All language subtitles for The Seventh Continent (1989).en

THE SEVENTH CONTINENT

Part One
1987

Morning.

Morning.

Morning, sweetie.

Get up, Eva.

Morning.

Put on your red sweater.

Do you have everything ready for school?

- Your brother's coming this evening.
-I know.

Can you help me out with the shopping?

I'll pick you up.

Can you bring me something?

- What?
- Something good.

Dear Mother and Father,

Please excuse George and me for not
writing sooner

but so much has happened here since
Mama's death,

we simply haven't had the time.

My brother, Alexander,
was hit pretty hard

and we didn't quite know
what we should do for him.

He became extremely depressed.

There were days when he couldn't
get out of bed.

Eventually he had to go to the hospital

and received dreadful treatment.

It was just awful I had to take care of
the business by myself,

take care of the settlement of the will,

the household…

and look after my sick brother
all at the same time.

Thank God things have calmed down:

Alexander is back at work,

so I finally have the time to write.

George was wonderful through it all…

even though the times were just as
difficult for him as they were for me:

He was transferred into a new department
where he was assured

that his chances for promotion
would be better

Unfortunately, he has a different boss,
an incompetent man

who will retire in a couple of years

and thinks he knows everything
better than anyone else.

Afraid that George
might take over his position,

he did everything he could think of to
make things difficult for him.

But you know your son:
things like that spur him on

and he does everything he can

to fulfill every assignment
in order to prove he is the better one.

By the way, his salary
has also been raised, so we are…

thanks to the inheritance I received
after Mama's death as well -

in an excellent financial state.

Well, what else should I say?

Yes, Eva is - knock on wood -

back in good health.

She has not had an asthma attack

since the time we visited you last winter.
The doctor is very pleased.

She sends you both a hug and a kiss.

As you see, when it gets right down to it,
nothing but good news.

Like Evi, I send you both a hug
and a kiss. Take care.

Your daughter-in-law Anna.

P. S.

George of course sends his love
to you both

and asks that you forgive him
for not writing himself

She's in there.

Tell me what's going on here.

Come on,

tell me what's wrong.

Come on, be reasonable,

tell me what's wrong.

She can't see anymore.

Is that right?

Is that true?

Yes.

Since when?

How long hasn't she been able to see?

Since just now - in the restroom.

Is that true?

Open your eyes.

Come on, open your eyes!

For Pete's sake, open your eyes!
How else can I see what's wrong with you?

Okay, Eva,

if you don't open your eyes then we'll
all just leave you here all by yourself.

Let's go!

Teacher!

Yes?

I can't see.

Look at me.

Do you see me?

- This either?
- No.

What?

What do you mean «what»?

- What can't you see?
- Your…

Nobody could have known
how near-sighted she was.

She really hid it that well…

Thank you.

And she was my friend.

Sit up, please.

You can imagine, at that age:

ugly, a face full of pumples…

and determined to be…

my bosom buddy.

But I had other things going on
in my head, that you can be sure of.

Look up, please.

Anyway,

one day,

she shows up wearing these thick,
grotesque glasses.

Look straight ahead, please.

She really looked like a frog.

I mean,

I felt sorry for her in a way,
but you know how kids are.

They asked, «How do you like
your bosom buddy's glasses?»

«They're disgusting» I said.

I'll never forget

the look she gave me.

Then she spoke
with that German accent,

full of spite:

«I hope you all have to wear glasses!»

We nearly rolled on the
floor for laughter.

She stood there

and didn't know what to do and
suddenly she wet her pants.

I mean,

you have to imagine,
she stood in the middle of the classroom

and suddenly there was
a puddle on the floor.

And,

what about the curse?

What can I say,

at graduation we all wore glasses.

The entire class?

The entire class!

The teacher came in

and asked what that was on the floor

and she ran away.

Eventually he made us clean up the mess.

Oh well,

you know

how kids are.

What else could you say.

How are you doing?

Yes, how do you mean?
What's the matter?

No, I'm afraid
this week wouldn't be very good.

Why do you ask? What did she do?

What?

That's hard for me to believe.

What has gotten into you?

Are you crazy?

-Why?
- What do you mean, why?

How can you tell someone you're blind?
Are you crazy?

I didn't.

You didn't?

Your teacher didn't just make this up!

Answer me!

I didn't say I was blind.

Look at me.

Is it true that you pretended
to be blind?

Tell me whether you did or not.

I want to hear the truth.

Come,

you can't have to be afraid.
I won't harm you in any way.

Honestly. But tell me:

Did you pretend to be blind?

Yes.

And Anna asked, «the entire class?»

and she said, «Yes, the entire class

«wear ugly glasses!»

I told her

the little witch obviously had
no notion of contact lenses.

- Would you like more?
- Yes, please.

Has the respite for the inheritance tax
been granted already?

More or less.

We haven't gotten an answer yet

but Dr. Knopp thinks they'll be no problem
considering the investments

we're making in the business.

It's pretty good for you both, too,
isn't it?

Should I turn it down a bit?

Not on my account.

Thanks.

By the way, it is excellent, sis'.

Thank you.

What did you season it with?

Let me think… salt, pepper,

a clove of garlic, thyme,

basil…

and then a dash of tabasco at the end…

What's wrong?
Is something the matter?

Wait a second.

Do you know what Mama said to me
a few days before she died?

«Sometimes I wonder

«how it would be if we had a monitor

«instead of a head
where we could see our thoughts. "

Have you brushed your teeth, sweetie?

Do you like the comic book
uncle Alex brought you?

He loves you very much.
Did you know that?

So do I.

Yes.

Do you feel all alone sometimes?

Do you love Papa

and me?

So, time for prayers.

Dear Lord, make me meek,
so that I in Heaven shall Thee meet.

Okay, time to go to sleep. Good night.

Will you leave the light on?

No, dear. It's already too late.

Sweet dreams.

Good night.

Good night.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Part Two
1988

Morning, dear!

It's raining.

Good morning, sweetie!

Wake up.

Good morning.

… at the beginning of the month,
four days ago,

George took on his new position.

It was hard work.

Perhaps you recall

when he was transferred:

his new boss was everything but
favourably inclined towards him.

But now he's made it…

His work spirit has brought inspiration
into the department

and when his boss fell ill with
an apparently serious intestinal problem

and was on sick leave more than at work,

they asked George

to take over the department
pro visionally.

His boss will retire
in a couple of years anyway

so it's only a formality until George
is officially named

the head of the department

You can be pretty proud of your son.

Alex, too, has found himself again.

He took a cruise
to Scandinavia in the summer

and it did him world of good.

He sends his regards.

Dr. Breitenfels, George's superintendent
at work, is having dinner with us tonight,

to reciprocate an invitation

to a party 14 days ago

where George's new position
was as it were, officially announced.

He is known as an epicure

so I'll have to give
my very best to win him over.

By the way, with your recipe,
mother-in-law: stuffed duck.

Keep you fingers crossed…

I just wanted to pick up a few
of my personal belongings.

They're no longer here.

How's that?

They were…

I had someone pick them up.

I didn't want anything

to happen to them…

Yes, I understand.

And where did you have them put?

They're in the staff department.

I see…

Thank you.

-Well.
- Are you feeling better?

What?

Oh, yes,

everything's just fine.

- I'm glad to hear that.
-Yes.

You must have forgotten this.

Sorry if I disturbed you.

Please, no need to mention it.

Good day.

Tell him I'm looking forward
to this evening!

His wife has a cold.
He'll be coming alone.

Do you think
they're just making excuses?

No, he sounded very sincere.

What's holding things up?

Probably an accident.

Part Three
1989

Drive carefully, you hear.

There is a lot of traffic today. I heard
them talkin' about it on the radio.

Yes, Mama.

- Thanks again for everything.
- Don't mention it.

God bless you, Everl.

- Bye, bye.
- Give me a kiss.

Give Grandma a kiss.

- Take care of yourselves, you hear.
- Bye, mother.

- God bless you, Everl.
- Bye.

Take care, Mama.

Write real soon - at least you, Anna.

With boys I already know it doesn't
help to remind them.

Yes, mother.

She didn't feed them
today and yesterday.

Mrs. Gebhardt didn't feed the fishes.

We'll just have to fire her.
Tomorrow.

Eva! Supper!

- Do you want anything or not?
- Thank you.

Thank you. That's enough.

- Wash up, okay?
-Yes, Mommy.

Dear Lord, make me meek,
so that I in Heaven shall Thee meet.

Good night, my love.

Will you leave the light on?

No, it's time to go to sleep.
It was a long journey. Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

G'Night.

We have to cancel
the newspaper subscription.

Dear Mother and Father,

A speedy reply

even though you've always said
I was a lazy letter writer

and you never hear from me.

Today, one day after coming back
from visiting you,

I quit my job.

My boss was at first a little surprised,

as you must be too,

but he figured I had something better

and he didn't want to hold me back
if I wanted to go.

And that's just how it is.

You' re probably asking yourselves
why I didn't tell you

all this while we were there.

But don't you think the debates

would only have spoiled the time
we had together,

for you and for us?

When you have decided on something
you should stick to it

That's what father always said.

And we have made a decision.

We have decided to leave
because there is nothing,

other than you,
to keep us tied down here.

Anna had already arranged for her brother
to take over her part of the business…

before we visited you,
so he will run the business

by himself now.

Is it for a wedding, Miss?

- No, no. Just so.
- You're having guests?

No.

Eva.

What's the matter?
Have you got fleas?

It itches.

Let me have a look.

Nothing.

Yes there is.

You're red because you scratched.

- But it itches.
- Come, sit down and don't scratch.

The last time.
Everything's back in order.

Thank you.

There's my medical insurance form.

Thank you.

Is that all?

Yes.

All together it's 478. 000 Schillings
and 60 Groschen.

But I can't pay out the interest
due to the 5-year-proviso.

That doesn't matter.

May I ask why you need the
money so suddenly?

You might be better off with a loan.

You can take a loan…

We're emigrating.

To Australia.

Hello. Is the teacher
Mrs. Polasek still there?

Yes, thank you, I'll wait.

Yes. Hello, this is Anna Schober.

I'd like to excuse
my daughter from school.

She has caught the flu while skiing.

She has close to 40 fever.

What did they want?

They brought something to eat.

There's just the problem
with our little Eva;

we thought a long time

about whether we should take her with us

or whether we should leave her with you.

As you can imagine, Mama,

and you, Father, for sure, too,

this decision cost us
a lot of sleepless nights

because although we are certain
we're doing the right thing for us,

it is another matter to make a choice
over someone else's life

who is the dearest person
in the world to you.

Perhaps you can remember
when we were with you

in church at Easter
and we heard the cantata

7 look forward to my death».

Afterwards Evi said,

«me too»

and you were quite shocked.

We have talked a lot about it
since that time

and I know that Evi
is not afraid of dying.

We talked about it today, just now
in fact and although we are certain

it is the right thing
to take her with us,

it was at the same time
beautiful and sad to see

how easy it was for her
to decide to come with us.

I believe that looking at the life
we have lived straight in the eye

makes any notion of the end
easy to accept.

Please don't be sad

or reproach yourselves
with the situation

or consider it as
a form of critique or whatever;

I am only making a statement of fact

which has nothing to do with you.

Lovingly, Your son, Georg.

I think the only way we'll make it is
if we go about it systematically.

It'd be better if you put on your shoes,
Princess.

You have to be careful anyway.
You don't want to hurt yourself.

Okay.

No.

Let me go!

Let me go!

Stop it!

Sorry.

Wait a minute, I think I heard something.

May I help you?

We're from the telephone company.

Someone registered a disturbance
with your line: you can't be reached.

Apparently you haven't put
the receiver back correctly.

Yes, that's true.
I didn't want to be reached.

- You know, that isn't allowed.
- No.

We'll have to disconnect the phone
if you leave it off the hook for too long.

Oh, excuse me.

I'll put it back right away.

Can I have a look at the telephone?

No.

Good day.

Can I watch television in the bedroom?

To our parents!

It tastes bitter.

Dear Lord, make me meek,
so that I in Heaven shall Thee meet.

The Family S.
was found on January 17, 1989.

The brother of the wife
was so concerned

that he notified the police
to break into the apartment.

The Family was buried on February 20th.

Despite the farewell letter,
Georg'S parents

could not believe it was suicide

and filed for investigation
of possible murder.

Police investigations

brought no evidence which
indicated murder.

The case was placed in the
files; unresolved.