All language subtitles for Die Fälschung, Circle of Deceit (1981) EN

I'm not afraid to
live a lie,

only afraid that I'll stop
noticing and just keep going,

afraid it will
become routine,

a meaningless metabolism
that has ceased to horrify me.

I'd rather see my
own blood flow,

and be silent about it.

How long will
you be gone?

Not long. Four,
five days.

Why is it there's
always a war

in the places you go?

Is it warm there?

I don't know.
I guess so.

You staying here?

I thought I'd go
to Hamburg.

For a job. Photos of
fired shipyard workers.

Verena will take
care of the children.

That's not the same.

Why must I always justify
myself when I want to work?

All right, I'll just
cancel my trip.

Oh, you'd never do that.

Karl doesn't want to
go to kindergarten.

Come on, Else.
We have to go.

Through the upstairs windows
we could look across the river

and on clear days past
the barbed-wire border

into the other Germany.

Did you get the job?

I don't know yet.
They'll phone.

Why don't you look at me?

Because I'm unpacking.

You weren't alone.

- No.-

Maybe you'd be better off

if I disappeared.

When are you ever here?

You're so lifeless.

Are you so lifeless with
other people, in other places?

You're right.

I'm different

Entirely different.

In what way?

Be good.

Dear Greta,

My mind's made up.

I won't leave you, but
let's live apart.

Maybe we'll be closer
to each other then.

We'll talk it over
when I get back.

Have a nice trip.
Say hello to Arafat.

I must go to Hamburg
tomorrow.

Dear Greta,

Please forget the
nonsense yesterday.

My problems with you are
really problems with myself.

All was quiet on arrival.

No shooting, no
distant rumbling.

But I feel that everything
can explode any minute.

That's partly because
of you Greta.

Is peace at home so unbearable
just because it is peace?

And yet we tried to
create an atmosphere

in which we could be
totally open with each other.

Why can't we stop laying
traps for each other?

From here,

from this unfamiliar room, I
can speak to you, embrace you,

surrender myself very painlessly.

You know Herr Berger, from
your “independent” newspaper.

What does independent
or conservative mean today?

I prefer hardliners
to liberals.

Dear Greta,

Pretty close, eh?

Finished.

Already? But there're
still more good photos.

Look.

Look who that is.

It's usually quiet
in the daytime.

And all the life that seemed
to be dead comes obstinately

out into the sun.

The sharpshooters are
cleaning their guns.

And even the next night's
victims have plans.

Laschen!

I never expected to
see you here.

Your colleagues have all
gone home, or they're in Cairo.

Glad to see you,
Mrs. Nassar.

You the only one left here?

The ambassador is still here,
but he's leaving soon.

I suppose I should ask
what the Germans are doing.

But I'm not interested
anymore.

I'm gradually forgetting
about Germany.

What about the child?

Nothing so far.

But I've resigned myself.

Can I help you?

Can I call Hamburg
from here?

Nothing works at
the hotel.

Sure, up front.

You'll have to dial. The
switchboard isn't working.

Sometimes you can get through
in the morning. 0-0-4-9.

An old man just got
shot out there.

Out of the clear blue sky.
I didn't even hear the shot.

He was sitting quietly
in the street

with combs and buckles
spread out on a cloth. And

suddenly he was gone.

Those snipers go
for sitting targets.

Never stand still
in Beirut.

Aren't you afraid?

I've never thought less about
dying. I'm never even sick.

Foreign desk, please.

Well, the sun's shining.

Is the boss there?

Tell him something
extraordinary is developing.

The Syrians are turning
against the Palestinians.

Don't you understand?

But some people
must understand.

Oh yes, you'll get
your realism.

My love to Kai. Bye.

How about lunch?

Not today.

Tomorrow?

Why not come to my
place this evening?

You know the
conditions here?

You have to come before dark
and can't leave till morning.

Can I drop you
somewhere?

At the Hamra.

German, aren't you?

Yes, a journalist.

East or West Germany?

West.

Welcome to Lebanon.

I studied in
Karlsruhe. Music.

Music?!

What should I
write about?

What is important?

The unchanging facts

or my own fear?

The sudden certainty
of imminent death

or, at the same time, the
feeling of being invulnerable?

We've nothing against
the Moslems, only...

This is the center
of Beirut

Total destruction,
as you see.

But we'll rebuild later
on. Better than before.

Our architects have
already made the plans.

Anyway, the bazaars
were out of date.

You see that smoke?

It's, that is, it was
one of the camps.

It's for you that we're
fighting here.

For you, English, French,
Germans, all Europeans.

We're defending
Western civilization.

The sacred principle
of freedom.

You're a German,
aren't you?

Then you see
what I mean.

I should be everywhere,

reporting every incident.

It is my duty to
observe.

Not for the reader. I don't
give a damn about him.

But there's a
higher authority.

Stop it. No more pictures.

Are you hurt?

No. It was just kind of
complicated getting here.

You're in luck. The
water is running today.

There's the bathroom.

It's a bit big.

It was my husband's.

Can I help you?

Everything's ready.
Oh, the wine!

Do you mind my running
after you like a puppy?

I'm glad you're here.

This is Aisha.

My husband's sister. He
willed her to me with the house.

Can I phone?

You can try.

I lost my photographer.

He's probably okay. He has
more sense than I have.

A very good photographer.
He only sees what he sees.

He leaves the
doubting to me.

Won't she eat with us?

Aisha prefers the balcony
so she can see the fireworks.

I can't imagine

a brother of hers
as your husband.

The Arab!

He was a dear.

He did everything for me.
We were very happy.

He had a mistress once.

He owed it to himself
as an Arab.

Quite official; he
knew that I knew.

He was very suspicious of me,
though. Very careful.

He owed that to
himself too.

What's the use?

All that's left of
him is Aisha.

And my wish for a child.

Why do you want
a child now?

Maybe to keep from
being alone.

Anyway there's a child
waiting for me. I know it.

But nobody thinks I'm
a proper mother.

The Maronites refuse me
because my marriage was mixed.

For the Moslems I'm
a non-believer.

How about the children
in the camps?

In the camps?

There are no orphans there.

The Palestinians will
never give up a child.

A child is a
future fighter.

I'm working on some
nuns, though.

I'll bring them around.

I hope it doesn't
get closer.

I had to put in a dozen
window panes last month.

I'm really fine.

It went down
the wrong way.

They're all going
down in the cellar.

Should we?

I don't know?

Let's stay here. The
coffee's ready.

Not so high.

It's white coffee made
of orange blossoms.

Very sweet

and sticky.

Not here.

Be sure to speak
to him in French.

As if you were speaking
to a Frenchman.

They claim to be Phoenicians,
but of course they're Arabs.

But please, we're
expected.

Please, gentlemen.
We have an appointment.

His Excellency is
expecting us.

It's an old family. They've
ruled here for five hundred years.

Magnificent people. Joseph
is the oldest son and heir.

That's his father over there.

Every day he receives
notables from the region.

We bid you welcome.

Bonjour. Pleased to
meet you. Bonjour.

I'm sorry, but as you see,
my father is very busy.

Every subject gets
his personal attention.

Here in the mountains, we
Christians are one big family.

It's beautiful.

We say there are two paradises.

One in heaven, the
other here, in Lebanon.

To my German friend!

How do you feel about a
few families ruling this country?

That is a very superficial
view. It is not like that.

We are one big family, and there
is no higher order above us.

Besides, we must
live up to our history.

And all this is our history.

This country is young,
but its tradition is old.

And we are its guardians.

So then, it's a war of religion?

Certainly not.

All Moslems are brothers.

We only want to get rid of
the Palestinians and the Communists.

"Get rid" means bloodshed.

Yes, but we are
Christians.

I myself am very
sensitive to suffering.

I have to force myself
to be violent.

Didn't Christ himself say:

"I bring not peace
but a sword?"

Is that why you attacked
a crowded bus

and killed all
twenty passengers?

How can you say
such things?!

Their propaganda is often
more effective than ours.

We lost our best men before
we even fought back.

Isn't it madness to destroy
this country with civil war?

You must not misinterpret everything!

We are fighting to
end the war.

But the fighting isn't
here. It's in Beirut

far from here.

Mr. Laschen,
please come here.

Look at that cedar

and you will read my heart.

We are not cold-blooded
murderers.

But we won't be the
sacrificial lambs of history.

It's my eldest son's birthday.

He's incredible for his age.

Frankly, I'm disappointed.

Disappointed? Why?

I can't possibly get a
story out of what he says.

But he's such a
shrewd tactician.

What will it be, Monsieur?

Allow me to present
my Wife.

These are some
German Journalists.

Let me introduce Monsieur Rudnik
a friend of the family.

Ah,I think we've met.

We're both at the
Grand Hotel.

We've seen each other.

This should be in
your collection.

One of the finest collections
in the Middle East.

You traffic in arms?

Oh no, I wouldn't
say traffic.

No, not traffic, Monsieur.

Like to try it?

No, thanks.

It's very simple, Monsieur.

Yes, too simple.

You must be a pacifist.

Where do you get
your arms, Monsieur?

Well, we buy them.

We're not an oil country, so
everyone buys his own weapon.

No help from abroad?

Oh, very little.

But your country, yes.
You can write that.

You can say I've
many friends there

and that we'll cut off Arafat's
prick. You can write that.

But you won't. You're
for the Palestinians.

Perhaps.

Because they're weaker.

No, no! They
are not weaker.

We will not share
this country

with foreigners and
Communists.

But you're a German.
You must understand that!

Going to Beirut?

Yes.

Room for me?

A friend of mine runs this
bar. A Polish girl.

Could be a good
base for you.

What'll you have?
Arak?

Two araks. And orange juice for
me. Stopped drinking and smoking.

Used to smoke two, three
packs a day. Stopped here.

Fear. But now I've
forgotten all about it.

Actually, I've
never been so calm.

The shooting at night
soothes me.

You from Hamburg?

Yes.

First time in
the Middle East?

No, no. Later.

You from Hamburg?

You should bring in porn movies.
You can trade them for anything.

Good.
Here.

The works of an amateur photographer.
Works exclusively for me.

They were taken at
Karantina yesterday.

You'll see why I couldn't
show them up there.

The first time I
saw these pictures

I almost fainted.
But then

if you want to
be realistic

you have to look
things in the face.

Especially in your
business.

He's got her by the hair.

Dragging her away.

No need to say
what's coming next.

When you know that for a
young Moslem woman,

rape is worse than
death or torture.

How much you asking?

Three thousand.

Don't hesitate.

These things will thrill
the folks back home.

Dirty pictures to
look at in clean places.

People need that to
appreciate their own lives.

Three thousand?

How much?

Monsieur offers
three thousand.

Three and a half.

Four.

Four and a half.

Five.

I am offered five
thousand.

Want me to divide them?

Exclusive rights?

Yes, for Scandinavia.

No, no, no. You're taking
my best piece. Nothing doing.

Then six for the lot.

Six. Going,

going

gone!

For once the mark

has been defeated.

Check, please.

No, no. Unless it goes on
your expense account.

It does.

All right then.
No, no name.

I exaggerate the events

so the folks in Hamburg
won't get bored with the war.

Don't you ever
take notes?

No. What for?

Do you know what
he said?

Look at our cedars and
you'll read our hearts.

Only a meek man can be so
bloodthirsty. He's a reptile

out for destruction. He
needs to be around death

in order to feel alive.

He enjoys destruction,
and at the same time

serves the interest of
the great families.

No. We want to know who's
good and who's bad.

I never write
what I think.

Gentlemen, go to the
bar if you wish to talk.

Good idea, Herr Berger.

What a fat, depraved,
little sophist I am!

All I do is entertain.

I stick to the facts, but
it's still mere entertainment.

I'm right about the
feudal families.

But being right
just makes it worse

because I don't fight it.

Deaths by the thousands.

The mathematics of horror.

My horror is the horror
of a German gentleman.

An old dream is vanishing
with Beirut.

The dream of the Orient.

The Orient has
ceased to exist.

Actually, it never
existed.

It was only a
Western dream.

I've lived everywhere, I've
known Indochina, Africa.

But the Arabs hold the
biggest place in my heart.

As friends. Especially
the women.

By revealing pleasure, they

cured me of my adolescence.

You see, it's been
a long time.

Aren't these glorious days? I
don't even have to go to the office.

Because there's a war,
and it's winter

we're doing well.

Will you come to
Baabda with me?

Maybe the child is
waiting for me.

I"ll come.

Great to have you here.

When are you leaving?

Why?

I don't know.

It suddenly occurred to me.

I never think of
the future.

Why not stay here and
turn Arab like me?

I should interview
Arafat today.

Maybe I should stop
writing and just babble.

Or join one of those
brigades and fight.

Join in the butchery.

In Spain it was still
possible, but here...

Suppose I go

to see Arafat and say,
"Mr. Arafat”

"I'm in love with Ariane," and
he answers with a quote from Lenin.

Oh, you and your problems!

He says he got a
bullet in the back.

It didn't hurt, but now he
can't move his legs.

You know the reason

we wouldn't give you a child
when your husband was alive.

Nothing's changed.

We don't recognize
mixed marriages.

Still, I think I have
something for you.

These are our smallest ones,
saved from the bombed-out areas.

Between two and
five months old.

All beautiful, all
of Catholic parents.

You would have loved any of
them. But I'm sorry, it's impossible.

But I can give you this one.

He was left at the
door of the convent.

But I'm sure he's not
from around here.

Go and look at him.
One of God's creatures.

Just sign and he's yours.

This is the one.

If, later, you
change your mind

you absolutely cannot
exchange or return him.

But he has been baptized?

Yes, we have done
everything necessary.

He has been baptized.

Then he's not a heathen.

How much were
you thinking of?

Whatever you choose
to give.

The convent really
needs help.

A thousand?

Two thousand?

Two thousand seems a lot.

Not to me.

A very inexpensive child.

You ought to ask
for more.

But, Madame,

this is not a bazaar.

Do you know what
you'll name him?

I don't know.

Definitely nothing German.

Now we'll go see a
doctor friend of mine.

Write: They're massacring
our women and children.

You can see that
it's not propaganda.

The thin hair.
The skull formation.

How old is he?

A year.

His reactions aren't
right for that age.

My advice is to take him back
before you get used to him.

He may not develop
normally.

Possible brain damage
from undernourishment.

What's wrong?

Anyway, think it
over, Ariane.

He is already my child.

Feel free to come
here any time.

Let's go. Come on.

You need me.

What did he want
to know?

He asked if it was my child.

Thank you, George.

Can I ask you one favor?

I'd like to be alone with
him for a few days.

But we'll see each
other soon.

1 didn't know you before,
and now you're my child.

When will I see you?

Whenever you want to.

You know it's all
over at Karantina.

The Phalangists stormed it.
No more camp. Never mind the details.

The wall of the slaughterhouse.
Sadly symbolic.

Dreadful that Christians
can do such things.

I'll report it.
No punches pulled.

Their Christian faith
is just a veneer.

They behave abominably, but they're
closer to us than the Fatah.

The Phalangists will
definitely win.

They're efficient. And what's
wrong with efficiency?

What I can't write:

This whole war business.

The many epidemics.

The many personal vendettas,

the fear and euphoric
hate combining

to inflame the people,

people sick of
brotherly love,

who want to purge
their God

of all competing gods,

who want to rid

the earth and air
of themselves.

East or West?

West. Do you speak German?

How come?

I was in Germany.

Where?

Berlin.

And what are you
doing here?

Well, I'm a journalist.
I, er...

I observe.

Forgive me for coming back.

Why don't you take
me seriously?

I told you I wanted to
be alone for a few days.

Can I see the child?

Look how nicely
it's healed.

I'm so happy. He
recognizes me and laughs.

Like some coffee?

No,thanks.

Tell me frankly if you
don't want to see me again.

What makes you think that?

I just don't understand
what you want of me.

Your job brings you here for a few
days. My life is more than a few days.

You see,

I have another friend. I
like him as much as you.

And he's not going away.

She's making a recumbent
figure eight with her navel.

The symbol of infinity.

Your friend seems pleased
with his take.

Good thing for you
too, I hope.

300 or 400 dead, I hear.

That's news!

Better be quick.

Nothing's as stale as
yesterday's newspaper.

Even in our work, one
seldom sees such horrors.

Dreadful, especially for
someone like you.

But write the whole story.
Don't gloss it over.

Let's hope the
border is still open.

Total destruction. The Palestinians
have shown their true face.

All right, let's
talk about them.

Let's talk about
the Palestinians.

The Arabs have nothing to
do with Hitler's crimes.

The Nazi victims should
receive reparations.

But why in Palestine?

Why not in Hanover?

Your lady friend. You see,
I notice everything.

You should persuade
her to leave, too.

Good-bye, Herr Berger.
Good luck.

You didn't leave,
Monsieur Laschen?

Dear Greta. Let's separate.

I suggest it lovingly.

What's to become of
the children

if we keep living a lie?

Better to show them that a
situation can be ended

before it becomes a habit,

before it becomes an
immoral habit.

My mind is made up.

I won't leave you,
but let's live apart.

Maybe we'll be closer to
each other than now.

We'll talk it over
when I get back.

I make no conditions.
All my love...

Is there any way of
sending a letter?

Sorry, nothing is
going out.

Laschen, you're an idiot.

Arabs!

Lust for death!

The whore! The whore!

What is it?

- 408 -

Ah, it's you, Monsieur.

I've stopped caring
about many things.

That's why I can write in a
light and detached manner.

I want to work hard,
but I don't know how.

Maybe I'm just sick.

There's no reason
to leave here.

Only the satisfaction of
becoming involved, and the joy

of ceasing to be merely indignant
at man's wickedness.

And finally belonging,

having taken a desperate interest
in someone else's death.

Any foreign news?

Laschen has just arrived.

He and Hoffmann have pulled
off something amazing,

something we can sell
worldwide.

A massacre. The only witnesses.
From start to finish.

The executions, everything.

Front page stuff.

The pictures are marvelous.

Where was it?

Damur, a city
south of Beirut.

Oh yes, Damur, I remember
some news dispatch.

But that was at least
a week ago.

How come you're so late?

The Beirut airport is closed.
We're glad Laschen made it.

Can I see the pictures?

Beirut! Beirut! gives
me a pain!

This isn't just another
story about Lebanon.

It's something special.

Laschen, what do you
think? How many pages?

- Twenty.

Say 24. What do you
think?

It's stale news.

All I see are a lot of nonpolitical
corpses. Ethiopia, now...

Laschen. How many do
we need?

One.

Three and a half.

Thirteen. Sorry.
Have fun.

Hey, don't be an ass.

Thirty-six.

Ninety-eight, huh?

Going to write poetry?