Original subtitles

Under the reign of Felipe II of Spain

the quest for El Dorado began in 1560.

In Santa Cruz de Copocavar (Peru).

Still in bed?

Up you go!

Hurry, child!

Does El Dorado exist? -Of course!

Else, why would your father embark on such adventure?

She arrived last night.

Did you see her?

Is she beautiful?

She wore a shawl.

You didn't see her face?

You didn't see her hands, her ankles?

Her hands.

They were very white...

...fine and delicate.

That can't be, she has mixed blood too.

Where is she? -I don't see her.

Captain Alonso de Esteban?

Uiracuru?

Why isn't Dona Ines here?

We'll wait.

The Governer!

Hark!

An expensive whore, that's what Ines de Atienza is.

Eighteen years ago...

a Spaniard...

Francisco de Orellana...

followed the river to the ocean.

Today...

one of his captains...

Alonso de Esteban...

will act as our guide.

He saw the Amazons...

that guard El Dorado's gates!

He touched...

with his hands...

its boundless treasures!

The Brazil Indians will come with us.

They have forded the great rivers!

Uiracuru...

will lead us to the land of the Omaguas...

and to El Dorado.

And I promise...

that in this voyage...

to conquer...

and people...

we shall fill our hands...

with gold of El Dorado!

To El Dorado! -El Dorado!!!

And now...

in the name of God...

and his Majesty Felipe II...

King of Spain...

I shall proceed to launch our ships!

Ready?

Captain?

Juan Corzo!

Juan Corzo!

Sir!

Why? How can this be?

The wood rotted..

bugs and dampness...

we waited eight months...

too long, Your Excellency.

I am not to blame.

How soon can a new one be built?

Three or four months. -We can't wait.

Launch the others! Captain! Drums!

And the brig? How will it fare, Master Corzo?

Is it any safer?

On these treacherous waters...

I'd recommend an Indian raft.

Captain Garcia de Arce!

Your Excellency.

Take thirty men and one of the rafts.

And scout for food ahead.

Gather as much as you can

so that when I arrive with the main body,

we may countinue with no delay.

Wait for me at the Cocama River crossing.

Your Excellency!

Let's go child. Let's go!

27th of September 1560.

The loss of some boats left us with no room to spare.

Only the best twenty seven horses...

could come aboard.

The rest remained...

in Peru withe their expensive harnesses.

Part of our cattle was also left behind...

pigs and goats that were to breed...

all of which had cost us dearly.

But none of this seemed to matter...

as the guides said,

that within a month...

we'd be in the richest land on Earth.

To El Dorado!

Let's go!

Let's go!

We advanced but half a league on the first day,

as we had much to do before our departure.

The following day, we passed some whirlpools,

before entering the plain,

that, they said, reached the Northern Sea.

Do you want the doctor? -No...

I just have to wait it out.

It's the same old fever,

it's not serious.

You're so beautiful.

You're so beautiful.

You must rest. You haven't slept yet.

How can I sleep with you here?

Ursua?

Ursua?

Can't I rest a little?

What do you want? -It's important.

Come in!

Sorry, but we've reached the turning point.

Finally?

And what does Garcia de Arce say?

There's no sign of him and his boats.

Nothing at the river crossing.

Cover yourself!

You should have left Elvira in Peru, Aguirre.

She goes where I go.

If something were to happen to me, take care of her.

We grew up together, didn't we?

But I have other thingss on my mind now.

What things?

Ursua's weakness.

Two tits pull harder than two horses.

To maintain power, one must give up certain things.

I'd give up many things,

for a woman like Dona Ines.

Not if you had so many responsibilities.

The Brazil Indians told me,

that the jungle becomes so thick,

one can't even see the sun.

They say there's an enormous river,

with water as dark as coal.

And then, little by little...

the trees become sparser,

the darkness turns

into a more intense light,

the color of gold.

This light increases until it is blinding.

Uiracuru says,

it is like being in Heaven.

What was that father?

I am afraid.

What was that father?

Nothing, go to sleep.

Who screamed?

Just a wild animal.

I am scared.

Don't leave me alone.

I'll stay with you...

Don't worry.

Go to sleep.

Close your eyes...

Close them.

I can't get the rust off.

I told you to clean the metal every day

because of the dumpness.

Everything rots here.

Take care of your weapons like your life.

The whole river was filled

with a sound like an earthquake.

A huge wave covered the ships

and drowned some of the men.

There are giant snakes further down.

Some are so long they have no end.

Is that true father?

If Alonso Esteban says so...

I saw them child, anacondas...

They devour anything they find.

There are plants there that eat meat,

human and animal flesh. If you touch them

they devour your hand.

There are playful and buxom sirens,

the "Manatis", that weep like children.

There are neckless men, their faces here,

there eyes, their nose and their mouth.

And the Amazons! -That's right!

We were attacked by the warrior women.

They're brawny...

and walk around stark naked.

With nothing on?

Elvira!

They hide their privates with a bow and arrows.

And how do they shoot, my good friend?

Each one is worth ten Indian warriors.

Their queen is called Calafia and her country

California!

Leave us Elvira.

Did you not hear me?

Time changes all.

What used to be no longer is.

Don Alonso...

I believe dampness is weaking your brain.

Too much thinking. -Too much drinking.

We are weak when faced by temptation, my friend.

There live the Indians!

Further down...

If we follow the rivers on the left,

we'll find gold,

and a golden colored lake.

Get ready to fight!

La Bandera!

Zalduendo!

Aguirre!

Come on!

They were killed by arquebus and crossbows.

There are no Spaniards among them

The Governor!

Garcia de Arce? -They are all Indians.

Governor!

We found it in that hut.

Who does it belong to?

Aguirre!

Go into the jungle with some men.

We'll wait here.

Vargas,

disembark all that's necessary.

Sir!

Halt!

Halt!

Why walk into this inhospitable jungle?

Aren't our lives more worthy,

than this useless effort?

Pedro!

Don't leave me.

Never leave me.

Why do you say that?

I'm afraid.

What of?

Never leave me. Never.

We abandon ourselves to the slow-running river.

On both sides, the impenetreable jungle.

We lost hope that it would change.

The vegetation was always the same.

The same water,

the same sky.

Sleepiness and boredom

took hold of us.

You're not getting away.

A nice catch. -Yes sir.

We'll eat well today. -Yes.

There's something... -Let's see.

What's this?

My God...

It's part of a medal of the Virgin.

Let me see...

It's Spanish gold.

How did it get here?

Pedrarias. Get Uiracuru and captain Alonso de Esteban.

After 15 days there's no sign of El Dorado.

Only some cheap gold rings

and a medal from someone eaten by an animal.

With all due respect,

wouldn't it be prudent to go back

and not continue on? We still have time.

Uiracuru!

Where's El Dorado?

Where is El Dorado?

Further!

But where?

El Dorado...

There... there!

How far? How many more days?

Further! -What do you say captain?

Our journey has but started.

That was an arquebus!

Over here!

Over here!

Zalduendo! Valcazar!

Give me some food,

I beg you.

Why did you disobey

and not wait for me as I ordered?

I beg of you,

give me some food.

What happened at the Indian village?

The Indians betrayed us.

We had to teach them a lesson.

I beg of you, give me some food.

Feed him.

I feel Sire, that it would be madness

to continue under these circumstances.

We best return than die in these lands,

where only suffering and cruelties

await for us.

Sire...

Sire,

what happened to Captain Garcia...

should make you reflect.

My lords! Captains!

Aguirre! Zalduendo! Guzman! La Randera!

Alonso de Montoya,

feels we should abandon our quest

and return to Peru.

Who agrees with him?

We have undergone too many hardships!

Who agrees with me?

Those that wish to return to Peru

raise your arm!

No, not you!

Yes, I!

Braulio,

Santos,

Suarez,

didn't you agree?

I changed my mind.

No one will return to Peru!

We have just started!

Those that are boys, today will age,

discovering these lands.

Are there no provisions?

We'll find some! If not,

we'll slaughter the horses.

Our mission is to conquer El Dorado!

We shall not return 'till we do so.

To El Dorado!

Take the discontented!

Montoya and Duarte will row instead of the blacks.

Let them take us to El Dorado!

Not Duarte,

I beg of you, Ursua.

I'm sorry, Fernando,

Duarte will row,

there'll be no favors.

The men are growing restless.

They whisper that El Dorado is not for us...

that the Viceroy wanted to remove dangerous men

from Peru.

They're not mistaken.

The Viceroy breathes easier with his rebel captains

as far as possible.

There's discontent, you must be caferul.

Garcia's failure

has done much harm.

Who are they?

Who are they?

Pedro,

many disapprove of Montoya and Duarte rowing.

Why not be generous and free them?

What else do they say?

That it was a mistake to bring Ines,

that she has made you change.

Continue.

That she dominates you,

that she decides, not you.

How beautiful...

I know they all covert her!

Zalduendo, La Bandera,

Aguirre,

they all want my place!

I would never tell this to anyone but you,

my good friend.

I am tired...

and ill.

I'll never return to Peru.

This may be the river of death and not life,

I'll follow it until my strength gives way.

There's no El Dorado?

What does it matter?

What does it matter!

It's too late to give up a dream.

He doesn't speak to me!

How can man as worthy as Ursua,

who vanquished the Musos,

who fought and defeated the wild blacks,

bow so shamelessly to that half-caste?

We should have gone inland long ago.

Did we not come to conquer these lands?

Yet, we do nothing

but drift with the current!

He's become sad, irascible.

He no longer greets me.

He speaks to none, invites none.

He cares about nothing but eating,

drinking and fornicating with her,

while we suffer hardships.

Always with that half-caste!

Where are his promises?

Has he kept any?

Was he not going to raise our ranks?

He has humilliated all Spaniards

by forcing Montoya to row like a slave!

Better hang him than shame him thus!

Aguirre,

what do you think?

If this goes on,

what will happen?

We're lost.

I can't get used to the mosquitos!

They are still biting. -It hurts!

It hurts!

What is there to eat? -Manioc flour.

It makes my belly ache. -It's poison!

That's all there is.

On your feet!

Dress yourselves!

Pick up your gear!

Disembark!

Infantry at the ready!

Zalduendo! Aguirre!

Get ready for combat!

Forward!

Hurry, damn you!

Ready!

Move! Move!

Hurry! Hurry! -Get ready!

Back there! -Hurry!

Didn't you hear me?

And up!

Here.

Come on!

Damn noise!

Captain La Bandera! Roll the drums!

Drums!

Whenever you please, Sire!

Now!

Silence!

An arquebus!

Mistrust the Indians, Sire, they're treacherous.

We're surrounded, Your Excellency.

Captains! Protect the Governer!

Arquebusiers! -Infantry!

Come on! Come on!

Hold your fire!

These savages understand nothing but strength.

Hold your fire!

Lower your weapons!

We thought you could be

the hew fieldmaster.

Don Fernando will be liuetenant general.

Fine.

When?

Soon.

Pedro de Ursua, Governer of El Dorado,

may God forgive you.

Pedro de Ursua, Governer of El Dorado,

may God forgive you.

To the New Year!

May 1561. bring happiness to all!

And may we discover El Dorado!

To our King, Felipe II!

Health, love and gold...

and time to enjoy them!

Back in Navarre...