) You invited him and he came.

KING: I couldn't withdraw the invitation.

KING'S WIFE: (IN FRENCH) He's coming.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Not here!

- Your Majesty, a word. - Mussolini.

I want you to know that everything will be done

to make Your Grace proud

of the government I'm honored to lead.

For the moment,

My Grace is only very embarrassed.

What happens in the future will be decided by Parliament.

(IN FRENCH) And now, let's dance!

What a pity.

Fascism was a problem at times,

but more often than not, the solution.

MATTEOTTI: A year of fascist domination.

The fascists kill a worker.

They stab another in front of his daughter.

They've injure about 20 people.

Five fascists broke into a popular cooperative

and beat everyone present.

A worker is kidnapped in his own home,

beaten, and stabbed in front of his wife.

Fascists destroy private homes and shops.

A school teacher is stoned

on the street by the Blackshirts,

because accused of socialist sympathies.

A city councilman is assaulted and left for dead.

The milk vendor is beaten

because she abstained in the elections.

Two farmhands are beaten to death.

(YELLS)

A priest is stripped naked, tied to a tree and beaten.

Attacked and beaten.

The fascists break into an assembly of tram drivers

and beat everyone present.

The secretary of the labor union is murdered

with three shots to the face.

The Blackshirts enter a city hall

and beat the employees.

Fascists attack and break up the religious procession.

Killed with a gun,

forced to drink castor oil, and set on fire.

An industrialist is beaten and forced

to fire the workers who had marched

on the first of May.

The fascists invade a restaurant.

Women and children, dead.

- The fascists! - (GUNSHOT)

(YELLING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(MUSIC STOPS)

Gentlemen

It's certain. He's going to resign.

What else could he do?

Gentlemen.

The speech I'm about to make before you, perhaps,

cannot strictly be categorized

as a parliamentary speech.

It's not a parliamentary speech.

It is an indictment.

An accusation against myself.

They shout,

"Fascism is a horde of barbarians

camped in the country,

a movement of bandits and marauders."

Well...

I declare here, before this assembly,

and before all Italian people,

that I personally take the political,

moral and historical responsibility

for everything that has happened.

If fascism were nothing but castor oil and clubs,

and not the superb passion of the best Italian youth,

then it is my fault!

If fascism were a criminal association,

then I am the head of this criminal association!

If all the violence was the result

of a certain political, historical and moral climate,

I'm responsible for all that.

Because this historical, political

and moral climate was created by me!

When two elements are at odds and are irreducible,

the only solution is force.

There has never been any other solution in history,

and there will never be.

If I put a hundredth part

of the energy that I used to contain the violence,

into unleashing it...

then you would see...

You would see.

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

I have said what I had to say.

Now it's your turn.

Article 47 of the statute reads...

"The Chamber of Deputies has the right

to indict the King's ministers,

and to bring them before the High Court of Justice."

I formally ask if there is anyone

in this chamber or outside this chamber

who wishes to apply Article 47.

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES MANUAL

You have the power to transform this self-accusation

into a formal act.

To drag me before the High Court of Justice.

Only one of you needs to request it.

One is enough.

One, and I'll be finished forever.

Come on.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

Come on!

(DRAMATIC MUSIC INTENSIFYING)

(MUSIC FADING)

Silence.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)