Original subtitles

REALIZED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE REGION OF LAZIO REGIONAL FUND

Don't be loud, kids!

Bye.

Quiet! Don't be loud!

Forty-four cats In rows of six with a remainder of two

We’re marching united In rows of six with a remainder of two

With their whiskers in line In rows of six with a remainder of two

And their tails straight In rows of six with a remainder of two

Forty-four cats In rows of six with a remainder of two

We’re marching united In rows of six with a remainder of two

With their whiskers in line In rows of six with a remainder of two

And their tails straight in rows of six

With a remainder of two

With a remainder of two

- Hi, Mom! - Where's your bow?

- I lost it. - Again?

- Hey, baby! - Shut up!

Shut up! Come here.

- Don't you see he's sleeping? - He's always sleeping!

I wanted to surprise you! I'm Fred Buscaglione.

I know. And you're so good!

Listen to me.

Dad has to go back to work. We don't want to wake him up. Here.

You go buy some bread

and some bologna sausage.

If you happen to see your brother, tell him to come home immediately.

If he doesn't, tell him not to come home for dinner.

Our house is not a hotel. Okay?

Go.

Bye. Rub off that mustache!

- No! - Yes!

There you are.

- Thank you! Goodbye. - Goodbye, ma'am. Who's next?

Here's our Mimmo!

- What's on your face? - It's a mustache.

It's not Halloween!

I wanted to look like Fred Buscaglione. Mom loves him.

- I see. Does your dad know about it? - No.

Of course he doesn't, otherwise he would beat her up!

Do you mind if I serve him first?

How can I help you?

Mom told me to get a bologna sausage sandwich.

Okay, but show me your Buscaglione impression first.

- No. - What? Are you shy now?

Come on! You'll get this sandwich for free!

I saw you, I followed you I stopped you, I kissed you

You were so little, like this

- Good boy! - Well done.

Good boy!

There you are. You're talented.

- Thanks. - Bye!

- God, what I would do to you. - Oh, stop it.

- You've never had sex. - Whatever.

You're still a virgin.

- Give it back to me! - Where did you get it?

- I bought it. - It sucks. It's not even an Oklahoma.

So what?

Yours makes sounds, while mine actually shoots.

That's enough, guys!

I'll get you one.

Mom said if you don't go home immediately, you shouldn't show up for dinner.

Our house is not a hotel!

Of course it's not. It sucks.

What's in there?

- No, it's Dad's! - It's Dad's?

Listen, since our house is not a hotel, tell Dad I ate a sandwich at the bar.

Sit down. Let's play.

Deal the cards.

Where's the money Mom gave you to go to the shop?

- I shopped. - Where are the bags?

- I lost them! - Of course you did!

You go shopping, then lose the bags!

- Stop it! - A dog ate them all!

Did you hear him? A dog ate all the bags.

Get out of my sight!

What have I done wrong? One's a thug, the other one's a liar.

I work hard every day.

Vincenzo.

I work hard, too.

Eat your omelet.

What a miserable dinner.

On the hat that we wear

There's a long black feather

Stop. It's not working.

You're out of tune, so keep your mouths shut.

As for you, be more careful. I can't ask much of them.

But you are on pitch, so sing out loud!

Mimmo, come here. Sing the first note.

On the hat that we wear

You Southerners are good at singing. It's the only thing you're good at.

And what are you good at?

I'm not a blockhead like you. You're pathetic when you read.

Say it again and I'll punch you.

What's going on? Mimmo!

What did you do to him? Janitor!

Where's the janitor? Don't move. Calm down. Janitor!

Please, have a seat.

Thank you.

My husband couldn't come because he's at work.

Actually, I work too.

What happened? What did he do?

He broke one of his classmates' arm.

- He called me gangster! - Shut up!

These things never happen here. They must not happen.

Of course.

Headmaster, I don't know what to do.

I'm sorry, ma'am. He's suspended for two weeks.

I get it.

He's a difficult kid. He doesn't study.

He finds it hard to read, write and socialize with the other kids.

He's hopeless.

That's not true. There's still some hope.

Here's my advice.

Can we go home?

You think you're on holiday because you got suspended?

- Where are you taking me? - To the monks.

- I don't want to become a monk! - Don't be silly!

Morning. Excuse me, are you waiting in line for the auditions?

- For the Zecchino d'Oro. - Got it.

Quiet.

This is our line.

Got it. Sorry.

What?

People are weird.

Mom says it's good for your voice.

AUDITIONS

Come in. The next three, please.

Thank you.

Great. Here we go.

AUDITIONS

My dearest Pinocchio

A friend from my merriest days

Among all my secrets

You still have a place in my heart

Like it used to be

- Very good. - Thank you.

We'll let you know, okay? Thank you.

I know him. His name's Gaetano. He did very well.

Your turn.

- Come here. - Go.

Mimmo!

Please, excuse him. It's the first time he's seen a piano.

So, what's your name? I'm Mariele.

- I'm Mimmo. - Mimmo. I like it.

What are you going to sing for us?

- Nobody told us we had to pick a song. - Well... it doesn't matter.

- Let's improvise it. - Miss? I'm sorry for interrupting you.

- If he doesn't sing, he's out. - I'm sure he knows at least one song.

Pick one of those you always sing at home.

"You Were Little."

Buscaglione. Okay.

I don't know the right chords, but let's give it a try.

It's unfair. My son had to study his song.

You would smoke a thousand cigarettes

I would make money gambling

One day, you dumped me For a mushy guy, I looked for you

I found him, looked at him He ran like hell, I slapped you

You called me a thug And pointed a gun at me

You shot me, really? Shoot me, then!

Good. Shall we try it once more?

I think that's enough.

They're not auditioning for a gangster movie.

I came because she brought me here.

I couldn't care less about this kids’ competition.

- Okay, that's enough. Let's go. - Ma'am, wait a minute!

Come here.

Who is she?

Who put in a good word for her? She looks like a bossy teacher.

She is indeed.

She trained as a teacher and got a music degree.

- And Father Berardo speaks highly of her. - Hi.

- She goes to church, too. - A lot.

Have fun.

- What's your name? Caterina. - I'm Caterina.

What are you singing today?

Can I come in?

- Cino! Please, come in. - Good morning, Father Berardo.

Father, this is Cino Tortorella, and...

I'm Renato Benassi, the Executive Producer of Riff Records.

Of course! The Wizard Zurli! Me and my nephews watch you on TV.

Your show's called...

- Right, it's Thursdays with Zurli. - Well...

Just call me Cino.

To cut it short, a lot of kids came to the audition.

We weren't expecting it.

But in the last two editions, which were held in Milan,

the kids were well trained.

- These kids are not. - Come on, Renato. Don't be so pessimistic.

We have all it takes to breathe new life into the show.

- The TV station will come, too. - Exactly.

That's why the kids must be talented and on pitch,

but they mainly have to be nice and well-behaved.

We must shortlist them thoroughly before we start rehearsing.

Mr. Benassi, when me and my brethren

were deciding whether or not to host this competition,

I voted against it. And I'm still not sure about it.

Today, I saw a mom putting make up on her six-year-old daughter,

and heard a kid singing a heartbreak song.

I could go on...

Father Berardo, you have my word.

The Zecchino d'Oro will be a triumph of childhood fun.

There's no space for envy or competition, only music.

For the first time,

millions of kids are going to watch their peers on TV.

- We're giving them a voice. - I hope it's a nice voice.

I am sorry for interrupting you.

- Mr. Tortorella. Mr. Benassi. - Hi.

Father, I'm done here. I'll come back later.

- Please, stay. - So, how are the auditions going?

They're going very well. They're full of talented kids.

It's a tough choice.

If you need any help,

- you can check out my notes. - Thanks.

You crossed Mimmo off the list. I liked him.

I don't... Oh! The cheeky kid.

It's out of the question.

He would make a good clown, but not a good singer.

Right before you came,

we were saying that it's crucial that the kids are well-behaved.

He's anything but well-behaved.

- He stood out. I was impressed by him. - I won't change my mind. Cino?

I'm sorry, but...

accepting Mimmo would mean wronging a kid who was much better prepared than him.

Okay.

You're so beautiful, Mariele.

I want to meet you here, now and forever.

Especially when it rains. I'll be the happiest man on earth.

Yeah. Okay.

I asked you to come today because I've got a surprise for you.

They're hosting an audition for young musicians

to go on tour around Europe.

And they're also looking for a piano and violin duet.

That's us. It's our chance.

- It's a dream. - Right?

Yeah. I... I started a new job.

- I can't quite call it a job yet, but... - Hi.

Listen, I was thinking, we could start rehearsing right away.

Sure. Sandro?

I'm going to be a bit busy.

It's just for one week at the most, then we can start rehearsing.

No, let's start right away.

We must win, Mariele.

Things will get easier, both for our careers...

and for us. We'll be travelling and touring around Europe.

It'll be like flying free.

We'll be together all the time.

Don't you want to know about my new job?

- Sure. Tell me about it. - It's with the Institute of Antoniano.

I'm teaching and auditioning the kids for the Zecchino d'Oro.

I feel like it's a huge responsibility.

Well, come on. They're kids. It's just for fun.

Well, yes.

But fun is a serious business.

- Sure, however... - Let's change the topic.

Let's talk about serious business. Where are we eating?

I know an incredible place, and it's cheap, too. Let's go.

Mimmo! Mimmo!

- Mimmo, you've been selected! - I've been selected!

Dear mothers, fathers, and kids.

I should say kids first.

- Quiet. Be patient! - Excuse me? Hi!

Good evening. Hello!

I'm so happy to have you here today...

- Welcome. - Thanks.

Kids, be quiet!

...in this music room...

I'm sorry. I was rehearsing my speech.

What are you sorry about?

- Well, I thought you were in Milan. - I was supposed to be on the train, but...

we have something important to tell you.

There has to be 12 songs, not 20.

- Why? - The record company said so.

They want to cut a record, but an LP can only hold 12 tracks.

I get it, but I can't do it.

I've already given the news to the kids and their families.

It would upset them.

Okay, but every cloud has a silver lining.

You can take this opportunity to revisit some hasty decisions.

For example, Mimmo.

- We said he's not ready for the stage. - Right.

I'm sorry, Mr. Tortorella.

I know you founded the Zecchino d'Oro, and...

you have much more experience than I do,

but I am a music teacher.

And it's rare to find such a talented kid.

Mimmo bursts with energy.

I mean, I think he'll do great things, if he's in good hands.

You can be quite persuasive.

Okay.

Listen, you can give the news to their families.

Remember, we need 12 kids. I'm leaving. I need to catch my train.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

- Thank you. - Goodbye.

If you want, I can tell them.

It's fine.

I must learn to fend for myself.

- Can you keep me company? Thanks. - I'm happy to.

I'm so sorry.

It's unfair.

- You said they'd passed the auditions. - I know.

How are you going to decide who's out?

Well, so the kids must attend a prep course,

held every afternoon, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

- Then we'll hold another audition. - But my daughter is super busy.

- She can't come. - Mom!

My son's been taking singing lessons for three years.

What else should he learn?

- I'm sure we can find a solution. - I don't think so.

You're going to weed out eight kids.

I'm very sorry, but it's not up to me.

I'm sorry. See you tomorrow.

- Is that an Oklahoma? - Yes, it is.

Well, it doesn't look like one.

Ernestina, I want to know what happens in our family.

- Eat it. - I don't like it.

- Why didn't you tell me? - You're always sleeping.

- That's because I go to work. - I work, too.

Then I do the laundry, the housework, the cooking.

I do the ironing, the sewing. I take him to school.

And he doesn't even study.

He should find a job.

At your age, I worked to bring money home.

The grocer's looking for an assistant. Why don't you show up there?

Why don't you ask Sebastiano? I can't yell or I'll ruin my vocal cords.

Did you hear him? He'd ruin his vocal cords.

He's a music star.

What? Do you despise working?

Work makes you worthy of respect.

These are the hands of a man who can walk tall.

Don't you get it?

Don't you get it?

Our house is not a hotel!

Say something, Vincenzo. He's your son.

This thug's not my son.

- Hi, kids. How are you doing? - We're good.

Welcome to our first music class.

We have a lot to do together. And I really hope we're going to have fun.

REHEARSALS

Why did you sit here?

- The other chairs were all taken. - You bootlicker.

I thanked her for this opportunity. Does that bother you?

You see, I hate people like you.

Mimmo? Gaetano?

What's the matter?

- It's nothing. - Really?

Come here.

Next to the piano.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mimmo and Gaetano.

Let's give them a round of applause before their performance.

Before we start, Mimmo,

that thing is pressed against your diaphragm.

Hand it over or you won't be able to sing.

So...

Please, give me a pair of front teeth I beg you, Baby Jesus

There's only two But it feels like there's a thousand

They fell out and will never grow back

Your turn. Go!

Please, give me a pair of front teeth I beg you, Baby Jesus

There's only two But it feels like there's a thousand

They fell out and will never grow back

Very good. Well done!

See? You haven't realized it yet, but you two make a great team.

Music never lies. There's no point in arguing. Okay?

Go sit down.

Duets?

What are you talking about? Choirs, maybe?

It's too chaotic.

This way, they can all stay.

They'll learn to sing together.

Kids can't sing on the beat. They'd miss the cue.

No problem, I'm gonna tell them when to start.

They'll be running around the stage like monkeys.

Are you a dad, Mr. Benassi?

- No, I'm not. - Just as I thought.

Because you know nothing about kids and their skills.

How many kids do you have?

You're not married, are you?

Okay, I think duets work great.

This way, nobody will be excluded.

- Thanks. - You're the big boss.

The mastermind of it all.

I give in.

Why am I the only one who always gets told off?

Because Dad's lost hope in me...

but he still believes in you and your bullshit.

I like singing!

- They're gonna cut your willy off one day. - What?

Yeah. They're gonna cut it off, so that your voice won't change.

Come on, that's a lie.

Listen, I learned it at school. I didn't make it up.

It's the only thing I remember.

Anyway, I'm leaving. Bye, baby girl.

MUSIC ROOM REHEARSALS

M... Music r... Room.

R... R... Rehearsal.

- Z... Zecchino... - Music room. Zecchino d'Oro rehearsals.

I can read. I'm not stupid.

My dear people, I'm going to tell you

What happened to me

I had a new jacket

Which is not new anymore

A young sparrow with a red bow

Perched on my hand

He was hopping From one finger to another...

- What's wrong? You look sad. - It's nothing.

Smile a bit more when you sing, as it makes your voice sound fuller.

- Okay. - Anyway, you did well.

- That was really good. - Thanks.

Okay, kids.

Here's how we're going to work.

We're first going to learn the lyrics...

to understand what they're about.

Then it's music time.

I'm now going to give you...

a few lyrics.

You can start reading them.

So?

- Why are you not reading? - I don't like this song.

I choose the songs, you study them.

- I don't like it. - It's out of the question!

Read it.

Read it, Mimmo.

You think you'll put me off.

But I insist even more with kids like you.

Learn the lyrics by tomorrow. Then we'll see.

You'll get your gun back when you stop starting wars with me.

Got it?

Okay, kids. That's it for today. Go home. And study, please.

Sandro? I wasn't expecting you. Hi.

- Is everything okay? - We've been selected.

Sandro! Really?

No, I don't want to leave you.

Stop it!

Come on! Why don't you shoot her?

The cavalry is here! Attack them!

Enough!

It's the same story every day! Get out! I'm going to call security!

Come on! Get out of here!

Hurry up!

- I want to keep coming here. - I told you.

The cool dudes don't come here.

- Guys. Let's go to the bar. - Let's go.

I should go to class, but I don't want to anymore.

I'm coming with you.

You like your willy?

- Miss Mariele! - Hi.

What a surprise! Come in.

- Is this a bad time? - No. I look like a mess.

Please, excuse me for that. I wasn't expecting guests.

Please, have a seat. Wait, this chair... One of its leg is...

- Thank you. - Can I?

Sure. Would you like a coffee?

- Please, don't bother. - It's fresh. I've just had some.

Let me get a cup.

What a surprise! I'm excited.

- Coffee. - Thank you.

- Thanks. - Here's the sugar.

Did Mimmo do well in class?

Yes, he did very well.

I popped in to give Mimmo the lyrics he'd forgotten.

He might want to go over it before today's class.

Thank you, that's nice of you.

I remember when he was little... Well, I mean, the day he was born.

He was crying so hard. But he had such a lovely voice.

It almost sounded like a song.

Unfortunately, I'm always at work.

I work for some ladies who live in our neighborhood.

I still keep an eye on Mimmo.

I work nearby.

But I can't take him to school like the other moms do.

He knows how to get there, so he can walk alone.

- Yes. He's a bright kid. - He is.

- Mimmo, Mariele's here! - Hi, Mimmo.

Mimmo? What's the matter? Come here!

Mimmo?

- You look a bit pale. - I noticed it during class, yesterday.

And he was so silent. It was like he wasn't there.

- I'm okay. - Are you sure?

Good.

Since you're feeling okay, shall we walk to class together?

Even though it's a bit early.

I'll come and pick him up from tomorrow, if it's okay with you.

I don't know how to thank you. Are you happy?

Listen, I only did it for her.

I won't cover for you next time.

And never skip a class again. These things make me furious.

You made a commitment with me, your parents and yourself.

- Right? Then stick to it. - I don't want to join the Zecchino d'Oro.

- You don't like singing anymore then? - That's not the point.

What's the matter?

I like singing, but I don't want you to cut my willy off.

My brother told me that if I become a good singer,

you're going to cut my willy off, so that my voice doesn't change.

He learned it at school!

Mimmo, he was talking nonsense.

Trust me, nothing bad is going to happen to you.

You have my word.

They used to do it centuries ago, but we don't know if it's true.

- Do you trust me? - I do.

Please, give me a pair of front teeth I beg you, Baby Jesus

It's all I'm asking for I'll never be naughty again

Good, Samuele.

Come read the lyrics.

What's the matter now?

Okay, if you refuse to read it without telling me why,

this is the last time you come to class.

"M... My name is Ot... Otto,

the saus... Sausage dog."

"And I'm also chu... bby."

Stop it.

I changed my mind.

I'm going to play the backing track.

My name is Otto, the sausage dog

And I'm also chubby

I'm tiny but I run super-fast

Even though I'm short-legged

And when I sing with my lungs out

I jump high, higher than this

Good. That was the chorus to Mimmo's song.

Don't worry. It takes time to learn it by heart.

- We're going to listen to it many times. - Can I sing it?

Sure.

My name is Otto, the sausage dog

And I'm also chubby

I'm tiny but I run super-fast

Even though I'm short-legged

And when I sing with my lungs out

I jump high, higher than this

Good.

LANGUAGE DISORDERS

DYSLEXIA HESITATIONS, SYLLABLE INVERSIONS

I won't see him again.

Forgive me, Claude.

Who's calling so late?

It's for me.

Hello?

- So? - That was perfect.

- It's better than yesterday, right? - It gets better and better.

That's what rehearsals are for.

- What are you doing? - I'm studying.

Good. The competition is getting closer.

I know. It's going to be great.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight.

- Hi. - Hello.

Are you Mr. Vincenzo, Mimmo's dad?

- What has he done this time? - Nothing.

I'm Mariele, his singing teacher.

- Nice to meet you. - My pleasure.

My wife is on her way home, but you can come in if you want.

Actually, I wanted to talk to you.

- To me? - Yes.

Sometimes dads can help their kids to build self-confidence.

Are you talking about Mimmo?

Well, you should hear how he talks to me...

then you'd realize he's far too self-confident.

See, I came here because...

I noticed he finds it hard to read.

I know. I wish I'd gone to school.

Dad used to say, "We can't even afford a pair of shoes."

"You can't walk to school barefoot."

The truth is that kids, nowadays, don't want to study.

They don't want to learn.

- They're lazy. - It's not his fault, if he can't study.

It's kind of like a disorder.

Well...

I'm not a doctor, but I think he's a normal kid.

- He's smart and bright. - Yes, he is.

He is.

It's called dyslexia.

Basically, he doesn't see the words as they are written.

His brain mixes them up.

And he can't find a way to tell us. He hasn't realized it yet.

He himself believes he can't read.

So... we should...

go to the doctor's or put him on medication?

No, it's not necessary. Don't worry.

I'll think about it and let you know. But I thought you should know.

We'll do everything it takes to support him.

- Thanks for caring about him. - No problem.

It's not the end of the world.

Don't worry. Have a good day.

- You too, Miss. - Thanks.

From a humpbacked egg of a limping hen

A chick hatched, he was limping a bit

A young sparrow with a red bow

Perched on my hand

He was hopping From one finger to another

He pecked me a little

My name is Otto, the sausage dog

And I'm also chubby

I'm tiny but I run super-fast

Even though I'm short-legged...

- I was right. - Is that Mimmo singing?

I wasn't talking about him, but about his teacher.

- Mariele is great with kids. - And with adults, too.

- You must be hungry! Let's go eat. - Sure.

Let's try your iconic local food.

This way, you can really take a deep dive into our community.

I kind of sank though.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Don't worry, you can take the free seats. Look, there's one next to Mirella.

One next to Rio. Hi. Hi. One next to Peppino.

Hi, Anna. How are you? Good.

Go sit down, Gaetano. Don't be afraid. Hi.

That was really good.

I'm sorry to bother you,

but there's a mom who wants to talk to you.

- And she came all the way here? - She looks nervous. It's urgent.

I'm sorry. We'll get back to it later.

Hi, Mrs. Silvana. Is everything all right? Did something happen?

I've had enough. I can't take it anymore.

That unruly boy has a bad influence on my daughter.

You try hard to teach them discipline.

She was a nice kid. She came home looking like a gypsy, all dirty.

She swears, too. She said, "Ass."

Who taught her that word? I'm going to tell you.

It was Mimmo, the boy she likes so much. I'm not racist.

But they're so different. They spend too much time together!

- Silvana, can I ask you something? - Sure.

Caterina told me you used to be a teacher.

That's right.

Then I got married. You know how these things go.

So, have you ever heard of dyslexia?

Of course.

I even took an interesting exam on it at university.

That's great. Mrs. Silvana, you're a real godsend.

You could be of great help to me, Caterina and Mimmo.

Have a seat.

So, I noticed that...

No, listen...

Good morning, young man.

Good morning.

Don't worry. He's a good boy.

- Mimmo, you're here! - Hi, Mimmo.

Mom, please, can I show him around the house?

Okay, but be quick.

Look, this is me when I was little.

This is our pool room.

Follow me.

This is our grand piano room.

That's my dad's desk.

I can study in here when he's away, as long as I leave everything in place.

And these are Dad's gold watches.

What's the point of keeping them locked in here?

He collects them, which is pointless.

Dad only has one, but it's useful. He always wears it, even when he sleeps.

Otherwise, he'd be late for work and get fined.

Dad fines his workers too, when they're late.

Caterina, Mimmo? Come on, it's study time.

Come with me.

- Mimmo, what did you today at school? - I don't know.

I got suspended. I'm going back tomorrow.

So... let's start with history.

Garibaldi.

"Divin... Vidin..."

I always skip the ones in red.

Focus on your homework. I'll check it later.

DIVING

- This word scares you, right? - I'm not scared.

Sorry.

Let's say you don't like it.

I mix the letters up. They all look the same.

That's true.

Draw a dot under the V.

And a dash under the I's.

"Diving."

- "Diving." - Good. Let's dive into it then.

- You're here to pick me up! - Yes, I'm going to walk you home.

Listen, tell me about Caterina's house.

- They called me "young man". - Wow, really?

Her house is ten times bigger than ours. It's all mirrors and carpets.

Her dad has an office where he keeps his useless watches.

- Useless? Are they broken? - No, they work.

They're gold watches and he keeps them in a glass cabinet.

They're gold?

Come here.

I need a favor.

Our life sucks, but we can make it better.

If you listen to me, you'll make our family happy.

Listen to me, Mimmo. Girls don't date...

gangsters.

If you keep doing what you're doing, you can forget about Caterina.

But if we buy ourselves a flashy car, or a nice watch...

- they might wanna date us. - What should I do?

Get me that cabinet key.

Okay?

Good. Hop on.

Why... Sit up straight. Good.

Why did Garibaldi's army,

which was called The Thousand, wear red shirts?

What do you think, Mimmo? You've been so quiet since you came back.

They were red like the butchers' ones.

Garibaldi got the shirts from them for a great price.

Good.

My name is Otto, the sausage dog

And I'm also chubby

I'm tiny but I run super-fast

Even though I'm short-legged

And when I sing with my lungs out

I jump high, higher than this

Very good.

- Have a seat, Mimmo. - Yes.

Here we go.

Can I go to the toilet, please?

Sure, it's that way. You know it.

He's just like Caterina. If he gets excited, he runs to the toilet.

They're going on TV tomorrow.

There's nothing to worry about, kids. It's just a game.

- Are you nervous? - No.

No? Yes? Me too, a little.

Please, keep smiling.

- Miss Mariele? - Yes?

Are you coming with me?

I'd rather not. I'll come out from backstage.

Ladies and gentlemen,

good evening from RAI, our national broadcasting service.

Tonight, you'll be watching the Zecchino d'Oro,

live from the Institute of Antoniano, in Bologna.

- Three, two... - Good luck!

- Thanks. - Okay, kids. Here we go!

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this year's edition

of the Zecchino d'Oro. We're live from the Institute of Antoniano.

Let's give our young jury members a big round of applause!

And let's give our orchestra another one!

We're ready for our first performance!

Here he is. He's Gaetano.

- He's my son. - What are you going to sing?

- "The Broken Jacket". - Okay. Who are you dedicating it to?

To Caterina.

- And to Mom too. - Great.

Gaetano is going to sing for us. Please, Maestro!

My dear people, I'm going to tell you

What happened to me

I had a new jacket Which is not new anymore

Which is not new anymore

A young sparrow with a red bow

Perched on my hand

He was hopping From one finger to another

He pecked me a little

"I'm not looking for your hand"

He whispered it to me Shaking his little head

"All I want is a tiny button To give it to my faraway lover"

The young sparrow in love

Stole my tiny button

He flew away in a fluttering of wings

And left me with a broken jacket

And left me with a broken jacket

Our jury members can now vote! Please, go ahead!

What? He didn't even get a single ten!

Rocco, do something.

- What? Should I arrest them? - I don't know.

Ladies and gentlemen! Please, Maestro!

From a humpbacked egg

Of a limping hen

A chick hatched, he was limping a bit...

Hand me the jimmy!

He looked sad and so his mother hen...

Tick-tock

After a while

Tick-tock, the chick started dancing

Three green and yellow chickens

Who were teaching the Hully Gully They greeted the dancing chick

Just like this

Cock-a-doodle-doo, Cock-a-doodle-doo Cock-a-doodle-doo

Let's give Caterina a big round of applause!

Well done! Jury, it's your turn!

She's going to win.

It's super easy.

- Here we are! What's your name? - I'm Mimmo.

What a beautiful name. What are you singing for us?

"Otto, The Chubby Sausage Dog".

"Otto, The Chubby Sausage Dog". Great! Please, Maestro!

In a house with a tiny garden

There lives a kid with his little dog

But the bigger dogs mock him a bit

Because he's a bit weird

He can't bark, but he can sing

And when he sings

He always sings like this

My name is Otto, the sausage dog

And I'm also chubby

I'm tiny but I run super-fast

Even though I'm short-legged

And when I sing with my lungs out

I jump high, higher than this...

Because his mom tells him to study...

My name is Otto, the sausage dog

And I'm also chubby

I'm tiny but I run super-fast

Even though I'm short-legged

And when I sing with my lungs out...

My name is Otto The chubby sausage dog

My name is Otto The chubby sausage dog

Let's give Mimmo a big round of applause!

We can now move on to the votes!

Look, Mimmo! How many tens!

However, there's also a six.

Anyway, you can go rest now.

Let's give our next artist a big round of applause!

- That was great. - Thanks, but that brat gave me a six.

Come closer.

Let's make a deal.

Whoever wins, we'll still be friends.

- I'm with you. - Me too.

That's a great score. You can go rest now.

Ladies and gentlemen, before the long-awaited moment...

Kids, he's going to announce the winner!

It's time to find out our winner. We're almost ready.

And...

the winner of this year's edition is...

Mimmo, with the song "Otto, The Chubby Sausage Dog"!

Let's give him a round of applause!

- You were great. - Mariele, we all were.

- Yes! - Of course.

We need to hurry up for the encore. You guys can come with me.

Mrs. Liliana, can you take care of them? Hurry up!

Let's give Mimmo a big round of applause! Congratulations!

- Are you excited? - Yes, I am.

Of course. What about an encore?

- Sure. - Great. Ladies and gentlemen...

Please, Maestro!

In a house with a tiny garden

There lives a kid with his little dog

But the bigger dogs mock him a bit

Because he's a bit weird

He can't bark but he can sing

And when he sings...

I was just told he wanted to steal the watches.

He tried to, but your dog found him.

Your housemaid called us.

Nothing was stolen though.

Excuse me, why are we here?

Your son was found guilty.

It can't be true.

He would never do such a thing.

- We're good people. - Don't worry.

- There must be a mistake. - A mistake?

There's no mistake.

My wife welcomed your son and taught him how to study.

- I helped him win. - And that's how you thank us?

- Mimmo has nothing to do with it! - You're a family!

Let's try to not make things worse.

If you want to report it, come to our station.

- For sure. - Goodbye.

I can't believe it.

Darling, I must tell you something.

Your parents had to leave.

But don't worry. It's nothing. Your brother is in a bit trouble.

He might have been involved in a burglary, but I'm sure they're wrong.

He's not guilty! I never gave him the keys!

- I didn't! - Mimmo! Which keys?

I'm sorry.

Let's go home.

You talk to him. And don't spare him.

Don't spare him.

You can't even look at me.

- Mom... - What? What's wrong with you?

Do you want to get a gun?

And rob a bank?

I wanted to help you two.

What?

You're going to destroy us.

If Southerners are seen as gangsters, it's your fault.

Do you know that? We came here to work.

We're honest people, who work for the sake of your future.

And look what happens.

You're a burglar now.

Have you told Mimmo about it?

Mimmo?

Mimmo won the competition.

His friends are good people.

They're not like yours.

You must leave him alone.

Got it?

If you get out of here...

stay away from him.

Everything always goes wrong for me.

Why should I try hard if I always mess things up?

- That's not true. Why do you say so? - I always mess things up.

If I'd given him the keys, he wouldn't be in jail now.

He's not in jail, Mimmo.

We don't know what's going to happen.

Why don't you tell me about the keys?

Please, swear you won't tell anyone.

I swear it.

But you should never say things go wrong for you,

ever again.

Excuse me, did you win the Zecchino d'Oro?

Then smile and be proud of yourself.

Pinky swear.

Tell me about it.

Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo!

Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo!

Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo! Mimmo!

Caterina! Caterina!

Caterina!

- Good morning, young man. - I'm here to study with Caterina.

She's not home.

- Where is she? - Mimmo, she's not here.

Let me talk to her mom. What happened is not my fault!

I'm afraid they won't be receiving any guests for a while.

Who's the matador?

He's matador Camomillo, the chill matador

He sleeps when he can

Matador Camomillo, if the bull is near you

You take a nap and forget about it all!

- Hurray! - Hi, Mimmo!

Excuse me, kids. Mimmo?

Mimmo? Mimmo. Mimmo, Stop!

Mimmo, stop!

- What's the matter? - You dumped us!

What?

Me, Caterina, Gaetano and the other kids. You don't like us anymore!

What are you talking about? It's the opposite.

You did so well that the show was a great success.

They asked for a new edition right away.

- It's all thanks to you. - You don't care about us.

Mimmo?

Why did you stop?

You don't talk to me anymore and you're always angry.

Mimmo is my best friend, but you won't let me see him.

Caterina.

Dad made this decision for your own sake. You're everything to us.

- You do everything he says. - He's my husband.

And?

There are some things you can't understand.

- Is it because he's a Southerner? - That's not the point.

His brother broke into our house!

- His brother did it, not him! - Darling, your family can teach you a lot.

Mimmo taught me how to make paper suns and slingshots.

That's fun!

But you're turning into a tomboy. That's not what I raised you to be.

When I grow up, I'll marry Mimmo!

Mimmo!

Mimmo! Where are you?

Mimmo?

Mimmo!

He lives in the last flat. Go left.

- Thanks. - You're welcome.

Hi, Mimmo!

- What are you doing here? - I ran away from home!

Come with me.

- Are you alone? - Dad's working and Mom's at the market.

- Is this your room? - Yes.

- And... this was your brother's. - Yes.

- I'd love to have a sibling. - Now I'm an only child, too.

I'm sorry. I know it's not your fault.

- I'm not like my parents. - I know that.

- This is your song! - I don't give a damn anymore.

- Why did you tear it up? - Mariele found some new contestants.

She's already forgotten about us.

- How did you find out about it? - I went back there.

- They already picked the new songs. - Are they better than ours? Who knows?

Let's find out.

The records must be somewhere here.

Here's one!

"I Wanted a Black Cat".

- Did you hear that? - What?

- They closed the door. - I think they locked us in.

What are we gonna do?

I don't understand it.

I thought she was in her room.

I might know where she is.

- Who are you calling? - Mimmo's mom.

He's a thug! We forbid her from seeing him.

Well, exactly.

From what you're telling us, it seems like they'd done it on impulse,

as if they ran away voluntarily.

What? Voluntarily?

- Is it a futina, like Southerners do? - Augusto!

Please, sir!

You can't help it.

- You act like a boss. - Vincenzo...

- What? Are you a communist? - Please, let's stay calm!

Finding the kids is all that matters.

- Do you know where they might be? - No!

But...

- Can you do it? - Sure.

I used to spy on them while we were recording.

One day, I want to be the guy that knows what all these buttons are for,

and who says whether a song is good or not.

A white cat, and now I'm fed up...

- That's Mariele singing! - Let's give it a try.

But we don't know the words.

- Let's follow Mariele. - Cool!

I wanted a black cat

You got me a white one and now I'm fed up

I wanted a black cat

But since you're a liar I'll never play with you again

Mimmo? Mimmo. Caterina? Mimmo?

What are you doing here?

- Let's go, kids. Your parents are here. - What happened?

- Mom! - Caterina, darling!

They came to see me, and lost track of time.

- They locked them in. - We'll talk later!

Why did you leave without telling me?

- She went nuts. That's why. - No, she didn't.

Because she hangs out with these people.

I'd better go to work.

- Thank you, Mariele. - No problem.

- Goodbye. - Thank you, Mariele.

I wanted a black cat

But since you're a liar I'll never play with you again

O come, all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye

To Bethlehem...

It was all an illusion.

We took their dreams, we nourished them,

and then left them all alone.

- I feel responsible for this. - It's a good feeling, Mariele.

The next step is taking action.

- How am I going to help them? - Who knows?

Maybe the answer is right in front of you.

Let us adore Him, Christ the Lord...

I don't want to bother our Lord.

I wasn't talking about Him.

Abandoned

The summoned shepherds

Hurry lowly to the cradle...

We'll call it the Little Choir of Antoniano.

It's going to take a real commitment.

They'll be attending weekly music and singing classes,

switching between playing and studying. That's key to learning.

And to educating. Orphanages could join us, too.

No offense, but you want to recycle our previous contestants,

put them together and form a choir, right?

I wouldn't call it "recycling".

Do you know how time-consuming it would be to teach them all those songs?

- We have no time for that. - And the set list is fixed.

I know that, but it wouldn't be a waste of time.

Also, Mariele has shown us that she's a good teacher.

- That's crystal clear. - Of course.

But it's still a bad idea.

Our audience's taste is moving in the opposite direction.

- I can show you a few market surveys. - We're not talking about surveys.

We're here to identify a kid's potential and help them to develop it.

They all have different personalities.

We can't ignore that.

They'll be supporting each other.

They'll be helping each other when learning the new songs.

Because all that really matters is spending time together,

and learning to listen to each other. It's the essence of a choir.

They know they'll never be alone.

There are no lists. There are no winners. No one will be left behind.

Vincenzo?

- Have you read Mariele's letter? - You've read it to me three times.

Which letter?

She's forming a choir with the Zecchino d'Oro contestants.

Would you like to join it?

Your son is in detention, and you care about this stuff?

I know that, but Mimmo's different.

He's gifted, and we must support him for his own sake.

He either gets a degree or he gets a job.

Moneybags' kids can sing. We can't afford that luxury.

I'd love to sing in Mariele's choir.

Nobody's asked for your opinion. If we argue, you shut up.

You complain about bossy people, but you're worse than them.

I'm done here. Thanks.

Keep writing.

- So, how are you? - We're good!

It looks like we started off on the right foot.

The kids are pumped.

Mimmo and Caterina haven't come back.

Their families hate each other's guts.

I'm sure that's why they won't join our choir.

There's nothing we can do if their parents are against it.

I know.

But it's not their fault.

And they're both so talented.

You really do care about them, right?

For the first time in my life...

I find it easy to be myself.

It's as easy as breathing.

Then this is your mission.

If you feel you're on the right path, and everything's easy as breathing...

you've found your mission.

We all have one.

Just listen to the guiding voice that's inside you.

I do listen to it.

It says I must fully commit to this choir.

They'll think I'm nuts.

It's normal in these cases.

Sandro, in particular...

he's going to tell me I'm blowing up my career for some kids.

But you know it's much more than that.

Look.

Thank you.

The first few days,

she wouldn't sit down at her table because she thought that lady was a witch.

Look at them now.

You inspire their lives, Mariele.

Thank you for coming.

I'll be quick.

I'm very busy. I have to leave in a few minutes.

Did you know that out of 100 songs...

at least 20 of them are dedicated to fathers?

I'm not kidding. Next year, mothers will be left behind.

Which means that dads are very important.

When Mimmo and Caterina got locked inside our institute...

they recorded this.

I wanted a black cat

You got me a white one and now I'm fed up

I wanted a black cat

But since you're a liar I'll never play with you again

Moreover, it would be a great pity to lose talents like these.

I think this school and the Zecchino d'Oro truly helped your kids out.

Mimmo made such great progress on all sides.

He's improved his writing, his reading...

That's true, reading is much easier for him now.

Yes.

And Caterina... is not as shy anymore.

She's much more social with others.

She's too social now.

My daughter won't join your choir if Mimmo joins it.

He has a bad influence on her.

No worries, let her join the choir. Mimmo's not coming back here.

She just said he's been making some progress. Why are you so stubborn?

- Caterina... - Excuse me? One thing at a time.

It's ridiculous that your kids are paying for someone else's mistakes.

I know your families are poles apart... but that's a good thing.

In my choir, every kid is different.

Some are rich, while others are poor. They come from all over Italy.

Some of them have only one parent.

Some are orphans.

They're learning what diversity means.

They're learning to live without prejudices.

It's important that they learn it when they're kids,

because when you're an adult, it's hard to change your mind.

You really wear people down.

If this helps Caterina...

well, I think she can join it.

Sebastiano, my son, was the biggest disappointment of my life.

He's gotten us into so much trouble.

However, if you believe this is a good thing for Mimmo,

I'll take a step back and leave you to it.

- I've had enough trouble. - I'm going to take him to class.

There won't be any trouble.

Since you've mentioned it...

we believe that detention can work

to straighten up a 17-year-old kid.

- What's your point? - I mean,

are you really not going to withdraw the charges before the trial?

- You don't have to. - I'm just being honest here.

Kids come out from detention schools as criminals.

Honestly, I don't think he's a great thief either.

He didn't steal a thing.

He can start from scratch and learn a job.

I've never begged for mercy in my life.

And I'm not going to start today. If you'll excuse me.

I'm sorry.

All right.

Let's go.

- Goodbye. - Thank you.

Thank you.

You finally have a day off.

Sandro...

Is everything okay? Did you do your things?

How many kids are there in the choir?

- There are fifteen, for now. - Can I become the sixteenth?

That's not the point, Sandro.

- I'm sorry. - I gave you everything.

Right?

I see.

I want to marry you.

Let's get married.

Things will become much easier.

We're going on tour.

Let's get married and go away.

I'm not coming, Sandro.

- I can't. It's because of my job. - Which job?

If your piano teacher heard you...

You're throwing away years of sacrifice for a couple of kids.

She said she won't be attending one single show.

See?

We're all trying to make you open your eyes.

You're wasting a career...

you've worked hard for.

Well...

No tour then. But I've asked you to marry me.

Will you marry me?

You'd spend your life waiting for me.

- Because of my job, the choir, the kids... - One day, they'll grow up.

And then the new ones will arrive.

Sandro, you deserve a woman who takes care of you.

A woman you can share everything with.

- And I'm not that woman. - I want to have seven kids.

And I want them to be yours.

To be our kids.

I hope you realize what you're doing.

Goodbye, Mariele.

DETENTION SCHOOL

My dearest Pinocchio

A friend from my merriest days...

I knew that the choir was going to be a success.

With all of my...

It's all thanks to Mariele.

Secrets

You still have a place in my heart

Like it used to be

- Hi, Sebastiano. - Can you excuse me for a moment?

- It's nice to see you. - Hi.

- Can I help you? - My car has a problem.

- It's outside. - Let's go.

I haven't thanked you yet. They withdrew the charges.

We all deserve a second chance.

- Mimmo told me so much about you. - He told me so much about you.

You know, he adores you.

When he told me about that key, about what you'd asked him to do.

- You did a bad thing. - I know. I made a mistake.

You did. He really cares about you, and he's a very sensitive kid.

Set an example for him or he'll make the same mistakes you did.

- Trust me. I'm trying to play it straight. - Really?

- Yeah. Really. - Are you sure? I'm glad about it.

- Where's your car? - My car?

- Yeah, your car. - Of course.

I don't even have a driving license. I love walking.

- Thanks for the chat. - Thank you.

- Good luck. - Thanks.

- Bye. - Goodbye.

Is Popoff a real Cossack?

He wears boots and a Cossack hat But it's not enough

Matador Camomillo, If the bull is near you

You take a nap And forget about it all

Hurray!

Vincenzo!

Forty-four cats In rows of six with a remainder of two

They united...

Kids!

I have some great news for you!

I just got a call from the TV station.

You'll be singing the theme song for a famous TV show.

It's for Canzonissima!

- Mom! - My love!

Hey.

How are you?

- We were worried about you. - It's nothing.

Hi.

Tell me what happened.

It was a small accident.

The doctor came and said it's nothing major.

It's just back pain.

Can you leave us alone for a minute, please?

No.

Please, it's a grown-up talk. Give us a minute.

- Be quick though. - Sure.

I don't like it. I'm scared to death.

I fell down the stairs. These things happen every day.

Don't you get it? You can't take it anymore.

You wake up at 4:00 a.m., and come back home dog-tired.

The pay is good. And I have time to do other things.

Yeah, like taking Mimmo everywhere, coming back home late at night...

That's not always the case.

Ernestina, I don't want to see you like this anymore.

Enough with that choir.

It's not working.

But Mimmo loves it.

Ernestina, we made a deal.

We agreed on doing it, unless it brought us more trouble.

Tomorrow, we'll go back to our normal life.

That's it.

Mimmo? Come here.

I've had enough.

- When are you coming home? - Soon.

We'll be on time, if you take me there.

- You've never come! - Enough!

Your mom's in the hospital and all you care about is singing?

We can't afford it, don't you get it?

You always ruin everything! You're too thick to understand!

Damn it!

Did something happen?

Got it.

Goodbye.

Get on.

THE LITTLE CHOIR OF ANTONIANO

- Hi, Mariele. - I spoke to his dad.

He said Mimmo can't come and hung up.

I'm sorry, but we need to leave right now.

Bye!

- You have to drive me to Rome. - Mimmo, why are you here?

- Let's go! It's going to be fun! - I can't. We must be good kids.

- Please! - Come on, I'm taking you home.

I don't want to.

- Don't be stupid! - I don't want to go home!

Look what you make me do.

Hello?

I'm coming.

- Sebastiano? - Hi, Dad.

Where's Mimmo?

Drive him there. That's all he wants.

What do we know about music, Dad?

He might live a better life.

- I tried my best to give you a better one. - I know that.

Maybe he's right. I've never understood your needs.

Please, forgive me.

I'm sorry.

- Here I am, young boy. - Good morning, ma'am.

- Did you take care of my car? - It's brand new. After you.

Yeah.

- I was told you're good with cars. - Thank you.

So, Mimmo...

- Let's go to Rome. - Yes!

Mimmo's here!

Mimmo, you came!

Kids, Mimmo's here!

- There he is! - That's Mimmo!

The song that I'm thinking of...

DEDICATED HER LIFE TO PICCOLO CORO, NOW NAMED AFTER HER.

I don't really know its title Nor when or where I heard it

But I'm sure it sounds like this...

ZECCHINO D'ORO IS NOW AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

CELEBRATING CHILDHOOD THROUGH MUSIC

AND WELCOMING CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

Subtitled by: Noemi Zucca