All language subtitles for Ludwig (1973)

Yes, Father. I'm listening.

Do not be proud of the honor to which
you are called today.

Fear it.

From now on, the path to salvation will
be all the more difficult for you.

Yes, Father.

Learn to be humble.

Humility is the greatest gift I can wish
for you.

Listen to others, the wise and
experienced man around you.

Try to learn from them.

Remember, the truly great man is small
within himself

and cares nothing for renown.

Yes, Father.

You know the anguish I used to feel
thinking of this day.

But I'm not afraid anymore.

For some time now I've felt at peace.

And I realize how I must use my power.

It seems so simple, so beautiful.

I can invite truly wise men to come to
me.

Great geniuses, great artists.

And I can humbly.

Ask for their help.

They will create the monuments of my
reign.

Isn't that what the rulers did in
ancient times?

And I will become a better man.

With the help of God.

In fear of God.

Serving God.

Now, make an act of contrition.

Oh God, I'm heartily sorry.

Ego te absolvo in nomine Patris et Fili.
C 'è una circostanza che spiega lo

stato d 'animo con cui mi accingo oggi a
condurre insieme a tutti voi questa

difficile e dolorosa inchiesta che ha il
compito di stabilire se il nostro

sovrano è per noi ancora nella
condizione di governare

questa nostra infelice, sfortunata,
disprezzata, derisa.

E tormentata Baviera, senza tradire l
'ostinata fiducia del suo popolo.

La circostanza alla quale alludevo è che
io sono

uno dei pochi, pochissimi ministri
rimasti in carica senza alcuna

dal lontano marzo 1864.

Dal giorno cioè che, pieni di illusione
e di speranze, ci vede riunite ad

applaudire,

Secretary of the Treasury.

And now the investments.

Your Excellency, the ambassadors are
pushing on our strength.

Excuse me, Your Highness.

His majesty is almost ready.

I'll be there.

Thank you.

The King would like to see you.

Champagne.

What is all this?

These are the reports from the police
officials I sent to find Mr.

Wagner, sire.

Police? Why did you employ the police?

I am not a detective, your majesty.

And Mr. Wagner is difficult to find. He
is not in Munich, not in Vienna, not in

Neuchatel. But he was in all those
places, up to a few moments before the

arrival of our officials who went to
look for him.

As your majesty can see from report
number four... We have word that Mr.

is traveling to Stuttgart, but I'm
waiting for confirmation.

Confirmation from whom?

From some other policeman?

I thought I had made myself clear.

I do not wish to arrest Wagner.

In all humility, I want to beg him to
honor me with a visit, as I'm convinced

that the presence of a great poet and
composer like Richard Wagner could be of

invaluable help and prestige for us.

It's not a police official.

who should be sent to deliver my
invitation.

The Maestro is surely and rightly
incited.

That's why I don't wish to be found.

If my information is correct, it is not
our police official's Wagner is fleeing,

Your Majesty.

It is his creditor's.

Nonsense.

If Wagner is in Stuttgart, I will go
personally and offer my apologies and my

invitation. I must remind your majesty
that our foreign minister most warmly

urges your majesty to visit Bad Ischel.
Not only are the emperor of Austria and

the empress Elizabeth there, but also
the crown prince of Prussia, the

and... Does our foreign minister fail to
realize that our friendship with

Richard Wagner is far more important
than alliance with all the ground heads

holiday at Bad Ischel?

I'm afraid he does not realize that,
sire. Try to explain it to him.

And let him know that I won't move from
here until Richard Wagner has been

found. If that is the case, sire, I
promise to solve the problem myself.

It is only a question of price, believe
me.

Let's try not to make any further
mistakes.

Wagner will be given a letter from me
and a gift.

I should perhaps have been more
explicit, sire. I agree.

A gift is required.

Now, as for your majesty's visit to Bad
Ischow, we will...

Been a long time since we last met,
Melissa.

Sometimes I've doubted about my future
as an actress.

So as you can see, I'm considering a new
career as a circus writer.

Have you changed?

Magazine. How long has it been since we
saw each other?

Five years.

No, more.

Five years and six months.

You have a very good memory.

Grazie. A domani.

Mi dispiace di non essere stata presente
alla tua incoronazione, ma ero... Dove

ero? Fammi pensare.

Il tuo ambasciatore ha detto che eri a
letto malato.

No, non era vero, anzi affatto, stavo
per venire. Ma poi l 'idea di tutti quei

parenti da incontrare mi fece cambiare
rotta.

Anch 'io sai ho cambiato rotta stasera.
Davvero?

Eh sì, stavo per andare a cena quando ho
saputo che tu eri qui. Chi te l 'ha

detto? Il mio aiutante di campo, lui sa
sempre tutto di tutti.

Sapeva che avresti disertato il diner
ufficiale di stasera, dandoti malata

al solito.

Yes,

you have changed indeed. You're more
handsome.

The most handsome king in Europe.

That's not much of a compliment.

Did you come to greet me or to spy on
me?

I don't know.

Both.

And you gave me an excuse to avoid the
dinner.

I'm not used to official gatherings yet.
I suppose it takes training.

But you too.

Oh, with me things are different.

I escape whenever I feel like it, under
everyone's nose.

Ma lo sai che è vero?

Me l 'avevano detto. Mi somigli sempre
di più.

Non trovi mon cousin?

Non lo so.

Anche se mi piacerebbe.

E a te? Perché no?

Vada pure in albergo, Contessa Ferenzi.
Non ho bisogno di niente. Ho chi mi

accompagna. Bene, maestà. Vero?

Però non ho voglia di tornare subito a
casa.

Come vuoi.

Mi faccio rapire da te.

Certo.

Un cambiamento, come qualsiasi
cambiamento, trae in inganno posti

nuove, nuove abitudini da prendere.

Insomma, ce n 'è abbastanza perché una
donna, curiosa per natura come sono io,

si sentisse appagata. Non sentivo
neppure nostalgia della mia famiglia,

primi tempi.

Avevo tante cose da fare, un marito da
amare, prima di accorgermi che del mio

amore... He didn't know what to do, and
he was looking for someone else.

A mother -in -law to be conquered.

Before I realized that she was actually
an odious woman.

That she also took away my right to
educate my children.

My children, who I put in the hands of
tutors, generals, priests, they also

became strangers.

Until you suddenly find out that... that
the house that hosted you...

It's actually a tattered and left -wing
palace.

You can no longer understand how you got
locked up in there for ten years.

What a horror.

You feel betrayed, like the butterfly
that enters a house attracted by the

and is locked up.

I noticed it all of a sudden, as if I
had woken up from a long sleep.

And I got sick with sadness.

Until one day I left.

Madeira.

Corfu, Greece, Italy.

I still

protect

myself by running away.

They say I'm eccentric, but they said
that even before. When it became clear I

hated that prison hoofbook, when it
became clear I really could not bear a

husband, always in uniform, always going
to war.

Whatever I do or say, they criticize me.
So why shouldn't I do as I please?

Everyone has always spoken to me about
you with great admiration.

Yes.

When I visit the hospitals, the wounded
soldiers cheer me and cry.

I carry off official visits very well,
when I only have to be beautiful and

charm someone.

Just as you are supposed to do here.

Whom are you to charm? The Tsar?

I hear they want you to marry his
daughter.

I've heard that too.

But I don't want to marry yet.

I'm only 19.

I was 16 when I married.

And now they say I was too young. That's
why I soon became bored.

They say I have many lovers, even among
my footmen.

What do you think?

Is it true?

I think all men must fall in love with
you.

Very kind, but not an answer.

Is it true or not?

I've never heard it said.

You won't answer?

All right.

I shall ask you another question.

Is what they say about you the truth?

What have they said to you?

That you never have had a woman.

I'm a Catholic.

Is that the reason?

They also say you like to be alone.

That you despise the people around you.

That you go riding at night.

They call you the moonlight lover.

I do the same.

But I don't believe I'm Siegfried.

I never thought I was Siegfried.

Not till tonight.

Do you know the only time a secret feels
fear?

When you first meet a woman.

Thank you. Gentlemen.

I don't like her.

Who?

The Tsarevna.

You shan't marry her. I forbid it. I
obey.

Need only command me, I shall always...
Careful.

I might take you seriously.

Oh, no.

You always joke with me.

You don't understand.

You're very handsome, but not very quick
-witted.

That's why I need you.

Apparently not. You're leaving tomorrow.

I must.

If it stops snowing in three days, we
have a full moon.

And be alone.

We can go riding in the night.

Will you come with me?

What is your pressing business in
Munich? Who is waiting for you there?

I shall ask our secret service.

You're keeping something from me.

When I took over the secretariat from
Thierflim and became aware of the

seriousness of the situation, I was
horrified.

I sent a memorandum to the king, who was
away from Munich, telling him that a

single performance of Tristan cost more
than the maintenance of an entire

battalion.

I received no reply.

Oh, per carita.

Questa casa non va assolutamente bene
per me.

È tutta da arredare.

Le tende vanno cambiate.

Voglio un altro pianoforte.

E poi molti mobili devono ancora
arrivare da Vienna in sostituzione di

che non mi piacciono.

Non manca nulla. Mi sembra tutto anche
troppo bello. Troppo bello? Come

Che cosa vuol dire troppo bello?

Niente! What do you mean? Nothing can be
too beautiful in the place I'm going to

work.

Am I supposed to be an outcast sleeping
on a straw mattress?

I detest everything mediocre, less than
the best. I must have the best if I am

to work.

I need even more.

Security.

Uncertainty about the future destroys my
nerves. I become ill. I'm unable to

write a single note.

What's the use of dreaming about
performances of my works when I'm dead?

I want my music performed now.

When I say, as I say.

Of course.

But now this isn't a dream, it's a
marvellous reality.

It's a reality?

No, you're right. It is marvellous.

There's this house, my stipend, and
Tristan about to go into rehearsal. Poor

Tristan, he's waited six years.

And soon we'll have the theatre I've
always dreamed of.

The king's given me a free hand.

I've written to Semper.

Yes, he'll be down here with the plans.

He's going to have his work cut out for
him. But we must start engaging the

singers for Tristan at once.

Do you think Meyer will be free?

If not, who would you... I hope he isn't
free.

Another singer might be better.

For some time now, he's... Forgive me,
but

are you sure there'll be no objections
to me?

After all, Munich has some quite able
conductors.

If someone's brought in from outside,
there could be objections.

I have no objections, and that's all
that matters.

The king has given me a free hand, I
told you.

He embraced me and almost knelt at my
feet when I first met him.

I was moved.

Deeply moved.

A strange boy.

I'm eager to present you to him.

If he ever comes back, he said he'd be
away only two or three days. That's

weeks ago.

The court authorities take advantage of
his absence. They stop paying bills. The

king must authorize the payments. They
say it's grotesque.

He is like a young god descended from
Olympus, but he is surrounded by stupid,

suspicious boors, the pack of them.

I won't make a single friend there.

You must come stay with me.

Yeah,

yeah, yeah, yeah.

So, that's decided, isn't it?

Come upstairs. I'll show you the rest of
the house.

You don't mind, do you?

No, of course not.

But the children will disturb you.

Nonsense! The house is large!

They won't be a nuisance!

Another child will soon be here.

O con quanta dolcezza carezzano l
'essere nostro.

Misteriosi vengono a noi nell 'aria e
nessuna domanda mi sale più alle labbra

mi abbandono al loro incanto.

Ugual magia mi ha legato a te, mia cara.

Il giorno in cui il mio sguardo si posò
su te la prima volta, seppi cioè che non

avrei più domande senza risposta. I miei
occhi ti avevano vedute e il mio

cuore...

Il mio cuore aveva capito.

Vedi, la poesia mi piace. Sì, la
capisco. Non sento la mancanza della

Ma la poesia di Wagner vale per la sua
musica. E la sua musica vale per la sua

poesia. L 'una non può esistere senza l
'altra.

E da questa portentosa fusione nasce un
nuovo linguaggio che riesce a farsi

intendere da tutti quanti. In ogni parte
del mondo, da tutti quanti.

Un linguaggio...

that can also spread ideas.

I don't know how to explain myself, but
I know, I know that the greatest gift

that can be given to the people is to
enrich their spirit.

Mon cousin, what do you want to do with
your Bavaria?

A nation of musicians?

Do you want to take me around?

They are important things, at least for
me.

To Wagner I owe the courage and the
faith, let's say, to be able to do

in life, to be able to be useful to
someone in the world, even in the modest

role of intermediary.

I owe all this to him, as I owe to you.

What do you owe me?

I owe you the happiness of these last
days, spent waiting for the moment to

you again.

Prometti di aiutarmi sempre, di non
abbandonarmi. Vuoi?

D 'accordo.

Sei un bambino, Ludwig.

Anche un po' pazzo.

Lo siamo tutti in famiglia, me compresa.
Io ne sono convinta.

Prometti che non mi lascerai mai.

Solo questo, che potrò vederti.

Se avrò bisogno di te, anche solo un
momento.

Ma un momento che sia mio soltanto.

D 'accordo.

Sebbene non vedo come ciò possa venire
dal momento che tu stai a Monaco e io a

Vienna.

Ti raggiungerò dovunque tu sia.

Anche se non vieni mai a trovarmi, io so
che vai spesso a Posenhofen.

Vero?

And from now on, listen, I... But I know
when you have to come.

For Wagner's Tristan.

The work that we decided to put on
stage.

I've been waiting for six years.

I'll make her represent it, I promised
her.

You have to see it.

It's wonderful.

You'll be able to understand everything
I've tried to tell you.

And it will make you understand me too.

And what happened to me.

In questi pochi giorni.

Poi starai un momento con me.

E mi dirai solo, ho capito.

Sai dove ti aspetterò?

Ti rammenti cinque anni fa?

L 'isola delle rose.

La bandiera alta sul pennone. Significa
ti aspetto.

Te lo ricordi?

Vieni.

Tristano è come un oceano di armoniosi
suoni nel

quale si sprofonda come in una praia.

Comfortable.

Elisabeth! Sophie!

Where have you been?

You've all arrived.

When? Late.

The Countess Ferenczi said she'd been
calling you for a while and that she

couldn't disturb you. It was your
orders, she said.

And you're listening to Ferenczi. She's
a fool.

Sì, infatti non mi sentivo bene.

Per così dire.

Ma dove sei stata, dimmi? Avevo l
'insonnia e sono uscita a cavallo.

Da sola?

Ma certo.

Sì, insomma, colpa alla freniere.

Va bene?

Su, vieni. Aiutami a spogliarmi.

Stai proprio bene.

You're very beautiful.

Really?

And here, in these days, you should be
even more beautiful than usual.

And why?

There's someone who's waiting for you
with anxiety. Me?

He's delayed his departure for 15 days.

Think. Just to see you again. Who are
you talking about?

Who is he?

And who would you like him to be?

I don't know.

He's handsome. He's a king.

He'll be your husband.

But who?

Ludwig.

Yes, of course.

Our cousin.

Her Majesty regrets.

She is not well this morning and will
not go riding.

Her Majesty asked me to invite Your
Majesty to dine with her this evening at

seven o 'clock in her private
apartments.

Thank Her Majesty for me, Countess
Ferenczi. I shall be delighted to

Cosa rara.

Madame. Your Majesty.

Marie.

Karl Theodor.

Your Majesty.

Sophie.

Mathilde.

Nene.

Maximilian.

I wasn't aware you had come to Badish
with your whole family.

Your Majesty knows Elizabeth and her
will.

Suddenly she missed her brothers and
sisters.

And we all had to rush to cheer her up.

You're looking very well, ma tante.
Thank you, your majesty.

The air is so good in Bad Ischew. I
haven't heard from your mother for a

time. How is she?

Mon cousin?

One of my couriers was going to
Schlossberg, and I knew that in a

there... Oh.

Mmm.

What a lovely scent.

Sophie, smell them.

Oh, yes.

Wonderful.

I haven't seen you for a long time. It's
a great pleasure to be back again.

How have you been? Fine, thank you.

There has not been such a brilliant
gathering at Paris for many years, I

believe.

Elizabeth tells me the Tsarevna is here
and the Crown Prince of Prussia.

The Emperor will join us in a few days.

N 'est -ce pas, Elizabeth?

Yes.

Yes, Franz sent me a telegram. He'll be
here as soon as possible.

Quite. A family reunion, isn't it?

Your Majesty was right to mention the
matter to Elizabeth.

Sophie's presence here will seem just a
normal holiday.

Sophie? Yes?

Sophie adores Wagner's music almost as
much as you do, mon cousin.

I'm sure the two of you have many things
to talk about.

Unfortunately, I must put off that
pleasure.

I only came here to say goodbye.

I must be in Munich tomorrow morning.

I leave tonight.

Now, my towns, will you excuse me?

Ludwig. Thank you for the happiness of
these last few days.

I will be expecting you.

Even if you never gave me your promise.

You must come for Tristan.

When you hear Wagner's opera, you'll
understand everything I've been trying

say. You'll understand me, too.

What's happened to me these past few
days.

You must come.

You must.

L 'andata in scena del Tristano di
Richard Wagner, avvenuta nel giugno del

costò alle casse dello Stato una vera
fortuna, e a quella spesa sconsiderata

andrebbero aggiunte le spese sostenute
privatamente dal sovrano per ricevere

degnamente l 'imperatrice Elisabeth, che
invece decise di non intervenire,

lasciando così chiaramente intendere a
tutti la sua disapprovazione.

I hate having anyone wait for me.

I hate disappointing, arousing false
hopes.

I had no hopes.

You didn't come to the theater and I was
sure you wouldn't come here.

It was a triumph.

You should have seen it. The audience
applauded.

For hours it seemed.

When Wagner appeared on stage, he said,

I wish I could remember the exact words.
He said, like Tristan and Isolde would

drink. How much did it all cost?

What? Everything.

Wagner, the conductor, the conductor's
family, a house for Wagner, for the

conductor, for his family.

Why do you ask me this?

What does it matter?

It was a triumph.

Triumphs are quickly forgotten.

Or else later on they aroused the
fiercest criticism.

But here criticism started even before
the triumphs.

You, of all people, worry about the
malicious criticism of the public?

Yes, when it's deserved.

What is your ambition?

To go down in history thanks to Richard
Wagner?

Like my mother -in -law with her
ridiculous painters?

If your Richard Wagner is as great as
you say, then he doesn't need you.

Your pathetic friendship only gives you
the illusion of having created

something.

Just as I give you the illusion of love.

You cannot stay alone.

You want me to be your impossible lover,
to justify yourself somehow.

You need help I cannot give you.

Mary.

Mary Sophie.

I've never loved another woman.

And you?

Love is a duty also.

And your duty is to face reality.

Forget your dreams.

Rulers like us have nothing to do with
history.

We're only a display.

History will forget us.

Unless someone makes us seem important
by assassinating us.

That's the music the German people like,
not mine.

Not a day goes by now without some
attack on me in the Munich papers.

Stop reading them.

I should give orders to keep the
newspapers away from you. You should

to leave the house as well.

People insult me in the street.

I really would like to keep you
prisoner.

Because then I would know you were
working.

For yourself and for me. Sometimes I
wonder if my strength will last.

I must at least have faith in you. I
think sometimes it's life itself I fear.

Or life as it was before I met your
majesty.

Now, as your majesty can see, we've done
away with the boxes.

The house is like an amphitheater.

The audience is one ideal community with
no divisions or rank.

And the orchestra is well below the
stage. But I can show you that more

in another drawing.

And the lighting is entirely new.

The spectator will be able to
concentrate on the stage.

We must be able to plunge the house into
total darkness.

How many seats will there be?

1 ,500.

Yes, 1 ,500, perhaps 17.

Semper will go into all that later. I
should like to have at least 2 ,000.

But the cost... No doubt they'll finally
decide on a much smaller theatre or

cancel the whole project.

Why do you say that?

Because that's the way it will end, I
feel sure.

Just think of the talk the performance
of Tristan caused.

I can imagine the comments when the
construction of a new theatre is

They'll all behave as if they're being
robbed.

They'll want to arrest me. It's
impossible to work for such an ignorant

Great thinkers have always acknowledged
the importance of music to a nation, but

here they talk only of waste of money.

They count every fennec so much for the
turner, for the soprano, the orchestra.

That's criticism, isn't it, sir?

They have another permanent.

Bloody stupidity.

Forgive me, sire, but Tristan's success
gave me such joy, such hope.

Now these vulgar attacks are ruining
everything. They're affecting your

too.

You're troubled, sad, without
enthusiasm.

I... No, no, no, that's not it.

How can you think that?

If you weren't here with me, I would be
in despair.

You, my salvation.

My only comfort.

I'm putting all my strength into the
building of this theater.

All my love.

Forgive me for disturbing you, but it's
growing dark and poor Fanny didn't dare

come light the lamps. She asked me to
help.

Oh, no.

You must forgive us.

May I also have the honor of serving
tea?

Yes, thank you.

How are you today, maestro?

Were you able to rest a bit?

Milk, your majesty?

Thank you.

Have I been unwell?

Why wasn't I informed?

Thank you.

I could have waited until tomorrow. I'm
quite well.

That is not true.

Anyone with sensitive nerves like me has
their ups and downs.

I've had headaches for years.

This was not just a headache.

I don't see why His Majesty shouldn't
know the state of your health.

Please. I want you to tell me the truth
about the maestro's illness.

I've told you the truth.

No.

Well, I can speak as someone who's lived
in daily communication with the maestro

only for a short time, but my
impressions are the same as my

the maestro's great friend and
collaborator.

It's true, the maestro has always
suffered from nervous strain, but

has got worse.

In addition to his headaches, he has
insomnia and, well, I'm quite concerned.

But I think medicine can do little in
such cases.

The real reason for the anxiety must be
found and eradicated.

I've told the maestro not to worry about
those candle sheets.

They're not worth it. Forgive me, sorry,
but it's not that criticism which

upsets the maestro.

It's not the uncertainty of the theater
project either.

He's worried about the future.

About his...

inability to settle a painful situation
which has haunted him for too long.

Some deaths made in the past which...
Forgive me, Liebermeister.

His Majesty asked my opinion. I must
give it to him honestly.

All those worries are past now.

I am here.

Of course, Your Majesty.

But I must admit that the maestro is
right when one is a guest.

One cannot enjoy absolute security.

But the Maestro is not a guest.

He receives the stipend like any
collaborator.

Like the most valued of collaborators.

Of course, of course. Why are we
discussing such things?

Oh, because there are things you mention
often and think of constantly.

Why not explain them openly to His
Majesty?

Madame von Bulldorf.

One of these days I must meet Madame von
Bulow privately.

She will become my ally.

She will tell me how I can set my
friend's mind at rest.

Please, please.

Stay. I know the way.

Give me the pleasure of feeling I'm at
home here.

I'll see His Majesty out.

I can tell you now what the Maestro
needs.

The request he needs to send to Your
Majesty in a letter, I believe. So my

husband told me.

The Maestro would like to have at his
disposal a sum that would allow him to

settle his old debts and feel confident
about the future.

Otherwise, he would prefer to leave
Munich.

Oh, no.

No.

He would require 200 ,000 gulden.

100 ,000.

Good.

Part of the amount could be given him in
cash and the rest in the form of

interest in monthly payments.

I would have to ask for a loan from the
state treasury and it would have to be

approved by Pfistermeister von der
Pforten.

I'll send the maestro an answer.

They promise you heaven and earth, swear
eternal friendship and love, and then

what?

Now, these are great patrons of art,
this half -witted boy.

The latest lunatic in a family of
lunatics.

He will give you everything you want.

I know he will.

Oh, my darling.

My darling.

Darling, good to see you.

What part of a country is this?

A nation of policemen?

Fistermeister, use the police to invite
my guests, who are unfollowed, spied on

by the police.

And the letters my guests write and
receive are brought to me like trophies.

It's outrageous.

It's outrageous!

These are normal precautions, sire.

In this instance, they're all the more
excusable.

Since Wagner is a foreigner with a
record as a revolutionary.

If Richard Wagner weren't an artist, he
would be a saint.

His genius has a moral, purifying
quality.

His art enlightens.

It is an antidote to the evils and
corruptions of our society.

Richard Wagner's name will go down
through centuries.

Because art is truth.

What remains of an artist is not his
weaknesses.

which may shock you.

That is work.

Your Majesty is right, of course.

But if I may say so, it would be very
dangerous to allow the guardians of law

and order to make exceptions.

Their point of view is different from
ours.

For them, Richard Wagner is simply a man
who squanders the taxpayers' money.

Madame von Bulow is not a muse, but an
adulteress.

And her husband is a contemptible
opportunist who pretends not to know

relationship between his wife and Wagner
in order to keep his position.

Oh, slander!

Slander, slander!

No, it's the truth, as these letters
clearly show.

And your majesty must realize this.

Wagner detractors.

are perhaps insensitive to questions of
art, but they are not liars.

Mr. Wagner and the Buloffs are in your
Majesty's antechamber.

They would like to be received with the
greatest urgency.

Show them in.

His Majesty the King will receive you at
once.

Thank you.

Your Majesty advised me to ignore what
the newspapers wrote about me.

The criticisms, attacks, insinuations,
the daily insults of the local press. I

followed Your Majesty's advice.

I've borne everything and I have
remained silent.

I would continue this silence if it
concerned only me.

But now it is something that does not
only concern me. Your Majesty, an

has appeared in the Volksbote, clearly
stating that my wife...

It's a mistress of Richard Wagner.

I've challenged the editor to a duel.

All this is very serious, sir.

Yes, it is.

It is indeed.

But we are all in this plot together.

Maestro von Bülow knows everything about
his wife, but pretends not to, for fear

of having to give up the profitable and
distinguished position of conducting her

lover's operas.

And I, who also know everything, because
my friend Wagner hides nothing from me.

I, his advisor, his friend.

Especially not such an important fact.

which affects not only his private life,
but also public opinion.

I, the friend, admirer, and

confidant, naturally want to help my
beloved artist.

It's a hateful slander, Your Majesty.
It's unforgivable, unforgivable.

Only Your Majesty can help us and wipe
it away.

If your majesty were to write a letter
to Mr. Von Buloth, a simple letter

expressing esteem and friendship, once
that letter was published in the

newspapers.

Loring Green does battle to defend Elsa.

But it's easier to fight a duel than to
write a letter.

If it pleases your majesty, I have
prepared a draft.

My dear Mr. von Budoff, having had
occasion to appreciate fully the noble

generous gifts of your most esteemed
wife... All right.

All right.

I'll understand.

I'll copy it and have it delivered
tomorrow.

Doesn't your majesty wish me to read the
rest?

No, no, no, it's not necessary.

I'm sure it will do very well.

Sorry. My gratitude.

It's no more than my duty.

Wagner knows how highly I value true
friendship.

His Majesty the King has instructed me
to order you to leave Munich as quickly

as possible.

Here is His Majesty's message.

My dear friend, much as it grieves me, I
must ask you to carry out... the

request made by Minister Lutz.

My love for you will endure forever, and
I beg you to keep forever your

friendship for me.

I could not act otherwise.

Until death, your faithful Lutz.

Don't say anything.

I can state that His Majesty the King of
Barbaria has been afflicted by a

certain mental instability since 1866,
on the eve of our unfortunate

participation in the war of that year.

The position taken by our sovereign
against the government, which proposed

maintain our alliance with Austria, gave
rise to much discontent among the

people.

His Majesty is not here.

His Majesty is waiting, Your Highness.

Come in.

Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince
Otto is here.

Are they angry?

They're waiting for me.

They think you aren't here.

Let them wait.

We have to go back to Munich tonight.

And then tomorrow... Well, tomorrow I
leave for the front again.

Do you mind it very much?

Yes, yes, I mind.

I mind the filth and the smell and the
screams of the soldiers in the hospitals

when they operate.

Without chloroform, well, because the
supplies have run out.

What do they want me to do this time?

Go back to Munich.

Oh, the king.

Ludwig.

You're losing the war.

Look. The four quarters of the moon.

Remember when we were children and went
fishing at night?

Yes.

And you were furious because I caught
more than you did.

Because I was the king.

I didn't want this war.

I want everyone to know.

They must realize that.

What's wrong?

Oh, I don't know.

My eyes sting.

It must be because I can't sleep
anymore.

When I sleep, I dream that I can't
sleep, that I can't close my eyes.

And I lie there, asleep, but it's as if
I were awake.

My eyes are wide open, and they sting.

Why don't you stay here with me at Berg?

I can't.

You know that.

I have to go back.

It would be dishonorable towards our
allies, too.

They are our relatives, after all.

Our Prussian enemies are our relatives,
also.

We do everything in the family.

Fight wars, marry, beget children.

Faithful incestuous, treacherous title.

And we never know why.

Well, you're the king. If you didn't
want the war, then you should have

forbidden it.

I did.

I'm doing everything possible to make my
field clear.

As far as I'm concerned, the war doesn't
exist.

Tell the generals, the king does not
know the war exists.

Who is there?

Who is it?

It's me, sire. Folk.

Why aren't you at the castle?

Who gave you permission to come out?

I thought your majesty wouldn't require
me, so I... A groom on duty

is forbidden to leave the royal
apartment.

Don't you know that?

Yes, your majesty.

Nevertheless.

You came here and you left your post.

I couldn't sleep.

Aren't you afraid the sentries will
catch you?

I can hear them coming.

I hide in the bushes.

Can you swim?

A little, sir.

But I never go where I can't touch
bottom.

I come from the mountains.

Aren't you cold?

Yes, a little, sir.

Here.

Take this.

of the greatest urgency and importance.

Captain Durkheim asks to be received by
His Majesty.

We have been defeated, sire.

We have surrendered.

Did you stop him, Enelotus?

No.

We did not have many casualties.

The enemy outnumbered us, and our troops
became demoralized.

Continuing the fight would have led to a
useless massacre.

I'm glad it's over.

And that it lasted such a short time.

Seven weeks, Your Majesty.

And they think an eternity to those who
live through them.

Do you have any news of my brother Otto?

The prince has come back to Munich.

He is very depressed.

You are very fond of my brother, Anton
Durkan.

Yes, I am.

Very fond.

Otto will be your king one day.

Very soon.

Because... I...

His Highness Prince Otto is terribly

unhappy. He's so young.

Yet he seems to have burned his youth
away without having lived it.

His ambitions were stifled by
disappointments.

And he's filled with sadness and fear.

He lives in a state of lonely anguish.

He never sleeps more than two hours a
night.

He never rests.

He has looked for happiness.

And what is impossible?

He wants security.

In what is outside the rules.

Why shouldn't he?

The world around us is intolerably
petty.

Men dream only of material security.

And are prepared to give their lives to
achieve it.

I want to be free.

Free to seek happiness in the
impossible.

But unlike my brother.

I tried to suit my actions to my ideas.

That's why I abandoned the stupid war I
was unable to prevent.

I'm not a coward.

I hate to follow thought.

I want to live in truth.

Forgive me, sire.

And allow a very ordinary man to express
an opinion.

Your Majesty says you want to live in
truth.

But I think what you mean is you want to
live as a free man following only your

own tastes and instincts without
hypocrisy or lies. Am I right?

A freedom that is the privilege of few.

It has nothing in common with the true,
authentic freedom.

That freedom that belongs to all men.

And that each of us has the right to
have.

Let's live in a world

Without innocents.

Where no one has the right to go to
court.

I'm talking like I have a friend.

The affectionate benevolence that your
Majesty has always shown me when we were

both younger, gives me the courage to...
to vent.

As can happen between two men.

I'm a soldier who was left alone on the
battlefield.

nel momento del pericolo e dell
'amarezza, ma che non prova né disprezzo

rancore per il sovrano che lo ha
abbandonato.

Bensì provo una profonda pietà.

Il mio sovrano crede di aver fatto una
scelta coraggiosa, ma si sbaglia.

Se crede di poter trovare la felicità
fuori delle regole dei doveri dell

Who truly loves life, Your Majesty,
cannot allow himself to seek the

But he must play it with infinite
prudence.

Even a sovereign.

Even a sovereign, because the great
power of which a sovereign has is always

limited...

Nei confini del consorzio umano del
quale fa parte egli stesso.

Chi potrà mai seguirlo fuori da quei
confini?

Chi?

Non potranno seguirlo certamente gli
esseri umili, indifesi, che non hanno

preoccupazione, se non la ricerca di un
po' di sicurezza.

Non soltanto materiale, ma anche di
carattere morale.

E dei quali vostra maestà parlava con
gran disprezzo.

E allora avrà invece al suo seguito chi
interpreta questa libertà come ricerca

del piacere fuori da ogni costrizione
morale.

No.

Non può volere questo.

Un seguito di servi abbietti, di
sfruttatori, di spacciatori di

No, non ci credo.

Vostra maestà non può gradire una simile
genia.

that would take advantage of her
generosity and would not hesitate to

her.

But is it possible that a young man who
has his whole life in front of him has

not tried to find a different reason for
his own existence?

Even if it is an extremely difficult
reason, because it is the reason of life

simple beings who accept mediocrity.

Certo, ci vuole molto coraggio ad
accettare la mediocrità a chi

ideali sublimi che non sono di questo
mondo. Lo so benissimo.

Ma è l 'unica vera speranza di salvarsi
da una solitudine che può anche essere

immonda.

I must speak to my mother.

But Her Majesty is still asleep.

Wake her.

Go on.

Go.

Quickly.

Her

Majesty,

the Queen is awaiting Your Majesty.

I beg your pardon for waking you up at
this hour.

But there was something I had to tell
you.

Immediately.

I've decided to marry.

Who? I was sure this would be good news
for you.

Aren't you even going to ask me who the
woman of my choice is?

I was waiting for your majesty to inform
me.

I have complete faith in your Majesty's
judgment.

I want you to go at once to Potsdam Hall
and ask Duchess

Ludovica for the hand of Princess
Sophie.

Sophie will be the ideal wife for you.

I've sent word to Father Hoffmann asking
him to come here.

Please, receive him at once.

And I want you to communicate my
decision to him.

And I want him to accompany you to
Possenhofen, since Princess Sophie is a

Catholic.

Lucy, Lucy... Goodbye, madam.

dressing gown. Quickly.

Quickly.

Quickly.

Tell them that as soon as Father Hoffman
arrives, he's to be shown into my room.

Yes.

But Father Hoffman is here.

Yes, Helen.

Have you seen my son?

Oh, yes, just now, as I was leaving.

But he didn't say a word to me. He
seemed very... Happy.

He is beside himself with joy.

Ludwig is going to marry.

He wished me to tell you.

And he wants you to come with me to ask
for the girl's hand.

Now, this is correct, because the
princess is Catholic, and the request of

Protestant mother would not be enough.

He means to marry?

Princess Sophie.

The sister of Elizabeth.

Isn't this wonderful news?

Ah, padre, mi sembra di uscire da un
incubo.

That you haven't done anything to
dissipate, to tell the truth.

Please, sit down.

Thank you.

Of course, it could be a great
consolation.

I hope that His Majesty has found a
balance.

Stabile.

Sono... Sono molti i giovani che
stentano a trovare un equilibrio con se

stessi.

Un 'armonia dello spirito. E l 'ha
trovato.

Quel che conta è che l 'ha trovato il
dispor.

Mi stupisce che Sua Maestà non mi abbia
mai parlato di questa sua intenzione.

Dicevo che mi auguro...

That he has considered well the step he
is about to take.

Because this is a choice not only for
himself, but

also for the companion who, with the
blessing of the Lord... Enough, Padre.

The important thing is that the two get
married and that the marriage happens as

soon as possible.

E quello che tutti speravamo.

Non è vero?

Certo, è una grande consolazione per
tutti noi.

E per il popolo.

Piuttosto, ci vorrà la dispensa papale,
dati gli stretti legami di parentela che

uniscono i fidanzati.

Certo, certo.

Ma non ci saranno difficoltà. Non credo
proprio.

Anche i genitori erano cugini.

Infatti.

Infatti si attribuisce a questo, se
nella casa di Wittelsbach e in quella

Owen Soller ci sono stati casi molto
dolorosi, di anomalie.

Ma quanto mi risulta, la giovane Sophie
gode perfetta salute e Sua Maestà il Re

non ci ha mai dato occasione di
preoccupazione.

Sarà bene segnalare certe timidezze di
Sua Maestà, certe sue ritrosie, perché

Sophie possa essergli di aiuto, essere
comprensiva.

Come le sue sorelle?

Sofia imparerà presto che a una donna
del suo rango non spettano soltanto i

diritti e i privilegi, ma anche i
doveri, moltissimi doveri.

Sophie, are you happy?

Who said that?

Sophie is really very beautiful.

Yes.

The family reunions, Durkan, are very,
very tiring.

All my best wishes.

I... I'm very, very pleased.

Thank you, Otto.

Bravo, Otto.

You're always so sweet.

Elizabeth. Sophie.

Nene. Mathilde.

Marie. Elizabeth.

My dear child.

Maman.

I'm very pleased, too.

Congratulations, mon beau frère.

My dear, dear Otto.

You're always so sweet.

Everyone is pleased.

And the station looked wonderful, all
decked with flags.

You didn't believe I would come.

I didn't think I would either.
Everything is always so complicated.

I've been told, madame, that a great
deal of work will be done here in the

residence. So the old residence will
become new too. Who will see to it all?

Sophie, assert yourself.

But Sophie isn't like me.

I can only say whether I like something
or whether I dislike it.

I really must drink something hot.
Excuse me.

Thank you.

I'll do it.

Forgive me, but I'm terribly thirsty.

We're not going to live in the
residence.

You aren't?

I mean only for a short while.

As little as possible.

Until the new house is ready.

What is all of that?

It's something I've been thinking about
for a long time.

I would like to build a castle.

You remember the Grazwangtal?

The Bafo Baumgau?

And that and other place.

I like almost as much.

Perhaps even more.

Herdenkiemsee.

I haven't decided yet.

We could go there together tomorrow.

On horseback.

You remember Bad Ischel?

It's not a time right.

Not at all.

And you could give me your advice.

Tomorrow I will not be here,
unfortunately.

I'm going on to Zurich.

I want to stop to see Sophie and to give
both of you Francis congratulations.

And my own, of course.

in vista del matrimonio, sua maestadie,
dei via e i lavori per la costruzione di

quei suoi maledetti castelli.

Io mi presi l 'incarico di far
affrontare al sovrano quelle certe

cui si diceva egli fosse allora
completamente digiuno.

No.

È stato tutto così complicato.

Mi hanno...

Mi hanno detto tante cose di voi, mi
hanno fatto un 'infinità di

raccomandazioni.

Chi?

Dopo che vostra maestà ha mandato il suo
aiutante di campo in teatro per

invitarmi a cena, mi sono trovata di
colpo al centro di un grosso affare di

stato.

Carrozza chiusa, tendine abbassate.

Mi hanno portato in un posto pieno di
uffici.

E allora?

Volete saperlo? Siete curioso?

Grazie.

C 'erano dei signori.

Credo che uno venisse da parte dell
'arcivescovo.

Davvero indiscreto.

E un altro invece da parte di sua maestà
la regina madre.

Oh mio Dio, maestà, è tutto sempre così
complicato quando ad un re viene la

voglia di fare l 'amore.

Per noi attori è molto più semplice,
basta un 'occhiata, un gesto così.

They told me this, too.

That you're very shy.

And then they asked me all sorts of
questions.

Even about my health.

They did?

It was indecent.

Really.

And they want me to be discreet.

Except with them, of course.

They want to know what happened.

Will you tell them?

With your Majesty's permission, I'd love
to lie to them.

They're too curious.

Too nosy.

We could make love.

And say we didn't. Or we could not make

love.

And say we did.

Yes, we mustn't disappoint their
curiosity.

You must tell them things that will
horrify them.

That you beat me, for example.

Will they believe you?

Your Majesty, I'm a great actress.

The funny thing is that you will go to
them anyway and tell

them everything that hasn't happened
between us. No, no.

That's what they'll pay you for. No.

And that's what you'll do. No, no, no,
your majesty, no. Yes. No, no, no.

I'm certain.

And why shouldn't you?

After all, if you don't today, others
will tomorrow.

You think I don't know what's going on
around me?

I'm surrounded by people who observe
everything I do.

Not to protect me, but to ruin me.

I don't understand how they will achieve
their aim.

But I know this is their aim.

All I can do is watch.

Fascinated.

While they move silent and cautious.

It's as if I were watching them.

Set up their gallows from which they'll
hang.

No. No.

Your Majesty, it's not true.

Please, Your Majesty. Go now.

And make them pay you.

Make them pay you handsomely.

Go, madam.

prostitute. Your Majesty!

Please! Help me!

Help me! Help me! Help me, please!

Please! Please!

Your Majesty!

Help Madame Bulyovsky out and send her
home.

These are the jewels that the Queen of
Bavaria has been carrying for 700 years.

But I will give you a more beautiful
gift.

It's a secret, no one should know it.

I will introduce you to Richard Wagner.

Our engagement is more exhausting than a
military campaign.

It's a real torment, which Sophie
undergoes without making any complaints.

She's the perfect fiancée.

And she loves your music very much.

You know what she's afraid of at this
moment, my dear friend?

She's afraid I will ask her to sing for
you.

She's afraid of your criticism, not only
as a singer, but also as a fiancée.

She has the notion that by asking you to
meet her, I was submitting her for your

approval.

When will you come back?

Soon, sire, soon.

And not at night in secret. I shall
return with my wife and my new opera for

new theater.

It will repay me for so much bitterness.

So much loneliness.

Sophie, sweet.

She's pretty and docile.

For the first time, I've seen true love
for your majesty in someone's eyes.

I have decided to postpone the wedding.

A month.

That's two.

I wish the wedding day were past.

I can already hear the crowds yelling.

Banquets. The ceremonies.

Here in the church.

It's a nightmare.

I keep them awake at night.

My aunts.

My uncles.

My cousins from all over Europe.

Kisses. Handshakes.

Congratulations.

Embrace it.

You can open your heart to me, sire. My
affection for you is just the same as

the first day you called me to Munich.

Rescuing me from poverty and welcoming
me with open arms. I have not forgotten

that. I came here at once now because I
realized your majesty needed me.

Forget all the things that have
happened.

One can betray friends, even lie to
them.

but still love them.

Be magnanimous. Try to forgive.

I know that no one will give you the
advice I could because whatever I say

from a very deep, very sincere feeling.

What is depressing you, my friend?

I understand many things, but I cannot
help if you don't ask me to.

Bye.

Adieu.

My name is Richard Hornig.

I have been in his majesty's service for
ten years.

I entered the king's household very
suddenly.

Then his majesty, in one of his moments
of anger, chased his footman folk away,

and I was ordered to take his place.

In all my years of serving the king, I
have never betrayed his trust, and I

no intention of doing so today.

Besides,

Nothing in the king's behavior differs
from what everyone used to consider

behavior worthy of a sovereign's
dignity.

with him.

Take this.

Can you hoist this flag?

Yes, your majesty.

Good. Very good.

I used to do this in the army, your
majesty.

This is the first time I've seen you.

I've only been in service a few days,
Your Majesty.

What did you do before?

Worked on a farm, sir.

Taking care of the horse.

Light the fire.

Advance, Your Majesty.

Take off your gloves.

What are you waiting for?

Has your majesty any orders for me?

You can sleep here tonight, if you want.

Yes, your majesty.

Elsa?

What Elsa are you talking about?

Who is this Elsa?

I'm Elsa.

Ludwig doesn't even like my name.

He has never called me Sophie.

It's been Elsa from the very beginning.

Like the heroine of Lohenthal.

But all lovers change the names of their
fiancées.

Lovers.

We've always known that Ludwig is a bit
eccentric.

Yes, I know.

But I am in love with him.

And it makes me suffer when he leaves me
all alone at the ball they gave in

Arana. Never asking me to go out with
him.

Coming to see me less and less often.

So, I spend all day shut up in the house
for fear of missing one of his visits.

Then, when he does come... He hardly
speaks to me.

Sometimes he comes and spends the night
outside the gate and leaves a bunch of

flowers for me without a note or
anything, as if you were putting them on

a grave.

And I do feel dead, dead and buried.

I felt dead when he insisted on
introducing me to Mother.

Everyone looks at me with pity, just...
Betty.

But it's your fault too.

Why do you stay shut up in the house?

Waiting till he condescends to visit
you? Go out!

Go on with your normal life.

Go to the theater if you feel like it.

Travel and enjoy yourself.

Show him that you are an independent
person with many interests of your own.

That will attract him. Make him want
you!

He doesn't want me.

He doesn't care a thing about me.

And you know that very well.

Why? Why didn't you tell me he was in
love with you? No!

No.

What makes you say such things? It's not
true! It's not true! It is true.

People have told me, but I had already
realized it by myself.

Too late, unfortunately.

And if you want to know the truth, they
told me that you too.

Who? Who told you that? Oh, don't cry,
you silly child!

Don't believe the nonsense people tell
you.

I'm not the one you must fear. Not I,
nor any other woman.

The danger with Ludwig, if anything, it
happens to

many young men, didn't you know that?

To all, I think, when they're so young
and so sensitive.

Most of the time they get over these
things with help.

I'm very fond of Ludwig.

Perhaps because we are very much alike,
not only physically.

He has many faults, many qualities.

He's very vulnerable.

You can't save him, Sophie, you must.

But you have to be very strong.

Be close to him.

Don't allow any further delays of the
wedding.

If he doesn't speak, then you must
speak.

If he neglects you, then give him the
impression that you neglected him first.

I shall tell our father he must write
Ludwig and set the date immediately.

No more postponements.

I do not want to marry Sophie.

It's too late.

No, it's not too late.

And it wouldn't be the first time an
engagement was broken.

A king cannot give scandal, cannot
expose himself to horrible

and justified criticism.

They will be merciless.

And this is the reason why I should be
merciless towards Sophie?

The Lord will be merciful to her.

Leave it to him.

I am deceiving her.

You knew that from the beginning.

She isn't marrying me out of sheer
ambition.

I hadn't realized that... If Sophie
loves you, you can only rejoice. She

me now.

But she will come to hate me.

And I will hate her!

entitles you to such presumption. How
can you claim to know what the Lord has

store for you?

You are asked only to marry her and to
have children.

Listen to me, Ludwig.

When the devil sends temptations, they
must be turned back against him.

They must be used to honor God.

In the darkness of Rome, aided by the
image of sin itself, you will

realize that the warmth of one body is
the same as another's.

Father, you are teaching me something
new.

Your people want you to be one of
themselves.

More powerful,

more privileged, touched by divine
providence, but still one of them.

If you insist on being different, they
will never forgive you, never.

Wagner was driven from Munich because he
is a genius.

That was what made him a foreigner.

He was different.

Ludwig.

You are one of the Lord's favorite
because you are more exposed to sin

than others. And so you can prove more
than the others can your

love of God.

I know from your own lips that until now
you have always had the strength to

resist temptation, to reject sin.

Yes I want

you to tell me if this is still true Yes

I ask you this as if in the holy
sacrament of confession.

Yes.

Oso dire che la rottura del fidanzamento
con la principessa Sophie segnò l

'inizio delle nostre disgrazie.

Il nostro sovrano, da quel giorno in
pauso, non si interessò più degli affari

Stato.

Con tutto quello che succedeva nel
mondo, Sua Maestà non sembrava pensare

altro che alla costruzione di tutti quei
castelli che nessuno avrebbe mai

abitato.

By our misfortune, Prince Otto was
getting worse day by day, and the Queen

Mother sought extreme comfort in the
Catholic religion.

Amen.

Amen. Amen.

Amen. Amen.

Il nostro cuore pieno di letizia,
maestà.

Che dolore per una madre, non ha voluto
essere accarezzato.

Anche a nome del nostro padre
provinciale desidero esprimere il nostro

compiacimento per la presenza a questa
cerimonia di vostra altezza, almeno in

parte ci compensa dell 'assenza di sua
maestà Igri e della profonda amarezza

provoca nel nostro animo il vederlo
vivere.

Sempre più appartato.

In questi ultimi tempi mi sono regato
più volte a cercarlo per chiedere

della sua salute.

Molto spesso, Sua Maestà, si è rifiutato
di ricevermi.

Raccomando, Sua Maestà, le vostre
preghiere.

Non dimentico mai, nelle mie preghiere,
il nostro amato Soverano.

But I must confess that it causes me
great embarrassment.

And it causes me deep dismay to explain
to his Catholic subjects what his

thought is.

We are, unfortunately, at the eve of a
war that, in the best of hypotheses,

will be resolved with the triumph in
Europe of the Prussian power. And we

like to be able to say that the course
of these painful earthly events, to

which, you know, gentlemen,

Noi siamo completamente strani.

Ci spinge soltanto a cercare di
rinforzare sempre di più i sacri vincoli

legano alla madre chiesa e al sommo
pontifice.

Ma il nostro sovrano non ci aiuta in
questo.

Se Dio, nella sua infinita misericordia,
mi ha accolto oggi umile serva, sono

sicura che ci aiuterà.

Io ho fede.

It's useless for you to wait, Father.

His Majesty will not receive you.

Her Royal Highness the Queen Mother sent
me here.

Prince Otto is very ill.

His Majesty is ill, too.

His teeth are troubling him.

No, believe me, Father. It's a waste of
time waiting.

Count Hornstein is with His Majesty now.
He arrived early this morning.

He'd come from Versailles, where His
Majesty sent him on an important

He had to wait six hours.

Forgive me.

Tell His Majesty I was here.

And tell him the reason.

When did you arrive?

At 8 this morning.

And from that moment I was out there
waiting.

As your Majesty knows very well.

But I'm sick.

And chloroform is the only thing that
can make me sleep a little.

Does the smell bother you?

No, no, it's nothing.

Do you want us to open the window?

It's so cold.

Sit down.

Thank you.

What is this?

Who wrote it?

I don't understand.

It's the letter you should write
immediately to the King of Prussia.

I ought not to say this, but the
Chancellor himself dictated it to me.

I'm expected to write it.

To copy it and find it.

Then I will deliver it as quickly as
possible.

What? What?

I am to ask Wilhelm to do me the favor
of accepting my kingdom

as a gift?

No.

You're asking the future emperor of the
great new Germany.

To admit Bavaria as part of the
Federation of Allied States.

This is not an alliance.

It means handing the country over to
them.

Becoming slaves.

Worse than slaves.

We should be putting ourselves in the
most humiliating position imaginable.

Now. Now. I can do anything.

That's not fair. Slavery?

Humiliation?

I don't understand.

People become slaves when they are
defeated, taken prisoner.

Defeat is humiliation.

The inevitable fate of Bavaria if the
country doesn't join the alliance.

With one knee, the great new Germany
could blow the kingdom of Bavaria off

map.

We must face facts, sire.

If Mark's advice is sound, it would have
been wiser if you had written the

letter even before.

Your uncle, King Wilhelm, would
certainly have valued it more.

But write it now, before he is
proclaimed emperor in spite of us. This

psychological moment.

And there would be financial advantages,
too.

Yes.

Bismarck led me to believe that you can
count on that.

No.

Not now, at least.

I won't.

I couldn't.

I can't!

No, I can't! I can't, I can't!

I can't.

No, I can't.

It's almost five o 'clock.

If I can leave Munich by nine, we all
know that there is no other solution.

We can at least spare ourselves the
effort of talking about it.

If it's true that there's no other
solution, if my

government feels that there is no other
solution, let the government take this

step.

If I were to tell Your Majesty what the
government would like to do at this

moment, Your Majesty would not hesitate
to write this letter.

But I won't use such methods.

All I say is this.

Your Majesty needs a personal alliance.

An alliance among people of the same
blood, the same nobility.

An alliance that will bring many...

advantages, some of them immediately.

Oh, God.

Let go of him.

What's your majesty?

Don't you recognize me?

It's me, Ludwig.

Happy birthday, my dear.

Happy Christmas.

Happy everything.

This is my present for you and for him.

No one has ever had such a beautiful
present.

Our best wishes, Madame Wagner.

Best wishes from all of us.

from the whole world.

Play it once more.

Bye.

At the end of this difficult inquiry,
and for an in -depth analysis of the

issues we must resolve, I suggest to the
honorable colleagues to visit all the

castles of His Majesty, of which only
the castle of Linderhof has been

habitually inhabited by him.

I also want to remember that Wagner,
from a piece away from Bavaria, was

recording on our boxes his Bayreuth
Theater.

He had no money, but he made no efforts
to economize.

On the contrary, he went on spending,
giving money away, large sums for a

valet with a handsome face or a slim
figure.

Or an actor whose voice had caught his
fancy.

A glooming peace this morning with it
brings.

The sun for sorrow will not show his
head.

Go hence to have more talk of these sad
things.

Some shall be pardoned and some
punished. For never was a

story of more woe than this of Juliet.

and her Romeo.

I have

a

message for you from His Majesty.

And this.

His Majesty the King had instructed me
to wait upon the young actor, Kainz,

bringing him a gift and an invitation to
spend three days at Linderhof Castle.

Thank you.

Allow me to give you a piece of advice,
Herr Kain, for your own good.

You see, the king expected to meet
Romeo, not Herr Joseph Kain.

It was Romeo he invited to Lindholm.

If you can manage to be Romeo, or
Didier, one of your heroes, in other

then you are sure to be a success.

Kneel before each of these cross and
shed hot tears.

repenting the crime you have committed.

If you can then pass happily through the
horrors and dangers of the road, if the

mountain does not rain avalanches down
on you from its icy peaks,

you will reach a bridge covered with
spray as light as dust.

If the bridge does not break,

Beneath the weight of your sins, if you
leave it behind you,

you will see a black opening yawn in the
cliff before

you.

Thane has never penetrated there.

Pass, then, through that black gap.

And it will lead you to a radiant,
smiling valley.

But you must move through it quickly,
since you are not allowed to linger

peace reigns.

Oh, Rudolf.

My royal ancestor.

This is how.

Your descendant must enter the territory
of your empire.

And thus, as you climb, you will reach
the heights of the Gotha,

where the eternal lakes are, filled with
waters

that flow from heaven.

There, you will bid farewell to German
soil.

Another river will lead you in its rapid
course to Italy, your promised land.

I'll take you to the very places where
your characters suffered

and lived.

We'll follow William Taylor's footsteps
through the land.

And then...

and then to Italy.

Be silent.

I could have...

Ah,

be silent.

I, too, for my misfortune, could have
involved a woman.

But if he who addressed me was an honest
man,

Full of an idiot's sense of honor.

If, by chance, I had happened to meet a
heart still full of illusions.

Rather than not say to that honest man,
I am thus.

Rather than receive him joyously.

Rather than not warn him myself that my
chaste, pure eye was mere falsehood.

Rather than be so false.

treacherous, debased. I would have
preferred to make my grave with my own

fingernails.

Go on.

You would laugh heartily.

If you could see yourself as my heart,
that strange mirror for

you. You were right to break it, my

lady.

You were there, innocent, pure,

chaste.

Oh, woman.

What wrong was ever done you by this man
of sweet and profound heart

who loved you for so long on his knees

before you?

You'll become my great friend.

I'll make you the thought of my theater.

You'll play the greatest dramas of all
the world, of all time.

All the other actors will be Enweth and
Sheoloth.

You must expect that.

But you must be feared.

You will be under the king's protection.

The king will protect you and will spare
you suffering and worry.

But you...

You must be loyal to me.

I want only your loyalty.

Everyone hated Wagner, too.

I forced him on the whole world.

But Wagner betrayed my trust.

I was that man with a heart still full
of illusion.

And ever since, I've been searching for
a true friend.

We shall leave very soon.

We shall always travel.

If they will not allow me.

Who could prevent you from doing
anything?

You are the king and the master.

To be king is not always easy.

Then why not abdicate?

You must never address me that way
again.

Never! Never.

I'm very tired, Your Majesty.

May I retire and sleep for a few hours?

Sleep?

This lay is ready.

Come, I'll show you my true realm. My
mountains under the sun's first rays.

A world of our own.

Pure and uncontaminated.

Think of your soul, Didier.

Not of your body.

The mountain tops thunder.

The little bridge trembles.

But the hunter fears not the dizzying
path.

Boldly he strides over the icy peaks.

Where spring never shines.

Where no bough is green.

You stop.

That is the poem I wanted to hear from
you.

The south wind has risen.

Come, recite.

No.

I can't.

I don't feel up to it.

I hate being a buffoon, acting by
command.

I am an artist.

Please, just this once.

I beg you.

No, I cannot.

I order you, I cannot!

It's beyond me. I'm worn out.

We have been traveling for a week. I
feel as if I haven't slept the whole

My memory fails me.

If you're tired, then rest.

Mr. Kynes declared that the letters
written to him by His Majesty

the King almost daily during the brief
period of

their friendship were stolen from him.

Mr. Kynes is a liar. Mr.

Kynes sold and at a high price the
King's letters, just as he sold a number

presents he had received from His
Majesty.

He sold the letters in Switzerland to an
agent of mine.

These letters are in my possession. I
believe these letters are the most

undeniable evidence that His Majesty the
King is not in possession

of his mental faculties.

I bore everything I could as a loyal
servant of the kingdom and the state.

from a despot who knew no restraint in
satisfying his whims.

Reluctantly, I sent funds to Wagner in
Bayreuth.

I watched Linderhof being built and
clenching my teeth, the castle of

Neuschwanstein.

But in the autumn of 1877, when I
realized that His Majesty had firmly

determined to start building Herrn
Chiemsee,

and that he had done everything behind
my back.

Then I resigned.

Why is that black veil on the piano?

I heard him say it.

The king ordered to veil him in mourning
when Wagner died.

But time has passed.

I can't, I can't see her.

I can't receive her, go!

You tell her I'm in.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'll come to visit her as soon as I'm
better.

I'm actually not sure Einstein is at her
disposal.

If she cares to stay, as long as she
likes.

I cannot see her.

Annunciatemi a sua maestà. Sua maestà
sta male e non può ricevere.

Sua maestà dice che il castello ha
disposizione di vostra maestà imperiale

tutto il tempo che vorrà.

Rientriamo a Pozzanopoli.

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth.

And then he began to cry.

He had sent us out of the room, but we
could still hear him.

He was crying and shouting, Elizabeth,
Elizabeth.

Elizabeth.

Elizabeth.

Thank you.

That's a look at it.

Thank you.

Amen.

A chi avete dato l 'incarico di condurre
questa inchiesta?

Al conte von Holstein, altezza.

Il conte ha sempre vissuto molto vicino
a sua maestà, per cui il suo consiglio è

di grande aiuto per noi.

Ho sempre difidato dei favoriti, e gli
ex favoriti devono essere guardati con

sospetto ancora maggiore.

Che parte ha il colonnello Durkheim in
tutto questo?

He was always close to Ludwig, since he
was young.

Your Highness, we thought it would be
good to keep this painful situation as

secret as possible, for the precautions
to be taken in case our king is declared

incapable of governing.

As Your Highness will know, despite the
eccentricities and scandalous expenses

made by the king in these years for his
deserted castles, Ludwig is still very

loved by the people.

For more, there are those who are
interested in keeping a king on the

does not rule.

Do you want to tell me that among these
people there is also Colonel Durkheim?

Oh, no, no.

We have the highest esteem of Colonel
Durkheim.

And I, no less than you.

So you will not be sorry, gentlemen, if
I want to hear your opinion about it.

And I think it would be more correct for
you to hear it in your presence.

Call Colonel Durkheim.

The Council of Ministers, represented by
Count Torring, that you see here,

offers me the regency of Bavaria, in
case it is necessary to have our

Ludwig abdicated, according to what they
tell me, it gives clear signs of mental

illness.

Naturally, I would only accept it if a
medical referral confirmed this need.

I have the highest opinion of your
impartiality, Colonel.

I know that, on many occasions,

Lei ha dato prova di grande attaccamento
al sovrano.

Perciò vorrei sapere qual è il suo
pensiero.

Io... Io sono il primo ad ammettere che
Sua Maestà in questi ultimi anni

si è dimostrato sempre meno interessato
agli affari di Stato.

Si è rifugiato in una sorta di
solitudine inquietante.

Ma... Ma siamo sicuri che la sua
mancanza di interesse

non sia soltanto apparenza.

E quelle eccentricità non vorranno
essere un modo di mostrare a se stesso e

mondo intero quale libertà egli ha il
diritto di concedersi.

Domando scusa, Altezza, ma la mia
opinione è questa.

La vita privata del re è eccentrica
nella misura in cui il suo governo ha

che fosse.

Before he put his crazy expenses for the
castles, these were regularly approved

by the treasury.

Someone must have wanted to keep his
majesty the king and occupied, let's

in his madness.

Someone who in these last years has been
very close to the sovereign and who has

had a dangerous influence on him. Well,
he was put there by the government.

Forgive me, Your Highness, but Colonel
Durkheim has the nerve to accuse our

government of plotting against the
Sovereign.

You were the one who said that, not me.

I have the duty to answer sincerely to
the question that Your Highness has

me.

I am well aware of the severity of what
I have declared, but it confirms the

fact that...

That certain tragic measures have been
taken into consideration before trying

help the unhappy.

If I may say so.

Our sovereign is going through a crisis.
A crisis that lasts for how many years,

Colonel Durkheim?

For how many years?

Let's keep to the facts.

It's clear that the government has tried
to be generous because it wants to

avoid a scandal before...

Prima che sia troppo tardi. Se ci sarà
uno scandalo, noi stiamo soltanto

conducendo una curata indagine.

Il colonnello Durkheim sarà interrogato
e ripeterà le opinioni che ci ha

espresso privatamente.

E ci saranno magari altri, che come lui,
pensano che le

responsabilità del governo siano molto
più gravi di quelle del sovrano.

In questo caso, caro Pfistermeister, non
ci resterà che dimetterci e correre da

un medico.

Perché se si dimostrerà che il re è
perfettamente sano di mente, vorrà dire

i pazzi siamo noi.

I am Professor Bernhard von Guten,
director of the Psychiatric Institute of

Munich.

After the investigation of the mental
condition of His Majesty the King,

This commission has reached the
following conclusions.

His Majesty is in an advanced stage of a
mental illness, familiar to

all expert alienists, paranoia.

Since this illness impedes the exercise
of free will, it does not allow the

sovereign to concern himself with the
government of his realm.

This impediment will last for the rest
of his life.

Mr. Holzer?

Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen, listen
to me.

If that groom manages to warn the king,
our mission could be compromised.

We cannot wait until tomorrow. We must
act now.

How far is it from Hohenschwangau to

Neuschwanstein? It's right there. You
need only 15 minutes by carriage, even

with this rain.

Gentlemen, we must go at once.

Remember, every minute is precious.

Let's go.

They've come to arrest the king.

They came from Munich.

It's a plot.

I managed to escape.

They don't know I'm here.

They who?

The man came in three carriages.

Tomorrow, maybe even tonight, they're
going to come up here.

Your Majesty's orders are to be
disregarded.

That's what Count von Holstein said.

From Holstein?

Here in Deutschland?

I don't know, Your Majesty.

Yes, Your Majesty.

And who else?

I recognize Cabinet Minister Gralsheim,
Professor Gutten,

and Professor Schwer.

with my own hands.

We must accompany the king to Schloss
Bern.

What do you want?

His Majesty has been deposed by the
Council of State, and His Royal

Prince Ludpol, has assumed the regency.

Tell the soldiers to put down their arms
and have the gates open.

We have orders from the king to open
fire on anyone who attempts to approach.

I have with me an official document
which declares the king insane.

I'm authorized to read it to you.

You're my

be necessary we climb up there.

I can defend myself better.

Watch out if they try to seize me.

Anything rather than what they have in
mind.

To keep me alive by killing me like my
brother?

No. I will not allow them to do it.

Quickly, get me the key.

The key.

We don't have it, Si.

Find it!

Find it at once!

Go!

Go!

Colonel Durkheim!

that delegation of conspirators
arrested.

I approve your Majesty's action.

But the Council of State has made that
declaration.

The people must be roused up against it.

We will accompany Your Majesty at once
to Munich.

I believe we can count on the army.

Your Majesty will speak to the soldiers
and officers stationed at... Your

Majesty, we're having a moment to lose.

We must reach Munich.

Munich?

Munich.

Not even a team of elephants could drag
me to that city I hate.

Sorry.

That's the only hope of saving the
situation.

Unless Your Majesty prefers to leave the
country.

We could try to cross into the Tyrol,
over the border.

But afterwards, it would be very
difficult to be called back.

The army, the people, ask nothing
better, I believe, than to rush to your

Majesty's support.

But this help must be asked to them.

They must be won over, and only your
Majesty's presence... No.

No.

No!

I don't know.

Does Your Majesty prefer trying to leave
the country?

I am ready to help.

I don't feel like traveling.

And besides, what would I do in the
terror?

Make them leave me alone!

I've always done everything I could to
be useful to your majesty.

In the past I failed.

I fail today.

You can be very useful to me.

Very.

Some poison.

Get me some poison.

You only have to go to the pharmacy at
Kent.

But go.

Go at once.

Your Majesty.

I came here to save you.

Not to help you die.

King's order.

By order of the king, these gentlemen
must remain under close purveyor.

And not to leave these rooms under any
condition.

And they have to receive neither food
nor drink. Nothing.

I think there is no hope for us.

And Munich is far.

We are all in a trap.

I order you to send this message to the
Prime Minister.

Extreme speed is necessary. We are in
mortal peril.

The King has ordered us to be put to
death.

We need help as soon as possible.

I want to know if you have informed the
supreme command of the liberty taken

in... Colonel Dierkheim, I hope you are
aware of the grave responsibility you

have assumed.

It will have irreparable consequences
for you.

Without examining our instructions, you
have allowed Baron Kreilheim, the

Minister of Foreign Affairs, count
Pering the... By his matchless orders,

are all free.

Act cautiously. His Majesty must be

protected against himself.

Do you believe in the immortality of the
soul, Eva?

Yes, your majesty.

Yes, I do.

But...

So

do I.

I believe in the mortality of the soul
and the justice of God.

I've read many things about materialism.

It will not satisfy a man.

He will not be reduced to the level of
an animal.

drowning is a fine death.

There is no mutilation.

I will write a letter.

If this watch should return the reward
treasury, because

of my death, they should refund 25 ,000

quid.

Your Majesty, I have the key.

The key to the tower.

I... I...

I

mischarged you.

Your Majesty, I have never had to
perform such an unpleasant duty.

For Eldinists have expressed their
opinion on Your Majesty's health as a

of their decision.

His Highness Prince Luitpold has assumed
the regency.

I have been ordered to take Your Majesty
to Schloss Berg this very night.

And my son is just now.

It has begun raining again.

It will never stop.

Never.

Your Majesty should eat something now.

And what should I eat, in your opinion?

Everything.

You can eat everything you want, Your
Majesty.

No knives.

What a strange way to appear clear.

Only a fork.

To desire.

Should I start with the dessert?

I'm not hungry.

Now I want to sleep.

Of course, master.

Wake me up at midnight.

I'll take a walk first, and then... then
I'll eat.

Your Majesty will have to follow more
regular times from now on.

Of course.

Sleep at night, eat at the scheduled
hours, and when you go out, we'll see

later. Soon I'll be the one to ask for
permission, Your Majesty.

Very soon.

I would like to rest now and to be left
alone, if it's possible.

Of course, Your Majesty.

He has behaved with truly real courtesy
and with perfect discipline.

No sign of restlessness.

His answers are always to the point.

In all sincerity, I do not feel I can
refuse his majesty the one concession

he keeps asking for.

Permission to go out and stroll in the
park.

It's not raining now, but...

Look at those clouds. It's going to rain
again in a minute.

Apart from any other consideration, I
shouldn't think it would be hard for a

physician to advise against a walk in
the rain.

His Majesty has a very strong
constitution.

Naturally, I shall advise him to wait
until the weather improves.

But if he insists, I'm prepared to go
with him myself rather than refuse him

again. Yes, I'll accompany him myself.

You've been seduced, Professor Gooden.

Be careful.

...of the moon... ...is a maternal cult.

That of the sun, of the day... ...is a
virile myth, therefore paternal.

And yet the mystery... ...the grandeur
of the night... ...has always been for

me... ...the sublime kingdom of heroes.

And so also...

Poor Dr. Gordon.

Forced to study me from morning to
night, from night to morning.

But I am an enigma.

I want to remain an enigma.

Forever.

To others.

And also to myself.

Thank you.

They were

alone.

Professor Gooden did not want the nurses
to accompany him. His state of mind

seemed very calm today. But it's
madness, it's from the unconscious.

Dr. Müller, I have to teach you that the
madmen are also sly.

Go quickly, and as soon

as you find them, send someone to warn
them. Go, quickly!

Count von Holstein.

Why a Munich at once say the king has
disappeared.

I'm going to look into I Find them

I'll fire a shot in the air to let you
know

The king committed suicide.

In order to do that, you had to kill Dr.
Gooden.

Bring the body to the castle,
immediately.