Original subtitles

A world my child that was built stone by stone,

with labor and love...

Tumbled at once like from an earthquake,

and left behind it, human wreckage.

Mrs. Petrakis, I hope you settle in well.

Tomorrow early in the morning my wife will come over.

To get to know each other, to take you for a walk around our island...

What's her name? - Elpida!

- How's the situation here? - Depends on how someone looks at it.

Its forbidden to go out the walls.

I've found a secret passage that leads to the beach.

- Ohh how nice, have you been there? - I have.

- Dimitris is gone my wife. - How can I forsake my child?

No more Dimitris.

Dmitri’s family took the children and fled Elounda.

Petro has been struggling for so many years without anyone giving him credit for his efforts.

From three tanks there's only half left full

and if it doesn't rain the following days we'll be without water, understand?

I'm tired of always having you against me on my every effort!

Will you go to mom tomorrow?

I don't know my child.

Why don't you know?

You want company?

We have some of them on the island.

Getting drunk, gambling and going after the single women of the island.

Keep your eyes open Eleni.

No goofing off when I dictate!

So.

Can't you see the water is out?

Our home is empty.

Let’s not say goodbye.

Faster!

Faster!

I'm dizzy.

Father!

Father!

Did you see mom?

- I did. - Is she OK?

- Very well. - Gave her the letter?

Of course I did. - Did she give you a letter for me?

She gave me a letter for the both of you.

Hey, easy, easy... easy you'll tear it apart.

- I'll read it first. - Anna!

Maria will open it, you'll read it together.

Easy! - Put it down!

Anna!

Anna! Anna!

Go find her!

What happened! What's wrong!

My beloved children...

It's only been a few days since we parted, but it seems like ages.

Do you assist your father at he house work?

Please, have a little patience until he learns how to cook.

Anna! ANNA!

Dimitris and I leave in a house with a small garden.

I'm thinking of planting some herbs that are good for the health.

Anna! Where are you?

Today I also found a millstone...

and I was very happy.

I miss you, my beloved ones.

Anna? Annio where are you?

Maria! Maria!

Little Anna?

Here take!

At night when I go to bed...

I close my eyes and dream I have you in my arms.

And sleep takes me sweetly, till the next morning

With love, your mother.

My beloved mommy.

Father, told me that he'll fix his boat. That he'll come to the island to meet you.

That’s why I wrote to you.

From the day you left, aunt Savvina takes care of us and cooks for us.

Aunt tells us jokes to keep Anna laughing, so that she's not sad,

Anna is fine. You know her...

But at the house she does nothing.

She thinks like she's some princess. But I...

don't mind.

Anna cries and she's mad to father that doesn't know how to cook.

But I... neither cry nor get mad, because I pity him because he's alone.

- Mrs. you got a letter? - From Maria.

- What does it say, is she alright? - She's fine.

- Mr. Giorgis, is he alright? - Fine.

Does it say anything about my family?

Your family is just fine.

Does it say?

I know.

My mom, told me she'd come with Mr. Giorgi to see me.

That’s alright, maybe they didn't let her come.

You see Giorgis has his own boat, that’s why he comes.

If I write them a letter, can Mr. Giorgis give it to them?

Yes why not?

You didn't tell me, how's it going with the new teacher.

She's not like you.

- She shouts all the time. - What does she teach you?

Nothing. Stupid things. The same, all the time.

And when we goof off, she gets mad and she beats us.

Then you, make sure you pay attention in class so that you don't get trouble.

Come on, sit up.

- What mess is this? Heh? - Its Maria's turn.

Tuck up your things quickly. Make your bed and leave Maria out of this.

Maria does that kind of thing every day.

- Then why doesn't she do it today also? I won't say it again.

Pick up your things and make your bed!

But tonight it will get messy again.

Is that how your mother treated you?

I'm not making the beds because at night you'll mess them again and I'm not washing because they'll get dirty again?

No.

So stop talking and pick up your stuff,

Anna! You are a housekeeper too in this house you understand?

Maria is!

Can toy see that? Huh?

Do you? That you have the nerve to tell me "Maria is"?

Ice cold!

Not ice cold. In Plaka sometimes it’s even colder.

- I've only swam here. - Why, wasn't there sea at your village?

- What village? - Where were you born?

- Here - And you?

- Here. - Here?

Really?

- Where are your parents? - Here.

Be careful deamn it, be careful! I went into all this trouble to get them here from Plaka and you break them?

Take care of the pots, be careful!

What happened my Giorgi, why are you upset?

But don't you see? Two pots I fell into the sea and one broke at the mole.

- Is this the reason you are like that? - And how's that?

There's something wrong. You're hiding something from me.

Even if I want to hide something from you... You see right through me with eyes closed.

You have problems with the little one, ha?

Anna gives me a hard time.

This female has the devil inside it.

I'm sorry my Giorgi, that I left you all alone with such a burden.

I know not how to advice her. The nice way or the hard way...

Anyway. Don't you worry.

Deamn weather. All day it seems rainy and at the end it doesn't rain.

Shut up!

- What are you eating? - Cherry, don't you see?

Give me some.

Why every time I try to eat something, you want it too?

Come on, just a spoonful.

Mmm, tasty. Another one?

- Will you let me eat? - Come on, just a last one.

Easy deamn it! You spilled it on me! Look what you did!

You stained me with syrup!

- Now you are syruped. - Get off of me!

What happened? Let me see.

Hey! What are you doing there?

- Mrs. I'm going to school. - Be a good boy.

- You think she'll like it? - Of course. Come on, give it! Give it!

Psst, psst.

Electra, turn to the front.

- Lemonias? - Yes.

Didn't I say no talking in class?

Didn't I say to write the verb?

- I already have Mrs. Ha, you have.

- Let me see. - That’s the same we learned the day before yesterday Mrs.

What did you say? You don't like the way I teach?

- I didn't say that. - Let me tell you a few things...

I don't want smarty pants students in my class. Open your hands.

I said open your hands.

You... grab the stick.

Grab the stick!

Hit him.

One... Two. Harder. Three...

What are you staring at? Harder!

Four... Five, six, seven...

Eight, nine and ten.

Understood?

Yes Mrs.

What are you writing there?

- Nothing. - What nothing.

"I will never talk back to my teacher again".

First, it is miss spelled.

And second, how many times do you have to write this?

Two hundred.

Haven't you written any other homework at school?

It seems she's bored of correcting it.

What are you hiding under there?

Show me. Show me your hands.

- She hit you? - She made Fotis do it.

What do you mean she made Fotis do it?

That’s how she does it... She asks another kid to beat the other.

I took a look at what she's teaching the children. I was so sad.

What can I say... You can see that in class, there's no work done.

It would be best if you removed Dimitris from there.

The bad thing is that you're not the only one complaining

for her behavior and her teaching.

But you're the only one that has an alternative.

Because you're not just a teacher.

You also have the desire to undertake his education.

What I don't want is to cause a problem to the other parents.

Why cause a problem? Every parent is responsible for his own child.

Giorgi?

Yes?

Good evening.

Welcome Hariklia.

Come in, don't stand at the door.

- How are you Giorgi? - I thought I'd cook lentils.

Is housekeeping a job for a man?

If necessary, all work is suitable for anybody, Hariklia.

I made you some wonderful dolma.

You shouldn't have.

- Sit, I'll treat you a coffee. - No, I have work to do.

Sit, sit, I would make coffee for me anyway.

Sugar?

Quiet!

Today children, we will repeat, the consonant categories.

Which one will say a word, that begins with a liquid consonant?

- Aggeliki. - Louloudi (Flower).

Louloudi, nice. Manos?

- Lemoni (lemon). - Lemoni, someone else?

- Thimio. - Lepra (Leprosy).

Thimio? Was it necessary for you to say this my child?

Thimio! On the board! Quiet!

- Mrs. - Go. Quiet!

Thimio, we'll talk on the break time.

Antonis!

Quiet, class isn't over yet.

Quiet! Quiet!

To your health, and to whatever you wish for.

- To your children's happiness. - Thank you.

How is it going with your girls?

Tough.

- A man with two daughters, tough. - Ehh, isn't it?

My opinion is that you should take care of yourself a bit too.

The girls will get married some time, and will go away leaving you all alone.

- What are these things you're talking about now? - Why? Isn't it true?

I said that you should find some company to be able to say a word or two.

You should ask me, I was a widow since I was 25.

Loneliness is unbearable Giorgi. Listen to me.

And as the years go by, things get more and more difficult.

And more difficult.

Hariklia, I have a wife she's there, across.

I look at her in the morning when I wake up. and life passes.

Welcome my girls. Aunt Hariklia brought us dolmas.

I don't like dolmas. I don't like them.

Anna!

I never had a fishing rod of my own.

Once my dad gave me his and I got two jack fishes that big.

- How big? - That big.

- On your word? - You don't believe me?

No, I believe you.

First time someone makes me a gift.

- Not even at your name day? - Never!

- First time now. Mrs. Eleni. - Nice woman, ha?

I'll tell you something but tell no one OK?

- Yes! - Swear.

- Swear again. - Alright?

I'll make her my mother.

In my mind.

- Can it be done? - Of course!

My real one never came to see me, not once.

But they don't let her.

And how do they let Mrs. Eleni see Mr. Giorgi?

How should I know?

Its decided. I'll make her my mother.

Good for you.

- And can I tell you something else too? Ha? - Tell me.

It much better here than to my village.

Really?

Wait Giorgi!

Doctor, look here. I rolled them up one by one last night just for you.

Here! Giorgis is my witness.

She's right. Do you know how much trouble they are to make?

Pavlo you're making me feel bad. I don't want you to get into trouble on my part.

And if I feel bad I get sad. And if I feel sad my appetite is gone.

Let’s see what you've made here.

Mmm! Delicious, it worth your while.

Good appetite doctor. You see how we're taking care of you?

So that you take care of our Eleni, that’s the only reason.

That’s right. Here your husband was telling me

how tired he got by making the dolmas.

Ouuu! Yeah right. He had a kilo of raki while I was rolling them up.

I'm saving water for the Spinalongans.

- Its serious. - Really, what’s going on with this matter?

We have a big problem.

There's not enough water even to wash the bandages.

We lost five elder people the past month.

The leprosy bacillus thrive fast in unclean conditions.

So, this drug works or not?

What drug, Hiolmugra?

How should I know? We'll see. It’s both very expensive and very painful.

However things are, we should never lose our hope. Cheers.

- Cheers doctor. - Cheers.

Electra, it isn't right to come here for a lesson.

I think you should continue going to your school.

But I told mom and she agrees.

What can I say.

So...

In 1825 Ibrahim with his fleet and army, arrived at Mesologgi.

The people under siege were in a desperate position.

Especially when they were running out of food,

and they were forced to eat bushes from the lagoon.

And worms, and cats, and dogs, and rats.

And when the water was running out, they were drinking swamp water.

Like us, ha?

Sometimes people are forced to do such things,

to stay alive.

- And Electra? - She's there too.

- And why didn't you go too? - My father wouldn't let me.

Good morning.

Good morning.

What is this faint thing?

What is this faint thing is this a way to salute the teacher?

Good morning Mrs.

Sit down.

Lemonias?

Your friend Electra?

- I don't know Mrs. - She's sick.

Silence.

You don't know where Lemonias is? Eh?

What is it Fotis? Do you know something that I don't? Ha?

No Mrs.

You, to the front. In front, you in front.

Towards the wall. Here.

Take out your boards.

Calculus exam

Quietly and quickly.

Three times five.

Twenty-four minus seven.

Petraki, I have an urgent for you.

- The help has been approved. - What help?

The water. The load of water.

Eee!

Quickly, quickly to Lapakis.

What do we do now?

For starters, stay cool. There's no reason to panic.

We have bad news.

They're coming to the island.

They bring you to the island because you'll serve half of your sentence, ha?

What's it to you grandpa?

I care because the Spinalongans are peaceful and quiet people.

They have no need for guards.

That’s what you think. In a little while the island will not be peaceful anymore.

They are sending you more "guests". And you have absolutely no idea.

So!

Make sure you don't force me to send you back in prison.

We are a community of people with its own laws...

inviolable!

Open.

And as we said.

Giorgi!

One moment Grigori.

What are these people that you brought? Where are they sent from?

They are long term convicts from prison.

- From prison? - They were appointed here as guards.

They brought the wolf to guard the sheep.

Please be careful.

Lock the door at night. You hear?

Don't worry, I don't think they'll come close.

- They'll be scared of catching the disease. - Who knows?

The children?

The children are fine.

How are they doing with their new teacher?

- Does she treat them right? - I don't hear them complaining.

Lenio, don't take this lightly. These people are dangerous. You hear me?

- Be careful. - Come on Giorgi.

- Lets go. - I'm coming.

See you tomorrow.

Follow me!

- Who are they? - How should I know.

Well well well well!

What’s going on Dimitri, ha? Why aren't you coming to class? Mm?

Now Mrs. Eleni is giving me lessons. To both me and Electra.

Let me go!

- Petros? - Good morning, Christina!

Petros is not here at this hour.

I'm coming in!

It's about Petraki!

- What happened to her? - To her? Nothing!

What she's trying to do though, is to hurt me!

- Eleni? - You don't know her well!

She pretends to be good but she's digging your grave on your back!

- Mine? - If she can do it to someone...

that means she can do it to anyone that may stand in her way.

I don't understand what you're talking about! Eleni, all of these?

Have you no idea? And I thought you were clever!

- Unless you pretend you don't know! - You want to tell me?

Eleni, Elpida, is trying to harm my job.

She forbid Dimitri to come to my class.

- Why would she do that? - E, do you hear what I'm telling you?

Nor Electra has shown up in class.

I hear that she's giving them private lessons at home.

Poor Christina! What are you putting yourself into!

- We don't even have water to drink! - And as if these weren't enough...

I go into class today and half the kids were absent!

- Doesn't this tell you something? - What does it tell you?

That she's after my job.

She's after my job, Elpida, with the most devious way!

I'll turn the world upside down. I'll squash her! I'll run her over like a worm!

Second pass!

Third pass!

Potato!

Hot potato!

- Hold on tight Mrs. Anna! - I'm thirsty!

Clean water is coming from Plaka soon! It’s coming!

- Oh my God! - Any change?

Get me out of here!

He loses consciousness more and more as it goes, doctor!

Give me the medicine.

Give me the medicine.

You are the boatman's wife, right?

- What's going on? - Leave the woman alone!

Mrs. Leni, go to your house!

Meaning the long term convicts will be guarding the guards.

And who will be keeping an eye on them? And what if they stub somebody?

- Why are you saying these things... - Am I not right?

These are prisoners, criminals! How can they release them on the island?

Aren't they afraid of something bad happening?

Enough president. Enough with the papers.

You keep sending mail all the time, without any result.

What good are papers? What good are papers?

We have no water in our house, we have no food to eat,

- we have no medicines... - Revolt, that's what we need to do!

We'll go to Elounda, we'll go to Plaka, we'll go to Agios Nikolaos!

Whatever it takes, even set fires!

- Have you seen any change all this time? - No I haven't.

He's written so many letters, if he wants to write he should write a book instead.

Not try to solve these problems. Does anyone care about our children?

Have you ever heard something like this Mr. Lambro, bringing life sentenced prisoners

to guard a village and an island with little children and women?

They brought us these people, these criminals to guard us.

Our children are dying, women are dyeing...

We are finished and we are men for them.

As long as we tolerate their behavior and as long as we accept people,

they'll keep bringing more!

Come in.

Doctor, water is running out. What shell we do?

Go and tell our president that we have visitors.

- Who are they? - Go I tell you!

- Come on, let’s go down at the gate. - Eleni!

They are coming!

- What happened? - Dimitri you stay here.

- I want to come. - Did you hear what I said? I won't say it again!